JKR's cryptic answer: Who sent the Lestranges to the Longbottoms?

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 119690


Spoiler here for anyone not reading JKR updates!
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Rumours Section:

Q: The Lestanges were sent after Neville to kill him.

JKR: "No, they weren't, they were very definitely sent after 
Neville's parents. I can't say too much about this because it 
touches too closely on the prophecy and how many people knew about 
it, but the Lestranges were not in on the secret."


Jen: Whew! This wasn't what I expected to hear. I've always believed 
the Lestranges attacked Neville's parents to get information about 
the prophecy, to get an explanation of why LV turned to vapour at GH.

But no! The Lestanges 'were not in on the secret' so their visit to 
the Longbottoms was for another mysterious reason. And who sent them 
there? LV was not giving orders anymore, so who was second in 
command? Maybe it was the same person who overheard part of the 
prophecy.

I'm stumped on this one. Most of the DE's were trying to talk their 
way out of Azkaban about this time, yet the Lestranges and at least 
one superior were still carrying out a secret operation. 

The other interesting point about this answer: If the Lestranges 
didn't know about the propehcy, then the Longbottms surely did. Why 
else include the prophecy in this answer otherwise? It always seemed 
logical the Longbottoms would have been informed, like the Potters, 
but this makes me even more certain.

Jen, with more questions than answers as usual ;).