Augusta Longbottom

Augusta Longbottom (b. before 1947) was a pure-blood witch and member of the Longbottom family through marriage. She was the mother of famous Auror Frank Longbottom, mother-in-law to Auror Alice Longbottom, and grandmother to Neville Longbottom. Through Neville's marriage she has a granddaughter-in-law, Hannah Longbottom.

Early life
"Take Charms and I shall drop Augusta a line reminding her that just because she failed her Charms O.W.L., the subject is not necessarily worthless."

- Minerva McGonagall on Augusta's school days

Little is known about Augusta's early life except that she may have had at least one sibling. In her school years, she failed her Charms O.W.L. (according to Professor McGonagall) causing her to later label it a "soft option." It's likely that Augusta went to school with McGonagall and attended under Headmaster Dippet.It's also noted that she wanted her grandson to take Transfiguration, implying that while in school she did well in that subject.

In 1947, Neville Longbottom's grandfather (as a practical joke) put a fanged gerbil in Augusta's handbag, causing her to keep a mousetrap inside it from that point onward.

Raising her grandson


During the First Wizarding War, Augusta's son Frank was both an Auror and a member of the Order of the Phoenix, as was his wife Alice. The highly respected couple survived the war, but shortly after Lord Voldemort's defeat in 1981, they were attacked by Death Eaters who tortured them into insanity with the Cruciatus Curse. The couple had to be institutionalised, and their infant son Neville was placed into Augusta's care.

Augusta was clearly strict with her grandson, who she initially feared was a Squib. Even after Neville proved to be a wizard, his grandmother was stern and demanding of him, sending him Howlers when his behaviour displeased her and pressuring him to uphold the "family honour." She often took Neville to visit his incapacitated parents at St Mungo's, stating that he should be proud of their sacrifice.

Sometime in 1993-1994 she was probably very ill, according to a prophecy made by Hogwarts Divination Professor Sybill Trelawney. This was told to her grandson Neville.

Second Wizarding War
"Thing was they bit off a bit more than they can chew with Gran. Little old witch living alone, they probably thought they didn't need to send anyone particularly powerful. Anyway, Dawlish is still in St Mungo's and Gran's on the run."

- Neville Longbottom on Augusta evading capture



In 1995, Augusta supported Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore when they claimed that Lord Voldemort had returned to power, as did Neville. Her support even led her to stop subscribing to the Daily Prophet, due to the newspaper's vicious smear campaign against Harry and Dumbledore. When she found out that Neville has not told anyone of his parents' condition, she became angry at him for thinking he was ashamed and told Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley about it. Sternness soon turned to pride, as she finally became proud of Neville after his involvement in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.



In 1997, after Death Eaters had taken control of the Ministry of Magic, Neville was one of the leaders of the student rebellion against Alecto and Amycus Carrow at Hogwarts. In an attempt to force Neville to be more cooperative, Auror John Dawlish was ordered to capture Augusta and take her hostage to ensure Neville's behaviour. Augusta, however, put up a fight, which Dawlish wasn't expecting; according to Neville, she put Dawlish in St Mungo's. After this, Augusta went on the run.

She later re-emerged at the Battle of Hogwarts to assist Neville when he called everyone to arms against the Death Eater army. She expressed great pride in her grandson for following in his parents' footsteps. Augusta fought during the battle and survived.

Little is known of Augusta's life after the war. Her grandson Neville eventually married Hannah Abbott and took up a position as Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts.

Physical appearance
Augusta Longbottom was described as a formidable looking witch. She was tall, thin and bony. She commonly wore a hat with a stuffed vulture on it and carried a bright red handbag.

Personality and traits
"That Harry Potter's got more backbone than the whole Ministry of Magic put together!"

- Augusta's views on the Ministry

Augusta Longbottom was a severe woman who frequently claimed that her grandson, Neville, lacked the talents that his parents had possessed. She was angry when she realised Neville had never told anyone about why he lived with her, thinking that he was ashamed of his parents. Nevertheless, Augusta grew proud of her grandson after discovering how dedicated he was to defeating Lord Voldemort. She was civil towards Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger when she met them in St Mungo's. She might be somewhat biassed towards what she is proud of, as she found her grandson's initial lack of talent as a failure of inheriting his father's prestige, and looked down on Charms simply because she failed her O.W.L.s herself.

Despite her elderly age (as Neville described her as a "little old witch, living alone"), she shows tremendous loyalty, bravery and proper reactions, as she easily and swiftly defeated the younger Auror sent to take her hostage and fled, and participated in the Battle of Hogwarts without fear nor hesitancy.

Magical abilities and skills
"I really saw Mrs Longbottom as a powerful witch."

- J. K. Rowling


 * Duelling: Despite her age, Augusta Longbottom was a skilled duellist and the Death Eaters underestimated her duelling abilities, as she caused enough injury to John Dawlish, a highly trained and skilled Auror, to result in him to be sent to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. She also participated in and survived the Battle of Hogwarts.
 * Transfiguration: As she disliked her grandson taking Charms, a class she failed, it is likely she wishes him to take the subjects she did. She wanted Neville to take Transfiguration, implying she did well in it.

Neville Longbottom
"It's high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she's got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have — particularly after what happened at the Ministry."

- Minerva McGonagall regarding Augusta's treatment of her grandson



During the early years of Neville's life, Augusta often thought that Neville was a Squib and was afraid he would not get into Hogwarts. She was extremely proud when he did but it was apparent that Neville and his grandmother were not very close as Augusta was seen reprimanding her grandson. Augusta also sent Neville a Howler and pushed Neville to be like his parents by doing well in school, especially in Transfiguration (a class Neville hated).

In later years, she became proud of Neville as she realised how excellent a wizard and person he was. She was shown commenting in the Daily Prophet about his powers and during the Battle of Hogwarts, she was proud to fight alongside him. After the end of the Second Wizarding War Neville married Hannah Abbott and the two currently have no children. Neville also replaced Professor Sprout as the Herbology professor at Hogwarts.

Frank and Alice Longbottom


"Well, your grandmother is used to losing family members to our cause.... Your death will not come as a great shock...."

- Lucius Malfoy regarding what happened to Frank and Alice



It is unknown what her relationship with Frank and Alice was before they were tortured, but it must have been fairly close as Augusta was chosen to raise their infant son after they were no longer able to. After the attack, Mrs Longbottom seemed to love her son and daughter-in-law, often taking Neville to visit them at St Mungo's. However, at times, she seemed to tire of providing for them, as she sounded weary when speaking to Alice and advised Neville to throw away a gum wrapper Alice gave him. However, it is assumed that she still cared for them as she obviously respected them and says numerous times that she wants Neville to be more like them.

Griselda Marchbanks
Augusta and Madam Marchbanks were described as close friends by Neville Longbottom. Griselda had come for dinner at Mrs Longbottom's many times.

Etymology
Augusta is a Latin name and the feminine form of Augustus, meaning "great" or "venerable," derived from the Latin verb augere, "to increase." Augustus was the name given to the first emperor of Rome, and subsequently Augusta was sometimes used as a title for empresses of the Roman and Byzantine empires.

Behind the scenes

 * The 2006 short film includes a reference to Neville's grandfather, and describes a joke he played on Augusta in 1947 involving her handbag and a fanged gerbil, which led her to keep a mousetrap in her bag thereafter.
 * Augusta was played by Leila Hoffman in PS FA, as she was faintly seen escorting Neville to the Hogwarts Express.
 * Ninette Finch was cast as Augusta in . Her scenes were cut, however it appears she can be seen in the background of some battle sequences.

Appearances

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Notes and references
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