[HPforGrownups] Re: Why was Hermione at Grimmauld?

[Wendy St John]

No: HPFGUIDX 72651

skyelarke2003 quoted an unnamed source who wrote: 

> She never explains why she's been there all summer holidays, 
helping 
> clean the house.  I  do think the theory about her being better 
> protected has something in it - but if I  were her parents I'd 
wonder 
> why I never saw my daughter for more than a day ayear!  she's never 
> there at Christmas, was barely there of the summer holidays and no 
> one leaves at easter.

Then skyelarke2003 added:

"I agree with you here...there really is no good explanation for why 
she was at Grimmauld Place all summer.  For the purpose of the story 
she HAS to be there during the summer..but in "reality" I doubt her 
muggle parents would allow their daughter to spend so much time away 
from them than is absolutely necessary.  We know next to nil about 
Hermione's parents.  They were in Diagon Alley in "Chamber of 
Secrets", but they remain insignificant figures.  I think maybe for 
the sake of the story ark, JKR had her at Grimmauld  place.  There 
are certain aspects of the stories that cannot always be fleshed out 
in a logical way, and sometimes we just have to leave them like that."

Now me (Wendy):

I actually look at this matter the other way around - I think there is a
very good reason for Hermione to be at Grimmauld Place, as is mentioned
briefly in the original quote. IIRC, we are told that the Weasleys are at
Grimmauld Place because it is safer than the Burrow (I couldn't actually
find the quote, though, in a quick perusal of the book). In which case it
would also be safer than the Granger home. It seems to me, now that
Voldemort has returned, that if Voldemort can't get to Harry for whatever
reason, Ron and Hermione are attractive alternate targets. Voldemort might
try to abduct one of them in an attempt to lure Harry out from safety at
Privet Drive (as he does later with Sirius, or successfully pretends to,
anyhow), or Voldemort might just kill anyone known to be close to Harry's
in order to hurt and demoralize Harry. The closeness of the three friends
is hardly a secret,  and Pettigrew could have told Voldemort the identities
of Harry's two closest friends. So the question I have isn't "why is
Hermione at Grimmauld," but rather, "why *aren't* Hermione's parents there,
too?" If the Death Eaters show up at Hermione's house looking for her and
find only her parents there, I see no reason to think the Grangers would be
shown any mercy. I'm very worried about them, actually, and have my doubts
that they will survive the series, especially since their safety doesn't
necessarily seem to be much of a concern for the Order, judging by
Hermione's presence at Grimmauld without them.

:-)
Wendy