Neville's sorting...

[antoshachekhonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 125422


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Magda Grantwich <mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
> --- finwitch <finwitch at y...> wrote:
>  
> > He faces his fears regularly (some *define* courage as being just 
> > that, and it doesn't require risking your life), although PoA made 
> > this OBVIOUS, he's still done that all along.
> > 
> > He stood up to Harry&co. (And Dumbledore rewarded him for it)...
> > 
> > But his bravery - the most brave things I've seen of *anyone* -
> > were 
> > in PoA when he admitted to leaving the passwords, knowing full well
> > he'd be in BIG trouble (Much braver than Harry lying about
> > Hogsmeade, 
> > and HONEST, too); and in GoF when he was the one to mention the 
> > cruciatus curse.
> 
> 
> Neville is the standard of courage that other Gryffindors should be
> measured against, to see how well THEY match up.
> 
> He was an isolated kid with almost no self-esteem and few friends who
> had more courage at the age of 11 than Remus Lupin had at the age of
> 15 (with a prefect's badge to back him up).  My respect for Neville
> went through the ceiling as a result of watching the Pensieve scene.
> 
> I think what happened is that in OOTP Neville finally confronted the
> reality that the DE's can't be avoided, they can only be defeated,
> and he's ready for the battle.
> 
> Magda
> 
>

Antosha:

Agreed. The other moment that always surprises me takes place in one of the famous not-
from-Harry's-PoV Quidditch scenes in SS/PS. Draco makes his customary snide remark 
and Neville stammers what Harry had said to him: "I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy" (PS/SS, 
Ch. 13, "Nicholas Flamel") At which point Malfoy gets into a fistfight with Ron... and Neville 
takes on GOYLE AND CRABBE. Stunning. Totally unexpected. But totally in character.

Of course, they beat the stuffing out of him. But even so...

Neville has never shown any sign of cowardice. Low self-esteem. Anxiety. Bumbling, 
forgetfulness, fear of his grandmother (heck, _I'd_ be scared of Neville's gran...), but never 
cowardice.