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Hermione's rule-breaking idea with the Polyjuice Potion., Was she right to do so ? |
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 Jun 30 2008, 09:16 AM
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Dumbledore's Personal Secretary
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We see that Hermione is not only good at theory, but at practicals too. She manages to make Polyjuice Potion perfectly in her second year ! That's no mean achievement when it is in the curriculum at Hogwarts only in the 6th year. She's no doubt very good at studies, but what about following rules ? Harry and Ron are aghast at her plan to interrogate Draco Malfoy while impersonating Slytherins. The surprise comes more due to Hermione's proposal for a bout of serious rule-breaking than from the actual dangers involved in it. It certainly was a change from the usual law-abiding, rule-minding Hermione they knew. 
Was Hermione wrong to suggest the idea and carry it through ?
Was it really as dangerous as it seemed ?
Was it the particular danger to Muggleborns that spurred her on ?
If making Polyjuice Potion was against the rules, then stealing from Snape's stores and drinking it to turn into other students was definitely so. and for good reason; the transformation can go horribly wrong in certain cases as poor Hermione found out the hard way after using a cat hair in her potion by mistake. Hermione's brisk professional approach to ingredient-stealing from Snape's private stores showed that she was confident of herself to do the job. Even Harry, who was no stranger to stepping out of the line and doing dangerous things felt that he would rather face Slytherin's monster than have Snape catch him stealing his supplies.
Did Hermione prove that she was as good at carrying out plans as she was in formulating them ?
What would she have said if, by chance, Snape had caught her stealing ?
Could you come up with a better idea to question Draco ?
Feel free to discuss all this and any more questions you'd like to add. 
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Jul 1 2008, 10:47 AM
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Dominating the world, one poking stick at a time
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First off, great thread rowena 
QUOTE(rowena r @ Jun 30 2008, 10:16 AM)  Was Hermione wrong to suggest the idea and carry it through ?
The idea to use Polyjuice Potion was bit dangerous, but I don't think the idea was wrong. I do believe that Hermione's willingness to go as far as she did with the planning and executing the idea did have a lot to do with her being Muggleborn; but it wasn't the sole factor. Ron and Hermione knew that Harry was hearing voices; he was a Parselmouth; they knew about Slytherin's "monster". Harry, it seems in this book, seemed to be at the wrong place and at the wrong time and since Harry was the number one suspect as being Slytherin's heir; Hermione wanted to do everything possible to show that it was probably Draco. The fact that Draco called Hermione a "Mudblood" too spurned Hermione on as well I feel, so this too might explain her verve in the plan.
QUOTE Was it really as dangerous as it seemed ?
I do believe that it was dangerous from several angles. First, as mentioned, this was the first time Hermione was going to make the Potion; a Potion that was very advanced for her magical training and the Potion itself could have gone haywire with deleterious and possibly dire consequences. As we see, Hermione accidentally used cat hair in the potion instead of human hair and the results took quite a long time to wear off.
There was always the possiblity of getting caught by Snape; which wouldn't have been good at all. Harry and Ron were already in a precarious situation after the incident with the flying Ford Anglia; so another slip up could have been costly. Furthermore, had Draco suspected foul play with the questioning, he would have tattled in a heartbeat.
QUOTE Did Hermione prove that she was as good at carrying out plans as she was in formulating them ?
Plans always look good while in the planning stages; and Hermione being book smart certainly had the talent to make the Polyjuice Potion; but I believe the execution couldn't have been forseen; and this could be construed as a bit careless on Hermione's part. Books don't always give you all of the answers; life and experience do, though 
QUOTE Could you come up with a better idea to question Draco ?
The only other conceivable plan that could have possibly been used is Veritaserum. If Hermione was willing to steal from Snape's potion stores for the Potion; she could have gotten Veritaserum; which might have worked better; and it wouldn't have taken so long. However, as I am writing this, this plan too is dangerous; because a memory charm would have been needed here.
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Jul 5 2008, 08:10 PM
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Kibble Boy/Girl at the Magical Menagerie
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Was Hermione wrong to suggest the idea and carry it through ?
No. Sometimes I break the rules for something I believe in, and so does Hermione. Good for her!
Was it really as dangerous as it seemed ?
Nah, no one went in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, so they wouldn't be found. And if someone saw the potion, they wouldn't know nessecarily who made it.
Was it the particular danger to Muggleborns that spurred her on ?
Hmmm... possibly that was one of her reasons, but I don't think that it was her only reason. Hermione seems like she likes to help everyone, and true, the muggle-borns were most at risk, but the school would have closed down if the attacks kept going on. If the school closed, a lot of people would be unhappy, and Harry would have to live a life with the Dursleys.
Did Hermione prove that she was as good at carrying out plans as she was in formulating them ?
Yes, Hermione is not only smart, but she is clever too. So of course her plans will be amazing. Her plans went into effect though. Step by step of the Polyjuice Potion was carefully planned out, and it was carried through. First she had to get the book, steal the ingreadients from Snape's stores, find a place to hide it, and not to mention making the actual potion herself. Then she carefully planned how Harry and Ron would get Crabbe and Goyle's hairs to put in the potion. Sure, she turned in to a cat, which was a little glitch. But for the most part she worked eerything out very well. Good Job Hermione!
