Neville /Memory Charms (very long)

[kmcbears1]

No: HPFGUIDX 109660

I think that a Memory Charm was performed on Neville.
My support for this theory comes from GoF. (References in 
Chronological order with my supporting comments to my theory.

GoF - Chapter 7 Bagman and Crouch
"'Poor old Bertha...memory like a leaky cauldron and no sense of 
directions. Lost, you take my word for it.  She'll wander back into 
the office sometime in October, thinking it's still July.'"

GoF - Chapter 27 Padfoot Returns
"'Blustering on about how bad Bertha's memory is.  Well, maybe she's 
changed since I knoew her, but the Bertha I knwew wasn't forgetfull 
at all -- quite the reverse.  She was a bit dim, but she had an 
EXCELLENT MEMORY for gossip.'" (emphasis mine)

Bertha Jorkin is not old in WW so why is her memory as an adult 
suddenly the opposite of what it was 14-15 years ago.  Even in 
Muggle's memory does not change that drastically with age unless 
there is something wrong such as illness or accident.

GoF - Chapter 30 The Pensive 
"'The Longbottoms wer very popular,' said Dumbledore. 'The attacks on 
them came AFTER Voldemort's fall from power, just when everyone 
thought they were safe.'"  (emphasis mine)


JKR does not say how long after but everyone was feeling safe.  I 
think Neville was older than 13 month old Harry.  If Harry can 
remember events from age 13 months, wouldn't Neville remember 
something that happened when he was 18 months? 

GoF -Chapter 33 - The Death Eaters 
"...but the means I used to break the Memory Charm upon her were 
powerful, and when I had extracted all useful information from her, 
her mind and body were both damaged beyond repair."

GoF - Chapter 35 - Veritaserum
"'He will stay, Minerva, because he needs to understand,' said 
Dumbledore curtly. 'Understanding is the first step to acceptance, 
and only with acceptance can there be recovery. He needs to know who 
has put him through the ordeal he has suffered tonight, and why."

(comment on this after another Dumbledore quote.)

"'He put a very powerful Memory Charm on her to make her forget what 
she'd found out.  Too powerful.  He said it damaged her memory 
permanently.'"

Memory Charms can damage an adult's memory.  What would it do to a 
child's or toddler's memory?
 
Chapter 36 - The Parting of the Ways
"'If I thought I could help you,' Dumbledoer said gently, 'by putting 
you inot an enchanted sleep and allowing you to POSTPONE the moment 
when you would have to think about what has happened tonight, I would 
do it.'" (emphasis mine)

Dumbledore does have the power to help Harry forget, just preform a 
Memory Charm.  But Dumbledore believes in learning and understanding 
from our experiences no matter how painful they may be.  

Dumbledore assumed responsibility for Harry after GH.  Neville's 
Grandmother made the decisions for Neville after the Cruciatus Curse 
had left his parents in their current state.

I believed Neville's Grandmother allowed or preformed the Memory 
Charm on Neville.  Did it happen right away or was Neville suffering 
from nightmares that would make the Memory Charm seem like the 
correct course of action?  IMO we will find out in Book 6 or 7.

Neville does has one advantage over Bertha.  His brain appears to be 
adjusting, growing, recovering from the Memory Charm.  I think this 
is one of the reasons for his growing confidence and power. His brain 
is developing new pathways.   

Will the ADAD classes have lessons in using the Pensive in 6th or 7th 
year? I think it will be interesting to see into Harry's and 
Neville's memories and hope we get the chance.  

I do agree with the statements that Neville's grandmother is the 
definitive strict old-fashion proper lady.  She is a mother who 
idolizes her son at the expense of her grandson.  But I think she 
loves Neville and the Memory Charm was performed on young Neville 
because of that love.

Karen