Harry Potter: 5 Funniest Neville Longbottom Quotes (& 5 Most Heartbreaking)

Harry Potter’s Neville Longbottom has one of the most complex arcs of the series. He ends up with some of the movies’ funniest and saddest quotes.

Neville Longbottom starts out as a clumsy, forgetful, accident-prone boy who happens to be in Harry Potter’s year at Hogwarts. Viewers later learn that he is also part of the same prophecy that outlines Harry’s fate to be the Chosen One. In fact, it turns out that there is a lot more to Neville than meets the eye.

His parents were members of the Order Of The Phoenix and were tortured and driven mad by Bellatrix Lestrange. Neville shares a lot in common with Harry, including his orphan status, being raised by a carer he is not particularly fond of, and his admirable courage. His complex character arc and backstory make him one of the most loved characters in the series.

10. Funny: “Trevor!”

This is the Harry Potter franchise’s memorable introduction of Neville’s character in the movies. We first hear about Trevor on the train ride to Hogwarts when Hermione meets Harry and Ron. It quickly becomes apparent that Neville is wont to lose his possessions and his toad is one of them.

When the students arrive at Hogwarts, Trevor makes a rather untimely appearance in the middle of McGonagall’s introductory speech. Neville exclaims this in relief and delight, scooping his precious Trevor up from the professor’s feet. She, in turn, stares him down as he sheepishly retreats.

9. Heartbreaking: “Why Is It Always Me?”

If we had to sum up Neville’s character in one line, this would be it. He is always getting into unfortunate scrapes, from forgetting things to accidentally flying away on a broom.

On this particular occasion, a pair of cornish pixies have strung Neville up on a chandelier in Gilderoy Lockhart’s Defence Against the Dark Arts class. He hangs there, completely helpless, once again reminded of his apparent lack of luck.

8. Funny: “Do You Know There’s A Wizard In Nepal Who’s Growing Gravity-Resistant Trees?”

Although Neville faints in his first Herbology class, he later develops quite an aptitude for it. By the fourth film, he is helping Harry survive the Triwizard Tournament by researching magical plants.

Harry is busy worrying about surviving underwater for an hour as the blissfully ignorant Neville enthusiastically recites facts such as this one to Harry. Clearly, the latter couldn’t care less until Neville tells him about Gillyweed.

7. Heartbreaking: “The Cruciatus Curse.”

Neville never knew his parents because they were tortured at the wand of Bellatrix Lestrange. She used one of the three Unforgivable Curses, the Cruciatus Curse.

In The Goblet of Fire, Mad-Eye Moody, later revealed to be Barty Crouch, Jr. using a polyjuice potion, is teaching the class about these Curses and asks the students to name them. Hesitatingly, Neville names the Torture Curse, but his internal struggle is visible. Moody proceeds to torture a spider as Neville flinches. After class, he is still very distraught. His parents’ terrible fate is now something he can visualize, and likely an image of which he will never be able to rid himself.

6. Funny: “You And Whose Army?”

The Battle of Hogwarts sees many minor characters have their shining moments, and Neville has the most. He helps Harry in his plan to defeat Voldemort, defends him when everyone believes he is dead, inspires the Hogwart army to keep fighting, and slays Nagini.

He also helps Seamus Finnegan blow up the bridge. In typical Neville fashion, his timing is not the best. He gets there just as Voldemort’s entire army does. Luckily, they at first cannot get past the protective barrier surrounding Hogwarts. Neville taunts them just before Voldemort obliterates the barrier and Neville is sent running for his life from about a thousand irritated Death Eaters.

5. Heartbreaking: “I’m Quite Proud To Be Their Son. But I’m Not Sure I’m Ready For Everyone To Know Just Yet.”

Harry proves to be an inspiring teacher and role model for Dumbledore’s Army in The Order of the Phoenix. Their classroom is concealed in the Room of Requirement, where the students feel safe. They create a space of learning and friendship while honoring those who came before them, including the Order of the Phoenix.

When everyone leaves class, Neville is left alone with Harry, staring at a photograph of the Order stuck up in the room. He reveals to Harry how his parents suffered, and how he is proud to be their son. Sadly, he cannot share his life with them. Even more heartbreaking is that Neville is still trying to process their fate and needs more time to come to terms with it and what it would mean to make it public knowledge.

4. Funny: “Professor Snape.”

Most students fear Professor Snape, but few are brave enough to admit it. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin teaches a Defence Against the Dark Arts class about Boggarts. When asked to imagine what they fear most in the world, Neville names the Head of Slytherin.

The class erupts into laughter, but Lupin comforts Neville by saying that Snape frightens everyone. He then asks if he lives with his grandmother, at which Neville panics and says, “Yes, but I don’t want that Boggart to turn into her, either!”

3. Heartbreaking: “People Die Every Day. Friends, Family. We Lost Harry Tonight.”

This is possibly Neville’s greatest moment in the entire series. Despite the circumstances, he stands up to the darkest wizard of all time, full of confidence and pride.

Everyone believes that Harry is dead. The Dark Lord is gloating over the victory he supposes is finally within reach. Neville does not care what Voldemort does to him at this moment; he only wants to be heard and inspire the rest of the army. Yet Neville speaks of death as something inevitable, as if even losing Harry was inevitable.

2. Funny: “Oh, My God! I’ve Killed Harry Potter!”

After Neville helps Harry find a plant that will allow him to survive underwater for an hour, he confesses he is not sure how freshwater will affect its function. Nevertheless, Harry has no choice but to proceed while Neville’s sense of unease grows.

When Harry dives into the Black Lake, he remains submerged without a trace for a worryingly long time. Distraught, Neville turns away, grabs fistfuls of his hair, and cries out in despair while Harry, with webbed hands and feet, bursts out of the water and dives in a heroic arc behind him.

1. Heartbreaking: “I’m Mad For [Luna]. I Think It’s About Time I Told Her Since We’ll Probably Both Be Dead By Morning.”

Again, Neville accepts death as inevitable. His friends, teachers, and classmates have been dying all around him all night, and like everyone, he is sure that he will be among them. He accepts self-sacrifice and the fact that he probably will not live to see his ambitions come to fruition, let alone live a happy and peaceful life.

Luckily, it seems that Neville and Luna get their happy ending, since the last time we see them, they’re sitting together happily in the Great Hall.

[Originally shared with ScreenRant.]