Hermione is the star - proof was Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: Academic dishonesty

[Merry Kinsella]

No: HPFGUIDX 139666



irene_mikhlin at b...> wrote:
 OK, I've found a canonical proof that Hermione understands the principles behind the potions.<<

merylanna says:

in addition, didn't Lupin call Hermoine the brightest witch of her age he's ever met?  That's not the description of someone who grinds on end to compensate for lack of inherent brilliant.  I think Hermoine is inherently brilliant and that is why she's addicted to school.  She needs to feed her brain.  She's always making links, she's always catching on faster than anyone else.

Plotwise, JKR has said Hermoine (and Dumbledore) are useful, because if you want to establish something you use one of them.  The audience will immediately say "Hermoine read it in a book" and accept it as true.

This may have led some to believe Hermoine is a grind who is dependant on rote study/memorization to succeed.  But repeatedly throughout the books her native brilliance asserts itself, not just what she's memorized.  Her work in transfiguration is routinely ahead of everyone else - and that involves more than memorizing a formula.  She's the best spell caster in her year.  She makes logical leaps frequently.  It's useful that she has a massive store of learned information, but nobody is teaching her how to understand and use that information, as Hermoine does repeatedly.  


		
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