Thursday

[alt_neville]

Charms: okay
Transfiguration: the less said, the better. My name's becoming sort of a byword for a bad performance (as in "pulling a Longbottom"). Which, yeah, is sort of humiliating. (Shut it, Seamus. It's not that funny.)
Herbology: better that Transfiguration! I like Professor Sprout a lot.
Flying: Um, I didn't dump myself off my broom. That's an improvement, right? But I don't think the Puddlemere United quidditch team is going to be scouting me for a Chaser position anytime soon.

I wish I was doing better in Transfiguration, because of all the time Sally-Anne Perks has been spending to try to help me. I'm afraid the Slytherins will say she's a hopeless teacher, but that's not it; I'm just a hopeless student. About Transfiguration, anyway. And she is helping, even though it's hard to believe, looking at my latest pop quiz score. I'd have lost twice as many points if the two of us hadn't spent so much time going over texture changes.

We had a good talk yesterday afternoon, after we put the textbook away. She asked me a little about my sister (sort of wistfully, I thought) and it made me realise, yeah, I really am lucky to be getting mail from someone at home each week.

(Oh, and in case you lot in Slytherin are wondering, you don't have to worry that she's going all soft about me or anything. She knows I'm a just a hopeless Gryffindor, with a brain that's only good for keeping my skull bones apart.

Still. It's quite nice to have the help. Whatever her reasons. So thanks, Sally-Anne.)

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Helping you revise may not be doing you any good but at least I'm getting better at changing textures. I changed my hard-cooked egg to a soft-cooked egg at breakfast this morning, just to see if I could. (And then I changed it back after I tried it to see if I'd got it right, because I like hard-cooked better.)

And my housemates would be much more likely to object if you actually started doing better, so keep up the bad work, eh?

[alt_percy]

Thank you for your willingness to help another student, Miss Perks, particularly considering that he is not in your own house. I've passed along a word of appreciation for your leadership and cooperation to your Head of House, as well.

[alt_ron]

I'd say nothing broken is a sure sign of a successful flying lesson, mate. Or a step up at the very least.

[alt_percy]

We all do better in some classes than in others, so don't let yourself get discouraged, Neville. You are certainly taking a step in the right direction by doing some informal tutoring with Miss Perks, and it reflects well on both of you, that you have been so proactive in seeking help to address your shortcomings in Transfiguration, and that she has been willing to give it.

As for flying, well, there are some people who never learn to like it, because they have another method which they vastly prefer. I know a number of people who never touched a broom again after learning to apparate. True, a broom has certain advantages, and of course it's necessary if you like playing Quidditch! (Unlike most of my brothers, I prefer staying on the sidelines and cheering, myself.)

[alt_neville]

I'd be happy sticking just to Floo powder, really. That's what I always used before going to Hogwarts, and it got me where I wanted to go.

[alt_percy]

Well, the drawback with Floo powder is you can only use it to go someplace if there's a working fireplace there. Apparition is a lot more flexible.

[alt_pansy]

At least you have a good grasp of your shortcomings.

[alt_neville]

Yeah, guess I do. That's not a bad thing, really.

[alt_pansy]

It doesn't bother you? That you share them so freely?

[alt_neville]

Well, of course I don't like it when I hear people joke about "pulling a Longbottom."

But there's something to be said for not lying to yourself, or doing a lot of pretending for other people. How can you ever try to get better at anything, if you won't admit what you're doing wrong?

One other thing good about it is, I'll always know who my real friends are.

[alt_pansy]

My, aren't we Zen.

[alt_neville]

Um...Zen? What's that?

[alt_pansy]

Look it up and learn something new, Longbottom.

[alt_alice]

I was terrible at Transfiguration as well!

[alt_neville]

Wait--you're the lady I saw at Ollivander's. When I was in there buying my wand?

[alt_alice]

You remember that?

[alt_neville]

Yeah, and there was a man with you there, too, right?

I'm sort of afraid to ask this. But the two of you look like people in a photograph my Gran has at home and--is that why you're talking to me?

[alt_alice]

My husband, Frank. We were both there when you got your first wand. Cherry, unicorn hair, right?

Don't worry about Transfiguration. It doesn't come easily to some. I think you might do well at something that's less concentration and more intuition. I loved Herbology, myself!

[alt_neville]

I don't know what to say. I mean, Gran wouldn't ever tell me I just--well, thanks. For being there. That means a lot.

You liked Herbology?

I hope you'll keep talking to me. I won't ask too many questions.

[alt_alice]

Herbology is lovely. Is Professor Sprout still there? She's a fine teacher.

You're all right, aren't you? I mean, you're being taken care of? How is your Gran?

[alt_neville]

Yeah, Herbology is still taught by Professor Sprout. I like her a lot.

I'm fine. Hogwarts is great, and me and my dorm mates are getting to be good friends. Gran is fine. I got letters from both her and Evelyn yesterday.

You don't mind that I'm in Gryffindor?