True Colors- Neville Longbottom

Katie Barrier

Blog Post #2

I think by far one of the greatest character transformations in the Harry Potter series is Neville Longbottom. When we are first introduced to Neville, it might seem strange that he was put into Gryffindor. Many times we see him in the first book, he is awkward and nervous. It’s clear that he had come from a long line of talented witches and wizards who had been putting him down for his reluctant show of magic. We even see this later on after Neville has proven himself with his grandmother’s backhanded comments about how he isn’t as talented as his father. I think with Neville J.K. Rowling was trying to show how being treated by your family affects your behavior and your own self-image. It wasn’t until being shown respect by his classmates, like when Hermione frees Neville from the leg-binding jinx and Harry telling Neville he is worth twelve of Malfoy, that Neville begins to grow into a true Gryffindor, albeit slowly.

Neville steadily proves that he belongs in Gryffindor, by standing up to Harry, Ron and Hermione when they sneak out of the common room in the Sorcerer’s Stone, but it’s not until the Order of the Phoenix that Neville shows his true colors. With the threat of Voldemort returning to power, Neville is reminded strongly that his parents are permanent residents of St. Mungo’s because of one of Voldemort’s followers, Bellatrix Lestrange. He becomes determined to avenge his parents and shows significant progress in Defense Against the Dark Arts in Dumbledore’s Army. He even insists on accompanying Harry, Ron and Hermione to the Ministry of Magic to fight Voldemort in the Order of the Phoenix.

Neville’s growing courage and magical prowess is an example of Rowling showing that even from meager beginnings, someone can grow into a great person, or wizard. Neville coming from a history of trauma, like never truly knowing his parents because of the severe mental trauma they suffered, and being teased and somewhat bullied by his relatives, like his uncle hanging him from the window to see if he had any magical talent, shows Rowling’s theme that where you come from and where you start has no bearing on the kind of person you turn out to be.