Wegener 1

Sierra Wegener

Dr. Shelia Benson

English 2120

December 4, 2014

Neville: The Boy Who Lived, Who Could Have Been

It was like another normal day. I was sitting there with my friend, Emily; we were

on our laptops, just goofing off, procrastinating our homework. I began to search Harry

Potter on the Internet as the search engine came across more Harry Potter theories

popped up and I gasped because it finally clicked in my head.

Emily just stared at me and spoke with a dull voice, Let me guess, another Harry Potter

theory of yours?

You dont understand it, its something that could change my childhood forever, I told

her.

What is it? Im sure Ill understand. You know, I saw all of the movies, stated Emily.

This is a statement that always bugs me. It shows the big difference between the two of

us I am a Potterhead, obsessed with Harry Potter, while Emily just assumes she know

Harry Potter things because she saw the movies. This is a point where you are not going

to fully understand it until I sit down and discuss it with you. She just looked at me and
 Wegener 2

shut her laptop because she could tell this is something I was determined prove my point.

So, you know who Neville Longbottom is, right?

I know she could sense my judgmental tone towards her. Emily stuttered for a second,

then spoke, Well yea, kind of. Hes the clumsy and chubby little guy, right? Doesnt

Harry meet him on the Hogwarts train? In the 7th movie I know he turns into, like this

gorgeous hunk though!

Well, sort ofWAIT! Let me grab my books off my shelf. I stated as I walked over and

grabbed all 7 of my Harry Potter books and opened up my overly used Harry Potter and

the Sorcerers Stone, flipping through the beginning of the book and stopped on page 94

and I began to read the passage aloud, He passed a round-faced boy who was saying,

Gran Ive lost my toad again. (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 94). This happens to be

right before Harry runs into the Weasley family but even though Ron is very important

Neville is introduced first. Yes its true, Neville is perceived by J.K. Rowling as a weak

and clumsy boy. But this is the interesting fact that I just came across on my laptop.

Douglas Moran on Lexicon.com states Although used primarily as comic relief, Neville

is very much a prominent character from the first novel and on. (Douglas Moran) So this

got me thinking about how similar Neville and Harry really are. Maybe J.K. Rowling

purposely did this.

 Wegener 3

No, there is absolutely nothing similar between Neville and Harry. Neville is a complete

dork until the last movie and Harry is such a badass, stated Emily as she had a confused

and puzzled look on her face and kept shaking her head.

I thought for a moment, and said, No, actually there are a lot of things similar between

the two boys. Think about. They are both sorted into the same house, Gryffindor, they

both grew up in a foster home with a family member because of Voldemort, they both

found out at an older age then most that they had magical powers, they both are brave

enough to stand up to Voldemort and they are both are involved with the prophecy that

motivated Voldemort to murder Harrys parents. I took a pause and thought. To be

honest, the only big difference in the two boys are their appearances and portions of their

personalities. I turned to another page, page 20 in the book, Harry Potter and the

Sorcerers Stone and read aloud, Harry had always been small and skinny for his age

(J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 20) I took a breath and skipped a few lines. Harry had a

thin face, knobby knees, black hair, and bright green eyes. (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers

Stone, 20). Harry was tall and skinny while Neville was short, chubby, and clumsy.

Sowhats the point of this? Sure Neville is interesting but he isnt that big of a deal.

He is just another side character in the movies, stated Emily.

Yea in the movies he isnt that big of a deal but in the books he is not just a side

character. Neville is introduced even before Ron. Harry meets Neville before he even gets

to the train. But Neville isnt just a kid that Harry goes to school with. He is almost, the
 Wegener 4

same character perceived in a different light. Neville could have been in Harrys shoes

and Harry could have been in Nevilles spot. It seems to me that it is a possibility that

J.K. Rowling wrote Neville into the story to make her audience, wonder, What if Neville

was the Chosen One? or What if Harry hadnt been attacked by Voldemort; would he

have been in Nevilles shoes? I believe that J.K. Rowling writes Neville into the story as

Harrys opposite character to make the readers wonder the what-if situation because

Harry and Neville are so similar in things that have happened in their lifetimes, they both

fight off Lord Voldemort, and they have the prophecy that thinks them together. Some

would say Neville is the anti-Harry, similar but different

Oh! WOW! That does sound interesting. Do you have any more facts to back this

information up? exclaimed Emily.

