The inefficiency of H&C’s attack against Hermione’s mind is not evidence of a “simple mistake” on his/her part, but rather exceptional cleverness. Note that this attack has replaced something that would be detected (Legilimency) with something that cannot be (Obliviation). I myself take this as further evidence that H&C is Quirrell.
Using obliviation wasn’t a bad move, but H&C used it poorly. More specifically, he used exactly the same disguise he was running around in when manipulating Zabini, when a great manipulator would certainly change their appearance to suit the situation. Not to mention the entirety of his conversation with Hermione strikes me as, well, clumsy. Professor Quirrell can convince most people of most things without multiple trials, and even if he modeled Hermione as putting on a show of goodness H&C’s methods are not the ideal way to convince someone like that.
Quirrell does not normally have the luxury of obliviation, yet I have no doubt he could have convinced Hermione entirely without it. If he did use it, it would not be enough that she would start to feel tired. He’s too good.
Not to mention the entirety of his conversation with Hermione strikes me as, well, clumsy. Professor Quirrell can convince most people of most things without multiple trials, and even if he modeled Hermione as putting on a show of goodness H&C’s methods are not the ideal way to convince someone like that.
Experiments that involve talking may superficially resemble clumsy attempts at persuasion. The objective of those sessions was probably not persuasion, so judging their effectiveness by optimality with respect to that criterion is wrong. The objective was probably to map the dynamic of Hermione’s thinking. Gaining unlikely powers of persuasion eventually is one possible product of this process, but not its character.
I read H&C’s frustration in 77 as genuine, which argues for genuine clumsiness. It does seem to have been decisive in getting Hermione to open up about her misgivings, which could argue back in the other direction, but that’s not the only place in the dialogue where H&C seems to fit poorly into their role, and the others are all dead ends. In any case, failing to consider surface appearances—when dealing with a twelve-year-old, however bright—is really a fairly basic mistake, and one that I’d consider out of character for both Quirrell (who has a fine grasp of psychology) and Dumbledore (who’s all about narrative conventions and would probably have gone straight to the fairy godmother guise).
I truly find it odd that no one considers that the evidence was given directly within the text.
“Because you look incredibly dark and scary and suspicious,” Hermione said, keeping her voice polite, as her wand stayed level on the towering black cloak and the faceless black mist.
“That’s all?” whispered the voice incredulously. Sadness seemed to infuse it. “I hoped for better from you, Hermione. Surely such a Ravenclaw as you, the most intelligent Ravenclaw to grace Hogwarts in a generation, knows that appearances can be misleading.”
“Oh, I know it,” said Hermione. She took another step back, her tired fingers tightening on the wand. “But the thing that people forget sometimes, is that even though appearances can be misleading, they’re usually not.”
It’s very possible that H&C thought that if ve showed up looking like a fairy godmother, Hermione would think that ve is trying to hide their true nature behind a pleasant mask. Harry certainly would. On the other hand, by openly appearing “incredibly suspicious,” Hermione might put aside her doubts with the thought that appearance are deceiving, perhaps in a manner similar to how Quirrell told Harry that as long as he appears ambiguous, people of every stripe will follow him. Ve was wrong in this case, obviously, but just because a choice is wrong doesn’t mean it was a stupid one, anymore than a choice being right means it was a smart one.
These are good observations. However, I think you are inferring plot points from what is merely literary technique. H&C using the same disguise is well explained by EY intending us to identify Hermione’s manipulator with Zabini’s. Similarly, the many attempts/Hermione’s exhaustion are well explained if EY wants to make it clear what the nature of the attack is without spelling it out explicitly.
The inefficiency of H&C’s attack against Hermione’s mind is not evidence of a “simple mistake” on his/her part, but rather exceptional cleverness. Note that this attack has replaced something that would be detected (Legilimency) with something that cannot be (Obliviation). I myself take this as further evidence that H&C is Quirrell.
Were there other mistakes you had in mind?
Using obliviation wasn’t a bad move, but H&C used it poorly. More specifically, he used exactly the same disguise he was running around in when manipulating Zabini, when a great manipulator would certainly change their appearance to suit the situation. Not to mention the entirety of his conversation with Hermione strikes me as, well, clumsy. Professor Quirrell can convince most people of most things without multiple trials, and even if he modeled Hermione as putting on a show of goodness H&C’s methods are not the ideal way to convince someone like that.
Quirrell does not normally have the luxury of obliviation, yet I have no doubt he could have convinced Hermione entirely without it. If he did use it, it would not be enough that she would start to feel tired. He’s too good.
Experiments that involve talking may superficially resemble clumsy attempts at persuasion. The objective of those sessions was probably not persuasion, so judging their effectiveness by optimality with respect to that criterion is wrong. The objective was probably to map the dynamic of Hermione’s thinking. Gaining unlikely powers of persuasion eventually is one possible product of this process, but not its character.
I read H&C’s frustration in 77 as genuine, which argues for genuine clumsiness. It does seem to have been decisive in getting Hermione to open up about her misgivings, which could argue back in the other direction, but that’s not the only place in the dialogue where H&C seems to fit poorly into their role, and the others are all dead ends. In any case, failing to consider surface appearances—when dealing with a twelve-year-old, however bright—is really a fairly basic mistake, and one that I’d consider out of character for both Quirrell (who has a fine grasp of psychology) and Dumbledore (who’s all about narrative conventions and would probably have gone straight to the fairy godmother guise).
I truly find it odd that no one considers that the evidence was given directly within the text.
It’s very possible that H&C thought that if ve showed up looking like a fairy godmother, Hermione would think that ve is trying to hide their true nature behind a pleasant mask. Harry certainly would. On the other hand, by openly appearing “incredibly suspicious,” Hermione might put aside her doubts with the thought that appearance are deceiving, perhaps in a manner similar to how Quirrell told Harry that as long as he appears ambiguous, people of every stripe will follow him. Ve was wrong in this case, obviously, but just because a choice is wrong doesn’t mean it was a stupid one, anymore than a choice being right means it was a smart one.
These are good observations. However, I think you are inferring plot points from what is merely literary technique. H&C using the same disguise is well explained by EY intending us to identify Hermione’s manipulator with Zabini’s. Similarly, the many attempts/Hermione’s exhaustion are well explained if EY wants to make it clear what the nature of the attack is without spelling it out explicitly.