I think if you just saw Neville you would never ever think he had such a terrible past. I felt to bad for him. His parents were tortuered and if that were my parents I don't know how I could be happy about things again. He is such an adobarly funny quirky character and adding that side to him gave a me a new perspective about him. But I love him even more now.

i think that neville is stronger than he looks! i mean yeah i almost cryed when he kept the wrapper but i know that he doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him
i do feel that neville does need a hug he's a good person and i very much doubt he will kill anyone

Awww I love Neville .

He's stronger than people give him credit for, and that's why I admire him so much. He does have his weak side, but he endures and moves on... He's still friendly towards everyone else, and doesn't get in moody stints like Harry does.

Undoubtedly Neville is quite the sympathetic character. Not only has he suffered a blighted childhood because of his tortured to insanity parents, but also he was raised by a grandmother who constantly berated him for not being as good as his father was. Now in addition to that I wonder if his ineptitude with charms is natural, or is his talent suppressed by all the sadness he experiences when he visits St. Mungos.

SPOILER ALERTIn book 6 we learn that Tonks is having problems with her magic abilities. Hermione or one of the Weasleys tells us that when wizards are under great stress, such "stunting" of the powers can happen. We also learn that Tom Riddle's mother Merope rarely exhibited any magical talent, and Dd explains that she was so oppressed by her father that her true talents may have never come out.

We know also that Neville is really brave at heart. Notice he was keen to continue fighting in the MoM even after his broken nose kept him from being able to intonate the spells properly (too bad he had not yet attempted to do unspoken spells). Notice also that he worked harder than most in the DA meetings and according to Harry, had shown the most improvement.

So yes, I want to run up to the boy, put my arm around him and tell him how proud I am of his fortitude and the obvious great qualities that he exudes. {after all, anybody whose boggart is Severus Snape can't be all bad!}

When i red the title, my thought was "Damn right he does!"

I love Neville to bits. In fact one day i'm going to be Mrs Neville Longbottom ...

Ok, maybe not, but i love him a lot, and i just felt so sad for him in OotP. Imagine having parents that don't recognise you? That would be so sad!

He's a strong person really, he was put into Gryffindor for a reason! I think neville's going to get is chance to shine sooner of later. He deserves it so so much.

I think there is already a "Neville fan" forum. But I wonder here, as we ponder his need for a hug, Does anybody else think that Neville is a "golden boy" waiting to explode onto the scene. I've already postulated that I think his powers are stunted by the sadness of growing up with parents in St. Mungo's incurably insane wing. Does this sound like a good theory to anyone else. Have I missed JKR stating that Neville would never be a good wizard?

Oh my goodness I couldn’t agree more! Neville has gone from the shy outcast few liked to someone people could actually look up to for his hard work and determination. Especially in book 5.

Neville definately deserves a BIG hug! I mean he's had it so hard it's not like Harry where his parents are dead. His parents are still alive and suffering. It would be so hard to see your parents in that way. But he's really strong because he's able to live life knowing his parents are the way they are.

i no i thought that part was so sad... and i agree i think he could take down bellatrix if he wanted too(and i hope he does) =]

I think Neville doesn't tell any body because he doesn't want people feeling sorry for him all the time, he would never get to have fun because people would remind him he should be sad, and no one would treat him like a normal person!

Any way I also felt bad for him, big hugs for Neville

in ootp, when the Lestranges escape from Azkaban and Neville got a lot better at the Da, i felt so happy for him and was cheering him on just as much as harry in the DOM. I know he will avenge his parents' insanity in book 7 because hp is pretty much another fairytale. in every fairytale good triumphs over evil. Bellatrix will get her comeuppance, and Neville will feel a lot better. Watch out bellatrix! Oh, and for those of you who don't believe me i suggest going to borders and buy the book What will happen in harry Potter 7. They provide a lot more information on why.

of all the characters in the books, other than harry, i think neville has had the hardest life. He has two parents who were brilliant witches and wizards and that is hard to live up to. he isn't incredibly magically talented to start out with. trevor keeps running away from him. the fake moody puts him through a vision of the cruciatus curse, then bella does it to him. And there is so much more, and yet he keeps going. He is my favorite character because he just doesn't give up or truly get down on himself. He has so many reasons to cry and get down but he doesn't really do that any more.

He's a great role model. He is funny in places too. Like when the battle below the Lightning Struck Tower is raging and he has been struck down, Harry trips over him and Harry is scared and asks if he's okay. He just says, " 'm alright, where was Malfoy going?" just wants to help, good man

Hello. This is my first time posting here and I can't believe that I haven't found this thread sooner! I absolutely adore Neville. He is one of two of my favorite characters.

Neville is such a great character. When we first meet him he is inept and unsure of himself and his skills. People (Malfoy and his cronies) are constantly picking on him causing his self esteem to become virtually nonexistent. His memory is poor, he is pretty much an orphan being raised by his grandmother. He has led a sad life.

