Neville/Memory Charms

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 56950

Memory charms?  Did someone say *memory charm?*  ;-)

Well, the only thing I like better than a chance to discuss memory 
charms is a chance to discuss them with some *Neville* thrown in!


Kelley wrote:

> First, I was thinking about how some people were wondering just 
>how old Neville was when the Longbottoms were tortured.  I had 
>always assumed he was an infant like Harry, 

Me, too!  I figure Neville was a toddler, perhaps around 15 months 
when his parents were tortured.  Two years old, tops.  Oh, yes, it 
is true that some people want to make him 3 or older and capable of 
speech.  But I think he was left alive because his parents' 
attackers didn't believe him to be a threat.

Kelley:

>Then I got to thinking that his parents were found alive and their 
>tormentors were captured, so the DE's didn't get to finish their 
dirty deeds.  


Maybe there's another reason the Pensieve Four didn't kill the 
Longbottoms outright.  Maybe, just maybe, they didn't want the Dark 
Mark to appear over the Longbottoms' house, see.



> Later, we see Crouch Jr.'s trial for the torture of the 
>Longbottoms.  Harry places his age at around 19.  So this trial 
>would then have had to be 3-5 years after the first batch, giving a 
>little bit of leeway for age miscalculations on both ends.  If this 
>is the case, Neville was anywhere between 4-7 years old.  Let's say 
>5 just for the fun of it.   This would be  long enough after all 
>the post-war trials that the WW would have been feeling safe.  This 
>would also make Neville old enough to be able to remember what 
>transpired if he was actually at home at the time, and not
> with his Gran.

Oh, I dunno, Kelley.  I dunno.  See, I always figured that 
Voldemort's empire folded like a napkin once he was reduced to a 
garlic-scented fume.  "The attacks on them came after Voldemort's 
fall from power, just when everyone thought they were safe."  So if 
Voldemort falls in October 1981, I'm figuring the Pensieve Four 
torture the Longbottoms right away, perhaps even before 1982 
starts.  This makes Neville quite young indeed, I'm thinking.

>Here's a scenario.  He's home at that time and hears (and perhaps
> sees) everything.  <snip Benevolent Memory Charm theory>

But . . . but why would MoM care about little Neville and his 
pathetic little nightmares.  The Longbottoms' attack caused a "wave 
of fury."  There was "great pressure" to catch the culprits.  So why 
would MoM mess around with some tyke's memory when there are wicked 
DEs who will stop at nothing, still running around loose.

I'll tell you why.

They put a *Reverse Memory Charm* on Neville!  This helps him finger 
the Pensieve Four, although he would otherwise be too young!  
Nevilee's a *hero,* see!

<nods enthusiastically>

Yeah.  Just 48 days until I'm proven right!  ;-)

Cindy -- who still hasn't ordered OoP