Wild Grey Ocean

frank longbottom, twenty-six, auror, order of the phoenix.

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee​:​

Alice had always appreciated the way Frank saw himself. Yes, he was confident, some might even say cocky, but he had reason to be. And Frank had a clear view of himself, just as aware of his flaws as his talents, and he never hesitated to make jokes at his own expense. So she didn’t take his concerns about fitting out the door seriously. “If you really want I could always talk about defensive flying, but I’m not that worried.” Alice had deeply enjoyed the defensive flying course they’d taken as part of their training. It was easy for her, something she already knew a bit about from playing a defensive position on the Hufflepuff quidditch team, and it was fun. Really, anything that involved more movement than sitting at a desk was fun for Alice. Frank had distinctly not had the same experience.

There was something thoroughly adorable about a flustered Frank Longbottom, and Alice was thinking she should make a point of flirting with him more often. She’d never really done it before, not seriously, and the result wasn’t what she’d expected. She’d seen Frank flirting with other women before, always paying embarrassingly close attention, and he was good at it. His confidence and charm came through in just the right way, and whenever Alice imagined flirting with him, that was the Frank she pictured. This Frank was much more fun. She wanted to trace the path of the blush creeping into his cheeks with her lips, and definitely would have if they hadn’t been surrounded by quite so many people. Instead she settled for bedroom eyes and a coquettish smile. “That’s the idea. I’d be happy to offer a live demonstration if you want.”

For a moment, it felt like everything was falling into place exactly the way it was always supposed to be, making Alice wonder why she’d wasted so much time trying to just be friends with Frank. Maybe that was why the answer to Frank’s question dropped off Alice’s tongue, blunt and unvarnished. “You.” Then it was her turn to blush. It may have been the truth, but it wasn’t how she would have wanted to say it. Even with his hand in hers, she didn’t really want to admit how everyone she met was measured against him, and everyone fell short. This person didn’t have the perfectly messy curls that were just begging for her to run her fingers through. That one didn’t have the wonderfully awful sense of self-deprecating humor. His eyes weren’t brown. She wasn’t the right balance of serious and playful. No one came close to Frank.

Then the moment ended, and Frank was tripping over his words while Alice’s heart dropped through the floor. She knew she wasn’t exactly sober, probably wasn’t even in the same neighborhood, but she didn’t think she was so drunk that she’d completely misinterpreted Frank’s interest. But had it been interest? Or had he just been uncomfortable and trying to laugh it off? The thought made her stomach churn uncomfortably, and she set down her glass of punch. The only problem was without the punch Alice was left with nothing to do with her hands. She shoved them into her jacket pockets and wrapped it closer around her waist. She was ready for the floor to open up and swallow her, or maybe just crawl under one of the covered tables to hide, but she couldn’t seem to come up with any excuses or make herself leave. Instead she chewed her lip and gazed up at Frank, all confidence and coyness gone. “But, what are you saying?”

Frank was thrown off by Alice’s behaviour. but that certainly didn’t mean he wasn’t enjoying it. Instead, he was taking tentative steps, steps to not say something wrong and ruin their friendship.  If it had of been a few years prior, Frank could have easily thrown caution to the wind, allowed himself to melt into the flirtation and the night to take them away.  Now? He wasn’t as impulsive to dive into that.  If it was a misplaced move,  Frank could lose his friendship, and co-worker relationship with Alice.  Frank also risked losing her respect.  But the attraction was hard to ignore. and it had been getting harder to ignore as time progressed.  “Defensive Flying? That’s a sure way to knock a man like me down a peg.” 

Frank had tried to subdue it for years, the pang of jealousy that engulfed him when Alice headed off with another man after a night out.  Nor could Frank push to side the comparisons when he was on dates with other woman.  Some of the women had been nice, but they were never Alice.  They would never be Alice and Frank thought it unfair to continue with them, knowing that his heart would always be longing for something - for someone else. He had never believed those feelings were reciprocated.  

Until now, when Alice’s mouth had opened and said the one word that Frank had been longing to hear over the years. 

“You.”

With that statement, it was like a switch had been flipped. No longer was Frank worried of stepping over the line, the restraint that was currently reducing him to a blushing mess disappeared.  Frank opened his mouth to speak when Alice swiftly pulled her hands back, placing her into the pockets of her jacket. Clearly Frank had done something wrong, his unwillingness to step out of the box of friendship had allowed a moment to fleet by.  A moment that Frank had spent years waiting on, even if he did deny that fact to anybody who asked.  If there was one thing certain, he was not going to let that happen.  “Alice...” He began to speak, tone reassuring.  Attempting to formulate his feelings into a cohesive wasn’t easy, not when his heart was thundering in his chest.  Frank wasn’t enjoying how tongue-tied he had become.  It wasn’t his usual style.  

“I’m saying that...” Frank stopped, taking a breath.  “Fuck-I’m not saying anything am I?” A small laugh falling from his lips.  Fuck being a gentleman.  Frank Longbottom was not allowing this moment to pass him by.  Taking a step towards Alice, Frank leant down in a sweeping motion.  His hand tilting her chin towards him gently.  And just like that, Frank kissed Alice.  It was soft at first- as Frank settled his lips on hers. Pulling back a few seconds later. “That Alice - is exactly what I was trying to say.” 

[longbottomlad]

who: @medasgalaxy​

where : Florean Fortescue’s 

Frank hadn’t read something so ridiculous in weeks. Frank’s face was plastered all over Rita Skeeter’s column, he had settled down with it- expecting some lightweight gossip that was grounded in fiction. Only to see scathing accusations of sibling rivalry between himself and his late brother. It boiled Frank’s blood.  But even he had to admit - the sex parties rumour did illicit a smirk.  As if Frank had the time - or the commitment to going to a mass of parties. Especially when his current sights and affections were focused on one person and one person only. 

It was a fine summer afternoon, Frank was enjoying a cup of coffee and a small tub of Florean Fortescue’s ice-cream when he heard the familiar voice of Andromeda Tonks ordering at the counter.  “Andromeda,” Frank greeted warmly, waving the woman over. Just in that moment a group of girls passed by - reading a gossip column and giggling at the sight of Frank. “I seem ot be a bit of a celebrity at the moment. For all the wrong reasons.” 

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee​:

@longbottomlad​

Frank looked like hell, and not even the whiskey on his breath could totally cover the distinct scent of b.o. coming off him. Alice wondered if he hadn’t bathed since he last shaved, because going off the scruff on his face and the way it was in danger of crossing from five o’clock shadow territory into full on beard it had been at least a few days. Not that there was much Alice could do about that; now was so not the time for the offer of a shared shower, even as a joke. In fact there was a lot Alice couldn’t do much about, and it made her feel really fucking useless. She wasn’t good at sitting still and not doing anything, but it seemed like that was her only choice right now.

