Harry Quote by J.K. Rowling
““That’s when they decided there was only one way to stop me, I suppose, and they went for Gran.” “They what ?” said Harry, Ron, and Hermione together. “Yeah,” said Neville, panting a little now, because the passage was climbing so steeply, “well, you can see their thinking. It had worked really well, kidnapping kids to force their relatives to behave, I s’pose it was only a matter of time before they did it the other way around. Thing was,” he faced them, and Harry was astonished to see that he was grinning, “they bit off a bit more than they could chew with Gran. Little old witch living alone, they probably thought they didn’t need to send anyone particularly powerful. Anyway,” Neville laughed, “Dawlish is still in St. Mungo’s and Gran’s on the run. She sent me a letter,” he clapped a hand to the breast pocket of his robes, “telling me she was proud of me, that I’m my parents’ son, and to keep it up.” “Cool,” said Ron. “Yeah,” said Neville happily. “Only thing was, once they realized they had no hold over me, they decided Hogwarts could do without me after all. I don’t know whether they were planning to kill me or send me to Azkaban; either way, I knew it was time to disappear.” “But,” said Ron, looking thoroughly confused, “aren’t--aren’t we heading straight back into Hogwarts?””
About This Quote
Source Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling, 2007
Neville reveals that the enemy tried to eliminate him by targeting his grandmother, showing how threats can backfire and empower the vulnerable.
In simple terms: The enemy’s plan to kill him failed, making him stronger.
Even when targeted, resilience can turn danger into advantage.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- school conflict
- family loyalty
- personal safety
- strategic retreat
- enemy underestimation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can perceived weakness become a strategic advantage?
- What role does family support play in confronting danger?
The passage assumes the enemy’s motives without evidence; real threats may be more complex.