[HPforGrownups] Ballistic Hermione

[Erika L.]

No: HPFGUIDX 64019

*lurker pokes head out of shadows and decides to add to deluge of emails flooding her inbox*

Greicy wrote:
  I would just like to ask anyone here if they thought that Hermione 
  was going to burst under all the pressure of regular school work, 
  O.W.L.'s, being a Prefect (although I quite didn't see if she and Ron 
  actually had any major duties), and dealing with Harry's 
  temperament.  I think she was one of the very few characters that 
  kept Harry under control.

  I thought she would have been the first one to go the hospital wing.  
  She can sure handle her pressure, no?


  Greicy

Yes she certainly handled things better than in PoA, didn't she? I suppose that's the point. One of the things that I love about the series is that you can indeed see characters grow and develop through its course. Part of Hermione's development as a character has been her ability to shift her priorities. She goes from "killed -- or worse expelled" in PS to "Don't worry about it" in GoF ["Ron and Hermione were supposed to be studying for exams ... but they were putting most of their efforts into helping Harry prepare. "Don't worry about it," Hermione said shortly, when Harry pointed this out to them" (GoF Canadian p528)]

    We see that same trend in OoP. She's able to handle exams, being Prefect, the general stress of Umbridge's reign of terror, and Harry's temper. I was really proud of Hermione in this book and of how supportive of Harry she was, despite his moodiness. Also, I enjoyed seeing her come up with successful ideas/plans such as the D.A. group, the Rita Skeeter article, the ploy when they'd been caught by Umbridge. And I think we see enough of her faux-pas to see her as less than perfect. Those awful study planners as Christmas gifts for instance-- good intentions, but an embarrassingly bad gift, and rather pushy too. Her blunder when dealing with the centaurs as another example. No, I think Hermione's far from perfect, but coming up with good plans and trying to help Harry has always been her role in the books and I think she plays out that role quite fully in OoP.

Well, just my two Knuts
Erika (Wolfraven)


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