So Alice sat leaning to Frank just a little, not leaning on him at all, just making her presence known. The small breath of something like laughter from Frank told her she was on the right path, and she barreled down it at full speed. “Please, you’re exaggerating. My tea has never killed anyone. They always recover eventually, Hufflepuff’s honor.” She smiled hesitantly and knocked her knee gently against Frank’s. “C’mon, Cinnamon misses you. And he makes a great cuddle buddy. Or crying buddy. Or napping buddy.” Frank looked like he might need sleep as much as he needed a shower, maybe more. Alice wasn’t sure if she could offer company for that, either, but she could at least offer her cat and her couch.

Alice and Frank had known each other a good few years. It was likely that they had seen each other in a few less than appealing situations. This was certainly one for Frank. He hadn’t shaved in a good while, it wasn’t kept like a subtle five o’clock shadow. It was scruffy, as was his hair. While his clothes were clean, he reeked of booze. It had been his medication over the past few days, a healing method for the inside wounds that hadn’t quite healed. Typically, he would have been embarrassed for Alice to see him this way. Sleepy and disheveled, Frank could deal with. But unkept? Never without reason. However, given the circumstances, Frank thought his appearance was reasonable enough. He just hadn’t felt the strength to pull himself together just yet.

“Hufflepuff’s honour.” Frank scoffed, a small flurry of warmth spreading through his chest at Alice’s company. Not to mention the tap of her knee against his. “Honestly, you should use your tea as an interrogation method. One sip of that and criminals would be begging to head to Azkaban.” He mentioned, trying to laugh. But his chest felt tighten and he was unable to muster one. At the mention of a nap, Frank lulled. He hadn’t been able to sleep soundly in weeks, the idea of laying on Alice’s couch with Cinnamon and falling into a slumber seemed ideal. “I think I might need both. I haven’t slept more than a few hours in weeks.” Taking a tentative sip of water, clearing his throat. “I’ve..I’ve missed you. And work. I just- don’t feel quite there yet.”

[longbottomlad]

fauvehoof​:

Lily shook her head. “Not at all.” she assured softly, taking a seat beside him, Lily drew her arm around Frank’s shoulders lightly, closing them off from the rest of the room in a gesture of comfort. She listened to him, letting him finish his thought, nodding along as he thought through his words, gesturing to the bartender for two glasses of water.

“It doesn’t sound terrible Frank.” Lily sighed, squeezing his shoulder. “Grief doesn’t make appointments. It just visits whenever it wants to and all you can do is go through. If it was up to us how long grief took hold, it would be a very different world. You’re beholden to it, and while I wish it wasn’t, that’s the way it is for everyone.

“So… you’ll see this through, you’ll ride it out.” Lily stated it as if it was a fact, and took a sip of her water, squeezing his shoulder again. “And…it’s really important for you to know this so-” Lily took the effort to try to turn in her chair, even though it obviously made her uncomfortable. Her hair falling into her face as she peered into Frank’s eyes. “I’m glad you are here. It makes me really happy and I know it makes a lot of other people really, really happy.”

Frank tensed as Lily placed an arm around his shoulders. He hadn’t quite gotten used to it - the comforting hugs or pats on the back when people learnt of his family’s circumstance. But very slowly, he eased into it. Frank only knew Lily through the Order and a few other social occasions, they got on well. But still, the hug felt like one from a friend rather than a stranger offering condolences.

The younger woman was correct. Grief didn’t make appointments. At the moment, it was visiting him in waves. Just like it had at his fathers passing, those were a bit smaller to deal with. Now, each wave felt like a tsunami. Hitting him with almighty force, the slap of the water taking the wind from his chest. Nodding his head, Frank felt himself shrug. “I just-I just wish I could go back to ordinary life- to work, to eat, sleep. But I can’t- not yet- everything is a reminder of him. The fact that Neville isn’t here.”

A small smile flickered on to Frank’s face as Lily stated his existence making others happy. At the moment, he felt like a bit of a mood kill. “Thank you, Lily. I appreciate it.” He spoke, raising the glass of water at her, appreciating the gesture. It was then that Frank realised Lily’s bump. An immediate sense of guilt overtook him. He hasn’t even asked how she was. “And how are you and James? All preparations in order.”

[thcfallenstar-deactivated202401]

Where: Frank's Flat Who: @longbottomlad

Things had been a bit hectic as of late, he had been throwing himself into his work between gathering supplies and testing he had rarely had a spare moment. You would have sworn he was in fact Lucian and not the one who rebelled against living up to his legacy. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the work, he found it interesting and rewarding, there was just something about having everything planned out that made his skin crawl and he had pushed it away only to come back dragging his heels. But now that he had come up for air he realized it had been ages since he’d seen his cousin. He was sure given Frank’s job he had been even busier so it was always good to take a moment to decompress so as not to burn yourself out.

Kieran stood at the doorway to Franks’ flat, sugar quills in hand as he knocked, he didn’t want to come empty-handed after all, and it was always harder for those to turn you away if you brought treats. He knew there were those that often found him in poor taste during these times but he held onto his belief that a little light was needed in such times, a little frivolity even if it felt wrong. You had to take the moments you had and make the most of them… and Frank knew that better than anyone with his loss. He smiled as the door finally opened to reveal his cousin. “You’re lucky I’m not Alice, your hair is a mess,” he clapped him on the back as came inside. “Having a midday nap, were you? Well, I’ve got some sugar to perk you up,” he said holding up the box of sugar quills.

[longbottomlad]

Frank spent little to no time in his apartment.  Mostly the space was just used for sleeping and perhaps making dinner - on the few evenings where Frank found the time.  His time was so hectically scattered between working long hours or attending order meetings. Not to mention the time spent out having a few drinks with mates.  But there was a few days where Frank had a free calendar.  He had booked the week off - seeking to spend some time relaxing.  A bit of fresh air from the chaos where Frank could enjoy being a 27 year old. It was rare to get the opportunity to just switch off.  Even still - Frank found it difficult. If he relaxed too much - his mind began wandering.  To his family - and everything that transpired.

On a day where things were particularly quiet, Frank was relieved to hear a knock at the door.  There were only so many naps that a man could take.  This week - Frank was averaging on one a day.  A total that was sure to put him out of sync once the normal working week resumed.  Opening the door, Frank smiled at the sight of his cousin, Kieran Ollivander. “Alice would love my hair - nap or not. It always sits perfectly. Seems like you might need a few tips from my routine with that mop.” He teased, a tone of arrogance that was typical for Frank.  “Thanks, Kieran.” Standing back to invite the other man inside. “If I didn’t know any better. I’d think you were trying to sweeten me up.” Patting his cousin on the back as he entered. 

