======Neville Longbottom======
=====Introduction=====
Neville Longbottom is a [[pure-blood]] [[wizard]], the son of the celebrated [[Auror]]s [[Frank Longbottom]] and [[Alice Longbottom]]. He was a [[Gryffindor]] student at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in the same year as [[Harry Potter]]. Initially portrayed as a clumsy, forgetful, and timid boy, Neville's journey is one of immense growth and courage. He becomes a key member of [[Dumbledore's Army]] and a leader of the student resistance during the [[Second Wizarding War]]. His defining moment comes during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], where he defies [[Lord Voldemort]] and destroys the final [[Horcrux]], [[Nagini]], playing a pivotal role in the Dark Lord's defeat.
=====Biography=====
====Early Life====
Neville was born on July 30, 1980, to [[Frank Longbottom|Frank]] and [[Alice Longbottom]], two respected [[Auror]]s and members of the original [[Order of the Phoenix]]. This placed him as the other possible subject of the [[prophecy]] made by [[Sybill Trelawney]]. Shortly after [[Voldemort]]'s first downfall, four [[Death Eater]]s—[[Bellatrix Lestrange]], [[Rodolphus Lestrange]], [[Rabastan Lestrange]], and [[Barty Crouch Jr.]]—attacked Neville's parents, torturing them with the [[Cruciatus Curse]] until they were driven to insanity. Frank and Alice were subsequently confined to the permanent care ward at [[St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries]].
Neville was then raised by his formidable paternal grandmother, [[Augusta Longbottom]]. For much of his childhood, his family feared he might be a [[Squib]] due to his lack of spontaneous magical displays. His Great-Uncle Algie persistently tried to force magic out of him, culminating in an incident where he dropped Neville from an upstairs window; Neville's survival instinct kicked in, and he bounced, proving his magical ability.
====Hogwarts Years====
Neville began his education at [[Hogwarts]] in 1991. The [[Sorting Hat]] considered placing him in [[Hufflepuff]] but ultimately sorted him into [[Gryffindor]] after he silently argued for it. His first few years were marked by his poor memory, clumsiness, and lack of confidence. He was particularly terrified of [[Professor Snape]] and struggled in [[Potions]]. His one area of excellence was [[Herbology]]. In his first year, he earned [[Gryffindor]] ten crucial points for having the courage to stand up to his friends—[[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]]—which won them the [[House Cup]].
During his third year, Neville successfully faced a [[Boggart]] that took the form of [[Professor Snape]], using the [[Riddikulus]] charm to dress it in his grandmother's clothes. In his fourth year, he was profoundly disturbed by the classroom demonstration of the [[Cruciatus Curse]] by the disguised [[Barty Crouch Jr.]]. Prompted by the same impostor, he provided [[Harry Potter]] with [[gillyweed]] for the second task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]].
Neville's turning point came in his fifth year when he joined [[Dumbledore's Army]]. Under Harry's tutelage, his practical defensive skills improved dramatically. He fought bravely alongside his friends in the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]], where his father's [[wand]] was broken. In his sixth year, armed with a new [[wand]], he continued to oppose the [[Death Eater]]s, fighting in the [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower]].
In his seventh year, with [[Hogwarts]] under the control of the [[Carrow]]s, Neville, [[Ginny Weasley]], and [[Luna Lovegood]] reformed [[Dumbledore's Army]] to lead a student resistance. He showed incredible resilience, enduring torture for his defiance. During the final [[Battle of Hogwarts]], Neville emerged from the [[Room of Requirement]] to help lead the fight. He openly defied [[Voldemort]] to his face and, in a moment of true heroism, pulled the [[Sword of Gryffindor]] from the [[Sorting Hat]] and used it to behead [[Nagini]], destroying the last of [[Voldemort]]'s [[Horcrux]]es.
====Later Life====
Following the [[Second Wizarding War]], Neville briefly served as an [[Auror]]. He later became the [[Herbology]] professor at [[Hogwarts]], a position for which he was perfectly suited. He married [[Hannah Abbott]], who became the landlady of the [[Leaky Cauldron]] (J.K. Rowling interview, Pottermore).
=====Physical Appearance and Personality=====
Neville is consistently described as a "round-faced boy." In his early years, he was insecure, clumsy, and forgetful. However, beneath his timid exterior lay a core of immense courage, loyalty, and moral fortitude. He is fiercely devoted to his friends and his grandmother. As he grew older, he developed into a confident and inspiring leader, refusing to be intimidated by cruelty and tyranny. His transformation from a frightened boy into a war hero is one of the most significant character arcs in the series.
