Hermione's Knowledge of the Longbottoms

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 26746

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., cynthiaanncoe at h... wrote:
> Is it generally accepted that Hermione knows all about what 
happened 
> to Neville's parents?  <snip some very good points>

This is a good question.  It isn't generally accepted.  To my 
knowledge, no one's raised this before, but it wouldn't surprise me 
in the least.  She is very sensitive towards Neville - as you say, 
she is the one who picks up on the way he reacted to Crouch/Moody's 
first lesson.  Knowing, however, the amount of research Hermione 
does - after all, she knew all about Harry from her pre-Hogwarts 
research, it wouldn't surprise me if she had read something about 
Neville's parents and put two and two together.  

If this is the case, it just shows what a discreet and sensitive 
person Hermione is.  She, like Dumbledore, would appreciate the fact 
that if Neville wanted to share this part of his life, he would do 
so.  It reinforces the what we already know - Hermione is very good 
at keeping secrets, and knows when to reveal things she knows - such 
as delaying telling Ron and Harry about her capture of Rita Skeeter, 
knowing that Harry in particular had other things on his mind to care.

It is also possible that Neville confided in Hermione - she does seem 
to have a good relationship with him, which may or may not go beyond 
her propensity to champion the underdog and collect lame ducks.  
(Aside to Heidi - perhaps the time she doesn't spend with Harry is 
spent with Neville, not Draco?)

Cindy's post also raised other issues about the way Neville is 
treated.  I am sure that the staff know his unfortunate history - 
they were, after all adults when the Lestranges and Barty Crouch jnr 
were brought to trial, and the case did generate a great deal of 
public feeling.  I find it interesting how, therefore, they behave 
towards him.  Snape - absolutely inexcusable.  There have been 
attempts to explain Snape's behaviour as trying to "toughen" Neville 
up.  I don't buy this - particularly because, after four years, he 
should have realised that it isn't working.  Lupin obviously has a 
much more successful approach, but the person who really appalls me 
in this respect is Professor Trelawney.  The woman is evil.  If she 
knows that Neville's parents are in St Mungo's and that the only home 
security Neville has is with elderly relatives - his grandmother in 
particular - deliberately worrying him as to the state of her health 
is unforgiveable.

One more thing on Neville - it has been postulated before (and I do 
agree with this) that Neville's bad memory is akin to Bertha Jorkins -
 ie. he was traumatised in some way by what happened to his parents 
and had a memory charm put on him.  I am wondering if his near-
squibness is also related to this.  The trauma of his early life 
having the opposite affect it had in Harry's, in that he suppressed 
his magical ability somehow?  

Catherine