8 Harry Potter Moments That Are So Much Better In The Book

7. The Prophecy

While Neville is well-developed in the films, turning from a sheepish, bumbling kid into a much more courageous individual, what the filmmakers failed to elaborate on is his significance with regards to the prophecy.

In the Order Of The Phoenix book, Dumbledore mentions Neville's potential for significance.

"The odd thing is, Harry," he said softly, "that it may not have meant you at all. Sibyll's prophecy could have applied to two wizard boys, both born at the end of July that year, both of whom had parents in the Order of the Phoenix, both sets of parents having narrowly escaped Voldemort three times. One, of course, was you. The other was Neville Longbottom."

What might this have added to the film? Probably not a whole lot. There simply wouldn't have been enough time to explore the consequences without detracting from the overall story, and there's no way it could have been slipped in with much subtlety. Still, it makes for a much more fascinating read of the prophecy in the books, and makes the reader pause and consider Neville from a vastly different perspective. Just another of the many irreplaceable things about the books.

Had Voldemort chosen Neville, it would be Neville sitting opposite Harry bearing the lightning-shaped scar and the weight of the prophecy... Or would it? Would Neville's mother have died to save him, as Lily had died for Harry? Surely she would... But what if she had been unable to stand between her son and Voldemort? Would there then have been no "Chosen One" at all? An empty seat where Neville now sat and a scarless Harry who would have been kissed good-bye by his own mother, not Ron's?