[HPforGrownups] Secrets (Long)

[Kathleen Kelly MacMillan]

No: HPFGUIDX 968

Oh, Peg, that was beautiful.  I am glad you chose to wrote this because I have 
been thinking a lot about secrets in HP since the first time I read PoA.  
There is a huge relationship between this and your previous post on loyalty, I 
think.  Not only with Pettigrew betraying Lily and James, but I can think of 
several examples involving Hermione as well.  Aside from keeping Lupin's 
secret, she kept the secret of the Time turner (and again, Dumbledore allowed 
her to reveal that when the time was right).  But she appeared to betray Ron 
and Harry by telling Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt.  So she appeared 
to be disloyal, when actually she was being very loyal by trying to protect 
Harry (a nice parallel, on a small scale, to Sirius' situation, and Lupin's as 
well, come to think of it).

Another, small example: when Ginny refuses to tell Ron who Hermione is going 
to the Yule Ball with: "I'm not telling you; it's her business."  And another 
example, maybe a stretch, is that both Harry and Hermione clearly realize that 
Ron has feelings for Hermione, but sort of allow him to keep his secret until 
he's ready to tell it.  In fact, when Hermione gets angry and mentions it 
("Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last 
resort!"), she later seems to regret pushing it, and she and Ron sort of 
pretend it didn't happen.  Your musings on secrets gave me a clearer 
understanding of why they both reacted that way.

Also, does anyone else have the feeling that Hermione knows, or at least 
suspects, about Neville's parents?  I can't help thinking she would have read 
about it in "The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts" or one of her other books.  
Or that Neville might even have told her, although that's much less likely.  
(I have a feeling if he were to tell anyone it would be her.)  The way she was 
so concerned about him when they learned about the Cruciatus curse makes me 
think that she at least suspects.  She's always sort of watched out for 
Neville.  (Incidentally, off topic, I had always wondered why Neville had been 
pale and shaking like Ginny when the Dementor came on the train in PoA--now we 
know.)

Another thought: what do you make of the fact that Hagrid, though on Our Team, 
doesn't seema as capable of keeping secrets?  Remember, he was the one who 
spilled the beans about Fluffy in PS/SS.  Do you think that will be important 
later too?

Okay, I have rambled enough.  Thatnks for giving us all such great food for 
thought Peg!

Kathy