Hermione/ Rita in OoP

[Scott]

No: HPFGUIDX 59153

*red lights flash alarms sound-- LURKER ALERT*

I appreciate this different take on Hermione even if I don't agree 
with erm...all of it. Hermione is rather driven in an obsessive sort 
of way (Hermione a slytherin? there's a disscussion), but as I know 
has been discussed inumerable times, this tends to be attributed to 
her insecurities, which could stem from many different things.  For 
one Hermione *is* muggle born and hasn't had the easiest time of it, 
from Draco etc.  In GoF she tells Harry that Ron is jealous, but I 
wonder if she isn't slightly as well...after all Hermione's academic 
accomplishment (not that this is canon, but it makes sense from a 
personal standpoint) is probably more envied than revered. 

However, since House elves are another post, your point that I 
wanted to refute isn't the above, but-

Melody wrote:
"But the reason I fear Hermione the most is because of her actions 
with Rita Skeeter in GoF.  That is down right obsessive.  Once 
Hermione decided to go after Rita, she did not stop until she has 
her.  The worse case of this is when Hermione captures her.  At the 
moment when she does capture the Beetle!Rita, Hermione *should* have 
been worried about her best friend Harry.  Instead, that stupid 
reporter is still on her little obsessed mind and Hermione is 
looking around for her. She is so engaged in looking for Rita that 
when she find her, Hermione was overjoyed and slammed her hand 
around the beetle interrupting a deep, loving hug which her best 
friend needed.  Hermione was too into finding Rita that she forgot 
what was more important."

Me:
--Ok, yeah I'll admit Harry has *obviously* been through a 
tremendous ordeal, and Hermione could've been more sensitive, but 
there is NO WAY that her quick thinking which led to capturing Rita 
was not helpful to Harry. You're either forgetting what Rita has 
just heard- enough information to discredit Fudge or frame Harry as 
a murderer (which I'm still afraid she'll do, but more on that) and 
reveal Sirius AND probably have Dumbledore permanently removed...I'm 
rereading GoF but have yet to get to this part and it's been awhile 
so bear with me....Hemione was, if anything, doing a great service 
to Harry by stopping Rita.   

Melody wrote:
"Then we have Hermione's famous imprisoning of Beetle!Rita.  Hmm, 
she has problems with the enslavement of house elves, but she does 
not mind holding a transfigured human in a glass jar with a leaf to 
eat until *she* chooses to let them go.  Hermione was even showing 
off her trophy to Harry and Ron in the train."

Me:
--Yes, but Rita is dangerous at this point and has the potential to 
do great harm to Hermione and many people about whom she cares.  I 
do agree that Hermione is being foolish to think that her blackmail 
of Rita will keep her quiet indefinitely, but this is more because 
we know so many unregistered anamagi that I doubt the punishment for 
such can be *that* great. I hope that this doesn't mean more trouble 
for Hermione in the future, but it does seem likely. I don't, 
however, think that Hermione is all that frightening....

Well if I think of anything else...

cheers,
Scott