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee​:​

Alice shook her head at Frank’s protests. “Nope. You’re forgetting, I was in your training class. You can be stealthy, I’ve seen it.” Alice had found the stealth part of their Stealth and Tracking courses sort of dull, but it had been a step on the way to becoming an auror, and so it was important for her to do well. Frank had been a big help with that, for Stealth and Tracking and the rest of their training, too. Looking back that was probably where it started, how Alice could rely on Frank in a way she didn’t let herself with almost anyone else. On another night it would have been a sobering memory, a reminder of why it was so important to keep things platonic and keep him in her life, but not tonight.

Tonight Alice’s heart swelled with affection, both at the memory of their time in the training program and Frank’s shaky attempt at a joke. Instead of worrying about losing him, she found herself thinking about how right it would be if they were together. The idea was motivation, driving her further down a road she’d always avoided in the past. Her smile grew even more wicked, if that was possible, as she walked her fingers up his chest. “Oh sweet Frank, cramped quarters are exactly the point.” Alice leaned in on her toes for extra emphasis and lightly flicked his lower lip with the tip of one finger.

When Frank touched her forehead Alice fell back on her heels and pulled his hand away, but instead of dropping it she linked her fingers with his and swung their joined hands a little. “I feel great.” She liked the way his cheeks were turning scarlet, the weight of his hand in hers, the possibility that seemed to thrum in the air. Alice drew little circles on the back of Frank’s hand with her thumb as she glanced at the stack of books on the table. She’d placed the top one face down, but of course there was an author portrait on the back. Alice dropped a cocktail napkin from a nearby stack on top of it. “Yeah, he’s not really my type.” Alice looked back at Frank with a steady, meaningful gaze.

It wasn’t until Frank finished speaking that Alice pulled away, dropping his hand while a sickening sense of uncertainty swirled in her stomach. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She curled the hand holding her punch in towards herself, almost as if she were clutching it to her chest, while her newly free hand found one of the buckles along the bottom of her coat. She’d always thought, and maybe it was a little vain, but she’d assumed that Frank liked her as a little more than friends. Maybe he didn’t love her like she loved him, but he’d asked her out, all the way back in school, and there had been times over the years when she’d thought she saw something. A hint or a flicker. But what if she was wrong? If she was wrong then moving to an uninhabited desert on the other side of the planet wouldn’t be enough to outrun the embarrassment that was rapidly filling the pit in her stomach.

“Please, Al. If you keep going with the compliments, my head won’t fit out the door.” Frank was fairly sure that was already a struggle. He had never been short of self-confidence.  Growing up, there was a sense of confidence - some say arrogance-  embedded within the young man.  Frank was fairly smart, athletic and knew he was easy on the eye.  Nerves didn’t typically set in easily for Frank, usually he could evaluate situations with a level-headed mindset.  This? This was not one of those situations.  Alice’s fingers walked up his chest, mirroring the movement of the blush in his cheeks.  A brightening colour that was crawling up his neck. 

As Alice’s mannerisms continued to creep closer,  Frank took a mental note to scold himself for not maintaining some level of cool.  Typically, Frank could be quite the flirt.  There had been many of times where a woman had put on the charm during a night out.  Usually, the man could keep up with the flirty banter and quick charm.  Hell, he had even tried to charm Alice on a few staff nights out.  Now? As Alice’s finger flicked his lower lip.  All Frank could muster was a sheepish smile. “Cramped Quarters? With me?” He cocked an eyebrow.  A fleeting thought entering his head to kiss her, to throw caution to the wind and maybe deal with a light punch to the chest afterwards.  But with a light sigh, that notion had disappeared. It didn’t seem like the right time. But there was an expiration date on how long Frank could continue avoiding his evident feelings.  

For a moment, Frank fell into it.  Linking his hand with hers and smiling as Alice’s thumb ran circles over the back of his hand.  A chuckle came to his throat as Alice dropped the napkin onto the posing Gilderoy.  “What exactly is your type, Al?” It was a slight probe on his behalf.  A curiosity that overtook him.  Perhaps it was unfair to ask Alice, when she was clearly a bit tipsy. 

And then Alice dropped his hand. It was as though a audible record scratch had erupted across the room.  Frank’s eyes watched as Alice pulled her fist to her chest.  Cradling it, had all this been a wind up? A teasing joke that perhaps went a little too far.  “No- not a bad thing.” He shook his head. “Perhaps - a dangerous thing.  For - our friendship...I mean.”  What was he saying? Frank had truly fucked it, hadn’t he?  He had said to much.  “Fuck- Forget it. I don’t know what I’m talking about.” 

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee·:·

This was Alice’s favorite thing, but also the worst. She loved sitting and watching Frank make tea, the fact that he knew where everything was, how he always chose the same mug, the one that was his now even if it stayed at her place, the way his shoulders moved under his jumper. It made her want to stand behind him and wrap her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his back, but she couldn’t do that, and that was the worst part. It was a little like looking through a crystal ball, except she wasn’t really seeing the future, just something she couldn’t have. So Alice leaned into the joking conversation to make herself feel better, like she always did. “Excuse you, that is a very rude thing to say to your hostess, what would your mother think?” Alice clucked her tongue, even though she really wasn’t great at making tea.

Alice took the mug from Frank and cradled it with both hands, inhaling deeply to breathe in the scent. She really wasn’t a fan of tea unless it was Frank making it but then it was her favorite thing. And if he decided he wanted to make her bubble and squeak every time he came over, then that would become her new favorite thing. Alice took a sip of the tea, then laughed and shook her head. “Nah. You weren’t that bad.” Alice had had more than her fair share of experiences with cocky gits over the years, and anyone who was willing to respect ‘no’ the first time had been raised right.

As Frank spoke, Alice shook her head again, with more feeling this time. “It’s not your fault.” And it wasn’t. It wasn’t Frank’s fault that Alice was in a bad mood and it wasn’t his fault that she was impulsive. It was why she was so careful about planning things out, because if something happened that she wasn’t expecting she made an impulsive decision and more often than not her impulsive decisions were shit ones. Alice found a strand of hair that hadn’t made it into her bun and wrapped it around her fingers. “I’m not bored or, like, burnt out or anything. It’s just so fucking frustrating with the red tape and the probation and the stupid rules that keep us from helping people and they wanted us to suppress a peaceful protest. They weren’t doing anything wrong, they just didn’t agree with policy and fuck, Frank, if I hadn’t been scheduled that weekend I would have been right there with them!” 

Alice stopped to take a breath, then let it out on a heavy sigh. “I’m not trying to run away from a fight but I didn’t sign up to be Crouch’s personal police, and I don’t know what to do.” She could admit that to Frank, even if she didn’t like saying it to anyone else. He had a way of making her feel like it was okay to not be okay.

