Views of Hermione

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 160488

Michael wrote:
> 
> ...and why should she not wish to disfigure a horrid sneak? She did this
> deliberately, knowing the consequences. This is life and death for
> members... where they could be put in Azkaban prison for their
actions. She's the first one to realize this is not just a game, but
it's real life.
> 
> She was always the smartest of them all.
> 
> 
> I can't buy that H deliberately has harmed anyone. She is a genius,
and that feeds her ego.
> 
> Where has she done harm? I'm trying to find references to
disfiguring others and so forth.  <snip>

Carol responds:

It is not Hermione's right or responsibility to "disfigure a horrid
sneak," who, AFWK, thought she was doing the right thing. Hermione
didn't warn anyone of the jinx (surely they should have known that the
parchment was a binding magical contract), nor did the jinx serve as a
deterrent to snitching. It activated *after* the snitching had taken
place. I think that Hermione, as usual, thought she knew best, and I
really think she ought to have made some attempt to undo the excessive
damage to Marietta (who appears to be horribly disfigured for life for
a mistake she made as a teenager). Note that Marietta has been
Obliviated and doesn't even know what she's being punished for. What
is the use in that and how is it Hermione's right to act as judge,
jury, and punisher all in one? If Marietta dis wrong, let Dumbledore
or her Head of House (Flitwick) punish her, not a fellow student. A
deterrent is one thing; an after-the-fact punishment is another.

And Hermione does have a ruthlesss, vindictive, revenge-seeking
streak. "I'll get that Skeeter woman if it's the last thing I do!"
(badly quoted from memory, but you get the idea). And she attacks Ron
with her birds because she's hurt and jealous, even though she knows
that he'd never physically or magically harm her (however dense and
provoking he may be sometimes).

Yes, Hermione has her virtues, among them courage and loyalty, and
she's quick to figure things out (like Lupin being a werewolf and the
vision of Sirius Black as hostage in the MoM being improbable). I
agree with her that Harry shouldn't be using the HBP's Potions hints
to get marks he doesn't deserve (but what does she expect after all
the times she's practically written the boys' essays for them? It's a
wonder they've learned anything besides practical magic).

Carol, who doesn't dislike Hermione but does want to see her learn a
lesson or two in humility and to realize the futility of revenge