Snape and the Longbottoms

[backstagemystic]

No: HPFGUIDX 56994

imamommy wrote:
>>Why is Snape the thing that scares Neville the most? Is it only due 
to his treatment of Neville at school? Or is it possible that Snape 
was the DE who performed Cruciatus on the Longbottoms, and Neville 
has a supressed memory of this? At any rate, why is Snape so hard on 
Neville?<<

In the "Pensieve" chapter of GoF, it's made clear that the attacks on 
the Longbottoms took place *after* Voldemort's fall; whereas, it's 
also made clear in the same chapter that Snape had turned spy for 
Dumbledore before said fall...so, I don't believe Snape was involved 
in that.

However, outside of the more obvious frustrations of dealing with 
Neville's ineptitude in class, I do theorize that Neville's parents, 
particularly Frank Longbottom - who was an auror - may play a part in 
Snape's targeting of Neville.

Again in the same chapter, Dumbledore tells Harry (in reagard to the 
trial of Crouch Jr. and the 3 DE's with him), "Unfortunately, the 
Longbottoms' evidence was - given their conditon - none too reliable."

The implication, at least for Crouch Jr., is that some may have been 
wrongly imprisoned for acts they did not commit.

Also, as revealed by Sirius to Harry (GoF, "Padfoot Returns" 
chapter), we get a clear picture of Crouch Sr's impunity as Head of 
the Department of Magical Law Enforcement: 

"The Aurors were given new powers - powers to kill rather than 
capture, for instance.  And I wasn't the only one who was handed 
straight to the dementors without trial.  Crouch fought violence with 
violence, and authorized the use of the Unforgivable Curses against 
suspects.  I would say he became as ruthless and cruel as many on the 
Dark Side."

Given the above revelations, I speculate that it's possible that 
Snape may be harboring resentment that possibly stems from some sort 
of injustice suffered or witnessed, either directly or indirectly, by 
himself or someone he knew, at the hands of Aurors.

Whether or not Frank Longbottom himself was guilty of such is unknown 
to us, but his having been an Auror under Crouch Sr.'s authority in 
and of itself may illuminate at least a partial reason as to why 
Snape bullies Neville.

BM