Anonymouswizard researches Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

[pendell]

Looking forward to you picking it back up!

The difference between this story and the original is that the original was an average student who was most noted for his courage and warm heart, which was balanced by Hermione's brains and Ron's selfless friendship.

By contrast this Harry -- let's call him Harry* since he doesn't have a great deal in common with Rowling's original vision -- has a great deal more brilliance and intelligence, while being a far colder individual. He has some moments of kindness and gentleness, but as a rule "icy brilliance" , originally attributed to another character entirely, fits Harry* well.

So Hermione is not the brighter sister in this substitute family; she's a rival as both she and Harry* try to out-smart and out-compete with each other. Since Harry* values brilliance above all, is not terribly scrupulous, and is rather chilly, he has nothing in common with Ron. They are not friends and do not move in the same circles. Small wonder that the sorting hat almost put him in Slytherin, which really is a better fit even than Ravenclaw. Ravenclaws as a rule are a bit more interested in abstract knowledge; they don't have Harry*'s will to power. Harry* has good intentions, of course. Many would-be tyrants do. But unscrupulousness+coldness+scheming is a better fit for Slytherin.

So consequently he hits it off very well with Draco, who has all of those traits but is also from a magic Nazi family. Since they are both schemers and planners, they find themselves congeniel frenemies who can understand and respect each other.

There's a reason for Harry* to be this way, as will be spelled out in later chapters, to have brilliance far beyond what one would expect of an eleven year old, but it's a very different character, and a very different story, from the original.

Unfortunately, there is exactly one character in this story who Harry* can really respect as being his superior, someone he will really submit to -- but the problem with that kind of teacher is, you only get one lesson. The last one.

Respectfully,

Brian P.