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| “ | Words cannot express how proud I am of who you’ve become. I will always be your father. I’ll always be there to give advice, to be your safety net, to protect you from the dark things. But I know that the time is coming fast where I’ll have to let you go, and it’s important for both of us that I do. You’ll always have a home to come back to, but no matter what happens in your life, it’s yours to live, and I’ll be happy to watch you live it. | ” |
–Neville to one of his children | ||
Neville Longbottom was the Herbology professor for many years at Hogwarts. He took up the mantle of Headmaster January 5, 2023. Unfortunately he fell gravely ill with Dragon Flu in early 2024, and was forced to step down in February 2024. Currently he is dealing with the long term affects of his ailment.
Personality
If you tried to tell his students that Neville Longbottom used to be timid and a poor wizard, most of them would look at you like you'd had a bad potion. While that was once true of his personality, the last three years at Hogwarts irrevocably changed the boy who wasn't into a shining example of Gryffindor house. The hints were always there--he'd been willing to stand up to the few friends he had, even if that meant losing them, in his first year. In fact, Neville consistently proved himself to have a different sort of bravery from his more daring housemates, and to have that bravery in spades. His resolve from the fifth year, his new wand in the sixth year, and the fires of conflict from the seventh year built up the confidence of a child who once had a massive inferiority complex, courtesy of his grandmother and many of his fellow students. Markedly, Neville is the only Gryffindor of his generation besides Harry Potter to pull Godric's blade from the Sorting Hat. Ever since the last battle with Voldemort, Neville was changed, going from an easily bullied boy to a man that feared nobody.
But unlike many of his fellow Gryffindors, Neville has a degree of pragmatism to temper his pride. Like Harry, he is a champion, but unlike Harry, he's not interested so much in fair fights. Neville is fully willing to use his vast knowledge of Herbology to fight, and he doesn't fight fair at all. He'll use nasty plants, including Mandrakes, Devil's Snare, and the Venomous Tentacula. As the Herbology teacher, and with access to all kinds of plants, Neville today keeps various seeds, spores, and pods on him at all times. In a fight, he scatters these seeds, enchanted to sprout and grow in seconds, all over the area. By doing this, Neville can take control of a battleground and use his high skill in Charms to his advantage. He uses the Hover, Summon and Banish Charms to attack his enemies with seeds and plants from all directions, while still using the staple curses and hexes learned from his time in the DA, including Expelliarmus and Reducto. He'll happily use any weakness, including using the Hover Charm to wrap someone's head in their own robes to blind them temporarily. He'll also use Muffliato on allies, allowing him to use Mandrakes. To fight Neville is to fight an opponent who controls the area and attacks from all directions, systematically removing options for escape and decreasing enemy territory, leaving most opponents overwhelmed. It's an unorthodox battle style, but an effective one, and Neville's incredible skill with defensive spells makes him very difficult to strike down for a single opponent, no matter what the circumstances. And attacking him in the greenhouses would be suicidal--Neville is the undisputed master of the plants in Hogwarts, not even the Whomping Willow attacks him. Notably, he emerged from the final battle at Hogwarts with almost no injury, despite being one of the major targets, as he was actively using plants to attack Voldemort's forces en masse. And he's had two decades of practice, experience, and Auror training since that night.
Neville is quick-witted and clever as well. This was not apparent when he was younger, as his poor self-image made him nervous and hesitant, coupled with bullying by Snape and the Slytherins, which caused anxiety and contributed to his perceived shortcomings. Indeed, his worst subjects were due only to lack of confidence, a fact Minerva McGonagall did not fail to miss. He proved to be an outstanding student in classes with nicer teachers, in particular Herbology and Charms. He was likely the most outstanding Herbology student of his generation, and his knowledge today is nearly encyclopedic. His Charms skills are nothing to joke about either, and his Defense Against the Dark Arts is surprising--Neville has a natural preference for and skill with defensive spells, and his Shield Charm is remarkably powerful. His skill in Potions has improved over the years due to how interconnected it is with Herbology, and it seems as though he could have been good at that class if it hadn't been for Snape. His Transfiguration remains mostly unused; Neville managed an 'Acceptable' on his OWLs despite his crippling lack of confidence, but even with that weakness cured, he simply shows no real interest in the subject. His memory, while not as poor as it was, is still not conducive to History.
