Hermione's perfections (was CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 9)

[Berit Jakobsen]

No: HPFGUIDX 88687

David wrote:  
> I think the likely occasion for that fall will be her use of the 
> name 'Voldemort' in conversation.
> 
> I believe that the evidence of OOP is most easily understood as 
> implying that there is a genuine reason for taking care about when 
> you use Voldemort's name.  This has been perverted by the bulk of 
> the Wizarding World into an unreasoning superstition (literally 
> unreasoning: in all his reactions, Ron never once says why one 
> shouldn't say the name).  Dumbledore and the other members of the 
> Order presumably understand the nature of the danger, and 
presumably 
> also consider that Harry, who has special protection, can safely 
say 
> the name.
> 
> In the context of Occlumency lessons, however, that may not be 
> true.  Snape is opening Harry's mind, so Harry, linked as he is to 
> Voldemort, may be peculiarly exposed at these times.  Or Snape, 
> through the Legilimency link, may be vulnerable though Harry is not.
> 
> Dumbledore would therefore be right to, for example, upbraid 
> McGonagall for giving in to superstition because she can be assumed 
> to know what the conditions for safely saying 'Voldemort' are, 
while 
> Snape would be right to caution Harry in a different situation.
> 
> What might be the nature of the danger?  That's hard to say, but it 
> occurs to me that 'Voldemort' may double as a spell (and the 
> pronunciation of the final 't' may therefore be a plot point, cf 
> Wingardium Leviosa' and other spells).  As for what such a spell 
> might do, any suggestions?
> 
Berit replies:

I don't think so. I believe there really is only one reason why 
wizards won't say the name "Voldemort": Superstition, based on fear
(if one doesn't count the risk of saying it in front of a gang of 
angry Death Eaters only too willing to curse you for insulting their 
Master :-). It's hard to read something else into Dumbledore's words 
I think:

Quote: "Call him Voldemort Harry. Always use the proper name for 
things. Fear of the name increases fear of the thing itself." (PS p. 
216 UK Ed). Sounds like a universal rule to me, not one that only 
applies to Harry (and Dumbledore).

And it's not only Hermione who copies Harry and Dumbledore and has 
started using the name of Voldemort; if I remember correctly other 
Order members has too, like Lupin.

I think Hermione will run into trouble because of her firm belief in 
her own brain, but I don't think daring to say the name "Voldemort" 
will be it...

Berit, who always fights relentlessy against superstition whether it 
be in the magical or the muggle world :-)
http://home.no.net/berjakob/snape.html