Neville's part?

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 166412

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Bruce Alan Wilson" <bawilson at ...> wrote:

Sandy:
> "But, I don't want to see Harry or Neville become
> murderers so I hope Neville finds a way to bring 
> Bella down without killing her. Only a Dementor's 
> kiss will do for her.

> Sandy, who also thinks it possible that Bella would 
> do herself in when Voldy 
> is defeated."
 
Bruce:
> As I have pointed out before, killing an enemy 
> combatant in time of war and killing in self-defense 
> or the defense of another do not constitute murder in
> any legal system of which I am aware.  All but the 
> most extreme pacifistic ethical systems admit the 
> use of deadly force in the latter two circumstances.

Geoff:
I quite agree with you on your premise regarding killing in 
self-defence or defending another.

However, I think the problem lies in how it is interpreted 
by the individual doing the killing. Many ex-soldiers have
returned from wars mentally and emotionally scarred 
because they have had to kill in any circumstances. I think 
this can be a contributory factor in many cases of PTSD.

In the case of Neville, he is of a gentle and retiring nature. 
It was quite surprising when he was the one remaining in 
action with Harry at the end of the Ministry battle.

And even Harry, who I think has had to develop a thick skin 
over the years to deal with events round him, has serious 
misgivings.

'It was sunny and the grounds around him were full of 
laughing people and even though he felt as distant from 
them as though he belonged to a different race, it was still 
very hard to believe as he sat here that his life must include, 
or end in, murder...

The sun had set before he realised that he was cold. He got 
up and returned to the castle, wiping his face on his sleeve 
as he went.'
(OOTP "The Second War begins" p.754 UK edition)

You can tell Harry (and Neville) that killing Voldemort and 
his followers is justifiable and not murder, but they have got 
to surmount their moral barriers before they will feel at ease 
with this - if that point is actually ever reached.