Neville's most obvious traits, though, are those that have been apparent his entire life: kindness, loyalty, and friendliness. Neville is easy to get along with if you even have half a mind to try, and he never treats anyone badly. He doesn't hold grudges or harbor resentment for people that haven't gone out of their way to earn such treatment. And his loyalty is unquestionable. For his friends, his family, and his school, Neville will go to war. He will literally face anybody down who tries to harm something he cares about, unflinching and resolute. And that loyalty is often reciprocated--Neville is a leader, because he trusts and relies on others, and provides his trust and reliance for them. And he's always willing to put himself out ahead of others where danger is concerned, take the brunt for himself, because he feels it's the right thing to do. In particular, Neville is loyal to the friendship of the DA, and of the other five leaders in particular, and to this day wears his DA Galleon on a chain around his neck. As a result of this trust, Neville is more willing to accept Ministry aid now that the people he trusts control much of it than the older teachers who remember the former Ministry. He is patient and a great listener, and his general knowledge is a lot more extensive than most people think. He's happy to sit and talk about anything, especially with his friends and family, but many students visit him in his office to talk to him and get advice.
Neville is also a much better parent than his grandmother was to him. He dotes on his children and loves them unconditionally, but makes sure not to spoil them or fight their fights for them. His children receive no special treatment from him in school-related activities, and have no advantages over the other students, save that their father is easier to get ahold of when they need emotional support. Having experienced the oppressing feeling of a parental figure who saw you being what they wanted, Neville is extremely careful to avoid that same trap. He will happily talk to his children about anything under the son they want, he encourages them in anything they enjoy or want to do, and he rarely volunteers his own experience or knowledge, letting them ask if they want it. Neville has been modest and patient his whole life, and never tries to show off his knowledge or interests to other people verbally. With his children, he is the same way, though he never pretends to be something he's not for their sakes either. That's not to say this made things easier, oh no—he does his absolute best not to play favorites, and divide his attention among his kids evenly, but the oldest two have never been particularly interested in sharing that attention, and so always wanted it at the same time.
Despite all this, Neville is a very humble individual. He does like showing off the DA Galleon on its chain for his first years, but beyond that, does not discuss the last wizarding war or his role in it. Most of his students assume that he didn't contribute much to the actual fighting and just tries to use his galleon to earn respect, and barely any students are aware that Neville worked as an Auror until Harry Potter was able to rebuild the Auror division to a trustworthy state. Like most members of the former DA, Neville has maintained his training religiously, and has lost none of his strength, speed, or skill from his youth. He often looks for duels from his old friends to keep his instincts sharp—away from the eyes of children, naturally. But Neville is still just as capable of war as he was 25 years ago, and just as willing if Hogwarts should come under attack once more.
History
Neville Longbottom was born July 30, 1980, to Frank and Alice Longbottom. He was born one day before Harry Potter, and was one of two candidates to fulfill Trelawney's first prophecy. In the end, Voldemort chose to mark Harry, leaving Neville be. But Neville's life would still be shattered by this decision--Voldemort's downfall led the the Lestranges to capture Neville's parents and torture them to insanity, trying to get information on their master. Neville would grow up instead with his grandmother, a woman who was more hurt by those events than she ever let on. For years, she couldn't let go of the past and tried to remake her son in her grandson, even forcing Neville to use his father's wand. This treatment, coupled with his uncle's constant attempts at scaring magic into him and his parents' insanity, caused severe mental problems for the young boy, and Neville ended up shy, timid, and with a massive inferiority complex, all of which served to hide his true virtues and stunt his magical growth. For a long time, he was considered a joke of a wizard, bullied by the Slytherins, and even laughed at by his own house on occasion.
The beginning of his change happened in the third year. Professor Remus Lupin was a much better Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher than either of his predecessors, and was much more patient and friendly (on top of being competent). While the boggart incident caused Snape to worsen his treatment of Neville more than ever, he displayed increased confidence and relaxation in that class. Again in the fourth year, Barty Crouch Jr., in the guise of Mad-Eye Moody, proved to aid Neville's confidence by telling him how high Professor Sprout's opinion of him was. Neville read the books Moody gave him thoroughly, becoming something of a nerd for plants that year, having finally been told he was good at something. In the fifth year, Neville joined Harry's DA classes, and while his progress was slow, it picked up steadily as he was accepted and allowed to make mistakes without being mocked. But it was the escape of the Lestranges that would truly motivate him, and his progress, skill, and hard work was terrifying to behold, and soon, only Hermione was learning faster than he was. Neville was one of the six students who went to the Department of Mysteries and fought the Death Eaters, and was the last one standing besides Harry himself. His father's wand was destroyed during the chaos, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise--when Neville returned to Hogwarts for his sixth year, he had a new wand, a wand that was synced with him, further increasing his growing power. He was injured badly in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower despite Felix Felicis, and had to stay in the hospital wing for some time.
