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harry potter - Did Hermione cheat?


Ostensibly, cheating is a relatively significant infraction at Hogwarts, at the very least academically. In Philosopher's Stone it is revealed the quills and parchment used for exams are enchanted with anti-cheating spells. On a different note, while not involving academics, we learn in Goblet of Fire that surreptitious cheating during the Triwizard Tournament is considered par for the course.


Generally, Hermione is a prim character who appreciates rules and regulations, as well as extreme structure. She is portrayed as having a strong moral compass, as a person who would never voluntarily shirk the rules. So, did Hermione actually cheat in some of the following instances, where she helped Harry or Ron? For example:


Philosopher's Stone


The Quidditch Match



Reaching Snape, [Hermione] crouched down, pulled out her wand and whispered a few, well chosen words. Bright blue flames shot from her wand on to the hem of Snape’s robes.

It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realise that he was on fire. A sudden yelp told her she had done her job. Scooping the fire off him into a little jar in her pocket [Hermione] scrambled back along the row – Snape would never know what had happened.

It was enough. Up in the air, Harry was suddenly able to clamber back on to his broom.

*Philosopher's Stone - Chapter eleven, Quidditch - page 140 - Bloomsbury



Prisoner of Azkaban


The Quidditch Match




‘I’ve got no chance with these on,’ Harry said exasperatedly, waving his glasses.

At that very moment, Hermione appeared at his shoulder; she was holding her cloak over her head and was, inexplicably, beaming.

‘I’ve had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!’ He handed them to her and, as the team watched in amazement, Hermione tapped them with her wand and said, ‘Impervius!’

‘There!’ she said, handing them back to Harry. ‘They’ll repel water!’

Prisoner of Azkaban - Chapter nine, A Grim Defeat pages 132-133 - Bloomsbury



The Time-Turner


The events at the end of Prisoner of Azkaban not withstanding, was Hermione's use of the Time-Turner in general cheating?


OTHER


There are hundreds of examples in the Harry Potter books where Hermione helps Harry and/or Ron through surreptitious means -- does this mean she was cheating per se?



‘Are you feeling all right?’ Ron asked, staring at [Hermione] in disbelief.

‘Now you mention it,’ said Hermione happily, ‘d’you know ... I think I’m feeling a bit ... rebellious.’

Order of the Phoenix - Chapter 28, Snape's Worst Memory - Page 559 - Bloomsbury




Q: Did Hermione ever outright cheat¹, or did she merely facilitate² the trio's many adventures?


¹If you'd like a dictionary definition of "cheating" for reference to this question, please take a look at the following: To practice fraud or deceit; to violate rules or regulations; to take an examination or test in a dishonest way, as by improper access to answers.


²Facilitate: To make easier or less difficult; to help forward (an action, a process, etc.); to assist the progress of (a person).


Source: Dictionary.com




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