Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Trending News

Promoted
Singinganddancing
Lv 6
Singinganddancing asked in Arts & HumanitiesBooks & Authors · 1 decade ago

In Harry Potter Hallows... when he's leaving Privet Drive for the last time...?

... why didn't he do two things differently: (1) let Hedwig out to find her own way, so she didn't have to die (what a terrible way for such obviously talented owls to travel!), and (2) when the Firebolt fell, why didn't he do a summoning charm to get it back? Hermione states (I believe) in book 4 that the distance can be quite far, as long as you know what you're summoning.

I was so sorry to see him lose those two, but particularly out of stupidity.

Update:

I hear you about Hedwig, HPB, but I don't think it holds up because there were never any prohibitions against Hedwig coming and going as she pleased from the wizarding world, only from the Dursleys. And she always went hunting some when she was there. I think if Mad Eye was as smart as he seemed he would've told him to send Hedwig on her own power to the Weasleys a week ahead of time and had them keep her.

Update 2:

And don't you think it would've been a good idea for him to summon the Firebolt while he was trying to keep the sidecar in the air? Harry could've outflown the death eaters and Voldemort so easily, the transport was such a bad job!

Update 3:

I absolutely love Rowling and the books. But panicked though he was, I think Harry would've wanted nothing more than a broom when he was dangling in the air like that, and I think he would've thought of it.

But I love to hear what everyone has to say about this... thank you!

Update 4:

I think Harry's smart! He's not as brilliant as Hermione or Dumbledore, but I really DO think he's smart. Hmm... now let me figure out why I think that...

All right, the way he puts the pieces together about the Hallows indicates that his reasoning ability is definitely stronger than your average bear. He's smarter than Ron (except at chess). And he pairs strong leadership with judgment, which is a form of intelligence as well, and which Hermione doesn't really have as much of (although Dumbledore does of course).

Update 5:

And Hedwig's a girl. :-)

3 Answers

Relevance
  • ♥Half Blood Princess♥
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    If hea had let Hedwig fly, it might have alerted others that it really was Harry, and gave it all away. And im pretty sure Harry thought it would be safer to keep hedwig in his cage.

    He didnt summon his firebolt because he was being attacked!!! His life was in danger and he really wasnt focused on that. Think about, your brrom or your life? Harry is rich. He knows he can just go buy another one. And its not like hes going back to Hogwarts anyway.

    I was so upset when Hedwig died. What was the point of killing her!!

    ~Finally, a Harry Potter question!!! Thank you. Ive been dying to see one~

    EDIT~~~~~~~~~

    You make really convincing arguments but the truth of the matter is that Harry is just plain not smart. Hes no Hermione. Any person with common sense would have tried to summon the firebolt and fly but Harry was in a state of panic and I think he thought he was more safe in the sidecar. And if i remeber correctly, the firebolt fell around the same time as Hedwig died right? I think he was more worried about Hedwig.

    With the hedwig thing, i still think it made more sense to keep him in his cage. Hedwig is bright white and it was a dark night , he easily could have gaven away their position. if Hedwig was flying, he would have made an even easier target. However, it definetly would have made more sense to send him away a week beforehand

    EDIT AGAIN~~~~

    WOW HEDWIG'S A GIRL!!!!!! Ive thought she was a boy for years now!!! Wow, i guess you learn something new every day.

    I dont mean to say that Harry isint smart. He is but I mean hes not msart in the way when it comes to common sense. He has a completely different way of thiinking, Its like Luna. Shes not stupid, but she has a unique way of thinking also.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    As you may have already noticed, J. K. Rowling did her best to show the readers the truthful, real, human image of the characters.. Harry is not as smart as Hermione, although he figures out many things on his own. What is more, it is quite impossible to think clearly when you're panicking. He was under stress all that time, if I remember well... If I were him, I wouldn't do any better, I reckon...

  • Lyra [and the Future]
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    1. Well, I guess he didn't think about that. They supposed they'd be travelling safely because they had so much protection, so I don't think any of them were really thinking about the bird.

    2. Again, I don't think he was really thinking. Harry's amazing and everything, but he's not the brightest.

    I was sorry to see them go, too. Especially Hedwig.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.