(Okay, so this is a ridiculously old post, but I must add my two knuts in anyway)
I always read the ball scene with Hermione as more of the shock that she was actually with Krum. Although she is described (by Harry) as pretty, he describes other girls in the same paragraph as "very pretty indeed" and "beautiful". So, yes, Hermione looks good, but...not that good.
I also have to point out that it's all in Harry's POV, and he's not very likely to look at the people he dislikes -- the Slytherins -- with anything resembling flattery. So, yes, they get shown badly -- but this is *Harry*. He doesn't like or trust them.
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Re: been awhile since I've answered one of your meta posts
Date: 2006-07-24 03:43 am (UTC)I always read the ball scene with Hermione as more of the shock that she was actually with Krum. Although she is described (by Harry) as pretty, he describes other girls in the same paragraph as "very pretty indeed" and "beautiful". So, yes, Hermione looks good, but...not that good.
I also have to point out that it's all in Harry's POV, and he's not very likely to look at the people he dislikes -- the Slytherins -- with anything resembling flattery. So, yes, they get shown badly -- but this is *Harry*. He doesn't like or trust them.