Drooble's, Neville's Gran, St. Mungos ( was Re: Mimbulus Mimbletonia)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 79023

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hermionegallo"
<hermionegallo at y...> wrote:
> Brief Chronicles:
> > The bubblegum wrapper makes me really wonder. ... Could bubblegum 
> be a device to save the world from LV?  ;)
> 

> James Redmont:
> > I don't have any strong theory on what the 
> > significance of the gum actually is, only that it probably *is* 
> > significant.  ... >>> 


> hermionegallo:
> 
> I've tried to pin it on Gran, ...  And she's extremely proud of her 
> son.  (Unless it's all a front?  An evil cover-up?  Is she a DE?  
> etc...)
> 
> I've searched the environment of Mungo's, ...
> 
> I ... spent the past couple of weeks trying to determine ...
>  Drooble's Best Blowing Gum ... anagrame(s).  
>
> I believe that Luna's reading the runes upside down should lead us
> to closely examine the wrappers.  ...edited...
> 
> "hermionegallo"

bboy_mn:
 
Opinion in two parts-

My own theory is that the scene in St. Mungo's (the patron saint of
Glasgow, Scotland) is there is some emotional connection that only
Neville and his mother are aware of. 

I think, in her deep dark haze of diminished mental and physical
function, Neville's mother is aware of Neville's presents and she, in
her very limited way, knows who he is. Perhaps, it's only in the form
of a subconscious connection that she is not even aware of. So Mrs.
Longbottom sees the colorful wrapper and thinks, 'that's pretty, I
think Neville would like this'. 

This isn't just the random wanderings and actions of a deranged person
as Gran. Longbottom seems to think. This is a deliberate act on Mrs.
Longbottom's part. But she is so limited in her abilities, so deep in
the dense fog that surrounds her, that this is the best she can do to
acknowledge that she knows who Neville is and that she cares for him
very deeply. 

I think Neville understand this. I think he knows that these colorful
gum wrapper are his mother attempt to let Neville know that she is
aware of him. That's why Neville keeps them. He knows that given the
effort it takes for his mother to overcome the fog that smothers her,
to give these lowly gifts is a monumental effort on her part. So, he
cherishes every single one of them.

The next part is the part that is driving us all nuts. What is the
deeper significants of the gum wrappers? What is their greater role in
the plot developement?

I kind of like that ancient runes idea. Mrs. Longbottom is so very
very limited in her abilities that creating a coherent written message
is impossible; she simply can't function on that level. But she might
be able to scratch a simple rune symbol on the wrapper in a deparate
attempt to pass a message to Neville. But, given the circumstance, why
would anyone think these to be anything more than random scratch marks?

Sound the trumpets...

Along comes Hermione, who has studied Ancient Runes. Perhaps she
recognises the symbol for poison. I know nothing about ancient rune
symbols so there may not even be symbol for poison, but my point is
still made. 

The actions of Neville's mother tell me that while she is very very
limited in her ability to function, she is more aware and able to
function than we have been lead to believe. 

As horrible as it is to think about the Longbottoms being held in a
kind of drug induced insanity, it would mean that once the secret is
discovered, they could come back. They could be with Neville again.
...and well, I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

Last point, I agree that there is a greater meaning to those gum
wrappers, but don't have a clue what it is.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn