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"My son and his wife were tortured into insanity by You-Know-Who's followers. They were Aurors, you know, and very well respected within the wizarding community. Highly gifted, the pair of them."
— Frank and Alice Longbottom's social standing and skill[src]

Frank C. J.[3] Longbottom was a pure-blood wizard, an Auror for the Ministry of Magic during Lord Voldemort's first rise to power. He was the son of Augusta Longbottom and the husband of Auror Alice Longbottom. Frank and his wife were original members of the Order of the Phoenix and fought against Death Eaters during the First Wizarding War.

At the end of the war in 1981, when their son Neville was only an infant, he and his wife were tortured into insanity by four Death Eaters. He and his wife were subsequently placed in the Janus Thickey Ward for irrevocable spell damage at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Biography[]

Early life and career[]

Frank was born to Mr Longbottom and his wife Augusta.[2] He came from an old, respected pure-blood family, considered to be one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.[4] He may have attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Ultimately, Frank became a well-respected Auror, as did his wife, Alice. At the time Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters were growing increasingly powerful, Alice and Frank joined the Order of the Phoenix to oppose them.[5]

First Wizarding War (1970s-1981)[]

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born to those to have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
Sybill Trelawney's first Prophecy[src]
Order of the Phoenix

The original Order of the Phoenix

Frank and Alice welcomed their only child, Neville, on 30 July 1980.[6][7] Shortly after being born, Neville managed to magically adjust his blankets so that they were wrapped more tightly around him, but no one witnessed this remarkable feat.[8] The midwife who attended the birth assumed that Frank had tucked the newborn boy in more snugly.[8]

As Aurors and Order members, Frank and Alice earned the wrath of Lord Voldemort by virtue of them being very efficient. They were responsible for a lot of captures, arrests, and imprisonments of his Death Eaters throughout the First Wizarding War[9] Frank and Alice would ultimately defy him three times.

The latter made their son, Neville, one of the two young infants who was the possible subject of a prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney about the person who could defeat the Dark Lord. The other infant was Harry Potter, son of Order members James and Lily Potter. Trelawney's prediction was overheard by Death Eater Severus Snape, who informed Voldemort.

The Dark Lord targeted Harry, because he was also a half-blood, and was defeated for the first time on 31 October, 1981. It is not known if the Longbottoms were told about the prophecy, as it is not known whether they disappeared into hiding, nor whether they undertook any action to prevent the Death Eaters from harming the family after Voldemort's fall.

Permanent incapacitation (1981-?)[]

Albus Dumbledore: "His father, Frank, was an Auror just like Professor Moody. He and his wife were tortured for information about Voldemort’s whereabouts after he lost his powers, as you heard."
Harry Potter: "So they're dead?"
Albus Dumbledore: "No. They are insane. They are both in St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. I believe Neville visits them, with his grandmother, during the holidays. They do not recognise him."
— Frank's and Alice's unfortunate fate[src]
B4C30M1 Wizengamot trial Pensieve memory

Bellatrix, Rodolphus, and Rabastan Lestrange along with Barty Crouch Jnr are tried before the Council of Magical Law

Shortly afterward, Alice and Frank were attacked by Death Eaters Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, and Bartemius Crouch Jnr. They were captured[10] and tortured extensively with the Cruciatus Curse. Although the Death Eaters were caught and sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban for their crimes, their victims would never recover.

B5C23M1 Christmas at St Mungo's

Augusta and Neville visiting Frank and Alice

Frank was deemed insane, and lost his capability to function in society. He and Alice were placed in the permanent ward of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries,[11] where they would reside for the rest of their lives, not even being able to recognise their son.[12]

Because of Frank and Alice's inability to care for their son, Neville was raised in the care of his grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, Frank's mother. Neville regularly visits his parents for Christmas and other holidays, although they do not overtly recognise Neville on these visits.

Neville was taunted about his parents' state by one of their attackers, Bellatrix Lestrange, during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.[13] Neville witnessed the death of Bellatrix at Molly Weasley's hands during the Battle of Hogwarts.[14]

Personality and traits[]

Bellatrix Lestrange: "Neville Longbottom, is it? How's mum and dad?"
Neville Longbottom: "Better now that they're about to be avenged!"
Bellatrix Lestrange taunting Neville in 1996[src]

Frank was a well-respected Auror and member of the Order of the Phoenix. It is said that he and his wife were very beloved among the wizarding world. After they were tortured into insanity, he couldn't recognise his son, but Neville still loved them.

