OOP spoilers Neville

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 63251

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, HPLD711 at a... wrote:
> Earlier I saw a thread wondering about whether Neville will become 
a more 
> powerful wizard. It occured to me, when his wand broke and he said 
that it had 
> belonged to his dad, that maybe he is more powerful than we know. 
Afterall, they 
> make a big deal in the first book about matching the right wand to 
each 
> person. If he gets his own custom-picked wand, we may see more 
power from him. 
> Anyone agree?
> 
> I loved the development of his character in OOP. I hope it 
continues. 
> 
> ld

One of the biggest bright spots for me in this book was Neville's 
continued development.  There is a certain mature steadfastness about 
him that I think was always there, but seemed more pronounced in this 
book.  Neville always seemed to not quite fit in.  A quiet, shy kid 
with not a lot of self-confidence, who worried about his magical 
abilities, but who could step forward and do the right thing, like 
telling HHR they shouldn't leave Gryffindor Tower in PS/SS.  Standing 
up to a friend can be tough; standing up to three of them at the same 
time is downright gutsy.

Plus, the glimpse we have of Neville with his parents shows a kid who 
has a maturity beyond his years. He and Harry have both had to live 
with the loss of their parents, but Neville has the additional burden 
of going to see them even though he knows they probably don't 
recognize him.  What's worse? To never have known one's parents due 
to death or to be able to see them in the flesh and know they don't 
know you?

There's one thing Neville did that brought tears to my eyes.  It was 
right after Sirius fell through the curtain and Harry was struggling 
to break free from Remus.  Neville's legs are so wobbly from the 
Tarantallegra curse that he can't stand.  But he saw what had just 
happened and how it affected Harry.  What does he do? He slides down 
the stone benches one by one to get to Harry just to say  "Harry, I'm 
really sorry.  Was that man...was Sirius Black a - a friend of yours?"

Neville has a wonderful compassion for others.  I'm looking forward 
to his further growth.

Marianne