OOP: Boys & Girls in the Potter World

[Sue Wartell]

No: HPFGUIDX 67572

Jenny said:

... Hermione - I adore Hermione but I couldn't relate to her then and 
can't relate to her so much now. ... Most of my friends worked extremely hard
 at school but often struggled with boys, worrying far more than Hermione 
seems to.  Teen girls can sit and analyze *every single* movement made by 
the cute boy.  I know I did  that endlessly, but Hermione seems not to be 
too bothered by what the boys think of her.  If she is bothered, she puts 
on the best act I've  ever seen.  ...

Me:

This is something I _can_ relate to, much better than I could to Cho.  I 
recognized Cho - I knew lots of girls who behaved that way, in high 
school and in college.  I was the odd one.  I just couldn't find 
anything interesting in the discussions of who smiled at whom, or who 
said what about which.  It just wasn't anything I cared about.  I had 
male friends, but no boyfriend, throughout my teens, and most of the 
time it just did not bother me - not an act, I simply didn't care. 
There were lots more interesting things to think and talk about. 
-- As I said, I was odd.  :-)

Also, in general, a thought about Harry and 15-year-old boys. - I am 
not one, nor have I ever been (obviously), but having lived with one for 
the past year, I do have some experience of the matter.  I will preface
this by saying that my son is generally a very sweet and cooperative 
person.  However, during the past year, he was clearly struggling with
frustration and anger at times, and would occasionally lash out at 
whoever was available, often in response to trivial things.  I remember 
doing the same sorts of things, at around that age, though I tended 
more to sarcasm than to shouting.  Harry has lots more reasons to be 
angry than most 15-year-olds. In real life, the emotional instability
passes with time.  I hope that it does in WW, too.

Sue