Chapter 16

*Meet the Longbottoms (Pt.2)*is the sixteenth chapter of the first book in the POS-verse, Prince of Slytherin.

## Summary

Neville Longbottom's magic revealed, plus Aurors arrest the would-be murderer.

## Plot

### July 30th, 1988

Algie brings Neville a plate of meringues, baked by Enid, for his birthday but Neville is suspect of the treats. He tells Algie that Augusta warned him about being alone with Algie since Algie may hurt Neville "in an attempt to show magic".

Algie asks Neville what would happen if he was a Squib, with Neville responding that he won't go to Hogwarts. Algie says that's correct, as Hogwarts doesn't accept Squibs and that even if he gets in, he might not have enough magic to pass his OWLs and would still be judged a Squib. That's eight years of potentially waking up and not knowing if your a failure to your parents' memory. When Neville asks why Algie's saying this, he says if it were him, he'd rather die than be an embarrassment to his parents.

Algie then offers Neville a test; if he accepts and passes, he'll be a wizard but if he refuses and is a Squib, he'll throw Neville out onto the streets and have Augusta removed from House Longbottom. If he accepts but fails, Algie will keep Augusta in her accustomed lifestyle. When Neville asks what'll happen to him if he fails, Algie says he'll die. Algie says the test is jumping out the window, to which if he survives, he'll be a wizard.

Neville, realising that if he dies no-one would hold Algie to their promise, comes to see what the test really is; a murder attempt. He calls out to Augusta but Algie obliviates him and drags him to the window, holding him by his leg. Despite Augusta attempts to save Neville, she's too far away to stop Algie from dropping him. Neville's magic, however, saves him, causing him to bounce over to Augusta and her friend, Griselda Marchbanks, who works for the Ministry.

Angry that this attempt failed in spectacular fashion, Algie throws the plate of meringues against the wall before heading down stairs to celebrate Neville's display of magic. On his way down, he realises he still has one card left to play.

### Up to September 1st, 1991

Algie, having failed to kill Neville, has now taken to trying to disrupt Neville's education. If Neville fails to complete even one of the wand-based OWL exams (Charms, Transfiguration, or DADA), he'll meet the technical definition of a Squib and can be removed as Heir Presumptive.

As Neville's entry to Hogwarts is coming up, Algie takes Neville to Diagon Alley to peruse for his school supplies. He first takes Neville to Ollivander's to get a wand, but when he receives a wand with the same base details as his father's, Algie is determine to force Neville to use his father's which would be more resistant to Neville's magic. After a few more stops, Algie takes Neville to Gringotts so he can setup a weekly allowance for Neville and "retrieve a Remembarall", which gives him the time to grab Frank's wand.

### September 1st, 1991

After being grilled by Augusta for not getting Neville the Remembarall, Algie goes upstairs to give Neville a gift; a pet toad called Trevor. Whilst Neville is handling the toad, Algie performs the most complicated memory spell he knows, causing Neville to do three things. Firstly, he'll forget about his own wand and how Augusta insisted that he use his father's wand (in an attempt to kill him through magical burnout). Secondly, he'll always keep Trevor by his side (which, unbeknown to Neville, is mildly poisonous and will disrupt his magic). Finally, he'll think Remembaralls are stupid things to only help stupid people remember things (so he doesn't discover the truth). Algie then ends the spell, and Neville is none the wiser.

### November 1st, 2nd or 3rd, 1991

It's just before dawn when Lubby awakes Algie to inform him that Aurors are outside, wishing to speak with him about Neville. After sending Lubby away and sensing through his wards that there's no escape. Algie attempts to cast the Killing Curse on himself but is unable to summon the feelings required to do so.

The Aurors, sick of waiting, soon find Algie in bed, in fetal position, weeping like a child.

## Characters

* Neville Longbottom
* Augusta Longbottom
* Algie Longbottom
* Griselda Marchbank

## Magical Archives

* Squib
* Remembarall