[HPforGrownups] Silence regarding the Longbottoms

[Catherine Keegan]

No: HPFGUIDX 30976

At 04:32 PM 12/6/01 +0000,Katya wrote a wonderful comparison between JKR's 
wizarding world and the Soviet Union which I've snipped since her post is 
so darn good and should be read by itself:

In the first book, Hagrid tells Harry "...Dark days, Harry.  Didn't know 
who ter trust, didn't dare get friendly with strange wizards or witches... 
terrible things happened."

Sounds a lot like the terrifying tale of the hauled-off men and the 
grandfather.

I've said before that the wizards wanted to put the whole awfulness of 
Voldemort's reign of terror behind them.  Shut it away, forget about it and 
get on with life.   It helps explain so many things (which is probably why 
my pet theory can be shot full of holes).  Why the silence on the 
Longbottoms, why Sirius never got a trial, why it was so easy to excuse the 
Malfoy alliance with Voldemort...

Most of the WWII vets I've known are happy to talk about some of their 
experiences but almost none of the Vietname war vets want to talk about any 
of it.  Since I'm American, I've had to use my baselines for comparisons so 
the images of a nasty guerilla war are what I've used to make it work for 
me.  However, Katya's post about the Soviet Union's KGB sounds a lot more 
like what Hagrid was talking about.  Makes me wonder what the MoM did 
during those dark times.  Did they make sudden raids into people's homes or 
did they sit back?  Did wizard inform on wizard?  Excellent fodder for stories.

So far, we only have the Pensieve chapter to show any of the cleanup after 
V's fall.  I would love to know how many of the DEs actually went to 
trial.  How many of them "suddenly woke up from their fog" and disowned V 
and were  forgiven?  (ala Malfoy)  I would also love to know how many 
suspects showed up in their Quiddich robes or other identifying regalia to 
be petted on the head and let go?  The brief glimpses that we get in GoF 
are fascinating.

The volume on this list has been amazing the last few weeks.  Seems like 
each time I download my email, at least twenty new messages appear (as if 
by magic!).  Some really wonderful topics.  Is anyone else getting 
duplicate posts?

Catherine in foggy California