Neville Longbottom learned to be a hero through the Harry Potter series, but he was very nearly chosen to be a hero from the moment of his birth. Professor Trelawney made a prophecy that a boy born at the end of July to parents that had defied Voldemort three times would have the power to vanquish Voldemort.
Voldemort chose to visit the Potters and made Harry Potter into his great foe - but Voldemort could have gone to the Longbottoms, making Neville the Chosen One. Here are 10 things that would have been different if Neville were the Chosen One.
Harry Would Not Have Grown Up As An Orphan
Harry's parents were capable fighters, and may not have had the Ministry information that rendered the Longbottoms so valuable to Voldemort. It is likely that Harry's parents would, like the Longbottoms, have survived their encounter with Voldemort's minions.
Even if the Potters had been incapacitated, Harry's godfather Sirius Black would have stepped in to raise him. No matter how the cards fell, the first eleven years of Harry's life would have been much warmer.
Snape Would Have Stayed A Death-Eater
Snape's longtime love of Lily Evans motivated him to turn against Voldemort and begin his long and fateful career as a double agent. It is clear that Snape's motivation for leaving the Death Eaters was nothing more nor less than a desire to prevent Lily's death.
If she had not been in imminent danger, Snape would not have left the Death Eaters when he did - and perhaps would never have left them at all.
The Chosen One Wouldn't Have Been Raised As A Muggle
Neville's formidable grandmother had a presence in the books. She was kind enough to take her grandson in and send him the occasional present (even if some, like Neville's Remembrall, were a bit shady), and tough enough to escape Death Eaters. Neville's great uncle also took a real interest in Neville's life. Sure, his attempts to scare a young Neville into demonstrating magic weren't always gentle, but Great Uncle Algie was delighted to see his relative prove he wasn't a Squib.
He sent Neville off to Hogwarts with the gift of Trevor the toad and stayed involved in Neville's interests. It was Great Uncle Algie who brought budding herbologist Neville his beloved Mimbulus Mimbletonia. It's hard to imagine that Neville's large, loving family would have allowed Neville to have been swept off to be raised by Muggles even if Dumbledore had proposed it. Indeed, it's not clear the Neville had non-magical relatives to take him in. Unlike Harry, Neville would have lived his whole life in the wizarding world's spotlight.
Hagrid Would Not Have Befriended Harry
Hogwarts' friendly caretaker came into Harry's life on the night of his parents' death. This dramatic bonding experience was followed up by Dumbledore dispatching Hagrid to deliver Harry's Hogwarts letter. Hagrid met a neglected orphan and taught the boy about the wonders of wizarding England - and the truth of his family's heritage.
With no Uncle Vernon and no special reason to send Hogwarts staff to attend to Harry's enrollment, Hagrid would not have had any cause to make special friends with Harry. Hagrid doesn't seem to have close friendships with students other than Harry (and through him, Ron and Hermione). If Neville were the Chosen One, Harry and Hagrid would likely not have been lifelong friends.
Sirius Black Would Never Have Gone To Prison
Peter Pettigrew's dramatic framing of Sirius Black had everything to do with the Marauders. If Voldemort's failed plot had taken place at the Longbottom residence, it's unclear that James and Lily Potter would ever have come into enough danger to bring Sirius fleeing to their home.
Pettigrew might well have thought the better of his traitorous plans if they weren't likely to garner approval from the Dark Lord himself. Indeed, unless Dumbledore suspected that Harry might be chosen, the Potters may not have sought a Secret Keeper at all. In any case, Sirius' long stint in Azkaban would have been avoided.
Draco Wouldn't Have Been The Chosen One's Archrival
Wizarding circles in Britain are not so large that Draco Malfoy would not have met Neville well before they began at school. The two children would have a good idea where they stood with each other well before heading to Hogwarts. It is clear that Harry's very public rejection of Draco in the runup to the Sorting drove Draco to turn a family grudge into a personal vendetta.
Perhaps Draco would have been moved to fight with the Chosen One regardless, the bitterness of rivalry would not have arisen without a refused handshake.
Ron Would Have Grown Up Without His Suspicious Pet
Peter Pettigrew's long stint as the Weasley family rat was inspired by a fear of retaliation from his betrayed Marauder friends. If Pettigrew had not had cause to betray the Potters, he would not have needed to hide.
Unfortunately, that would leave Ron bereft of his beloved Scabbers. That may have been a blessing in disguise - Ron's friendship with Hermione would have run much more smoothly without the conflict between Scabbers and Cruikshanks.
Ginny Might Have Killed Nagini In The Battle Of Hogwarts
Voldemort's reign of terror at Hogwarts restricted the school to children of Pureblood wizards. While both of Harry's parents were magical, it's highly debatable that the son of Muggleborn Lily Evans would have been welcome at the school.
Harry might not have been in a position to lead the Hogwarts student rebellion from within, leaving Neville's canonical co-leader Ginny Weasley to step up and save the day against Voldemort's sentient Horcrux.
Neville's Parents Would Have Suffered The Fate That Befell Harry's
Neville's loving parents were, like James and Lily Potter, members of the Order of the Phoenix and trained Aurors to boot. However, Voldemort at the height of his powers would likely have overwhelmed even the formidable Longbottoms. Neville's loving parents would undoubtedly have made a sacrifice similar to Harry's, saving Neville in the process.
Alice and Frank Longbottom, Neville's parents, were tortured into insanity by a group of Death Eaters including Bellatrix Lestrange. Perhaps the Death Eaters would have been able to break through to victimize Harry's parents.
Hogwarts' Fourth Champion Would Have Had A Different Triwizard Experience
Neville, a sweet-natured person with a temperament much less volatile than Harry's and a Pureblood lineage that may have quieted some enmity with Slytherin, might not have had such a tough time as the Triwizard Tournament's fourth champion. Neville's skill at herbology could have seen him through the second challenge, and Barty Crouch, Jr. would have made sure that challenge three was a success.
However, it's not clear that Neville, as a fourth year, would have been able to put in a good performance in the first challenge against the dragons. While Neville's bravery and fighting spirit are formidable, he was a bit of a late bloomer. Lacking special spell competency and Harry's Quidditch skills, Neville might well have struck out against a dragon.