Frank and Alice Longbottom’s story in ‘Harry Potter‘ is one of the most upsetting parts of the wizarding world. They were not caught in a battle or killed during the war. Instead, something far worse happened to them after everything was supposed to be over. Voldemort had fallen. People thought they were finally safe.
But somewhere in the shadows, a group of Death Eaters refused to accept that the war was done. And because of what they believed, Neville’s parents paid a terrible price.
Frank and Alice Were Still Seen As Enemies In ‘Harry Potter’
Frank and Alice Longbottom were not ordinary witches and wizards. They came from respected pure-blood families and became Aurors after Hogwarts. Both were known for being strong, skilled, and brave, especially when it came to fighting dark magic. During the First Wizarding War, they joined the Order of the Phoenix.
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They fought alongside Lily and James Potter, Sirius Black, and Albus Dumbledore. They were fully involved in the fight against Death Eaters, not watching from the sidelines. Fans first learn about them through an old photograph of the original Order members. In the picture, Frank and Alice are smiling and relaxed. When Harry looks at it later, he notices something striking: Alice looks exactly like Neville. Harry realises he knows her face because she is the image of her son, even though he has never met her.
That moment becomes even more emotional in the Order of the Phoenix film. Neville stares at the photo, and Harry understands right away. Harry tells Neville they will make their parents proud, then looks at his own parents in the same picture. Both boys share a loss that never really goes away.
The Lie That Pushed The Death Eaters To Torture the Longbottoms
The attack on Neville’s parents happened after Voldemort had already fallen. Dumbledore later explains that this was when people believed the danger was gone. But some Death Eaters refused to accept that Voldemort was truly defeated. They believed he was still alive and being secretly held by the Order of the Phoenix. This idea was strongly pushed by Bellatrix Lestrange, who could not accept losing her Dark Lord.
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In her mind, Voldemort had not failed; he was just waiting to be found. Because Frank and Alice were Aurors and Order members, Bellatrix believed they knew something. She led a group of Death Eaters to capture them and force information out of them about Voldemort. They used the Cruciatus Curse, one of the Unforgivable Curses, meant only to cause extreme pain. Even under constant torture, Frank and Alice never told the Death Eaters anything.
Neville later explains that his parents were tortured for information, but never gave in. Their situation was made worse by the belief as well. Even though they were pure-bloods, Frank and Alice rejected Voldemort’s ideas about blood purity. That made them “blood traitors” in Death Eater eyes, which likely made the torture even more cruel.
The outcome of the torture is revealed in Goblet of Fire. When Harry asks Dumbledore if Neville’s parents are dead, Dumbledore explains that they are alive, but their minds are broken. They were placed in St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, where they remain.
The Cruciatus Curse destroyed their memories. They no longer recognise Neville. Dumbledore explains that Neville visits them with his grandmother during the holidays, but they do not know who he is. Mad-Eye Moody later calls this fate worse than death.
The Order of the Phoenix book shows this pain clearly. While visiting Mr Weasley at St Mungo’s, Harry, Ron, and Hermione see Neville with his grandmother. Harry notices Alice Longbottom, thin, tired, with white hair and distant eyes.
Alice gives Neville a Droobles Best Blowing Gum wrapper. She does not know he is her son, but she still tries to give him something. That small moment breaks fans every time. Frank and Alice were tortured because Death Eaters believed they had answers. They never did. And Neville grew up with parents who were alive, but lost to him forever.
