"Slytherin" Hermione? (was Re: The Beetle At Bay)

[Susana da Cunha]

No: HPFGUIDX 112203


In a message dated 9/6/2004 6:02:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
susanadacunha at gmx.net writes:
I disagree that Hermione has *any* Slytherin traits:
Slytherin have a `thirst to prove themselves'

============
Sherrie wrote:
"I'm sorry to disagree, but these two statements contradict themselves.
IMHO, one of the defining characteristics of Hermione Jane Granger is her
thirst
to prove herself in this new world she's entered.  Whether it's her hand
waving
high enough to dislocate her shoulder in her very first Potions class, or
her 112% on her Charms test, or her three feet of extra essay - Hermione
wants
to be the best, and wants everyone to know it."
---------------

I'm sorry to disagree too, but I don't see her like that at all.
It's late and I have to work in the morning, so I won't try to find a quote,
but I'm sure JKR said (and it was my first assumption too) that Hermione has
fear of failure and that's why she tries so hard to be perfect. I would add
(on my own) that she wants recognition, as you said. Only not from being
'the best' but from being 'as good as she can be' - I don't think she would
object if others were as good as she is. Actually, she shows sings of
impatience when people don't keep up.
Being an intelligent and practical girl, she would love to ban mediocrity
from the world, but she also knows that would raise her standards for
herself and she fears it.

Susana
who *acted* much like Hermione at her age but obviously for different
reasons than Sherrie