Hermione's ability to trust

[demeranville]

No: HPFGUIDX 33203

> My question is, what does this tell us about Hermione?  Harry and 
Ron have the typical schoolchild's instinct to keep everything from 
the adults - but Hermione's attitude is usually different - e.g. the 
Firebolt, the Marauder's Map.

In many ways, I can empathize with Hermione and see where she is 
coming from. Her personality is one ruled by logic and rules. She 
sets rules for herself and follows them. She sees adults not as the 
enemy as most kids her age do, but instead as those to trust and rely 
in. I think probably she is the only child or is substantially older 
than any other siblings she might have (can't remember which is 
true). Her parents probably have always treated her as an adult. (I 
say this because this is how I was brought up) This would make her 
behavior more adult like. I think she admires McGonagall and views 
Harry and Ron asking her as pestering her, which is completely 
abhorant to her as well as breaking the established rules, another 
huge sin to her. I think that she has yet to fully trust Dumbledore 
in the same manner as she does McGonagall, which is why she is 
hesitant to see the ally she has in him. The fact that the S.P.E.W. 
theme fades after this point, IMO, means that she recognizes that he 
is an ally for her and lets the subject drop. I think the whole point 
of S.P.E.W. is to show her developing social conscious. She wants to 
seek out those who know most about the things in life that she needs 
information on. She seems to be obsessive about getting every bit of 
information possible and sees adults as the means to her ends. She is 
more comfortable around adults and so, tries everything to stay in 
their good graces. 

Just my two knuts.

Meg