Alice Longbottom

Alice Longbottom was an Auror who worked for the Ministry of Magic during Lord Voldemort's first rise to power. She and her husband, Frank Longbottom, were also members of the Order of the Phoenix and fought against the Death Eaters during the First Wizarding War. At the end of the war, when their son Neville was only an infant, Alice and Frank were tortured into insanity by Death Eaters, and subsequently placed in St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

First Wizarding War
"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...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 prophecy

Little is known about Alice's early life. After graduating from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Alice became a well-respected Auror, as did her husband, Frank. At the time, Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters were growing increasingly powerful, and Alice and Frank joined the Order of the Phoenix to oppose them.

As Aurors and Order members, Alice and Frank defied Voldemort himself three times. This 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, perhaps because he was also a half-blood, and was defeated for the first time on October 31, 1981.

Permanent Incapacitation
Shortly afterwards, Alice and Frank were attacked by Death Eaters Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange, as well as Barty Crouch, Jr.. They were tortured extensively with the Cruciatus Curse, and although the Death Eaters were caught and sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban for their crimes, their victims would never recover. Alice was deemed insane, and lost her capability to function in society. She and Frank were placed in the permanent ward of St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, where they would reside for the rest of their lives.

"‘Again?’ said Mrs. Longbottom, sounding slightly weary. ‘Very well, Alice dear, very well – Neville, take it, whatever it is…’ But Neville had already stretched out his hand, into which his mother dropped an empty Drooble's Best Blowing Gum wrapper. ‘Very nice, dear,’ said Neville's grandmother in a falsely cheery voice, patting his mother on the shoulder. But Neville said quietly, ‘Thanks, Mum.’"

- Alice and her son in 1995

Because of Alice's inability to care for her 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. Though his parents do not overtly recognize Neville on these visits, Alice customarily gives her son chewing gum wrappers, which he keeps. Neville was taunted about his parents' state by one of their attackers, Bellatrix Lestrange, during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and also witnessed her death at Molly Weasley's hands during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Physical appearance
Alice is a round-faced woman, and her son Neville resembles her quite strongly. By the mid-1990s, her hair had become wispy and grey.

Personality and traits
Alice was a well-respected auror and member of the Order of the Phoenix. It is said that she and her husband were very beloved among the wizarding world. After they were tortured into insanity, Alice wasn't able to recognise her son, although she recognises Neville as someone she is fond of.

Family
Alice and her husband were aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix. They had together a son named Neville. Few months after Neville's birth, Alice and Frank were tortured into insanity by four Death Eaters. The Death Eaters were life-imprisoned in Azkaban, but Frank and Alice were permanantely sent to St Mungo. Neville was very sad about his parents, and visited them to the hospital, although they couldn't recognise him. Augusta Longbottom, Alice's mother-in-law, was also very sad, she had a highly opinion of them, and was very proud when her grandson fought in several battles, like his parents.

Etymology
The name Alice is derived from the French name Adelais, which is in turn derived from the Germanic name Adalheidis, from the Germanic word elements adal, meaning "noble", and heid, meaning "type". Alice was the name of the heroine of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.

Behind the scenes

 * J. K. Rowling stated in interview the significance of the candy wrappers: "That idea was one of the very few that was inspired by a real event. I was told what, to me, was a very sad story by someone I know about their elderly mother who had Alzheimer's, and the elderly mother was in a closed ward. She was very severely demented and no longer recognized her son, but he went faithfully to visit her twice a week, and he used to take her sweets. That was their point of connection; she had a sweet tooth, she recognized him as the sweet-giver. That was very poignant to me. So I embroidered the story. Neville gives his mother what she wants, and (it makes me sad to think of it) she wants to give something back to him, but what she gives back to him is essentially worthless. But he still takes it as worth something because she's trying to give, so it does mean something, in emotional terms."

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)

Notes and references
Alice Longbottom Alice Londubat Алиса Долгопупс