Concern for Neville

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 36668

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., ruben at s... wrote:
> Finwitch just said:
> > All Neville's problems have to do with forgetting something - 
there's 
> > nothing *else* wrong with him - only that he can't remember...
> 
> He's also quite clumsy. But then, so am I :-)

Because he never learned to move fluently -- due to overprotection 
AND bad memory...

> Now seriously - a botched memory charm would be a good explanation 
to his
> behaviour. It's been used quite convincingly by some fanfic 
authors, too.
> Not that it matters here.

It would - and we've had examples of memory charms effect. Lockhart, 
Bertha Jorkins and the poor Muggle in Quidditch World Cup. All having 
trouble to remember most trivial things like Neville!

> The reasons why he got the charm aren't that clear to me - the most 
obvious reason
> would be to help him get over the trauma of the DE attack on his 
parents.
> But just think - he visits his parents regularly and we assume he 
knows what
> happened to them. It wouldn't have been *right* keeping that from 
him.
> If you want to spare a small child some of the  suffering, but 
don't really
> want him to *forget*, wouldn't you use a less definitive method? 
Such as we
> do in 'real' life without magic?

We would - Lockhart not. Those who tortured Neville's parents -- 
well... Maybe Barty Crouch Jr did *memory charm* on Neville, but 
didn't torture Frank Longbottom or his wife? *They* might have 
tortured Neville, too... No wonder he's so clumsy.

> They wouldn't have felt compelled to be overly careful about it.
> If he ever gets his memory back - will we learn something important?

Something... Like that Bartolomeus Crouch Junior did NOT take part in 
torturing his parents, but that Lucius Malfoy did! (or other 
liberated DEs Harry named, but Lucius Malfoy and Lestranges... well, 
well, well...
 
> Some other thoughts: Neville's innate magic ability took quite long 
to surface,
> and it only appeared under danger of death. Could a bungled memory 
charm have
> affected his ability to react with spontaneous magic to adverse 
situations?
> Or maybe the innate degree of magic is not the same for everyone? 
It was quite
> evident in Harry's case...

Well - Fear or Anger. Neville probably saw his parents tortured, and 
he himself was tortured. That was his worst experience... I think he  
developed a block like Harry did with accio...
 
> Last but not least, why do people think Neville is weak? He's too 
shy,
> owing to his memory problems, but I see him as a strong character 
once
> he gets over that. And he has an excellent reason to oppose 
Voldemort -
> he knows first hand the kind of world Voldemort wants.

Neville will never join DEs - he'll never willingly hurt anyone. He 
has inner strength... But there's always /Imperius/- curse. Few 
*adults* are able to resist - Harry's probably only one who's done it 
at the age of 14! Neville is one of the few I think may grow into 
resisting.