And now back to Neville
The following is excerpted from Tira Nog's "A Nick in Time," which the curious can find at the SS-Fuh-Q fest (Third Wave). Link is to the warning page. The context: Snape, Hermione, Ron, and Harry are discussing magic potential and wandless magic. Snape points out that the two most powerful students in Harry's year were Harry and Neville.



"I assure you, I'm not. Neville Longbottom had the potential; he was simply terrified of his own powers," Snape said.

"How can you say that? He was . . . ." Looking at the four students across from him, who seemed absorbed in their own conversation, Weasley broke off, the hopeless they all heard remaining unvoiced.

Lowering his voice, Snape said, "He had tremendous raw power. Even completely harmless potions would explode around Mr. Longbottom. It's my understanding that he had similar results in every one of his classes. He could rarely produce the desired result, but his mistakes were always spectacular."

"He could be right," Potter thoughtfully added, "Remember our first flying lesson? The minute Neville held onto his broom, he was airborne."

"And he always transfigured his object into something, just not what we were trying to achieve," Granger reminded.

"Yeah, but, he was totally out of control," Weasley argued.

"Yes, but the potential was still there. If he'd learned to control it . . . that's what you're talking about, isn't it?" Potter asked.



So, thoughts? I have to admit that I didn't read the first 4 novels very closely -- does this make sense? Yes, I am becoming a wee bit Neville-obssessed and am toying with writing (trying to write) a Neville/somebody story. A Neville/somebody story in which Ron betrays Harry. And sets it up to look like Draco is the betrayer. Hmmm...

Not going to happen since the only HP story I have in the works is sitting on my harddrive, reproaching me.

Also, question about Draco -- there was a fanfic story (and no, I can't remember which one or who wrote it) in which Fred and George harassed a first-year Slytherin whose father was implicated in either illegal or Death Eater activities. Draco told F&G off, and said that Slytherin would stand behind him, although there may have been a touch of "Death Eaters stick together" to the scene. I
The scene did contrast to Griffindor's yearly ritual of shunning Harry, however, and didn't show F&G in a good light. Did anything like this actually happen in the first four books? If so, which one?

Just looked at the time and realized I must hie myself hence. A freelancers life is not a happy one, necessarily (for many reasons, but particularly when you have to work on a Saturday).