HBO’s Harry Potter Must Include This Crucial Neville Longbottom Story

The Harry Potter movies did a terrific job combining as much of JK Rowling’s books as possible to ensure that each film was compelling. The focus had to be on telling the core Harry Potter story, which meant some of the novel’s greatest moments were left on the cutting room floor. While not all of those stories were important, one crucial story should have been included.

That focused on Neville Longbottom, brilliantly adding to his personal story. However, with the upcoming HBO television series, there is hope that previously forgotten stories such as this one from the Harry Potter novels can be given the attention they deserve.

What Was The Neville Longbottom Scene?

The moment occurs in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix after Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger head to St Mungo’s, a magical hospital not shown in the movies, to visit Arthur Weasley after he was tortured. However, during that time, they bump into several people they know. One is Professor Lockhart, highlighting his status in the Wizarding World. While the other is Neville Longbottom and the rest of his family.

Neville is with his Gran, visiting his parents, and it’s here that the others learn of their fate. They’re tortured into insanity and do not recognize their own son, and that leads to Neville being embarrassed about them finding out. However, it opens their eyes to how much Neville has gone through, while his Gran pushes how proud he should be of his parents and their sacrifices. It’s a powerful scene that is full of emotion, but it’s also something that adds a lot to Neville’s backstory and makes his eventual growth into one of the leading heroes even more impactful. At the end of the visit, his mother also hands him a sweet wrapper, and Neville’s reaction showcases how much it means to him. It’s one of the story’s most emotional moments and deserves to be highlighted.

Why It’s Crucial For Neville Longbottom’s Character

The story clearly shows why Neville is seen as awkward and shy in the early stages of the franchise. He’s been dealt an extremely tough hand in life and had to grow up with this going on, and that’s something nobody sees when they’re at Hogwarts. However, taking them out of that setting and into a new location immediately changes that. It quickly becomes clear how strong Neville is as a person, and that’s something that becomes clearer as the story develops. His big moments are highlighted in the films, but something subtle such as this can be just as impactful in growing his character.

It would also rule out any confusion regarding exactly what happens to his parents. Some people aren’t entirely sure, as the comments surrounding the situation are rather vague in the films. However, considering how important the family is to the entire situation, given that Neville’s parents were in the original Order of the Phoenix, they deserve to be given more recognition in the television show.

How It Would Benefit Other Characters

Not only would including this storyline enhance Neville’s character and eventual growth, but it would also highlight the sacrifice his parents made. Hearing about their act of bravery is one thing, but seeing the impact it has on them is completely different. It would be an emotional and shocking scene, but having those moments in a television series is crucial as they get people talking. Plus, it wasn’t part of the movies, so it’s something that would take many people by surprise.

Showcasing it would also highlight just how dangerous Bellatrix Lestrange is. She’s the reason the Longbottoms are in the situation that they are, as she tortures them into insanity in what is described as a “fate worse than death.” She’s obviously a villain and someone people should fear, but proving just how far she’s willing to push her enemies only strengthens that and makes her an even scarier character. It would easily ramp up the drama in everything she does, as audiences would chomp at the bit for her eventual downfall.

Adding this scene would also impact the trio of lead characters. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all see the Longbottoms in St. Mungo’s, and that gives them a completely new level of respect for Neville and what he goes through. That strengthens their bond, which in turn gives Neville even more of a reason to fight in the Great War and stand up for Harry against Lord Voldemort in the manner he does. It’s a moment from the novels that absolutely deserves attention because it can take the story to a whole new level. HBO’s version of Harry Potter will have a lot more time to delve into these previously neglected moments, and this particular scene should be high on the list.

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