Neville Longbottom

Neville Collection

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Summon Neville's official Fact File

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Things you may not have noticed about Neville Longbottom

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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and the Goblet of Fire

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## Neville ended up marrying Hannah Abbott
After everything that Neville went through, he certainly deserved to live happily-ever-after, and we were so pleased to learn that he did. Even though the film version of Neville seemed to have a crush on Luna, J.K. Rowling revealed that it was Hannah Abbott (a Hufflepuff from his year at school) that he ended up marrying. The pair of them even lived together above the Leaky Cauldron – which sounds like a lot of fun to us.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

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## He taught Herbology
Neville always had a passion, not to mention a real talent, for Herbology. He was happiest when learning about magical flora and fungi or tending to his beloved plants, such as his Mimbulus mimbletonia. Remember when Neville was so excited to demonstrate its defence mechanism? And it spurted Stinksap throughout the carriage on the Hogwarts Express – drenching everyone? Anyway, when we heard that Neville had gone on to become a Herbology Professor, we were thrilled. He even taught Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione’s children… even if they were reluctant to pass on their parents’ warm wishes.

>__Hermione__ 
><br>
>Rose. Remember to send Neville our love. 
>
>__Rose__
><br>
>Mum, I can’t send a professor love! 
><br>*Harry Potter and the Cursed Child*


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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

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## Neville’s parents defied Voldemort three times
When Professor Trelawney made her infamous prophecy, it talked of a boy who had been ‘born to those who have thrice defied’ Voldemort. Now we know that while Voldemort chose to believe the prophecy was about Harry, therefore marking him as his equal, it could also have applied to Neville. This means Neville’s parents had also resisted Voldemort three times – giving us a small insight into how brave Frank and Alice Longbottom were. A pair of highly skilled Aurors, they fought hard during the first wizarding war to bring about Voldemort’s defeat. And while we know their tragic fate, their courage is something to be admired – and their son clearly takes after them.

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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and the Order of the Phoenix

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## His admission to Hogwarts wasn’t guaranteed 
There is only one way to gain admission into Hogwarts, and that is if your name has been written into the Book of Admittance by the Quill of Acceptance. When a child first exhibits any sign of magic, the Quill will try to write their name in the Book. However, the Quill is more lenient than the Book, which will sometimes snap shut and not allow the Quill to write down the name of the child, until they’re satisfied that they’ve seen sufficient evidence of their magical ability. 

This is what happened to Neville. As soon as he was born, the Quill tried to write his name down… but the Book was not having it. Everyone failed to notice the signs that suggested Neville was magical – for quite a number of years. For example, in the moments after he was born, he managed to shift his blankets to ensure he was tucked up tight. While the midwife spotted that he was looking a little more snug, she assumed his father had been the one to do it. It wasn’t until Neville’s great-uncle Algie dropped him out of the window, and he survived, that the Book was suitably convinced and allowed his name to be written. 

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A close up of Neville Longbottom sitting in a class and looking concerned.

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## He used his father’s wand for years
Unfortunately (and rather unfairly), Neville’s magical capability was something that was often called into question. However, as we discovered in *Order of the Phoenix*, it turned out that Neville had been using a wand that belonged to his father. As we know, the wand chooses the wizard, so it might not have been a great match for him – and could have made learning magic even more tricky. Just as Harry never felt comfortable with the blackthorn wand, Neville could have been experiencing something similar, but for five years! While we won’t know for certain, it does raise the question of whether all of Neville’s struggles were down to his supposed lack of ability…

>‘My gran’s going do kill be,’ said Neville thickly, blood spattering from his nose as he spoke, ‘dat was by dad’s old wand.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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## And he was possibly the last person to buy a wand from Ollivander before the second wizarding war
Neville was in desperate need of a new wand after his father’s broke during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Luckily for him, his gran was so thrilled about the courage and daring he demonstrated that night, she happily obliged. Neville purchased his wand right before his sixth year at Hogwarts and as it turns out, it was right before Ollivander was kidnapped by Voldemort…

