Neville, Voldemort, and a LOT of gum

Sorry if I should have put this somewhere else. I checked but found nothing pertaining wholly to the case of the mysterious gum wrappers. Anyway....

So we all know that Christmas of book 5, Neville recieved a gum wrapper from his mother in the closed ward. But Neville's gran says, "she must have given [him] enough of them to paper [his] bedroom." So what's with all the gum wrappers? Why so many?

First, on a cheerful note, it seems Dumbledore was wrong and Mrs. Longbottom at least does recognize her son. :D Anyway, my subject as under Educational Decree something or other that's all I'm allowed to discuss. Someone somewhere (sorry can't remember who or where; maybe Neville's parents, Malfoy, and Neville's memory??) brought up the fact that if the Longbottoms knew where Voldemort was that they might know more. How to defeat him perhaps? This would be a good reason for Bellatrix and company to want them out of the way. So what if the gum wrappers are supposed to be some sort of clue to Neville? Something he's missing while being ashamed, or guilty, or angry, or something else he shouldn't be?

I was giving this some thought this morning and thought I'd see if any of you guys were thinking along similar lines. So what do we know about the gum wrappers? We know Neville has lots of them so his mother probably gave him one per visit. We also know that they were for Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and were always empty. Given Rowling's style I'm almost positive all of this has a signifigance other than to gain sympathy for Neville; she did that in GoF VERY well already. Poor Nev. :( So.... like some popsicle sticks have jokes or little known facts, could the gum wrappers have something similar? Something that when looked at right spells out the secret to Voldemort's dowfall? Or a picture with a similar purpose? Wasn't there some trick with some number dollar bill that if you folded it right you could make it look like the Towers collapsing on 9/11? Or could Mrs. Longbottom maybe be saying that Drooble knows how to do it? There are so many possibilties. Maybe Nev's mum feels uncomfortable talking in front of his gran and it's some kind of form of communication that only she and her son can comprehend? I don't know. What do you all think? Any chances? :angry: We have to wait another couple of years to find out now. :sigh: We just can't win.

I sort of agree with the "not wanting to talk about it in front of the gran" thing. His gran does seem a little weird and maybe abusive or something. (maybe she put "crucio" on him once and a while to show him what his parents went through...... hmmmmmm) Maybe she is saner than her husband.



haha...... maybe gum deflects the crucious curse.

Wow, that's an interesting theory. I think because of the time they've been spending at St. mungo's the longbottoms could be regaining their sanities and remembering the information about Voldemort. I mean, if they are starting to remember who Neville is (because of the gum wrappers), it could be an indication fo their regaining their memories, like Lockhart did. I'm not really sure how giving Nev the wrappers could explain this to him, tho. I think they're just a way of showing Neville that they care about him. I don't think there's a secret message already printed on ALL DBBG, because if there was, any idiot smart enough to walk and chew gum at the same time :p could figure out the secret information. Maybe a future gum wrapper Neville receives will have info on it, but I doubt all of them will.

I kind of associate the condition of Neville's parents with alzheimers. They can get around and communicate somewhat, but they don't really have much mental capacity. I know one old woman with alzheimers who stopped recognizing her daughter and started calling her by a different name and no one knows where she got that name from. But I would like to think that even if Mrs. Longbottom doesn't consciously recognize Neville, she at least may hav a subconscious need to give him things. You notice she gave the wrapper to Neville, not Harry, Hermione, Ginny or Ron so on some level she does know him but may not understand why she knows him.

Droobles Best Blowing gum comes with the gum in a wrapper. You chew the gum and throw away the wrapper, then you throw away the gum. Maybe the gum represents the human - the gum is the soul, the wrapper the flesh. Or perhaps the other way around - the gum is the flesh and the wrapper the soul (since the gum gets chewed and eventualy decomposes, the wrapper still stays around forever because Neville is placing them on his wall to collect).

Rambling, I know. But the gum thing is going to drive me crazy. :banghead:

That makes a pretty good point, I suppose. You're still at the logical part, you only need the unrealistic second part to the theory to complete it. ;) But really, this is a good theory, and we can only wonder now about what that meaning of the wrappers could be.

edit: I think may have an idea about this. Maybe they are indicating that they want to write something down. About Voldemort, maybe.

I think Neville's gram is upset that he is not as good of a wizard as his parents although he says in this book "gram will be upset about the broken wand because it was my dads" In the first book we were told that the wand chooses the wizard so perhaps Neville's incompetencies at magic were because he was using a wand that didn't pick him (but picked his dad) Maybe now he will have to get his own wand and will suddenly be very good.

I think that Neville will be the one to get Beatrix or at least help Harry in the end. I was a little shocked to find out that the prophecy could have been about Neville as well as Harry.

Wow! Everyone's on and apparently thinks I'm as mad as Lockhart. :sigh: Oh well. It was a theory. Hi rabbie!

Violinist, I thought about that for a while. Actually I had almost convinced myself that Neville's family was beyond weird and to abusive. But having met his gran now I don't think so somehow. I think she's just stuck on the past and Neville's the overlooked future. "Gran's gonna kill me. That was Dad's wand." Though gum deflecting the Curse... interesting thought. Was Neville chewing gum when Bellatrix... you know, was being a evil little witch, I wonder? Rowling probably would have mentioned it. Mind you, Mrs. Longbottom definatly seemed proud of herself after giving him the wrapper.

Now souls and flesh and bodies?? Wow, familiar. And I thought I was confusing myself. Kinda thing you'd find in books like this though isn't it? hmmmm.... Oh I don't know! Like I said I was basically drawing straws so to say. And rambling. I'm good at rambling. Anyone else?

I did wonder about that amy. Whether now he'll have to get his own wand he'll suddenly show his magical apptitude? That's wipe the confident smile from his gran's face! It'd be HER fault that he was such a poor wizard. I hope he does get to knock of Bella though. If she doesn't die by the end of the series Rowling will have to keep going till she gets what she deserves. Which is something far worse than death. Insanity perhaps? But Neville, I don't think, could ever use the Cruciatus Curse for any reason let alone to drive people over the edge.

I don't think there's any reason WHY she wants to give him gum wrappers, just that she wants to give him them. She doesn't have anything else to give him. Perhaps she thinks 'Oh, there's a little boy here. Little boys like sweets. I'll give him one!' without actually taking in that she'd already had the gum. Perhaps she gave him a wrapper with no reasoning at all one time, and he seemed so pleased that now she gives him gum wrappers regularly to try to please him.

I don't think it has to be either a spectacular 'clue' or just a symptathy inspiring moment for Neville. That's a bit of a black and white way of interpreting at the scene.

Ok, well, just one little question...where did they get all that gum from in the first place. Since the grandmother said his walls were covered in wrappers, then he must really have a bunch, and I doubt whe would bring them more gum. Hmmm.

There's no reason why Alice Longbottom shouldn't be given gum. She can't harm anybody with it, can she? She could choke on it, but the sanest of us can do that. Alice must have the art of chewing gum down perfectly.

Ah, the art of chewing gum...now that shows she must not be completely insane (no I wasn't being sarcastic).

I think it was neville's mum's way of showing she reconised Neville. She couldn't do a lot else really....gah I loathe Bellatrix...and she gave him the wrapper because that's all she could do.

It interests me why his dad wasn't in it though, maybe he's not recovering so well.

It would be wonderful if his parents gained Sanity, but somehow I don't think they will completely, maybe improve.

I'm sure Neville doesn't have the opportunity to visit his mother very often -- during term time he's at Hogwarts, so perhaps he only visits on special occasions like Christmas. If this is the case, perhaps Alice Longbottom still understands that Christmas is a time for gift-giving and the wrappers of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum is the best she can offer? I'm sure there aren't too many things she can give her son -- if she likes gum a lot, perhaps the wrappers are her tokens of appreciation for his visit?

Sad really.

Ooooh, me likes the idea of gum deflecting the cruciatus curse. Of course there's absolutely no proof whatsoever, but hey. I don't think the 'Oh, there's a little boy here. Little boys like sweets. I'll give him one' thing is quite right because she never gives Harry, Ron, or Hermione gum wrappers. I think she recognises that Neville comes to visit her often and she appreciates it, even if she's not totally aware that he's her son. I hope Nev gets a new wand! I think it'll make him a slightly better wizard, though not that much, because he's really bad at potions, and you don't really need a wand for that. Then again, maybe Neville's just bad at potions because he's so nervous because of Snape. I mean, he is really good at Herbology, and I don't think you need a wand for that, do you? Wow, Neville could be like a really talented wizard and we don't even know about it. Here's hoping. Kinda sad that he lost something of his father's, though. Wow, this post really rambles.

I think the gum wrappers are just a sentimental thing. It's a present from Neville's mom and I think he just keeps it for that reason.

However, I think Neville will avenge, or try to avenge, his parents in later books.

I haven't seen this discussed anywhere yet...when Neville is visiting his parents at St. Mungo's, his mother wants to give him something, a piece of paper/wrapper that the grandmother thinks is trash--"Again?!" But Neville puts it in his pocket and quietly thanks her. My feeling is is that Alice is NOT mentally gone, but is faking it and has been slipping Neville notes. Maybe Neville really has more magical ability than he lets on, but is hiding it for some reason. Comments anyone?

About Neville's mom faking her insanity--i highly doubt it. But good thought though. I guess that Neville never has recieved as much as a hello from him parents, so I think that he must really cherish the "pieces of trash" that she gives him. I mean, heck, if my parents were like that, I'm sure I would hold the most miniscule sign that they know me as treasure.

And second, about Neville not really showing us all he knows, I'm sure this one is true. It said that Neville was really progressing in the DA meetings, and his actions and bravery he showed at the Department of Mysteries really made me appreciate Neville more then just the dumb confused boy in Harry's grade. I say watch out for Neville!

Hmm. My opinion is Alice Longbottom is insane. There isn't any reason for her to pretend that she isnt. I think Neville pocketing the gumwrapper is signifigant to Neville's love for his parents in spite of their situation.

But I think the Longbottoms have something up their sleeves that we are all missing. Just an inkling.

I hadn't thought of that. It's possible. I just thought it was poingant moment. Neville unwilling to throw away anything his mother gives him drives home the fact that she can't give him the one thing he really needs from her, a mother.

Interesting. Like many others I think the Longbottoms condition is being kept as is. But I dont thats going to last much longer for at least Alice. I wonder instead of notes she giving clues. Maybe in the next book we will see more of them. But it appears shes trying to come out of it.

Now uncle Algie is a bit worrisome for me. I mean he DID nearly kill Nevillie trying to "force" him to do magic. Something tells me that the Potters were not the only ones with a close traitor in their mist.

I do not believe that Neville is faking his blundering dunderheaded attempt at magic. But he is poorly guided. Under Harry's D.A. he improved. Teachers like Snape do not try to nurture him as Harry did, because they do not have a longing to see him succeed.

Also I think he may be a little scatterbrained. Being that, as all signs point, his parents died, life was taken away from them in some way, as Harry's did. Harry is popular and he is not.

The wrapper thing I can understand. Neville longs to have a normal relationship with his parents. He is going to keep any "gift" they give to him. Just put yourself in his cloak for a second.

I dont think that is so. Alice is NOT mentally gone, but is faking it and has been slipping Neville notes.
I fully Belive Alace is mentally gone and the only reason Neville kept the wrapper may be, because it is a gift from his mother and he wants to cherish the fact that his mother is still thinking of him.

I definately belive Neville has more magic that he is letting on, but I dont think it is because he is hiding it.

I agree with the fact that Neville cherishes every little thing his parents give him. I mean, that's the ONLY thing they can give him.

As for Neville holding back, I don't think the problem is him holding back it's more like he hasn't gotten much encouragement. I get the feeling that Neville is quite a nervous boy and he can get intimidated easily and then he fudges up. I think being in DA really helped him because Harry really encouraged him and he got more confidence. After all, even McGonagall is harsh on him and he's good at Herbology - I think people knowing that gives him more confidence.

Actually, there's already this whole crazy theory (which really isn't all that crazy...) that Alice Longbottom might be gradually getting better, and sending subconcious messages to him that symbolize something to do with paper/wrappers/gum that Neville does not understand. Frankly, my money is on the one that gum blocks the Crucio Curse....Seriously.

I would doubt that gum in itself blocks crucio or even the wrappers themselves. But I would not be surprised if the wrappers provide a talismanic protective power, as the only gifts his mother can give him, just as Harry's mother's gift of dying to protect him gave him lasting magical protection. His gran didn't say that he HAD papered his walls - she just said there must be enough to do so, and that was almost certainly just a flip way of saying there's been a bunch. I would expect something like the protective effect to work like a shield charm and rebound a severe crucio upon Ballatrix, giving her enough of a taste of her own medicine that she is reduced to a gibbering idiot

I think Alice has every reason to pretend that she is insane. I'm not sure about Frank but Alice may be faking, didn't someone say that there was a particular reason that the Lestranges went after the Longbottoms, maybe Alice knows that if they got wind that she wasn't really incapable of communicating, they would attack Neville something i'm sure she wouldn't want and also maybe aside from the obvious reason of being somewhat ashamed maybe Neville does know that his mother is lucid and doesn't want to bring any attention to her at all.Which brings me to a sort of updated messages on the wrappers theorie maybe there are secret messages on them like the marauders map maybe only Neville knows the password I'm not sure but I could see it happening.
Anyway feel fee to tear my crappy idea apart.

I'm not sure - at first glance, its a sentimental gesture on both parts that Alice feels she should give Neville something [even if she doesnt know who he is] and Neville keeps them because he misses his mum and dad and is touched by the gestures of Alice.
Under the surface, there could be any sort of hidden meaning!! We all know what JK's like :)

The wand things interesting and I think the reason why Neville did better in the DA's meetings was because he had new-found determination to start learning to protect himself because the news had just broken out that Bellatrix had managed to escape Azkaban along with the others.

I don't think that Aliceis faking being insane. I believe that Jk wanted to show that even if Neville's parents are insane there is still hope that they can get better, Alice giving Neville the wraper shows that she at least remembers him. She might not know who he is but she knows that he is a friend who comes to see her and can remember him from each visit.
I also don't think that there is any hidden message in the gum wrapers. Neville just keeps them because to him they are a gift from his mum and the only things he has from her that he can remember.

I'm pretty sure that the Longbottoms are insane and they aren't getting any better...if there was a chance that they were, I have a feeling that the Order would be doing their best to help them, instead of just leaving them in St. Mungo's. Also, If Voldemort's crew got wind that they were recovering (and I'm sure Lucius has the kind of connections to find that out), they'd be on them so fast to try and get the information that they were initially tortured for out of them.

I think that Alice gives Neville the gum wrappers because she recognizes him, but not as her son. He goes to visit her at all of the holidays, right? Surely she would recognize someone that visits her, and would want to thank them for caring about her. I don't think that she's trying to give secret messages or anything with the gum wrappers, she's just trying to be nice.

I HATE BELLATRIX LESTRANGE!!!!!!!

:@

I'm pretty sure that Alice is beyond healing. JKR seems to not want to let there be any hope for people's losses; Neville's parents are completely insane, Harry's parents are not only dead but they're even as perfect as he thought they were, Sirius is dead and Harry can't talk to him through the mirror, nor has Sirius become a ghost... I think JKR is trying to force the permanence of Voldemort's evil upon us.

The only thing left is for Neville to hunt down Bellatrix!! $10 he becomes an Auror and Harry doesn't.

To do some sort of charm that would place a hidden message on the gum wrapper, Alice would have to have her wand. We know Frank does not have his, and I feel quite certain that no one in that ward would be left with a wand, as they could easily do major damage to themselves or others.

Yes, I think the gum wrappers were just meant as a "gift" for Neville, and he keeps them because he loves his parents. I mean, who would just throw them away? I would keep them too.


Is it just me, or did anybody feel this was the saddest scene in the book? And it's not even a dramatic scene; I just can't imagine what Neville has gone through. I hate Bellatrix Lestrange....much more than Voldemort.

Don't read too much into the gum wrapper. Dumbledore said that Neville's parents do not recognize him, which is true in that they are clearly not sane. But the connection between a parent, especially a mother, and her child is very strong. I would suspect that, somewhere in Alice's tangled, destroyed mind, she has some vague idea that Neville is important to her. She probably doesn't know why. The only way she can show her affection is to give him something, and the only thing she has to give is the wrapper to a bit of chewing gum.

It's tragic.

:sigh:

Exactly true. Very well said.


Which is why I feel that the first person who kills Bellatrix Lestrange will be my absolute favorite character from this point onwards. It's just so sad! :'(

"Interesting. Like many others I think the Longbottoms condition is being kept as is. But I dont thats going to last much longer for at least Alice. I wonder instead of notes she giving clues. Maybe in the next book we will see more of them. But it appears shes trying to come out of it.

Now uncle Algie is a bit worrisome for me. I mean he DID nearly kill Nevillie trying to "force" him to do magic. Something tells me that the Potters were not the only ones with a close traitor in their mist." - Phionex

Wow, Phi! You read my mind! I mean, :o did Legilimency. I'm no Muggle, Snape, so HA! When said that they were being "kept as is" do you mean as in they have the chance for recovery but are being kept (possibly by the "connections" of Lucius Malfoy, the evil little... but he's in Azkaban now so - :) ) insane? That's what I think. But like I said, if Lucius is in Azkaban now they might have a chance at last! :D

The thought of the wrappers being like the Maurader's Map where to read it you must know the password (or pass-phrase, as may be) is an interesting idea. hmmmm.... But like Dedalus said, she'd need a wand, something I'm sure she wouldn't be allowed considering she's there for "magical" - what did they call it? And her sanity. I, though I certainly wish I COULD believe it, don't think she is faking her condition. Surely, I can understand why she would want to after what happened and with Neville still being well enough. But I think that she'd have at least explained to someone - even if it was just Neville - what had happened that night. And he - or whoever else she'd confide in - would tell someone else. Especially, if as I believe there were... other reasons that the Lestrange clan and Crouch went after them.

But I just can't let the idea that there is something beyond first sight in the gum wrappers. I don't think that Rowling, given her style, would have given them such a description if they did not have another purpose. Notice she mentioned the Lovegoods in 4? And Bode too? I garuntee they reappear within the next (and last :'( ) 2 books.

Also on an ending note: I can certainly see Neville as an Auror in the future, idbasquib. :) A very good way to avenge his parents. Or perhaps a Healer? Though come to think of it, did anyone else think that Tonks had certain Neville-like qualities if Neville were female, a Metamorphmagi and a bit more outgoing? And Bellatrix Lestrange must DIE or become insane herself before the the end of 7. If she does not, I will personally FORCE JK Rowling to continue until justice is served. Evil, evil, Bella! I agree with IThinkNot that she is by FAR worse than Voldemort!

I still think this is significant. I remember in one of the books (sorry--dont' remember where--guess I will have to restart the series again) there was a comment made that the Longbottoms were being kept at St. Mungo's against their will, and being purposefully confused. Or maybe that was a theory presented in the Ultimate Unofficial Guide--maybe I better re-read that too :rolleyes: Maybe Alice has the sense to not take her potions as indicated!

Originally posted by idbeasquib (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=410440#post410440))
The only thing left is for Neville to hunt down Bellatrix!! $10 he becomes an Auror and Harry doesn't.


YEAH!! ALL THE WAY! GO NEVILLE!!
Hehe sorry, Neville is my #1 favorite character.

I think that maybe this Droobles guy is thought to be not right in the head by people. Maybe he was friends with the Longbottoms and told them he had an idea that might defeat Voldemort. the Lestranges might have heard something like this, but heard that the Longbottoms knew it, so they tortured them. Droobles could have predicted this, and said to find it out send me one of my wrappers with a "code" or something on it. Alice could have put something on the wrapper and then given it to Neville, hoping he would get the picture, or maybe she wasn't able to tell him. It could be one of those secret codes. Highly talented wizards/witches are able to do magic without wands, so Alice might still be able to do some - she could write or put a code on the gum wrapper. Then Neville (or Harry, because Harry would probaly catch on) could give it to the Droobles guy and find out how to defeat Voldemort.

I think it's quite possible that she could be giving him messages through the gum wrappers, such an excellent thing to pick up, I hadn't noticed it. I mean, maybe Alice isn't faking it but his dad is?. I mean it's quite plausible I think. His Grandma says that he now has enough to paper his room, so he's obviously kept all of the! Why would he keep them all if they didn't mean anything. Surely not for sentimental value?

Veritaserum

I thought that whole scene was so sad. I really felt bad for Neville. I think he has it a lot harder than Harry. Harry's parents were murdered and he never has to see them, but Neville is forced to visit his parents who were tortured and they don't even recognize him. That would be so hard.

I really hope that the Longbottoms are able to recover, eventually. I think that would be fabulous. They were great wizards at one point and I really want to see more of them. As for the gum wrappers, unless Alice is faking it, I think they are just a gift for the nice boy who always comes and visits.

Maybe Bellatrix or someone has them under the Imperius curse, I mean it makes sense! U know how Barty was under it and he sometimes was able to feel occasionally like he was himself. Maybe at the times when she feels like herself, she writes Neville these notes on the gum wrappers. Just a theory...

Veritaserum

Did it really say somewhere that they were being held against there will?! I think that must have been the Unofficial Guide, I haven't read that. Either that you read it somewhere in this infinite universe that is the internet.

I agree that of all the ideas thrown out on this board I have to think "Go see Drooble" is the most plausible. I was rather fond of that. And it wouldn't involve usig magic and it's quite likely that they could have been close friends and so found out something. *Do you know the candyman, the candyman, the candyman? Do you know the candyman who lives on Bubble Lane?* :sorry: I'm weird. I know.

But I can see him keeping it for sentimental value, Verri. In fact, I believe that's WHY Neville still has them. He hasn't cottoned on to the fact that she's trying to tell him... something with her small tokens. Just my opinion. I still believe there's more than that.

Great thought, Verri! I hadn't thought of the Imperious Curse! That's really an excellent theory! Can Lucius Malfoy be behind that one too? He had Bode. I know, I'm obsessed.

Yeh I mean Freaky that I just can't see how you would keep hundreds and hundreds of bubble gum wrappers for sentimental value. I mean okay, I understand if he were to keep the occasional one, but all of them, I now see that there has to be something more to do with them...

Veritaserum

That's true. Hundreds and hundreds is lots. But still, if it's the only bit of your mother you have; the only small scrap of hope that she still knows who you are....

If Alice is faking it, then I really hate Alice for doing that to Neville.

His Grandma says that he now has enough to paper his room, so he's obviously kept all of the! Why would he keep them all if they didn't mean anything. Surely not for sentimental value?

But they do mean something if they are the only gifts his mother has ever been able to provide him. Neville sees his parents a few times a year when he is not at school. They do not know who he is and he has to witness their shattered mental and physical state. So why not sentimental value? What else do they have to share with him?

I think that the Longbottoms arn't faking being insane and are kept from getting any better. During that part of the book it is mentioned that Bode and Lockhart are making progress but not them. Could that be because they are being prevented from making any progress?

I have wondered for a while if St. Mungo's might not have its darker side, since we know that Lucius Malfoy is a major donor, but that theory was sort of smashed in OotP, where there was nothing to imply that anything evil goes on there (other than Bode's assassination). As for "anybody knowing the candyman" - we know of two, who have recently set up shop on Diagon Alley. But I don't know that they will be selling Droobles.

well the gum against a spell may not be so farfetched... think about it... this whole book we've seen the twins inventing candy which had all kinds of side-effects... and all of wizard-candy has some magical ability... so what's up with the gum... I mean what does it normally (being wizard-gum) do.... and can this help against a curse...

Maybe his gran was just being sarcastic. She could have only given him four or five, but since Gran noticed she said something like that. Just like when people say things like "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." If you fed them a horse they probably wouldn't eat it, let alone finish it. (I've always thought that was a stupid saying anyway...) This is farfetched and I don't even believe it but, say she is sending Neville a message via gum wrappers, maybe she is trying to tell him that she is sane. Maybe she is only faking crazy to accompany her husband. Argue that all you want... as I've said, I don't even believe it.
I would also like to mention that NEVILLE IS MY HERO! I always feel so bad for him, but no one even notices that he's down. But the gum wrapper incident (which I still look at as just one of those things that crazy people do, maybe seeing him enough to know he's there for her) when he was saying "Thanks Mum" all quietly. And then when he met Belatrix Lestrange and she says "I've met your parents," and he says, "I KNOW YOU HAVE!" I'm just thinking, ya know, 'GO NEVILLE! YOU SHOW HER!" Awww.... poor kid.

Someone mentioned that they kind of wondered where Alice got all the gum, and i remembered that my old spanish teacher always let us have gum durring tests. There have been studies done that proves the act of chewing gum is supposed to help you remember things or think(something aroung those lines). So maybe the hopital gives them gum to helpo them remember, or maybe alice just really like gum. I'm probably way off on that. Also, i think that Alice gives Neville the gum as a gift or a way of showing him that she recognizes him and cares about him, but, then again, there could be more to it.

Interesting thread.

I think that the gum wrappers incident may actually serve two purposes:

--To show the symbolism of Neville clinging to any seemingly insignificant reminder of his parents, thereby evoking the readers' sympathy for Neville
--Possibly to give Neville and the readers a clue about the central plot?

I'm not sure if there is any significance to the gum wrappers--though I am rather fond of the idea that Drooble may be the one to vanquish Voldie. :D Realistically, there may be something hidden in the wrappers, and Neville may figure it out eventually and share the info with Harry. It certainly seems like the type of clever plot device JK would use.

gryffindorchik, I second that -- Neville is my hero too! :lol:

I did find this--it WAS in the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of HP. A very useful book! I would recommend it to everyone! AND the authors hit the nail on the head on a number of things in Book 5. They did present the theory that the Longbottoms were being held against their will, pointing out that Lucius is a major donor. And the fact that Bode was murdered so easily could show that those who might be a danger to Vol. and the DE's could be wiped out or controlled somehow. But JKR's mentioning that Neville saved and put the wrapper in his pocket HAS to be some sort of clue, I'm convinced!

I third it! Poor kid.... Hope he gets to axe off Bellatrix for us. I think he's got the most against her. Then again could be Harry.

Pheonix, I've definatly had my doubts about Mungo's "dark side." Ever since we found about Lucius Malfoy being making "very geneorous donation" (evil git). I spent the whole of that chapter looking for signs of corruption but like you drew blank. Except that you can't be ENTIRELY sure that the nurse lady DIDN'T recognize the Devil's Snare. Maybe Malfoy put her up to it. Honestly, think about it. How do you get something like that through the mail? You couldn't could you? It'd attack the owl. So what if she was bribed? Anyway, drifting oc. But the fact that Lockhart and Bode were (Bode's dead so and Lockhart's better as he was at the end of 2...) getting better and that the Longbottoms aren't.... That's kind of suspicious, wouldn't you agree? I never picked up on that.

As far as Fred and George as our "candymen," er well. They do SELL candy. But it wouldn't be a very good hint to give Nev gum wrappers from Drooble if they meant "Go see the Weasley twins." I think the elusive candyman, should we hold to the theory that that's indeed what the wrappers point to, MUST be Drooble himself. Just my thoughts though.

And if gum is so good for remembering stuff, how come we're not allowed to chew it in school? Right. They WANT us to be miserable and in their infintestial brains that means bad grades even if we could care less.

thanks for the second re: St. Mungo's; I still have deep suspicions, pretty soap-bubble lights notwithstanding.

my point about the candymen wasn't so much that Neville should go see Fred and George, but just to note that there does seem to be a bit of a sweets-related sub-text through the whole HP series - Dumbledore's passwords, the Choc. Frog cards as sources of important info (Nicholas Flamell; Dubledore said he didn't mind getting thrown off the Wizengamot so long as he kept his place on the Choc. Frog cards), then the twins' and their Skiving Snackboxes. I don't have any real theory to put out there, but I can't help agreeing that there is more to the gum wrappers than the gift of a mother who loves her son.

well.. I don't think the Longbottoms knew the way to destroy Voldemort or anything... they were tortured because they were in the Order of the Phoenix and against Voldemort....

and the gum wrappers... I think Neville values EVERYTHING that was given to him by his mother.... even if it is just a gum wrapper.... I guess he puts it up around the wall of his room and think about his mother..... it must be painful to live with parents who are in hospital all the time...

but nevilles parents cant be trying to tell him something cos they were tortured OUT OF THEIR MINDS which means that they dont no wats going on around them and the bubble gum wrappers are just sum random thing that shes giving neville

wait no i didnt mean a random think i ment a present of some sort...

Good point, Pheonix. I never realized how many candy sub-pots there are. And Dumbledore's obbsession with lemon drops too! And how about those Skivving Snackboxes? I think they should make those available to the general Muggle public. I'd buy a box. ;)

It's true that they were tortured "out of their minds" or at least to insanity. But they might, I hope, either been getting better or still retain something. You know, they're a lot better off than I thought they'd be. I figured they'd be lying there staring blankly up at the ceiling totally unaware that they have company at all, even if Neville were holding their hands. *sniff* But I'm glad they're not all that bad off. :) I just have this vauge thought that they must have known SOMETHING more to have been the ones that the Lestranges and Crouch chose to go after and what a great twist if THEY knew how to destroy the evil Dark Lord. After all, Neville COULD have been the one the prophecy was talking about and I'm still not entirely convinced that it will be Harry in the end. Maybe that's it! With his parents' help Nev'll fulfill the prophecy and Harry won't have to kill anyone (or die trying)! :D I wondered how she'd keep it a "children's book..."

I also think we don't really know why the Longbottoms were tortured. We heard in DD's pensieve that it was because the Death Eater's thought they had info regarding LV's whereabouts, but that doesn't quite ring true. Presumably, if they did have info about LV's whereabouts, they got that info from other Death Eaters, so why would Death Eaters have to get that info back from the Longbottoms? Since they were tortured after Neville was born (it was after LV's downfall, and Harry and Neville are the same age), does it have something to do with the prophecy and Neville? Or something else altogether? And did Neville witness it and that is what his memory charm is about? Or was the secret his parents were tortured for given to him, and then a memory charm placed upon him to keep the secret intact? If this is the case, then the poor kid is labouring under as much as Harry!

You have a point there phoenixsong. It could be that the Lestranges thought that since the prophecy could have been about either Harry or Neville, the Longbottoms might have some idea about what happened to Voldermort. I'm sure that once the prophecy was made known both the Potters and Longbottoms went into hidding when they found out they were having a child(we known the Potters did). I guess the Lestranges thought that the Longbottoms knew something and since they could not go after the Potters , they went after the Longbottoms.

The purpose of a gum wrapper is to wrap something...

I think maybe Neville's mom is trying to tell him something, she has some weird memory of wrapping something...

Hmmm.... Wrapping something... This could be something big...

This is also a reply to "girl"...

Maybe the Lestranges and Crouch tried to force the Longbottoms to open the prophecy. We know that those who touch a prophecy that is not ment for them fall into insanity, just like Bode.

And Bode could not speak after he touched harry's prophecy. But Bode did not PERMANENTLY lose his memory, he was on the virge of spluttering it all out. I think that this is what happened to the Longbottoms, and that the gum wrappers are indeed a way for them to communitcate to Neville...

But Bode was getting better and the Longbottoms aren't.... Besides, the prophecy was sort of for them, before the man who ran the Prohecy Department of the Department of Mysteries decided that Harry was the one it talked about. Then you wonder, how'd he know what it said; he couldn't touch it either? Or maybe the "?" made so the Dark Lord and anyone could pick it up? And are Harry and Neville born on the same day? I was trying to figure out that as the seventh month turns thing and midnight on the 31st is close as you can get. So maybe it is Harry...? I don't know. Still think Nev'll at least HELP defeat Voldie and I'd love to see his mother's gum wrappers come into play this way. I KNOW there is something here! It's just avoiding our fingertips....

I still have a page to read in this thread, but this is intriguing. Could the Longbottoms have hidden information in Neville that the gum wrappers are supposed to reveal?

I have read so many posts lately that I can't remember which thread this came from - but somewhere they were talking about JK stating that there was a small piece of information in this book that would seem insignificant now - but she said she had to put it in because it will be significant later, and she felt that fans would feel "cheated" if they didn't have at least a bit of advanced warning or clue...do you guys think this wrapper thing could be it? I mean, everyone is coming up with such good thoughts as to the meaning behind the wrappers, but at the same time - it's just a gum wrapper, and to be honest, until I read this thread I had thought nothing of it - so maybe this is what JK was referring to? just a thought!

Originally posted by dudemanthing (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=421740#post421740))
This is also a reply to "girl"...

Maybe the Lestranges and Crouch tried to force the Longbottoms to open the prophecy. We know that those who touch a prophecy that is not ment for them fall into insanity, just like Bode.

And Bode could not speak after he touched harry's prophecy. But Bode did not PERMANENTLY lose his memory, he was on the virge of spluttering it all out. I think that this is what happened to the Longbottoms, and that the gum wrappers are indeed a way for them to communitcate to Neville...


Didn't Neville hold the prophesy for a couple of minutes in the Dept of Mysteries during the battle? In fact, wasn't he holding it when it was destroyed? But he's not insane. Neither is Harry. Hmmmmmmmmm...........

Originally posted by osupotter (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=422849#post422849))
I have read so many posts lately that I can't remember which thread this came from - but somewhere they were talking about JK stating that there was a small piece of information in this book that would seem insignificant now - but she said she had to put it in because it will be significant later, and she felt that fans would feel "cheated" if they didn't have at least a bit of advanced warning or clue...do you guys think this wrapper thing could be it? I mean, everyone is coming up with such good thoughts as to the meaning behind the wrappers, but at the same time - it's just a gum wrapper, and to be honest, until I read this thread I had thought nothing of it - so maybe this is what JK was referring to? just a thought!


I like that idea! I mean I am now adament that the Longbottoms are under the imperius curse, see what if Lucius was among the death eaters that tourtured the Longbottoms but he managed to get away. If he is able to have so much rule over St Mungo's then he may be able to keep the Longbottoms under the imperius curse. Then in their moments between curses, they could write on the wrappers! Oksay I can get so carried away at times...

Veritaserum

"Didn't Neville hold the prophesy for a couple of minutes in the Dept of Mysteries during the battle? In fact, wasn't he holding it when it was destroyed? But he's not insane. Neither is Harry. Hmmmmmmmmm..........."

Harry threw Neville the prophecy and yes he did indeed catch it and held it before putting it in his pocket. So that is strange indeed if the prophecy if involves three of them instead. However I was wondering, all those death eaters kept trying to summon the prophecy. How were they going to catch and hold it without going even more insane than they already were?

I think I just answered my own question. I think they needed Harry to remove the prophecy from where it was placed before they could take it to Voldemort. Bode tried to remove it from where they held it and went insane.

Holding the prophecy after it was removed from the shelf by the rightful person does not make one insane. Removing it from the shelf if you are not the rightful person does. Therefore, Neville was able to hold it after Harry picked it up and Lucius and the Death Eaters tried their best to get it.

But what does all this have to do with the gum wrappers?

This is so nerve-racking!!!!!

The gum wrappers I feel don't play an important part. They were used to just show how Neville feels towards his parents. The gum wrapper showes that Neville cares and misses his parents and to him anything they give him is important and should be kept.

I think the gum wrappers are definitely important. JKR put too many details in the description for them not to be. The question is "how"?

Are you sure Bode went insane? I thought it was just all imperious curse, but I could definately be wrong.

Anyway, I love this thread! I think Neville is going to be THE key Voldemort's defeat. Harry was always nice to Neville, which is sort of a strength of his. Remember how Neville stood up to them in PS. I think that will happen again.

The gum wrappers? Yes, undoubtedly some sort of clue. But I'd be really disappointed if the Longbottoms turned out to not be insane. It's the great tragedy of Harry Potter, and it would be so weak if it turned out not to be real.

( Alarm goes off)


WARNING! DUMB THE0RIE AHEAD!

Maybe, it could be some kind of subconcious thing the LongBottoms are doing. Perhaps the reason why it's BEST chewing gum, is because, of, the force. The one in the locked room of the Department of Mysteries. Could Drooble have a little secret up his sleeve. maybe, he, VEEEERRRY cautiously, put's a bit of the force into the gum. Maybe Alice was a friend of Drooble, of course before the insanity, and Drooble let them in on the secret. Maybe, somthing in her twisted little minds says:

' hEy AlIcE, yAnO dIs ChUbBy KiD mIgHt WaNt GuM, iT's SeRpOsEd To HaVe ReAlLy AmAzInG sTuFf In iT????>M<y>E<

Interesting thread...

I too believe that Neville is simply keeping something from Mum. After all, it WAS Christmas, she may have enough of a thought that you give away brightly wrapped things to people you love.

As for the Lestranges/Volde's followers.. It would have made more sense for THEM to go after the Longbottoms who, after all, were considered "pure bloods" and to their thinking would be more of a threat. (unlike Harry with his muggle blood-Voldemort considered him the threat-not his followers most likely)

and.. (don't hit me) but, Harry hasn't always been the nicest kid to Neville.. The trio has ditched Neville a time or two also. (PoA, comes to mind-both were unable to go to Hogsmeade-Harry ditched Neville) Compared to everyone else, they've usually stuck up for Neville tho. (or have lent a willing wand to unjinx folk)

I think Neville will end up as an Auror and Harry will be the DADA teacher when when he graduates. (which would be rather perfect for each of them) The only thing that kept Harry going a few times in OOP was the thought of his 'students' sucesses and the others did tell him what a good teacher he was. (To eventually follow McGongall as Headmaster...wayyy off in the future)

Just my 2 knuts worth;D

Originally posted by osupotter (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=422849#post422849))
I have read so many posts lately that I can't remember which thread this came from - but somewhere they were talking about JK stating that there was a small piece of information in this book that would seem insignificant now - but she said she had to put it in because it will be significant later, and she felt that fans would feel "cheated" if they didn't have at least a bit of advanced warning or clue...do you guys think this wrapper thing could be it? I mean, everyone is coming up with such good thoughts as to the meaning behind the wrappers, but at the same time - it's just a gum wrapper, and to be honest, until I read this thread I had thought nothing of it - so maybe this is what JK was referring to? just a thought!


You know? I think it's quite possible she WAS talking about the gum wrappers.... *feels special* I mean I think we all, some of us still do, thought/think that the wrappers were/are just a cherished gift from insane mother to hurting son. But there was WAY to much detail for it to be just that, me thinks.

"I think Neville is going to be THE key Voldemort's defeat." High five, Alison! Me too! :D And the fact that he DID hold the prophecy and DID see it smash, in fact, CAUSED it to smash thereby making it impossible for the Death Eaters to get their filthy little paws on it. You know, the trio and everyone else doesn't give the little guy enough credit. Did anyone ever bother to thank him for smashing it? Did anyone even REALIZE he smashed it? Did he ever earn more than a mere 10 pts for Gryffindor when waking up in the morning is an acheviement in itself for him? Did anyone ever bother to stick up for him when his passwords were stolen and put to ill use? Did anyone bother to apologize to him when they found out Sirius was innocent and didn't want to kill anyone but a no good coward of a rat who faked his own death out of fear of old friends by the end or when they found out that Crookshanks had taken them from the bedside table? Okay, I'm rambling. *Locks lips* Besides, this thread is about gum wrappers and evil Dark Lords not how little Nev should get more credit. Hey, you know this thread is really getting quite popular! :D *feels specialer*

I totally missed the 'but Harry swore he saw Neville pocket it' thing when I first read OotP, but the 2nd time through I saw it and it HAS to be a BIG hint. JK does that, itty bitty things we miss turn into things we MUST rememer, like Lily's good-for-charms wand, that was said ONCE, when we were thinking about Harry's new wand, will turn up huge in book 6/7. But i think this HAS to be HUGE sometime or another.

OR, what if the Longbottoms are acting. Sometimes people do that, like in Hamlet, Hamlet pretended to act mad, that way no one would think he would try to kill his uncle. Perhaps, just think about, the sixio on the floor, bloody and bruised, Voldemort steps up to Neville

Voldemort: Let me make it easier for you to understand your parents * Grins evily* CRUCI-

Alice: NO! Stupefy!


Then theirs a big fight, Nevilles parents die ( Ouch!) and Harry and Voldemort aprouch eachother slowly.

Harry and Voldemort: It's time to end this. AVADA KEDAVRA!!!!!


Only time will tell whats next :wink: The Gum wrappers might be part of the act.

I think Harry will have to find a more "subtle" means of defeating Voldemort. I don't think the wands are going to do it.

As for the gum wrappers, has anyone tried to approach the writing on the wrappers as an anagram? I'm not very good at anagrams, and I seem to recall that several folks around here are.

There is no reason why Neville and Harry can't both be Aurors. But I definately agree that there is more to the gum than is told. JKR likes to do that too many a time, the things we least expect and hidden clues throughout the book. For example the knife almost hitting Sirius at the beginning to foreshadow Sirius's death. Maybe it has to do with the information the Longbottoms' knew that the Lestranges tried to get out of them by doing the Cruiciatus Curse, or as others suggested, it helps possibly lessen the pain cuased by the Cruciatus Curse? The Uncle Algie trying to kill Neville is a theory I believe to be extremely far fetched, but there definately is more to the Longbottoms than is told. We learn all about Harry, because Voldermort made the decision to go for him rather than Neville, but what if he had gone for Neville? Also we still dont know a lot about the Potters, each book we learn something new about Harry's past, yet we dont know everything. THere are hidden things in both families. Maybe some sort of tie? Some sort of connection? For some reason (or by fate) Harry and Neville although it seems they're both quite different, were chosen to apply to the propechy, so I think there's a possibility that there are ties between Neville and Harry or the Potters and the Longbottoms. Also Neville seems to appear in the books a lot more now and he seems to undergo the missing parents like Harry does, living under strict rules, and he also won points (as clumsy as he appears) in his first year for gryffindor too! that's my long theory.

If he had gone for Neville we'd be reading "Neville Longbottom and the [fill in rest of title]. That's what would've happened! ;)

Metabee (or are we calling you Gred and Forge now?), that's really EVIL of Voldie, however it sounds vaguely familiar. "Your grandmother's used to losing family at our hands; your death will be no shock." *grrrrr..... Yet, I won't attack for Draco's sake, lucky you.* "No, let's see how long it takes for Longbottom to crack likes his parents." *however, you, Miss Bellatrix, don't have any family with souls and so...* I also agree though that a duel seems a little predictable for Voldie's defeat. My thoughts:

Voldie has his wand on Ron, whom Harry had been fighting with throughout the rest of the book over Hermy. Harry screams, "NO!!!!" and just as the Curse is about to be cast and Ron murdered, he leaps at Voldie's out-stretched wand and it snaps. However, as Voldie had just finished the incantation Harry gets the blast of the Curse. *sniff* And so does Voldie, so they both die and Ron and Hermione live happily ever after with Neville (to return to thread) as future Headmaster.

Padfoot, interesting thoughts on there being a connection between the two families. Very possible. Let's see... did James have a sister named Alice? Or what kind of wand does she have? Was it good for charms, as well? Or who were Lily's best friends in school? Does it say in Snape's worst memory who she was with BEFORE she started berating James?

Makes me think...

One thing Voldemort cannot understand is love. He and his minions.

It didn't matter what the Lestranges did to Nevilles mom even taking her sanity was her love for her child.

That gum wrapper was a symbol that she knows who Neville is and loves him.

I'm sorry but Harry has to be the child in the prophesy! For one thing, he is marked, and also he could pick it up. If it wasn't meant for him, he would have gone insane like Bode!

Veritaserum

I think the answer is in Arithimancy, the study of numbers. I don't know if Neville has taken this course but Hermione has. Will Neville remember how many wrappers his mother, Alice, has given him each visit, I'm betting he remembers because he loves his mother so much.

The Longbottoms are pure bloods and Sirius seemed to make the inference that pure blood families married other pure bloods. So with that said does anyone suspect Gram and her lineage?

On a positive note Neville gets a new wand. (Ron already got his some time ago, big one too)

Neville's gran is a bit suspicious, isn't she?
Reminds me a bit of Sirius's mom. Do you suppose she's a Voldemort supporter and is deliberately keeping Neville foggy to prevent him developing his full powers. His Dad was very powerful by her own account but maybe she turned him in to the DEs.

And is it in Chamber of Secrets that Neville says, "Why is it always me?"

First of all, Neville said, "Why does everything happen to me?" in the movie-not the book.

I don't think that Neville's Gran is evil. Her son was torured to insanity by evil...she sees Neville in pain because of this and she supports Dumbeldore and believed Harry's story from the start. I think she's hard on Neville because thats just the way she is and she can't help it.

Relax, Verri. Padfoot and I were saying "if" though I'm still not entirely convinced. Wait! No! Hear me out on this! First off, why would Rowling have Dumbledore mention Neville being the other baby boy the prophecy could have been about, if it weren't going to play part in later books? Answer: it'll be back to haunt us! Second, the last word of book 7 as we know is "scar." My friend and I were theorizing the other day over what the remainder of the sentence could be. She suggested "And it all began with a scar." Very possible but a little non-descript. Now what if Neville examining HIS scar? Just a thought. No one said that the person in the prophecy had already been marked, did they?

Neville's gran is a bit suspicious but I don't believe her a DE. I just can't see it even if she is a little like Sirius's "dear old mum." Minus, the screaming of insults and the fact that she's alive and well. But I think there is something odd about her and Uncle Algie too. But that's another story entirely. ;)

Also, I forgot about this last time. The thought that Drooble's Best Blowing Gum as an anagram. That's a great idea! And if anyone wants to lend a hand? I'm searching for a free website to do it for me now. No luck yet.

The Anagram angle - I have come up with a few combinations, but the one I like best is "Goblins were sold tomb bug." Suppose that the goblins had acquired an ancient Egyptian scarab (a bug) which they thought would allow them to acquire loads of hidden gold because it was supposed to be the key to something of great value in an Egyptian tomb. The Longbottoms learned of it and learned that besides any riches that might be there, there was the secret to immortality (although this term could be a misunderstanding from a term like rejuvenation or restoration). Of course, that has been Voldie's goal all along. Even before he had attacked the Potters, he had gotten several of his people placed in the MoM working toward taking over Gringotts so that he could get access to the scarab and the tomb. Remember the article in Luna's father's paper about Fudge being involved in a plot to take over Gringott's. The Longbottoms were tortured to try to weaken them into being susceptible to the Imperius curse as part of this plot, but they were very resistant and the process was interrupted before it could be completed. They have been making marks on the wrappers which can be decoded to rearrange the letters to the warning about the scarab - they don't dare do anything more overt due to Lucius Malfoy's connections at St. Mungo's (even though he's in prison, he can either maintain his influence or there are other loyal DE's in place to control things). In Book 6, the trio get to talking with Neville about his parents and ask about the wrappers; Hermione - naturally - recognizes the marks as a code, probably because she has been studying Runes. She decodes it and links it to Egypt. Ron mentions that Bill has been noticing strange goings-on back at his regular job as a curse-breaker in Egypt for Gringotts. The whole DA gets involved in preventing a takeover of Gringotts and Voldie getting the scarab and access to the tomb. Further suggestions to the plot - Flitwick is involved, as I have suggested before that he is either half-goblin or totally goblin (wouldn't he be an outcast in goblin society with his perky, pleasant disposition - just like Hagrid is too gentle and kindly (when he's not angry) to fit in with the giants). Possibly also the scarab is used by the trio to gain access and they find a magical device which facilitates healing of even the things the magical world cannot currently deal with, perhaps especially maladies of the soul, but to wield it requires a special power within the user, and this is Harry's weapon that the Dark Lord knows not.

Okay - I have gone off the deep end there, but no more so than the plots of PoA and GoF

Ooh, Dedalus you get an O for today's lesson. Yes I too thought either Arithimancy or Runes, but your's sounds more exciting.

I reckon that it has some signifigance in the past - maybe Alice always chewed gum, or something, and this is one of the memories that she still has and wants to pass it on to Neville. I have a feeling that we will find out the signifigance of this... but not until Bk. 7! (oh, no!)

Dedalus,

Wow. That's a great storyline. It may or may not be JKR's storyline, but I love it.

Wow Dedalus! That's very well thought out! And amazingly doesn't sound too unlikely. "Goblins were sold tomb bug...." The closest I found was something with Bestseller or Submersible. The internet can be a terrible thing to waste on such sites that can come up with nothing when you want it. There's too many of those...

We've also got: goblin gold bomb wrest use. not so great, i know, but I'm working on it! I really like the anagram idea.

Hehe..
It was quite farfetched.. But maybe..

Hm.... "drooble's best blowing gum"

I've got "muggle" and "blood" and the reamining letters are:

r e s b s t b o w i n

Has anyone figured this out using Arthimancy?

My feeling is is that Alice is NOT mentally gone, but is faking it and has been slipping Neville notes.

Whoa, rls that's a cool theory. I don't know if Alice is totally fine, but the things about the gum wrappers holding notes from her is interesting. I could see JKR slipping this in.

i think it's sweet...him keeping the gum...it's like he's trying to save anything that his mom gives him because it's special...she doesn't do it for anybody else, so neville treasure's it as his own special gift....precious.

Quote "Has anyone figured this out using Arthimancy?"

Umm, what IS Arithmancy. It's suggestive of numerology, but no doubt it is supposed to be something far more complicated and mysterious - at least to Muggles. We can do anagrams and try to guess things, but Arithmancy can be anything JKR wants it to be to advance the plot.

I can get "muggle born" out of it, too. Any other decipherers? Anagrams are not my best thing.

AHA! I've got it - "Mr. Tibbles budges owl goon". Of course, you have to remember that the Longbottoms are insane.

how many years do you think his mom's been doing this. his gran said he's get enough to paper his wall, but really...if she had always been doing it than your theory has some merit, but maybe she's just started. there's really no way of telling, right?

Muggle Born and we're left with d o o b s s w i l t be . Muggle Blood and we're left with r b o w i n s b e s t.... What on earth could this puzzle mean? Where's Hermione when you need her, eh? Let's see... "Muggle Blood is best brown".... no, probably not... eww! actually that may work.... But then I say we all steer VERY clear of Drooble. *shudders* "Muggle born wilt be do boss?". Is this making sense to anyone else? Though the fact that you can pull out Muggleborn and Muggle blood seems a good route.

Now, on the "Goblins stole tomb bug" thoughts by Dedalus. I was thinking.... Flitwick CAN'T be a full Goblin because under section something of thingy, it says that no nonhuman is permitted to carry and or use a wand. Diggory, help me out!!! Ah, well, he must be at work. Not home.... Anyway, makes you kinda wonder about Hagrid are part humans considered nonhumans???? And what about Lupin? The Ministry doesn't seem to look upon werewolves all too kindly, do they? And I don't really think he can be part-Goblin either. Because if Umbridge knew he'd have been out of there just like Hagrid and Trelawney. Evil, evil woman that she is... Sorry to crush your thoughts, Dedalus! I thought they were great! And who knows? My sister has book 4 now so I can't look it up. I could have this ALL wrong! ;)

Oops! I forgot! Arithmancy.... I'm not really sure what it is exactly but my friend tried to teach me a bit once. I could do it, though I wasn't sure WHAT I was doing, but I've forgotten. Have to ask her if she still remembers.... Anyway, it has to do, or at least I think this is what Al said, with finding your soul mate. You write a name - yours first then the person you want to check your, what should I call it... aura with. Each letter is represented by a number. I believe it's 1-12. You just write out a code first taking the letters across beneath your numbers. It's easier that way. Then you do something lie add all the vowels together and then all the constenents and then find the LCD.... Something like that.... Anyway, there's three boxes and each box represents something I think having to do with your personality or compatability. The first, I think, is the LCD of the vowels, the middle the constenents and the vowels together and last the constenents alone. Anyway, my two kunts and a bolt.

I'm still torn on this one, guys.... Do you really think JK would pull another anagram on us?

Hmmm, your post got me thinking I wouldn't put it past JKR to put some hidden messages like that. It would be very interesting to find out what the gum wrappers actuallly mean.

Arithmancy


Divination by numbers (sometimes wrongly called Arithmomancy). The ancient Greeks examined the number and the values of letters in each name of two combatants. They predicted the combatant having the name of the greater value would be victorious. It was by using this science that some diviners foretold that Achilles would defeat Hector.

The Chaldeans also practiced arithmancy. They divided their alphabet into three parts, each part composed of seven letters which they attributed to the seven planets. Through this arithmetic method they made predictions based on the planets.

The Platonists and Pythagoreans were also strongly attracted to this form of divination which is similar to certain aspects of the Jewish Kabbalah. A.G.H.

*****************************

Who knew? I thought JKR made it up?

This link is from the sorcererers' complanion. I think it's what your friend was talking about but it just looks like numerology to me.
http://www.sorcererscompanion.net/arithmancy.html

Sounds like. So now we know what Arithmancy is, I have a second question: What's numerology? And HAS Rowling pulled an anagram on us before? I can't think of one... or am I forgetting something? I think it's a new trick for her, actually. Still think the best we've got is the "Goblins stole tomb bug;" only one that makes sense, really. And Dedalus put up a GREAT arguement! :D Speaking of which: I looked it up. It's clause 3 of the Code of Wand Use. Or code 3 for the Restriction of Wand Use...? Bad memory. Anyway....

Numerology is pretty much what you see on the sorcerers' companion page above. Cabbalistic numerolgy is more complicated. They don't use strictly the numbers 1-9. For example, the letter t = 400. And there are other observations beyond the sum totals of the numbers in the name. For example, if the first vowel in a name is o or u the individual will have a tendency to be accident prone or clutzy. Kind of a Tonks thing. Hey, there's that "o". Or if the first vowel in the name has a higher numerical value than the first consonant, the individual will tend to lethargy.

*coughs* http://www.wordsmith.org/anagram/
I found it very helpful.
As soon as I read that part I knew there was something more to the wrappers...
Here's one I came up with, but it kinda falls through with the leftover letters.

Owl Tom's son, debug...glibber? beb girl?

lol, I guess it still needs some work...

Drooble's best blowing gum. sigh

I don't think it has anything to do with Arithmancy because when the Royal Albert Hall interview happened, someone asked J.K what Arithmancy was and J.K just said that she didn't really know and it didn't seem that important, but J.K could just be putting her off the scent.

As for the anagrams, I like the 'goblins stole tomb bug' cos it has an egyptian feel. Think of all those egyptian titles that warner brother patented, the pyramids of furmat and the chariots of light etc. Well well well, I now have something to think about!

Hey and don't worry freaky, I'm chilled I'm chilled lol, I have to go drop in some grrrrr uni assignments

Veritaserum

yeah, so this is totally off topic, but this is practically the only open thread as of now, so... could anyone tell me what ron was trying to say when he said: "node iddum eentup sechew"?

It means 'No, I didn't mean to upset you', stay on topic lol!!! Do you know how long I looked at that to figure it out!?!

Veritaserum

ah thanks very very much... its all topic sticking-to for me from now on... hm, and speaking of sticking... how about that gum..?! :-)

yeh...ahem gum yeh, lol I just pm'd u the answer hehehe. Hey you know I think that the anagram thing's a great idea. I mean J.K's done it before, she could easily do it again (yeh man I covered my *** well!)

Veritaserum

Originally posted by Veritaserum (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=443641#post443641))
yeh...ahem gum yeh, lol I just pm'd u the answer hehehe. Hey you know I think that the anagram thing's a great idea. I mean J.K's done it before, she could easily do it again (yeh man I covered my *** well!)

Veritaserum


Nice work.;D

Here's one:

"Bums rob sweet goblin gold." It's early. And anagrams aren't my strong point. And it's raining.
I'm sorry.

Ohhhh.... I wondered what Ron meant. Anyway... I still can't remember WHEN Rowling used an anagram on us!! You're all talking about it and I can't come up with a single one! And as far as Numerology goes, ignoring the fact that I sound like Hermy, I don't believe it. The first vowel in my name is an "a" and I'm dead clumsy! And besides, Tonks first name is Nymphadora. Ooh! look! She's an "a" too! Think there's a point there? Maybe not to place our faith in things like this and Arithmancy and Horoscopes, the like? Anyway, sorry, bit ot. :o Oh! and thanks for the site, Rahp! I'll go check it out NOW! :)

Ok, I'm on wordsmith now and just thought I'd see what we KNOW we can get that could easily be interpretted with our current knowledge of the Potterverse. No, I don't have full phrases. :( Just words. But, as some food for thought. From the suggested anagrami we can get the words: Tom, suggestive of Tom Riddle. Owls. Muggleborn and Muggle blood; we know Rowling has a reaccuring theme of "It doesn't matter what you are" so let's prove it by shoving a Muggleborn into clear view. Boss is another word you can get. Goblins, run the wizard bank. Goons, could be Crabbe and Goyle? I wonder, has anyone checked last names of obscure charecters? Well, I have my homework. Anyway, I should go. Tell you if I find anything. ;)

I always wondered if the Longbottom parents weren't tortured by the Lestrange's to find Neville for Lord Voldemort. Maybe they had hidden Neville and Bellatrix was trying to get that out of them. I always wondered if maybe Voldie ended up with Harry because Alice would not give up Neville's location but he had where Harry was thanks to Wormtail.

I still think the gum wrappers carry some importance. I mean Alice is not supposed to recognize Neville but she follows him all the way out of her room to make sure he is given it before he leaves. Just makes me wonder about it, like she is trying to communicate something to Neville or someone.

Raey

Originally posted by furryfreakferret (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=446672#post446672))
Ohhhh.... I wondered what Ron meant. Anyway... I still can't remember WHEN Rowling used an anagram on us!! You're all talking about it and I can't come up with a single one!

She uses it when she does the whole Tom Marvolo Riddle, I am Lord Voldemort thingo. Numberology is just one of those silly things kids do in school when they're bored to see if someone likes each other, I know, I used to do it lol

Veritaserum

:o Oh, right... erm, of course.... hehe. *blushes deeper* Felling like Fudge at the end of the book now but I'll pretend I'm not a total idiot and try to kick my nonexistent brains into function, shall I?

We don't know what information the Longbottoms were tortured for, save it must've been something rather important. The Wizengamot said it was "information on the whereabouts of [the Lestranges] exiled master, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." However, given the Longbottoms condition and the fact that Bellatrix is too stubbron for her own good, and WAY too loyal, Crouch was bust being hysterical, and well, actually, we don't know much about Bellatrix's husband or his brother? But anywho.... I think it's a valuable bit of information that'll HAVE to come into play later. Maybe it was the whereabouts of Neville; I don't think he could have seen or Bellatrix's curse would've had more of an effect, maybe of the "tomb bug", or maybe it really was Voldemort's whereabouts??? But what if THAT'S what's on the wrappers!!! Gee, I hope none of them have ever been stolen... that'd be bad, bad, bad! :scared: Information, like whatever that was in the wrong hands.... furry, has a bad feeling about this.... And if they don't have it, how far will they go to get it.... NOT NEVILLE!!! NO!! NEVILLE MUST LIVE!!! *tips out the caffinated coffee* :sorry:

okay, another thought on "Drooble's Best Blowing Gum" - none of the anagrams I've come up with are entirely compelling. Here's another idea to mull - we get quite a bit of emphasis upon Luna reading the "runes" section of the Quibbler upside down. So, most of the letters in Droobles Best Blowing Gum work as letters upside down as well (upside-down "e" can be read as an "a" in printed material) so maybe it is anagrammatic upside-down. Or, perhaps Drooble's BBG also works in rune alphabets? Or rune alphabets upside down? I know, this is starting to sound a bit ridiculous, but still, the upside-down Quibble must mean something besides "Luna is Loony" - after all, don't we see Ginny reading it upside down later in the book?

Interesting idea ..... I don't see anything yet.

upside down, I think it's "wnbbuimolqlsaqsalqooup"
Maybe.

the gum wrappers are an analogy. the Death Eaters drove infant Neville insane with the cruciatus curse as well, but he was so young he could be kinda set straight by heavy memory charms and letting him relearn everything from there.

Very intersting. I hope poor Neville wasn't tortured as a baby, but maybe there is some information in him that must be hidden, even from him. So he's been kept in a bit of a fog.

I never thought of Neville being tortured as a baby...but if his parents were tortured, and the DEs were at the house, it seems like something those sickos would do. But can a memory charm stop someone from being insane? I don't get it...if he's insane, how could he relearn everything? That would mean that his parents could slowly relearn everything too, doesn't it? Good point nonetheless.

Ooh! My area of expertise! I was on a different eariler thread discussing the fate of young Neville and here's are theory (or mine anyway): IF Neville was tortured by the Death Eaters, it was for a breif period of time. Honestly, how long can one hear screams of bloody murder without calling the police? We believed Snape may have also intervened on his account. He came to stop his old friends, perhaps warn them that the Order knew something was up and that it wasn't worth a Kiss, which is what I would have voted for had it been my decision, or the Veil maybe; you can obviously escape Azkaban. Though I do have SOME pity for Crouch, but not much. If he was given a memory charm it was Snape's to hide both the event from Neville and his own part in the act, for, through the eyes of an infant, Snape would have appeared one of the guilty party by merely being present. The Lestranges would have gone for his parents first, they being able already to convey the desired information whereas a young Neville may not have yet been able to speak, or not in full, logical sentences, so he may have escaped the more tramatic effects. However, judging by his behavior after being hit with the Curse himself in book 5, I start to wonder whether he was there at all? Don't you think the reaction may have been a bit more dramatic than the tears any of us would have had after the Crucio? And Witflick, Neville's brain would have still been developing. We don't know how much he knew at the time nor how old he was. But its quite likely that, to the eyes of anyone who DIDN'T know what had happened, Neville cold have just appeared as a late bloomer or slow on the uptake, as we know he does. He would have been able to relearn most of the nessicary skills: talking, walking... but all memories of his parents and everything else before that night would have been patched, scattered, and few at the very least. Possibly lost forever. *sniff*

But now on a slightly more upbeat note, runes! What a great idea, pheonix! The articles in the Quibbler must have some more meaning then our amusement at imagining the dearly departed as the lead singer in the Hobgoblins or Fudge having goblins baked in pies.... I can also see Neville being a bit more receptive to Luna than the trio. Hermione's obviously made her views known, Ron seems to have a bit of a time accepting anyone and you can't pretend he's not slightly immature. Harry and her I think'd make a cute couple :love:, but that's another story... And Neville? Well? Any vote of confidence is highly welcome, obviously and you have to admit Bubble Gum May Be Key to Dark Lord's Defeat kinda sounds like something the Quibbler would run.... Tell me DOES anyone know how to read any dead languages we could call "runes?" Or it have an anagram for the word backward?

Upside down I get Wnb Buimolq Tsaq Salqoo whatever in heaven "r" is upside-down (if anyone can figure it out I'll start working with these letters and the old ones) and an "p." They aren't quite the same as the ones above so obviously it depends on how you look at it or maybe it's your handwriting? Anyway... looks to me like we'll find more with the original letters. What could possibly have 3 "q"s??

I really doubt there is any meaning to the gum wrappers, I think that they are just showing how Neville's parents are insane. Alice gives the wrappers to Neville to show that she cares even though she can't really understand who he is.

I think that Neville was tortured by the Cructiatus Curse he may have been to young to feel and remember the full effects. A spell could also have been preformed on him to allow him to forget. Neville's brain may have not been fully developed yet.

The Death Eaters may have tried to curse Neville but he may have been protected by his father, which could explain why he seems more insane than Alice, because he took Neville's curse.

