Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 certainly set up a romance between Neville and Luna, but do they end up together?

It goes without saying that the Harry Potter movies often strayed from the books, making a ton of alterations. However, one of the most interesting adjustments can be seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, notably through the relationship between Neville and Luna. Throughout the books, Neville and Luna were close friends – something which was often glossed over in the movies. However, Deathly Hallows: Part 2 introduced an interesting romantic subplot to the pair’s dynamic.

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Neville rushes up to Harry and asks if he’s seen Luna anywhere. Harry is evidently confused by Neville’s sudden rush to find Luna, but Neville responds to Harry’s confusion by declaring: “I’m mad for her! I think it's probably time I told her since we'll probably both be dead by dawn”. After the Battle, Neville and Luna are seen sitting next to each other, smiling. It’s safe to say that after witnessing this scene, fans assumed that the pair ended up together, but do Neville and Luna actually end up getting married?

What Happened to Neville and Luna After the Battle of Hogwarts?

Throughout the series, Neville and Luna were often pushed to the side. Being eccentric characters, they often didn’t fit in with their peers and were frequently picked on as a result. On top of this, the pair both shared tragic backstories. Luna had lost her mother at a young age and Neville’s parents couldn’t remember him after being tortured by Death Eaters. As seen via their close friendship in the books, they understood each other and sympathized with one another’s grief. Because of this, some fans believed that they were the perfect fit for each other and were overjoyed by the movie introducing a romantic dynamic to their relationship.

However, whilst it’s easy to assume that the pair ended up together, they actually went their separate ways. After the Battle of Hogwarts, Luna and Neville sadly drifted apart and ended up pursuing their individual paths – so what actually happened to them following the events of the Second Wizarding War?

Following Voldemort’s defeat, Neville briefly worked as an Auror, however, he later went on to pursue a teaching career at Hogwarts. In true Neville fashion, he worked as a Herbology Professor and was incredibly popular. He was proud of his achievements in the Second Wizarding War and often brought in his Dumbledore’s Army badge to show his students. Neville’s teaching career is mentioned in the Deathly Hallows’ epilogue when James Potter refers to him as ‘Professor Longbottom’. After Minerva McGonagall became Hogwarts’ Headmistress, Neville went on to become the Head of Gryffindor. His exceptional courage and perseverance made him the perfect representative for Gryffindor’s House values.

Meanwhile, Luna left her Hogwarts life behind and became a renowned wizarding naturalist. She traveled around the world, discovering new species of magical creatures. Throughout the Harry Potter franchise, Luna has always had a great love of animals, as seen when she taught Harry about Thestrals. This provides Luna’s story with a satisfying conclusion. Although Neville and Luna didn’t end up together, they did go on to find love with other people – so who did Neville and Luna end up marrying?

Who Does Neville Marry?

Sometime after the events of the Second Wizarding War, Neville marries Hannah Abbott, a former Hogwarts’ student. Hannah was in the same year as Neville and the Golden Trio, and was also a member of Hufflepuff. Whilst the movies largely gloss over Hannah’s character, her name frequently crops up throughout the books, particularly in Order of the Phoenix when she was a member of Dumbledore’s Army.

Like Neville, Hannah also had experienced tragedy and grief in her life. During her sixth year at Hogwarts, Hannah’s mother was tragically killed by Death Eaters. This event is described within Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: “There had been a horrible incident the day before, when Hannah Abbott had been taken out of Herbology to be told her mother had been found dead. They had not seen Hannah since”. Following the death of her mother, Hannah was pulled out of Hogwarts, but she bravely returned to rejoin Dumbledore’s Army and fight in the Battle of Hogwarts.

During her later life, Hannah became the landlady of the famous Leaky Cauldron pub. During this time, both her and Neville lived above the pub. However, Hannah went on to train as a Healer and applied for the job of Matron at Hogwarts. It’s interesting that both Hannah and Neville found themselves back at Hogwarts, showcasing the pair’s similarities. Fans have also pointed out how Neville shares plenty of Hufflepuff’s core traits, making him and Hannah a seemingly good match.

Who Does Luna Marry?

Luna also found love in her later life when she married Rolf Scamander, Newt Scamander’s Grandson. Clearly following in his Grandfather’s footsteps, Rolf was a fellow wizarding naturalist and had a great interest in magical creatures – just like Luna. The pair went on to have twin sons named Lorcan and Lysander.

Whilst little is known about Luna and Rolf’s life together, it’s clear that they had a lot in common, making them a perfect fit. Harry Potter has often been criticized for its tendency to create rushed and somewhat awkward romances, such as Harry and Ginny and even Ron and Hermione to a certain extent. It’s somewhat satisfying to know that Neville and Luna’s later marriages did not fall victim to this trope.

Even Evanna Lynch, who portrayed Luna throughout the movies, commented on why Luna and Neville’s romance wouldn’t have worked out. In an interview with Seventeen, Lynch described Neville as “a homebody, a stay-at-home dad”, meanwhile she emphasized that “Luna wants to go out and explore the world and different creatures”. Whilst many fans believe that the pair are perfectly matched, it appears that Luna might’ve ended up sacrificing her eccentricity if she married Neville, who seems more traditional in comparison to Luna. Although Luna and Neville didn’t work out, it’s clear that they both went on to find happiness.

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