Three Defiances and Uncle Algie

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 112844

I (Carol) asked:
> > <snip> Anyone else have thoughts on the meaning of
> > "defied three times"?
> 
> 
Arugala replied:
>Quoted Prophecy snipped>
> Well, first, do you think the "those" we're talking refurs to: A) 
> each individual (Lily, James, Frank and Alice) each defing him 3 
> times, B) each COUPLE defing him 3 times, C) culmulatively, between 
> all four of them, they defied him 3 times, D) the entire family (and 
> maybe including those who they'd just consider family), or E) the 
> Order of the Phoenix.

Carol:
I think it means either three times apiece or three times per couple
(for example, two for James and one for Lily would count as the
Potters defying him three times). Joining the Order would count as two
defiances per couple (one per person). Frank's being an auror,
possibly meeting one of Voldemort's most important DEs in battle,
could easily constitute a third defiance for the Longbottoms. Maybe
James, though not an auror, also battled someone or simply refused an
invitation to join the DEs. So I'm going with choice B, though JKR may
have intended choice A. I don't think it's any of the others.
> 
<snip paragraph on Gran, who as you say is definitely not a DE and is
proud not only of her pureblood heritage but of her auror son, whose
wand she gave to Neville. (I think she intended the gift as an honor
and an inspiration--unfortunately, it wasn't at all suited to him.)
 
> Then there's Great Uncle Algie, AKA the gloved balcony dangler of 
> the WW. Nearly drowning Neville, "accidently" dropping him out of 
> windows--I smell Death Eater. I mean, twice nearly knocking off the 
> kid who might be the one with the power to destroy Voldemort, who 
> also appeared to be a squib? Would a DE want a squib in the family? 
> And he gave Neville that damn toad...
<snip>
 
> --Arugala, who really does believe Algie is evil, and Trever proves 
> it.

Carol:
I don't remember any gloves in the anecdote about Neville being
dropped, and I don't see anything sinister in Trevor. (After all, a
toad is a standard pet at Hogwarts, on the list of supplies along with
cats and owls--just viewed by the kids as out of fashion (not
"cool")--a state of affairs that old Algie wouldn't be aware of. He
could simply have given Neville the toad as a present to make up for
dropping him out the window (which in any case didn't injure him as it
would have done to a Muggle child--I don't know about a squib) and
doubting his magical abilities. And Uncle Algie also gave Neville a
Mimbulus Mimbletonia, which seems to indicate that Algie recognizes
Neville's talent for herbology. I see it as a vote of confidence.

Clearly, you see things differently. Can you explain why you think
that Trevor "proves" (indicates?) that Algie is evil?

Carol