It’s an ugly hypothesis, because so far Hermione’s influence in Harry has been that of greatest opposition to Quirrel’s influence… If Quirrel set it up so that they met, then this would have all been to his purpose since the beginning, setting up some future betrayal from Hermione from the start. (e.g make a paragon of goodness friends with Harry, so that he’ll do anything to keep her from Azkaban, even if that means declaring war on magical Britain?)
Thankfully, I don’t consider it very likely. I think this being McGonaggal who matched the two of them is still much more likely.
Alternatively, perhaps Quirrel thought Hermione would make a good straw foil to himself. Set up the main anti-Quirrel voice in Harry’s life as someone who’s conspicuously naive, and Harry will be more inclined to see Quirrel as the voice of reason rather than the voice of evil.
Between this and the auncle comment by pedanterrific, it seems plausible that it was Quirrel who said that line.
It’s an ugly hypothesis, because so far Hermione’s influence in Harry has been that of greatest opposition to Quirrel’s influence… If Quirrel set it up so that they met, then this would have all been to his purpose since the beginning, setting up some future betrayal from Hermione from the start. (e.g make a paragon of goodness friends with Harry, so that he’ll do anything to keep her from Azkaban, even if that means declaring war on magical Britain?)
Thankfully, I don’t consider it very likely. I think this being McGonaggal who matched the two of them is still much more likely.
Alternatively, perhaps Quirrel thought Hermione would make a good straw foil to himself. Set up the main anti-Quirrel voice in Harry’s life as someone who’s conspicuously naive, and Harry will be more inclined to see Quirrel as the voice of reason rather than the voice of evil.