Neville's Development (was: Ginny's development)

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 72281

David said, of Ginny:
 
> My own view is that 'underdevelopment' is not the same as 'no 
> development' and that in fact, filtered through Harry's rather murky 
> glasses, we do see the same person.
> 
> To try to move the debate on a little, can anyone identify pointers 
> in OOP to those weaknesses of Ginny that *did* come across in the 
> earlier books?>

First, I do agree with you when it comes to Ginny (but I usually agree 
with you, David).  I always saw the potential in her to become what 
she is in OoP.

I can't really think of much evidence that points to Ginny's 
weaknesses, but I think JKR has done with other characters what she is 
doing with Ginny, and Neville is the one who comes to my mind.  Like 
Ginny, Neville really shone in OoP.  He was mature, tough, brave - 
everything people have been saying they'd hope he'd be.  Before OoP, I 
didn't much like Neville; I found him too wimpy, fumbly, bumbly and 
forgetful.  It irritated me.  However, I knew there was something 
there - we saw him stand up to his friends in SS and discovered some 
awful truths about his family in GoF.  These were smaller details that 
lead to a lot of speculation on the part of the readers and hey!  The 
readers were right.

Ginny's development was hinted at throughout the series as well.  As 
shy as she was around Harry, she still showed up in PoA with a card 
she made herself, laughed at Fred and George's experiments, and 
treated both Harry and Ron as they earned it during the Yule Ball 
fiasco.  She displayed maturity too, by not ditching Neville for Harry 
when she had the chance.  Again, these are subtle things that made me 
see Ginny was not just the little sister who had a crush on Harry; she 
was much more.

This is one of JKR's talents - taking details we overlook now and 
making them important later.  Now that we've seen what both Neville 
and Ginny can do, their characters will only develop more and will 
continue to grow in importance in the series.  Good!

--jenny from ravenclaw, Ginny supporter since way back when 
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