The whole idea of mercy is the fact that I am NOT deserving of this. He gave his life to save me for his own glory, not mine. I am completely undeserving, and that is what makes his love so immeasurable and amazing. There is nothing in me that cooperated with him for my salvation, I was his enemy, and he reached down and by his sovereign election he made me love him.
Romans 5:8-10 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
The only thing that you might consider 'special' about human beings is that they all bear the image of God, as he created them.
OK. So, since you're contrasting this with Harry Potter, where in the HP books does it suggest that he really IS deserving of greatness? Heck, he had it thrust upon him at one year of age, through no action of his own.