Consider: Dumbledore wanted Neville to come with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to retrieve the Sorcerer’s Stone
The challenges to the Stone all seem to line up with specific skills for the trio (Harry - the keys; Hermione - the potion puzzle; Ron - the chess match) or significant moments in their friendship (the troll). But the thing that doesn’t fit is the Devil’s Snare.Â
So what if they were missing someone crucial who supposed to come on this quest?Â
Just before the trio headed out to find the Stone, they were confronted by - who else - Neville. This isn’t the first time Neville came along on these first year adventures. He was also there for the midnight duel, and he tried to warn Harry and Hermione that Malfoy was after them when they went to deliver Norbert(a) to Charlie’s friends. And we know that Neville has a talent for Herbology - the very subject needed to defeat the Devil’s Snare.
So what if Dumbledore was expecting Neville to come along on this adventure too? And WHAT IF, Dumbledore was intending to test Neville - to see if he could potentially replace Harry in defeating Voldemort if needed?
Dumbledore might have had this all planned out, and there might have been hints about Neville’s destiny all along.
(Thanks to our guest Faith and host Kat for developing this theory!)
