Curate, connect, and discover
Yep. Same way when people try to say that Lily was like Harry and that they had similar personalities whilst Harry and James shared the looks. What a lazy perspective. Personality is not shaped by genetics. It is formed by life circumstances and upbringing, and those significantly differed with Lily and Harry. Lily grew up loved, in a safe household, with an identity of her own. She lived a safe life, at least till the end of her school years. Harry was in survival mode since the day his parents died. He grew up physically and emotionally neglected, abused and had no sense of identity. Later in life, his identity was forced upon him by the whole wizarding world. He was forced to fight and die. He was groomed to be a soldier and to have a survival and hero-like mentality. Harry and Lily might share their kindness or good heart, but their personalities, priorities, motivations, and behavior/thought patterns couldn't be more different.
harry potter is NOT james potter.
I love parallels. I love people reminding others of those they've lost along the way.
But Harry Potter is not James . And that is so vital to his entire character.
When people see Harry, they see James. They see a James who sees the world through Lily's eyes. When they see Harry, they don't see Harry.
And that is so vital to his entire being. It's vital to how people see Harry. The people that didn't know James, see the Boy-Who-Lived.
The people who did, who were close to Harry, to James, to Lily. They see James and Lily Potter. They see the people who died, people they were close to, people they miss every day but will never see again.
Remus, Sirius, Snape, McGonagall.
At first, they see James and Lily. And then when they meet him - apart from Snape- they quickly realise he is anything but.
Harry is not arrogant, rich, spoilt. He doesn't have an ego, he doesn't play pranks, he isn't a chaser, he doesn't pick fights.
Harry isn't exceptionally bright at everything he does, he isn't inconceivably forgiving for those who don't deserve it.
He is not Lily and James.
When peole write Harry as a golden retriever, as effortlessly good at everything, they aren't writing about Harry.
Harry who grew up not wanted. Harry who grew up believing something was wrong with him. Harry who was forced into the wizarding world with no knowledge. Harry who is as stubborn as a mule,. Harry who is loyal to a fault, who forgives those he loves, Harry who isn't his parents.
He has traits of them, their anger, their ability to love, and much much more.
BUT Harry Potter isn't them. He isn't the 'best of them both' he isn't James or Lily or Sirius or Regulus.
Harry Potter is Harry. Just Harry.
And that is why he doesn't get along ith Snape. That's why McGonagall believes Harry dragged Neville out for a joke in first year.
When people see Harry, they don't see Harry. And by writing Harry as somebody else, or as 'so-and-so's child' you're not doing the character justice.
'I want a complex character with complex relationships'
'i want an angry character'
'i want to read a book that makes me think'
you couldn't even handle Harry Potter.