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[vegablack62]

Why do fanfic writers insist on writing characters that act the exact opposite way as they do in the books? I just read a seventh year story in which Augusta Longbottom is resentful of Neville’s friendship with Harry because she feels it will put Neville at risk. She almost wants to keep him home from Hogwarts to protect him and lectures him on

Comments

[vegablack62]

No I was glad to read your comments. First, because I love comments of any sort on what I post; it keeps me from feeling that I'm writing into nothingness or sounding like an idiot. I'm not a sensitive person and I enjoy argument more than most people, so your comments made me happy.

Second, I realized when I read your post that I had left out important details in my statement and had pushed the argument too far to one side. Neville is blessed because no matter what his gran loves him, and is a person of strong integrity and character who's influence is good for him. I don't think he holds any hard feelings toward her at all.

Third, your statement about Neville being only 14 and not understanding his gran's intentions helped me clarify something I had wondered about for a long time. How much of Neville's opinion about his gran's view of him is a product of his own feelings and how much are really hers? Now we know that she compares him unfavorably to his father because we've heard her. She obviously admires Harry we've hear her say that too. But how much does Neville himself burden himself with expectations and feel disappointed in himself, how much does he want to be like Harry and be strong enough to be Hogwarts champion and do the things he does? If we recognize that then we see that he for a long time wanted to be the young man we see in book seven.

I think very highly of Augusta as a person. I think her suffering as an adult influenced the way she treats Neville and I don't really blame her for that.

[still_infinity]

I enjoy arguments as well, although I have to warn you that in most cases it is quite hard to convince me that I am wrong. It is a bad habit I can't seem to get rid. That is the good thing about literature - or at least as I see it. There is nothing right or wrong, because there are only interpretations. There is no absolute right or wrong.

how much does he want to be like Harry Besides the popularity of being the boy-who-lived (because which kid doesn't want to be popular?)I think Neville wants to be like Harry because he has friends who support him and is quite skilled at sports, which is an important factor at that age. Furthermore in my opinion Neville has such 'hard' time at the beginning because he is not used to interact with children of his age (I don't think that little witches and wizard go to Muggle schools and are rather tutored or home schooled. I doubt there is a wizarding primary school). And not being good at the popular stuff like sports, being a bit clumsy and not being the confident type, he needs some time to develop.

[vegablack62]

Yes, but there is a difference between wanting to have friends like Harry, wanting to be good at sports like Harry and thinking your gran would want you to fight Death Eaters like Harry or be the Hogwarts champion a position that can kill people. He doesn't say he thinks she wants him to try out for Quidditch she says that she admires the way she stands up to Voldemort. He probably has a desire to be athletic and popular as would most kids, but the wishes he voices is to be the one to take risks like Harry which is an entirely different thing especially in a kid who knows what can happen to people who are brave and fight. He says she would want him for a grandson while talking about the fight in the Department of Mysteries where Harry faced Voldemort. He says she wants him to put his name in as Hogwarts champion when they were all told that is a very risky enterprise. He doesn't say he wants to be Oliver Wood which would give him athleticism and popularity, perhaps more than Harry. He wants to be brave like Harry.