Neville's Wand

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 109445

Boolean:" It is revealed (sorry, book at home so no page refs.) that
he has  been using his father, Frank's, wand during his whole time at
 Hogwarts. As his grandmother constantly reminds him, he is "not as 
good as his father", but could part of the reason for this be to do 
with the fact that he is not using his own wand - one which 'picks' 
him, as Harry's did in PS?"

Some part, sure.  I would guess that you could use your parent's wand
better than a total stranger's.  The more like your parent you are,
the less the wand mismatch.  But it's still not Neville's very own
wand, the wand that picked him.

Boolean:"Will we see an improvement once [Neville] has a new wand in HBP?"

We're going to see an improvement no matter what, I think.  Neville
has so much come into his own he will be reborn. He's a 100% proven
Gryffindor hero now.  The seeds were there when he defied his own
friends in PS/SS and they have born fruit now.

A new wand will be a great new touch.

Like Marci, I don't think Neville had a memory charm.  He lost his
parents and was brought up by this formidable grandmother, around
people who hung him out windows because he didn't measure up in the
magic department.  Do we need a magical explanation?  I don't think
so.  Other people seem to get obliviated without these big long term
effects.

Whatever happens, we're going to see a new Neville, and the Dark Side
better look out.

Jim Ferer