Blog Prompt #2: Luna and Neville: True Friends Through and Through

When I first read this blog prompt, Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom immediately popped into my head. Both of these characters played minor, seemingly insignificant roles at the beginning of the series, with Luna not having been introduced until the fifth book. While Neville’s character has struggled to prove himself a worthy wizard and make a great impact on the series as a whole throughout the first four novels, he embraces the responsibilities thrust upon him in Order of the Phoenix and establishes his role in the cast of main characters; as does Luna. Throughout the series, Neville progresses from a shy, self-doubting boy who refuses to stand up to Malfoy, to a brave, capable wizard who defends Harry against the non-believers at Hogwarts and faces several Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic. Even when Dumbledore explained Neville’s past and the terrible fate of his parents, who are permanent residents at St. Mungo’s, I did not grasp the importance his character would have on Harry and the series as a whole. I found it curious that had Voldemort decided to target the Longbottoms, whose son was also born at the end of July, rather than the Potters, Harry’s life would have changed drastically. Luna, on the other hand, at first seemed like a toss-in character thrown into the mix to lighten the mood and provide humor for the audience. However, she was also one of Harry’s biggest advocates when the Ministry and other members of the wizarding world tried to discredit him after Voldemort’s return and she remains a loyal member of the D.A. throughout the series. She understands Harry’s curiousity and fear of the thestrals, which only he and Luna can see due to their involvement with death. It amazes me how well and complexly Rowling develops both of these characters in such a short time. Both Luna and Neville began as seemingly insignificant characters, needed to add humor to the series; however, both developed into significant members of Dumbledore’s Army, Harry’s circle of friends, and the series as a whole.