Insecurity & Hermione

[Susan McGee]

No: HPFGUIDX 2599

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, Peg Kerr <pkerr06 at a...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer wrote:
> 
> > Hi --
> >
> > Dr M M wrote:
> >
> > > I also think Hermione is just as insecure as he is.  If she 
wasn't
> > > would she really be bragging about her knowledge in class the 
way she
> > > does?
> >
> > I don't have the perception that Hermione "brags" about her 
smarts, in
> > class or out of class.  She's always all too happy to volunteer 
the
> > right answers, in class & out of class.  But, in my mind, that's 
not
> > quite the same thing as "bragging."
> 
> You both have a point.  Hermione does have insecurities about her 
studies
> (remember what her boggart appeared as during Lupin's obstacle 
course/final
> exam?)  She overstudies and worries a great deal about upcoming 
tests.
> 
> But I also agree that she doesn't brag.  She never crows about her 
test
> results, and she although she can be tsk-tsky toward Ron and Harry 
when she
> thinks they aren't studying enough (or when they don't know 
something she
> thinks they should know--usually something from _Hogwarts, a 
History_), she
> is unfailingly kind to Neville in Potions class, always doing her 
best to
> protect him from Snape's bullying rather than agreeing with him 
that Neville
> is hopeless.
> 
> She's a smart student but not the most obnoxious kind.
> 
> Just the mildly obnoxious kind.
> 
> Peg



I like Hermione a great deal... Part of it is that she is far more 
mature than Ron, and somewhat more mature than Harry (typical of the 
girl/boy stuff between 12 - 14...my goodness Harry and Ron were a bit 
of a trial at the Yule Ball..one wishes for Mrs. Weasley to be there 
and remind them of basic courtesy!). But she also shows tremendous 
character development and personal development.

In PS/SS (can we mount a campaign for the U.S. editions to return to 
Philosopher's Stone..I find it incredibly irritating that it was 
changed. PS makes so much more sense) Hermione is bossy and 
irritating. She has "no friends" until the troll incident.

I think she then starts becoming more secure. She does NOT boast or 
brag about her academic progress, even when Remus Lupin tells her that
she's the cleverest witch of her age that he's ever encountered. 
She's flattered, but doesn't go around saying "I got 99 on the test; 
what did you get?" She is very helpful -- unfailingly kind to 
Neville, helping Harry with his spells, etc.

But she really blossoms in the books -- her suggestion of the 
Polyjuice potion, her determination to see it through, her 
willingness to break the rules...and THEN her pursuit of Rita 
Skeeter, her investigation, her initiative in dealing with the 
problem AND her ability to keep her mouth shut until the proper
time about it is really impressive.

Perhaps she will succeed Albus Dumbledore as Head of Hogwarts. 

Poor Minerva McGonagall is just not up for it, or she would never 
have allowed the Dementor to give Barty Crouch the kiss.

Susan


I think Hermione becomes much more secure