Magical abilities and skills[]

  • Magical mastery: In addition to being a highly talented Auror, implying that he achieved the necessary grades in his O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, Frank was a valued member of the Order of the Phoenix and a highly competent wizard. He successfully defied Lord Voldemort on three separate occasions and survived the actual war unscathed, only afterwards was he subjected to horrendous torture by Bellatrix Lestrange and her cohorts.[15]
  • Auror skills: As an official Dark Wizard catcher, Frank Longbottom was an accomplished and skilful wizard. Along with his wife and fellow Auror Alastor Moody, he successfully rounded up many of the Dark Lord's followers throughout the latter's first rise to power. Despite his considerable ability, however, he was unable to fight off the group of some of the fiercest supporters of Lord Voldemort that targeted him and his wife shortly after Lord Voldemort's disappearance, and were captured by them and subsequently tortured to insanity by Death Eaters looking for information about the whereabouts of their fallen leader, namely Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, along with Barty Crouch Jnr.

Relationships[]

Family[]

Longbottom family portrait

Frank with his wife and infant son

Frank and his wife were Aurors and members of the first Order of the Phoenix. They had a son named Neville together. When Neville was only a year old, Frank and Alice were tortured to insanity by four Death Eaters. The Death Eaters were imprisoned for life in Azkaban, but Frank and Alice required permanent care at St Mungo's.

Neville was very sad about his parents, and visited them in the hospital, although they could not recognise him, he was also "quite proud" to be their son as he told Harry Potter in 1995. Augusta Longbottom, Frank's mother, was also very sad. She too had a high opinion of them and was very proud when her grandson fought in several battles, like his parents, she even stated that he was finally starting to "live up to his father at last."

Order of the Phoenix[]

Other members of the Order of the Phoenix appeared to have had a good relationship with Frank and Alice during the First Wizarding War. Some of them, such as Alastor Moody, were very sad that the Longbottoms were tortured into insanity. Moody also stated that the Longbottoms would have preferred to die than live in insanity.

Etymology[]

  • Frank is an English word meaning free or truthful.
  • His name could also be from Frank Sidebottom.
  • The Franks were a Germanic tribe that settled in France and the Netherlands. The name is derived from a word meaning "spear."

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 21 images related to Frank Longbottom.

Notes and references[]

