I know he did. And I'm not holding him responsible for his actions in Book 1. I actually think that's the most initiative he takes in the whole series in proportion to the information he has. He barely knows a thing but he knows enough to know that something is wrong and that he's gonna try to help out.

The reason this story works is because the characters are very human.

Humans also have some sense of self-preservation. And the fact that he just relies on luck so much is another thing that bothers me. When I was a teenager, I slacked off and didn't do what I should. But my life and the lives of those around me were never in mortal peril. So the comparison between Harry and normal teenagers doesn't apply. He's NOT normal. That's the firs thing we ever learn about him.