self-confident Hermione? Re: [HPforGrownups] Cho; It's time to defend Ginny! (some SHIP)

[Abbie <starling823@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52454

Suzanne wrote:
> I've seen several people mention that they see Hermione as
> very self-confident.
> 
> Is this how most readers interpret her personality?
> 
> Because I'm not so sure. Her over-drive to learn and be the
> best could also be a cover for insecurity.

I always saw Hermione's struggle to cover her insecurity as an 
*example* of her strength of will.  She is petrified of doing poorly 
academically.  Rather than risk failure in the one area she knows she 
can truly excel, she devotes everything to ensuring her success.  
While her motivation, perhaps, may be to cover her insecurities and 
fears of failure, at the same time one really does need to 
acknowledge the incredibly energy and dedication she puts into her 
studies -- as someone who was a "Hermione" all through school (one of 
my friends is convinced I'm what she would look like as an adult...I 
think she's been sneaking Bailey's behind my back!) I know, 
personally, how paralyzing insecurity can become if you let it, and 
how much one force of personality can be required to push through it, 
on top of the effort one needs to be such a success academically.  
Hermione may be many things, but paralyzed is not one of them.  
Petrified, on the other hand... =)

Abbie, who usually lurks, but thanks to the unexpected blizzard, is 
home from work, and relieved to be done shoveling out her driveway.