His eyes drifted over to Alice.  Watching has her hands cradled the mug of tea that Frank had just passed her.  Warmth flooding to his chest.  A special kind of warmth that he had tried to subdue for many years.  It was easier to push it down.  Any effort made to transition their relationship from friendship into a romantic notion seemed futile to Frank.  All Frank knew was that he enjoyed the comfort of their current situation.  Far too much to jeopardise it in anyway.  Raising the mug to his lips, Frank took a sip of tea. Before leaning over to put the mug on the table.  “I was the best of a bad bunch.” He agreed, before looking over and winking cheekily. “Shame you missed the opportunity, I’m a prime pick of the crop.  You could have had all this.” 

A moment of realisation clicked as Alice began to speak about the protest.  He hadn’t been in attendance. but had overheard how much of a fuck-up it had been.  The Department of Law Enforcement was in a severe crisis, and nobody seemed to be doing anything about it.  After such a period of darkness. Crouch’s leadership was not helpful.  His leadership style seemed to focus more on punishing those attempting to do good rather than making Wizarding London a more inclusive and safe place for all.  “The policy is fucked. I agree. It isn’t the department of Law Enforcement that we remotely signed up for.” That was evident from how the Ministry was handling the aftermath of the Battle of The Birmingham and The Diagon Alley Protests. “Anybody with a bit of sense would have supported that protest. There was no need for the department to be anywhere near it.” 

Frank leaned forward on the seat, placing his hand reassuringly on Alice’s knee. “If there aren’t people like you and I, or Moody in the department. It will become Crouch’s personal police.”  He understood Alice’s questioning. But Frank reckoned it was easier for them to fight the fire from inside the house rather than outside it.  “If you don’t want to come back. I’ll stand by you. But I think the department needs you.” Frank needed her. 

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee​:

@longbottomlad​

Alice was a lot of things, warm, friendly, bright, infectious, but she wasn’t necessarily soft. It was something she’d never mastered, and she blamed it on the way she’d been raised. It was enough of a miracle that she wasn’t cold and distant like the rest of her family, and she’d managed it by being blunt and, as some of her muggleborn friends liked to say, a bit of a steamroller. So even though she was full of sympathy for Frank and her heart was breaking to think of what he was going through, when he tried to send her away, she didn’t know how to be delicate. “Tough shit. I’m not here for a light atmosphere, I’m here for you.”

Alice slid into the booth next to him, sitting close enough that she could press her shoulder against his. She wasn’t very good with grief, she did better with anger, but she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to try to help. Alice had never been close to either of her brothers, never looked up to them the way Frank looked up to Neville, but she didn’t want to imagine what it would be like to lose Ted. She didn’t want to imagine what it would be like to lose Frank, either, and when she’d heard he hadn’t been going into the office, a place that was off limits to Alice while internal affairs investigated her now public connection to the Order, she’d decided she had to do something. She slid the mostly empty glass of whiskey away from Frank and replaced it with a glass of water. “Drink this. And after that, if you still want something that will make you feel worse we can go back to my place and I’ll make you tea.” It was an old joke between them, and Alice was hoping for at least an eye roll or a huff of almost laughter.

Frank had always tried to warm to the concept of tough love.  He wished that with a push from Alice, he could get up and keep going.  Every part of Frank felt heavy and tired, like a fatigue that hit right down to the bones.  Since the Battle of Birmingham, he had barely gotten a wink of sleep.  And any light dozing often resulted in Frank jolting awake, plagued with nightmares of the battle or memories of childhood. Haunted by his own memories, Frank wanted nothing more than for somebody to relieve him of a few of the memories. Just so he could get some shut eye.  At the sound of Alice’s voice, Frank felt a little chirp of warmth. 

Even just the small glimmer of touch made Frank feel reassured.  A part of him just wanted to lay down, place his head on Alice’s lap and try and go to sleep. Any attempt to try and seek solace in the warm company of a good friend.  Neville had been in Frank and Alice’s company a handful of times since the Auror Academy.  Frank recalled Neville smirking as he told his older brother about being in the same academy as Alice, the same name that Neville recognised from Frank’s fifth year letters.  A letter where the young hopeful Frank detailed the exact scenario where Alice rejected him.  The whole time throughout the Auror Academy, Neville never did let Frank live that moment down.  His eyes followed the glass of whiskey that Alice was pushing away from him.  Frank exhaled a small huff of laughter. “Merlin, Alice.  You make tea? My brother died a few weeks ago, are you trying to kill me too? The Longbottom line is dependant on me.” 

[medasgalaxy]

@longbottomlad​

Andromeda relaxed at the sight of Frank, they weren’t exactly close, but at least he wouldn’t try to hex her or humiliate her during the evening. She wasn’t sure what was in the punch but she was sure that she didn’t like what it was doing to her. 

Moving closer to the Auror she smiled at him, “Mr Longbotttom, nice to see a familiar face tonight,” and it was, she was being sincere, and for the first time all night she wasn’t fighting the words.

[longbottomlad]

Frank hadn’t been expecting such an event for the book launch.  Attendees were dressed up to the nines - while Frank was wearing an outfit suitable to be deemed his ‘Sunday best’ but not quite to the calibre of everyone else.  On his way through the party - Frank had greeted plenty of familiar faces. But a relaxed smile etched its way onto his face as he spotted Andromeda. 

“Mr Longbottom - please call me Frank.” He spoke, warmly. “Unless of course - you would prefer me to refer to you as Mrs Tonks.”  Lifting a glass of punch off the tray of a passing waiter. 

[longbottomlad]

fauvehoof​:

It wasn’t possible for Lily, or anyone else Lily knew, to know what to expect or what to do. Each day held an unprecedented event, an ordeal that’s complexity or scope had never been matched, never been mastered. So many were looking to the Ministry or to the Order for a response, for a plan- but Lily had began to learn that no matter how detailed and considerate a plan was, it could never help what people wanted most from institutions of power, their grief. It wasn’t possible to think every element through, to address each problem. The only way Lily managed to get from one minute to the next and from one day to another, was to rely on her intuition, to focus her thoughts and emotions in the moment on whatever was in front of her, whatever she could actually control. Lily felt a small, amused pride in herself for not feeling any nausea as she walked into the Leaky Cauldron. Early in her pregnancy, every other scent sickened her, so it was no mean feat that now, at 7 months of pregnancy she was handling the perfumes of the ‘Cauldron without issue. She just couldn’t help herself- she’d seen Frank through the window and couldn’t let him be alone. She couldn’t be at Birmingham, so Lily felt it was important to hold the pieces of those who came back together. Pulling herself onto the bar stool beside him had been a point of accomplishment for Lily. Even just being beside him, Lily could feel his despair in the bow of his back, the lines of his hands, how his whole body seemed to want to point downwards, smaller and quieter. It made her heart skip with a sharpness- like a missed step- that he had been alone at all. Lily nodded to his words, but regardless, her arm hooked around his, her hand gently squeezing his shoulder. “Grant me a few minutes and if you’d still rather be by yourself, I’ll go. Promise.” Lily said softly, her fingertips pushing into his arm.

