HBP: Ships that Sank in the Night

[pippin_999]

Sorry
About
Forgetting
The
Spoiler
Space
--
How
Long
Lord
How
Long?


Jim:

> I agree that Hermione changed for the worse in this book. I
couldn't understand it on any other basis than it helped R/H happen.
Wait until she has to explain some discovery of hers to Ron three
times and he still doesn't get it. I wrote a fic once about Hermione
giving an interview post-Hogwarts. The Hermione from this book never
could have given that interview. I want that Hermione back.

Pippin:
I'm sympathetic, and if it's too painful to think about why that
Hermione never happened, please skip this post. That said...

It always seemed to me that it was H/Hr Hermione who was, or
would grow, OOC. In particular, there was an assumption that she
would outgrow her abrasiveness, and that just hasn't happened. I think
that's realistic; by and large Hermione's abrasiveness has served her
well. The wizarding world is no bed of roses for a Muggleborn.
She's going to need it.

It always disturbs me a little when people say that R/H can't work
because Hermione's smarter than he is. What the heck is wrong
with that? Is it any different than Fleur being prettier than Bill?

It didn't shock me when Hermione cheated to get Ron a place on the
Quidditch team -- she's never been one to follow the rules when
they stood between her and the greater good, and she's always
tended to define the greater good as what she thinks would be good
for the people she likes, without consulting them on the project.
coughSPEWcough. It's a dangerous habit and it's bound to get her in
trouble one of these days. Meanwhile it was funny, and it makes Draco
look a little better, doesn't it?

Jim:
> The characters we watched grow up were largely discarded in favor of
lesser ones - The little nerd Neville turned into a hero with the
heart of a lion, and all his great development was tossed aside.
Luna, eccentric and lovable, had her fifteen minutes of fame and
then she's over. A lot of beautiful threads were woven into the
tapestry and then let go. Why?
>

Pippin:
I think that is part of the realism of the story. It's not like Star
Trek where the same crew stays together improbably for twenty years.
Luna and Neville got confidence from being in the DA; Harry changed
their lives. He doesn't need to do it again.

Pippin