[HPforGrownups] Re: Squibs vs Muggles

[Ladi lyndi]

No: HPFGUIDX 57554

--- darrin wrote:
> It's interesting that the Grangers only make
> one appearance at Diagon Alley. 
> This may be a cultural difference -- the
> homebound U.S. schools vs. the 
> boarding schools in Britain -- but they seem to
> have a frightfully blase attitude 
> toward the whole thing.

Lynn:

The Granger's make one appearance at Diagon Alley
that we know of.  After all, I doubt that they
didn't accompany Hermione to Diagon Alley the
first year but we don't get introduced to
Hermione until later.  

I didn't read them as blase but intimidated about
the whole thing in CoS.  In fact, we find them
standing nervously by a bank counter.

"... but he was distracted almost at once by the
sight of Hermione's parents, who were standing
nervously at the counter that ran all along the
great marble hall, waiting for Hermione to
introduce them."  (CoS, p. 47, UK)  

The next time:

"'Clearly,' said Mr. Malfoy, his pale eyes
straying to Mr. and Mrs. Granger, who were
watching apprehensively." (CoS, p. 51, UK)

Even though we don't see them in PoA, I get the
feeling they may in fact have been there.  We
don't meet up with Hermione until after she's
done her shopping and it's there we find out her
parents gave her extra money for her birthday and
that she's also staying at the Leaky Cauldron. 
Again, I'd doubt they would let her stay there if
they hadn't known she'd be with the Weasleys. 
They may well have brought her, exchanged money,
said goodbye and set her loose with Ron to buy
her things.  Perhaps the reason Mr. Weasley was
in the Leaky Cauldron was because he had been
having another drink with them.

Of course, in GoF, we know they allowed Hermione
to go to the Weasleys and it was Mrs. Weasley who
did all the shopping for everyone, including
getting money, so of course we wouldn't see them.

Another thought is that after what happened in
CoS, the Grangers may feel it's better if they
don't go into Diagon Alley.  They may feel they
were the cause of the trouble in Flourish &
Blotts.  After all, it appears they've raised
Hermione to be a very independent young woman and
as long as they know there is adult supervision
they are comfortable with, it's not a stretch
that they brought her there and left.

While the Grangers feel very supportive of
Hermione, they may not be comfortable with the
whole thing.  After all, if they were that blase,
they would have just let her shrink her teeth to
begin with instead of insisting she continue with
her braces.  LOL

Lynn
(who would probably have considered pulling her
kid from the school the first time she went to
Diagon Alley and saw the goblins and seriously
considered it after seeing Lucious Malfoy)

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