>‘Yes, I thought Gran would be angry about all the publicity,’ said Neville, ‘but she was really pleased. Says I’m starting to live up to my dad at long last. She bought me a new wand, look!’
>    
>He pulled it out and showed it to Harry.
>
>‘Cherry and unicorn hair,’ he said proudly. ‘We think it was one of the last Ollivander ever sold, he vanished next day – oi, come back here, Trevor!’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*


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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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and the Half-Blood Prince

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## Matthew Lewis wasn’t allowed to fix his teeth for ten years!
Neville Longbottom has a very distinct look. From the moment he made his appearance in the books he was depicted as a ‘round-face boy’. And as the films liked to stick quite closely to the description from the book, this caused Matthew Lewis, the actor who played Neville, a bit of a headache. As he revealed in an interview with The Independent, to try and capture the essence of Neville he wasn’t allowed to have his teeth ‘fixed’ for ten years! It was even written into his contract. While we are grateful that Matthew stuck it out and brought such a beloved character to life, we can’t help but feel a bit sorry for him... 

>‘And, yes, he did get his teeth “done”, which is basically shorthand for wearing braces. Not until he was through with being Neville, though; he was under contract not to fix his “pretty bad teeth” until filming had finished.’

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Neville Longbottom is sitting in a chair and smiling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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and the Chamber of Secrets

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## Neville asked to be placed in Hufflepuff
While we all know that Neville was a true Gryffindor (how else would he have pulled the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat?), when he first started at Hogwarts, he was determined that wasn’t the case. He actually asked the Sorting Hat to place him in Hufflepuff, as he was intimidated by Gryffindor’s reputation for bravery, but the Sorting Hat didn’t agree. They debated it for so long, that he was close to being what is known as a Hatstall, which is a term for any student whose Sorting takes longer than five minutes. Hatstalls are very rare and the only other person in his year to come close to being one was Hermione Granger. The Sorting Hat eventually won, and we think it made the correct choice.

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Luna and Neville sat on a table in the Great Hall after the Battle of Hogwarts. Both have cuts and bruises and Neville is holding the sword of Gryffindor. 

Watch episode two of Hogwarts Hangout: What if Neville had been the Chosen One?

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Welcome to episode two of Hogwarts Hangout featuring Annie and Reece, two of our editorial team. Today they are talking all things Neville from his clumsy beginnings to his heroic glow-up. Most importantly, they’re discussing what happened to Neville’s pet toad Trevor. Discover the answer to that mystery here…  

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What do you think? Do you agree with Annie and Reece? Or do you have a rather different opinion. Whether you think you think Neville never had what it took to defeat Voldemort or always thought he would be a Horcrux-destroying, sword-swinging star, we want to know. 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to visit our Harry Potter YouTube channel for future episodes or to catch up on our first episode where we dived into the world of the Marauders. If you’re old enough, don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments.  

You can check out more of our videos at our [official Harry Potter YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@harrypotter) too. 

Exploring Neville Longbottom’s love of Herbology

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A second year Herbology lesson in the greenhouse. The students stand round a table of Mandrakes as Professor Sprout talks to them.

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## Sowing the first seeds
From his very first year, we saw that Neville was green-fingered. While he often struggled with his wandwork and potion-making, he had a natural flair for magical flora. During his end-of-year exams, he had a right old disaster when it came to Potions. However, his Herbology grade more than made up for it. Not only did it help him to scrape through to his second year at Hogwarts, but it probably helped to plant that first seed of confidence in his abilities, which slowly grew over the next few years…

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## Seeing his ability take root
By the time we came to *Goblet of Fire*, Neville’s Herbology prowess had become common knowledge. Even Harry recognised it was the class that Neville felt most confident in, and it was the one was best at too. Neville’s peers weren’t the only ones to take notice, so did his teachers. While Professor Moody had his own nefarious reasons for presenting Neville with a Herbology book, we still like to believe that Professor Sprout had told him just how brilliant Neville was at her subject.

