Memory Charms: For discrete events

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 37113

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Tabouli" <tabouli at u...> wrote:

> 
> Therefore the only purpose of the Memory Charm is to *reduce* the 
trauma suffered.  Take away the first-hand eyewitness trauma, but 
leave the second-hand aftermath trauma untouched (unless they're 
going to keep on Charming him to wipe that too).  There is no way 
Neville is going to go about his life as if the event never happened.
> 
> What I'm saying is that this particular event is not isolated and 
short term in its effects but inextricably connected with the rest of 
Neville's life, and therefore not very suited to a Memory Charm for 
altruistic, psychological purposes.

Unless Neville himself (with Accidental Magic) did it.
 
> A Memory Charm to conceal the identity of the perpetrators would 
make more sense, because then the fact that Neville sees the 
aftermath isn't a problem... he can't remember the *actual* event, 
and hence can't point the finger.  This is where Cindy's Reverse 
Memory Charm comes in.  At the trial, they had to use "the 
Longbottoms" (in a bad condition, says Dumbledore) to identify the 
culprits.  Was Neville included?  Perhaps when no sense could be 
gotten from his parents, they had to break the Memory Charm on 
Neville.  This can be done, because Voldemort did it to Bertha (using 
torture).  *Hence* he now remembers the incident, and *hence* his 
memory is bad because it's, well, occupied with horrible things most 
of the time.

If it was so --- Snape was the one breaking it! By torture? No wonder 
that little kid is scared to death by the sight of him!

> (To her alarm, Tabouli finds herself looking at a nice, comfy 
MATCHING ARMCHAIR...)
> 
> Hmmm... now that raises another possibility... were the Lestranges 
and co torturing the Longbottoms to try to break a Memory Charm on 
*them*?  Perhaps they knew where Voldemort had fled, and Dumbledore 
or someone obliviated their memory of this so they *couldn't* give it 
away.
> 
> I dunno.  I'm just not convinced that many people *really* get 
tortured to death without spilling the beans.  I'm with Elkins 
there... it's amazing what people will do when being exposed to 
extreme pain.

Maybe they were--- gosh... I *hope* that torture isn't the *only* 
way... Poor little Neville.

Also... If Imperio can be fought off, maybe Memory Charm can, too? 
And with *less* effort.