Great-Uncle Algie

Great-Uncle Algie is the great-uncle of Neville Longbottom. He is primarily known for his dangerously eccentric and persistent attempts to force magic out of a young Neville, whom the family feared was a Squib. Despite his reckless methods, Algie's actions inadvertently led to the first confirmed instance of Neville's magical ability, and he is a recurring figure in anecdotes about Neville's childhood.

Great-Uncle Algie is a member of the venerable pure-blood Longbottom family. His most significant role in the narrative is related to his great-nephew, Neville Longbottom. For years, the family was concerned that Neville possessed no magical talent. Desperate to prove otherwise, Uncle Algie repeatedly put Neville into life-threatening situations, believing that extreme danger might trigger a magical response. One such attempt involved pushing Neville off the end of the pier at Blackpool, which only resulted in Neville bouncing harmlessly. The decisive incident occurred when Algie was visiting and dangled a then-eight-year-old Neville by his ankles from an upstairs window. When his Great-Auntie Enid offered him a slice of meringue pie, Algie became distracted, lost his grip, and accidentally dropped Neville. Instead of being injured, Neville bounced down the garden and into the road. The family was overjoyed, and Uncle Algie was so pleased that he bought Neville his pet toad, Trevor. Years later, when Neville was attending Hogwarts, Uncle Algie offered advice to Neville's grandmother, Augusta Longbottom, suggesting that Neville should continue using his father's (Frank Longbottom) old wand, as he believed it still had “plenty of good fighting left in it.”

Algie's physical appearance is never described in the novels. His personality is defined by a combination of familial concern and extreme recklessness. He was clearly invested in Neville upholding the family's magical heritage, but his methods were irresponsible and nearly fatal. He also appears to be somewhat forgetful and easily distracted, as evidenced by the incident with the meringue pie. However, his intentions seem to have been rooted in a desire for Neville to take his place in the wizarding world, and his delight at Neville's success was genuine, as shown by his gift of Trevor.

As a qualified wizard from a respected pure-blood family, it can be presumed that Algie possessed a standard level of magical ability. However, no specific spells or skills are ever attributed to him in the novels.

• Wand: As a wizard, he owned a wand, though it is never described.
• Trevor: While technically Neville's possession, Algie purchased the toad for him as a celebratory gift after Neville's accidental magic was finally revealed.

• Neville Longbottom: Algie is Neville's great-uncle. Their relationship is complex; while Neville recounts Algie's dangerous “tests” with a tone of exasperation, he does not seem to harbor deep resentment. Algie's actions, though misguided, ultimately confirmed Neville's place in the wizarding world.
• Augusta Longbottom: Neville's grandmother. She appears to respect Algie's opinion, as she took his advice regarding Neville continuing to use his father's wand.
• Great-Auntie Enid: Algie's relation to Enid (wife or sister) is not specified, but they were coconspirators, or at least co-witnesses, in the attempts to force magic from Neville. It was her offer of a pie that led to the incident that revealed Neville's magic.

The name Algie is a diminutive of Algernon. The name is of Norman French origin, derived from als gernons, meaning “with moustaches,” suggesting a classic, perhaps aristocratic, old-fashioned wizard. The name can carry connotations of eccentricity, fitting Algie's character perfectly.

Great-Uncle Algie does not appear and is not mentioned in any of the Harry Potter film adaptations. His role in Neville's backstory is omitted entirely from the movie canon.