The first few days after Neville’s passing, Frank wasn’t able to register that his brother was gone.  It hadn’t been Frank’s first dance with grief, his father had passed only a few years prior. But it had been the hardest.  Who else was there to turn to? Neville had been the first person who Frank wanted to speak to after a mission, he had been Frank’s entire support system for years.  

Moving his hands to his face, Frank rubbed at his eyes.  Feeling the surrounding skin burn with the contact, red raw from his flood of emotions. At first it was denial, anger, and now it was just hurt. Holding it together for his mother had been the worst, Augusta wasn’t handling it well. Merlin, would anyone?  Frank’s recent evenings had been spent putting her to bed, and having to avoid the glistening eyes of his deceased brother and father in photographs lined along the hallways of the Longbottom household. 

Yesterday evening, a distant aunt had arrived at the house.  Dismissing Frank from his duties with a soft smile, and a pat on the back. While Frank was relieved to have a few moments away from his mother - a situated that left him riddled with guilt.  The weight of grief hung heavily around his shoulders.  It should have been Frank. Neville never should have been there in the first place - if only Frank had a time-turner,  he wouldn’t hesitate to go back and save Neville. Disregarding the ripples it would have caused in the future - to a grieving family those consequences meant nothing. 

Hearing the voice of Lily Potter  - Frank felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.  Feeling guilty for being so rude upon introduction.  He hadn’t been raised like that.  But Frank didn’t have the energy for formalities. Not now. 

His eyes flickered round to glance at Lily quickly. Feeling a complete mess. Frank raised the glass to his lips. Neville gave up his entire life - Frank could give Lily a few minutes. “I didn’t mean to be rude.” He clarified, his voice breaking slightly.  Trying his best to push back tears.  “It’s just - taking a bit more time than I thought. More time than it took with my father’s passing...  That sounds terrible- doesn’t it?” An evident lump forming in his throat. “But - he was my brother.” 

[longbottomlad]

who : anyone

where : the leaky cauldron 

when : May 1980. 

Frank’s eyes were burning in his skull. His throat was on fire with the constant swigs of whiskey. That had been his drink of choice for a while. Ever since the death of his elder brother, Neville. Frank wasn’t ever sure why his brother had answered the call to go to the Battle of Birmingham. As a squib, the older man must have know he was fighting a losing battle. But that has always been who Neville was. Honourable, Brave, Kind, everything that Frank longed to be. Neville was blueprint, now that he was gone. Who else was there to fill that space?

His left shoulder still felt the weight of Alastor Moody’s hand. A hand that found him the morning after the attack, guided him to the location of his brother’s body, laying in the rubble. A sight that Frank would never forget. A vision that not even the strongest of spirits would ever take away. He hadn’t went to work, unable to face the piles of paperwork on his desk relating to the aftermath of the Battle.

Feeling the movement and rustling of somebody sitting beside him. Frank sighed, “I’d rather be alone right now.” Frank had always loved others company. But ever since Birmingham, he found it hard to interact. Any sense of charisma was replaced with grief and guilt. Followed swiftly by anger, and weeping. “There is a free booth over there, I’d imagine the atmosphere to be much lighter.” Voice slurring as he spoke.

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee​:

Alice shook her head, dismissing Frank’s concerns about the dress code. “I think you can get away with it without resorting to petty theft.” Even if he was underdressed compared to some, he didn’t seem out of place. He had the sort of easy confidence and self-assurance that made him look at home anywhere. Not for the first time, Alice wondered how she’d missed it when they were at school. She saw it now, and she saw all the other guests who were seeing it, too. It made a juvenile, possessive part of her want to slide her arm around his waist, maybe hook a finger through one of his belt loops, do something to stake her claim, even though she knew she didn’t really have one. It wasn’t a totally uncommon instinct, but usually it was one Alice could push away. 

Tonight, she found herself smiling up at Frank with hooded eyes full of unspoken promises. “Besides, there are much more fun things to do in cloakrooms.” It was the sort of thing Alice might have said to another person at another time. She’d never been shy about flirting and her style was hardly subtle, but she didn’t flirt with Frank. It was dangerous, and not in a fun, adrenaline rush kind of way either. Things between them were starting to get back to normal now that she’d gone back to the aurors and they were working together again and she didn’t want to fuck that up. The memory of how much she’d missed him while she hadn’t been working at the Ministry still lingered like a bruise and she didn’t want to go back to that, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.

Alice chewed her lip as Frank stumbled over his words. She couldn’t really blame him; it was not the sort of thing they usually talked about. There was a tremendous amount of trust between them and friendship too. Alice knew that she could trust Frank with her life because they’d been in life and death situations, but they could also unwind together at a pub after a long day of work. Frank had become a cornerstone of her life, and that was exactly why Alice kept to pretty firm boundaries with him. She didn’t flirt, she didn’t bring up her underwear, she didn’t talk about her feelings for him. She was all set to make a joke out of it, which was her usual trick. She was going to say something about being the one who brought it up, maybe giving him a one time only pass because she was in a good mood. But when she opened her mouth something entirely different popped out. “I like the sound of it coming from you.”

Frank was making good sense; this wasn’t something they should be talking about. Alice knew she was treading on dangerous ground, and she really wasn’t sure why she kept putting her foot in it. Granted, she was doing it in a very classically Alice way, but it was almost like something else was speaking for her. It wasn’t imperio, Alice knew what that felt like and it wasn’t this, but this wasn’t normal, either. She might have done something about it if there weren’t a part of her that liked it, or at least liked what was coming from it. She liked hearing Frank call her beautiful, even if she generally didn’t give her beauty a second thought. She liked watching him blush and cough like her presence had some of the same affect on him that his had on her. And yes, there was a part of her that liked the feeling of teetering on the edge of a cliff, like she might fall but maybe she would fly. “We could always just share.” She found herself holding out the cup with a smile like she was offering much more than just punch.

“Somehow, I don’t think I’m the type of guy to get away with an act of petty theft.” In an attempt to get away with a crime, Frank was well aware that it may not always go in his favour. Even at Hogwarts when Frank attempted to charm his way out of a detention. With a bat of an eyelid and a cheeky smile, he always managed to weasel his way out of trouble but there was always a nagging sense of guilt within Frank. More often than not, Frank would wind up adding on an additional tutoring slot. To simply make up for lost time. An action he would never admit to Alice. Well aware that the woman would tease him for it. It was bad enough that Frank had been selected for head boy, he had to maintain a bit of a bad boy image. “I’d wind up knocking over the coat rack or something. Can you picture the news on the prophet?”

