Person coming to magic late in life/Hermione in potions class (was Re: Am I

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 135047

Julie: "Julie says: I don't know if this has been brought up yet, but
there is one factor in Harry's "besting" Hermoine in Potions class
that must stick in her craw. Harry is basically cheating. If Harry
suddenly developed a real talent for Potions, and was regularly
beating Hermoine, I think Hermoine would be a bit jealous but she
would certainly acknowledge Harry's abilities and effort (as she does
with other things like DADA)."

How much cheating is it? Harry's just getting better instruction than
the others with his "enhanced" textbook. He's still doing the work. He
wouldn't be able to make the potions at all if he had no talent, HBP
or not. He did get an "E" on his Potions OWL, after all. If Snape had
been a better man and teacher, all the NEWT students might have had a
copy of _Advanced Potions, Second Edition_, by Borage & Snape. If
Snape wasn't sharing his tricks of the trade then that doesn't speak
well of him as a teacher.

In the same vein, suppose that Harry had bought a copy of _Tricks of
the Potions Masters_, by Severus Snape?  Would he be cheating then?  I
think what makes what Harry's doing a bit dodgy is that the other
students don't have access to the same crib as Harry. Even if Harry
shared his tricks with the class, (100% legitimate), then there
wouldn't be any question.

It's a worthwhile factoid that Snape didn't share his discoveries with
the world at large.

Jim Ferer