Neville Longbottom
From the Encyclopedia of Speculative Fiction - http://encyclopedia.wizards.pro
| Character | |
| |
| Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | |
|---|---|
| Neville Longbottom | |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | July 30th, 1980 |
| House | Gryffindor |
| Occupation | Student |
| Parentage | pure-blood |
| Loyalty | Dumbledore's Army |
| Film portrayer | Matthew Lewis |
| First appearance | Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone |
Neville was born July 30th - the day before Harry Potter - to Frank and Alice Longbottom. His parents had supposedly died, and Neville lived with his grandmother. In the Order of the Phoenix, Harry and the gang learn that Neville's parents were not dead, but were held in the wizards hospital, having gone 'insane' after a fight with some of Voldemort's DeathEaters (Bellatrix LeStrange). Neville made them swear to secrecy.
But that is not the deepest part of the unfolding Neville plot. Harry soon learns of the prophecy that foretold his fate: The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord with be born as the seventh month dies[...]
What that means is that Neville could have very well ended up in Harry's shoes. The choice was left to Voldemort, who perceived Harry as the danger and chose him. But Voldemort could have chose Neville, and it would have been Neville orphaned that night, and Harry would still have his parents. Quite interesting, considering Neville is supposed to be the weak and unskilled one. Goes to show how one decision can alter the lives of so many.
It took Neville some time to come into his own. He was akward and made fun of, but soon enough it came to light that Neville had quite a talent for Herbology. Not only that, but he was quick to join Dumbledore's Army. During the fight with the Death Eaters (OotP), Neville ended up being the only one left able to fight next to Harry!
from the approved Neville Longbottom fanlisting. http://neville.baptism-of-blood.net/