[HPforGrownups] Issues About Memory

[tobeybickle at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15613

In a message dated 3/30/01 1:12:30 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
nera at rconnect.com writes:


> Some memory-related inquiries:
> 
> We know that the MOM devotes a serious amount of time and effort to
> erasing the memory of Muggles (Yikes! Talk about thought-control!)
> who chance to witness magical creatures or events. Yet there are some
> Muggles whose memories remain uncontaminated.  Primarily, of course,
> the Dursleys - the MOM seems confident enough that these
> quintessential Muggles are so resolute in their refusal to
> acknowledge the alternate Wizardly society, that to erase their
> memories would be carrying coals to Newcastle. In Chapter 3 of PoA,
> Fudge tells Harry "You will be pleased to hear that we have dealt
> with the unfortunate blowing-up of Miss Marjorie Dursley. Two members
> of the Accidental Magic Reversal Department were dispatched to Privet
> Drive a few hours ago. Miss Dursley has been punctured and her memory
> has been modified. She has no recollection of the incident at all. So
> that's that, and no harm done."
> 
> But though Aunt Marge was purged of her memories, there is no mention
> that Vernon, Petunia or even Dudley had their memories similarly
> treated. Fudge says just a bit later in Ch. 3 "Ah, you're worrying
> about the reaction of your aunt and uncle?...Well, I won't deny that
> they are extremely angry, Harry, but they are prepared to take you
> back next summer as long as you stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas
> and Easter holidays."  This certainly implies that they remember the
> full circumstances of Aunt Marge's mishap.  Similarly in Ch. 5 of
> CoS, in the aftermath of the Flying Ford episode, Dumbledore tells
> Harry and Ron that he will be writing to both their families about
> that misadventure: though of course the difference is that Ron's
> parents will be seriously and appropriately concerned, while with the
> Dursleys, "Harry knew perfectly well they'd just be disappointed that
> the Whomping Willow hadn't squashed him flat."
> 
> A clue may be in Ch. 4 of CoS, when Hermione's parents are visiting
> Diagon Alley. They seem to be given full access to it. Perhaps
> parental rights in the Wizarding world trumps even the MOM's desire
> to preserve its secrecy.
> 
> Second memory point: During BC Jr.'s de-briefing in GoF Ch. 35,
> Crouch tells how his father's Memory Charm which he cast on Bertha
> Jorkins, "damaged her memory permanently."  It is somehow implied
> that this left her especially vulnerable - to the point that she had
> to be killed - when she was later interrogated by Voldemort.  JKR
> does not clarify the specifics about the damage that Bertha
> suffered.  It does not seem to be the same sort of injury that
> Lockhart sustained in CoS, when his spell boomeranged on him: this
> resulted in Lockhart losing all memory of his own identity.  There is
> no suggestion that Bertha's identity was erased.  Just how was her
> memory damaged? (Did she lose things more often or what?)
> 
>    - CMC
> 

I think when you become part of a Wizard or Witches immediate family through 
marriage or through a sudden display of magical powers on the part of your 
child (Like Hermione) they sort of let you in on the secret. You're allowed 
to know everything. There has to be some trust or else muggles and wizards 
couldn't intermarry, and if they couldn't intermarry wizards would have died 
out a long time ago, as Ron said. Of course, they judge you worthy or 
unworthy first, and like in the case of Aunt Marge, where she very obviously 
would have A) been traumatized by her encounter and B) run to the Muggle 
police with her information, they'll alter your memory even if you are 
related.


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