Why did Hermione lie?

[jodel at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 51557

I get the digest form so someone may already have taken this tack. I operate 
at a bit of a time lag.

Why did Hermione lie? Well, what was served by the lie?

I think that this was the point that we were handed our first clue as to just 
why Hermione isn't in Ravenclaw. 

Because as everyone is pointing out, there certainly was no reason for a lie 
at all. With cooler heads and a bit more exchange of information, the whole 
incident could have been glossed over with all three of them comming out 
sounding perfectly innocent, and the boys would have still picked up their 
points for bravery. 

So we *are* all at the same starting point, that there was no good reason to 
lie.

So why did she do it? 

Because; here they three are, somewhere where they authorities did not want 
them to be (never mind how innocently, these are the *authorities* after all) 
being confronted by both Snape AND McGonagall, neither of which is giving 
them any feedback on the "oh you poor children!" wavelength, and, never mind 
the facts, all three of them *feel* in the wrong. 

Remember, Hermione has not yet been told that everyone was sent back to their 
dorms when the troll was reported. From her point of view, she was sniveling 
in the bathroom, and a troll broke in -- almost immediately followed by 
rescuers. No one has had a chance to coordinate their information yet.

So what does Hermione do? She reasons that is was her fault that they are 
here (in a *girl's* bathroom) in the first place, so she jumps in to take the 
blame and keep the boys out of trouble. With a stupid story and unnecessary 
to boot, but by ghod if anyone is going to be blamed, it was *her* fault, 
damnit! She pays her debts.

And some people wonder why she's in Gryffandor.

-JOdel (who wonders how long it took Hermione to wander into the wrong 
bathroom and come face -to-shade with Myrtle and decide that sniveling in the 
bathroom is *not* a workable solution to what's bothering you...)