Longbottoms insanity/Thestrals/heartbreaking moments

[Vicky DeGroote]

No: HPFGUIDX 68555

 "MrEddo" <mreddo at yahoo.com> wrote:

>>>It is possible that Snape could have something to do with the
Longbottom's torture. Neville knows all about his parents' torture at
the hands of Lestrange and has seen death, as he can see thestrals.
However, his greatest fear, manifested by Lupin's boggart, is Snape.
While Snape is indeed quite nasty to him, Neville has seen many
atrocities worse than a nasty teacher, so perhaps Snape had something
to do with this. >>>>

Now me:
Perhaps Snape "rescued" Neville?!  Maybe Snape came in during the torture
and stopped it "Hurry the ministry is coming!"  Perhaps it would have ended
with a double murder had Snape not intervened in some way, but in Neveille's
subconcious mind all he remembers is that Snape was there and conciously he
sees & feels Snape being nasty.
Also, (and I think I may have asked this already & my appologies if it has
been answered) who did Neville see die or dead?  If he saw death when he was
toddler, then we come back to the question of why Harry doesn't see the
Thestrals before this year as he may have seen his mother die and why
wouldn't Neville have said something about the Thestrals sooner?  Perhaps
magical children who have seen death are informed by someone in their family
about the Thestrals before their 2nd year, and of course Harry was
overlooked.   Given the reasons why they can see them and not other kids, I
can see why they wouldn't mention it to their friends.
In another post earlier today someone mentioned that they wondered why
Hogwarts would even keep Thestrals since they serve little purpose.  We know
that Dumbledore & Hagrid have a weakness for the oppressed and misunderstood
and little patience for superstition.  These creatures seem to be
misunderstood and feared.  The luck thing can be looked at from several
ways.  The kids were lucky the thestrals were there to wisk them away to the
Ministry.  On the other hand, had they not been there, the kids would have
had to take more time to think a bit more rationally about ruuning off like
that & the whole ugly incident never would have taken place!  But, should
that be blamed on bad luck or adolescent immaturity.

I'd like to take this moment to possibly start a new thread (maybe it's been
done before & I missed it-I saw tearjerker, but maybe not the same:  What
was the most heartbreaking moment for you in OotP or any of the other books?
For me it was Harry unwrapping the package Sirius had sent with him and it
was the mirror.  Everything he had just gone through and Sirius gone and all
he'd had to do was use the stinking mirror!  Whay hadn't Sirius mentioned
it?  The first time Harry stuck his head in the fire Sirius should have said
"Harry, what the devil are you doing?!  Didn't you open my package?  Go open
it and I'll talk to you then!  Go boy, go!"  Oh the irony and injustice and
stupidity.  Oh my poor, poor dear Sirius.  Where has he really gone?  Will
there now be a painting done of him that Harry to talk to?  Will the Order
still have access to the Black house?  Who will inherit the estate?  Sirius'
godson?  Oh please not the LeStranges or the Malfoys!  Kreacher will tell
them everything!  Now panic has taken me!  Has Rowling said how long it will
take her to crank out Book 6?!
Must...stop...typing!  Must...go... read... to... children....

Vicky (who is happy most her friends have finished OotP and can now have
discussion party)