Yes, I do. It is evident in more than just the first book. It is proven through the whole

series. I believe J.K. Rowling wrote Neville very similar to Harry on purpose and I will

explain it to you beginning with the very first book and work my way through the series

and read what other people are saying about the topic too.

I began to flip through the first book again, stopping on page 121. This is where Harry

just arrives at Hogwarts and the first thing he does is get sorted into a house based on

their personality. He begins to argue with the Sorting Hat about what house wants. Not

Slytherin, eh? said a small voice. Are you sure? You could be great, you know, its all

here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about
 Wegener 5

that- no? Well, if youre sure- better be GRYFFINDOR! (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone,

121). See in this scene Harry was placed in Gryffindor. It is obvious, to me, that Harry

possesses Gryffindor qualities. Now Neville was a different story, let me find it.

I skipped a little further down the page and read aloud, When Neville Longbottom, the

boy who kept losing his toad, was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat

took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, GRYFFINDOR ,

Neville ran off still wearing it , and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it to

MacDougal, Morag. (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 121). See, throughout the

Sorcerers Stone, Neville is represented as this forgetful and uncoordinated boy, that is

always messing up.

Emily didnt look surprised at the last statement I said and she spoke, Well, yea thats

who Neville is: dorky, clumsy, and basically a complete failure.

I had to expect this answer from her because this is all she knows; the movies morphed

Neville into something he isnt really. No, he actually fits the qualities of a Gryffindor,

as the sorting hat states, and I recited, You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the

brave at heart, Their daring, never, and chivalry. (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 118)

Yes, in the beginning he resembles a Hufflepuff but he does have his shinning moments.

She looked at me with this puzzled face, How in the world does Neville Longbottom

have shining moments?

 Wegener 6

Just wait, Im going to explain it. Yes, he does have the Hufflepuff qualities like, when

they are in their first broom lesson. Neville couldnt control his broom; let me read this

passage from page 147 in The Sorcerers Stone, WHAM- a thud and a nasty crack and

Neville lay facedown on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and

higher, and started to drift lazily toward the forbidden forest and out of sight. (J.K.

Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 147). And this isnt the only instance, Neville states his gran

doesnt trust him to remember things on page 145, Its a Remembrall!he explained.

Gran knows I forget things this tells you if there is something youve forgotten to do.

(J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 145). But he does possess the Gryffindor qualities.

I honestly dont see where you are saying he possesses these Gryffindor

qualities?Emily questioned as she air-quotes the words: Gryffindor qualities.

Yes, I can see why you dont see them Emily. Neville possesses the courage and bravery

of Gryffindors. He stands ups to Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the end of Sorcerers

Stone. I flipped the pages to page 272 and read, Dont call me an idiot! said Neville. I

dont think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to

stand up to people! (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 272). This is the very first time

Neville showed Gryffindor qualities. The Next one doesnt really show up until the 5th

book; lets see if I can find it, I stated as I grabbed for the 5th installment to the series,

The Order of the Phoenix, and begun to search the pages.

 Wegener 7

Here it is! On page 393 and I begun to read, Expelliarmus! Said Neville, and Harry,

caught unawares, felt his wand fly out of his hand. I DID IT! Said Neville gleefully.

Ive never done it before- I DID IT! (J.K. Rowling, Order of the Phoenix, 393). This is

the first time like Neville felt like he wasnt a failure and that he did belong in Gryffindor.

There is another instance in the Order of the Phoenix on page 761. I flipped the pages and

began to read aloud, We were all in D.A. together, said Neville quietly. It was all

suppose to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasnt it? And this is the first chance

weve had to do something real- or was that all just a game or something? (J.K. Rowling,

Order of the Phoenix, 761). This shows that Neville has finally grown out of the clumsy,

forgetful boy he used to be and is ready to stand up and fight.

Okay, so Neville grows out of his shell? Is that all you have to prove this silly theory of

yours? That Neville could have been the chosen one or that Harry could have had

Nevilles life? Emily questioned me.

Yes, Neville and Harry possess Gryffindor qualities but that is just one similarity

between the boys. There are more but the one thing that connects them is the prophecy

that Dumbleore tells Harry about on page 841:

THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD

APPROACHESBORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM,

BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES.AND THE DARK LORD WILL

MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK

LORD KNOWS NOT.AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE

 Wegener 8

OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES. THE

ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD WILL BE

BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES. (J.K. Rowling, The Order of

Phoenix, 841).