>‘You all right, Neville?’ Harry asked him.
>
>‘Oh yes,’ said Neville, ‘I’m fine, thanks. Just reading this book Professor Moody lent me...’
>
>He held up the book: *Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties*.
>
>‘Apparently, Professor Sprout told Professor Moody I’m really good at Herbology,’ Neville said. There was a faint note of pride in his voice that Harry had rarely heard there before. ‘He thought I’d like this.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

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Neville Longbottom stands at the edge of the lake while holding up a plant

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## That Stinksap incident 
Oh, Neville’s Mimbulus mimbletonia… he was so excited to own one and show Professor Sprout this very rare plant. His enthusiasm was certainly infectious, and we enjoyed seeing just how invested he was in magical plants. However, it takes a certain kind of person to love a shrub that resembles ‘a diseased internal organ’ and had an even more unfortunate defence mechanism. The Stinksap that burst forth from it, drenching all those within Neville’s compartment on the Hogwarts Express, was rather unfortunate… but if we’re honest, it was also hilarious. Although, the timing couldn’t have been worse for poor Harry, as he found himself covered in a foul-smelling liquid right at the very moment Cho Chang decided to make an entrance.

>Liquid squirted from every boil on the plant; thick, stinking, dark green jets of it. They hit the ceiling, the windows, and spattered Luna Lovegood’s magazine; Ginny, who had flung her arms up in front of her face just in time, merely looked as though she was wearing a slimy green hat, but Harry, whose hands had been busy preventing Trevor’s escape, received a faceful. It smelled like rancid manure.
>
>Neville, whose face and torso were also drenched, shook his head to get the worst out of his eyes.
>
>‘S – sorry,’ he gasped. ‘I haven’t tried that before ... didn’t realise it would be quite so ... don’t worry, though, Stinksap’s not poisonous,’ he added nervously, as Harry spat a mouthful on to the floor.
>
>At that precise moment the door of their compartment slid open. ‘Oh ... hello, Harry,’ said a nervous voice. ‘Um ... bad time?’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

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## Watching him blossom 
Of *course* Neville got an Outstanding in his O.W.L – he didn’t deserve anything less. We know we couldn’t name a single other student that could match his enthusiasm and talent. It was wonderful to see someone who had struggled with their self-esteem blossom in such a way, and we hope that he was very proud of himself, we know we were. Also, after many years of teachers, we mean Snape, making him feel inadequate, we were delighted to see Professor Sprout holding Neville up as a shining example to his classmates. 

>‘*Quite* enough chat over here!’ said Professor Sprout briskly, bustling over and looking stern. ‘You’re lagging behind, everybody else has started and Neville’s already got his first pod!’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

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Professor Sprout teaching a Herbology lesson on Mandrakes.

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## Neville’s love in full bloom  
After Hogwarts, Neville became a Herbology professor, and it was just wonderful. We reckon he made a brilliant teacher – especially as we imagine he took extra time with those who struggled with self-confidence and would make them feel valued. It was also lovely to see that he was imparting his wisdom and knowledge to his friends’ children and the next wizarding generation. Neville and Herbology really were the perfect pair.

>‘Don’t forget to give Neville our love!’ Ginny told James as she hugged him.
>
>‘Mum! I can’t give a Professor *love*!’
>
>‘But you *know* Neville –’
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>James rolled his eyes.
>
>‘Outside, yeah, but at school he’s Professor Longbottom, isn’t he? I can’t walk into Herbology and give him *love*...’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

Eight reasons why we love Neville Longbottom

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## His love for all things Herbology
Neville didn’t have the easiest time when it came to his lessons at Hogwarts. We know our hearts broke every time Professor Snape was cruel to him in Potions. But Neville did have a wonderful gift for Herbology. We couldn’t have been happier than when we found out that he had gone on to become a Herbology professor – it was the perfect fit for him. We adored the passion that he had for the subject, the way he would light up when talking about magical flora and how it was the one class that helped to raise his self-esteem. 

