Hermione's memory

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 114056

Tina wrote:
> There is something up with Hermione's memory.  
> I've generally considered her very intelligent and able to 
> comprehend and retain what she has read but now I'm wondering if 
> there is more to it than that.  
> In OotP Professor Umbridge pp.223 Am pb, Hermione *quotes* DD's 
end of year speech from GoF and Ron wonders how she is able to do 
that.  
> She shortly comments that she *listens* and moves on but Ron is 
> still flummexed.  
> This exchange reminds me of any number of comments in PoA when Ron 
> says 'how can you be in two classes at once?!' and she shortly 
> replies 'Oh Ron...  of course I'm not' and the like.  She just 
> changes the subject and plows on.  
> I definitely think there is something to it but I'm not sure what 
it would be.  

Hannah now: I agree that Hermione has a very good memory, but I 
think this is just a natural ability of hers, with nothing more 
complex about it than that.  I have a photographic memory and 
sometimes freak people out by remembering things that they can't 
believe I would be able to recall.  Unfortunately, nothing very 
interesting is behind this ability, it's just something I can do.

I understand Hermione quickly carrying when Ron makes the comment 
about her memory.  I do the same thing myself.  It's embarrassing 
and usually irrelevant to the conversation anyway.  Ron may be 
amazed by her ability, but that's always the case when someone is 
able to do something much better (or more easily) than you can.  My 
brother is good at art, I am terrible.  I just can't comprehend how 
he can make things look so good, whereas he can't understand how I 
can be so bad.  

It's so easy to see conspiracy theories or 'more than meets the eye 
situations' everywhere in the books (I'm completely guilty).  But 
surely not everything is the result of some larger and more complex 
future plot line... or is it?

Hannah, who regrets that her memory doesn't extend to remembering 
where she last put down her keys.