Hermione as a Ravenclaw

[Emilynne]

No: HPFGUIDX 155641

> srhchttrsn:
> >>I don't know if this topic has already been discussed, but
> doens't it seem that Hermione has qualities better suited to
> those in Ravenclaw?
>
> Yes she is honorable and brave, but I feel that more than
> anything she is clever and intellectual. <<
>
>
> Marion:
> Hermione is not an intellectual in the Ravenclaw sense (and it's
not as if all Ravenclaws are geniuses; they value learning and
knowledge and think they are *right* about what they know, even if
it's, um, esoteric knowledge like the Rotfang Conspiracy) Hermione
doesn't read all her books because she's so immensely intrigued by
the knowledge of how things work (if that was true she would have
devoured the HBP potions book - instead she doggedly follows the
faulty instructions of the standard potions book) but because she
has a deep need to be admired. To be the best. To have *adults*
acknowledge her as admirable. That points her straight to
Gryffindor. It's not as if the Gryffs are all so very brave and
noble and stuff (they'd *like* to be), it's simply that the Gryffs
like to be admired. That means that they often will do things that
get them admired, such as heroic deeds. Slyths don't care so much
for admiration, they just want to succeed, whether people like them
or not. The power behind the throne? A Slyth. A Gryff would never
resign to be an anomynous, but powerful, force. A Gryff shouts "look
at me!" A Gryff cares what people think about them.
> A Ravenclaw doesn't care what people think, a 'Claw wants to be
*right*, and if all the world proclaimed him or her to be wrong,
s/he wouldn't give a damn as long as s/he firmly believed it (Luna
Lovegood, anyone?)
<snip>
>
> Hermione is definately a Gryffindor. She wants to be admired.
> <snip> Put Hermione in alone in a tower with nothing but books and
she'd go nuts. Nobody to *see* how clever she is? Then what would be
> the point in reading?


Emmy:
I can see the point you're trying to make, but I don't completely
agree. Yes, Hermione likes people to acknowledge her intelligence
and her book savvy but I do not belive this is her sole motivation.
I believe that she has a true desire for furthering her personal
knowledge and gets more out of learning than she does putting her
wit and abilities on display. It's human nature to want people to
recognize your efforts and praise you for them (everyone does this
in all of the houses), and Hermione is totally normal in this
regard. I do not believe that she was placed in Gryffindor in order
to be with a bunch of other pretentious and snotty kids (that's how
the Gryffindors you describe sound) to showcase her abilities.

We do not know as much about the prefernces and personalities of
Ravenclaws as we do Gryffindors simply because all of our main
characters are Gryffs. So for you to say that you know what
Ravenclaws would prefer and what characteristics define them doesn't
make sense.

I believe Hermione is suited as a Gryff because her loyalty and
bravery and her "take charge" attitude in the face of adversity, but
I still believe she would have made a prime candidate for Ravenclaw
if not for her lack of modesty (because admittedly she is not at all
humble about her abilities), than for her love of knowledge and
problem solving.

I believe it was more the friendships and personal relationships
that were formed that placed the children in their houses. Because
if each student was examined beyond the surface they would each have
desires and characteristics that would be great for any of the
houses.

-Emmy