Harry's DADA skill was Re: Albus and Gellert/Voldemort's Power

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 182761

> Pippin:
> In further defense of Harry's "O" in DADA, though Lupin did coach
> Harry until he could produce an incorporeal patronus, Harry managed
> the corporeal patronus all on his own, unlike any of the other DA
> members, including Hermione.
> 
> Hermione never shows Harry's  interest or self-direction in DADA. She
> does not master an anti-boggart spell on her own,   and as Snape
> observes, she can quote the DADA text but doesn't expand on it. In
> fact Dumbledore relies on her tendency to go strictly by the book to
> slow Harry down when he doesn't want Harry to learn about the Elder
> Wand too quickly. Her grasp of DADA is a bit like Harry's grasp of
> Potions in HBP --  as good as what's provided, but not better. 
> 
> Pippin

While I agree with your second paragraph, I have a quibble with
the first.

When Harry takes his D.A.D.A. O.W.L., he is asked by the 
examiner to try a Patronus (for an extra point), presumably
because Harry's ability to do so has been talked about (by
Amelia Bones or others).  Which does make it seem pretty
darn special.

But, Hermione can also cast a corporeal Patronus at that
point, as she's already done so in the D.A. sessions.  Now,
whether Hermione could produce one while facing a 
Dementor is another question, but she wouldn't be required
to do so in the exam.

However, as far as we can tell (and I've always interpreted
it this way), the examiners ask Harry only, not Hermione nor
any other student taking the test.  

So, had Hermione been requested to produce a Patronus,
she could and would have, and, presumably, would have
gotten her "O" in D.A.D.A. along with Harry.

Montavilla47