[HPforGrownups] Hermione's motives (was Re: Bigotry in the Potterverse/Hermione and her parents)

[Christy]

No: HPFGUIDX 188125

I think Hermione had a true desire to prevent her parents from suffering -- and not just suffering possible torture/death at the hands of Voldemort and his Death Eaters; but, suffering from worry and possible grief. Hermione would be in the thick of the fight against Voldemort and injury or death was a very real possibility. Because of the charm, the Grangers had no daughter to worry about day after day for an indefinite period of time; had she not survived, they would have no daughter to mourn. Speaking as someone who has recently suffered a devastating loss, I can tell you that avoiding that grief would be a real temptation, even if it meant "forgetting" my life before. Yes, the charm does take away someone and a life you loved, and I wouldn't accept the charm given the choice in hindsight, but on my worst days, at my weakest moments, I would be tempted.

The war in the Wizard world was spilling over into the Muggle world, and had been for the past year and would only get worse, esp. now that an important leader (Dumbledore) was gone. So, the Grangers, like all Muggles, were in danger just by going about their daily lives. Whether or not they actually would be harmed as innocent bystanders  is immaterial -- the threat did exist.  I would want my loved ones as far away as possible from the effects of the Dementers and the attacks on the Muggles and their infrastructure -- and that would mean getting them out of the country.

Likewise, Hermione could go about her own "mission" without the distraction of worrying about her parents. (Selfish? Perhaps. Practical? Definitely.)

I don't think Hermione's intentions were as cruel and self-centered as many are making them out to be... I do realize that we cannot escape the choice vs. no choice argument, I merely wish to paint Hermione in a bit better light. I might add that Hermione is not one of my favorite characters  and she made me angry more often than not throughout HBP and DH. However, protecting her parents, both when I first read DH and now while grieving myself, is not one of the things she did that made me angry. I feel I understood her motives too well. I also I have to admit I would have done whatever was necessary to protect my loved ones too if I were in her place, with or without their consent. So, I can not very well judge her for doing something I would have done myself.

Plus, her actions posed a great risk to herself. If she can not reverse the charm or, if she can, but her relationship to her parents is too damaged to be repaired, then she loses her parents.

Christy



      

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