Frank and Alice Longbottom

Frank and Alice Longbottom were highly respected pure-blood wizards, renowned for their work as Aurors for the Ministry of Magic and as original members of the Order of the Phoenix during the First Wizarding War. They were the parents of Neville Longbottom. As formidable opponents of Lord Voldemort, whom they defied on three separate occasions, they were tragically tortured into insanity by a group of Death Eaters shortly after Voldemort's first defeat. Their fate serves as a grim testament to the brutality of the war and is a cornerstone of their son Neville's background, shaping his character and eventual path to heroism.

Frank and Alice were prominent figures in the fight against Lord Voldemort. As Aurors and members of the original Order of the Phoenix, they were on the front lines of the conflict. According to Albus Dumbledore, they were very popular and well-respected within the wizarding community. Their courage was such that they “thrice defied” Lord Voldemort personally, an achievement that placed their infant son, Neville Longbottom, on par with Harry Potter as a potential subject of the Prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney. Alastor Moody held Frank in high regard, remembering him as a “good wizard”.

Shortly after Lord Voldemort's disappearance in 1981, a group of his most fanatical followers—Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband Rodolphus Lestrange, her brother-in-law Rabastan Lestrange, and Barty Crouch Jr.—sought information on their master's whereabouts. Believing the Longbottoms had knowledge of Voldemort's location, the four Death Eaters captured and subjected them to the Cruciatus Curse. The prolonged and intense torture inflicted irreparable mental damage, driving Frank and Alice into a state of permanent insanity. The perpetrators were subsequently captured and sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban for their crime.

Frank and Alice became permanent residents of the Janus Thickey Ward for incurable spell damage at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. They were unable to recognize their son Neville or properly interact with the world around them. Neville, raised by his paternal grandmother Augusta Longbottom, visited them regularly. During a visit over Christmas in 1995, witnessed by Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, Alice wordlessly gave Neville a Droobles Best Blowing Gum wrapper. Though a seemingly small gesture, Neville treasured it as a sign of his mother's lingering affection, showcasing the profound and tragic depth of their condition.

In a photograph of the original Order of the Phoenix, a young Alice is described as having a “sweet and pink-cheeked” face, while Frank appears “a bit sort of lopsided” and serious. In their later years at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, their appearances were drastically altered by their trauma. Alice's face became “thin and worn,” with “large and haunted” eyes and white, wispy hair. Frank's face was described as “round and child-like,” and he was unable to speak, instead making guttural noises. Before their incapacitation, Frank and Alice were known to be exceptionally brave, loyal, and principled individuals. Their willingness to join the Order of the Phoenix and repeatedly confront Lord Voldemort speaks to their immense courage and dedication to opposing the Dark Arts.

• Auror Training: As fully qualified Aurors, both Frank and Alice possessed a high level of magical skill. Their training would have made them experts in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, and Transfiguration.
• Duelling: Their survival through much of the First Wizarding War and their record of defying Lord Voldemort three times indicate that they were highly formidable and skilled duellists.
• Resilience: They possessed extraordinary mental and magical fortitude to have withstood Voldemort on multiple occasions.

• Frank's Wand: Frank's wand was inherited by his son, Neville Longbottom. Neville used this wand for his first five years at Hogwarts, though it was noted that a wizard's results are best with a wand that has chosen them. The wand was destroyed during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Its wood and core are unknown.
• Gum Wrapper: Alice gave a Droobles Best Blowing Gum wrapper to Neville during a hospital visit. He kept this small gift, viewing it as a treasured possession and a link to his mother.

• Neville Longbottom (Son): Frank and Alice are the parents of Neville, though their condition prevents them from having a conventional relationship with him. Their heroic legacy is both a source of immense pride and a heavy burden for Neville throughout his childhood. He is deeply loyal to their memory and fiercely proud of their actions, never feeling ashamed of their fate.
• Augusta Longbottom (Mother/Mother-in-law): Frank's mother raised Neville in their absence. A stern but proud woman, Augusta held her son and daughter-in-law in the highest esteem, often pressuring Neville to live up to their formidable reputation.
• Order of the Phoenix: They were allies and comrades-in-arms with figures such as Albus Dumbledore, James Potter, Lily Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Alastor Moody.
• Death Eaters: Their primary enemies were Lord Voldemort and his followers. The four who tortured them—Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Barty Crouch Jr.—were responsible for their tragic fate.

• Frank: An English name derived from a Germanic tribe, the Franks. The name is associated with the word “free,” fitting for a character who fought for freedom against tyranny.
• Alice: A classic name of Old German origin (Adalheidis), meaning “noble” or “nobility.” This reflects her respected status and brave, virtuous character.
• Longbottom: An English topographical surname for a person who lived in a long valley. The name lends a humble, slightly rustic quality to a family of great heroes, a common naming convention used by the author.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the scene where Harry's group encounters the Longbottoms at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries is omitted. Frank and Alice are seen only in the photograph of the original Order of the Phoenix, where they are portrayed by actors James Payton and Lisa Wood respectively. (film)
• J.K. Rowling has stated that she considers the Longbottoms' fate to be “in some ways, worse than death,” emphasizing the ultimate cruelty of the Cruciatus Curse and the profound suffering inflicted by the Death Eaters. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• When asked why Neville's Boggart is Professor Snape and not Bellatrix Lestrange, J.K. Rowling explained that Neville's most immediate and potent fear stems from his daily humiliations and feelings of inadequacy at Hogwarts, which Snape cruelly personified. This reflects the more present and tangible nature of childhood fears over a more distant, historical trauma. (J.K. Rowling interview)