Chp 19 is when Harry went through the ordeal with Quirrell to learn how to lose.
Chp 21 he lost the textbook reading contest with Hermione and acted like a whiny sore loser, suggesting that he hadn’t really learned much. He acted like such a brat that I had to assume that he’d failed to learn some basic social skills in his solitary homeschooled childhood (e.g., you should at least act like you’ve lost gracefully, by congratulating the winner and not complaining).
Chp 32 Harry seems to be trying to goad Draco and Hermione into cooperating with each against him in the battle, suggesting that he hopes that they work together to defeat him in the game, for the greater good (of Draco’s character and their relationships). It can’t happen, because the state of the game demands that Draco cooperate with Harry rather than Hermione in order to have a chance to win, but if Harry was considering it and hoping for it then that’s a good sign for his learning.
Chp 33 provides more support for this take on chp 32. Draco & Hermione threaten to cooperate against Harry if he accepts traitors, Harry openly proclaims that he’ll accept traitors and challenges them to cooperate, and Quirrell is surprised by Harry’s response. This makes the most sense if Harry is thinking outside the game and seeing his tactic as win-win: either he gets Draco & Hermione to cooperate (win in life), or they fail to cooperate and he has an advantage in the battle (win in the game).
Is Harry learning how to lose?
Chp 19 is when Harry went through the ordeal with Quirrell to learn how to lose.
Chp 21 he lost the textbook reading contest with Hermione and acted like a whiny sore loser, suggesting that he hadn’t really learned much. He acted like such a brat that I had to assume that he’d failed to learn some basic social skills in his solitary homeschooled childhood (e.g., you should at least act like you’ve lost gracefully, by congratulating the winner and not complaining).
Chp 32 Harry seems to be trying to goad Draco and Hermione into cooperating with each against him in the battle, suggesting that he hopes that they work together to defeat him in the game, for the greater good (of Draco’s character and their relationships). It can’t happen, because the state of the game demands that Draco cooperate with Harry rather than Hermione in order to have a chance to win, but if Harry was considering it and hoping for it then that’s a good sign for his learning.
Chp 33 provides more support for this take on chp 32. Draco & Hermione threaten to cooperate against Harry if he accepts traitors, Harry openly proclaims that he’ll accept traitors and challenges them to cooperate, and Quirrell is surprised by Harry’s response. This makes the most sense if Harry is thinking outside the game and seeing his tactic as win-win: either he gets Draco & Hermione to cooperate (win in life), or they fail to cooperate and he has an advantage in the battle (win in the game).