This prophecy is the whole reason that the conflict in the book even exists. Its the reason

why Harry and his parents were attacked, but what most people dont know that Neville

has to do A LOT with this prophecy, I said.

What!? How does Neville have to deal with that? It is all about Harry and Lord

Voldemort? questioned Emily with a puzzled look on his face.

So, I began to read on page 842 of The Order of the Phoenix,

The odd thing is, Harry, he said softly, that it may not have meant you at all.

Sibylls prophecy could have applied to two wizard boys, both born at the end of

July that year, both of whom had parents in the Order of the Phoenix, both sets of

parents having narrowly escaped Voldemort three times. One, of Course, was you.

The other was Neville Longbottom. (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 842).

The prophecy links Neville and Harry in so many ways. Both Neville and Harry have

parents who fought against Voldemort and he is the reason why both grew up in a foster

home of a biological family member.

Emilys face glowed because she was beginning to finally understand. Oh my goodness!

So Neville could have been the chosen one?

 Wegener 9

I smiled and said, Yes but there is more to it. Let me explain. So, you know Harrys

Parents were murdered by Lord Voldemort and Dumbledore sent Harry to live with his

aunt and uncle? (Sorcerers Stone) Well, we find out in the first book that Nevilles gran

raised him. I opened up the The Sorcerers Stone to page 125 and read, Well, my gran

brought me up and shes a witch, said Neville, but the family thought I was all Muggles

for ages. (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 125). Now, right here we only learn that

Neville wasnt raised by his parents but we dont learn what happened to his parents until

the 5th book. I flipped open Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to page 514 and

said, This is when Nevilles gran speaks to Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny: My son

and his wife, she said, turning haughtily to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, were

tortured into insanity by You-Know-Whos followers. (J.K. Rowling, Order of the

Phoenix, 514). Right here, shows the reason Neville doesnt live with his parents; it is

because of Voldemort. This is a huge connection because it shows that the boys have a

similar reason to hate Voldemort. He took both of their parents away from them.

I took a minute to breath, But Neville also didnt know he was magical until an incident

he was eight. I flipped back to The Sorcerers Stone and read aloud,

Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of the

upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a

meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced- all the way down the garden

and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so

happy. (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 125)

 Wegener 10

Both, Harry and Neville, find out later in their childhood that they are magical. But what

I want to tell you is that Neville didnt ever have to stand up and fight but he did; Harry

was either told or chosen to fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

What? Thats impossible! Harry always stood up for what was right! exclaimed Emily.

I hand gestured her to calm down, Let me explain. Harry was worried from the time he

was 11 years old if Voldemort was coming back. He doesnt get to live without fear.

Quirrell attacked Harry with Lord Voldemort hidden under his turban, telling him exactly

what to do. Dumbledore also lets Harry in that Voldemort is more likely coming back. I

took a minute to open up The Socerers Stone to page 298 and read, He is still out there

somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to sharenot being truly alive, he cannot

be killed. (J.K. Rowling, Sorcerers Stone, 298). So before Harrys first year is done he

knows that Voldemort is out there. There are also countless times where Harry is attacked

because he is the child Voldemort thought could destroy him.

Yeah, like in The Chamber of Secrets? Oh, and The Goblet of Fire? said Emily as if

she knew what she was talking about.

Yes, the first example is when Harry was targeted by Tom Riddle in The Chamber of

Secrets. Harry goes to save Ginny, when she is taken down to the Chamber of Secrets but

Tom Riddle never wanted Ginny just Harry. I opened up The Chamber of Secrets to

page 312. Havent I already told you, said Riddle quietly, that killing Mudbloods
 Wegener 11

doesnt matter to me anymore? For many months now, my new target has been- you.

(J.K. Rowling, Chamber of Secrets, 312). Tom Riddle couldnt understand how Harry

could have defeated Voldemort at such a young age. How is it that a baby with no

extraordinary magical talent was able to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did

you escape with nothing but a scar, while Lord Voldemorts powers were destroyed?

(J.K. Rowling, Chamber of Secrets, 313) But Harry never tried achieving fame; it always

found him.

I grabbed The Goblet of Fire and flipped open to page 676. Harry definitely did not want

to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. We find out that Barty Crouch was the one

that put his name in the goblet of fire.

