Unexpected Powers?

[Eol]

Although that would provide a good explanation as to why Neville does so badly, I don't believe that he actually witnessed his parents torture as the lexicon mention. What you have to remember was that Neville was only one year old and his parents were caught out in the field.
It could be equally feasible that Neville simply suffers from a great lack of confidence due to being brought up by his overbearing grandmother and having to live up to the brilliance of his parents. You should also note that with motivation, i.e the knowledge that Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped from Azkaban, Neville became a star pupil in the DA.

[gecko]

I'm certainly not saying the lexicon is correct all the time, and you're right, he probably didn't witness it, for the reasons given. But, we also don't know for sure where the Longbottoms were tortured, or do we? It might have been at their home, with Nevillle witnessing it, and Aurors coming to help just too late to protect Neville's parents. Or is it mentioned in the books somewhere that they were tortured somewhere else. I can't remember if it is, but then I of course stand corrected !

Could the aftereffects of severe memory-charms fade away after a certain amount of time? What do you think?

[highsorcerer]

Neville's behavior shows the exact opposite - he can't forget what happened to his parents. It's why he was so afraid of having magical power for so long - and when Bellatrix Lestrange jailbroke from Azkaban, he was so afraid not to have magic to defend himself. Neville's character respresents the balance between power, and it's utlimate responsibilites. Harry never really understood what being brave was. He knew he parents died fighting evil, and that was it. Neville faces a living reminder that there are some things worse than death. He's brave because when it come down to it, he took on his parent's attacker (Bellatrix Lestrange) knowing he was almost powerless against her.

Neville also shows that the Sorting Hat is almost never wrong. His initial apperance makes him too cowardly for Gryffindore, and not smart enough for Ravenclaw. While he is pure blood, he also didn't fit in with Slytherin. In the end, he is brave enough to side with Harry even without his wand or the ability to speak a spell. He'll give his life for his friends willingly. Apart from Harry, he was the last student Wizard standing at the battle of the Department of Mysteries. With almost nothing left (his wand, his speech, etc all destroyed), he still stood by Harry, wiling to die if that was the only thing he could do to stop evil.

[Meg Boyd]

hear hear!

harry Potte novels are certainly a coming of age story, and obviously on all levels, since we see a beautiful coming of age between the lines through a once-second banana character Neville. Even though the story is about Harry, something inside of me is rooting for Neville...and almost hopes he was the choosen one...