Like father, like son

by meldahlie

Professor McGonagall wrote to Augusta Longbottom about Neville's Charms NEWT. But was this the first time the subject had been raised?

Like Father, like son

Professor MacGonagall wrote to Augusta Longbottom about Neville's Charms NEWT. But was this the first time the subject had been raised?

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A/N: A very rare thing: a non-tragic Longbottom fic?

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"And Charms," said Professor McGonagall, looking down the list of NEWT subjects on the application form of the boy sitting before her.

He shifted a little uncertainly on the bench. "I- I suppose so."

"You will need a NEWT in Charms if you wish to become an Auror, Mr Longbottom," McGonagall reproved, and then paused. There were many, many reasons why students choose to drop out of subjects their teachers think they would do well in, maybe even enjoy, but she thought she could see what this one was going to be.

"My, er, er-" Frank Longbottom veritably wriggled with embarrassment. "My mother thinks Charms is a soft option," he mumbled out hurriedly in the end.

Minerva McGonagall fought with the desire to close her eyes and sigh deeply. There are many, many reasons why parents want their children to drop out of subjects their teachers think they would do well in, maybe even enjoy – but Augusta Longbottom's twenty-odd year grudge against Charms had to take the Snitch. Most people fail and dislike subjects they did not understand; failing and disliking a subject because you fell madly in love with your future husband right in the middle of OWL revision, and consequently neglected to revise the "easy one" of Charms at all, was ridiculous.

"Take Charms," said McGonagall sharply. "You achieved an 'O' grade at OWL, and I shall drop a note to your mother to remind her that just because she failed her Charms OWL, the subject is not necessarily worthless."

Frank's face took on a look of startled incredulity. Minerva barely resisted a smile. "You will need Charms," she repeated firmly. "In all your other subjects, you have the makings of an excellent Auror."

A thing he had quite possibly inherited from his mother. Nobody who had been in Gryffindor common room at the time would ever forget the comprehensive range of hexes Augusta had used on the letter from the Wizarding Examination Authority which had said she had failed Charms too spectacularly to be eligible for a resit.

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