Worried about Hermione/others...Truth, SHIPs, and Rita Skeeter (OOP mention)

[Margaret Thomas]

No: HPFGUIDX 55905

>    From: "darrin_burnett" <bard7696 at aol.com>
> Susanne wrote:
 
> > I'm not sure if Ron told his family, but I see it
> as
> > Dumbledore's responsibility to inform Arthur and
> Molly (snip!)
> > 
> > I always assumed he did, but if it turns out he
> didn't, my
> > respect for Dumbledore sinks into an abyss (snip!)
> 
> 
> But I think it's safe to assume that he DIDN'T tell
> Arthur and Molly, 
> given how Molly reacted when Sirius popped up in the
> hospital ward 

(snip!)

Agreed with Darrin -- Molly would've been more calm at
seeing Sirius in GoF had she been "filled in" on the
whole Marauders / Animagus story, including the
Scabbers!Pettigrew incidents that occurred in PoA.

Not only did Dumbledore, Harry & Hermione resort to a
pretty tricky (if not illegal from a MOM stance)
strategy to save Buckbeak & Sirius in PoA, there's
also the matter of three unregistered Animagi
Marauders to confront.  Explain that one to Fudge &
Co. :}

Dumbledore is one of JKR's key plot agents.  She uses
him to keep selective facts back from (or release them
to) other characters *and* her readers.  

Sometimes Dumbledore does so to protect a key
individual's true motives / activities -- Sirius,
Hagrid, and Snape are examples that readily spring to
mind.  Information shared on a need-to-know basis
only, particularly if the individual in question may
come to harm as a result of the truth being learned. 
Which is probably one reason why he didn't tell Molly
about Sirius (or his connection to
Scabbers!Pettigrew)...will get to a second one
momentarily.

In Harry's case, he seems to release key facts when he
(or JKR) feels Harry is ready to a) receive / deal
with them -- ex. what we're anticipating he'll learn
in OotP based on the Dumbledore quote Bloomsbury
released or b) act on them -- ex. in Hagrid's Hut
during CoS when he comments to the Cloaked Harry & Ron
that people who ask for help will receive it.

A second (and secondary) reason he may not have shared
the Scabbers!Pettigrew info with Molly is that by
*not* sharing absolutely everything with everyone, he
does gain Harry and Ron's trust / confidence.  The
trio already suspect that Dumbledore's more than meets
the eye.  Part of why *they* believe in him is that he
also believes in them -- a very important bond between
adult role model and youth.  Dumbledore extends his
respect and communicates his awareness of / confidence
in the trio's own unique talents / relationship by
sharing information and keeping certain confidences.  

Some parents feathers would be pretty ruffled by that
-- especially when it comes to a school administrator
/ student situation.  Many parents would say "It's
*my* child -- if the school is aware that my child has
been in peril, the school is obligated to share that
knowledge with me."  In this case, Molly & Arthur have
their own relative trust in / esteem for Dumbledore. 
So, although Molly's initial reaction to Sirius'
transformation in GoF is shock / fear, she takes
Dumbledore's word that Black is safe.  

As readers, if we trust Molly and Arthur -- and they
trust Dumbledore -- and we trust Harry, Ron, &
Hermione -- and they trust Dumbledore -- and we
distrust Snape (but secretly like him a whole lot ;))
-- and Snape / Dumbledore trust one another (same for
Sirius / Dumbledore) -- then we're more willing to
trust Dumbledore, too.  (By extension, Snape / Sirius
grudgingly will tolerate one another...)

This concept of Secret Keepers plays pretty
prominently in Harry's story; we've seen what happens
when you choose the right one vs. the wrong one. 
We've seen multiple people entrust Dumbledore with
some pretty serious secrets.  Which is why -- unless
JKR is just flat-out duping us altogether -- I have
hard time buying the Evil!Dumbledore theory.

Changing the subject to worry for Hermione in OotP...

Yes, Hermione plainly is *at risk* as a Muggle (as CoS
demonstrates), particularly one who has strong ties
with Harry.  Riddlemort targeted her once already --
and that was *before* Rita Skeeter published her
friendship / possible romance with Harry.  It may be
safe to assume that Ginny mentioned Hermione and Ron,
along with Harry, while she confided in Diary!Riddle.

If, as discussed in multiple previous posts, JKR took
inspiration for Hermione's name from Shakespeare's "A
Winter's Tale," AND JKR commented that readers don't
seem to be concerned about Hermione's potential
demise, I think we can anticipate that Hermione will
find herself in some sort of extreme peril.  Something
that will separate her (and her abilities) from Harry
& Ron in some way -- not unlike being petrified in
CoS, but likely more severe.  I'll go so far as to
speculate that this "separation" may involve Harry &
Ron believing she's dead / irretrievable and (possibly
-- heaven forbid) be a nail-biter we have to endure
between one book and the next.  Could be something as
straightforward as a kidnapping or as complicated as a
spell / hex. 

Not only would Harry & Ron be shocked / devastated,
they would have to muddle through without her -- and
she would become a very personal "cause" for bringing
Voldemort down.  Should any R->Hr / H->Hr SHIP come
into play, that would add further dimension -- or
perhaps spur that SHIP to take full definition.

At the same time, I think JKR will keep the trio
intact at the end of Book 7.  So, although Hermione
may be in jeopardy, I feel confident about her rescue
/ ultimate survival.

- Mags


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