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View Full Version : Neville, The Prophecy, and His Wand


moviemuffin
12-11-2003, 01:39 PM
Needless to say if you haven't gone beyond the movies or read through book 5 this is loaded with spoilers.

I am just about certain that the infamous prophecy was not about Harry, but Neville. There are very strong hints about him all through the novels. Book 5 really solidified a few things, though.


The first time we meet Neville he tells us they thought he was a Squib, that his powers seemed to be in some way "jammed" until he's more or less cornered.
We do find out in Book 5 that the prophecy might have referred to EITHER Neville OR Harry.
His confidence is a huge part of his problem. As that grows in 5 we see his talent emerging. (The DA club, etc)
What is written on the Prophecy is a major clue: Trelawney put a question mark before Harry's name.


Perhaps most interesting of all... Neville's wand breaks in Book 5 and it made me think. Ron was rubbish at magic while using an old, borrowed wand. As we all learned from that wonderful early moment in the first book, wands are VERY personal and particular. Once Ron got a personalized wand his talents improved significantly.

Now, Neville's grandmother is kind of a nasty old codger. She seems convinced her son was some kind of second coming, and she's constantly telling Neville he's "not as good as" his father. This made me wonder. Sure enough, his wand breaks in the battle at the Ministry, and on the very next page


"Gran's going to kill me, that's dad's old wand..."


Makes me wonder if perhaps Neville is going to be the one who brings down Voldemort. Something to do with Herbology, I'd be willing to bet.

I'd love to hear what others think.

The Rain Dog
12-11-2003, 06:51 PM
MM - that's exactly what I thought the moment I finished book 5.

:D:D:D:D:D

Harry may be "the boy who lived" but Neville has all the attributes and it would make a fantastic twist to the story.

Voldemort keeps going after Harry while the story's very own Sam Gamgee type character turns out to be our dark horse.

The way you've put your case togetherthere is exemplary as well. ;) :D

RD

moviemuffin
12-12-2003, 12:43 AM
Are you flirting with me?




JUST KIDDING!

:D :D :D :D :D

The Rain Dog
12-16-2003, 07:38 PM
Originally posted by moviemuffin
Are you flirting with me?




JUST KIDDING!

:D :D :D :D :D

LMAO!!!! :D

cupajoe
12-21-2003, 12:47 AM
i think it would be a twist that would piss off a lot of the potter fans i mean cuss nevile....cant do anything right he held his own in ootp but all in all he's not really all that good of a wizard but he is actually a pretty good botonist. i dont know.

Avid_Fan
12-27-2003, 06:40 PM
we'll have to see.

WHEN does book 6 come out?!?!?!?!

Shockwave
12-27-2003, 07:14 PM
I thought the Harry Potter series was safe from the "Prophecy" shlep. Im really starting to hate prophecies in books and movies.

Bah! As long as its not overplayed i guess its alright.

moviemuffin
12-27-2003, 08:58 PM
There is no release date for book 6.

There have been prophecies in every novel since book 1. :)

Avid_Fan
12-27-2003, 09:58 PM
Originally posted by moviemuffin
There is no release date for book 6.



crud, that means it'll be about 2 years
:(

Shockwave
12-28-2003, 12:03 AM
There have been prophecies in every novel since book 1.

Ive never read the books, only seen the movies. They musta cut that part out.

Liter is French
12-29-2003, 12:02 AM
The prophecy doesn't apply to Neville anymore because Voldemort didnt mark him as his equal. He marked Harry.

Ergo, harry is the only one that can kill Voldemort and vice versa

Not saying that Neville can't become a good wizard but the prophecy doesnt apply to him anymore (and his dad's wand got broken )

moviemuffin
12-29-2003, 01:08 AM
Voldemort could still do a lot of things. That's the tricky bit-- people made many assumptions and directed him down a specific path, but all of that can change at any time and the prophecy is still fulfilled.

The prophecy orb had question marks on it for a reason. :D

Liter is French
12-29-2003, 12:54 PM
The prophecy has a question mark on it because the orb was made before Voldemort marked Harry

Like a magical Dewey defeats Truman

moviemuffin
12-29-2003, 03:14 PM
I speak to you as a former English teacher and a writer:

NEVER believe what an author leads you to believe;

ALWAYS think about what he or she HOPES you will GUESS.

Prophecies are popular vehicles in fantasy and speculative fiction because they are deliberately misleading. Only very crappy authors include a prophecy or prediction in their narratives that can be simply or easily worked out without give and sway.

As my 11 year old told his friends before OOF came out, "she's always right about this stuff."

I'm just thinking of the absolute hysteria that ensued when I told a group of pre-teens that Percy would be turning on the Weasley family in the next book and that Dumbledore would be removed from Hogwarts for at least a time.

(Don't worry about Percy, btw, he'll be a problem, but he'll eventually come around.)

Just remember that when you read good books you have to read a lot more than what's on the page.