In the seventh year, Voldemort seized control of the Ministry and Hogwarts, controlling Hogwarts through Snape and the Carrows. With Harry, Ron, and Hermione absent that year, Neville took it upon himself to stand between the students and the Carrows. Firsthand experience from hanging out with Harry had taught Neville more than spells--he knew exactly how to inspire people, to motivate them and keep their spirits up. Neville, along with Ginny and Luna, went to war with the Carrows, stealing, freeing students from their punishments, putting graffiti in the corridors, and so on. Neville went so far as to openly defy the Carrows during class, and quickly learned that the pureblood rules protected him from the sort of punishments that people with "lesser" blood received. He used this limited immunity to keep the hopes of his fellow students alive, and when Ginny and Luna stopped coming to school and his role in the DA came out, Neville began to suffer real beatings and torture at last. He stopped the rest of the DA from acting once the torture became life-threatening, and continued to fight on his own. Eventually he managed to take control of the Room of Requirement, a safe haven from Voldemort's supporters, and was steadily joined by other members of the houses. Proving his cleverness and resourcefulness, Neville showed a high degree of aptitude for controlling the Room and getting what they needed from it. He also got in touch with Aberforth Dumbledore, who provided the students with food.
Neville was the one who went to get Harry and the others after they were saved by Aberforth. He contacted the rest of the DA, letting them know it was time to take back Hogwarts, and members of the DA contacted the Order of the Phoenix. When the Death Eaters arrived, Neville went with Professor Sprout's group and fought utilizing various plants obtained from the greenhouses--including dropping Mandrakes into the Death Eaters, actively attempting to kill them off. When the cease-fire was called, Neville helped the others transport the injured and dead, and was selected by Harry to take his place when the latter believed he was about to die. Armed with the information that he needed to kill Voldemort's giant pet snake, Neville prepared for the next battle. And when Voldemort tried to break the spirit of the Hogwarts fighters using Harry's "death" it was Neville who remained defiant to the end, even trying to attack Voldemort and standing unafraid in his presence, preventing the Dark Lord from securing the castle before reinforcements arrived. It was this extreme courage that allowed him to pull the Sword of Gryffindor from the sorting had and behead Nagini, rendering Voldemort mortal at last. During the final fight, he and Ron took down Fenrir Greyback, and he witnessed Voldemort's long-overdue death.
After the battle, things began to settle down in their lives. Kingsley requested that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville take jobs as Aurors; while Hermione declined, Neville accepted alongside the other two, and he worked for several years in the Auror department. Along with this came training and increased combat ability. During this time, Neville ended up marrying Hannah Abbott. When Pomona Sprout retired from Hogwarts, Neville was the first choice to succeed her. By that point in time, the job they'd been tapped for--locating and rounding up Voldemort's supporters who had gone into hiding--had been largely completed within the confines of their job, and Neville retired as an Auror with the blessing of his friends. He still kept in touch with Harry and provided aid to him whenever required. As the new Herbology teacher, and head of Gryffindor House, Neville worked for the good of Hogwarts. He imported new plants and made changes in the greenhouses--including planting Mimbulus Mimbletonia to guard the entrances. He also discovered various new uses for herbs, and ensured that the profits from such discoveries went directly to Hogwarts. He was also successful in getting Greenhouse Four built--a special underwater greenhouse built beneath the other three, maintained through magic to grow underwater plants.
2022-Current day
Neville taught at Hogwarts for a great many years in the relative peace. Until Summer 2022 when Minister Kingsley was murdered. While the culprits were not found the murder had a ripple affect. As a Hogwarts Professor the murders of students at the school was an especially difficult blow. In so much that the previous Headmaster, after much scrutiny for letting this happen under his nose, stepped down from the Position over the Winter break of 2022-2023. The mantle of Headmaster was handed over to Neville, with the support of his many friends and alliances at the Ministry of Magic.
During the April Fools day attack, Neville was a key defender of the school though he was unable to save the kidnapped students at the time. When the Order of the Phoenix discovered the location of the Purifier base, he was also a part of the raid that rescued the students.
While the timing was poor, his predecessor had been in talks with the Ministry, and foreign schools for the approaching Tri-Wizard Tournament. Neville, wary of the events, chose to let the plans continue, though added extra security to all of the Tournament related events.
Unfortunately, Neville's health began to deteriorate the beginning of 2024 and eventually lead to his hospitalization in February 2024. He was forced to step down as Headmaster, as he would go on to spend the rest of the school year in St. Mungos. By the time summer 2024 came around, he was finally well enough to go home, though still fought many of the lingering affects of the illness that had wreaked havoc on his body. The illness he had contracted was a rare form of "Dragon Flu".
Since coming home, Neville has been getting healthier and stronger every day, but still suffers from the effects of the illness, as Dragon Flu is known for causing lasting damage and having lingering side effects that can last for years after recovery.