CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 13: Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 190012



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> > ...
> > it clear that Hermione is as gentle as possible in pursuing what
> > Shelley quite rightly identifies as her clear-headed commitment to
> > the truth. Am I right?
> 
> Pippin:
> Er, no, I'm afraid not. Hermione is "hesitant" at first, but in spite of Lavender's continued tears, and Parvati's glaring, she continues on, no "gentleness" mentioned. I agree that Hermione isn't trying to be unkind, but what's coming across isn't a commitment to the truth but a commitment to making sure everyone knows Hermione's opinion, and why should that be more important than what Lavender thinks or feels?....
> 
> Pippin
>

Steve:

I'm going to take a slightly different view here. The conversation so far seems to focus on how Hermione is acting and reacting to Lavender, but I don't think it is about Lavender at all. 

I think Hermione is reasonably sensitive to Lavender losing her rabbit, that part she is objecting to and commenting on is the inference by people that Trelawney predicted it. 

She is compelled to speak because she thinks Trelawney is a fraud, and can accept other people's equally flawed belief that Trelawney can even predict today's weather. 

If the whole scene had been about the loss of Lavender's rabbit, I'm sure Hermione would have been as sensitive and sympathetic as anyone else. She is only compelled to speak when Trelawney is brought into the conversation. And it is the illogicness of their claiming Trelawney got the prediction right, that Hermione can't let go unchallenged. 

It isn't an insensitivity toward Lavender, but a complete disbelief that anyone could see this as an accurate prediction by Trelawney.

Though, I don't think I can deny that there was probably a better time and place for Hermione to argue her case.  

Steve/bboyminn