Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom are two of the most significant characters in the Harry Potter franchise. While Harry is front and center, Neville exists as more ing and background, yet becomes one of the most integral characters when he is needed most. Killing Voldemort was meant to be Harry's destiny from the moment Voldemort marked him. But, that doesn't mean others could not kill Voldemort if the situation called for it.
Had Voldemort not chosen Harry, Neville Longbottom was the next available option to fit the prophecy. When the boys reached Hogwarts, they were very different in how they handled things, but there were times Neville showed the type of Gryffindor he really was, such as when he ed Harry at the Department of Mysteries. While Neville's bigger bravery moments came and went, he really stepped up during his seventh year when things were the worst they had ever been.
Neville: Worthy Of The Sword Of Gryffindor
The Sword of Gryffindor will appear to a Gryffindor when they need it most. Harry was granted the sword in his fight against the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. During the escape from Gringotts, Harry was forced to give up the sword to Griphook because of their deal.
Afterward, the sword disappeared for some time, only to reappear in the Sorting Hat when Neville Longbottom needed it. The Sword of Gryffindor appeared to Neville at the perfect moment for him to use it, deeming him a worthy Gryffindor that could very well face off against the Dark Lord.
Harry: The Prophecy Said So
Destiny and fate played an interesting role in the events of October 31, 1981. Voldemort had not known the full prophecy, just enough to understand that a boy would have the ability to defeat him.
When Voldemort attempted to kill Harry, leaving a lightning bolt scar on his forehead, he marked Harry, completing a part of the prophecy. By doing so, Harry became the Chosen One.
Neville: The Other Possibility For The Chosen One
The prophecy did not only refer to Harry, though. Neville Longbottom was the other option for a boy born at the end of July. Had Voldemort chosen differently, Neville would have sported the scar and been The Boy Who Lived.
Although Neville did not hold as much confidence or curiosity as Harry, things may have differed if Neville was The Chosen One. Neville became one of Harry's strongest allies, and there was a good chance that if Harry had truly died, Neville could have finished the job and destroyed Voldemort.
Harry: Horcruxes
Being a Horcrux became Harry's reason for ing Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest. He knew that if he didn't die that a part of Voldemort would continue to reside within Harry. This may be one of the biggest reasons why it could not have been Neville.
If anyone had killed Voldemort before Harry could die and the remaining Horcruxes could be destroyed, Voldemort would return later. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the only ones that knew about Voldemort's Horcruxes, keeping it secret even as they searched Hogwarts for Ravenclaw's Diadem.
Neville: Leader Of Dumbledore's Army
While Harry, Ron, and Hermione were off searching for Horcruxes, someone had to step up when Snape became Heaster, and the Carrows created dangerous havoc amongst the students. To help protect the other students and keep hope alive, Neville became the person Hogwarts needed.
Neville stood up to the Carrows, recreated Dumbledore's Army, and became a leader and protector to his friends. Ginny and Luna stepped up to help him, and the three of them acted as the resistance at Hogwarts until Harry could finish his mission.
Harry: Avenging His Parents
Neville's parents were tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and other Death Eaters. However, Voldemort killed James and Lily, giving Harry more personal reasons to hate Voldemort.
Had Voldemort never come, Harry would have grown up with his parents. He would have had a happier life with James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus than ever experienced with the Durselys.
Neville: Killed Nagini
While how this comes about differs in the books and films, the moment is still epic for Neville. In the novels, Harry gives Neville instructions to kill Nagini.
When Voldemort and the Death Eaters arrive with Harry's dead body and Voldemort sets the Sorting Hat on fire on top of Neville's head, Neville reaches for the Sword of Gryffindor and slays Nagini in front of everyone. In the film, Neville arrives just in time to save Ron and Hermione's lives, killing Nagini with the sword.
Harry: More Life Experience Fighting The Dark Arts
Between Harry and Neville, Harry had far more experience fighting dark wizards and creatures. From his first year and onward, Harry has some form of horrifying experience of killing or fighting someone or something trying to kill him.
With everything Harry had experienced and survived, Harry made much more sense to deliver the final blow to Voldemort, as he had more practice in these sorts of situations.
Neville: Stood Up To Voldemort When No One Else Did
When Voldemort and his followers showed up with Harry's dead body, everyone is horrified, devastated, and angry. Yet, as Voldemort speaks to the crowd, the only one to step up and speak out against Voldemort is Neville.
Neville delivers a speech about knowing that those they loved and lost have not died in vain and that Dumbledore's Army will succeed anyway. This is an exciting moment for Neville, who proves to have grown so much from the forgetful boy he was at eleven in the novel and film.
Harry: Can Understand Voldemort
There are moments where Harry claims that he can understand Voldemort because of their backgrounds. They both grew up not knowing who they truly were, and each found a much happier life at Hogwarts than they had growing up.
Even without a piece of Voldemort's soul in Harry's head, had everything else played out the same, Harry still likely would have understood this. Understanding his enemy gave Harry an edge, a way to guess that Voldemort hid a Horcrux in Hogwarts.
