In
the seventh book of the Harry Potter
series, the reader sees the character of Neville Longbottom change drastically
as he is forced to be a leader at Hogwarts while Ron, Hermione and Harry are
hunting horcruxes. Throughout the series, Neville is rather clumsy,
absentminded, and is always a “step behind” the other students until the fifth
book in which he’s a part of Dumbledore’s Army and helps Harry in the
Department of Mysteries.
In
the final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” Neville appears first
in chapter twenty-nine titled, The Lost Diadem, when he leads Harry,
Ron, and Hermione into Hogwarts through the Hog’s Head in Hogsmeade. Neville is
beaten up and tells stories of the tortures that he has because of arguing with
the Carrow siblings, the Death Eater professors. He is hiding in the Room of
Requirement and has led others to stay with him and it’s said that, “It’s all
down to Neville. He really gets this
room” (pg. 577). His leadership shows through the fact that his peers at school
look up to him for guidance and direction.
Secondly,
during the battle of Hogwarts, the Death Eaters are dueling against the Order
of the Phoenix and the students; it all comes down to the last horcrux,
Voldemort’s snake, Nagini. Slightly before, Harry tells Neville that the snake
must be killed in order for Lord Voldemort to be conquered. Waiting for the
right moment, Neville uses the sword of Gryffindor to behead Nagini, making
Voldemort completely vulnerable under attack. In this moment, Neville is deemed
worthy of using the sword and truly lives up to the courage that goes along
with it. Not only is he seen as heroic, but also he finally accepts himself as
a leader.
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