Discrepancy of skills

[Deb]

No: HPFGUIDX 147766

allie wrote: (snip)
  It's not like the subject is difficult 
> for Hermione - she masters those spells in the same way as 
> anything 
> else.  So what gives?
 
 
 Jen here, (snip)
 "bravery and quick-thinking but it also seems to require an 
> innate ability that Harry possesses but she does not".  (snip)

Deb (djklaugh) here
I agree Jen. As I see it Harry has learned his DADA so well it's 
become instinctive... he does not have to think very hard to know 
what would work best in any given situation - he just does the thing 
that seems to be the best response to the situation at hand. 
Hermione on the other hand still has to think things through before 
taking action.  Plus... as far as his OWL grades are concerned... 
Harry got extra credit for performing the Patronus spell and proving 
to everyone that he can indeed invoke a corporeal Patronus. While 
Hermione and the other DAs knew how to do a Patronus spell by the 
time OWLs came along no one else knew that they knew .... and they 
could not admit it or request extra credit for demonstrating the 
spell during the exam because Umbridge was there watching the 
testing.  

Allie wrote: (snip)
  "Despite being JUST LIKE his parents, Harry is, by most 
> standards, a slightly above average wizard with an aptitude for 
> one 
> subject.  He works very hard a lot of the time for even the basic 
> skills.  By rights, Harry really ought to have a little more 
> **natural** magical talent than he's written.  
 

> Jen here again:
> I really like the way that JKR has made Harry not the best of 
> students. You see all the time he can do the work, but most of the 
> time he doesn't give things like charms or transfiguration his 
whole 
> attention and therefore, looks mediocre. A typical student. But I 
> did see him get much more serious after his career discussion with 
> McGonnagal. He worked much harder, knowing what he'd need in order 
> to shoot for his goal. I think he has a great deal of natural 
> talent, just wasn't always interested in applying himself.
> Jen D>

Deb again: 
 James grew up in a loving wizarding family - and an apparently well 
off family at that. He was a child of priviledge and plenty. Plus he 
knew long before he went to Hogwarts that he was a wizard and 
probably knew he was strong in magical talent. He arrived at 
Hogwarts already confident in his abilities as a wizard and his 
physical abilities as well - LOL in fact over confident perhaps. 
Needed to be brought down a peg or two before he became a likeable 
fellow. 
 Lily grew up in a Muggles family - apparently middle class but also 
a family where she was loved and supported - one of the reasons 
Petunia was so furious with her was because their parents thought it 
was wonderful to have a witch in the family. She apparently arrived 
at Hogwarts confident in her self as a person if not in her 
abilities as a witch. 
 Harry, on the other hand, grew up with the Dursleys - unloved, 
unappreciated, with no knowledge of his heritage in wizardry. He 
came to Hogwarts from a background of emotional abuse, physical and 
mental neglect, and with not much confidence in his intellectual or 
physical abilities... and no knowledge at all of his wizarding 
abilities. And not even knowing until after he arrived at school 
that his parents loved him!!!  So in addition to having to learn 
about magic and the WW from the level of practically a 
kindergartener, he also has to learn that he is a very OK person, 
and gain confidence in his own unique gifts of mind, body, spirit 
and magic.   
 My guess is that when Harry finally puts it all together - when he 
finally becomes fully adult and fully a wizard - with the confidence 
in his abilities, knowledge that he is indeed loved and appreciated, 
and strength of character he's been developing during his time at 
Hogwarts... I'd bet he will be a wizard to rival even Dumbledore.   

Deb (djklaugh)