Prophecy wording - why not Neville?

[antoshachekhonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 128249

> GEO: So basically you really have no textual evidence for this and 
> support this only because of your desire to have Neville look good 
> at the end?

Antosha:

In fairness, I think there's more to say for the theory than that--beginning with the 
question of why Rowling had DD mention Neville in connection with the prophecy at all, if 
not to set up a 'surprise' ending to the series. If, at this point, it were Neville and not Harry 
who cast the spell that defeated LV, JKR would at least be able to point back and say, "Ah, 
but I told you it might be him!"

I wrote a novel-length fic that started from the premise that Neville ended up as the hero. 
Mind, I wasn't particularly interested in this part of the question; I was more curious to see 
what Harry would do with himself if both his fame and his magical prowess (in the fic, LV's 
death stripped Harry of much of his power) were greatly diminished. Just a little gedanke-
experiment.

Having said that, I think it's very unlikely that, at the end, Neville will be the great hero of 
the series. Possible, but unlikely. However, I think his inclusion in the discussion is a mark 
of how far his character's prominence has risen, and of the fact that he is likely to play a 
crucial role in the unfolding of the series' central conflict.