The Boy Who Lived, But Didn't Share: Was Harry Potter Stingy with His Money?
Harry Potter, the boy who lived. An icon if there ever was one. Even the very few people who have not read the books or seen the films, still know exactly who Harry Potter is.
There is a lot to love about Harry. Saved by his mother's love, the one wizard destined to save the world from the darkest of the dark, Voldemort. Raised by awful muggles, he still managed to turn out sweet, polite, and kind. And even the difficult events of his life did not harden him beyond caring for his friends.
But there is one thing fans have noticed about Harry which is hardly a redeeming quality. We all remember the scene where Harry learned he was wealthy. That vault opening at Gringotts Wizarding Bank revealed a literal fortune in gold that was all Harry's. And of course, we remember his generosity when he first met Ron, the boy who would become his best friend…
On their first train ride to Hogwarts when the sweets trolley came around, he splurged using his pocket full of gold to treat himself and Ron. But for reasons that fans do not seem to understand, that was the beginning and the end of Harry being generous with his money.
Ron and his family were well-known for being poor, but they managed to scrape past. However, there were several occasions where Harry could have whipped out his money and spared his best friend a lot of pain and shame.
Remember Ron spending an entire school year with a broken wand? And that his wand only broke because he helped Harry get to school in his family's flying car. Why did Harry not simply buy Ron a new wand?
And fans are livid at those hideous (albeit hilarious) antique wizard robes Ron had to wear to the Yule Ball. Harry could easily have helped him out with some stylish robes but instead chose to laugh at him with the rest of their friends.
He was also gifted his first broomstick, which broke in his fourth year and which he does not replace. So, he is not only stingy with his friends, but also with himself.
This all seems to directly contradict the actions of a young wizard with lots of money. Some fans have noted that Harry grew up poor until he came into all his money and so perhaps he does not consider his money when things pop up that he could just buy.
But this does not explain his eagerness to buy a trolley full of sweets. Did he somehow forget he had all this money? Fans do not seem to have an answer to this question so it is one to ponder.