Slow Hermione?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 174756

In the "Kings Cross" Chapter (36), Dumbledore makes a
statement I find confusing. Well, the statement itself
is pretty clear, I'm just confused at to what it
means.

Harry and Dumbledore are talking about the Hallows -

Harry askes "Why did you have to make it so diffult?"

and Dumbledore response -

"I am afraid I counted on Miss Granger to slow you up,
Harry."

Dumbledore continues to explain that he did not want
Harry to discover the nature and existence of the
Hallows until just the right time, so Harry's 
'hot head' would not overrule his 'good heart'.

I don't understand how Hermione was suppose to 
slow them down. Was it because she would and did
insist on focusing on the Horcruxes? Still, it
was certainly Hermione's determination that lead
them to an understanding of the Hallows. Was it
because Harry would simply relegate the task to
Hermione's superior investigative power, and 
ignore the problem himself? 

I really don't understand how and why Dumbledore
would count on Hermione slowing the process down.
If anything, I would have expected Hermione to
speed the process up. Again, this is Dumbledore's
statement so any answer would have to be from
Dumbledore's perspective. 

Confused.

Steve/bboyminn