Am I the only one...

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 134985

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jlnbtr" <jlnbtr at y...> wrote:
> Milz wrote:

> Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that, even though Hermione is very 
> smart, she doesn't have the ability to think abstractly, to invent, 
> create... She can't think outside the box.
> 
> Juli

Milz responds:
Exactly and that's what limits her in terms of intelligence and sets
her in a different league than HBP and Fred and George. Fred and
George are able to invent new jinxes or devise things by practical
application of their magical knowledge. Even Hermione has to admit in
HBP that some of the jokes and jinxes are use a very advanced magic.
Yes, she can recognize it's advanced magic, but that's about all.
Which leads to
.

Jocelyn says:
I would have liked her to examine the Prince's notes. Figuring out why
their innovations were more effective than the official text would be
really instructive and even helpful for her NEWTs. I would have liked
her to examine the notes and spells contained within to see what Harry
was being exposed to
.
 Milz responds:
Hermione's examination of the book was merely a spell. However, it
would have shown a more `answer seeking' side of her if she had indeed
tried to figure out why HBP notations worked. But we don't get that
from her. Instead we get the "follow the rules, if it's not in the
official version, the information isn't valid" attitude----it's that
kind of attitude that stifles creativity and innovation. Again, the
"greats" were the ones who thought outside of the constraints of the
mainstream. Harry Potter will get his own Wizard card for the one who
defeated Voldemort. AndI think Fred and George are deserving of a
Wizard card too. 

Michal says:
just in hermione's defense, i think it's important to remember that
she's not *only* book smart. in OotP, she very accurately interpreted
umbridge's comments at the start of term feast, telling harry and ron
that the ministry was interfering at hogwarts. we should also keep in
mind that she was able to separate her combined poison in slughorn's
class to try and come up with the antidote. that, to me, seems like an
advanced application of concepts learned, rather than simple
regurgitation of facts read in a book.

Milz responds:
I'll give her the ability to read some people (I'm reserving her
ability because the jury's still out on Snape—Rowling has given
herself enough leeway to make an convincing argument for either
outcome). But let's look at the antidote. Way back in PS/SS, Rowling
teaches us the use of a bezoar.  Does Hermione retain that
information? No. A person who "really knows their stuff" will be able
to recall small details like that and apply that knowledge.  

Michal:
as for the fact that she seemed to struggle a bit in the advanced
potions class, i can speak to that. i always had a really easy time
with math at the simple levels. i never had to work all that hard at
it, so that by the time i got to the AP level in my last two years of
high school, it was suddenly like, "what? this isn't supposed to be
hard!" i understand her frustration at a new-found difficulty with a
subject that used to come easy to her.

Milz responds:
And I've been in that same boat too.  And it's shown to me that my
aptitude in that subject isn't as great as I believed it to be. It's a
blow to one's ego, naturally. But it's a reality check. On the other
hand, I've continued to do well in other subjects—in fact to the point
where the material makes more sense and to the point where I can
figure something out because I'm familiar with the nature of its
components.

Again, no one is saying Hermione is a dumb as a rock. But she's not in
the same league as the HBP and the Weasley twins and this last book
has shown that. Will Hermione turn around in the next book:? Well, to
paraphase Ginny's comment about growning up with Fred and George, when
you read the Harry Potter books you realize that anything is possible.