Hermione

[Trina]

No: HPFGUIDX 17333

Demelza wrote:
> 
But this raises the questions why Hermione studies so much when she 
clearly knows the material and why would her greatest fear be to fail 
classes? It could be that Hermione equates her self-worth with her 
grades. But then, why should she equate her self-worth with 
*academic* success? In other words, what is the origin of this and 
how does this affect Hermione's interaction with others? This opens a 
can of worms concerning Hermione's psyche and can explain how she 
regards/treats others. 
> 

Remember, now, that Hermione's boggart of Prof. McGonagall came at 
the end of a very highly stressful year for her.  She was taking 
every class that Hogwarts offered, using the Time Turner, and trying 
to help out Hagrid in his appeal to save Buckbeak.  She was tired all 
the time.  And I don't know about the rest of you, but when I'm that 
exhausted I don't trust myself or what I know to be true.  At that 
moment, the last exam of the year, she was most likely on the edge 
and was worried that she had over-reached and wouldn't pass any of 
her classes.  I also think that the Crookshanks-Scabbers affair was 
an extension of this exhaustion.  If she hadn't been so tired and 
overworked, she may have noticed that something was amiss in the way 
Crookshanks was acting towards Scabbers.

I see Hermione as a person who Just Likes To Know Stuff.  Especially 
in the wizarding world since she is a relative newcomer.  She grew up 
in a Muggle household, probably by parents who encouraged learning, 
reading, and finding out the "why" of things, so Hermione wants to be 
prepared for this whole new world.  I don't think that she equates 
her self-worth with her academic success, otherwise she'd do more 
bragging about it.  I think she gains personal satisfaction from a 
job well done.  She may also be trying to prove that she, a Muggle-
born, *belongs* in this world.  

As for her treatment of others, let's look at how she treats 
Neville.  It is always with the utmost kindness.  She is the one of 
the three who notices how horrified he looks after the DADA lesson 
with the Unforgivable Curses.  She helps him out in Potions.  I think 
she is also the only one of their class who is closest to Neville.  
I'd like to think that if she hadn't already said yes to Krum, she'd 
have gone to the Yule Ball with him.  

Sorry if this thread has come to an end, but I was out of town for a 
week and am now in the process of catching up with 1000 messages here!

Trina