Query about Neville

[Fred Waldrop]

No: HPFGUIDX 55014

 "Briony Coote" <briony_coote at h...> wrote:
I keep wondering as to why Neville was sorted into Gryffindor. 
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Hello all, Fred Waldrop here;

I don't know if this will answer your question (or if you will except 
this answer), but this is how I see it: 
(HP CoS page 333, US) "So I should be in Slytherin," Harry said, 
looking desperately into Dumbledore's face. "The Sorting Hat could 
see Slytherin's power in me, and it - "
"Put you in Gryffindor," said Dumbledore calmly. "Listen to me 
Harry". You happen to have many qualities Salazar Slytherin prized 
in his hand-picked students". <snip> "Yet the Sorting Hat put you in 
Gryffindor. You know why that was? Think."
"It only put me in Gryffindor," said Harry in a defeated 
voice, "because I asked not to go in Slytherin...."
"Exactly," said Dumbledore, beaming once more. "Which makes you very 
different from Tom Riddle. It's our choices, Harry, that show what 
we truly are, far more than oure abilites."

So, if it is the "choices" that one makes instead of their abilities 
that decide which house each person belongs in, it really would not 
matter that Neville was a "Great Wizard" or "not a great wizard" 
(although I think he is going to fool a lot of people), but that he 
had the Griffindor Want or need, for lack of another word, inside 
him. He wanted so much to be in Griffindor, the Sorting hat knew he 
would only Bloom proper in this house.
If you are put in a house you do not want to be in, even if you might 
be better suited for it, you will not do well. As Malfoy says (page 
77, PS/SS, US),"Know what house you'll be in yet?" "No," said Harry, 
feeling more stupid by the minute. "Well, no one really really 
knows..."<snip>"imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, 
wouldn't you?" Plus, what good would it be to put someone in a house 
when all they will do is sulk and not even try?
Also, Neville shows bravery when he stands up to Crabbe & Goyle,
(chapter 13, pg 224) by himself no less(while Ron fought Malfoy)at 
the Quidditch match; "Ron snapped. Before Malfoy knew what was 
happening, Ron was on top of him, wrestling him to the ground. 
Neville hesitated, then clambered over the back of the seat to help." 
<snip> "She didn't even notice Malfoy and Ron rolling around under 
her seat, or the scuffles and yelps coming from the whirl of fist 
that was Neville, Crabbe, and Goyle." Another example of Nevilles 
courage is when he stood up to HHR, when they went to stop 
Quirrel/Voldermort. 


Fred