[HPforGrownups] Re: In Defense of Harry (was OotP: One More Time)

[T.M. Sommers]

No: HPFGUIDX 74710

Susan Smith wrote:
> 
> him.  But, in SS, although H. solved the logic problem, Harry took 
> lead and instructed her to go back while he went on.  

Hermione also figured out the devil's snare first, and quickly 
enough to escape it.  It is also clear that if there had been 
enough potion for both of them to go forward past the logic 
problem, they both would have.

> Harry overcame 
> Q. and V. on his own. 

We don't know that; we don't know what Dumbeldore did when he 
arrived.  We do know that Dumbledore said that Harry nearly died. 
  It is possible that he would have had Dumbledore not arrived 
and attacked Quirrell (if that is what he did).

> In COS, H. took almost as long as the boys to 
> figure out the Basilisk

The boys didn't figure it out; Hermione alone did.  The boys did 
figure out where the entrance to the chamber was.

> caught in the cave in) to save Ginny and defeat Tom.  In POA, Harry 
> learned skills way beyond the OWL level, not Hermione and developed 
> his Patronus and held off 100 Dementors on his own.  Granted 
> Hermione's time turner came in handy, but Harry ruled.

Harry only drove off the dementors the second time around; had it 
not been for Hermione's time turner, they both were goners.

> Next, in GOF, 
> Hermione helped Harry train, he had help from Dobby and Crouch/Moody, 
> etc.  But, in the end, it was Harry who battled and came away 
> triumphant.  Too, this is truly the point where we see Harry's 
> mastery of DADA rapidly out pace Hermione.  He is formidable, and his 
> practical experience awesome.

Not really.  He only survived the encounter with Voldemort 
because of the business with the wands; his skills, or lack of 
them, had nothing to with that.

> Hermione could never accumulate enough practical experience to come 
> within a Quidditch stadium's length of Harry-AND she knows it.  Which 
> is why, being the brilliant girl she is-she decides to form DA and 
> recruit Harry as the leader.  

Nonsense.  What Hermione knows is that Harry does have more 
experience.  There is not the slightest reason to think that if 
Hermione had had the same experience she could not equal or 
exceed him.

> Keep in mind, in the "real" world 
> (MoM), Hermione falls quickly (probably lack of experience)She could 

By that logic, Hermione was far better than Sirius, because she 
was merely wounded while he was killed.  Being hurt in combat is 
as much a matter of luck as anything else; it does not indicate a 
lack of skill or nerve.  Or would you take back all the 
posthumous Medals of Honor and VCs that have ever been awarded?