hermoine+ the boggart

[Grey Wolf]

No: HPFGUIDX 80711

sarcasticmuppet wrote:
> I've always wondered why Hermione decided to lie to Mcgonogal.  She 
> could have just said "I was in the bathroom and missed the 
> announcement about the troll.  Harry and Ron noticed I was gone and 
> went to look for me.  Fighting ensued."  It was honest, with the 
> possible exception of excluding the fact that Harry and Ron ran her 
> into the bathroom crying in the first place.
> --sarcasticmuppet--

I did a post on this subject quite some time ago (unfortunately, I 
don't keep the number, so I'm afraid chances of finding it in yahoomort 
are close to nill - sorry).

What it came down is: Hermione *knows* the boys are breaking rules. She 
owes them for saving her life, and thus decides to keep them out of 
trouble. The best way to do this is by shifting all possible blame onto 
her, so if things are so bad that someone is expelled, it is she the 
one fingered and thus can repay them for saving her life. She doesn't 
know how much trouble they are in, so just in case plays a strong hand 
with a stronger bluff to get them out of trouble.

This is coupled with the fact that Hermione doesn't know *why* those 
two found her in the first place. After all, to Hermione, they are just 
two boys that hate her and insult her and don't want anything to do 
with her ("It's no wonder no one can stand her. [...] She's a 
nightmare, honestly", ch. 10, PS, Br. Ed.). Hermione knows full well 
she isn't liked - so why would these two (in her eyes) annoying brats 
be in the bathroom? 

It cannot be to save her - they are idiots who don't care for her 
(again, in her eyes). So they have to be there in a stupid attempt to 
play "catch the troll". And if this is the case, and they foolishly let 
it be known, they could be in *major* trouble. Quick solution? Say it 
was her idea, thus getting the blame herself.

This theory does hinge on Hermione thinking the worst about Ron and 
Harry, which I think is very possible at that point in the books, and 
Hermione being pressed into answering and thus not able to come up with 
a more satisfactory solution, thus blurting out whatever is in her mind 
that would be enough to shift blame on to her.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf