[HPforGrownups] Re: The Sorting of Neville Longbottom

[Hana]

No: HPFGUIDX 40000

Elkins said:

>>In fact, if I were Helga, I think that I would have tried to foist 
Neville off on somebody else.  *Anybody* else.  Probably 
Godric. 'Cause you know, the thing about those warrior types with the great big swords is that they can never resist a *challenge.*  They just love lost causes.  And they're suckers for orphans and widows, too.  And puppy dogs.  And the lame and the halt.  They're just big old *softies,* is what they are.  Sentimental.  And verrrrrry easy to manipulate.

Which is pretty much exactly what I think happened inside that 
Sorting Hat.<<

I agree with the fact that Neville doesn't really fit in Hufflepuff, that he doesn't, in fact, seem to fit into ~any~ of the houses.

I'm not sure, however, that he's only in Gryffindor because they're softies at heart.  That would play a role, definitely, after all, what other house would stick up for him and take care of him despite his weaknesses?  I think though, that there must be some secondary or undeveloped traits in Neville that helped the Sorting Hat choose Gryffindor.  

The Gryffindor traits from PS/SS and GOF:

brave at heart
daring
nerve
chivalry
bold
(and intelligent since Godric made the Sorting Hat)

He ~has~ shown courage in helping to fight Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle in PS/SS, as well as when he stands up to the Trio so bravery is there, deciding to fight might be considered daring (for him) and show some nerve since he's not really the picture of fighting strength. 

Chivalry?  I'm not really sure.  He wants to help protect his house, but that's not necessarly the same thing.

So, Neville appears to have some of these traits, but they need a lot of nurturing to develop.

I think that Neville's main problem (assuming that there is no memory charm messing with his mind etc) is a supreme lack of confidence.  He, like Ron, is expected to live up to the "great examples" in his family, but unlike Ron, Neville's role models are insane now and it would be rather hard to follow their example when he's never ~seen~ them set it.  It would be like living up to the memory of a dead hero -- impossible since time tends to exaggerate positive traits in the memory. 

The fact that few, if any teachers praise him or support him (I assume Sprout does but Snape terrorizes him and McGonagall has no patience and snaps at him) probably contributes to his low confidence.  No one really takes him seriously or really encourages him to become a better person.  They tell him what to do and criticize him when he screws up but he seems to get very little praise.

In a positive environment I think that Neville ~could~ develop into a stronger person (look how much Moody/Crouch's words of praise did for him) and actually be worthy of the Gryffindor name if only someone realized it and decided to help guide him towards it.

---
--Hana



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