Hermione and DU (was: CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 33 - Fight and Flight)

[annunathradien]

No: HPFGUIDX 120316


> Vivamus wrote:
> Tammy, you are absolutely right that they are different in all 
those areas.
> DU is all of those things, and Hermione is not.  But when it comes 
to
> respecting other people's boundaries, I think they have a similar 
blindness.

I agree.  Hermione didn't bother questioning any other House Elves 
whether they wanted to be liberated or not, she just forces 
liberation upon them... and poor Dobby was cleaning Gryffindor Tower 
all alone because of her damn House Elf hats tossed everywhere.  
Which is why I'm anxiously waiting Harry tell her (hopefully in HBP) 
what her Hats have been doing to poor Dobby.  Perhaps this combined 
with her disastrous foot-in-mouth disease with the Centaurs in OOTP 
will get her to rethink some things.

I do think Hermione has the right sort of idea in the inclusion of 
House Elves in common liberties and unity, but she's going about it 
in a terribly heavy-handed sort of way.

I don't remember the exact quotes, I don't have the book with me, but 
wasn't there some dialogue between Lavender/Parvati and Hermione in 
regards to Firenze that could tie into this?  Lavender teasing 
Hermione betting she regrets quitting Divination (now that handsome 
Firenze is teaching it), Hermione replies with, "I never much cared 
for horses."  I always thought this statement rather drummed in 
Hermione's "Umbridge-ness".  It's a very dismissive comment.  Firenze 
is anything but just some horse.  He's far beyond.

> Just as Harry and LV have many similarities, even though they are 
radically
> different

I actually think Harry might have a few similarities to Fudge too 
(although no doubt the LV/Harry parallels are also there).  Both tend 
to depend too much on aide / advice from others.  Although both Fudge 
and Harry were - in their own ways - warring against Dumbledore 
throughout OOTP, neither of which can seem to really function without 
Dumbledore's aide (or perhaps in some cases, control/manipulation).  
DD pulls Fudge's strings just like he pulls Harry's.  In the case of 
Fudge and Umbridge (the seeming control she has over him), Hermione 
does seem to have a similar sort of persuasive ability with Harry.  
Certain things in OOTP seemed to be more Umbridge's doing than they 
did Fudge... Fudge a mere puppet to those smarter/more powerful 
around him.  Umbridge really seemed the brains in Fudge's regime... 
as Hermione is Harry's "conscience".  

Of course, a seeming difference between Umbridge and Hermione is that 
Umbridge seemed to have her own operations going on behind Fudge's 
back (seemingly for the good of the Ministry).  Sending the Dementors 
to Privet Drive to name one thing.  Perhaps trying to get Sybil 
*prophetess* Trelawney fired too.  I'd hate to think Hermione has 
done / is doing anything behind Harry's/Dumbledore's back we have yet 
to learn ... but I suppose you never know what JKR could write.

~Annu