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

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 119777


Jen: I wish we had a better candidate than Lucius. There's not much
suspense there. And if JKR hadn't said the Lestranges were "sent" to
the Longbottoms, I would go on believing it was Bella who engineered
the whole thing. After all, in the Pensieve scene in GOF, she yells
out, "The Dark Lord will rise again, Crouch!...he will reward us
beyond any of his other supporters! *We alone were faithful! We
alone tried to find him!*" (emphasis mine) (US, chap. 30, p. 596)

Do you think all this was another editing error on JKR's part or did
someone really 'send' them? Cause by the time their trial rolled
around, it appeared to be after most of the other DE trials; Crouch
Sr. was 'gaunter and grayer' than before. Hmmm..


Leah now:

'another editing error'- my thought as well, because I've always 
assumed that the attack on the Longbottoms was an idea of Bella's, 
acting alone, or rather having the idea all by herself and taking 
hubby and brother in law along for the fun.  

However, I did note that JKR said that it was "the Lestranges" who 
were sent.  No mention of the other person who was condemned for his 
involvement in Auror torture-Barty Crouch Jnr.  Another editing error 
or a deliberate omission?

Just why is Barty Jnr LV's 'most faithful servant'?  What has he done 
except possibly be in the wrong place at the wrong time and 
desperately try and protest his innocence in the courtroom scene?  
What a contrast with Bella's performance at the trial. And plenty of 
other DEs spent longer in Azkaban than Barty Jnr had to cope with. 
Why on earth did LV rush round on his return to de-imperius this 
frightened boy when he already had the vaguely competent Pettigrew in 
tow and access to the likes of Malfoy and Nott?

What really seems to get LV's goat in the graveyard scene is the fact 
that none of his followers tried to look for him.  That's why I think 
if his slippery friend Lucius had been behind the attack on Frank and 
Alice, he would have let LV know.  So, what if Barty Jnr had been not 
the onlooker at, but the promoter of, the "let's ask the Longbottoms" 
approach?  And his behaviour at trial was a fine piece of acting for 
his mother's benefit?  That might well make him LV's favourite boy.

There are a couple of other possiblities- Nott, who tries to tell LV 
in the graveyard that he, Nott, is the most faithful servant, but is 
cut off by LV. Or Rookwood, who is the insider at the MOM.

And a final thought, why doesn't that accomplished Leglimens and 
wielder of veritaserum, DD actually know whether Barty Jnr is 
innocent or not?

Leah