Views of Hermione

[shmantzel]

No: HPFGUIDX 160407

> >>Eric:
>> As the originator (AFAIK) of the "Hermione Granger Is (or Will Be) Ever So Evil" theory, as well as the author of what I think is the definitive "Dark Hermione" story, "The Girl Nobody Knows---A Soliloquy" (up at Fanfiction.net and Fiction Alley), I think I can understand the people who don't like her or distrust her---even though I, myself, like her a lot and can identify with her in some ways. <<  <snip>
>> Between her ruthless streak and her self-righteousness, combined
with her ability to argue others down (it's not that she's necessarily right, but she's able to talk others into going along with her plans) Hermione could go Dark.  This doesn't mean she'd become a DE, even if she were eligible---there's too much bad blood on both sides for that to ever be a possibility.  However, she could become a sort of  "Oliver Cromwell" figure, imposing her own views on the rather anarchic Wizard World, possibly to its great detriment. <<

Dantzel:
I can never quite agree with the fact that Hermione is capable of
being dark or even a bad character, using various examples
of 'ruthless' or that she stole things (ie Polyjuice Potion).
Rowling did not create characters that were virtuous in all aspects
of their lives. She tried to make them real people, as I see it.

Think back to your days as a teenager - not 18, but 13 or 14. I, for
one, slapped a boy when I was that age when I got fed up with his
crap. I don't know anyone that hasn't been hypocritical at some
point in their lives.

To back this up with the HP world, look at Sirius. He was brave and loyal and at one point said "If you want to know the measure of a man, look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." But did he live up to that? Look at his treatment of Kreature. It was a mistake, yes, but everyone has a hard time getting over prejudices in their lives, both in the HP world and our real-life world. Rowling's characters are fallible. They scream at their friends, they talk back to their parents/guardians.

As to Marietta's face, remember that Hermione didn't target HER, she
put the hex on in case ANYONE betrayed the group. What they were
doing was dangerous but necessary in my opinion, and pretty much any
secret society has *some* way to keep track of its members, right? I
think Hermione's punishment (ugly face) is far less harsh than
Voldemort's (death).

All that was hopefully to point that despite imperfections, the
basic part of Hermione is good and decent. She is a little bossy,
yes, and she may be ruthless (I noticed noone berated her for
blackmailing *poor* Rita Skeeter), but she does what she thinks is
best, and she is much better at following the rules than most of the
school is (not to mention much more sensitive to people's feelings
than Ron or Harry).

Dantzel, who appreciates the integrity of Rowling who does not allow
her characters to be too perfect. :)