Author's Note: Written for…

Next Gen Competition. Prompt: Frank Longbottom II has argument with a parent.

Family Treble

Neville sighed, rummaging through the potions cabinet. He could feel a headache coming on and of course they were out of pain relievers.

"You're avoiding the subject."

Neville cringed, rubbing his head. He turned around to glare at the teenage boy leaning in the kitchen doorway.

"I'm not avoiding anything. The conversation is over," he told the boy crossly.

All Neville had wanted was to spend a peaceful afternoon with his son while Hannah and their daughter were out. It was only a few weeks until the start of school and then he'd be too busy grading papers and looking after the school greenhouses to see much of his kids.

He should've known better than to think he'd actually get any peace with a seventeen-year-old in the house. The moment Hannah was out of the house, the boy had dropped the bombshell.

"We haven't worked anything out yet, Dad."

"You're not dropping out of school to start a band, Francis," Neville snapped.

"That's not your decision. And my name is Frank, not Francis."

Neville tried not to cringe. He'd never liked the idea of using his parents' names, but Hannah had insisted and Gran loved the idea, so Francis had been a compromise. It wasn't until quite recently that the boy decided he'd rather shorten his name.

"You're seventeen," the professor continued, carefully closing the cabinet so as not to make any more noise. He poured himself a cup of tea instead, hoping it would help with the headache. "You're going to school."

"I'm an adult now, I can choose not to." Despite his anger, the teenager accepted a cup from his father and joined him at the kitchen table.

"You're seventeen and you need to complete your NEWTs," Neville reminded him. He wanted to add how disastrous it would probably be for his career, having a child drop out of school where he taught. He had a feeling Francis – Frank, wouldn't be so sympathetic.

Frank scowled. "You just don't want me to start a band."

"I have nothing against the music industry, and your mother and I have accepted that you're headed for that line of work, I just think you should wait until you're done with school. Also, get a better band."

"But we all work so great together! And I can't go by Reincarnate unless I work with James and Freddy because it only fits us – 'cause we're all named after dead relatives."

"And James and Fred are both out of school now and have all their time to devote to the band. You do not. Besides, what are you planning on telling your mum?"

"I hadn't really thought about mum yet," the boy admitted quietly.

"You know she'll be upset if you don't finish up your education."

"And you won't be?"

Neville shrugged. "Honestly? No. I think there's still plenty for you to learn – useful stuff, even for a musician. But you're right, it's your decision."

Frank eyed his father skeptically. "That's your final argument on the matter?"

The professor took a moment to sip his tea before replying with a smirk.

"Your mum and I went through our seventh year in a war zone … and we still got decent marks."

Frank rolled his eyes. "Well, I guess I don't have any excuse now, do I?"

"None at all."