Hermione's Knowledge of the Longbottoms

[cynthiaanncoe at home.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26744

Is it generally accepted that Hermione knows all about what happened 
to Neville's parents?  In GoF, she displayed sensitivity to the fact 
that Neville was upset when Moody demonstrated the Unforgivable 
Curses.  If, as I think Dumbledore states, the Longbottoms were 
popular and the tortures were widely reported at the time, is there 
any chance that Hermione has not learned this in a book?  

It would explain why she would be giving Neville special help even 
though, as a general matter, Hermione has been known to get just a 
little impatient with her fellow wizards, just every now and then, 
and only when they really, really deserve it (e.g. Lavender, 
Trelawney, Ron).  

For that matter, is it also possible that Lupin selects Neville to 
ward off the boggart because Lupin is also painfully aware of 
Neville's past, and wants to help him succeed?

As for why Snape can't find it in his heart to give poor Neville a 
break . . . well, I'll let the Snape fans field that question.

Cindy (who is not intending to bash Hermione, lest she be wrestled to 
the ground by hordes of S.C.H.A.B.B. devotees)