>‘Oh yes,’ said Neville, ‘I’m fine, thanks. Just reading this book Professor Moody lent me ...’
>
>He held up the book: Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties.
>
>‘Apparently, Professor Sprout told Professor Moody I’m really good at Herbology,’ Neville said. There was a faint note of pride in his voice that Harry had rarely heard there before. ‘He thought I’d like this.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

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## His clumsy nature
We secretly love that Neville wasn’t the most coordinated person – it undoubtedly brought some lighter moments to the story. Whether he was tripping over a stool on his way to the Sorting Hat, breaking his wrist in his first ever flying lesson, smashing teacups in Divination or melting Seamus’s cauldron in Potions – it just made him all the more relatable.

>Neville had never been on a broomstick in his life, because his grandmother had never let him near one. Privately, Harry felt she’d had good reason, because Neville managed to have an extraordinary number of accidents even with both feet on the ground.
><br>*Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*

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## His rebellious streak
When we first met Neville, he didn’t strike us as someone that was a risktaker or rulebreaker. In fact, sometimes it seemed as though he was using all his concentration just to get through the day without any major accidents or disasters. He certainly didn’t seem to have space to be thinking about mischief or mayhem. Yet he grew as a person throughout the series and, by the time we reached *Deathly Hallows*, he had become a strong leader – with a rebellious side. We think the way he stood up to the Carrows and Snape was fantastic, he never gave them a moment’s peace. Who would have believed that the Neville we met as a first-year would be the Neville that broke into the Headmaster’s office or graffitied the walls of Hogwarts?

>‘The Carrows never rumbled how we were communicating, it drove them mad. We used to sneak out at night and put graffiti on the walls: Dumbledore’s Army, Still Recruiting, stuff like that. Snape hated it.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

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## His bravery 
We would suggest that Neville is one of the bravest characters in the entire story. And while it is possible to think of plenty of examples that demonstrate this from later in the series, one of our favourite brave Neville moments has to be the very first time he stood up for himself. As Albus Dumbledore said in *Philosopher’s Stone* ‘It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends’.

>‘You can’t go out,’ said Neville, ‘you’ll be caught again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble.’
>
>‘You don’t understand,’ said Harry, ‘this is important.’
>
>But Neville was clearly steeling himself to do something desperate.
>
>‘I won’t let you do it,’ he said, hurrying to stand in front of the portrait hole. ‘I’ll – I’ll fight you!’
>
>‘Neville,’ Ron exploded, ‘get away from that hole and don’t be an idiot –’
>
>‘Don’t you call me an idiot!’ said Neville. ‘I don’t think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*

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## His loyalty
One other excellent thing about Neville was his loyalty. Despite being a pure-blood who would be accepted in Voldemort’s new world, he was never tempted to do anything other than the right thing. He showed loyalty to his friends, his school and also his parents. Neville continued their work of fighting Dark wizards – from the Battle of Department of Mysteries to the Battle of Hogwarts and never wavered in his resolve. 

>‘But you are a pure-blood, aren’t you, my brave boy?’ Voldemort asked Neville, who stood facing him, his empty hands curled in fists.
>
>‘So what if I am?’ said Neville loudly.
>
>‘You show spirit, and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom.’
>
>‘I’ll join you when hell freezes over,’ said Neville. ‘Dumbledore’s Army!’ he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort’s silencing charms seemed unable to hold.
><br>*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

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## His hard-working nature
As we’ve touched upon before, Neville did struggle when it came to learning magic. It didn’t come as naturally to him as it did to people like Hermione or Ginny. However, rather than wallow in self-pity, Neville worked hard. He was determined, never gave up and ended up being able to hold his own amongst his peers. We were particularly proud of the way he threw himself into being a member of Dumbledore’s Army and were thrilled to see all that hard work eventually pay off.

>In fact, Neville barely spoke during the DA meetings any more, but worked relentlessly on every new jinx and counter-curse Harry taught them, his plump face screwed up in concentration, apparently indifferent to injuries or accidents and working harder than anyone else in the room. He was improving so fast it was quite unnerving and when Harry taught them the Shield Charm – a means of deflecting minor jinxes so that they rebounded upon the attacker – only Hermione mastered the charm faster than Neville.
><br>*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

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## His resilience 
Harry Potter wasn’t the only student in his year to have had a troubled or traumatic upbringing. Neville was raised by his gran after Bellatrix Lestrange and her cronies tortured both his parents into insanity. Nevertheless, Neville did not let that horrific event hold him back or break him. When he came face to face with the person responsible for upending his life, he did not wilt or crumble – even when she used the same Cruciatus Curse on him. The strength it must have taken to do that shouldn’t go unnoticed. 

