Obliviating the whole of Hermione’s existence seems counterproductively difficult: She lived in Muggle Britain for 11 years. Are they going to Obliviate all the neighbours and relatives who remember her and might ask casually how she is doing at school? As for Obliviating the memory that she’s dead, then why tell them in the first place? It is not clear what sort of memory eradication could be usefully applied. Maybe a False Memory of her dying in some sort of sports accident, rather than being half-eaten? But again, in that case, why tell them the actual truth?
Well, in Hermione’s case, she may not wanted to give her parents that level of grief. Although frankly, I’d rather remember a loved one who I think died then not remember them at all, and I suspect that Hermione would think the same way. So canon Hermione likely didn’t really think this through. (Frankly, the first time I read what she did to her parents, I was absolutely appalled- I don’t think Rowling really appreciates how absolutely insidious and violating memory modification is.)
I distantly recall that canon!Hermione was trying to remove her parents as potential hostages / revenge targets. I think the goal was to get them to Australia without violating the Statute of Secrecy. This doesn’t make sense, now that I think about it—her parents already knew she was a witch, why is telling them about the war a violation of secrecy. Updating towards my memory being wrong.
Even assuming my memory is right, I agree with you that Rowling’s reasoning is disturbing. There are so many other ways to protect the information in canon (eg Fidelius), yet Rowling picks the least consensual, least possible to give informed consent method.
I distantly recall that canon!Hermione was trying to remove her parents as potential hostages / revenge targets. I think the goal was to get them to Australia without violating the Statute of Secrecy. This doesn’t make sense, now that I think about it—her parents already knew she was a witch, why is telling them about the war a violation of secrecy.
I suspect this is because they wouldn’t voluntarily abandon their daughter, this was her way of pulling a more hero than thou on them.
Actually, she did both of those things. And, incidentally, it’s the false memories bit that would be impossible in Methods—Hermione, of course, did not spend years to give her parents what are apparently years worth of memories.
It’s only perfect, undetectable Memory Charms that require that much time. Giving someone years of memories in the quality that is customary for years-old memories, when no Wizard has anything against it, is probably not that difficult.
There’s still the possibility that they’ll be obliviated of what happened just now, in order to gain time, although that’s not quite in character for anyone involved. It’d also blow up—Hermione has a sister, who I don’t think has ever been mentioned in Hogwarts.
According to this interview, Hermione no longer has a sister in canon either.
The relevant Q and A:
Does Hermione have any brothers or sisters?
No, she doesn’t. When I first made up Hermione I gave her a younger sister, but she was very hard to work
in. The younger sister was not supposed to go to Hogwarts. She was supposed to remain a Muggle. It was a sideline that didn’t work very well and it did not have a big place in the story. I have deliberately kept Hermione’s family in the background. You see so much of Ron’s family so I thought that I would keep Hermione’s family, by contrast, quite ordinary. They are dentists, as you know. They are a bit bemused by their odd daughter but quite proud of her all the same.
There are multiple people working at Hogwarts, who occasionally work at cross purposes. Depending on their reaction, they may also have been intended to influence Harry.
Obliviating the whole of Hermione’s existence seems counterproductively difficult: She lived in Muggle Britain for 11 years. Are they going to Obliviate all the neighbours and relatives who remember her and might ask casually how she is doing at school? As for Obliviating the memory that she’s dead, then why tell them in the first place? It is not clear what sort of memory eradication could be usefully applied. Maybe a False Memory of her dying in some sort of sports accident, rather than being half-eaten? But again, in that case, why tell them the actual truth?
This happened in Canon, and was done by Hermione herself, albeit in her I think 6th or 7th year.
Well. I stand by the criticism. Either Hermione, or Rowling, wasn’t thinking things through.
Well, in Hermione’s case, she may not wanted to give her parents that level of grief. Although frankly, I’d rather remember a loved one who I think died then not remember them at all, and I suspect that Hermione would think the same way. So canon Hermione likely didn’t really think this through. (Frankly, the first time I read what she did to her parents, I was absolutely appalled- I don’t think Rowling really appreciates how absolutely insidious and violating memory modification is.)
I distantly recall that canon!Hermione was trying to remove her parents as potential hostages / revenge targets. I think the goal was to get them to Australia without violating the Statute of Secrecy. This doesn’t make sense, now that I think about it—her parents already knew she was a witch, why is telling them about the war a violation of secrecy. Updating towards my memory being wrong.
Even assuming my memory is right, I agree with you that Rowling’s reasoning is disturbing. There are so many other ways to protect the information in canon (eg Fidelius), yet Rowling picks the least consensual, least possible to give informed consent method.
I suspect this is because they wouldn’t voluntarily abandon their daughter, this was her way of pulling a more hero than thou on them.
Hermione didn’t erase her own existence, but implanted false memories to get her parents to go to Australia. Distance did what magic couldn’t.
Actually, she did both of those things. And, incidentally, it’s the false memories bit that would be impossible in Methods—Hermione, of course, did not spend years to give her parents what are apparently years worth of memories.
It’s only perfect, undetectable Memory Charms that require that much time. Giving someone years of memories in the quality that is customary for years-old memories, when no Wizard has anything against it, is probably not that difficult.
It could easily blow up in their faces, yes.
There’s still the possibility that they’ll be obliviated of what happened just now, in order to gain time, although that’s not quite in character for anyone involved. It’d also blow up—Hermione has a sister, who I don’t think has ever been mentioned in Hogwarts.
Said sister wasn’t present in the Grangers’ house during the Christmas meal sequence, so it’s possible she doesn’t exist in the Methodsverse.
According to this interview, Hermione no longer has a sister in canon either.
The relevant Q and A:
Then why tell them in the first place?
There are multiple people working at Hogwarts, who occasionally work at cross purposes. Depending on their reaction, they may also have been intended to influence Harry.