There was something in the air tonight. Was the air thicker? Or was Frank just struggling to breath from Alice’s comments. Thankful the the pink hue of the room, hoping it masked the tint of his cheeks. More than likely, Alice was well aware of Frank’s previous affection for her. It had been a high school crush, nothing more than a feeble attempt at asking Alice to accompany him to Hogsmeade. But ever since then, Frank had tried to be careful. In all honesty, as their relationship progressed from coworkers into friends and now, friends into whatever their current predicament was. Frank could find himself falling easily back into his feelings. With the amused glances, inside jokes and nights spent getting drunk at the Leaky. There was feelings, one that Frank chose to push back. They would only cause a predicament that could complicate their friendship greatly. “Surprisingly, a cloakroom is one of the places I haven’t tried. Too cramped, a gangly thing like me? It would be all limbs and coats.” Frank tried to play it off as nothing more than a joke between friends.

Frank laughed at the woman’s next admission. Knowing full well, he would now be unable to hide the colour of his face. “Merlin, Al. Are you feeling alright? It’s me you are talking to, you know? Not Gilderoy.” He tried to pass it off as a joke, placing a hand on Alice’s forehead. Jokingly acting like he was checking her temperature. If Alice were to do the same, Frank would be positively burning up. He had been expecting a punch in the arm, or a slap or the wrist for his comment. It was the truth but it was a step too far. Alice and Frank were never going to have that sort of relationship, he had come to terms with that a while back. However, disappointed Frank may have been at the time. He valued their current relationship far too much, in fact he was sort of pleased it hadn’t worked out back then. If things had of went according to that plan, things probably wouldn’t have been more than an awkward interaction in the lift in the mornings. Frank wouldn’t have his best friend. But as Alice continued to speak, his brow furrowed. Was there something deeper there? Or was it the punch talking? It wouldn’t have been the first time they leaned a little too close after a few drinks.

His eyes faltering to the glass in her hand as Alice offered him it. The stuff seemed strong and Alice was bound to wake up with a sore head in the morning, it seemed to have her saying some crazy stuff. Stuff that Frank was definitely going to tell her in the morning. Taking the glass out of her hand and placing it to his lips, he was about to take a slight sip. “However, tempting.” Frank hummed, pulling the glass from his mouth at the last second. Taking her hand carefully and placing the cup back in it. “It seems very strong. And I think one of us should avoid that. Goodness knows what we would get up to if we were both drinking that.”

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee​:

@longbottomlad​

Alice could see some of the tension drain from Frank’s shoulders as he made for the small kitchen and it was as easy as breathing to follow behind him. She could have drawn the picture with her eyes closed: Frank by the range where her kettle lived on the back burner even though he was the only one who ever used it, Alice herself perched on the opposite counter to give him as much room as possible in a kitchen that truly was only big enough for one person, Cinnamon settled on the rug in front of the sink with his paws tucked under him. It all had the worn familiarity of habit, including his question if she wanted a cup and her answer. “Only if you’re making it.” Alice rarely made tea for herself, preferring her little moka coffee pot, but she never said no to Frank if she could help it. And she liked when he made her tea, probably more than she should, even if he was just being his normal, friendly self and didn’t really mean anything by it.

Alice bit back a smile when Frank brought Pepper up. Alice’s first cat had been a grouchy old man at heart even when she was a kitten, and she hadn’t really mellowed as she aged. While Pepper had found room in her heart for Alice, every other human she met started out on thin ice. Except for Frank, who she’d never liked. Secretly, Alice wondered if Pepper had disliked Frank so much precisely because of how much Alice liked him. Somehow, Cinnamon was exactly the opposite. “Don’t worry, I think you’re safe from Cinnamon. I’m pretty sure he loves you more than me.”

Alice scoffed right back at Frank and shook her head. “But where did you go to school, hmm?” She raised her eyebrows with an entirely too satisfied expression on her face, clearly feeling like she’d won the argument. Not that it was really a high stakes argument, or even a proper argument, but it was exactly the sort of fun, easy banter she’d been missing. Alice hadn’t really been thinking when she quit, but if she’d known losing her job would mean losing Frank too she would have thought twice. But it wasn’t as if she could go back in time and make a different choice. Even if she had a time turner, too much time had passed to safely use one.

Alice pulled her legs up to her chest as Frank, quite rightly, chastised her. With her heels planted on the edge of the counter she rested her chin on her knees and ran her thumbnail over her lower lip. “I don’t know why I’m here.” When she finally spoke the words came out harder and angrier than she’d intended. She sighed and tried again. “You’re giving me too much credit. It wasn’t really something I planned out, it sort of just happened.” Alice kicked out her feet and sat back, reaching up to pull her hair out of its bun on the top of her head. She finger combed it a little before wrapping it back into a messy knot that was nearly identical to the one before.

“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t making it,” Frank grinned, “The last tea you made for me was toxic. I’ve had nicer poly juice potions”  He exclaimed, tapping his wand to her kettle. Boiling it in an instant as he fixed two mugs. One that he had already claimed as his own over the years.  Opening Alice’s cupboards and reaching for the earl grey tea leaves, a pouch that looked like it hadn’t been touched since his last visit to Alice’s house. “Being from Yorkshire, I make a fucking fabulous cup of tea. That’s something you Scots wouldn’t know anything about.” Frank hummed, a slight smirk on his features as he fixed up the mug and passed it over to the brunette. 

“That couldn’t possibly be true,” Frank shrugged, while Cinnamon did gravitate towards him.  The man couldn’t fathom how anybody could love him more than Alice. Surely even as a cat, Cinnamon could recognise Alice’s infectious nature. “Of course, when I’ve slept on the sofa. Cinnamon has found a way to sneak beside me.” 

At the notion of Hogwarts being in Scotland being Alice’s winning argument. The man scoffed, the playful glint still in his eye as he sat down onto a chair facing Alice. Raising the mug of tea to his mouth and taking a tentative sip, careful of the temperature. “Hogwarts might be in Scotland but I don’t think that place shaped me into anything other than a cocky git. Did you see how many girls were chasing at my feet? Clearly, they wanted a fine Yorkshire boy to escort them to Hogsmeade.” 

