[HPforGrownups] Convenient Plot Devices

[Betty Landers]

No: HPFGUIDX 43727


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barb P" <psychic_serpent at yahoo.com>
To: <HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 11:03 PM
Subject: Re: [HPforGrownups] Convenient Plot Devices
huge snip

Barb: Conjuring a Patronus is "very advanced magic," according to Hermione (who, incidentally, isn't even very good at flying a broom, so one hopes she'll eventually learn to Apparate).
Where is the cannon to suggest that Hermione isn't good on a broom?  We've only seen Ron and Hermione on brooms once; in SS, Ch. 16, when they both did the oposite of what Harry told them to do according to my book US. ED.
"    "We've got to close in on it!" Harry called, not taking his eyes off the key with the damaged wing. "Ron, you come at it from above -- Hermione, stay below and stop it from going down and I'll try and catch it. Right, NOW!"

    Ron dived, Hermione rocketed upward, the key dodged them both, and Harry streaked after it; it sped toward the wall, Harry leaned forward and with a nasty, crunching noise, pinned it against the stone with one hand. Ron and Hermione's cheers echoed around the
high chamber."
I don't see an indication that either one is a bad flyer, and Hermione is only mentioned when they take off and when she and Ron start cheering after Harry catches the key.
Also, back in Ch. 9, at their first flying lesson, none of them got to do anything while Harry was there because Harry ended up with Prof. McGonagall, so we don't know how that went.
Then, there's the flying on buckbeak.  Harry didn't like that, either, according to PoA ch. 6.
"    Without warning, twelve-foot wings flapped open on either side
of Harry, he just had time to seize the hippogriff around the neck
before he was soaring upward. It was nothing like a broomstick,
and Harry knew which one he preferred; the hippogriff's wings beat
uncomfortably on either side of him, catching him under his legs and
making him feel he was about to be thrown off; the glossy feathers
slipped under his fingers and he didn't dare get a stronger grip;
instead of the smooth action of his Nimbus Two Thousand, he now
felt himself rocking backward and forward as the hindquarters of
the hippogriff rose and fell with its wings."
What am I missing?
Betty