Harry Potter · Character

Neville Longbottom

Also known as Neville, Longbottom

  • Supporting
  • First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 5

Neville Longbottom is sorted into Gryffindor despite his nervousness in Harry Potter (Book 1).

Gender
male
Age
11
First appears
Book 1 · Ch. 5
Books
4

Neville Longbottom enters Hogwarts as a round-faced, forgetful, accident-prone Gryffindor whose cloak is never fastened right and whose toad Trevor is perpetually lost, yet he shows early flashes of courage, most famously standing up to his own friends in his first year. Through his second and third years he remains a nervous figure in the background, terrorized by Snape and plagued by mishaps, but his resilience quietly persists. In his fourth year the tragic truth behind his anxiety emerges: his parents, Frank and Alice, were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and no longer recognize him, a revelation that reframes him as a figure of hidden suffering and endurance. His growing talent in Herbology, recognized by Professor Sprout and encouraged by 'Moody', hints at the gifted and valiant wizard he is destined to become.

Description

A young British wizard boy of slight build with a distinctively round, expressive face that captures his perpetual nervousness, often appearing pale white with fear or streaked with tears. He wears the customary black Hogwarts robes and cloak, the latter typically fastened incorrectly under his left ear, and carries himself with an awkward, hesitant posture that speaks to his accident-prone yet brave nature. A young boy of slight build with a distinctively round, expressive face that flushes pink or pales with emotion. Short dark hair frames wide, anxious eyes and soft features marked by earnest vulnerability. He wears slightly rumpled Gryffindor robes, stance awkward with shoulders hunched, wand gripped tentatively. His presence radiates nervous sincerity, every movement hinting at untapped resolve. A teenage Hogwarts student with a distinctively round face that readily shows emotion by flushing pink when nervous, turning scarlet with embarrassment, or going pale with fear. He possesses a plump build and fair complexion, standing in typical black Hogwarts school robes with the sleeves occasionally pushed up for spellwork, and is often seen with a trembling posture or hesitant walk that shifts to determined strides. His anxious yet resolute expression marks him as a well-meaning young wizard who keeps his pet toad close, sometimes tucked under his hat, and wears fluffy slippers when caught unprepared from his dormitory. Neville is a teenage boy with a round, open face and wide eyes that readily reveal his feelings. His expression often settles into a worried or uncertain look, while his voice and posture can seem awkward and self-conscious. He wears the standard black Hogwarts robes over his Gryffindor school uniform, with no notable jewelry or other distinguishing accessories described.

Connections

  • AL

    Alice Longbottomson

    Neville's mother, tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange; resides at St. Mungo's and no longer recognizes him, though he visits with his grandmother.

  • FL

    Frank Longbottomson

    Neville's father, an Auror tortured into insanity alongside Alice; lives at St. Mungo's unable to recognize his son.

  • Alastor Moodyteacher

    Recognizes Neville's distress during the Cruciatus lesson and lends him a Herbology book; the kindness is later shadowed by the revelation of the impostor's identity.

  • Ginny WeasleyYule Ball date

    Neville's Yule Ball date in fourth year, a pairing of mutual convenience that marks the start of a friendship.

  • Harry Potterschoolmate

    Begins as a housemate who admires Harry; remains a loyal fellow Gryffindor through the Chamber of Secrets scare. In fourth year Harry learns of Neville's parents and comes to feel Neville's suffering is deeper than his own orphanhood, deepening his empathy.

  • Hermione Grangerconflicting source relationships

    Hermione consistently helps Neville with schoolwork, such as a Scouring Charm in fourth year; this kindness leads Neville to ask her to the Yule Ball, which she declines.

  • Severus Snapeteacher

    A source of persistent fear—so much so that Neville's boggart takes Snape's form in third year; in fourth year Snape gives him a shattering detention after a melted cauldron.

  • Minerva McGonagallTransfiguration teacher

    His strict Head of House, who pushes him sharply to improve, notably over his struggles with Switching Spells.

  • PS

    Pomona Sproutteacher

    Identifies Neville's genuine talent for Herbology, the first clear sign of his hidden strengths.

Story so far

  1. BOOK 1Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
    • Loses his toad Trevor repeatedly, beginning on the Hogwarts Express
    • Is sorted into Gryffindor despite his nervousness
    • Breaks his wrist during his first flying lesson, leading Malfoy to steal his Remembrall
    • Stands up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione to stop them breaking rules, and is petrified by Hermione
    • Earns the final ten points that win Gryffindor the House Cup, rewarded by Dumbledore for his bravery
  2. BOOK 2Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
    • Is left hanging from a chandelier by Lockhart's escaped Cornish pixies
    • Buys protective charms and amulets out of fear of the Heir of Slytherin, believing himself vulnerable as near-Squib
    • Repeatedly forgets passwords and struggles in class
    • Remains a loyal fellow Gryffindor amid the Chamber of Secrets panic
  3. BOOK 3Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
    • Faces a boggart that takes Snape's form and defeats it with Riddikulus, dressing it in his grandmother's clothes
    • Writes down the Gryffindor passwords, which Sirius Black uses to enter the dormitory
    • Is punished and banned from Hogsmeade visits after the password list is discovered
    • Continues to be tormented in Potions by Snape, who threatens his toad
  4. BOOK 4Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
    • Is visibly traumatized during 'Moody's' demonstration of the Cruciatus Curse, then given a Herbology book in comfort
    • Provides Harry with information about gillyweed's properties through his Herbology knowledge (indirectly fueling the second task plot)
    • Asks Hermione to the Yule Ball, is declined, and attends with Ginny Weasley
    • Melts a cauldron and is given a harrowing detention by Snape
    • Is revealed through the Pensieve to be the son of Frank and Alice Longbottom, tortured into madness by Bellatrix Lestrange

Appearances

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