As Alice’s positioned her legs up to her chest, her chin resting on her knees.  It was only then that he recognised the weight of his words. Perhaps Frank was being a tad harsh. Who was he to criticise anybody? His own relationship with the Auror career had been deeply unhealthy ever since Neville passed.  Frustrated, a sigh fell from Frank’s mouth. “Look - I approached that wrong. Your friendship matters more to me than anything - co-worker or not.” Setting the mug of tea on the table beside him. “But Alice, you are far too good to be sitting here,” A pause, “if it’s a case of boredom or the war getting too much. That is understandable. There have been plenty of times, where the idea of throwing in the towel has been so appealing” Frank moved himself to look directly at Alice. “But have you ever backed out of the fight before? For seemingly no apparent reason?” 

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee​:​

Alice couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the way Frank clung to his coat. “Look at you, anyone would think you’d never been here before.” Without waiting for a response, Alice pulled it off his arm and hung it on the hall rack. Her mother had tried to teach her own to be a proper hostess, but the older Alice got the more she realized when it came to welcoming people it was less about the etiquette and decorum that Astraea Lestrange valued, and more about the little things that the house elves took care of. Greeting someone at the door, taking their coat, offering a drink, those were the things that Alice thought were important.

Alice chuckled appreciatively at Frank’s joke. “He may not bring them out often but, by Merlin, he knows how to use them.” Cinnamon was a very easy going cat, much more so than Pepper had ever been, but he was still a cat. Every now and then he would get upset about something and express his displeasure. Like the time he’d somehow managed to not only up-end a jar of marmite but also roll around in the resulting mess, forcing Alice to give him a bath. That hadn’t been a fun morning. 

Alice raised her eyebrows at Frank in a wry expression. “God’s own country, eh? What’s that, a kinder way of saying knock-off Scotland? Or does it mean, home for people who are too soft to handle a proper winter?” She could have gone on. In fact, it would have been nice to fall into the playful banter that usually occupied them when there wasn’t anything serious to talk about. 

The only problem was, there was something serious to talk about. Even if Frank hadn’t brought it up, Alice probably would have. Because part of her had expected Frank to be one of the first people to come find her after she quit. Or at least, she’d hoped he would be. Even putting aside her own deeper feelings, she considered Frank to be her closest friend among the aurors, and certainly more than just a work friend. His absence over the past months had been a gaping hole in her life, and she was hurt. Some of that came out as she crossed her arms over her chest. “And you’re just now deciding that? What’s changed?”

As the coat slipped from Frank’s grasp and his eyes followed Alice hanging it onto the wall rack. It was like a natural instinct of relaxation kicked in.  His shoulders relaxed and Frank exhaled a breath that he didn’t quite realise he was holding.  It felt like he was home. And, Frank didn’t mean in the cottage, it was Alice.  Work had felt cold, boring and dreary without her.  Beginning the Auror Academy at the same time, Frank had never experienced his career without Alice until now.  Holy Merlin, it was boring.  Making his way over to the kettle,  Frank raised an eyebrow. “I fancy a cuppa. Do you want one, Al?” 

“Hopefully I’ll never have to find out about Cinnamon’s temper.” Frank grinned, looking at the cat that was currently dancing around his feet.  It had been a long time since he visited.  Far too long.  “Pepper wasn’t too shy about showing their temper.” 

“Knock-off Scotland.” Frank scoffed. Yorkshire was a fine place. It’s beautiful nature spanned for miles, not to mention the people.  Frank had met a few of Neville’s friends from the nearby boarding school, all the locals were golden.  “The people of Yorkshire might be a bit softer than you lot up in the Highlands- but we are a good laugh.  Yorkshire made me into the man I am today.”  He said, lining up Alice’s mug and the mug he had established as his own and tapping them with his wand.  “You have Yorkshire to thank for yours truly, your best friend.”  Frank emphasised a dramatic pause, placing his hand on his chest. 

Perhaps Frank should have approached Alice sooner.  He should have arrived straight after the news of Alice’s resignation with a pitch to get her back. But with the actions currently surrounding the wizarding world.  Being a part of the Law Enforcement was rough. Not to mention his and Alice’s predicament of also being in the Order of The Phoenix.  If Alice had enough, she was strong enough and wise enough to make that decision on her own.  Frank knew her well enough to know that if he had of marched in and told her to come back, Alice very well could have told him where to go.  A stubbornness which he both loathed and admired. “Nothing has changed..” Frank sighed, exasperated. 

“Obviously I never wanted you to leave, Al.  But- it was your decision and you seemed pretty set in your ways.”  It was hard opinion to voice. “But I think you were wrong. And I’ve debated doing this for a while - as a friend and a coworker.  Stuff is happening out there- not pleasant stuff - but stuff.  You have never been the type to sit on the sidelines. Why are you here? What has changed for you?” 

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee·:·

Alice wasn’t surprised to see Frank with a butterbeer. She’d notice that he started drinking less after Neville died, and she figured it was better than the opposite. She tried not to pry too much, letting him handle it in his own way and making sure her door was always open for him when he didn’t want to go home to an empty flat at the end of the day. And maybe she put in a little extra effort, investing in a pull out couch so he’d be more comfortable, turning down offers to spend a night with someone else, spending more nights in in general, just in case. She could say it wasn’t any more or less than she’d do for any friend, but she wasn’t sure that would be totally true.

Alice clicked her tongue in mock disapproval. “Clearly you didn’t pay attention to the invitation. Not that I did, but Ted told me. Which probably means Andy read it. But apparently it very specifically listed a semi-formal dress code.” Alice was great at focusing on things that interested her or were important, like work or her friends, but if something didn’t catch her attention it was easy for her to miss the finer details. When she got the invitation, she’d been more concerned with the promise of a party than what she was supposed to wear to it. “Still, at least you’re comfortable.” Alice shrugged. Never one to concern herself too much with arbitrary rules, she thought Frank had the right idea. “This bra is probably going to leave permanent marks on my skin.” Alice blinked, taken aback even as she said it. It wasn’t so much that she was a prude, because she was definitely not that. But she did usually try to keep the talking about sex-adjacent things, which her bra definitely counted as, to a minimum around Frank, for her own sanity, if nothing else.·

And her sanity definitely felt like it was on a knife’s edge tonight. Alice bit her lip as she watched Frank run his fingers through his hair, shoving her free hand into her jacket pocket to resist the temptation to do the same thing herself. She was definitely a little obsessed with Frank’s hair, the messy wavy-curls that looked so soft, practically begging to be played with. Maybe she was particularly obsessed with his hair, because she was sort of a little obsessed with everything about Frank Longbottom, a fact that got her into trouble as she lost track of the conversation thinking about his hair. She shook her head and tuned back in when she realized she was supposed to be saying something, taking another sip of her punch to buy some time. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s in this but it is very strong. Good, though. It’s well mixed, doesn’t taste super boozy or anything. It actually tastes like that Muggle candy. The one that looks like little, brightly colored, glass beads. With the happy name. I can’t remember it.”