>‘No, no, no,’ said Bellatrix. She looked transported, alive with excitement as she glanced at Harry, then back at Neville. ‘No, let’s see how long Longbottom lasts before he cracks like his parents ... unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy.’
>
>‘DON’D GIB ID DO DEM!’ roared Neville, who seemed beside himself, kicking and writhing as Bellatrix drew nearer to him and his captor, her wand raised. ‘DON’D GIB ID DO DEM, HARRY!’
>
>Bellatrix raised her wand. ‘Crucio!’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

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## His love for his family
While Neville didn’t really mention his parents and often seemed to be a little terrified of his gran, we still got the sense that he loved them all deeply. We know we were particularly touched when he pocketed the sweet wrapper his mother presented to him as a gift in St Mungo’s, rather than tossing it away as his Gran suggested. We also adored the way he seemed to be so proud of the woman who raised him, especially when she was battling Death Eater’s like the best of them. The fact that he kept her letter in a pocket close to his heart says it all really… 

>‘Thing was,’ he faced them, and Harry was astonished to see that he was grinning, ‘they bit off a bit more than they could chew with Gran. Little old witch living alone, they probably thought they didn’t need to send anyone particularly powerful. Anyway,’ Neville laughed, ‘Dawlish is still in St Mungo’s and Gran’s on the run. She sent me a letter,’ he clapped a hand to the breast pocket of his robes, ‘telling me she was proud of me, that I’m my parents’ son, and to keep it up.’
><br>*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

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Do you agree with our reasons behind our love for Neville Longbottom? Or do you have different reasons for loving this courageous wizard?

Which birthday party would you rather go to? Harry’s or Neville’s?

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## We would go… to Harry’s birthday party 

No shade to our dear Neville but if we want to go to a party then we want to go to a party. And Harry’s? Well, that would be the party of the century… no… it would be the party of the millennium.  

Firstly, we think we can all agree that a birthday party for the Chosen One would be nothing short of spectacular. If anyone deserves to be celebrated it’s the boy-who-saved-the-entire-wizarding-world-from-Voldemort. Those who were organising it would pull out all the stops. Butterbeer for everyone! The Weird Sisters playing all their very best tunes (or possibly Celestina Warbeck if Molly Weasley was involved in the planning)! A cheeky game of [Quidditch](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/quidditch) to get involved in! The possibilities for this party are endless. 

Then there’s the guest list. You can bet that nearly every Gryffindor would be attending and if this house knows how to do anything, it’s being the life and soul of the party – their exuberant post-Quidditch match celebrations show us that.  

In fact, a birthday for Harry Potter would be a veritable who’s who of the wizarding world. We can guarantee that all your favourites would be there. It would be so fun to discuss the Chudley Cannon’s current season with Ron. Brilliant to be able to pick Hermione’s brain about, well, anything. Or ask Mr Weasley if he had finally figured out the function of a rubber duck.  

Oh, and we must talk about the catering. Harry had some very useful connections there – [Mrs Weasley](/fact-file/characters-and-pets/molly-weasley) for starters. She could whip up a feast at a drop of a hat. Remember the Snitch birthday cake she made Harry? Or any other meal she made throughout the entire series? Delicious. And speaking of cake, Hagrid would definitely be at any birthday of Harry’s and while his rock cakes might be a little… tough, we wouldn’t say no to another version of that iconic cake he made for Harry’s eleventh birthday.  

Now we don’t want to say that Neville’s party would be boring exactly… but we imagine his soiree would be a lot quieter. There wouldn’t be that spark of energy that you would find at Harry’s birthday. Plus, unless you are a major Herbology fan, we reckon we could get tired of spending our evening discussing the finer points of a Mimbulus mimbletonia – sorry Neville, we still love you. 

