The Prophecy and Its Implications
The prophecy that set everything in motion stated: "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." This description fits two families: the Potters and the Longbottoms. Harry Potter was born on July 31st, while Neville Longbottom was born just a day earlier, on July 30th. What if Voldemort had chosen Neville instead of Harry that fateful Halloween night?
Halloween 1981: A Different Fate
In this alternate timeline, Voldemort learns of the prophecy from Severus Snape, his spy. Instead of targeting Harry, he decides to eliminate Neville, the pureblood child he sees as a greater threat. The Longbottoms are in hiding under the Fidelius Charm, but their secret keeper betrays them. As Voldemort arrives at their cottage, Frank Longbottom tries to protect his family, but falls victim to Voldemort's curse.
Augusta Longbottom, Neville's grandmother, stands with Alice Longbottom to protect the baby. When Voldemort offers them a chance to step aside, they refuse. Their fierce love and sacrifice create a powerful protective magic that rebounds Voldemort's curse, marking Neville with a lightning-shaped scar. In this moment, Neville becomes the Boy Who Lived, while both his parents and grandmother perish.
A Different Upbringing
Unlike Harry, who grows up with the neglectful Dursleys, Neville is sent to live with his great-uncle Algie and great-aunt Enid. While they are pureblood wizards, their household comes with its own set of problems. Algie worries that Neville might be a squib and subjects him to dangerous tests to provoke magical reactions. These well-intentioned tests create a deeply insecure child, one burdened by the weight of his parents' legacy and the expectations of the wizarding world.
Arriving at Hogwarts
When Neville arrives at Hogwarts, he does so not with Harry's wide-eyed wonder but with crippling self-doubt. The sorting hat's decision becomes critical. In the original timeline, it took nearly five minutes to decide on Gryffindor for Neville. Would the hat still recognize his hidden courage? Let's imagine it does, and Neville joins the table where Harry Potter, the confident son of two renowned auras, is seated.
The Trio Reimagined
As the years progress, the friendships that form will be fundamentally different. Would Hermione Granger, brilliant yet socially awkward, befriend the timid Neville? What about Ron Weasley, who struggles with his own insecurities? In this timeline, Hermione sees Neville's struggles and offers to help him study, while Ron, drawn to Neville's humility, becomes protective of him. This trio forms a different kind of bond, each bringing unique strengths to the table.
Facing the Philosopher's Stone
When facing the challenges surrounding the Philosopher's Stone, this trio approaches problems differently. Neville's knowledge of herbology helps them navigate the Devil's Snare, Hermione's logic solves the potion riddle, and Ron's strategic mind navigates the giant chess set. However, the final confrontation with Quirrell requires something Neville has yet to discover: true courage.
The Chamber of Secrets
In the second year, the opening of the Chamber of Secrets presents a unique challenge. Without Harry's ability to speak Parseltongue, Neville cannot hear the basilisk lurking in the walls. Perhaps Hermione figures out the monster is a basilisk, but before she can relay this information, she gets petrified. Neville and Ron must find another way to uncover the chamber's location.
Maybe they enlist Professor Flitwick's help to mimic the snake language phonetically. Down in the Chamber, Neville faces Tom Riddle's shade. Riddle taunts him, questioning his worthiness as the Chosen One. But here, facing his deepest insecurities, something awakens in Neville. When the basilisk attacks, he displays his first act of true courage by saving Ginny Weasley, showing heroism rooted in compassion.
Sirius Black and the Dementors
In the third year, Sirius Black is not framed for betraying the Potters, altering the course of events significantly. Perhaps Bellatrix Lestrange escapes from Azkaban, seeking revenge on the Boy Who Lived. When Dementors search the Hogwarts Express, Neville hears haunting voices from his past: his grandmother's fierce defiance and his mother's pleading cries. Professor Lupin notices Neville's extreme reaction and becomes a mentor figure.
Though Neville struggles with the Patronus Charm, his breakthrough comes when he imagines a future where he lives up to his family's sacrifices. His Patronus takes the shape of a lion, symbolizing the Gryffindor courage he is beginning to find within himself.
The Triwizard Tournament
Fourth year brings the Triwizard Tournament and another key divergence. Neville's name comes out of the Goblet of Fire as an unexpected fourth champion, manipulated by Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Mad-Eye Moody. Lacking Harry's natural athleticism, Neville's performance is disastrous until he leans on his true strength: herbology. Using magical plants, he distracts the dragon and retrieves the golden egg.
In the second task, Neville's knowledge of magical water plants like Gillyweed gives him an advantage. The final task leads to the graveyard where Voldemort waits. Though Cedric still dies, when Voldemort forces Neville to duel, he must rely on different skills to escape, perhaps using his knowledge of magical plants to create a momentary distraction.
Fifth Year: The Order of the Phoenix
In the fifth year, the Order of the Phoenix exists, but with James and Lily Potter as active members. Without Harry as the target, Umbridge’s focus turns to Neville, who is labeled a disturbed attention seeker claiming Voldemort's return. Dumbledore's Army still forms, but who leads it? Perhaps Harry becomes the natural teacher, while Neville joins, eager but struggling with most defensive spells.
As the DA continues, Neville shows surprising aptitude with plant-based defensive spells. His vision lures him to the Department of Mysteries, where the prophecy orb bears his name alongside Voldemort's. When it shatters in battle, Neville finds validation in the knowledge that he was chosen, a source of strength rather than a burden.
Sixth Year: Dumbledore's Trust
In the sixth year, Dumbledore begins to share memories of Voldemort's past with Neville. However, his insecurities lead him to focus on the wrong details. Professor Slughorn's Slug Club has a different composition, with Neville's extraordinary gift for herbology finally recognized. Draco Malfoy's mission to kill Dumbledore proceeds, but without personal animosity, making Neville less suspicious of Draco's activities.
When Dumbledore takes Neville to retrieve the Horcrux, Neville's unique strengths come into play. Instead of fighting in fury, he recognizes magical plants that can counteract the potion's effects, showcasing his intelligence.
The Final Year and the Battle of Hogwarts
The final year sees Neville, Ron, and Hermione on the run, hunting Horcruxes. Their dynamic differs significantly from the original trio. Neville's lack of decisive leadership often leads him to defer to Hermione and Ron. Yet, his botanical knowledge proves invaluable during their journey.
When they reach Hogwarts for the final battle, the atmosphere has changed. Jinny Weasley and Luna Lovegood lead the resistance against Voldemort's forces, with a more confident Harry Potter standing alongside them. Initially overshadowed by established leaders, Neville finds his voice and rallies the community with a message of empathy and protection.
Lessons Learned: A New Kind of Hero
Neville's victory over Voldemort isn't a result of wand law or magical prowess but stems from the power of a united community. He embodies the lesson that true strength can grow from vulnerability, and life can triumph over death and destruction. In this timeline, Neville does not seek a quiet life away from fame; he embraces a public role, perhaps as a Hogwarts professor, revolutionizing herbology education.
His most significant achievement could be developing a plant-based treatment to help victims of the Cruciatus Curse recover. Meanwhile, Harry, unburdened by prophecy, might become the youngest head of the Auror office, following in his parents' footsteps.
Conclusion: The Power of Choices
This alternate timeline teaches us that destiny is both fixed and fluid. The prophecy would have been fulfilled either way, but the paths diverge dramatically. Harry and Neville represent two sides of the same prophetic coin, capable of vanquishing darkness in their unique ways. Each character's journey is shaped differently, showcasing that heroism can manifest in various forms.
So, what do you think? Would Neville have made a different kind of hero? Would he have struggled more or found his strength sooner? Share your thoughts below!