Neville Longbottom is a pure-blood wizard, the son of the celebrated Aurors 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.
Neville was born on July 30, 1980, to Frank and Alice Longbottom, two respected Aurors 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 Eaters—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.
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 Eaters, fighting in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. In his seventh year, with Hogwarts under the control of the Carrows, 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 Horcruxes.
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).
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.