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a party with good food, good people, good conversation and an all-round good time, then Harry’s birthday is the place to be. Yes, it might be a little over-the-top, but it would probably be the best party you’ve ever been to… even the most introverted of us couldn’t help but have a magical time. 

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## We would go... to Neville’s birthday party  
Sure. Picking Harry’s birthday party is the easy choice. We get it. You think just because he was the Chosen One, he’s more popular, more fun, more likely to have a rambunctious time? Forget all of that. Neville’s birthday party would be far superior. We can just picture it now... 

Firstly, Neville’s undying love of [Herbology](/fact-file/magical-miscellany/herbology) would surely be a top theme for this function. Maybe there would be plant-themed snacks and drinks (Dirigible Plum Pudding, anyone?) at the buffet table. And we would surely be raising a Mimbulus mimble-toast to the big man himself.  

Speaking of Herbology – you just know that Professor Sprout would be a VIP guest for Neville here. Harry and Neville’s Gryffindor clan would probably be torn on which party to attend (and let’s face it, a lot of them are going to pick Harry) but we *know* Sprout would have Nev’s back, no matter what. The idea of having a cheeky chuckle with Pomona over a hilarious Mandrake anecdote is giving us hypothetical FOMO just thinking about it. She’d probably even let Neville rent out the greenhouses (the perfect setting!) for the big event.  

And if Sprout’s coming, you can bet your bottom Sickle that Augusta Longbottom is coming too. We only met Neville’s no-nonsense grandmother a couple of times in the books, but we wanted to see so much more. Yes, she was stern, yes it sounded like Neville was low-key scared of her... but just imagine her after a couple of Gigglewaters! We bet she would be the absolute life and soul. We can just sense it. The stuffed vulture hat would be askew, that’s for sure. And that is a moment we simply need to bear witness to.   

And don’t under-estimate the guest of honour on the dancefloor either. We all saw Neville in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire waltzing up a storm in the dormitory after the Yule Ball – and it was beautiful to see this side to him. We don’t recall Harry being quite as up for a boogie... Just saying. 

What about Neville-themed party games? Pass the Remembrall could be a new trend (everyone in the room has to try and remember what someone else has forgotten) or how about a Great Lake swimming race after munching some [Gillyweed](/fact-file/plants-and-potions/gillyweed)? “Find Trevor” would be an instant classic – Neville's toad would inevitably go missing, after all. The winner gets one of Neville’s cosy cardigans. 

All of this to say, that going to Neville’s party may not sound as appealing as going to a glitzy celebrity event like Harry’s, but if anyone deserves to cut loose, it’s this wholesome king! And we want to be there right alongside him, helping Neville de-stress from years of forgotten passwords, surly Snape remarks and lost toads. He deserves it. 

*** 

Happy birthday to both of our beloved Gryffindor boys!

Five funny film moments featuring Neville Longbottom

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## Neville, Snape a Boggart and some fancy clothes
What do you get if you have Neville, a Boggart, his worst fear and the image of his grandmother’s best outfit in his head? That answer is hilarity. And when that exact scenario happened in Professor Lupin’s Defence Against the Dark Arts class it didn’t disappoint. Don’t just take our word for it, see for yourself (and yes, that is one spectacular hat)…

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## Cover your ears!
This was an iconic Herbology lesson – with Mandrakes as loud as these you mustn’t forget your earmuffs! And while Neville might have normally been a whizz at this subject, this wasn’t his finest moment – it was one of his funniest though. We hope he had a soft landing.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/G17jQg_pUJg?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>


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## Chaos with Cornish Pixies
A useless teacher. Cornish Pixies let loose. Chaos. Pandemonium. Being hoisted up to the ceiling by your ears. This scene had it all and who was at the centre of it all? Only our favourite clumsy Gryffindor, Neville.

