Augusta Longbottom watched as her grandson and his best friend took the test that would determine how much they had absorbed of the wizarding government and law they had studied this summer.
It was the first of eight tests that Wizengamot members had to take before becoming eligible for their seats. The test served the purpose of making sure a person had knowledge of the lawmaking process, an understanding of the government and its structure. Future tests would make sure that Wizengamot members knew and understood the laws they swore to uphold while judging a case. Because the tests were difficult many chose to wait until after Hogwarts before preparing for them. Usually only people who wanted a job in the ministry or who stood to inherit seats on the Wizengamot bothered to take them at all. Aurors were required to pass this the first test and all six regarding the laws. Ministry workers, except janitorial workers, only had to pass the first. Although adults could take the classes and spread them out as long as they wanted, youths had to do them in the summer or if they were in sixth or seventh year at Hogwarts. Many families did not bother to have their children prepare to take the tests. Hogwarts offered a preparation class for the first test as a NEWT course spreading the study over one year.
It had been decided amongst the trustees that in addition to Felicia Corner teaching Harry estate management over the summer they would have Harry take the first of the courses for the wizarding government. Tiberius had smiled and said, "Young Harry is smart, but he's also a bit cocky and some would even say arrogant. The test will either give him grounds for pardonable pride or kick some of that arrogance out of him."
Lady Augusta- little as she wanted to admit it- agreed. Harry was a bit much at times. Better to let something like this bring him down a notch or two. Little had she known Neville would insist on joining Harry in his summer studies. She had been surprised when Neville had written her in January and asked to take the classes with Harry, although on reflection she should have expected it. Before Harry, Neville had been timid and easily ruled. Now he was bold and driven. She had written him back and told him he could pick one of the classes to take for certain but if he wanted to take both he would have to place in the top ten of his year group. Shockingly Neville had pleased and surprised her by placing eighth in his year group this year at school. It had been with trepidation she had signed Neville up for this class. Unlike the House of Potter that had no trained Regent, that needed Harry ready as soon after his majority as possible, she acted as regent for the House of Longbottom. She just hoped this heavy schedule Neville set for himself didn't not knock him down the way she feared it would.
Augusta didn't know which she wanted more for them to pass or for them to fail. She hadn't seen much of Neville this summer. He had the class at the ministry four and a half hours four mornings a week, He spent afternoons either at Felicia Corner's office or in the Longbottom library with the portraits of the family heads. She rarely found him relaxing by puttering around the greenhouses, and he usually retired to his room straight after supper to study unless it was one of the two nights a week that he portkeyed to a nook near the dojo where he studied karate.
Karate there was another point. Neville used to be prone to nervous fits and night-terrors. She had had her doubts about signing him up for the lessons last year. It had only been the annual healer's visit before school last year that had reassured her. The healer had said Neville had now calmed and was one of the healthiest children she saw. That Augusta should keep doing whatever it was she was doing, because Neville was obviously thriving.
She looked back at the classroom. Harry and Neville were the youngest two in the room and there were only seven students total. Most of them were either in sixth year or seventh year. Odds of the two boys passing this test on their first try were very slim. Even in adults who took it most didn't pass until their second or third try. She, herself, hadn't passed until her third try. She wondered if any of the seventh year students were on their second try. Two hours later the boys finally exited the room both looking rather drained. "Let's go get some ice cream." She suggested.
They flooed to Diagon Alley and then headed to Florean Fortescue's. Harry ordered a peanut butter fudge sundae for himself while Neville ordered a peach melba sundae. It was only after they had revived because of the sugar that they started talking.
"So Harry how do you think you did? Fantastic as usual?"
"Not sure Neville. What about you?"
"I think I just might've passed, thanks for suggesting that I practice drawing out the various ministry departments like a web and listing the duties of each department under each one. It made it easy for me to picture it in my mind so when that question rolled around I didn't have any trouble. The only one I have any uncertainty on is the steps for making new laws I think I got them all but I'm not positive. You probably did fine cause isn't it you at Hogwart's, that always is so uncertain after a test only for the results to come back and you do great? I mean you placed like third or was it second in the class this year."
"Fourth, Lockhart autumn term really messed me up."
"Yeah he was a git. I really wonder what happened to him anyway."
Lady Augusta had heard that the wizard in question was in Azkaban so she said as much.
To which Harry said, "It couldn't happen to a more deserving bloke," with enough rancor to make Lady Augusta's eyebrow raise.
She wondered what the man had done to earn such emotions from him.
"I need to go soon or I'll miss my train to Surrey. Lady Augusta, thank you for the ice cream and the pleasure of your company. See you tomorrow night, Neville. Sensei plans on doing belt tests next week, so go through your katas."
"Are we still on for school shopping next week?"
"I spaced it; not enough sleep I guess. But it shouldn't be a problem. Any ideas what electives you'll be taking?
"None. But I know I need to decide this week. I was thinking Muggle Studies, and Care of Magical Creatures. What about you?"
"Arithmancy, Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures. My mum told me in a letter that Muggle Studies is not worth the time because it's so far behind the times. I'll probably show up and take the owl for it though since I grew up muggle it should be an easy OWL."
"I've heard arithmancy and runes are hard."
"I've heard that too. But I've also heard that they're dead useful. Besides it will be a challenge."
Lady Augusta couldn't help it. She snorted. If there was one thing she had learned about Harry, it was he loved a challenge.
"I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts. I'll get uninterrupted sleep again . Cousin Rose is cute but her habit of being awake at three in the morning is not."
"How sharing with your cousin been?"
"Not too bad, Dudley's a little sloppy at times but he isn't as bad as Malfoy. I pray I get Blaise as a roommate again."
"You Slytherins are lucky, two to a room. Us lions have to share with all our year mates."
"Poor you. Got to blaze or I'll miss-"
"Bye, Harry, see you tomorrow."