Since I won't be able to take my Harry Potter books with me for my first semester of college (a true tragedy), I decided this was the perfect time for a re-read. I'm mid Order of the Phoenix, and I can't help but notice all the little details about Harry I didn't catch when I first read the books 4 years ago or that I have forgotten because they weren't included in the movies. To celebrate another year of The Boy Who Lived living, I want to highlight some Harry's best, underrated, moments.
1. The Ultimate Party Guest
Harry didn't attend too many parties during his time at Hogwarts, but in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets when Nearly Headless Nick invites Harry to his Deathday Party (a party celebrating the day of your death, obviously) he can't refuse. The Gryffindor ghost had just saved him from being punished by Filch, so in return, celebrate Harry promises to attend the party. A seemingly small gesture that meant to world to Sir Nicholas, and shows Harry gratitude towards everyone who helps him, dead or alive.
2. Powers Beyond His Years
Harry being a badass in Prisoner of Azkaban
Even though we all know Hermione is the brightest of her age, even she admits that Harry has a natural talent when it comes to defense against the dark arts. Re-reading the books it really hit me that Harry was 13 when he single handedly defeated a swarm of dementors and managed to perform one of the most difficult spells in the wizarding world. Really think about that, let it sink in. He is 13. Harry has a little over two years of experience as a wizard at this point and he still manages to conjure up a corporeal patronus. And let's not forget the fact that dementors affect Harry more than anyone else because his saddest memory is the murder of his parents, which he has to listen to over and over again when attacked by dementors. Everyone takes for granted how powerful Harry is when in the end, he is just a kid.
3. Life Debt
Here we see the biggest coward in cinematic history
Another overlooked Harry moment in The Prisoner of Azkaban is when he insists that Remus and Sirius don't kill Peter Pettigrew. The 411 on Pettigrew is that he is a traitor and a coward. When he is made the Potter's Secret-Keeper to prevent Voldemort from finding them, he betrays his best friends and joins the Death Eaters not because he supported Voldemort, but because he was afraid of his power. Regardless of the fact that his parents were murdered because of this man, Harry, the 13-year-old, decides they should turn Pettigrew to the dementors instead of killing him themselves. He realizes that turning themselves into murderers, like Peter and Voldemort, would be the last thing Lily and James would have wanted. Harry is notorious for his recklessness and impulsiveness which makes him act purely based on his emotions, but here we see a boy using reason and evolving into a mature character.
4. A Duel in a Graveyard
Avada Kedavra vs Expelliarmus
This is probably the least underrated moment in this list, but I still think it ought to be here for one reason, context. We take for granted that The Boy Who Lived will defeat The Dark Lord, but when I was re-reading Goblet of Fire I realized how scared Harry is. He is shaken and confused because in only a few minutes his friend has been murdered and he has been used to bring back his own worst enemy. On top of all that now he, a fourth year, has to duel against of the greatest wizards to ever live. Throughout this whole scene Harry is coming to terms with the fact that he could die in this graveyard, and it seems likely, yet he shows the type of bravery Gryffindors pride themselves on. He refuses to bow down to Voldemort and resists the effects of the Imperius Curse, refuses to let himself be killed without putting up a fight, and most impressive of all, he survives.
5. A True Friend
Harry knows that Neville doesn't know that he knows
There is no denying that Harry's best friends are Ron and Hermione, after all they are the golden trio. However, we should never overlook the friendship between Harry and Neville. After finding out from Dumbledore that Neville's parents were tortured and driven insane, resulting in them living in St. Mungos Hospital, Harry has a new perspective on Neville. He understands some of his insecurities and fears, but he never pushes Neville into talking about it. He respects that something so personal and intimate is for Neville alone to share, when he is ready. Harry doesn't even tell Ron or Hermione because he knows that only Neville can tell his own story. This shows Harry's, sometimes forgotten, empathy and respect towards the private lives of others, a respect he seldom gets.
6. The King of Sass
One of the many literary gems that never made it into the movie
This one has nothing to do with Harry being strong, or brave, or compassionate, no. This is just to highlight the fact that Harry Potter was the sassiest wizard of his age, and the movies barely scratch the surfaces of this VERY important character trait. While dealing with matters of life and death no teenager should deal with, Harry was also just that, a teenager. We get glimpses of his teenage troubles, like asking Cho to the Yule Ball, but we rarely get any of his teenage sass, which created a nice balance between the serious events in the story and the mundane situations of any student's life. This specific passage from the Half-Blood Prince is one the most iconic Harry moments because for once he manages to put Severus Snape in his place, and in the cleverest way imaginable.
7. Forgiveness
The scene that should have never been deleted
And finally, last but most certainly not least, Harry's last moments with Dudley Dursley. For years, Harry endured emotional abuse from his only living relatives, the Dursleys, particularly from his cousin Dudley. Regardless of the abuse, Harry looked out for them and asked them to leave number 4 Privet Drive in Deathly Hallows because he knew Voldemort could attack him there. When the Dursleys are about to depart, Dudley shows uncharacteristic concern and appreciation for his cousin. Harry could have easily and justifiably blown off Dudley, but instead he choses the high road and embraces his cousin's new attitude. Harry's ability to forgive anyone who has ever hurt him or doubted him is so natural and honest, which is why I think it is the best most underrated character trait, which makes Harry a hero and the best protagonist a fandom could ask for. Happy birthday Harry.
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