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## Oh my god, I’ve killed Harry Potter!
In the film version of *Goblet of Fire*, it was Neville rather than Dobby that presented Harry with the Gillyweed that would allow him to breathe underwater and complete the second Triwizard task without meeting an untimely watery end. Although, Neville was not entirely sure how well this rubbery plant worked – some Herbologists have debated the effects of freshwater versus saltwater don’t you know – and it led to this rather comical moment…

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## As still as a statue
You might wonder why we chose this as our final funny moment. It is true that this is an example of Neville’s bravery – as Dumbledore would later say it takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your friends. However, we just can’t help but laugh at Neville threatening to fight Harry, Ron and Hermione and that fall is just an example of perfect comic timing.

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Why Neville Longbottom’s story always deserved a happy ending

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Neville defies Lord Voldemort and holds the sword of Gryffindor in the aftermath of the Battle at Hogwarts.

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At first, Neville Longbottom provided the comic relief in tricky situations, and spent the majority of his earlier years at Hogwarts getting into all sorts of mishaps. 

Sometimes even Harry, Ron and Hermione didn’t take him seriously. But as the books rolled on, it became clear that Neville had endured more tragedy than any of his friends knew about for a long time. 

By the end of *Deathly Hallows*, Neville had forged strong friendships, was leading Dumbledore’s Army and was playing an integral role in defeating Voldemort. After all, as Professor Trelawney’s prophecy about the one ‘born as the seventh month dies’ could’ve just as easily meant him as it did Harry, he could have been seen as the ‘other’ Chosen One. 

We now know that Neville ended up marrying Hannah Abbott and became Herbology Professor at Hogwarts. Plus he and his wife lived above the Leaky Cauldron. Neville finally got his happy ending – and here’s why he deserved it more than anybody else.

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Harry and Neville in the Room of Requirement from the Order of the Phoenix  

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## He fought for what was right

In *Philosopher’s Stone*, some may have wondered (certainly Neville did himself) why he was sorted into Gryffindor. That is, until he took a stand – even if it wasn’t against Voldemort just yet. 

> ‘Don’t you call me an idiot!’ said Neville. ‘I don’t think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!’<br>
> ‘Yes, but not to us,’ said Ron in exasperation. ‘Neville, you don’t know what you’re doing.’<br>
> He took a step forward and Neville dropped Trevor the toad, who leapt out of sight.<br>
> ‘Go on then, try and hit me!’ said Neville, raising his fists. ‘I’m ready!’<br>
> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone*

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Neville falls victim to Hermione's Petrificus Totalus spell

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## He suffered more than any young man should

As the lead protagonist of the series, we knew that Harry was going to have some obstacles to overcome and some burdens to bear. But on the sidelines was Neville, another character with a tragic past that eerily mirrored Harry’s. 

While Harry barely remembered his parents, Neville’s parents barely seemed to know him, having been tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and a few other despicable Death Eaters in the days of the First Wizarding War. It must have been so painful to visit his mother and father at St Mungo’s. 

> As Harry took off his glasses and climbed into his four-poster, he imagined how it must feel to have parents still living, but unable to recognise you. He often got sympathy from strangers for being an orphan, but as he listened to Neville’s snores, he thought that Neville deserved it more than he did.<br>
> *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

## He would rather experience pain himself than inflict it on others

When Voldemort’s Death Eaters gained control of Hogwarts, Neville stayed at the school. Not because he was afraid to run away, but because he wanted to stay and take a stand. When Harry reunited with him, Neville appeared as a bruised and battered war hero, about to go in for more action.

> ‘Amycus, the bloke, he teaches what used to be Defence Against the Dark Arts, except now it’s just the Dark Arts. We’re supposed to practise the Cruciatus Curse on people who’ve earned detentions –’<br>
> ‘What?’<br> 
> Harry, Ron and Hermione’s united voices echoed up and down the passage.<br>
> ‘Yeah,’ said Neville. ‘That’s how I got this one,’ he pointed at a particularly deep gash in his cheek, ‘I refused to do it.’<br>
> *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

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Neville at Hogwarts from the Deathly Hallows 

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## He didn’t keep silent

Neville wasn’t exactly known for his pithy one-liners. That was, until he had a reason to get sassy. 

