Neville's points in SS (Was "Good Slytherin")

[rubyxkelly]

No: HPFGUIDX 71446

Robert A. Rosenberg wrote:
> > I would need to reread PA/SS but I have the impression that the gap
> > between Gryffindor and Slytherin was in realty much closer that the
> > 170 points that DD awarded at the last moment.

Random832 wrote:
> No. He awarded Neville's points _last_ and clearly would not have but 
> for the fact that what he'd given H/R/H was not *quite* enough to give 
> them the lead.
> 
> Again, i don't have the book with me. <<<


(I'm leaving the whole of the previous post in because otherwise, I'm not sure my comment will be clear, and that post is fairly brief..)
I disagree with the conclusion that seems to be drawn in the second half of the post. Dumbledore does NOT award Neville points because Gryffindor "need" them to top the Slytherin score; rather, he does them because he feels that Neville DESERVES those points! And you know what-he is absolutely right! 
It is indeed very much easier to stand up or speak out when someone you don't like or don't know is doing /saying something one disagrees with-it's much harder when it's coming from people you consider friends since you may be risking the loss of something you consider important. After all, who cares what someone you have no relationship with thinks, or how they react? If they don't speak to you again, or ar unfriendly because of ytour action-who cares?

BUT, if you are risking the loss of friendship with people you really like and who like YOU, that's quite another matter, And, most especially for someone like Neville, it's all the harder because the consequent possible loss will be much more of a blow. Therefore, he was truly displaying real courage (sure-we know that the Trio was doing something absolutly neccessary in terms of "The Big Picture" in their eyes, but Neville had absolutely no way of knowing that not being privy to the same information as they were). Dumbledore's perception of this is right on the mark, and the fact that Neville's friends do indeed not hold it against him but rather understand AND respect him for his action makes it even more clear.

Dumbledore's giving points to Neville is not only perfectly justified, but to NOT have recognized Neville would have been unjust in the extreme.
Bravery isn't always throwing yourself in front of the bullet-sometimes, it's hiding the bullets to prevent them from being fired in the first place.

KAT/rxk