Who put your name in the Goblet of Fire, under the name of a different school? I

did. Who frightened of every person I thought might try to hurt you or prevent

you from winning the tournament? I did. Who nudged Hagrid into showing you

the dragons? I did. Who helped you see the only way you could beat the dragon? I

did. (J.K. Rowling, Goblet of Fire, 676).

Barty Crouch targeted Harry because he wanted to prove himself to Voldemort. Harry

does seem like the hero but he knows himself that he is targeted.

Sierra, you keep confusing me. Harry is the hero and Neville is not, that simple. There is

nowhere in the story that Harry is not the hero, exclaimed Emily.
 Wegener 12

Harry only steps up to the plate because he is told he has to. After Harry learns about the

prophecy, Dumbledore tells him it must be him or Voldemort. I turned to page 844 in

The Order of the Phoenix and read aloud, So, said Harry, dredging up the words from

what felt like a deep well of despair inside him, so does that mean thatthat one of us

has got to kill the other onein the end? Yes, said Dumbledore. (J.K. Rowling, Order

of the Phoenix, 844). This is where Harry actively realizes he has to be the one to fight

against Voldemort he doesnt get the choice. While Neville on the other hand didnt have

any authority figure telling him he had to fight Voldemort, he just chose to.

I looked at my computer screen and read Neville is more realistic in the mind. Neville

is what most Gryffindors would be like in the real world, a person capable of heroic feats

under dire circumstances but not inclined to them in every moment. (Emily Asher Perrin)

I read this and see how he is an attainable courage, gradually turning more courageous

until the 7th book when he attacks Voldemorts snake. I grabbed The Deathly Hallows

book, flipped to page 733 and began to read aloud,

In one swift, fluid motion, Neville broke free of the Body-Bind Curse upon him;

the flaming hat fell off him and he drew from its depths something sliver, with a

glittering, rubied handle- The slash of the silver blade could not be heard over the

roar of the oncoming crowd of the sounds of the clashing giants or of the

stampeding centaurs, and yet it seemed to draw every eye. With a single stroke

Neville sliced off the great snakes head. (J.K. Rowling, Deathly Hallows, 733).

This is when Neville becomes a hero. He stands up to Voldemort, just like Harry had

many times. He chooses to stand up by his choosing, that is what a real hero does. In my
 Wegener 13

opinion, a hero is someone who does what is right for the right reasons; a hero would

have to be completely selfless. Harry knows that he has to fight Voldemort to live but

Neville has nothing riding on him. This is why I think Neville could have been the chosen

one and Harry could have had Nevilles life.

Soyou think Neville could be the chosen one because he stood up to Voldemort, like

Harry has done countless of times? asked Emily.

No I think Neville and Harrys roles in the story could be interchanged because Neville

shows that he has the courage to stand up to Voldemort, he could have been the hero that

they needed. I saw this on a website, Readers connect with Neville because Neville is

like, but unlike, Harry. (John Granger). Neville has all of the good qualities that Harry

does without the bad ones. Neville is brave, courageous, and loyal. But Harry also is

selfish and bad tempered. Neville could have easily been the courageous hero while

Harry would have been fine with being the selfish sidekick. That is what got my mind

thinking; they are nearly the same person because of their personality, how they both

stood up to Voldemort, and how they grew up.

Wow! That is totally true. It all makes sense now! This is a really interesting theory!

You know what? Im going to read the books. This makes Neville sound really

interesting. Could I borrow your books? Youve inspired me read all of them! exclaimed

Emily.
 Wegener 14

I just smiled. I have talked about Harry Potter for years but she never listened to me now.

Knowing that I could read something about Harry Potter and change two lives forever

was a great thing to change just a normal day.

Bibliography

Asher-Perrin, Emily. Neville Longbottom is the Most Important Person in Harry

Potter And Heres Why. Tor. Macmillan. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

 Wegener 15

Friis, Cecilia. Abandoned Children in Literature: The Orphans in J.K. Rowlings

Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone. Lund University. Friis, Celcia.

Web. 2013

Granger, John. The Sidekicks Journey- Neville Longbottom. Hogwarts Professor.

Granger, John. Web. April 14, 2013.

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Scholastic, 2000.

Book.

---. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York: Scholastic, 2007. Book.

---. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York: Scholastic, 2002. Book.

---. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. New York: Scholastic, 2004. Book.

---. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. New York: Scholastic, 1999. Book.