Practice, Practice, Practice, & Play

[Susan Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 71259

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hickengruendler" 
<hickengruendler at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "manawydan" <manawydan at n...> 
> wrote:
>  
> > 
> > One little point which I'm not sure if anyone has noticed about 
the fight at the Ministry is that Harry wasn't quite the last man 
standing on the DA side - while Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Neville 
were all incapacitated in one way or another, Luna looks to have been 
just as good as Harry in the battle...

<A.G.>  I respectfully disagree.  Neville was wounded but never 
incapacitated. Even though he suffered a broken wand and nose this 
was one of Neville's finest hours (maybe he should fight injured more 
often).  He carried Hermione back to the brain room (knew his magic 
was useless so took on burden of labor), saved Harry by poking 
Hermione's wand into a McNair's eye (quick thinking); and even when 
he his spells were useless he continued to stay with Harry (even 
coming back when sent away)in a defensive posture.  He suffered 
Crucio and Tarantallegra, and all the while stayed with Harry and 
helped protect the prophecy, surely that was true bravery.  

Curiously, although his "Stubefy" spells worked due to nasal 
problems, but he was apparently able to help out with one or 
two "Colloportus" spells before the DEs burst into the brain room.  
Why was that? 

As for Luna, we do not know exactly what went on with her-do we?  
When Ginny, Ron and Luna were absent we were not shown things from 
their perspective.  If as many posts speculate-she is a seer that 
could explain why she faired much better in the Planet room.  What we 
do know, however, is that she appearred unscathed when she rejoined 
Harry.  That, however, did not last for long.  As the DEs burst into 
the brain room, Luna went flying through the air, hit a desk, and lay 
as still as Hermione.  So she was out of it, and Neville and Harry 
still fought for quite awhile until the Order arrived.

Just one final thought, early on, it was really Hermione who stole 
the show from the moment she caused the hand to release Harry through 
the "Silencio" she used on Dolohov(I think?).  Her only downfall was 
she should have saved her compliments for Harry until later.  
complimenting him distracted her and she was hit.

A.G.