SILK GOWNS Theory

[mochajava13]

No: HPFGUIDX 79355

As much as I love the idea that the Longbottoms are being kept 
incapacitated by tainted gum, I think that I'd be a little 
diappointed if this turns out to be the case.  It would take away 
from the tragedy of Neville's life.  And Harry and Neville wouldn't 
be so similar anymore.  As it is, they're the only two characters in 
the books that were orphaned at an early age because their parents 
actively fought against Voldemort.  I really want to see this bond 
explored, especially since Neville is the only one left with Harry 
in the Department of Mysteries.  Harry and Neville are the only two 
who were relatively unharmed (Neville had a broken nose and couldn't 
properly pronounce anything, but compared to the others...)  

Plus, Alice's symptoms seemed like someone who has severe dementia 
or psychoses.  Giving a person who visits the sick person a small 
token as they leave, an inability to recognize this person again and 
again, even if they visit you on a regular basis.  Poor Neville.  
What I could see happening is a charcter getting the idea that the 
Longbottoms are being  kept incapacitated, telling Neville, and 
finding out that the Longbottoms are incurable.  That would just 
increase Neville's determination to fight.  What got Neville working 
the hardest was the knowledge that the people who destroyed his 
parents escaped.  

On a side note, has anyone else wondered if Harry and Neville would 
have grown up knowing each other if Harry's parents had lived and 
Neville's parents were sane?  Their parents were both in the Order, 
and it seemed like they were the only two couples in the Order (at 
least the only two couples to have children).  And does Neville know 
about the Order?  Or does he think that his parents were only Aurors?