Neville Longbottom

, chapter 23] In a 2000 interview, Rowling recalled a conversation with a reader, to whom she described Neville as "short and plump and blond". [ [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-npr-adler.htm Adler, Margot. "Harry Potter," "Morning Edition, NPR Radio," 27 October, 2000] ] By the final book, Neville's appearance has changed due to the conditions he passes through in his seventh year under the Death Eaters' regime at Hogwarts. His hair is described as "longer than Harry had ever seen it", [HP7ref, chapter 28] his face having cuts and gouge marks, one of his eyes being "swollen yellow and purple", and having a "general air of unkemptness".HP7, chapter 29] The Battle of Hogwarts worsened his appearance: when Harry spots him before his confrontation with Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest, Neville "looked like an old man".HP7, chapter 34]

Personality

For most of the first part of the series, Neville is described as lacking self-confidence and being shy. In the third book, his boggart is revealed to be Professor Snape, whom Neville is terrified of because of the treatment the potions teacher gives to the boy. Rowling said that the "worst, shabbiest thing you can do" as a teacher is to bully students. [Conversations with JK Rowling, p.21] Along with Luna, Neville is isolated within Hogwarts for most of the series. Although Professor Lupin is one of the first to encourage Neville, the character develops more self-confidence since the fifth book. In the final book, the situation pushes Neville's personality to unseen limits as he becomes the resistance leader within Hogwarts and is greatly admired by his fellows. However, since the first book Neville has displayed great courage, a feature that is recognised by Dumbledore for standing up to his own friends, and valued by Rowling above all other virtues. She described Neville as not having "that showy macho type of courage that Harry shows playing quidditch." [ [http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2005/0705-edinburgh-ITVcubreporters.htm Edinburgh "cub reporter" press conference, "ITV", 16 July 2005] ]

Magical abilities

During the first books of the series, Neville is portrayed as an incompetent wizard and as poorly skilled at school (with the only exception of Herbology). The character himself reveals in the second book that it was even feared by his family, especially his grandmother, that he was a Squib during his childhood. Neville describes a time when he was younger and his great-uncle Algie attempted to "scare the magic out" of him by throwing him off one of Blackpool's piers to see if he would float (or at least not be harmed), as well as dangling him out of a window, before accidentally dropping him; Neville's magic caused him to bounce into the street. Neville's family is relieved, therefore, when he receives his letter inviting him to Hogwarts.

Neville's magical abilities greatly improve in the fifth instalment,HP5, chapter 21] due to the character joining Dumbledore's Army, a group dedicated to practice Defence Against the Dark Arts. In "Half-Blood Prince", Neville receives a new wand made of cherry wood and unicorn hair, as his previous wand was destroyed while fighting Death Eaters in "Order of the Phoenix". He proudly asserts that his new wand was one of the last which Mr Ollivander sold before disappearing. The wand appears to have added further improvement to Neville's school performance. It has been commented on several occasions "the wand chooses the wizard," and that one "never gets as good results with another wizard's wand"; Neville had previously been using his father's wand.

Family

. Neville visits Frank and Alice over the holidays, but neither of them recognise him as their son.

Augusta Longbottom, Neville's paternal grandmother, raised him from a young age. Early on, it is established that Neville is terrified of his grandmother, who is a very strict disciplinarian, a perfectionist, and a no-nonsense witch, especially towards Neville, and sometimes complains of his lack of talent. She appears to want Neville to follow his father's example, regardless of his desires or suitability. "Deathly Hallows" is a definite turning point for the relation between Augusta and her grandson. Towards the climax of the book, it is revealed that the Death Eaters targeted Augusta when Neville was acting as leader of the reformed Dumbledore's Army. The Ministry official Dawlish is sent to arrest her but does not succeed and winds up in hospital when she apparently fights back before going on the run. Augusta also arrives to the Battle of Hogwarts to assist her grandson. When Harry tells her that Neville is fighting Death Eaters, she replies, "Naturally." Bolstered by Neville's leadership of the D.A. during his seventh year at Hogwarts, Augusta ultimately becomes extremely proud of him.

References

External links

* [http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/neville.html Neville Longbottom] at the Harry Potter Lexicon