Hermione's parents (was Re: A Sense of Betrayal / Unforgiveables)

[Katie]

No: HPFGUIDX 174263

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sistermagpie" 
<sistermagpie at ...> wrote:
>
<<<HUGE SNIP>>>
> Katie:
> > Plus, I think it was pretty obvious that Hermione was incredibly 
> > upset about it. She was crying and visibly distraught when 
talking 
> > about it...so, I don't feel like it was mentioned casually. 
> 
> Magpie:
> She is not upset about it and is not doing any such thing when 
> talking about it. She tells Harry that she's coming with him and 
> simply reels off that she's taken care of her parents. She begins 
to 
> cry not because she's done something horrible to them, but because 
> in talking about it she brings up the possibility of *her own 
> death.* She says if she survives the Horcrux hunt she'll lift the 
> enchantment. If she doesn't, well, she's cast a good enough spell 
to 
> make them happy as the two people they aren't. She's not crying 
> about having done this completely unacceptable thing to these two 
> people, but her own future. Her parents get off easy as far as 
she's 
> concerned. They'll be fine even if they live a lie the rest of 
their 
> lives. It's Hermione who will be missing out by dying. It's her 
> who's felt sorry for in the scene.
<<<HUGE SNIP>>>
> -m
>
****Katie again:

I simply do not see the scene that way.

""Assuming I survive our hunt for the Horcruxes, I'll find Mum and 
Dad and lift the enchantment. If I don't --- well, I think I've cast 
a good enough charm to keep them safe and happy. Wendell and Monica 
Wilkens don't know that they've got a daughter, you see."

Hermione's eyes were swimming with tears again."

I interpreted this, on first read and on subsequent ones, as 
Hermione crying because her parents don't remember her. This 
obviously upsets her. I never saw it as her crying for herself. 

I guess I just don't see her as so self-involved. Katie