I find it interesting that Neville's heroic role at the battle of the Ministry leads to him needing to get a new wand. Ironically, the destruction of his father's wand almost seems a reward; now that Neville has shaken off the cowed demeanor a life with his overbearing grandmother has fostered, he is able to truly come into his own. It's the wand that chooses the wizard, so while it's good and right that Neville should honor his parents with his actions, his performance has probably been hampered for five years by the fact that he's using a wand that isn't a custom fit. Symbolically, it's an indication that he is ready to embrace his own unique strengths rather than trying to turn into his father, which is what his grandmother seems to want.
I have an uneasy feeling that if Harry survives Deathly Hallows, Neville won't. I hope I'm wrong about this, but whatever the final outcome, I have little doubt that he will have an especially significant role in this last outing...
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I know what you mean...I thought it was so significant that Neville's dad's wand broke at the end of Phoenix, and that he ended up getting a new one. One of the last of Olivander's, apparently. I thought we would see more of Neville (and his heroism) in HBP, and we sort of did, but all the other kids in their fight against the death eaters were very much off-stage while our attention was appropriately on the events on the tower.
You know, it's interesting to realize that Neville did some of the excellent work he did in the DA WITH his dad's wand still. That would seem to indicate that given all the right factors: his own wand, more confidence, the right skills, and the right situation -- he's going to be formidable.
That is, if he's allowed to grow up.
I too fear for his life. I have always had a feeling he will factor prominently in the end battle somehow. I become less clear on how as we get closer and closer to the finale. A week -- eek! Can you believe it?
I do keep wondering what a happy ending might look like for Neville. If these books were written completely in the fairy tale tradition, I would hope that perhaps when Voldemort dies (note I said when, not if!) perhaps some the awful things unleased in his name would also break, and Neville's parents would be restored to their right minds. You know, like spells reversing and transformations taking place (remember the wonderful scene at the end of Beauty and the Beast, by far my favorite Disney film, when the enchantment is broken and the castle and everyone in it is restored to their original state? Or when "always winter and never Christmas" melts into spring in Narnia?). But it's not the same here. Voldemort isn't really an enchanter, not with his voice or with any objects (like rings of power). He has been an oddly individualistic and inverse kind of villain, not seemingly terribly interested in domination, just power for the sake of power and survival no matter what the cost. A kind of living embodiment of the fear of death.
But I digress. I know my wishful thinking is not likely to be anywhere close to the mark. There are fairy tale elements in these stories for certain, but that's not the deepest traditions Rowling is pulling on...and in many ways, she's mixing up so many kinds of tales and echoes that she's made something entirely new that stands on its own for our time. I salute her for that, and keep reminding myself that I trust her instincts about the character's ultimate fates.
But I'll still be really, really sad if we lose Neville. If we do, I hope he dies in the most heroic and self-sacrificial way possible, showing that Gryffindor courage to the very end.
Man, wouldn't it be wonderful if Voldemort's death released the Longbottoms from their mental state? I doubt it will happen either, but it sure is nice to think about... Hopefully he will have his opportunity to play a heroic role in the vanquishing of Voldemort - which I agree has to happen - but won't have to give up his life in the process. As you say, he ought to be quite a force to reckon with by the seventh book! I too would be very sad to lose him.
I think I've decided, through a very unscientific process, that Harry or Neville and Snape or Lupin have the most to worry about in Deathly Hallows. Of course, I could be way off the mark. Sigh. Can't she just zap a couple of flobberworms and call it a day?
By the way, I love Beauty and the Beast too. Back in March, right before we went to visit Benjamin, Nathan and I watched it again. He'd been feeling the urge to see it for some time. Come to think of it, that may have been the first movie he ever sat through in the movie theater... Anyway, it really is a fantastic movie all around, and Belle is my all-time favorite Disney heroine.
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