  1. When Neville was born in July 1980, Frank was an Auror (Confirmed by Bellatrix who describes Neville to Voldemort as "the son of the Aurors" in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). Three years of Auror training would put Frank's graduation from Hogwarts, at the latest, in July 1977. To graduate from Hogwarts in 1977, Frank would have been at Hogwarts from September 1970 to July 1977. To be eleven years old in 1970, Frank would need to have been born between September 2nd 1958 - which would have made him just too young for the 1969 school year and almost twelve - and August 31st 1959 - which would make him just old enough to start in 1970. As well as this, Frank defied Voldemort at least 3 times ("thrice defied" like Lily and James) and may also not have gone straight into the Auror service, so there is at least another year to accommodate for, putting Frank's birth - at the latest - at some point between 1 September 1957 and 31 August 1959 to fit him being an Auror at the time of Neville's birth.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Longbottom family tree from Pottermore
  3. The trophy list for Philosopher's Stone has F. C. J. Longbottom written on it. Given the time period, this can only be Frank, so his middle names begin with C and J.
  4. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Pure-Blood" at Wizarding World
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 23 (Christmas on the Closed Ward) - "Ron stopped craning his neck to catch a glimpse of Neville’s parents and looked mortified. “They were Aurors, you know, and very well respected within the Wizarding community,” Mrs Longbottom went on. “Highly gifted, the pair of them. I — yes, Alice dear, what is it?”"
  6. J. K. Rowling's official site - F.A.Q. questions (archived here via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine)
  7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 37 (The Lost Prophecy)
  8. 8.0 8.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Quill of Acceptance and The Book of Admittance" at Wizarding World
  9. PotterCast Interviews J.K. Rowling, part 1 (December 17, 2007)
  10. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) Igor Karkaroff says: "I know for a fact that this person took part in the capture, and by means of the Criuciatus Curse, torture of the Auror Frank Longbottom and his Wife!" thus confirming that Alice and and Frank were captured and then tortured.
  11. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 23 (Christmas on the Closed Ward)
  12. NBC Interview with J.K. Rowling: Beyond the Epilogue
  13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 34 (The Department of Mysteries)
  14. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36 (The Flaw in the Plan)
  15. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 30 (The Pensieve)
Department of Magical Law Enforcement employees
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Heads of Department
Justus Pilliwickle · Torquil Travers · Bartemius Crouch Senior · Amelia Bones · Pius Thicknesse · Corban Yaxley · Arthur Weasley · Harry Potter
Auror Office
Heads: Theseus Scamander · Rufus Scrimgeour · Gawain Robards · Harry Potter
Mordecai Berrycloth · John Dawlish · Penelope Fawley · Dorian Fungbury · Timothy Hale · Alice Longbottom · Frank Longbottom · Neville Longbottom · Patricia McManners · Alastor Moody · Alastor Moody's father · Riya Patel · Proudfoot · Savage · Kingsley Shacklebolt · Nymphadora Tonks · Ronald Weasley · Williamson · Unidentified Aurors · Helen Thistlewood · Solomon Sallow · Aesop Sharp · Aesop Sharp's partner · Unidentified male Auror at Hogwarts · Director of the Investigation Department No. 61042
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Council of Magical Law guards · Leta Lestrange · Minerva McGonagall · Elphinstone Urquart · Elton Elderberry · Alastor Gumboil · Arnold Peasegood · Arthur Weasley · Perkins · Bilius Finbok · Cerberus Langarm · Hermione Granger · Bob Ogden · Constance Pickering · Ruth Singer · Tulip Karasu's mother · Tulip Karasu's father · Dempster Wiggleswade · Amelia Bones's assistant · Arthur Weasley's ten subordinates · Unidentified Hit Wizard · Unidentified Wizengamot clerk · Director of the Investigation Department and Ministry Police
Order of the Phoenix
Fawkes WB F2 FawkesIllustration V2 Illust
Founder:
Albus Dumbledore
Leaders:
Albus Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Kingsley Shacklebolt
Original Order of of the Phoenix:
Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Alice Longbottom | Arabella Figg | Benjy Fenwick | Caradoc Dearborn | Dedalus Diggle | Dorcas Meadowes | Edgar Bones | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fabian Prewett | Frank Longbottom | Gideon Prewett | James Potter | Lily Potter | Marlene McKinnon | Mundungus Fletcher | Peter Pettigrew (defected) | Remus Lupin | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Reconstituted Order of the Phoenix:
Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Arabella Figg | Arthur Weasley | Bill Weasley | Charlie Weasley | Dedalus Diggle | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fleur Delacour | Fred Weasley | George Weasley | Harry Potter | Hermione Granger | Hestia Jones | Kingsley Shacklebolt | Minerva McGonagall | Molly Weasley | Mundungus Fletcher | Nymphadora Tonks | Remus Lupin | Ron Weasley | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Order of the Phoenix allies:
Andromeda Tonks | Augusta Longbottom | Buckbeak | Dobby | Fawkes | Filius Flitwick | Firenze | Garrick Ollivander | Ginny Weasley | Grawp | Helena Ravenclaw | Horace Slughorn | Karkus | Karkus's wife | Kreacher | Lee Jordan | Luna Lovegood | McKinnon family | Mr Westenberg | Mrs Westenberg | Muriel | Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington | Neville Longbottom | Oliver Wood | Olympe Maxime | Rita Skeeter | Patrick Delaney-Podmore | Peeves | Percy Weasley | Pomona Sprout | Poppy Pomfrey | Sybill Trelawney | Ted Tonks | The Fallen Fifty | Westenberg family | Winky | Xenophilius Lovegood
Other affiliations:
Dumbledore's Army | Forbidden Forest Centaur colony | Headless Hunt | Hogwarts Hippogriff herd | Hogwarts house-elves | Hogwarts Ghosts | Hogwarts Staff |
Hogwarts students | Hogwarts Thestral herd | British Ministry of Magic | Giant colony (Karkus's control)
St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
Founder: Mungo Bonham
Locations
Alchemy Room · 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn Ward: Serious Bites · Entrance dummy · Hospital Ward · Janus Thickey Ward · Poisoning Department · Purge and Dowse, Ltd · St Mungo's Admissions Department · St Mungo's Certified Healer Insignia · St Mungo's student programme
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Positions Healer · Mediwizard · Trainee Healer · Welcome Witch St Mungo's emblem
Healers Astrid Cole · Dilys Derwent · Omar Abasi · Eustace Burke · Ruby Honeysuckle · Lancelot · Chiara Lobosca · Rutherford Poke · Augustus Pye · Hippocrates Smethwyck · Helbert Spleen · Miriam Strout · Portrait of a Healer · Wiggins · Talbott Winger's mother
Patients
Katie Bell · Bilton Bilmes · Bitten St Mungo's patient · Barnabus Blenkinsop · Philbert Chivers · Herbert Chorley · William Dale · John Dawlish · Andre Egwu's sister · Fugitive werewolf · Dorian Fungbury · Grubby-looking St Mungo's patient · Rubeus Hagrid · Penny Haywood · Gordon Horton · Jacob · Tulip Karasu · Cecil Lee · Cassandra Mason's tenants · Minerva McGonagall · Tasmina McLaggen · Eloise Mintumble · Montgomery · Naasz · Esme Page · Miriam Strout · Laura Thorn · Nymphadora Tonks · Unidentified dragonologist · Unidentified St Mungo's patient · Unidentified werewolf · Arthur Weasley · Ginevra Weasley · Winged St Mungo's patient · Winifred Warrington
Long-term residents Agnes · Alice Longbottom · Broderick Bode (deceased) · Frank Longbottom · Gilderoy Lockhart · Zenith Xeep
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