Becoming Neville Longbottom: Boggart Master #MNBHP

Forward, Neville, and finish him off!” said Lupin as the boggart landed on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape was back. This time Neville charged forward looking determined. 

“Riddikulus!” he shouted, and they had a split second’s view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great “Ha!” of laughter, and the boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.

PoA

Boggarts are creatures who become what each individual fears most. In Neville’s case, this is Professor Snape. To conquer the boggart Neville must conquer his fear. He must laugh at what would otherwise make him tremble.

Professor Lupin, no stranger to the cruelness of Severus Snape, helps Neville. He tells Neville to picture Snape in his grandmother’s clothes. This tip does the trick. Neville conquers the boggart, laughing out loud, which causes the boggart to burst.

Fear is debilitating. Had Neville not been so afraid of Snape, who knows how much better a student he might have been. We see what Neville becomes at the end of book seven when he casts off all fear. He is bold and brave and a true Gryffindor. What Lupin teaches Neville, and Muggles alike, is that a joyful heart is good medicine. Medicine against fear. Medicine against insecurity, against complacency and selfishness, and all other evil.

CHALLENGE:

Identify you boggart. What is it that you most fear? Then find the joy within that fear. I’m not saying this will be easy, fears can be deep-seated, but if we want to become more like Neville, we need to overcome these fears.

My boggart is the dark. I am terrified of dark rooms or dark water, anywhere where I cannot see what is around me. My challenge is to find a way to turn my fear—the dark—into joy. The way I have tackled (and continue to tackle) this boggart is through prayer. Prayer is my Deluminator, so to say, I can pull it out wherever I am and click on the “light.” This is not to say I never find myself trembling in the dark, but I am more able to face this boggart than before. As I continue to face my boggart and work to find joy amidst my fear, one day it will burst into wisps and bother me no more.

How are you going to conquer your boggart? Share your answer with us using #MNBHP.

Next Week: Becoming Fred & George: Freakishly Generous