OVERANALYZING THE TEXT

Speculation on whether Neville or Hermione would ever betray Harry or his cause. My own reader desire for Neville's role in future canon, and my distaste for the spectre of "DE-butt-kicking Super-Neville."

Complaint that the "Reverse Memory Charmed As An Infant Neville" theory utterly lacks Bang.

More fanspec silliness, this one focussed on "Neville Owes A Life-Debt To Barty Crouch." Also repeats my insistence on a later date than 1981 for the Longbottom Incident.

Tongue-in-cheek speculation about Neville and the Longbottom Incident, with more timeline wrangling, as well as a "Memory Retrieval Potion" theory.

Discussion of the Neville and the Twins' Canary Creams - was it a "mean" prank? Did Neville really mind it? - followed by a suggestion that Neville does not appreciate Hermione's (or Lupin's) condescending attitude towards him.

More on Neville's response to the Canary Creams and his possible feelings about Lupin and Hermione.

Explanation of my reasons for believing that Neville may well feel resentful at others' condescension. While acknowledging the possibility that my reading could be unduly autobiographically influenced, I also give textual evidence for the supposition that What You See with Neville is not always All That's There, and suggest that there might indeed be conscious authorial misdirection going on with Neville's character in the series to date.

An explanation of character indeterminacy, canonical plausibility and reading practice, all in the context of an ongoing thread about Neville's role in the series. Coins the term "Indeterminate Neville," describing the character as a kind of Schroedinger's Cat, simultaneously existing in a number of different states until the continuation of canon will collapse those states by making his canonical status determinable.

Discussion of the Memory Charmed Neville theory, and of Neville's character and memory charms in general. Lays forth evidence that Neville's magical problems stem not from a lack of magical power, but from a lack of control over that power. Argues that Neville deliberately downplays his own magical competence, encouraging others to view him as less powerful than he really is, and hypothesizes as to why he might choose to do so. Also touches on his relationship with Snape.

Neville as a literary double to Harry, and its ramifications for the series' thematic emphases on memory, history, legacy and power. Also touches on Voldemort's, Snape's, and Crouch Jr's roles within this schematic and on the leit-motifs of burial, exhumation and parricide in GoF.

More on Neville and Harry, and on the significance of themes of renunciation, memory and forgetfulness for the series as a whole.

Part one of a three-part survey of Memory Charmed Neville theories. This part covers the "No Suppressed Memory At All," the "Psychological Repression," the "Spontaneous Magic," and the classic "Well-Intended Memory Charm" theories. It was also, by the way, my very first "TBAY" prefixed post.

Part Two of the Memory Charm Symposium, this one examines the "Wizarding Witness Protection Program," "Wizards In Black," "Hidden Source" and "Reverse Memory Charm" theories of Neville's purported memory charm.

Third and last part of the Memory Charm Symposium. Covers the "Cover Up At the Ministry," "DEPRECIATION" and "Memory Charm Most Foul" theories of Neville's purported Memory Charm.

Points out that canon actually suggests that the Longbottoms were not attacked in their own home at all.

More speculation on the assault on the Longbottoms

A challenge to the Reverse Memory Charm theory, both in terms of its canonical defensibility and in terms of its dramatic possibilities for future canon ("Bang").

The infamous Paddle Smashing post. Illustration by example of the difference between a "Bangy" character change (ie, that which comes about by means of a sudden, discrete and catalytic event) and a non-Bangy-yet-dramatic one, by way of explaining why Reverse Memory Charmed Neville, while it may have some dramatic potential, is nonetheless not a "Bangy" theory.

Objection to the common fan assertion that Neville seems to be well suited to House Hufflepuff.

Neville's behavior in PS/SS as evidence of his *failure* to uphold the values of House Gryffindor.

More on Neville's behavior in PS/SS, and the extent to which it reveals not his courage, but his weakness.

Objections to the theory that Crouch/Moody put Neville under the Imperius Curse during their post-DADA class tea session in GoF.

Neville's skill with Herbology and his stoic brand of courage.

Satiric look at Neville's "narrative invisibility."