PoA Chapter Summary: Chapter 7

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No: HPFGUIDX 18813

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., dragonsbloodmoon at a... wrote:

> 6.  Why is Neville so terrified of Snape?
> 
> I'm sure his Granny told him that Snape was a Death Eater (this is just a gut 
> feeling; I think she's bitter about having to raise Neville who's a "shame" 
> to their family). Even if she didn't, the children have all gossiped about 
> Snape, and I'm sure he's heard it. 

	It's possilbe that Granny knows, and maybe she told Neville, but I 
doubt it. I think if that were the case, Granny would never have sent 
Neville to Hogwarts (he could have gone to Beauxbatons).
	 I don't think Snape's past is common knowledge despite the 
courtroom scene in the Pensieve. Sirius doesn't know about it, for one 
thing. I  have a feeling that that portion of the trials was covered by 
the magical equivalent of an Official Secrets Act, and everyone present 
had to agree to some sort of silencing charm or magical oath. Letting 
Harry look in the Pensieve would have been a way for Dumbledore to get 
around that.
	 As for gossip about Snape, why would Neville have heard it 
if Harry, Ron and Hermione haven't?
Pippin