Hermione Granger and the Missed Opportunity

[sunnyskywalker]

I'm re-reading PS/SS, specifically paying attention to things which are part of the overall 7-book plot but which Harry (and we, back in the day) didn't have enough information to flag as relevant. Absolutely fascinating, and I'm sure I'll be posting about some of that soon. This isn't that time, or not exactly. I was also paying closer attention to wizard/Muggle relations, and so I stopped at this little exchange:

"And you could ask your parents if they know who Flamel is," said Ron. "It'd be safe to ask them."

"Very safe, as they're both dentists," said Hermione.

I can't help but picture the AU where she does ask, and her father says, "Flamel? Wasn't there something about him in that history program on the telly last night?" And her mother replies, "Yes, something about alchemy, wasn't it? Was he really a wizard, Hermione dear? How exciting!" And then Hermione comes back after the break all bright-eyed, very pleased as she shows the boys her photocopies of Flamel's entry in her Muggle library's encyclopedia. "No wonder he wasn't in any of the books on modern magical discoveries, he was born so long ago that witches and wizards still lived openly among Muggles, can you imagine? Do you think alchemists can really make a Philosopher's Stone?" Which reminds Harry of Flamel and Dumbledore's alchemical partnership on the Chocolate Frog Card, and off they go.

The schedule of events would hardly be different from the actual book, but the kids would have discovered that Muggles aren't just helpless, pitiable lumps. Wouldn't that have been something.

Comments

Dentists

[terri-testing.livejournal.com]

Sorry to have to correct you, but I have the book here. They'd been searching in the library for information on NF, Harry had just been kicked out by Madam Pince (for loitering--the kids are hiding what they're looking for, and Harry says "Nothing" when Pince asks what he's looking for).

When Hermione and Ron join him Hermione enjoins the two boys to keep researching (while she goes home for Christmas vacation) "And send me an owl if you find anything."

"And you could ask your parents..."

So I took Ron's "safe" to mean, there's no chance they would tell Snape/other teachers that the Trio is poking into the mystery they are supposed to leave alone. (Whereas Ron owling his folks asking if they know who NF is might raise red flags.)

And Hermione's response? To imply that Ron is dense to imagine her (well-educated) Muggle parents could possibly know anything relevant.

Ouch. SHE'S teaching RON to have contempt for her Muggle parents.

Re: Dentists

[oryx_leucoryx]

Part of me wants to make a connection between Alchemy and the use of amalgam fillings. Just imagine a secret society of dentists that diverged originally from alchemists.

[sunnyskywalker]

That would be amazing.

Re: Dentists

[guardians-song.livejournal.com]

Giving a whole new meaning to the Rotfang Conspiracy.

[sunnyskywalker]

Contempt which she has learned herself in only a few short months. It's so sad. And especially since we never see the characters learn from that, or anything improving...