Neville Longbottom
The boy who stood up to his friends and found true moral courage.
Neville Longbottom is a character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He is described as a round-faced Gryffindor student in Harry Potter's year. Throughout the series, Neville is often portrayed as a bumbling and disorganised character, and a rather mediocre student, though he is highly gifted at Herbology. However, the character's personality appears to undergo a transition after he joins Dumbledore's Army in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
The encouragement he receives gives him confidence in his magical abilities, turning him into a more competent wizard. Eventually, Neville becomes the leader of Dumbledore's Army during Harry, Ron and Hermione's absence searching for Horcruxes. Neville is instrumental in the downfall of Lord Voldemort and eventually destroys the final Horcrux, which allows Harry to defeat the Dark Lord once and for all. Neville is portrayed by Matthew Lewis in the Harry Potter films.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Harry Potter
- First
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
- Creator
- J. K. Rowling
- Portrayed by
- Matthew Lewis (films); Rory Wilmot (television series)
- Nationality
- British
- Family
- Frank Longbottom (father); Alice Longbottom (mother)
- Relatives
- Augusta Longbottom (grandmother)
- Spouse
- Hannah Abbott
Lore & Background
Neville Longbottom was born into the respected Longbottom family, one of the few remaining pure-blood lines. His parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom, were Aurors and members of the original Order of the Phoenix. During Voldemort's reign, they were tortured into insanity by the Cruciatus Curse used by Death Eaters including Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Barty Crouch Jr. Neville was raised by his grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, who had high expectations.
As a baby, he showed little to no signs of magical abilities, leading his family to believe he might be a Squib. At Hogwarts, he was known for clumsiness, lack of confidence, and fear of failure—he fell off his broomstick during flying lessons and feared Professor Snape. His confidence grew after joining Dumbledore's Army in his fifth year, with Harry Potter as a mentor. In his seventh year, Neville took a leadership role within Dumbledore's Army and helped organize the resistance while Hogwarts was under Death Eater control.
During the Battle of Hogwarts, he fought Scabior, retrieved the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat, and killed Nagini, the last remaining Horcrux of Voldemort.
Reader's Guide
Neville Longbottom is a Gryffindor student in Harry Potter's year, described as round-faced. Early in the series, he is shy, lacking self-confidence, and portrayed as an incompetent wizard and a generally poor student except in Herbology, where he excels. In Chamber of Secrets, he admits his family feared he was a Squib. In Prisoner of Azkaban, he is terrified of Professor Snape.
After joining Dumbledore's Army in Order of the Phoenix, his magical abilities improve, and in Deathly Hallows, he becomes a leader in the organization. His defining moments include standing up to his friends in his first year—an act Rowling called 'true moral courage'—and destroying the final Horcrux, Nagini, with the Sword of Gryffindor. The Sword appearing for Neville confirms he is a true Gryffindor, as he had always doubted his placement. After the Second Wizarding War, Neville becomes the Herbology professor at Hogwarts and marries Hannah Abbott, a fellow Hogwarts alumna.
Rowling said in an interview that 'there's a lot of Neville in me—this feeling of just never being quite good enough' and that she wanted Neville to do something brave in Philosopher's Stone, where he 'finds true moral courage in standing up to his closest friends.'
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