Drooble's Best Blowing Gum theories

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 70199

All right, I've done a great deal of thinking on this, followed the anagraming posts here, double and triple checked it myself, and think I've formulated a working theory. 

First, let's get past the confusion of whether it is "Drooble's Blowing Gum" or "Drooble's Best Blowing Gum."  Other places in the first four books have been identified, but this should clear up the OOP confusion.  In the US edition, Chapter 23, page 514 it says "But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Droobles Blowing Gum wrapper."  Move on to the UK edition, Chapter 23 page 455 where in the same scene it says "But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrapper."  

So there are two differences there, one there's no "best" in the US OOP reference, and there's no apostrophe.    So, as someone (and I'm very sorry, but I don't remember who) already found using the UK version (which I prefer to do, as who knows what the US publishers are thinking when they make changes) "Drooble's Best Blowing Gum" can indeed anagram to "Gold Bribe Below St Mungo's"  Ah, no period for St?  Not needed, as one isn't used in the UK version.  Must be a simple matter of US/UK punctuation differences.  Nonetheless, it's not there.

Now, it has been argued that since JKR already used anagraming with the Tom Marvolo Riddle/I am Lord Voldemort thing she won't use it again.  Fine, I agree.  You see, I really don't think Neville's suddenly going to come running to Harry and Ron holding a gum wrapper and exclaim "You see, the letters in 'Drobble's Best Blowing Gum' can also spell 'Gold Bribe Below St Mungo's!' But who could it be bribing them?"  To which, of course, Harry and Ron would simultaneously exclaim "Malfoy!"  No, that's not going to happen.  You see, I think it's a clue to the readers, not to Neville.  Neville's clue is that it's something in the gum that is keeping the Longbottoms "insane."  Keeping them from recovering.  I mean, I know it's the permanent resident ward, but Bode was supposed to be getting a bit better when his plant strangled him.  So it's not like they just completely write off anybody in that ward.  And we do know that Malfoy gives generous donations to St Mungo's.  And notice Mrs. Longbottom never gives Neville the gum.  Just the wrapper.  Hmm.

Richelle


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