Neville's grandmother could feel anger towards Neville because her son was trotured to insanity to save Neville who seems to be a terrible wizard and ashamed of his parents.

spana, i agree with you on your first point whole-heartedly...i don't think we should over-analize, you lose the sweet meaning to it when you do that.
second, your theory on neville being addled by the curse is possible, but his parents were torchred for info, why would they waste their time on a little baby who was a year old?
and if the grandma really resents neville, then she is not a good lady, is she? neville should not be to blame for what happened to his parents, and it's ok to be embarassed about certain aspects of your life, esp. in his teen years when everything is awkward and strange. and if she thinks it's a waste because he's not very good at magic...then i just have no respect for that lady.

As for toturing Neville as a baby, I don't think the rest of the DEs would bother, but I think Bellatrix would do it just for sport (not that it's sporting). It may be an indication of Neville's inner strength that he did not become a basket case over it.

As for Grandma Longbottom, while there is no real indication that she resents Neviile for the parents' situation or even his own lack of showing as a wizard, even if that turns out to be the case, don't be overly critical of her. Of course it is not rational. But she has lost her son, without even the closure of a grave. And indications are that she was either as attached to her daughter-in-law or nearly so. She is intensely emotional about the situation. Just as children of divorce blams everyone around, including themselves, even when rational analysis shows that no one was really at fault, it is very natural to blame, on an emotional level, the only person to come out of the DE attack. This is a family which has been grievously torn, and has never really been able to heal

Evil, evil Bellatrix!!! You know I really HATE that woman! And I don't doubt she'd make sport of it. Sickening.

As for Neville's gran. I had my doubts; I'll admit to that. But really, after meeting her, she's not all that bad. A little arrogant but certainly not bad. Any friend of Harry's is a friend of ours, right? Unless, of course, that "friend" turns out to be a madman. coughCrouch/Moodycough I agree with Dedalus. Even if she does put a little of the blame on Nev, it's only natural and in her shoes what would any of us do? Be honest now.... Has anyone wondered what happened to Neville's grandfather? How HE died? "Your grandmother is used to losing family members to us." Two? Or THREE?? Don't you hate it when you think you'll get answers by reading a book and all you get is more questions?! It wouldn't be bad except that now we gotta wait a few more years for 6... :pout:

R IS A J UPSIDE DOWN

o yea and runes are and ancient form of text that was used up in like scotland, i think the druids used it and remeber the begining of the SS while harry and ron are still on the train to school "he finally tore his eyes away from the druidess cliodonia, who was scratching her nose" ideas anyone?

Originally posted by phoenixsong (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=450466#post450466))
okay, another thought on "Drooble's Best Blowing Gum" - none of the anagrams I've come up with are entirely compelling. Here's another idea to mull - we get quite a bit of emphasis upon Luna reading the "runes" section of the Quibbler upside down. So, most of the letters in Droobles Best Blowing Gum work as letters upside down as well (upside-down "e" can be read as an "a" in printed material) so maybe it is anagrammatic upside-down. Or, perhaps Drooble's BBG also works in rune alphabets? Or rune alphabets upside down? I know, this is starting to sound a bit ridiculous, but still, the upside-down Quibble must mean something besides "Luna is Loony" - after all, don't we see Ginny reading it upside down later in the book?


Woah man talk about a head spin, I can't handle all of this.

Maybe that's why Neville is a bit on the slow side then, was he tortured at birth mmmm... Also I don't think there is anything sinister about Neville's gran, I just think she's a strict old woman.

Veritaserum

I dont really think that Neville's gran is evil or sinister, I just think that she is a sad old lady who has lost so much, maybe she treats Neville the way she does to try and prepare him for the dangers of the world. I also agree with Dedalus that Grandma Long Bottom may on some level blame Neville for surviving when so many other family members have died.

I think Neville may have been tortured not for information as he would have been too little to give any useful information to the evil Bellatrix but to use as leverage to get his parents to talk.

Neville's past is a mystery which I hope gets explored in book six and seven.

Okay, I just gotta say, I think it's just impossible to imagine JKR allowing one year old Neville to be tortured by the crutacious. That's just way out of line for these books. I don't care if Grendel did throw babies off cliffs.

Besides, I believe his parents knew the prophecy and hid him away, just as James an Lily tried to do, but he wasn't betrayed like the Potters were.

Throw babies off cliffs?!?!?! Now that's mean and WAY out of line!!!! Who's Grendel? Maybe you're right though.... I never thought about it as being a children's book. Well, I mean I know it is, but it could be so much more! Anyway.... So do we fall back to a memory charm then? And thanks for the insight inoLIKEmonkeys! :) Hmmmm... you know, that druidess woman could come back I suppose. Bet there's more of them if we look. What was that doctor who told Ron his freckles were some sort of skin problem?

Wasn't Grendel the monster in Beowulf? It has been a long time since Eng lit.

Aw, I've been reading this thread for the past hour and it makes me feel even more sorry for poor little Neville than I already was, and well, that's saying something! Neville is one of my favorite characters and this whole insane parents thing is making me feel even more pity ofr the little guy. I'm just glad he didn't die in book five like i thoguht he would.

I keep havering back between whether or not I believe the gum-wrapper-secret-messages-theory. One half of my brain says "Of course, it's perfect! This is just the sort of thing JK would do, hide a little clue like that!" and the other half is saying "you don't buy that :censored:, do you? There is absolutely no proof! It was to show how Neville yearns for his parents love and how they do faintly acknowledge him and nothing more! I can't believe how much people overanalyse things!" Arghh. Stupid undecided brain! :grumble:

I've been thinking...gum deflecting the cruciatus curse? I think if that were true, Moody would have mentioned it when he taught about Unforgivable curses in GoF. Yes, i know, that is not the sort of thing a death eater would want to mention to the boy who lived, but wouldn't it have been the perfect opportunity for JK to unconspicuously (sp) mention it? I don't think JKR, with full knowledge of her plans for future relevations would pass over an opporunity like that. And if Moody had neglected to mention it, we'd think Hermy would have already read it in a book and brought it up.

The whole Arithmancy/Anagram thing is definitely taking this thing too far, guys! I'm not saying there's no possibility to the whole gum wrapper thing, but I really don't think we can figure it out through analysis of the name. No offence, but i really don't think JK will pull out the anagram card again and I think she hardly understands arithmancy herself. I think if Arithmancy had any significance, she would have said [at Royal albret Hall] something like "That a very, very interesting question. I'm sorry but I can't tell you anything right now. You'll find out more later." instead of telling a downright lie and telling us it was too complicated. The whole upside down Rune thing may come into play somewhere, but I think it'll be something more obvious than this. btw PhoenixSong, Ginny was doing a quiz in the Quibbler and the answers were upside down, that's the only reason she turned it upside down.

I like the idea of Neville being hit at a young age with either the cruciatus curse or a memory charm. it would explain why it took so long for his wizard powers to kick in, and why he's so forgetful. And maybe the DE weren't aware that it wouldn't work because he was too young, and thought that they could incapacitate Neville, preventing him from defeating Voldy? Yes, the prophecy states that one had to kill the other, but maybe if they weakened neville first it would make it easier for Voldy to kill neville. (girr I hate those last two words next to each other :frown:) Of course, Voldy didn't anticipate having any trouble killing a one year old baby. I don't even know what i'm saying any more. This is too confusing. I need sleep.

The Longbottoms were tortured because the Death Eaters thought they knew the location of their master after his encounter with the Potters. Why did they think the Longbottoms had this information? Is that what the clue in the gum wrapper is? Voldemort wasn't dead, he was worse than dead. He was a disembodied possessing demon. Does the gum hold some clue to the state Voldemort was in at the time?
At the end of GoF he possessed a "body" conjured from the bone of his father, the blood of his enemy and the flesh of his servant. Nothing from his mother? So is he no longer the heir of Slytherin?

How does any of this relate to Drooble's Best Blowing Gum?

I don't know that there is anything to the gum besides a feeble minded person thinking that they are giving a great gift. This scene is one of the saddest things yet in HP. Poor Neville.

I would like to think that the gum has a deeper meaning, but I have yet to think of a reasonable explaination for it.

Hey MadMagic! I haven't seen you around in a while! Not since before OotP. Anyway, HI!!!!

Now back to the topic. Poor, poor Neville. Rabbie's got a lot of good points. Moody would have mentioned the gum thing (Crouch might've neglected it for obvious reasons. He'd WANT to cause them all as much pain as possible, evil :censored: that he is.) But what if no one but the Alice knew? I've got the feeling Frank's worse off than she is and there's got to be SOME reason even if this one is the most unlikely of the unlikely.

I agree we may have gone a bit far with the Anagram/Aritmancy thing. It was a good thought though I just think we all got carried away. Besides "Goblins stole tomb bug" is missing a 'w.' Sorry Dedalus, I thought it was excellent. We just maybe need to try "swiped". Haven't had time myself (required reading and Harry Potter rereading). Tonight. *writes in work planner which screams, "Don't out it off till later, you second-rater!"*

Interesting, though. If Voldie's not the heir of Slytherin, who is? Harry? Draco? Or rather Lucius since Draco's gonna be okay in the end. ;) Probably dead but fighting against the Dark Side so it's all good.

I picked thisone up too. I was quite convinced that his parents were trying to communicate with him.Maybe he knows it, maybe he doesn't. But I smell something fishy and I stick by it: there's something going on there that's going to uncover itself to us soon if its true.

Interesting, though. If Voldie's not the heir of Slytherin, who is? Harry? Draco? Or rather Lucius since Draco's gonna be okay in the end. ;) Probably dead but fighting against the Dark Side so it's all good.

I think Voldemort's still the heir of Slytherin. Sure, he took his father's bone, Wormtail's flesh, and Harry's blood, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he is the son of his mother. And even if he's not, someone else isn't going to just magically become the heir. It's not like there needs to be only one heir, no more no less. If Voldemort did stop being the heir, then Slytherin wouldn't have an heir anymore because Dumbledore said Voldy was Salazar's last remaining descendant (or ancestor in some versions but I won't go there.)

Hmm, if it's Drooble's best blowing gum, maybe his parents are trying to convey some type of metaphor about bubbles? When you blow a chewing gum bubble, it gets bigger and bigger and bigger, but if you blow too fast, the bubble'll pop. So maybe Harry and Neville and Co. should expand the DA by getting more members, but not so quickly that they don't have time to check everybody out and make sure they're not a spy, which would ruin the group. :sigh: Yeah, I know this is totally stupid and an overanalysis, but unfortunately it's all I got.

But what if noone but Alice knew? -Furry
I think the wizarding society has been around so long, there's not very much that's yet to be discovered, especially concerning something as simple as gum. I know Harry is the first one to survive Avada, but Lily used "ancient magic" that few people know about in order for that to happen. But people chew gum all the time. I'd think at least one person other than Alice would have figured it out and it would become common knowledge. that is, at least common enough that either Hermione, Dumbledore, or Lupin would know about and would have told Harry.

I think that if there is something behind the gum wrappers, it lies not in the wrappers themselves but in Drooble. He may have been a close freind or even a relative of the Longbottoms, and if the Longbottoms did know anything they may have told him. Unfortunatly we dont know whether or not Drooble's Best Blowing Gum is a recent enough creation for Drooble to still be alive. But its still something to consider...

Could the gum be tampered with, (charmed) to keep the Longbottoms from recovering? Has the fact that Neville keeps the wrappers got anything to do with his late blooming abilities?

Hmmm... Lots of interesting theories here. I do think the wrapper and the name of the gum means something, or JRK wouldn't have wasted her times and ours with it. Nearly every other name mentioned in that chapter has turned out to be significant!

the gum thing is really cool. I think that one of the first messages is probably the closest about lining up the gum wrappers and having them all be a clue. On the bazooka wrappers there are little comic strips so maybe they also have some on the Droobles wrappers. In the 3rd book Lupin shoots gum into Peeves nose so I dont know if thats important...

I definitely believe the wrappers have some significance, but I don't think they have secret information about how to defeat Voldemort, because if they did wouldn't she give them to Dumbledore or someone? The Longbottoms probably get more visitors than just Neville, and it just seems that anyone who is even nearing sanity wouldn't give that kind of info to Neville. I mean he proved he's a bit more competent this book, but not so much that his parents would expect him to cause Voldemort's downfall.

But wait, maybe that's exactly what they expect. They were probably told about the prophesy from DD, and I'm not sure whether they were tortured before or after Lily and James death. So it's possible that I just disproved myself and that they believe that Neville is the one the prophesy was about.

They were probably tortured after Lily and James's death because they were tortured by deatheaters wanted to know the whereabouts of Voldemort. I would think that they would usually know where he is, so it was probably after their death.

Definitely after Lily and James were killed. Bellatrix and her gang did indeed go after the Longbottoms and torture them with the belief they would find where the Dark Lord was (not believing the Dark Lord was defeated)

Good theories all, I don't know what to make of it, it's sad really......

I feel so sorry for Neville........he's got a lot on his plate, and he doesn't really seem ready for it.....