Alice felt her skin prickle under Frank’s attention, and for a minute she couldn’t think of anything to say. Their usual flirtatious teasing didn’t feel as easy tonight. Instead, she let out a breathy laugh. “I’m not sure how many people would agree with you.”

“I need to start reading invitations.” Frank acknowledged with a brief nod, his eyes casting a glance across the room. ·Well aware that if his mother saw a picture of him in the Daily Prophet dressed in his casual wear at a cocktail event, ·he would receive a howler before breakfast. “Do you think I could steal a blazer from the cloakroom?” He teased, focusing his gaze back on Alice. “I know that it’s highly inappropriate for an auror to suggest theft. ·But it’s even worse if I face Augusta’s wrath.” ·Frank smiled before shrugging. “I mean- I am now her only son. ·She only has one chance to leave a fashionable legacy.” His tone joking, a trial to convince Alice that he was fine. ·That he could now brush aside his grief like he did everything else. ·Frank could ignore the pang of hurt in his chest at the notion of now being an only child.

Coughing slightly, Frank was glad of the distraction from his outfit spiral. However, the diversion did lead to a conversation which Frank wasn’t quite sure how to navigate. ·Sure, Frank had occasionally found his eyes lingering on the woman during nights out or work days. ·Alice was a beautiful woman, a very beautiful woman. ·Frank also recalled a particular Christmas Gala for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement where his heart practically skipped a beat at the sight of Alice. ·But for years. he had tried to push those feelings to the side. To focus on their friendship and ·their working relationship rather than get swept up in his romantic notions. ·“I mean - if it’s any consolation ..but your boobs look great.” Frank spoke quickly, the comment falling from his lips before truly processing in his head. ·Redness flew to his cheeks and his heart began to race. “Shit-sorry...that sounded bad...” Frank shook his head, pinching at the bridge of his nose. “Permission is granted to hit me a slap.”

Not knowing how to move on from his blunder, Frank laughed sheepishly. ·His face feeling like it was burning up. ·Frank’s usual charm replaced with a notion that he had overstepped. “You look beautiful, Alice.” He reiterated. “But I think for the sake of our friendship - I better shut my trap and get one of those concoctions.” ·Motioning to the glass in Alice’s hand.

[fuckyeahtomblyth]

Everyone Hates Seth, But Alex Fitzalan is Pretty: A Gifset (Part 1 of 8)

[longbottomlad]

alessandraesmee·:

@longbottomlad·

Alice greeted Frank with a wide smile. Of course, she greeted most people with a smile, but she couldn’t say Frank didn’t get a special one. Especially here and now, with the people and the music and the drinks. Frank’s presence always made things better, whether it was making a bad thing okay or a good thing great, and now that he’d arrived Alice felt like it was shaping up to be a perfect party. 

She was getting used to the random surges of intense affection for Frank. At first it had caught her by surprise, when some little thing he did would hit her over the head with an almost irresistible urge to kiss him until she couldn’t breathe. And not even in the ‘mother of Merlin I want you to take my clothes off with your teeth’ way that, let’s be honest, she pretty much always wanted to kiss him. It was more like she just loved him so much there wasn’t any other way to show it. It made her relate to her dumb little cat. Whenever Frank ended up crashing at her place, Cinnamon could never decide who to sleep with, worrying back and forth between her bed and the couch, where Frank always insisted on sleeping like some sort of endearingly and maddeningly proper Victorian gentleman. Eventually the poor cat would wear himself out and curl up somewhere between the two, usually in the door to Alice’s bedroom where he could see the sofa and her bed. 

This was one of those moments. Not for Cinnamon, who was probably blissfully passed out on the radiator at home, but for Alice. Here everyone was in all their finery, itchy and uncomfortable in dresses and suit jackets. Even Alice had  worn a strapless bra for the occasion. And there was Frank, perfectly underdressed and comfortable in one of his cozy sweaters that made Alice want to wriggle inside it and live against his skin. Alice had to remind herself of all the reasons why she couldn’t just kiss him. And remember to breathe and also not stare at him like a lovesick idiot and say something. “I love your sweater.” Usually, Alice would have made it into a joke, all teasing and playful, but tonight it just tumbled out of her mouth without a filter, all genuine words and a soft smile. She traced a little of the cabling with her fingers, then stopped herself. She took a big drink of her punch before she said something else stupid. 

When Frank asked about Lockhart, Alice shook her head, mouth still full of punch, and swallowed. “I haven’t gotten the chance yet. Haven’t really looked for it, honestly. But I don’t think his way with words is what has people in awe.” Alice picked up a copy of the book, they were everywhere even at the drinks table, and held it up so the cover picture could more easily smile at Frank.

As a late arrival, there was already a certain buzz about the party. It was evident from the laughter and buzz flying around the Hogsmeade Banquet Hall.  Frank had always enjoyed parties. There was something about having a laugh with your mates over far too many whiskies before fondly stumbling home singing some muggle song that they overheard on their daily commute.  It had been a while since Frank had gotten drunk and enjoyed his evening.

 In the wake of his brother’s death, Frank had found the beverages to play havoc on his mind.  More often than not, Frank found himself holding back tears after one too many had crossed his lips.  Ever since, he had been a bit more cautious of his intake.  It seemed like the best approach, until Frank trusted that memories wouldn’t come flooding back to him.  Tonight was one of the evenings where Frank was deciding to pace himself. In the centre of the room was a fountain of punch, with a sickly sweet smell which was all too tempting. But Frank knew that it was too easily drunk. Instead, Frank headed towards a waiter and ordered a cold butter beer.  A beverage which he could tentatively sip and trust that he wouldn’t embarrass himself.  

Alice looked breathtaking. With her complexion, he had always loved the colour red on her.  Frank had suffered through many office Christmas parties, with faux antlers on his head, just to admire the woman in an obnoxiously red Santa hat.  There was just something about the colour on her, it seemed to emphasise her radiant glow, causing the nerves and admiration to swell in his chest.  Nerves that were heightened as Alice ran her fingers along the cabling of his sweater.  Frank was completely under dressed for the occasion, he hadn’t expected the evening to be such an affair. “In all honesty, I thought this would be quite a casual occasion.  I expected a few canopies and a small chapter read before everyone went on the lash.”  Frank chuckled, pushing a strand of hair out of his eyes. 

Frank’s eyes fell to the punch, a small smirk toying on his lips as Alice chugged down some of the liquid. “How is the punch? I was tempted to try some but I don’t want a repeat of my twenty-first birthday.”  A small joke, before looking at the copy of the novel in Alice’s hand.  Frank choked a laugh, “There is no doubt that he is a handsome fella- but he’s definitely not the best looking at this party.” 

Winking as he dramatically took in Alice’s outfit, “Poor Lad- You’ve outshone the man at his own book launch.” 

@alessandraesmee·