NARCISSA BLACK MALFOY
By her name alone I am reminded of the evil queen in Snow White gazing at her
reflection in her magic mirror. I’m sure many consider her a beauty but as
Harry so aptly notes, her sour expression mars her stunning good looks. And
that expression reveals far more than the queen’s mirror; we witness first hand
her nasty, arrogant nature.
Mind, she does indulge her son, Draco, with sweets and gifts throughout the
school year. Lucky Draco. But since all of the Malfoys are bad eggs, no number
of sweets will put them right.
I can’t say for sure if Mrs. Malfoy’s secret reflection will materialize with
greater clarity or shrivel and fade completely, but even her magic mirror won’t
help her husband or son… Maybe Snape will…
NEARLY HEADLESS NICK

Nearly-but-not-quite-headless Nick is the Gryffindor House ghost. In life he was
a gentleman of quality but not very courageous, and that’s odd because
Gryffindors are known and chosen for being brave of heart. Why was Nick beheaded
anyway? Had he done something brave or foolish to warrant his death?
In OotP Harry asks Nick what death is like and where people who die go? Nick
sadly explains that he doesn’t know because he had been afraid to die and so
chose not to complete the journey but stayed in the quasi-world of ghosts. As he
tells Harry he is neither "here nor there."
I have a feeling Nick may have to come to terms with is own inner fears and make
a decision that could affect where his soul will eventually and eternally
reside. With the coming battles against the forces of darkness he may face
terrible ordeals even for a ghost. If Dementors can suck the soul from a living
person, can they also suck the soul, the very essence that is a ghost from
existence? Now that is scary!
I just hope that Nick doesn’t lose his head in the dark days ahead. Who knows,
he might just be the one to save the day in the nick of time
BACK TO THE TOP
NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM

Neville has a pet
toad. They say that people are like the pets they keep. Is Neville a “prince”
enchanted by a spell that turned him into a frog, metaphorically speaking? In
CoS Hagrid states that Neville is a pureblood but is he really? We can’t always
rely on what a character says even if they are speaking from the heart because
they may not know all the facts. But Neville undoubtedly is a pure blood
wizard.
Neville has a memory problem. His parents’ memories are a scattered mess
because of the Cruciatus Curse they were subjected to at the wand hand of
Bellatrix LaStrange. So did Neville have a strong memory charm put on him as a
baby so he wouldn’t remember what he saw or felt? What did he see, his parents
being tortured? What does he know but can’t remember… something important,
that’s obvious. Who put the memory charm on him? His father or mother?
Dumbledore? Voldemort? Bellatrix? His Gran? And what about his Remembrall
aka "remember all"? I think the memory it is storing is the memory of his past.
What would happen if the Remembrall was shattered like the Prophecy ball. Would
the memory be out in the open then or would it fade and vanish forever? What if
the Remembrall is like the Magic Egg in the Tri-Wizard Tournament and that one
must figure out how to open it and reveal the memories inside?
Neville inherited and used his father’s wand his whole life until it is broken
in OotP. He should be on his way to Ollivander’s in Diagon Alley by HBP.
Remember what Mr. Ollivander said in PH/SS, “A wand chooses its owner.” So with
his very own wand will Neville be a force to be reckoned with? I think so. It
may also help him to remember where his Remembrall is and get his memory back.
And then what stories he will have, I bet.
Neville’s pet plant, the Mimbulus Mimbletonia that he got from his uncle just
before Neville’s 5th year at school is going to grow much bigger
before the end of his 7th year.. It may be rare but I’m sure we’ll
be seeing a lot more of it. Remember what Neville told Harry on the train in
OotP? He’s going to try a breed it and it has a really "amazing defensive
mechanism." I’m sure it has other useful properties too.
What if Neville had been”the chosen one” instead of Harry? Then Harry would
have led a normal wizard boy’s life and his parents might still be alive.
However, that was not the case and Neville is not the “boy who lived.”
Neville’s significance is still of great importance, however, because he is
Harry’s friend and has been there to lend a wand hand to Harry, along with Ron,
Hermione, Ginny, and Luna against Voldemort’s Death Eaters. Neville is not the
main hero of the story, but he is a hero nonetheless and must therefore endure
and overcome a hero’s challenge. I think he’s up to it.
NEVILLE’S GRAN
Mrs. Longbottom, aka
Gran, is Neville’s paternal grandmother. She is a formidable woman and takes no
guff off of anyone but she's also a strong supporter of Dumbledore. Glad she's
on our side. She was very proud of her son, Frank, but it seems that Neville
falls short of her extremely high expectations. I think she’ll be surprised at
how much Neville really is like his father, especially when he has his very own
wand.
By the way... love
the hat!
BACK TO THE TOP
NICHOLAS FLAMMEL
Inventor of the Philosopher’s Stone and the Elixir of Life… The stone is
destroyed at the end of Harry’s first year at Hogwarts to make sure Voldemort
can’t try to steal it again. Dumbledore assures Harry that Nicholas and his
wife will have enough time to settle their affairs before they take their
greatest adventure to the beyond. I’m curious, though, as to just how many days
they have left here on this side of the veil? It could be several years for all
we know and although I highly doubt that the HP story will follow this far out
path, could our ancient couple be in danger of being kidnapped by you-know-who
in his attempt to recreate a new stone and elixir before the secret is lost
forever? Like I said, this theory is probably light years off course but fun to
speculate.
Actually, in HBP, Harry and Dumbledore discuss the Philosopher’s stone and
Dumbledore tells Harry that since Voldemort has Horcruxes as immortality
insurance he doesn’t need the stone. Therefore, the Flammels, if still alive,
would be theoretically safe from a kidnapping plot. End of story.
NYMPHODORA TONKS
Tonks is currently the youngest auror working for the Department of Magic. She
is also a metamorphagus. She can change her appearance completely and even her
Patronis. Although she’s on the klutzy side she is also apparently very
bright. She is a half-blood, her mother being a full witch and her father being
a muggle. (Parents: Andromeda and Ted Tonks.)
Could she also become Charlie Weasley girlfriend? Nope. She prefers more
“wolfish” sort of guys.
***
Like Neville,
I've left my Remembrall somewhere and can't remember what's supposed to go
next. Please check back later.