=====Magical Abilities and Skills=====
  * **[[Herbology]]:** Neville's greatest magical talent was in [[Herbology]]. He demonstrated an expert knowledge of magical plants and fungi throughout his time at [[Hogwarts]].
  * **[[Defence Against the Dark Arts]]:** While initially poor at practical magic, his skills flourished in [[Dumbledore's Army]]. He mastered spells like the [[Disarming Charm]], the [[Impediment Jinx]], and others, using them effectively in battle.
  * **Bravery and Leadership:** Neville's greatest strengths were his courage and resilience. He was a true [[Gryffindor]], capable of standing up for what was right, even against overwhelming odds. This culminated in his ability to pull the [[Sword of Gryffindor]] from the [[Sorting Hat]].
  * **[[Wand]]s:**
    * **First Wand:** Neville's first [[wand]] was inherited from his father, [[Frank Longbottom]]. It was broken during the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]]. Its wood and core are unknown.
    * **Second Wand:** A thirteen-inch, cherry wood [[wand]] with a [[unicorn]] hair core. It was purchased for him by his grandmother from [[Ollivanders]] before his sixth year.
  * **[[Patronus Charm]]:** Neville was able to produce a non-corporeal [[Patronus]] during [[Dumbledore's Army]] training sessions.
=====Possessions=====
  * **[[Trevor]]:** A [[toad]] given to Neville by his Great-Uncle Algie for getting into [[Hogwarts]]. Trevor was famous for being frequently lost.
  * **[[Remembrall]]:** A small, clear sphere that glows red when its owner has forgotten something. It was a gift from his grandmother, though Neville could never remember what he had forgotten.
  * **//[[Mimbulus mimbletonia]]//:** A rare, cactus-like plant that squirts [[Stinksap]] as a defence mechanism. Neville received it for his fifteenth birthday.
  * **[[Sword of Gryffindor]]:** He used this goblin-made sword to kill [[Nagini]].
=====Relationships=====
  * **[[Augusta Longbottom]]:** His grandmother and guardian. While she was often stern and critical of Neville, comparing him unfavourably to his father, she loved him dearly and became exceptionally proud of his courage and role in the war.
  * **[[Frank Longbottom|Frank]] and [[Alice Longbottom]]:** Neville loved his parents deeply, visiting them at [[St. Mungo's]] despite their inability to recognize him. Their fate was a source of great sorrow for him but also a powerful motivation in his fight against [[Voldemort]] and the [[Death Eater]]s.
  * **[[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]]:** They were Neville's closest friends and allies. He was unwaveringly loyal to them, and they, in turn, supported and encouraged him.
  * **[[Luna Lovegood]] and [[Ginny Weasley]]:** Together, the three of them led the student resistance at [[Hogwarts]] in their seventh year, forming a tight-knit bond known as the "Silver Trio" by fans.
  * **[[Albus Dumbledore]]:** The [[Hogwarts]] Headmaster recognized Neville's inner strength from the very beginning, seeing the courage it took for him to stand up to his friends.
  * **[[Severus Snape]]:** [[Snape]] was Neville's [[Boggart]] and the teacher he feared most. [[Snape]] treated Neville with constant scorn and cruelty in his [[Potions]] classes.
=====Etymology=====
  * **Neville:** A name of French origin, meaning "from the new town." It is also an aristocratic English surname, which fits his [[pure-blood]] heritage. It may be an ironic reference to Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister who pursued appeasement with Nazi Germany, as Neville Longbottom ultimately chose defiance over submission.
  * **Longbottom:** An English surname. It is also the name of a variety of [[pipe-weed]] favored by the Hobbits in J.R.R. Tolkien's //The Lord of the Rings//. The Hobbits are unassuming characters who rise to become great heroes, a journey that mirrors Neville's own.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * In the [[film]] adaptations, Neville Longbottom is portrayed by actor Matthew Lewis.
  * J.K. Rowling has stated that Neville was the "other" boy to whom the [[prophecy]] could have referred. She has called him the "might-have-been." (J.K. Rowling interview).
  * In the film adaptation of //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2//, Neville confesses his love for [[Luna Lovegood]] during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]]. This is a departure from the books, where J.K. Rowling has stated that Neville ultimately marries [[Hannah Abbott]] (J.K. Rowling interview).