Perhaps no character showed more growth throughout the course of the Harry Potter series than Neville Longbottom. Initially a shy, forgetful eleven-year-old, Neville’s transition into a character who regularly opposed the Dark Wizard regime at Hogwarts and ultimately destroyed the last Horcrux necessary to kill Voldemort appears surprising at first thought. However, Rowling drops hints throughout the series that show Neville’s bravery and integrity even in his younger, timid years. As a shy child myself, I saw a lot of power in revealing a character like Neville to be an unexpected hero. Neville remains a side character for the first several novels, yet his contributions to the plot are meaningful in a way that foreshadows his heroic future.

For example, in the first book, Neville stands up to Harry, Hermione, and Ron as they try to sneak out of Gryffindor tower to defeat Quirrell. This moment is later referenced at the end of the book, where Dumbledore comments on his bravery in doing so.

“There are all kinds of courage,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore aware ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom.”

Page 306, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

This is the first moment where we see Neville’s behavior, while initially interpreted by our narrator Harry as a nuisance, revealed as an act of bravery. The ways in which Neville pushes back against the people around him show courage in a way that contrasts the physical bravery frequently exhibited by Harry, Ron and Hermione. This is perhaps even more meaningful when considering that Neville’s greatest fear is bullies. This is revealed in the third novel, where Neville faces off against a boggart which turns into Snape dressed as his grandmother: two people he fears most. Given that Neville is bullied so frequently, the ability to criticize his peers and go against the group is a reoccurring feat of courage that pays off in the end.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, Neville leads the remaining Hogwarts students in fighting against Death Eaters who have overtaken the school while Harry searches for Horcruxes. In this way, Neville assumes the role of leadership that would ordinarily have been Harry’s due to his absence. Neville also kills the last Horcrux – and arguably the most vicious one – which clears the path for Harry to kill Voldemort. Both of these acts are ones that occur more of less “behind the scenes” but Rowling’s choice to highlight Neville so prominently in this last book acts as a full circle moment. While scared of “bullies” such as his grandmother and Snape as a child, Neville regularly stands up to these kinds of personalities (and far worse) as a seventeen-year-old.

Neville’s character offers a refreshing perspective to who we consider to be a Gryffindor. While Gryffindor house is full of outspoken and sometimes rash personalities, Neville is a sharp contrast to the Gryffindor stereotype, while still showing courage in his own way. His character is a powerful reminder that bravery and extroversion are not synonymous, and sometimes it’s the most unexpected people that make the most memorable heroes.