In book three we see Neville being terrorized by Professor Snape so even teachers are picking on him. This is significant because Nevilles boggart is indeed Professor Snape and not a Death Eater performing a Unforgivable Curse or Malfoy, which means that Neville is capable of facing those things when the time is right.

Book four sees Neville stretching his wings a bit. We discover that he is truly gifted at Herbology and has in some indirect way faced his first with the Cruciatus Curse.

Book five is definately Nevilles book so far. He is seen as joining the DA and upon hearing about the escape of the Lestranges dedicates himself to practice and master the DADA quicker than anyone else except Hermione of course. Neville finds himself brave and showing loyalty to Harry when at the Ministry. I find it extremely significant that at some point during that battle in the Dept of Mysteries it is just Harry and Neville facing the DE before the Order arrives. Yes, Neville is bleeding and wandless but he is there. He speaks to Bellatrix and acknowledges it is her that tortured his parents. Book Five is the bomb and I completely left out the parts about St. Mungo's. I could go on forever about that.

Book six again has Neville in the thick of the fight at Hogwarts. Again he is injured but fighting non the less.

Neville has shown the most growth of all the characters I think. He is determined to be successful and has worked hard to do so. I think it would be good to discuss what Nevilles role will be in Deathly Hallows, if he will stay in school, will he fall in love (because love is an important theme in the series).

great topic!
~nevillesgirl

Good topic to discuss,

I do hope Neville will find love in Deathly Hallows. I remember vaguely that he went to the yule ball with Ginny, so he can get the girl if he wants. I think it would be sweet, but very predictable, if he and Luna got together. Love is the key to defeating Voldemort it seems, so why not have more of it in the world? Couldn't hurt.

If there is anybody else besides Ron, Hermoine, and Ginny who would go with Harry to the end in the fight against Voldemort, it's Neville. I'm not sure he has grown as much as Harry has, but he has the second most for sure.

The greatest thing would be if Neville takes down Bellatrix in battle. I think he is too noble and proud to kill her though, he'd probably out think her and capture her. Just as Dumbledore said, "There are greater ways to destroy a man then killing him"

All hail the prolific Neville

the title of this topic sounded a bit funny to me. but anyways, yes Neville does need a big hug. I mean his grams loves him and everything, but it's not the same as a parent's love. i felt so bad for him when he visited his parents, especially when his mom gave him the wrapper. and i agree with Weasley King, Neville would be the next likeliest to go to battle with Voldemort with Harry, after Ginny, Ron and Hermione (not in that order)

Neville is one of the characters that have developed the most throughout the series in my opinion. We first meet him and he is a clumsy boy who can't do anything. Throughout the books, he really shines. I was so happy for him when he was in Dumbledore's Army and he was actually showing talent. I think some of the reason was because of his parents. He knew that Voldemort was back again, and he knew what he did to his parents. He wanted to be prepared. This was when he showed to most bravery. I wish we had seen more out of him in HBP though. I hope he is seen in the Deathly Hallows a lot. I hope he and Ginny start to date. Now that would be great. I really do hope he finds love though, he deserves it.

I think Neville is adorable but people shouldn't feel sorry for him. He has had awful things happen to him but he's pulled through and is a stronger character because of it. People should be proud of him for coping so well. but yes he does need a hug...and a gf (not fair that he should be lonely when everyones coupling up) i suggest Luna or Pansy

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this but I felt bad for Neville in the D.A. He never gets picked first for a partner! Reminds me of me a bit. NEVILLE I"LL BE PARTNERS WITH U!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor Neville, He Needs A Hug!

***HUGS 4 NEVILLE!!!!***
Neville is soooo cool!!! He was doing so well in the DA!!!!!

i feel soo bad for him. he does need hug. i mean he has insane parents and lives with a animal wearing grandmother. thats just soo sad

i bet he could to i think in the 5th movie he trys when she apears but harry stops him i do feel a bit sorry for him but he sals hes proude to be there son and in the movies it makes out that his parents are dead when they are just in a word in the wizarding hospital

How could anyone not want to give Neville a hug. He is a very dear person. His parents were so badly damaged, I thought it was a really sweet thing that he saved the wrappers. It was the only gift his mom could convey her love with. I think he has more courage than some credit him for, and he will mature and come into his own. Just talking about him and what a fine person he is gives me goosebumps.

I love Neville so much! He's adorable, and I also agree that everyone is too harsh on him! Snape is so mean to him. I welled up in OoTP when he was at St. Mungo's with his gram visiting his parents. I felt so bad for him, it was terrible!

I did feel sorry for Neville. No one should have to go through what he did. I thought it was nice that when his mom gave him the wrapper he kept it. I think if he needed a hug it was then. He was angry when Bellatrix broke out and he showed promise while advancing in the D.A. I stil think it was brave of him to try to stand up to Bella later in the Ministry. Neville is sweet.