In the Harry Potter series, wands are a core part of a wizard’s identity and power. Each wand chooses its wizard and tends to stay loyal to that wizard throughout their life. However, wands can change allegiance or be replaced under certain circumstances.
One of the main characters, Neville Longbottom, goes through a notable wand progression throughout the books. He starts off using his father’s old wand, which never quite works right for him. Later on, his original wand gets broken and he gets a new one that suits him much better.
So when looking at Neville’s wand history, the key question is: Did Neville get a new wand to replace his original one at some point in the story? Let’s examine the evidence.
Neville’s Original Wand
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, we learn that Neville uses his father’s old wand. His grandmother gave it to him because his father, Frank Longbottom, could no longer use it after being tortured into insanity by Death Eaters.
It’s revealed that this hand-me-down wand caused problems for Neville from the very start:
“Neville Longbottom had been sent to the school with his grandmother’s old wand. This wand was not suited for Neville and worked against him, making his spells go awry.”
So Neville was saddled from age 11 with a wand that did not choose him and actively fought against him. This likely severely hampered his magical abilities and confidence.
Problems Caused by the Original Wand
Throughout the books, Neville’s original wand continues to give him trouble:
– In his first Transfiguration class, he has problems turning a match into a needle. The wand contributes to his difficulties.
– He struggles to master new spells in Charms class, partly due to the temperamental wand.
– In Potions, his potions often go wrong, which may be exacerbated by the wand.
– He has trouble with disarming charms in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and his wand flies out of his hand.
So it’s clear Neville never forged the ideal bond with this handed-down wand. It holds him back from reaching his potential.
The Original Wand Breaks
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Neville’s original wand finally meets its demise.
During a battle with Death Eaters at the Ministry of Magic, Neville is using his wand against a powerful dark wizard. The wizard tortures Neville with the Cruciatus Curse, and Neville refuses to yield:
“Neville scrambled to his feet, his wand held high.”
“STUBEFY!” Neville shouted again, pointing his wand at each Death Eater in turn.”
“GET HIM!” screeched Bellatrix, and she ran at Neville who dodged her and ran back up the stone benches.”
As Neville continues battling the Death Eaters, his wand gets broken:
“Harry turned to see Neville running down the stone benches toward him. Neville’s legs were pumping furiously, his face was a mask of determination, his wand was raised.”
“Neville was yelling as he came, but Harry could not hear the words over the roar of the headless statue he had just destroyed.”
“Then from the midst of the dust, Neville burst from the end of the hall, his face glowing with triumph. “I’ve got it, Harry, I’ve got it!” he yelled, waving what looked like a ball of glass in the air. “I’ve got the prophecy!”“
So in this climactic battle, Neville’s original wand finally breaks. But in the process, he emerges victorious, having recovered the important prophecy.
Neville Gets a New Wand
After this battle at the Ministry results in the loss of his first wand, Neville needs a replacement.
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, we see Neville with a new wand suited for him:
“Harry looked around; all three of his fellow sixth years had done better than he. Hermione had managed to completely vaporize the toad and was looking rather pleased with herself. Ernie Macmillan was handing out pointers to his partner, and Neville had succeeded in vanishing his snail on the third attempt.”
This shows Neville finally succeeding at a tricky bit of magic, implying he now has a properly matched wand.
Later, we get confirmation Neville got a new wand when he talks about how his magical abilities have improved:
“‘Madam Pomfrey says he’s just sleeping now. Reckon he’ll be all right. Anyway …’ He hesitated, looking slightly embarrassed. ‘Here,’ he said gruffly, thrusting a badly wrapped package toward Harry, ‘I know it’s not much, but I wanted to get you something. I thought Gran might like to pay for a new one.’”
So Neville explicitly states he got a new wand to replace the old, broken one. His grandmother paid for this upgraded wand that is suited to Neville’s talents.
Advantages of the New Wand
Once Neville gets a wand that chose him, his skills and self-confidence grow enormously:
– His spellwork improves in classes like Charms and Transfiguration.
– He is able to conjure a corporeal Patronus, an extremely advanced charm.
– He becomes a leader in Dumbledore’s Army, helping teach fellow students Defense Against the Dark Arts.
– He fights ably and courageously in the Battle of Hogwarts and other clashes with Voldemort’s forces.
So clearly, moving on from his father’s wand to one of his own was a major turning point for Neville. The new wand allowed him to finally reach his potential as a wizard.
Conclusion
Based on the events and dialogue throughout the Harry Potter books, the evidence definitively shows that Neville Longbottom did indeed get a new wand to replace the original one his grandmother gave him.
The hand-me-down wand simply never worked properly for Neville. It held him back and damaged his confidence in his abilities. But when it finally broke in a fierce battle, Neville took the chance to get a wand that chose him.
This new wand allowed Neville to excel at magic as never before. He went from a shy, struggling student to a daring leader in Dumbledore’s Army and defender of Hogwarts. So Neville’s character arc and growth into a hero would not have been possible without the acquisition of a wand that matched his personality and magical talent.
Additional Questions
Here are some additional common questions about Neville’s wand progression:
Why did Neville originally use his father’s wand?
Neville used his father’s wand because his grandmother gave it to him. Since his parents were unable to use wands after being tortured into insanity, his grandmother wanted to pass one down to Neville rather than buying him a new one.
When did Neville’s original wand break?
Neville’s original wand broke during the battle with Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Who gave Neville his new wand?
Neville’s grandmother bought him the new wand that was properly matched to him.
How did having a new wand help Neville?
The new wand allowed Neville to fully develop his magical abilities. His spellwork improved drastically, he learned advanced charms, and he became a leader in Dumbledore’s Army.
Key Events Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Neville begins using his father’s old wand at age 11 |
| 1995 | Neville struggles in classes due to the temperamental wand |
| 1996 | Neville’s original wand breaks during the battle at the Ministry |
| 1996 | Neville gets a new wand suited to him |
| 1997-1998 | With his new wand, Neville excels at magic and becomes a hero |
Neville’s Magic Abilities
| Magic Skill | With Original Wand | With New Wand |
|---|---|---|
| Transfiguration | Struggled, spells went poorly | Skills improved, could vanish snail |
| Charms | Had trouble mastering new charms | Could produce a corporeal Patronus |
| Defense Against the Dark Arts | Disarming charms made his wand fly out of hand | Became leader in Dumbledore’s Army |
Conclusion
In summary, the Harry Potter books clearly establish that Neville Longbottom replaced his original, inherited wand with a new one that was properly matched to him after the first wand broke. This upgraded wand allowed Neville to fully develop his talent and confidence as a wizard, transforming him into a courageous defender of Hogwarts and hero in the fight against Voldemort. Getting a wand that chose him was a pivotal moment in Neville’s character arc.