Hermione Granger memorably wiped her existence from her parents' memories during a tumultuous time in the Harry Potter series, but it was for a good reason. Hermione, played by Emma Watson in all eight films based on the books by J.K. Rowling, was one of Harry's best friends. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were played by Ian Kelly and Michelle Fairley after the series recast Tom Knight and Heather Bleasdale.
Though Hermione's parents didn't have integral roles in the story, a few details about them were unveiled. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were both Muggles who worked as dentists outside of London. They were highly supportive of their daughter and the fact that she was a witch. They may have not been members of the wizarding world themselves, but the Grangers often accompanied their daughter to Diagon Alley. It's likely that Mr. and Mrs. Granger were kept in the dark when it came to the dangers that emerged, or else they probably wouldn't have allowed Hermione to return to Hogwarts in her later years.
When the Second Wizarding War started to ramp up in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Hermione made the heartwrenching decision to alter her parents' memories before embarking on the Horcrux Hunt with Harry and Ron. In doing so, she gave them new identities: Wendell and Monica Wilkins. When Hermione cast the charm, her parents were watching a TV program about Australia. She made them have a desire to relocate to Australia, and so as Wendell and Monica, they left their life behind without being able to remember that they had a daughter. It was a difficult decision, but something that Hermione needed to do to keep her parents safe from Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
Why Hermione Gave Her Parents New Identities
Before Voldemort and his followers took over the wizarding world, the Death Eaters were becoming more brazen, even attacking innocent Muggles. It was clear that they would stop at nothing to get hold of Harry and his closest allies, including Hermione. In order to keep her parents out of the war, Hermione needed to effectively wipe any information her parents had on her, her friends, and the wizarding community. In a deleted scene in Deathly Hallows - Part 1, Death Eater Corban Yaxley arrived at the Granger home in search of answers, but he found the house empty. Hermione's actions were justified since it kept her loved ones out of the conflict.
Hermione claimed that if she survived the Horcrux Hunt and whatever came after that she would find her parents and restore their memories. Shortly after Voldemort's defeat, she located her parents in Australia, gave them back their memories, and the trio returned to England. It's unclear how much of the truth that Hermione told her parents, but considering the threat was gone, she may have come clean about her role in the war. Years later, Hermione married Ron, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger went on to become grandparents to the couples' two children. They undoubtedly remained proud of their daughter's selfless actions and for her achievement in becoming the Minister of Magic following the events of the Harry Potter series.
