Longbottoms' Secret Keeper

[Eustace_Scrubb]

No: HPFGUIDX 107497

esmith222002 wrote:
> > It seems that the assumption is that Harry's parents were in  
> > hiding because of the prophecy. If this is so, then surely the  
> > Longbottoms would have been in hiding also.

Eustace_Scrubb:
Some theorize that the Longbottoms were _not_ in hiding because they
were Aurors, which the Potters were not.  Perhaps, as someone
suggested elsewhere in this thread, Neville himself was protected by
the Fidelius charm (or does one have to be old enough to be able to
designate the Secret Keeper one's self?)  Or maybe he was with his
Gran and she was the one protected?  As Meri says, we'll just have to
speculate until JKR answers this one--or until it proves to be of no
importance!

Meri: 
> The Longbottoms weren't attacked till well after the 
> Potters were killed. According to DD that was one of the reasons 
> that  people were so angry about the attacks. LV had fallen at this
> point, families were coming out of hiding, and people thought they  
> were safe for the first time in ten years. 

Eustace_Scrubb:
I would agree with that first sentence if the word "well" wasn't
there.  Yes, clearly Godric's Hollow occurred before the attack on the
Longbottoms.  And yes, DD does say that the latter occurred just as
people were beginning to feel safe.  But I still think that the time
frame _could_ have been as early as the evening that DD, Hagrid and
Minerva deposited Harry on the Dursleys' doorstep.  Word had already
spread of LV's disappearance, celebrations were underway that even
Vernon Dursley noticed, and even DD said in PS/SS that he was going to
join in the celebrations.  I don't think the WW would have engaged in
such celebration unless a large proportion of them were already
feeling safe by that night.

Cheers,

Eustace_Scrubb