Hermione's growth (long)

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 105635

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "davewitley" <dfrankiswork at n...>
wrote:
> Jim Ferer wrote:
> 
> > HERMIONE LEARNS COMPASSION
> > 
> > Hermione wasn't the best one to take troubled feelings to, was she?
> > Anything that didn't fit her "mind over matter" mindset was 
> dismissed.
> > As late as PoA her "rational" side got the better of her when
> > Lavender's rabbit was killed, although she cared enough about 
> Lavender
> > to at least look anxious.  I would really like to know the
> > soul-searching Hermione went through after that.
> 
> 
> Mostly I thought this a great post, but I have a different take on 
> the incident of Lavender's rabbit.  I'm almost totally with Hermione 
> on this one.  Trelawney is preying on Lavender (and Parvati), and 
> Hermione sees it, and is attempting to rescue Lavender.
> 
> Her compassion in the situation is signalled by the hesitancy with 
> which she broaches the subject.  As I see it, she is not insensitive 
> but rather feels that this issue is higher priority and takes the 
> risk of alienating Lavender and her friends.
> 
> Her weakness in the situation is her insecurity, that she feels she 
> has to intervene there and then.  I think her compassion is fine.

I see your point, but the older Hermione would have challenged
Trelawney's nonsense another time.  I'm sure Hermione knows now that
Lavender just couldn't absorb Hermione's point while grieving for her
pet.  We agree, though, Hermione's compassion is fine, and will become
more mature and wiser as time goes on.

Jim