Neville vs. the DEs

[nyarth_meow]

No: HPFGUIDX 35842

> 
> Seriously, if the Crouch Junior Gang had tortured Neville, wouldn't 
we have 
> heard about it?  There's Crouch Sr., ranting about how this is the 
most 
> heinous crime they've seen, and dying to send them all to Azkaban 
to rot, 
> and he neglects to mention the most heinous thing they've done?
> 

Maybe Snape's behaviour towards Neville has some bearing on this?  
Snape knew Crouch jnr well enough to call him "Barty" when he 
recognised him in GoF, and Crouch/Moody knew Snape well enough to 
threaten him successfully.  Maybe Snape somehow protected the 
diminutive Longbottom from harm, and now treats him so badly because 
he feels horribly guilty about his parents? Or perhaps to maintain 
his cover in the event of Voldemort's return.

-Nyarth