Did you draw that, Taichi? It's very nicely done.

i like the first theories but it seems after that the rest get kinda crazy so i stopped readin them (so i am sry if i missed sum) the one about the gum being the soul and wrapper being the skin is kinda well i doubt it lets just put it that way. jo never gets that deep she keeps everything on the surface barely out of reach. the things that she makes so that u barely focus on can sumtimes contain the most important roles of the story. i doubt she would go that deep into symbolizing the gum wit a soul though lol ;)

Wow Taichi! Excellent drawings, really excellent!

Yeah, we did go a bit crazy but it was still fun even it proves that each and everyone of us is an insane Harry Potter fan! *realizes what she said* Not insane really! Wrong word.

I think I'm reverting with my original theory that it's simply "Go see Drooble." He could have been an old friend of the Longbottoms and maybe they told him something he's supposed to tell Neville. Like how to defeat an evil Dark Lord. Maybe they made Drooble swear he'd tell NO ONE. And after they were tortured to insanity he thought that any mention of the secret would have been an insult to their memories. Especially since the Dark Lord seemed to have already disappeared so he's have no reason to speak about it. The Ministry only admitted to the continued reign of Voldie in the last chapter of book 5. Added plus, he becomes good friends with Fred and George (who also sell candy - with pluses, meaning Skivving Snackboxes) and so they know where he lives and tell Harry who was told by Hermione who talked to Neville and made the conection with the wrappers. And now I'm rambling and going into crazy ideas again so I'll stop. Just mull it over a bit and see if it decides to sink in and make sense.

i like the first theories but it seems after that the rest get kinda crazy so i stopped readin them (so i am sry if i missed sum) the one about the gum being the soul and wrapper being the skin is kinda well i doubt it lets just put it that way. jo never gets that deep she keeps everything on the surface barely out of reach. the things that she makes so that u barely focus on can sumtimes contain the most important roles of the story. i doubt she would go that deep into symbolizing the gum wit a soul though lol ;)

I like your perspective. You seem to have a good grasp of how JKR drops her hints, "barely out of reach."

Go see Drooble works. How did Alice get so dang much gum in the hospital? Does Drooble visit on Wednesdays and leave a pack every week?

No, I didn't draw them, the girl at:

artdungeon.net

did 'em.....go there, great stuff!!! :D

I do draw, and will be posting some of my stuff, as soon as I can get it scanned, so keep an eye out! :D

well the gum wrappers might have something to do with voldermort maybe when navill was little his parents used to give him gum and told him something about it like the bubble head charm or something. an dhis mom things that might trigger his meomory to something that will help him defeat voldermort.

Interesting Imfnoa, that brings a very interesting thought. Maybe Neville's parents (or someone else) did do something to Neville's memory, which had a direct relation to his inability to perform magically. And now that NEville is getting older his mom is slowly eroding that spell (in some way with the gum wrappers), allowing his magical prowess to blossom in Book 5, and eventually will return his memory to him. Of course this means that you need to believe that Alice is currently faking her disorder (Doesn't neccessarily mean she's always been faking it, but maybe she was just cured at the end of Book 4, and has been faking it since then for theirs or Neville's safety)?

I don't neccessarily believe it, but, hey, it's interesting none the less.

Interesting Imfnoa, that brings a very interesting thought. Maybe Neville's parents (or someone else) did do something to Neville's memory, which had a direct relation to his inability to perform magically. And now that NEville is getting older his mom is slowly eroding that spell (in some way with the gum wrappers), allowing his magical prowess to blossom in Book 5, and eventually will return his memory to him. Of course this means that you need to believe that Alice is currently faking her disorder (Doesn't neccessarily mean she's always been faking it, but maybe she was just cured at the end of Book 4, and has been faking it since then for theirs or Neville's safety)?

I don't neccessarily believe it, but, hey, it's interesting none the less.

There's something about that gum, and I think your line of reasoning is heading in a good direction. Why would they put charm on Neville to prevent him expressing his "magic". Was it part of their effort to protect him from Voldemort. After all, no one knew for sure which child was the ONE. Even Dumbledore wasn't sure at first.

I don't think the Longbottoms are faking their illness. What reason would they do that for. They seemed to be hard core aurors who would want to help fight Voldemort now that he is back. Why would they be content to stay around the hospital all the time doing nothing and acting feeble minded.

The gum wrappers might have no real significance. They might only be a reminder to Neville of exacly what terrible thing was done to his parents. The constant reminder of the event through the gum wrappers could be inspiring him to improve his magic. I don't know that his mother has a purpose with the wrappers or not. Maybe Neville gives them meaning because he needs to.

I think so of you are reading way to much in to the gum wrapper thing. More then anything I think it shows Nevilles feelings towards his Parents though he may feel embaressed or ashamed ( though he has no reason to ) he still loves them and it still hurts him that their in that state I think he keeps the gum wrappers for sentimental reasons cuz it was him mom that gave it to him.

Bode was harmed in the hospital, not allowed to recover because he could reveal too much information.. What if the DE's have someone in the hospital making sure that the Longbottom's cannot get any better... They would be the 2nd most powerful (if not first) wizarding couple in the OOTP Both the Potters and the Longbottoms escaped LV 3 times, which until Harry, was the record... Meanng they had serious talent... If anyone could fight out of the insanity that the crucacious (sp) curse puts you in, wouldn't it make sense that the Longbottoms would be the ones capable of it...

No, I didn't draw them, the girl at:

artdungeon.net

did 'em.....go there, great stuff!!! :D

I do draw, and will be posting some of my stuff, as soon as I can get it scanned, so keep an eye out! :D

How good is her art!?!?! It's ****ing amazing! She's rocks big time, she's got new ones since I last checked 'waiting for news of Mr Weasley' and another I'm about to check out, you really should see them!

Anyway, back to topic, does Drooble have any significance? I mean is it anything in another language or anything? You know what JK's like with names!

Veritaserum

Bode was harmed in the hospital, not allowed to recover because he could reveal too much information.. What if the DE's have someone in the hospital making sure that the Longbottom's cannot get any better... They would be the 2nd most powerful (if not first) wizarding couple in the OOTP Both the Potters and the Longbottoms escaped LV 3 times, which until Harry, was the record... Meanng they had serious talent... If anyone could fight out of the insanity that the crucacious (sp) curse puts you in, wouldn't it make sense that the Longbottoms would be the ones capable of it...

Thankx Neville! (why'd you choose to come in here anyway. Sounds like you hate the little guy... ;) ) I mentioned this before, or something similar, but no one really bit. We were to busy with anagrams. But Lucius Malfoy is, or was (he's in Azkaban now :D ), in a PERFECT position to do just that. And he's just the type who would to. grrrrrrrr.... He could be preforming the Imperious Curse, it seems that can be done secretly enough and that most people don't recognize the symptoms. Or he could be using gold to bribe someone in the hospital? After all, sadly this world is made of people who can be swayed from doing what's right if it pays well enough. And we know that Malfoys have enough. Moving on, Fudge mentioned in GoF that Malfoy had given a big donation to Mungo's; that's why they were at the QWC as his guests. (grrrrrrr again; I don't likte him either, banged up idiot - if he'd just open his eyes! How many walls does it take to knock sense into someone?) That shows he's got quite a bit of influence over the hospital. Not a good thing. And the fact that Bode was killed by a potted plant in the very closed ward where the Longbottoms were doesn't help matters. How do we know for sure that the Healer didn't recognize it? I mean, it's first year magic and everyone's required to take Herbology after all! And the Death Eaters would have plenty of reason to want to keep Longbottoms insane. And Neville too. He could've been The-Boy-Who-Lived had Voldie been clever enough to see that Nev's a much worse wizard than Harry. Not that I don't love him. Besides, I don't think it's his fault. And I do wanna see what'll happen now he's gotta get his own wand. Never realized he had a hand-me down. Never know do you? I can definatly see someone trying to go after him as well. And that being the cause of his skill or lack thereof.

And Verri (Hi, btw!) that's an interesting thought about Drooble meaning something in a different language. drone... drool, not in the dictionary. My foreign languages aren't great. Opinions anyone?

Thanks furry! You said exactly what i was going to say! I also think that there are some people in Mungo's that are DE or are evil, or are being persuaded by the Malfoys.... I've felt fish about that place ever since they donated all that money. I totally buy the theory that Neville's parents have been impeeded in their recovery by the evil doers in the hospital. Seems a bit strange to me that they've gone 14 or so years without making much progress. Anyway, along with this theory, I think they gum wrappers are important. Perhaps Alice IS trying to tell Neville something, or convey some type of message. Maybe it's good Neville has kept them all......

great work furry. I thought the Longbottoms were being kept insane, but I missed the whole Malfoy connection. Explains a lot. But why doesn't he just have them killed off?

Yeh I can't think of anything in french. Maybe it just means drool (Hi back furry, been away, started uni on Monday grr, I pm'd ya!) Yeh it could just be drool as in what you do when you chew gum...or not...

If the Longbottoms are under the Imperious curse then they would be off it wouldn't they by now. Interestinig theory. Let me think on it while I relax in bed ahhhh!

Veritaserum

I'm a big fan of her work....go figure!

I think if Malfoy had them killed off it would be a bit too suspicious. I mean, there isn't anything wrong with them physically, just mentally. It would look really bad if they just died one day when they are perfectly healthy (aside from the insanity).
But, to go a littler further, perhaps they are being kept alive for a reason.... I dunno....

I think Neville will be the one to "get" Bellatrix in the end because she hurt him more than she hurt Harry...as for the gum wrappers, Alice is trying to tell her son something...she cannot use words though...
also, what is Alice doing with all the gum??? since she has given Neville one heck of a lot of gum wrappers, she has to have put the gum somewhere...because in another book it said something about bubblegum that would fill the room with huge pink bubble that would refuse to pop for days...so Alice can't have chewed the gum for that reason and because it would have said if she was chewing gum, and I don't think she has the mental capacity in her state to chew gum.

because in another book it said something about bubblegum that would fill the room with huge pink bubble that would refuse to pop for days...

I missed that. Can you tell me where it was?

I think his mother somewhat recognized him but didn't realize the exact connection. Lockhart 'gazed intently' at Harry and asked if they had met before. I think Alice Longbottom still loved Neville, even if she didn't recognize that fact, and that she gave the gum wrapper to Neville was proof of this. Perhaps that's why he pocketed the wrapper instead of throwing it away. Mind, we don't know what he's been doing with them at home. His gran said that his mother had given him enough to 'paper his bedroom,' but we don't know exactly what purpose the gum gives. It's possibly just a hint that Neville's mother is ever so slightly gaining herself back...

Yeah, whizbang, like Lupinsgirl said, that'd look really suspicious. Especially since I don't think he'd risk doing it himself while in a government run establishmeny (my big words. ever notice that everyone in government run places wear lime-green?). He'd have to bribe someone in Mungo's and they ARE Healers, selfish and money-loving or not. That'd be VERY against the creed of our "muggle nutters who cut people apart," as close to Healers as we get, at least. They're probably near the same. Plus, that would have to be A LOT of money. Like, the entire Malfoy fortune. Wouldn't want to part with that for anything. ;)

It doesn't nessicaryily have to be the Imperious Curse they're using to hinder the Longbottoms progress, Verri. That's just as heavy a price as the Killing Curse and so I think the Malfoys'd be poorer than the Weasleys by now. Obviously not. But maybe he's making them mix up the potions. "Antidotes are Anti-Don'ts Unless Approved by a Qualified Healer." It is very fishy that Lockhart, who's been there a mere 3 years as opposed to the Longbottoms' 16, has been improving heaps more. He had his memory entirely erased too. Though I suppose he could still speak, which is something. But already he's remembering he was famous for... something, and he can do "joined-up writing," AND he had the vauge impression he'd seen Harry before. How come the Longbottom's aren't nearly recovered by now?

Btw, the bubble thing might've been while Harry was in Honeydukes. Though I thought they were bluebell?

yeah, furry, something has to be going on with the Longbottoms. Good points about not killing them, but maybe with holding treatment? Phoney meds? Sugar pills.

Good point about the bubbles, everytime I read that bit I find it pretty odd. I mean it would be realy inconvienient to chew gum in class and try and get away with it when there are big blue bubbles coming out of your mouth eh!?

About Lockhart and the Longbottoms, Lockhart just lost his memory, the Longbottoms are actually insane, I mean, maybe a memory charm can be reversed but I think insanity is a permament thing.

There could be some twisted meds in there, hmm, I have to go away and think about it...

Veritaserum

I can't exactly remember where the description of the Drooble's bubbles was, but they definitely lasted for days. And I couldn't help but make a mental connection between the Droobles bubbles and the soap-bubbley things lighting St. Mungo's - they were sort of gently gathered around all the ceilings there, providing light. I am pretty sure that they were supposed to be like soap, emphasizing the cleanliness aspect of healing, but nevertheless, the first thing it reminded me of was those long-lasting Drooble bubbles.

Yeh, I never clocked that one, maybe they do have something to do with the gum but I doubt it. I wonder what happens to all the bubbles after all ? Hm confused...

