Post #2: The Growth of Neville

As the series continues, we are able to see how each of the characters develops in their own unique way. One character that stands out to me the most would be how Neville transformed from a clumsy, shy first-year to a courageous and brave fifth-year student.

When he first came to Hogwarts, he was rather quiet and not very confident in his abilities as a wizard. We learn about how his parents were brutally tortured into insanity when Neville was just a child. He was forced to grow up with them living in St. Mungo’s Hospital, which led to a rather traumatic childhood for him. Along with this, he had a lot of expectations of him from his grandmother expecting him to be just like his parents. With the constant pressure from his grandmother and agony of his parents, he slowly finds a subject that he is good at (Herbology) and begins to gain confidence in himself. He also shows his improvement of bravery when he joins the D.A. and shows an interest in learning how to defend himself against the Dark Arts.

The best instance that shows Neville’s development would be in Order of the Phoenix when Harry, Ron, and Hermione are leaving to go to the Ministry to save Sirius. Neville is defiant in going with them to help his friends when they need it most. He knew the danger he was getting into but his friends came first to him. I believe if this would have happened a couple years earlier, Neville would have lacked the confidence and been too scared to go fight Voldemort and the Death Eaters.