What would she have said if, by chance, Snape had caught her stealing ?
"Oh Proffessor Snape! I wanted to see your potions stores because I knew you must have had some, since you are the potions master. I am so sorry I didn't ask, but I was afraid you would say no, and I really wanted to see them..."
Could you come up with a better idea to question Draco ?
No, good job Hermione! 
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"You two just Apparated on my knees!" -Ron "Yeah, well, it's harder in the dark-" -Fred |
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Jul 5 2008, 09:15 PM
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Rat Tonic Bottler
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QUOTE(rowena r @ Jun 30 2008, 09:16 AM) Was Hermione wrong to suggest the idea and carry it through ?
Was it the particular danger to Muggleborns that spurred her on ?
These two are related, so I'll address them both at the same time. I don't think it was wrong for Hermione to suggest it. The entire castle was in danger - even the ghosts - and the Hogwarts staff didn't seem to have control over the situation, and students are sometimes needed to make things right (to get inside information, etc). That being said, I don't think the fact that a particular group was being targeted that spurred Hermione on (although I'm sure that threat hit close to home what with Draco and his racial slurs), but rather the fact that there was some sort of threat that could potentially affect everyone.
QUOTE(rowena r @ Jun 30 2008, 09:16 AM)
Was it really as dangerous as it seemed ?
Absolutely. For starters, the potion itself could have gone horribly wrong (in fact, part of it did for Hermione - she ended up accidentally using cat hairs, which is a big no-no for the Polyjuice Potion). Second of all, the trip to the Slytherin common room could have been disasterous (spelling?) - what if they couldn't get out of there in time? I think it was Harry who said it best - "Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?"
QUOTE(rowena r @ Jun 30 2008, 09:16 AM) What would she have said if, by chance, Snape had caught her stealing ?
Hmm... I would imagine that Hermione already had a cover story lined up.
QUOTE(rowena r @ Jun 30 2008, 09:16 AM)
Could you come up with a better idea to question Draco ?
My first thought was the Cloak as well. The only downside is that there's no way of provoking Draco into discussing the Heir of Slytherin; the Potion was probably the easiest way of fixing that problem. Then again, Draco doesn't take long to boast about his secrets, so that may not have been much of an issue. The Veritaserum seems like a decent choice (assuming that Veritaserum was known to one of the trio at the time - Hermione would have likely heard of it from some book or other); combined with the Cloak, you could probably work out an effective plan - just slip a few drops into Draco's evening pumpkin juice.
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"Tell me why, why must we fight?
And why must we kill in the name of what we think is right?
No more! No war! 'Cause how do you know?"
-- P.O.D. - from their new album When Angels and Serpents Dance --
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Jul 5 2008, 10:11 PM
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Cauldron Bottom Measurer
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Was Hermione wrong to suggest the idea and carry it through ?
In one way,she was breaking the rules, but then she ended up saving Hogwarts from Nagini.
Was it really as dangerous as it seemed ?
Yes. If something went wrong, they've be messed up forever (and remember she turned into a cat? what if she turned into something worse, for a longer time?) And what if someone realized what their plan was?
Was it the particular danger to Muggleborns that spurred her on ?
I think she just wanted to protect everyone.
What would she have said if, by chance, Snape had caught her stealing ?
I bet our heroine already had a plan!
Could you come up with a better idea to question Draco ?
Hypnotize Pansy? =P
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and don't worry,
you're just as sane as I am =]
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James Potter: "Okay, who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?"
Me: *raises hand eagerly*
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Jul 6 2008, 05:55 PM
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Rat Tonic Bottler
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QUOTE(loonylikealuna @ Jul 5 2008, 10:11 PM) Was Hermione wrong to suggest the idea and carry it through ?
In one way,she was breaking the rules, but then she ended up saving Hogwarts from Nagini.
Actually, Nagini wasn't the Basilisk from the Chamber - that Basilisk was killed by Harry using Gryffindor's sword, and Nagini was alive and well in GoF. In fact, Nagini wasn't even a Basilisk; no-one died, or was even Petrified, by looking her straight in the eye.
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"Tell me why, why must we fight?
And why must we kill in the name of what we think is right?
No more! No war! 'Cause how do you know?"
-- P.O.D. - from their new album When Angels and Serpents Dance --
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Jul 7 2008, 09:47 PM
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Cauldron Bottom Measurer
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QUOTE(harrypottergeek2 @ Jul 6 2008, 06:55 PM) QUOTE(loonylikealuna @ Jul 5 2008, 10:11 PM) Was Hermione wrong to suggest the idea and carry it through ?
In one way,she was breaking the rules, but then she ended up saving Hogwarts from Nagini. Actually, Nagini wasn't the Basilisk from the Chamber - that Basilisk was killed by Harry using Gryffindor's sword, and Nagini was alive and well in GoF. In fact, Nagini wasn't even a Basilisk; no-one died, or was even Petrified, by looking her straight in the eye.
Actually Hermoine only found the necessary information and by that time she was petrified herself. It was Harry and a lot of good luck that saved Hogwarts. She didn't save the school by breaking rules, but I agree it was necessary.
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