Veritaserum

I never got that either. One more thing to add to my long list of things to think about. But I have been thinking and here's what about:

Okay, as far as the gum being a cure or deflection or something. It wouldn't be the first time she's sprung upon us the ever wonderful powers of candy. Chocolate will cure you of the effects of a dementor. Could there be something there? I notice Alice seems in much better shape than her husband (as far as I can guess) and she IS the one with the gum. hmmmm....

Now, please don't hurt me for suggesting this but I was rereading the chapter this morning and well... *gulps* I, erm, thinkwemayhavebeenontherighttrackwiththeananagrams . There. I said it. The exact wording of the phrase in the book is "Droobles Blowing Gum" which makes it worse because we've all been using Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. So there goes the tomb bug theory. It was a great theory though, Dedalus. But notice that they left out the word 'Best' and and apostrope? There has to be something in that! The editors surely would have caught that but Rowling must have stopped them for a reason. I just wish I knew what it was! But, on the bright side, we've got at least a year or two to work it out. :) But adding on to this: I started working on it. I haven't got any good phrases yet but I have found some interesting things. Out of the given you can get: Dung, like Mundungus Fletcher, they would have known from the Original Order and you must admit for getting such a big introduction and insight into his charecter he didn't have a very big part. You can get Ron too, though I'm not sure this one is relevant. You can get Bode but I don't think it's that because if it did involve him there isn't anyway of acting on it now. He's dead. Killed by a potted plant. AND you can get the words "bribe", "bribes", or "bribing" like we're starting to accuse Malfoy of doing. Shame you can't get Lucius or Malfoy from it. :sigh: So maybe "Dung bribes Ron?" j/k. Just some food for thought. Just don't hit me too hard even if I deserve it. Thank you!

Hit you? But you just pointed out we've been doing it wrong. That's a good thing.
"Droobles blowing gum."
Also good observation on the candy thing.

Hmm, if this is true, it changes everything. Now we get:
GOBLIN BRED MOGUL SOW.

I am sure she will make all the difference in the upcoming war!

I get
Bold muggles win boor.
or
Bold muggle wins boro. :shrug:

Other way was easier, eh? I still can't let go the fact you CAN get 'bribe' and things like it. If she knew, but couldn't speak... it'd show she's much sainer than we give her credit for. And that Malfoy or other gold-passer is so much more dead than before, but that's another story. And 'Dung' seems a good thought too. :sigh: I had a busy day and so couldn't continue with it. Tomorrow, if I get a spare mo.

Now, the mogul sow.... We really have something against Goblins don't we? Maybe the mogul cow can be used to help out DD. Can it fly I wonder? That'd be funny. Then we'd have to change our reigning phrase ("flying oranges and pickled peas") to "flying sows and pickled peas!" Don't ask. It was a random lunch-table thing. But it means "wow, i've never seen anything like it" I'll tell you that much. btw, whizbang, where's that pic from? It's funny! ;)

I am not so sure that the referance to the wrapper as Droobles Blowing Gum in the St. Mungo's chapter necessarily is a clue. It may simply be Harry's POV - if you saw someone handed a "Double Bubble Bubble Gum" wrapper, you'd probably leave out one of the 'bubble's as you registered the point. This is all the more likely since Harry could not have possibly seen the actual words on the wrapper. On the other hand, it could be JKR misdirecting us, so that those who pick up on the anagram angle will try to solve it with the name stated in the chapter, rather than what has been stated elsewhere as the correct name. It could be any of these - but let's face it, if my "tomb bug" suggestion is even 50% correct, you're all going to be awestruck (well, actually, so will I, but it does sound like a nifty plot - maybe a fanfic once we can do post-OOTP fanfics, HMMM)

It is an awesome theory and I don't doubt that it would make an awesome book. But, we've got a few more years to find out. It could be her trying to throw us off. Oh, let's face it, this whole thread could be whack! But if it's fun, who cares? :lol:

Wrappers are a definite clue. I am getting a feeling now, that every word, every sentens ein there is a clue to something. Bubble gum...bubble gum...maybe it's got something to do with...i dont know...bubble, blowing bubble, blowing up bubbles...OH!!! How about shes trying to say that the only way to kill Voldemort is to blow him up, you know, cut him in small pieces or whatever. Well, it sounds stupid, but knowing JK I am sure that after book 7 we will all be biting our elbows, thinking that we were so stupid not to figure it out, cause we had so many clues.

The only thing I can even remotely relate to bubble gum is the bubble head charm, mentioned in two books now. I can't see how one cold have anything to do with another....hm...maybe harry will blow a giant bubble and encase LV in it and watch him float away...or maybe not

So Voldemort will float in up in the sky forever until he's punctured by a stunned helicopter piolet. *contented sigh* That's got possiblities, that has.

Okay, random new theory. Think about a bubble gum wrapper. It's tinfoil. Shiny. Reflective. You look at it, you see your face. Maybe Alice is trying to say that Neville needs to look in the mirror. Look inside himself. Look at everything he HAS got to be thankful for. I don't something with having to look at himself. Maybe it's saying, "It's you," cuz I'm still really stuck on the idea that they knew how to defeat Voldie and that Neville's going to play a key part in the undoing. Either that or, if we're talking about the colorful paper part - there's a way to make really awesome necklaces out of them. Maybe that's what he ought to do. If Luna can where roaring lions' heads, butterbeer caps, and radish earrings, Nev ought to be allowed to wear bubble gum wrappers from his Mum. And they are really awesome! If I ate more gum I'd make some....

:rotfl: at the blowing up Voldemort thingy!

Who says the "best" was cut out? On page 455 U.K. version in the middle of the page, it says: "But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Drooble's BEST Blowing Gum wrapper." Where does it say there's no best? Maybe it's different in the American version? But honestly I don't think you're gonna find anything in the anagram. Some things JK uses more than once, but I think anagrams are a one-time thing.
Here's the quote from PoA pg 147 UK version
"Droobles Best Blowing Gum (which filled a room with bluebell-coloured bubbles that refused to pop for days)" Hmmm, Hermione's Incendio flames are also described as "bluebell" And it reminds me of the "shining crystal bubbles clustered in the middle of the ceiling" in Arthur Weasley's ward, as well as the bubble bath bubbles in the prefects bathroom in GoF and the bubble-head charm. What could this mean? I have absolutely no idea. Little help?

:) :eyebrows: ;) This thread is so wonderful, but it has taken me 45 minutes to read it all. Whew! Lots of good ideas - my head is spinning!

On second reading, the part about Neville's Mother giving him the gum wrapper reminded me strangely of the Dursley's Christmas Present to Harry - a single tissue. Something insignificant, yet perhaps important because Dumbledore tells Harry that his connection to Lily's sister is what is keeping him alive and safe. We know that Voldemort has underestimated the power of a Mother's love, because he cannot understand it. I think that has to be somewhat involved in Neville's poor mother giving him these gum wrappers.

I do think some of you here are wise to take a close look at St. Mungo's because there is something that seems unsafe there. I was worried when McGonagall was said to be there, and relieved when she got out. Mr. Weasley, too. If there is a war with Voldemort, those in the hospital would need special protection.

But this is weird: St. Mungo's has the word GUM in it as an anagram:

sons gums
gums snot
tons gums
sos gum nt
toms guns
toms sung
most sung
no gums st

I know this is really out there and some of you think anagrams are farfetched, but "Toms guns" - is Mr. Longbottom warning Neville about something? Is there maybe a jingle for the Drooble gum? Was Tom's father in the chewing gum business? Is the jingle a spell? Also the "sons gums" makes me think of Harry and Neville both as babies - maybe some sort of wizard chew toy? I am tripping now!

Here are my other thoughts concerning gum, and I'm not sure if they are important.

In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry "blows up his aunt" without a wand or anything, which I thought was very interesting, hmmmm. All this talk of bubble gum reminded me of that. There is another chapter called, "The Flight of the Fat Lady." But that is about the picture of the Fat Lady being shredded by Sirius Black, yet it seemed to reinforce the idea of the floating Aunt Marge.

But the 'gum' reference in Azkaban that came to my mind was in Chapter 7, during the first Dark Arts Class from Lupin. The class is walking down the hallway before they do the Boggart in the cupboard lesson, and Peeves the Poltergeist is stuffing chewing gum into a keyhole. He calls Lupin, "Loony, loopy Lupin," and then Lupin tells him to take the gum out of the hole, and instead, Peeves "blows a loud wet raspberry."

Lupin then shows the class a "useful little spell." He raises his wand to shoulder height and says "Waddiwasi!" and "With the force of a a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot ut of the keyhole and straight down Peeve's left nostril: he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing."

Remember, Lupin does this first before the boggart lesson. This is the very first thing he teaches them, so I think it is important somehow. It is certainly reminiscent of the "gum snot" anagram above, lol. Of course, this works on a ghost, but would it work on a living wizard? Ouch, anyway.

Is Alice just keeping her sons talents under wraps "wrappers"? If Harry just has to go home once to invoke his mothers protection, surely they would have covered neville too!
Had the Longbottoms and Potters discussed the prophecy - they were all in OOTP so would surely have been privy to the details. Are the wrappers the defence at home and Trevor the defence at school. Could we see some liquid spilling on the wrappers revealing a message? Why didn't Harry get to know Neville more, are they being prevented from being together (apart from the dorm)

I don't believe in the anagram thing, but Tom's guns is a little scary. Makes it sound as if Voldy is gonna take over St. Mungo's and use it as a weapon! *gulp*

I hadn't noticed the similarity to the Dursleys presents. Isn't it awesome how JKR drops these things that don't become aparent untill months later? The Dursleys give Harry tiny presents to be rude, but the Longbottoms give Neville tiny presents to show their love. Two similar things with opposite meanings. I like it.

I like your theory furryfreakferret. It seems to be very well thought out.
About Neville's mum recognising him. I think because Neville has visited his parents in St.Mungo's frequently that is why his mother recognises him. She may not have the memories of him as a son but she knows he is a familiar face. With the gum. There could potentially be a few clues there but I think Neville has kept the gum wrappers because his mum has given them to him. It may not be much but to Neville it could mean the world. On his Gran. I think she has taken the strict approach because she wants to keep Neville safe and she wants to protect him. Though she may be mean I can't see her being sinister.
hermiones mum Is Alice just keeping her sons talents under wraps "wrappers"? I like that!

Wow. Lots of really good thoughts beyond anagrams. I'm still wondering where Alice gets all the gum and who's chewing all those rooms full of little bubbles.

So. Now we're anagraming our St. Mungo's too? Though you made a strong case, inky. "Tom's guns?" Malfoy's bribes? (Am I stuck on this or is it just me?) Or maybe they're hiding something in there? Or could in later books? Actually, almost all of those could in theory make sense with whatever's going on. Wow! Never noticed you could get anything out of Mungo's but now to get us even more deep in : Should we do "St. Mungo's" or "St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries" or use "Saint" instead of St.? No what, just St. Mungo's is soooo much easier and you're probably all groaning on the other end.

Rabbie, looks like the British versions way different than ours. I don't think Hermy ever used "Incendio," least not in OotP. Maybe GoF. Can't remember. I know Mr. Weasley did. And I KNOW it said "Droobles Blowing Gum wrapper" like that. :??: Weird. I figured they were basically the same?

hermione's mum, :wow: really great thoughts! I never really thought to question WHY Harry's not reaching out to Neville. You know, poor Nev hasn't really got anyone he's REALLY close with. I mean, his bf's gotta be Trev! Think maybe it's Neville closing himself off? I could see that. He'd be afraid that if he got too close to anyone he'd start feeling guilty about not telling them about his parents, or that they'd ask. I don't think he's got any self-confidence either. Maybe he considers himself unworthy for such good friends? :(

Whizbang, if you use inky's "tons gums" to be the real meaning of St. Mungo's it might explain how she gets all the gum. Or maybe it's more like entertainment and she's only giving the wrapper? :??:

Um, yeah. Think that it for now. Be back tomorrow.

Rabbie, looks like the British versions way different than ours. I don't think Hermy ever used "Incendio," least not in OotP. Maybe GoF. Can't remember. I know Mr. Weasley did. And I KNOW it said "Droobles Blowing Gum wrapper" like that. :??: Weird. I figured they were basically the same?


The funny thing is, in book one when Harry and ron are on the train and the lady comes with the candy cart, Harry goes to look for Mars bars and sees instead, among other things, Droobles BEST Blowing Gum.
Maybe it was just a misprint in the Am edition?

Yeah, I'm also pretty certain that we've seen Droobles BEST Blowing Gum on more than one occasion...

And silver ink pot - nice job on collecting more gum references, especially the "Waddiwasi" incident.

Thanks, phoenixsong. I don't know what Rowling's doing with all these gum references, but I can't wait to find out!

Let's just hope Voldemort gets "blown" away.

Or all gummed up.

Gum up the works

Stuckon himself

i've been playing with children all day.

And editing photos. :yawn: