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Augusta: "...Have you seen my grandson?"
Harry Potter: "He's fighting."
Augusta: "Naturally. Excuse me, I must go and assist him."
— Augusta's willingness to fight in the Battle of Hogwarts[src]

Augusta Longbottom (b. pre 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 (née Abbott).

Biography

Early life and marriage

"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[src]
Family Longbottom

Augusta with her grandson and his pet toad

Little is known about Augusta's early life except that she may have had at least one sibling.[4] In her school years she failed her Charms O.W.L., causing her to later label it a "soft option."[5] 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.

At some point, Augusta married Mr Longbottom, a wizard.[3] They had at least one child, a son, Frank.[3]

In 1947, Neville's "granddad" (most likely Mr Longbottom) put a fanged gerbil in Augusta's handbag as a prank, causing her to always keep a mousetrap inside it from that point onward.[6] At some point Mr Longbottom died and his grandson was witness to it. 

Raising her grandson

AugustaAndNeville1991

Augusta takes her grandson to Platform 9¾ to start his magical education

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.[7]

Sometime in 1993-1994 she was probably very ill, according toa 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[src]
StMungos PM B5C23M1 ChristmasAtStMungos Moment

Augusta visiting her son and her daughter-in-law at St Mungo's Hospital on Christmas

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.[8] 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.

Augusta Neville

Augusta escorting her grandson to the Hogwarts Express

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.[9] Augusta fought during the battle and survived.[10]

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[src]

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.

She seems to have a strong judgement of right and wrong, as she chose to believe Harry and Albus Dumbledore's claims that Lord Voldemort has returned over the Ministry's biassed denial. She even ceased her subscription of the Daily Prophet in protest for backing the Ministry's campaign to antagonise the truth.

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[src]

Relationships

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[src]
Neville-promo-pics-neville-longbottom-28261912-390-520

Neville Longbottom, her only grandchild

Augusta was the guardian of Neville and raised him from a young age. 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 Augusta placed high expectations on Neville and was yet to be certain that he had substantial power.

Augusta was seen reprimanding her grandson and later sent Neville a Howler. She pushed Neville to be like his parents by doing well in school, especially in Transfiguration (a class Neville hated). However, Neville loved Augusta, and she cared a great deal for him, however stern she could be.

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 though it's unknown whether they had any children. Neville also replaced Professor Sprout as the Herbology professor at Hogwarts.

Frank and Alice Longbottom

Frank1

Frank Longbottom, her son

"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[src]
File:Alice1.jpg

Alice Longbottom, her daughter-in-law

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."[11] 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

Appearances

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 15 images related to Augusta Longbottom.

Notes and references

  1. Neville's grandfather put a fanged gerbil in her handbag in 1947, so Augusta has to have been alive - and old enough to own a handbag - by 1947
  2. World Exclusive Interview with J K Rowling
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Longbottom family tree from Pottermore
  4. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "The Quill of Acceptance and The Book of Admittance" at Pottermore on Pottermore states that Neville had "disappointed great aunts and uncles." Algie and Enid are Neville's only known great-aunt and great-uncle. Thus, Neville must have had at least one other great-aunt and one other great-uncle in addition to them, who could potentially be siblings of Augusta.
  5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 9 (The Half-Blood Prince)
  6. The Queen's Handbag
  7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
  11. Behind the Name: Augusta
  12. http://www.sainou.com/leila-hoffman/
  13. http://www.snitchseeker.com/harry-potter-news/nevilles-grandmother-augusta-longbottom-cast-deathly-hallows-73518/ Finch in DH
Order of the Phoenix
Fawkes WB F2 FawkesIllustration V2 Illust
Founder:
Albus Dumbledore
Leaders:
Albus Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Kingsley Shacklebolt
Original Order of of the Phoenix:
Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Alice Longbottom | Arabella Figg | Benjy Fenwick | Caradoc Dearborn | Dedalus Diggle | Dorcas Meadowes | Edgar Bones | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fabian Prewett | Frank Longbottom | Gideon Prewett | James Potter | Lily Potter | Marlene McKinnon | Mundungus Fletcher | Peter Pettigrew (defected) | Remus Lupin | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Reconstituted Order of the Phoenix:
Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Arabella Figg | Arthur Weasley | Bill Weasley | Charlie Weasley | Dedalus Diggle | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fleur Delacour | Fred Weasley | George Weasley | Harry Potter | Hermione Granger | Hestia Jones | Kingsley Shacklebolt | Minerva McGonagall | Molly Weasley | Mundungus Fletcher | Nymphadora Tonks | Remus Lupin | Ron Weasley | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Order of the Phoenix allies:
Andromeda Tonks | Augusta Longbottom | Buckbeak | Dobby | Fawkes | Filius Flitwick | Firenze | Garrick Ollivander | Ginny Weasley | Grawp | Helena Ravenclaw | Horace Slughorn | Karkus | Karkus's wife | Kreacher | Lee Jordan | Luna Lovegood | McKinnon family | Mr Westenberg | Mrs Westenberg | Muriel | Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington | Neville Longbottom | Oliver Wood | Olympe Maxime | Rita Skeeter | Patrick Delaney-Podmore | Peeves | Percy Weasley | Pomona Sprout | Poppy Pomfrey | Sybill Trelawney | Ted Tonks | The Fallen Fifty | Westenberg family | Winky | Xenophilius Lovegood
Other affiliations:
Dumbledore's Army | Forbidden Forest Centaur colony | Headless Hunt | Hogwarts Hippogriff herd | Hogwarts house-elves | Hogwarts Ghosts | Hogwarts Staff |
Hogwarts students | Hogwarts Thestral herd | British Ministry of Magic | Giant colony (Karkus's control)
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