Hermione's Imminent Crisis (??)

[Sandi Steinberg]

No: HPFGUIDX 35074

Fiat Incantatum wrote:

"if Harry takes up with Cho (in any capacity closer than the previous books 
.....>have shown), Hermione is all set to have a Serious Self Esteem Crisis 
...>here's someone who's smart (Ravenclaw, remember?), cute, popular, has 
Harry's >eye (or whatever) AND plays a dynamite game of Quidditch.  And 
she's *nice*, >which makes it even worse, and everyone feels sorry for her 
because of Cedric.
>
  Well, I don't think so, personally.

  Like all girls her age, H has begun to think about her looks.  Society 
lets a little girl know very early in life is she is pretty of not, and with 
Draco humiliating her--now for her looks as well as her Muggle family--H 
defies her parents' (dentists') opinion and has some cosmetic dentistry done 
that really improves her appearance.

  The hair cosmetic does the same for her somewhat "bushy" hair; 
nevertheless, H makes a rational decision that it's too much bother to go 
through every day.  In other words, she doesn't NEED this cosmetic help to 
feel secure.  The most important thing to her is her studies, which seems 
very healthy to me in a 14-year old girl.

  Also, I can't help but feel that even tho' H wasn't attracted to Klum, his 
interest in her was VERY flattering and she's much too smart and observant 
not to notice that other boys (read: Ron) began to look at her a little 
differently....

  In the space of the 4 books, H has become less judgmental and less of a 
pill.  She's been a brave and loyal friend, and by GoF, both Harry and Ron 
have come to respect and to VALUE her diligence and researching abilities, 
even tho' they still find her academic intensity hard to understand.  
Everyone has grown up a lot and become more open and tolerant of everyone 
else's passions.

  As for a serious ACADEMIC rival, well, that is kind of interesting to 
pursue....a transfer student from Beauxbatons or Durmstrang, perhaps...

  Of course, if H met another girl as diligent as herself she might just 
have a new best friend with whom she could share her interests in the 
history of magic, Hogwarts, etc. without being scoffed at by "the guys."  I 
think there would only be a crisis if the new character turned out to be 
(for conjecture) Draco's nasty, never before seen twin sister.....Drusilla, 
anybody????

Sandi Steinberg
Arlington, VA