Why do we have this inclination to rebel? Why is it that when someone tells us not to do something, we want to do it?
I am not condoning law breaking or giving your parents a hard time, but isn't rebellion essential to our character development? Maybe I am the only one. Maybe I just have the personality to break rules I don't agree with. However, in Harry I see that his rule-breaking atypical of the "bad-boy" character so many girls pine after. I see his rule-breaking as noble, as scientific, and in him is the makings of a great leader.
Now, Hogwarts is a well-run educational system with clear rules that are strictly enforced. Professors like Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape are constantly policing students for violations to these rules that are taken very seriously. Even Dumbledore who radiates the familiar and gentle welcome speech to the first-year students, turns his tone to stern as he reminds the students about the prohibition of visits to the Forbidden Forest and the third-floor corridor. Yet in the way these rules are presented, we wholeheartedly agree with them, because they do not seem arbitrary or unfair. We would not want to wander in those dangerous abodes nor would we want young inexperienced wizards to roam freely without control.
Even so, it becomes clear to us that Harry is unable to abide by the "status quo" and follow the rules. After Madame Hooch has just commanded that no one is allowed to fly until she returns, Harry does not even hesitate to chase after Malfoy to retrieve Neville’s remember-all. Harry wears the invisibility cloak to explore the restricted books section of the library. He enters the third-floor corridor, all though he knows it is forbidden. He never rats out Hagrid, although he knows that he broke the rules. Instead, he actually helps him!
Yet I never thought of Harry’s occasional rebellions against the rules as vices or a cry for attention. Actually, Harry does not like all of the attention he gets. He is humble at heart and only seeks the honest love of true friendship and family. Every single time he breaks a rule, his intention is to do the "right" thing. He defends Neville because no one should be belittled. He never tells on Hagrid, because he knows Hagrid's heart and he is loyal to him. He ventures into those forbidden areas (somewhat accidental) to question all beliefs to come to the truth. Instead of characterizing him as the "bad boy," his rebellion enhances his heroism. He is heroic because he is able to think for himself, make his own judgments, and follow his intuition.
In contrast to Harry, J. K. Rowling embedded the perfectionist character of Hermione, who in the beginning never breaks a rule, and is annoying to all of us. My favorite line is "we could have been killed... or even worse, expelled!" However, when she eventually lies to a professor, she demonstrates her loyalty to her new friends and that she can transcend the rules too. Although Rowling's message is that rules are good and necessary to keep order in the world (or else you become the Malfoys and Voldemorts of the world), but sometimes it is necessary to question and even break the rules for the right reasons. A scientist questions previously held thought. A true leader takes responsibility and will do the right thing, even if it means going against previously laid out rules. In moderate rebellion, Harry develops his noble character.
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