Hermione and her parents redux WAS:Re: Wizarding Top Ten

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 188120



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Brian <brian at ...> wrote:
>
> Replying to... Montavilla47:
> "And, at that point, it doesn't matter whether they are
> memory-charmed or not."
> 
> Surely the main point of the charm was threefold.
> 
> So that, if found, they couldn't tell anything useful
> To make it less likely that they would be found, as if they can't 
> remember, they can't accidentally let anything slip which might come to 
> the attention of a witch or wizard.  It's hard, even for those who have 
> been trained to do it, to keep a different identity 24/7.
> To make sure that they didn't miss her if she died
> 
> All three may be flawed, but in a desperate situation people do 
> desperate things to try to protect the ones they love.
> 
> Brian
>

Montavilla47:

I think the third reason (they wouldn't miss her if she 
died) is the main reason Hermione enchanted them.  At
least, that's the impression that I get from her in DH.

But, as others have said, it's very unlikely that the Grangers
would have consented to losing their memories of their
daughter--even if the alternative is to hear through
third parties that she's dead or suffering.

As for the first reason, it's hard to know if the Grangers
would know more than the Weasleys--who became targets
only when it was known that Ron was traveling with Harry.

Of course, Hermione was known to be traveling with Harry
much earlier than Ron was (thanks to the Ghoul).  So, it 
was possible that the Death Eaters were looking for her 
parents.

Which brings us to reason #2--that it would make it
impossible for the Grangers to accidentally slip that 
about their identities.  I think that's a toss-up.  We 
don't know how good or bad the Grangers are at keeping
secrets.  And, Lucius Malfoy had once seen them, so
they could be possibly be recognized on sight.  That 
makes the trip to Australia a pretty good idea.  

But, of course, if Lucius were to go looking for them,
their new identities wouldn't do them any good unless
they also changed their appearance.  Which seems like 
a higher priority.

Yeah, it still seems like a needlessly complicated way
to protect somebody--when you have the option of 
having the Order put them into a safe house.  As the
Dursleys were.


Alla:

>Hmm, is there a problem of sending these news to Muggle media which can be
>received in many countries? Harry for the first time hears about Sirius Black on
>Muggle TV, right?

>I do not see why it will be particularly complicated for DE to do the same
>thing, by force if needed and no, they do not need to trace Grangers to
>particular country even, TV channels are received in many countries. And some
>newspapers too, right?

Montavilla47:

The report on Sirius Black required a visit to the Muggle Prime Minister 
and special cooperation.  And, as far as we know, it was only on the 
British Media.  And it was reported in a way that would make sense
to Muggles--so as not to let on that he was a wizard.

Although Voldemort travels to other countries, he doesn't seem to 
have any official pull there.  He's just doing stuff on his own.  And
we don't ever see or hear about the Death Eater power extending 
beyond Britain.  

So, I think this scenario in which the Death Eaters are sending
out false stories through the Media in which Hermione is being 
tortured rather far-fetched.  How would these stories be worded to
make any sense to the Muggle public?