OOP: Hermione & Krum

[serenadust]

(I posted this on HPfGU earlier)
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I've finished my second reading of OoP, and I have a strong feeling 
that the fact that Hermione is corresponding with Victor Krum has 
nothing to do with any sort of romantic relationship between the 
two of them. 

If you recall Dumbledore's speech at the end of GoF, he emphasised 
the need for cooperation among those who oppose Voldemort and 
that, "Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our 
aims are identical and our hearts are open." Previous to this 
statement, Krum is said to look "wary, almost frightened, as though 
her expected Dumbledore to say something harsh."

The next time we seem him is when HRH are outside waiting for the 
carriages to take them to the Hogwarts express. He approaches them, 
speaks disdainfully of Karkaroff, and then asks Hermione with a 
private "vord." Of course, Ron is seized with jealous curiosity, 
and as readers we are led to believe that the private conversation 
has to do with the romantic feelings Krum has for Hermione. We're 
left wondering about what was said when Hermione comes back looking 
impassive.

Now in OoP, we know that Hermione is writing a very long letter to 
Krum when she and Ron are sitting in the common room and Harry 
returns from kissing Cho. When Ron finds out that she is writing 
Krum, he reacts jealously again, but Hermione seems more absorbed in 
writing her letter than she is in either Harry's interlude with Cho, 
or Ron's feelings on the matter. On the first read, I assumed that 
either Hermione is still somewhat romantically involved with Victor, 
or that she was writing him platonically, but letting Ron conclude 
that they were still involved for her own reasons ;-).

However, now that I've started reading my UK version the following 
statement from George really jumped out at me.: "'Charlie's in the 
Order, too,' said George, 'but he's still in Romaina. Dumbledore 
wants as many foreign wizards brought in as possible, so Charile's 
trying to make contacts on his days off.'" OoP p67 UK

I really think that Krum is now part of the Order, and that Hermione 
has been asked by Dumbledore to keep him up to date. After all, 
based on their interaction in GoF and Rita Skeeter's articles, no 
one would suspect that Hermione has been writing to him for any 
reason beyond the obvious personal one, and Krum is no longer a 
student at Durmstrang where, according to Draco, they 
actually "teach" the dark arts. He's old eonough to be a full 
member,since he's of age. *That's* what I think they 
were really talking about at the end of GoF, and that's why her face 
was impassive. Hermione is excellent at keeping secrets, Harry has 
very little interest in her interaction with Krum anyway, and Ron's 
reaction is a great way to cover up her true purpose in maintaining 
the correspondence (and I don't really think she minds tweaking Ron 
a little in the bargain<vbg>).

Anyway, this theory satisfies me concerning Krum & Hermione's 
interaction at the end of GoF, and paves the way for Krum's reentry 
in book 6 or 7. Does anyone else find this scenario plausable?

Jo Serenadust