[HPforGrownups] Hermione's ability to trust

Fri Jan 11 21:15:31 UTC 2002

No: HPFGUIDX 33209

  dfrankiswork at netscape.net wrote: 
>>I have a question about Hermione.  In POA, when it first emerges that Harry does not have his uncle's permission to go to Hogsmeade, he and Ron decide that it's worth asking McGonagall anyway.  Hermione opposes this.  I have always been a bit puzzled by this, because I imagined logical Hermione could work out that if it really is dangerous for Harry to go, then McGonagall wouldn't permit it anyway.  If in fact it's all right with McGonagall, what basis does Hermione have for objecting?<<

The only satisfactory explanation I'm able to come up with is this: Hermione has witnessed several times that not only Dumbledore, but also McGonagall definitely have a soft spot for Harry. The examples coming to my mind immediately are:

1) PS/SS, Flying lesson: Harry who until some days before this event didn't even know that wizards existed nor that they flew around on broomsticks, had just put himself in grave danger by his reckless breakneck manoeuvre to catch Neville's Remembrall, but McGonagall not only doesn't expel him, but neither does she give him one single reprimand.

2) CoS: after the petrification of Mrs. Norris, it is quite obvious to the teachers present (well, not Lockhart, but he doesn't count anyway) that Harry is holding back some information that might mean potential danger for himself. When Snape suggests to use disciplinary measures to get it out of the boy, she contradicts him.

I'm sure that there is something else, but I think those two examples should be sufficient to prove my point: Hermione could simply be afraid that McGonagall, because of her somewhat softer attitude towards Harry, might think "Well, Hogsmeade is controlled by Dementors anyway and there's such a crowd of students there, why should I deny Harry this little bit of fun?" and simply give him permission to go, thus putting him in danger.

Not very convincing, I know, but the only explanation I can think of.

>>In GOF, when they visit the kitchen, Dobby makes it clear that Dumbledore's basic attitude to House-Elves is similar to Hermione's own: indeed he offers more pay and holiday than Dobby is prepared to accept.  Although the SPEW theme fades a little after that, the impression I get is that Hermione doesn't grasp that she has a potential ally in Dumbledore, or wonder whether he can teach her anything about how to go about such things.<<

First, Hermione might see Dobby's situation as the exception from the rule: After all, Dobby is the only House Elf who actually *gets* payment, even if it seems that all the rest are being treated decently. If she has read "Quo Vadis" (heeheehee-wild guess, but possible), she might see Dumbledore like the enlightened Petronius who keeps a lot of slaves, treats them well, has one freedman (is this the correct English term??), but has never yet wasted as much as one single thought on freeing *all* his slaves. 

And then, Hermione really strikes me as a person who wants to do things on her own. She's not the type for second hand experience. She's started S.P.E.W., she goes through with it, without bothering to ask herself whether somebody else might have the same ideas and therefore eventually be able to give her advice.

BTW, what do you folks think of Harry's and Ron's loyalty to Hermione when it comes to S.P.E.W.? Frankly, I don't liek their attitude very much- it seems that they are ashamed of having such a stupidly idealistic friend and don't stick to her-  they don't wear their badges, having bought them only to silence her.

>>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.<<

That pretty much proves (at least I think so) what I said before: When McGonagall denies Harry the permission to go to Hogwarts, Hermione recognizes that she *is* reasonable when it comes to Harry putting himself in danger. Therefore, she isn't afraid any more that her Head of House might simply say:"Oh, Miss Granger, please don't fuss around, let the boy keep his broom, for God's sake, he's been through enough to deserve a little fun!"

Susanna/pigwidgeon37 

__________________________________________________________________
Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop at Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/

Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/

Yahoo! Groups SponsorADVERTISEMENT

________HPFGU______Hexquarters______Announcement_______________

Before posting to any list, you MUST read the group's Admin Files!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/files/Admin%20Files/

Remember to use accurate subject headings and to snip unnecessary material from posts to which you're replying!

Is your message...
An announcement of merchandise, news etc.? Send it to HPFGU-Announcements.
Movie-related? Send it to HPFGU-Movie.
Referencing *only* the books? Send it to HPforGrownups.
None of the above? OT? Send it to HPFGU-OTChatter.
Unsure? Other questions? Ask your personal List Elf or the Mods -- MagicalMods at yahoogroups.com

Unsubscribing? Email hpforgrownups-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
____________________________________________________________ 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. 

"And how come those portraits seem to be alive?"

"What'ya mean? All paintings move."

"No, they don't. We have lots of paintings in our villa, among them a real Chagall, and none of them..."

"And d'ya expect that something painted by a jackal will move? Now really..."

---------------------------------
Do You Yahoo!?
Get personalised at My Yahoo!.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]