Neville Longbottom: The Other Chosen One
 by David Haber
 On the night that Sirius died, after the battle at the Ministry of Magic at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore showed Harry the complete Lost Prophecy. It is then we learn that it was possible that Neville could also have been the Chosen One. Dumbledore tells us this, and then immediately insists it could only have been Harry. Why mention it then, in the first place?
 > Read the full articlePages: << < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 > >> Reader Comments: I would have to say that Neville is not the one based solely on the fact that more than once Dumbledore tells Harry Neville is not the chosen one Harry is because Voldemort made it so...yes Neville could have been, but he's not because of Voldemort. However....Neville is going to be relevant and you may be right in that someone doesn't want him to remember something. I've always thought that Neville's mother is trying to tell him something when they're in St. Mungo's and she gives him the bubblegum wrappers. It's said by his grandmother that everytime Neville visits his mother gives him bubblegum wrappers and Neville has kept every one of them. There's going to be something there, some kind of message to Neville, his mother hasn't lost her marbles completely. She's giving him some kind of message. Posted by sm on May 28, 2007 10:16 PM
Nice theory. I could have never thought that you could suspect Neville of being the chosen one after Dumbledore dismissed it. It does add up as neville's forgetfulness is quite strange. All your articles are superb. Posted by Aarant from Delhi, India on May 28, 2007 11:12 PM
I've often thought about the possibility that it might be Neville. The prophecy doesn't say when the chosen one would be marked only when he would be born. (that is; if Dumbledore correctly interpreted born and not borne.) Posted by Reg from Texas on May 28, 2007 11:42 PM
I odn't think Neville betray them, that would be a bit well....Ironic no? Posted by Sirius Black on May 29, 2007 12:14 AM
Great article. While I seem to agree with most of the article, the one point where I have a disagreement is you comparing Neville to peter pettigrew. In the past, Neville has challenged Harry and his friends when they were wandering late in the night. But there is no evidence of Peter ever challenging James or Sirius. Therefore, I think there is a difference between Peter and Neville. Neville does stand up for things that he considers is incorrect. Posted by parvati from India on May 29, 2007 12:46 AM
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Dave, you put down some very interesting thoughts and facts about Neville.
To me, there are three main questions: (1) Could Neville possibly be the Chosen One? (2) Why did Jo bring up Neville as another possible chosen one? (3) Can we explain in a logical way what happens to Neville?
(1) Of course, Neville could be the real chosen one. Harry was allowed to retrieve the prophecy because the Ministry named it by his name and we know that the Ministry is often wrong. We're all focused on Harry and it would be a tremendous turnover if the hero was in fact Neville. But it would also be a disappointment and probably decrease the interest over the whole series. What Agatha Christie could do with one novel seems very difficult here. For this reason, and this reason only, I find it very unlikely that Neville be the chosen one.
(2) That's a big mistery and probably a clue for book seven. Dumbledore tells Harry that both could be the chosen one, but Voldemort made his choice. What is interesting here is that Voldemort apparently did nothing to or even harm Neville, as if he knew from the beginning that Harry was - or would be - the one. That could be a clue to the fact that Voldemort's behaviour about Harry isn't defensive (ing the chosen one before he can vainquish the Dark Lord) but of another kind.
(3) Everybody in the Order of the Phoenix could have known the beginning of the prophecy, and of course the Longbottoms, who were very close to Dumbledore, were certainly aware of the hazard. Remember that when Snape heard the beginning of the prophecy, he was still a Eater. Then, his parents (and thereafter his grandmother) may have thought that Neville's safety was more important than his magical powers, and tried to make him become a squib. Dumbledore tells us that a wizard, under certain circumstances, could become a squib. Posted by herve from strasbourg on May 29, 2007 12:49 AM
At the end of OotP, Dumbledore goes on (at great length - pages and pages even) about how the prophecy is not all important. Yes, it relates to Harry, because Voldemort marked him as his equal, but it doesn't change Harry's desire to fight the Dark Arts and his resistance to being corrupted by them. It's JKR saying that we have free . The parallel is that Neville, like Harry, also had a life-changing experience that makes him incorruptible as far as the Dark Arts are concerned.
That said, I think that the prophecy and the connection to Neville has been so heavily set up that there can't fail to be a resolution. I suspect that Neville destroy one of the horcruxes, and in that way help to vanquish the Dark Lord. Posted by DMJ from York, UK on May 29, 2007 12:57 AM
i would say that the part about neville betraying harry and the others is not quite convincing. neville has been on harry's side for a long time. eventually, i think that he would play a great part in the final book. but remember that his own parents were also suffering because of voldemort and his followers. so i don't think he harm harry in any way.
also, i think the part about his mother trying to tell something to him is a good theory! Posted by manish from india on May 29, 2007 01:18 AM
I agree with what sm says. Dumbledore explains all this in one of the books. He says that Lord voldemort had the choice between the two boys, Neville and Harry, but he would only mark one as his equal, thereby fulfilling the prophecy and making Harry the 'Chosen One', discounting Neville as the lesser threat.
Despite the fact that Lord Voldemort may have been wrong, and actually Neville may be the bigger threat, it would no longer matter once Voldemort chose Harry, as it is now Harry the prophecy concerns, and therefore it is Harry who must destroy Voldemort. Posted by Darren from UK on May 29, 2007 02:32 AM
I think that we haven't seen all from Neville, but i am pretty sre that he is not THE chosen one. He help Harry in the Hallows, thats for sure... Posted by Luka from Belgrade,Serbia on May 29, 2007 03:52 AM
well, if there it was a message of some sort, wouldn't he have discovered it by now? his gran asks him to throw it so clearly she dosen't see any message on it. if Neville's mother was indeed a bit sane, she would have made sure that her mother [Neville's gran] would be able to discover it. Posted by k2 on May 29, 2007 04:07 AM
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Hmm... very interesting article. yeah, i've always thought that neville wasnt just another character (although, we still don't know much of him) in the story, i think he WILL play a very important role in the final book. either helping harry to get rid of voldemort or maybe (i hope not though) turning against the trio. maybe his gran is only protective over him, however i always thought that that his gran wanted him to be something big as neville mentions to harry, "my gran would do anything to have a grandson like you".
Also neville said that his gran was so proud of him (neville) and that he was finally living upto to be like his parents.
hmmm... i dont think that his gran wouldnt want him to forget what happened to his parents, moreover i think that by remembering what has happened to them strengthen him and help him find courage (for revenge perhaps or to get rid of voldemort and his forces?).
it IS interesting the fact that dumbledore mentions neville and then straight away disregards him. if he's not important (according to the prophecy) then why mention him. maybe he wants harry to be aware of this fact?
'sm': has a got a point about the bubblegum wrappers, but what msg can you send thru that? i think the only reason neville keeps them is because he has never received anything from his parents ever. Posted by shelley from s.yorks, u.k. on May 29, 2007 05:31 AM
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