[HPforGrownups] Re: What is Hermione afraid of?

[Erika L.]

No: HPFGUIDX 80435

Susanne:
>But, as several other people have already >explained much
>better, it's not  really "a bad grade" or >even a whole bunch of bad
>grades that Hermione is afraid of.
>I, and others, feel Hermione's boggart >stands for failure on
>a much deeper level.

    I agree with this. Failing all her classes may be part of her fears, but I, too, think it goes much deeper than that. In fact, when Hermione tells Harry and Lupin what her boggart was, she never actually mentions grades:

    "P--P--Professor McGonagall!' Hermione gasped, pointing into the trunk. "Sh--she said I'd failed everything!" (234 UK)

    It says *everything*, not all her classes, not all her exams. Everything. If Harry's boggart represents the fear of fear itself, I think Hermione's represents a fear of failure in its broadest sense. Not a fear of failing in one specific area, but the fear of _being_ a failure, of disappointing those one admires or cares for and of thus losing their respect and love. Failure in its most overwhelming sense, just as Harry's fear of the Dementors is the fear of _fear_ and not of a specific cause of fear.

    That's why I don't think the Dead!Harry boggart is necessary. It would certainly make for a heart-wrenching scene as did the scene with Mrs. Weasley's boggart. But I don't think it's likely because Hermione's fear of failure would include Harry's death. Hermione so often seems to take it upon herself to be Harry's guardian, to look out for his best interests even when he won't, thus the nagging about homework, about taking unnecessary risks, and so on. I think on some level Hermione feels she must protect him, or at the very least help him to stay in one piece through everything. After all, this has been an important part of her role throughout the series. From solving the potions puzzle at the end of PS to helping him train for the Triwizard tasks, to simply preparing the essence of murtlap for his injured hand in OoP, Hermione is always helping Harry. I'm sure that if anything happened to him Hermione would, on some level, see it as a failing on her part. So really, Dead!Harry would just represent failure in its grandest sense.

Just my two knuts
Erika (Wolfraven)




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