The Courtship of Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom inwardly sighed. He was tired, hungry, and his arms ached from the awkward load of heavy books that graced his hunched-over figure. Rather than voicing his frustrations, Neville let out a grunt as another heavy book was added to his pile. He was just tall enough to see that the it was a N.E.W.T. level Transfiguration book. Neville opened his mouth and then closed it, deciding to choose his words wisely.

"Gran," he began slowly. Augusta Longbottom's head snapped quickly around to look at the cowering Neville, his arms laden with schoolbooks. Her expression was stern. Neville assumed it had something to do with the shiny new copies of Advanced Potion Making that were on display in front of her. Neville quickly opened his mouth, as if to take her mind off of her grandson's 'D' on his Potions O.W.L. Neville rather considered himself lucky. It could have been a 'T.'

"I don't think I'm going to take Transfiguration." Neville's words came out in one breath. Augusta cut an imposing figure as she looked down at her grandson.

"Of course you will." She said it as if it didn't matter what grade Neville had gotten on his Transfiguration O.W.L.

"Your parents were both brilliant in Transfiguration," she said with pride. She paused to study another shelf of colorful books in the back of Flourish and Blotts. Her nose quickly wrinkled in disgust, as she read the titles. "Charms," she said, "What a soft option. You'll definitely be better off with Transfiguration." Augusta looked down at Neville as if she expected him to nod in agreement. Neville, meanwhile, was studying his shoes as if they were the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.

Personally, Neville didn't mind his 'Acceptable' in Transfiguration. If it hadn't been such a sticking point with his grandmother, he would even venture to be proud of it. He knew Professor McGonagall would never let him into her N.E.W.T. class, but he had come to an amazing epiphany upon receiving his O.W.L. grades. He hated Transfiguration and was glad not to be continuing it his sixth year. However, nothing had made him happier, with the exception of his grandmother's reaction to his 'O' in Herbology, than his failing Potions grade. The grade may not have given him bragging rights, but to Neville, it meant freedom from Professor Snape. A slow smile grew across Neville's features, which had sharpened considerably over the summer, at the thought that he would never have to scrape out another foul-smelling concoction from the bottom of his cauldron again.

Meanwhile, Augusta took her grandson's silent smile as acceptance and proceeded to drag him to the checkout counter where she paid for his schoolbooks. He exited a few minutes later, his arms laden with the neatly packaged books along with a new set of dragon hide Herbology gloves, and a fresh set of robes, he had grown a lot over the summer as well.

Neville's smile brightened as they passed the Apothecary, once again reminding him of his new-found liberation. He hurried to keep up with his grandmother, his smile falling as he passed the Ministry posters that were peppered over every store front. Well, almost every store front, Neville thought to himself, inwardly smiling as he remembered the colorful Weasley's Wizard Wheezes storefront. His eyes flew quickly to his pocket where Fred had discreetly slipped him some free Canary Creams and a Shield Hat as payment for being one of their first testers, Fred had said.

His feet automatically guided him towards the Leaky Cauldron, however his grandmother continued past the dreary-looking building and led him into a smaller store. Neville looked up in surprise and received a genuine smile from his grandmother.

"I thought I would buy you something," she said, "for what happened at the Ministry. I am proud of you Neville." Her eyes clouded over for a minute before she said, "Your parents would have been proud too."

Neville fought back the tears that threatened to edge out the corners of his eyes. He already had a reputation at school for being weak and he didn't feel like reinforcing it in public. Instead, he turned to place the packages down on the floor of Ollivanders and turned around. He would never know that had he turned around one moment earlier he might have seen tears in his grandmother's eyes too.