I truly enjoy stories where Harry thinks and acts for himself. I don't know about you, but I had very definite ideas of how I wanted my life to be at age 11 and did what I could to learn what I needed to have those things happen. This story is shaping up nicely, I like Harry making friends with Padma and Su Li and hope that he adds Hermione to that circle in the near future. I think that Harry and Hermione have always been good for each other and I believe that the could be good friends and tempering influences within the framework of your story as well.