> ‘Alecto, Amycus’s sister, teaches Muggle Studies, which is compulsory for everyone. We’ve all got to listen to her explain how Muggles are like animals, stupid and dirty, and how they drove wizards into hiding by being vicious towards them, and how the natural order is being re-established. I got this one,’ he indicated another slash to his face, ‘for asking her how much Muggle blood she and her brother have got.’<br>
> *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

## He was always ready to help

When Neville joined Dumbledore’s Army, he took that oath seriously. For him, it wasn’t just about hanging out with his friends and learning a few new spells. It was about training to fight back. It was about knowing when to put your life on the line.  

> ‘We were all in the DA together,’ said Neville quietly. ‘It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn’t it? And this is the first chance we’ve had to do something real – or was that all just a game or something?’<br>
> ‘No – of course it wasn’t –’ said Harry impatiently.<br>
> ‘Then we should come too,’ said Neville simply. ‘We want to help.’<br>
> *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

## He wouldn’t be broken

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Neville with his Mimbulus Mimbletonia in a Herbology class

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Even when attacked by Bellatrix Lestrange – the woman who had already affected his family so much – Neville didn’t break. He had seen first-hand what torture with the Cruciatus curse could do to people, and he should have feared it more than most… But he didn’t let fear control him. 

> ‘No, let’s see how long Longbottom lasts before he cracks like his parents... unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy.’<br>
> ‘DON’D GIB ID DO DEM!’ roared Neville, who seemed beside himself, kicking and writhing as Bellatrix drew nearer to him and his captor, her wand raised.<br>
> *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

## He worked hard. Really hard

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Harry and Dumbledore's Army in the Room of Requirement 

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While Hermione was regarded as the most talented witch of her age, and defensive spells seemed to come naturally to Harry (couldn’t be anything to do with the constant threat of the Dark Lord approaching, could it?), Neville had to work hard for his successes – which just made his achievements even more impressive. 

> [He] worked relentlessly on every new jinx and counter-curse Harry taught them, his plump face screwed up in concentration, apparently indifferent to injuries or accidents, working harder than anyone else in the room.<br>
> *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

## Neville’s brand of bravery is one we want to see more of

Neville was a true Gryffindor and the best sort of human being. His brand of bravery wasn’t about running in with wands blazing – it was about picking your battles. It was about knowing what was important and being willing to fight for that. Especially against one certain adversary…

> ‘I’ll join you when hell freezes over,’ said Neville. ‘Dumbledore’s Army!’ he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort’s silencing charms seemed unable to hold.<br>
> *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*

Discover the films

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The ultimate Neville Longbottom quiz

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The ultimate Neville Longbottom quiz 

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Let’s start with an easy one. Which Hogwarts house did Neville belong to?

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What were the names of Neville’s parents?

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How many points did Dumbledore award Neville for standing up to his friends in Philosopher’s Stone?

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After his parents could no longer take care of him, who raised Neville?  

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What type of Hogwarts-approved pet did Neville bring to school? 

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And what was this toad’s name? 

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Where did Harry see Neville on Christmas Day in Order of the Phoenix? 

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Why was Neville at St Mungo’s? 

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What did Neville pull out of the Sorting Hat during the Battle of Hogwarts?

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Which subject was Neville particularly talented at?

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During his Sorting, Neville asked the Sorting Hat to place him in a particular house. Which house was it? 

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Who did Neville eventually marry? 

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What was in the package Neville’s grandmother sent him at the start of Philosopher’s Stone? 

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Who did Neville take to the Yule Ball? 

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Neville Longbottom was our favourite underdog, rising from the Longbottom to the top and becoming a true hero in the process. Test your knowledge of this iconic character in our ultimate quiz. 

From absent-minded classmate to Hogwarts hero, Neville Longbottom may not have been The Chosen One, but we love him just the way he is. On this page, we invite you to learn more about this Gryffindor underdog - who was as loyal to his friends as he was to his favourite plants. Play quizzes and puzzles with us, or simply dive deeper into his backstory. No Remembrall required - our Nev is unforgettable!

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