A loose end or two...

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 83911

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at e...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hermionegallo" 
> <hermionegallo at y...> wrote:
> > Kneasy said (snipped):
> > 
> > Lockhart is not nice. A liar, vain, a fraud; prime Voldy meat. But 
> he 
> > is very, very good at one thing. Obliviate!  Has Lockhart been 
> > naughty in ways we haven't been told about?
> > 
> > 
> > hg:
> > Okay, so you've dragged me into the public, haven't you?  I'll add 
> > this: Lockhart's skills could have *augmented* what the Lestranges 
> > did to the Longbottoms.  Because I really think someone's behind 
> > their extended incapacity, and it's most likely Malfoy.  So if 
> we're 
> > going to connect dot Lockhart to dot Malfoy, why not go to dot 
> > Longbottom while we're at it?  
> 
> 
> Jen: 
> 
> Are you all saying that Lockhart, via Lucius's orders, is continuing 
> to keep the Longbottoms in their incapacitated state now? Thus 
> Lockhart would only be pretending to have severe memory loss, 
> keeping himself in St. Mungos and extraordinarily close to the 
> Longbottoms. Or are you proposing that Lockhart, prior to 
> Voldemort's fall, was a DE (or at least working with Lucius) and 
> caused the Longbottoms to be incapacitated in the first place, along 
> with the Lestanges? Or are both hypotheses being considered, for 
> that matter :)?
> 

I keep remembering that Voldy (in his first incarnation) supposedly
had lots of supporters who, while not necessarily DEs, would have
been willing to do the dirty for him. I'd speculate that most of these 
would be among the more dishonest and ambitious members of the 
WW. (Don't forget, it looked as if he would win, at least until Godrics
Hollow.) 

So, who among those we've met would be favourites to be placed in 
this group? Lockhart and Bagman IMO. Maybe Fudge also.

After Voldy apparently goes down the tubes after Godrics Hollow they
would be concerned (another way of saying 'in a screaming panic').
Firstly they have to hide their participation in the Voldy for King Action 
Group, secondly they are open to blackmail by the DEs. ("Keep helping
us or we'll  shop you or worse.")

It's puzzled me that darling Bella didn't terminate the Longbottoms.
It's what she does best. How many survived an encounter with the DEs?
Damn few so far as we know. But I can imagine a coward who can see
which way the wind is blowing having second thoughts and liking the 
idea of being able to claim in his defence (if caught) that he had saved 
them from the vengeful Bella and her ever-ready AK. 

Lockhart seems to be *the* master of memory charms; he boasts about
it. It certainly took an expert to  reduce the Longbottoms to what they
are now. And  Lockhart's memory spells seem to be permanent. If it
had been him that zapped the Longbottoms there would be no need
to slip  drugs into their pumpkin juice to keep them forgetful. No 
awkward testimonies - problem solved.

Would I speculate that  he is still working on them in St Mungo's?
No. There's no way the Healers would allow a patient in his condition
to have the use of a wand;  plus he's in a locked ward most of the time.

There's more to come on Lockhart, I think.

Kneasy