Hermione's Knowledge of the Longbottoms

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

No: HPFGUIDX 26881

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Kelly Hurt <klhurt at y...> wrote:
> --- cynthiaanncoe at h... wrote:
> 
> >Is it generally accepted that Hermione
> >knows all about what happened to
> >Neville's parents?
> 
> My opinion is that if Hermione had known why Neville had become so
> upset, she would've explained it to Harry & Ron afterward.
> 
> Kelly the Yarn Junkie


I really don't agree with this - it just doesn't tally with what we 
know of Hermione's character.  As stated, there are two ways Hermione 
could have known about Neville's family history - either she came 
across it in her background reading, which is entirely plausible, 
when we know that she has read up on recent events in the wizarding 
world, and that a great deal of publicity surrounded the trial of the 
Lestranges and Barty Crouch Jnr, or, Neville himself told her.

If the former is the case, Hermione would have the sensitivity to 
realise that if Neville hasn't told his peers at Hogwarts, it is 
because he doesn't feel he can yet.  I am sure that she would respect 
this.  Likewise, if he did confide in her himself, then if he asked 
her to keep his confidence, then she would do.

It is doing Hermione as disservice to say that she would run off and 
explain things to Ron and Harry regardless.  She has proven on more 
than one occasion that she can keep secrets, and that she honours 
other people's confidences.  Why would she decide not to on this 
occasion?  It would be particularly out of character, given her 
obvious sensitivity around Neville.

Catherine