where his civilizations, including our own

I think the trouble is that Rowling doesn't do what children's authors are "supposed" to do, which is write Stories With Morals. She writes what it's actually like to be a kid and break rules and get away with it — not every time, but enough to think it's going to work every time. And there's a damn good reason for this: Stories With Morals are dead boring. If Harry was an obedient, considerate, conscientious, reliable, patient, kind, thoughtful, Good Little Hero, would he have a millions-strong fandom spanning all ages? Like hell!