Neville's problems

[ericoppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 152890

While I will agree that Neville L. is a forgetful sort, I do think 
that he's been trampled on by that grandmother of his (and, to an 
extent, by Professor McGonagall, who probably strongly reminds him 
of Granny Dearest) to the point where he doesn't have any self-
confidence left.  When you think you're probably going to fail, or 
at least not come up to the standard set for you by the authority 
figures in your life, failure is much likelier than it would be 
otherwise.

In a lot of ways, I believe that Neville would have been better-off 
as a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw.  He seems to get along splendidly 
with Professor Sprout, and Professor Flitwick doesn't come across 
as...shall we say, _forbidding?_...a character as Professor 
McGonagall.  While I'm sure that Professor McGonagall means nothing 
but the best, she probably can't help being exasperated with him.  
If she's as gifted for Transfiguration as Snape seems to be with 
Potions, she almost certainly can't relate to a student who's just 
having a real, real hard time with the subject.  

And I do think that it would be hilariously funny if _Neville_ 
became the next Dark-Lord-to-be..."At last!  I have the POWER!  I 
shall CONQUER THE WORLD with my army of mutant talking 
rhododendrons!  And all will fear me, and they will call me 'Neville 
the Devil!' BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"  Meanwhile, Harry, Ron and Hermione are 
looking at each other, and saying, in chorus:  "Here we go again!"