As this discussion devolved rather rapidly into a heated argument about the proper level of politeness for telling people how awful they are, Neville tuned out. Instead he opted for nudging his carrots around quietly and wondering if they would really make him smarter. Maybe then he would understand why this conversation was taking place. He never did figure it out, though, because At that particular moment the great hall doors swung wide, and Professor Quirrell came running down the center aisle to face the head table, panting and stammering.