(no subject)

[author_by_night]

I won't go into what got me into this rant.

 

You're taking a test, and you fall asleep. Now, the past Christmas, you had a dream in which your best friend's father was dying. Well, this time, it's someone you love even more. Someone you don't think you could live without.

Nobody's around, and time's getting short; so you go to do anything you can to rescue them.

I don't think that's irrational, yet I've seen people think Harry was dumb for trying to rescue the guy - and vice versa. How is fearing for the life of someone you love stupid? And maybe to us, it was a possible trap, but we weren't the ones with the knowledge that for all we knew, it wasn't. And Arthur really had been dying.

As for Sirius... same  thing. And in this case, he knew Harry was in danger. Honestly, I would've been upset if Sirius hadn't snuck out with the rest to help. If Harry had been killed, Sirius would never have been able to live with himself. Harry's not just James's son - he's Sirius's Godson. Sirius made a vow to take care of Harry in the event that James and Lily couldn't. Not to mention the fact that Sirius loved Harry.

So, no, I don't think they were irrational. (I DO think Harry should've told someone that he wasn't getting Occlumency lessons, though - after it was clear Remus had spoken to him already).

Comments

[story645.livejournal.com]

Uch Harry bashing for that? shakes head, muttersbout imposing our own values and personality.

[ashtur.livejournal.com]

While Harry definately made a mistake, and it wasn't the wisest choice, more blame needs to go to those who didn't give him the information he needed.

If instead of Snape's sneers, if he'd simply been told "Voldemort will do anything to get you into that room, so no matter what, don't go there.", he would have had 50x the information. Now, under the emotional pressure of the moment, he may still have made the same choices, but arguing "what ifs" is pointless, the simple truth is that he didn't have the info he needed.

that said, there is one person who will blame Harry, and that blame is very important. Harry himself, but that's to be seen in new canon.

[kit-the-brave.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine blaming Sirius for sneaking out to help Harry, especially after that scene in the Shrieking Shack (which I can't quote exactly because my books are packed...*sigh*)

Peter: What could I do? He was killing everybody.
Sirius: Then you should have died! Died to save your friends...

I don't think Sirius would ever have forgiven himself if he had stayed at Grimmauld Place, even if Harry came back just fine.

[sleepingfingers.livejournal.com]

No, Harry certainly wasn't dumb at the end of OotP, and neither was Sirius. I'd say the blame lays more on Dumbledore and the Order than it does on Harry. Harry did what he perceived is right to do, and he did something that he'd be able to live with had events turned out differently. If Sirius had indeed been captured as with Arthur, Harry'd never be able to live with himself again. Yes, he made a mistake that costed his godfather his life, but he did what he thought was right, and he did what I wish I'd have the courage to do had I been in his situation.

[scionofgrace.livejournal.com]

::applauds:: Some people don't seem to realize that there are times when the Big Picture just doesn't matter. I'd've thought less of Harry if he hadn't gone running off to save Sirius.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly.

[lvblheron.livejournal.com]

This has absolutely nothing to do with your entry: I just wanted to say we missed you last night, and I hope you're feeling better!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks! *Hugs* I am. And I'm really sorry I bailed out, it sounded like so much fun too.

[the-bookdork.livejournal.com]

He was acting with his heart, not his head. People rant about how stupid he is for doing it but I think Sirius is one of Harry's very few connections toward his parents, and Harry loved him. He's just not the kind of guy that would stand by as his friends and loved ones are in mortal peril.

Which makes me love him even more. =)

[irised.livejournal.com]

I agree with what all of you have said. And if you think about it, figuring out what someone else might have done differently is a lot easier than actually being able to react that way if you were in a situation like that. Being under pressure is usually when people show their worst; to me it says a lot that Harry could still be brave and go try to save his friend. Whoa; I hope that made some sense ;)

[kasuchi]

I'd love to see what those people would do in that exact same situation. If they say they'd do something different, I'd laugh in their face.

When it comes to people you care about, logic's pretty much out the window.

There's plenty of blame to go around; Snape, Dumbledore, even Harry himself isn't blameless, but to lay it all at his feet is hardly becoming.