DH Audiobook & Hermione

[lightofdaye]

So I've been following up my listening to the Half Blood Prince audio book with listening to Stephen Fry read Deathly Hallows, and while I'm not usually one to go for the "lol wand = penis" thing, this quote out of context did make me snigger:

"No wonder I can't get it out, Hermione, you packed my old jeans, they're tight"

Plot bunny for anyone who's actually capable of writing right now: Hermione likes seeing Ron in tight jeans but it causes problems later.

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The other thing I've been noticing, that i'd seen commented on before and not really seen when reading to the books; is how different Hermione seems. As it she quite frequently seems to panic, or mess up or just plain burst into tears. I've only reached the bit where they're talking to Kreacher at Grimmauld place but still.

I don't know whether its supposed to show that Harry's the real hero and not her, or show that she's not coping as well with out the safety net of dumbledore/being at school, or just its done inadvertently while showing off how's Ron is now trying to be sensitive and supportive and all that jazz.

But it does strike me as weird.

Comments

[luna-plath.livejournal.com]

Ha that quote.

I'd say in general Hermione isn't the best with stressful situations, remember the devils snare? That's probably why she didn't become an Auror. I do think she's better in the classroom setting but that's nothing to be ashamed of, not everyone is as hands on as Harry and Ron. Also, remember how she panicked during her third year defense against the dark arts exam? She couldn't even get rid of the bogart because it told her that she was going to fail her exams. I don't see this as a bad thing necessarily, it's just part of who she is. Hermione can't be good at everything.

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

Also, remember how she panicked during her third year defense against the dark arts exam? She couldn't even get rid of the bogart because it told her that she was going to fail her exams.

Ahahaha, I'd forgotten about that one. I recently re-read HBP and was giggling at her neuroticism over receiving their O.W.L. scores. The fact that she had a fresh black eye in that scene was just icing on the cake.

[lightofdaye]

That was a rather well done scene, lol.

[lightofdaye]

Not trying to say Hermione should be good at everything. Like you say she's not a good flyer and not as good a duelist as Harry. (though she certain is shown to do more of it and more successfully than Ron, on page at least)

Just saying, well it seemed noticable that frequently in this book, I'm hearing 'Hermione bursts into tears and Ron puts her arms around her' more often than in any other book. When it seemed a really rare event. Like I said, part of it seems to be so JKR can beat us around the head with Ron/Hermione.

As to the DADA exam, you're right to point it out, but boy is that a contrived bit. I mean you're in the middle of an DADA exam, you go inside a tree and you don't realise whatever is inside is part of the test? Boggarts work much better for me, when someone has a specific fear like spiders or dementors or mummies and less when some's fear is more metaphysical like failure or losing loved ones. Because seriously I'm not buying that people wouldn't be able to cope with these things when its obvious monster trying to throw it in your face.

Anyway as to Hermione that bit was contrived so that Harry could be 'better at DADA' than her.

Thoughts on the DADA exam

[nevrafire.livejournal.com]

While it does come across as goofy and cartoon-ish I don't see how it's contrived or Rowling did it so Harry looked better.

The boggarts role is to transform into your biggest fears. But that doesn't mean that the fear Is a RATIONAL/LOGICAL one.

also the fact that the way to combat the Boggart is not through logic or common sense of rationalization- it's through laughter- turn it into something funny.

and contrary to Neville's fear of snape and subsequent dressing his Snape!boggart as his grandmother, Hermione likes McGonagall so I could totally can see her freeze up and not knowing how to properly repeal the boggart even if she Knew it wasn't really McGonagall.

plus, and this is me guessing, I think the reason why Hermione's boggart turned into McGonagall is because A. Hermione admires McGonagall (or seems like she does) and considering McGonagall is the one who argued with the Ministry for Hermione to have the time turner to be able to take all her extra-classes so there's that pressure...

additionally just because we know something isn't real doesn't mean we are not affected by it- like when we watch a horror/sad movie-- we know it's not real we know the stuff on the screen is not really happening but we still got scared/sad about it.

and finally we do know Hermione gets exam anxiety so I don't see it as out there and the panicked in her exam.

so yeah I personally don't see it as such a bad scene.

Comforting Ron/Crying Hermione

[nevrafire.livejournal.com]

regarding that- I personally think what Rowling was trying to do was Ron be more active in caring for hermione
Like we Seen Ron care for hermione well-being before, in small moments scattered throughout the books, it's just the Ron being thick or having the emotional range of a spoon- get more notice.

Also the fact that in the first six books Ron and Hermione do bicker a lot. in the seven book the War takes central stage so their priorities change and Ron has more ground to caring towards Hermione instead of engaging in silly bickering.

[luna-plath.livejournal.com]

I'm sure some of the Ron and Hermione interaction was to set up their eventual relationship and to show that, despite all their bickering in the past, they really do care for each other. Also, this part of the story is set in one of the most stressful periods of their lives, so it makes sense that all three of them are going to need help dealing with everything that's happening around them. I.e.: arguing in Ron's case, crying/wanting to be comforted in Hermione's case, brooding and completely withdrawing in Harry's.

For example, we see Harry withdraw into himself more and more, almost to the point where he spends 90% of his time silently obsessing over things, and we see Ron's lack of tact/filter become even more pronounced with the horcrux. All of their weaknesses are magnified in DH because they're under so much stress.

One thing though. I totally did not buy Hermione getting an E in Defense while Harry got an O. Not that Harry wasn't capable, just that Hermione was equally capable of that grade. It did seem like something that was "contrived so that Harry could be 'better at DADA' than her."