Alice Longbottom

[defence-against-the-drabbles]

(Frank and Alice tell the Order about her pregnancy.)

I’m scared.” Alice whispered to Frank and they walked the streets, weaving in and out of people as they tried to get to the designated meeting spot the Order had agreed on the week before.

It was raining and a sea of umbrellas hid their line of sight from all the people around them, only making the pair that much more paranoid.

Frank’s arm slid around her shoulder and he pulled her into his body. “Don’t be, love. What could they possibly say that would be in the slightest bit negative? Dumbledore will be absolutely thrilled and you know Lily is pregnant too.”

Alice nodded, seeing the voice of reason ringing through her husband’s words as she struggled to keep a tight hold on the umbrella. “I know but…yeah, I’m being irrational, aren’t I?”

A nod from Frank was the only clarification she needed and an offended gasp came from his wife, who playfully swung the umbrella into his as the street cleared up a bit. “You’re my husband! You’re meant to believe I’m right no matter what!”

Frank caught the umbrella expertly and had his wife propped up against the wall in a second, one hand stroking down her cheek. “Even when she’s unnecessarily stressing her self out?”

It was like they were still teenagers at Hogwarts, hell, they basically were because when he touched her a slight shiver ran up her spine. The way he touched her in that moment was so innocent yet overlooked that it caused her heart to flutter and her mind to remember long days pressed up against the castle tapestries.

While Frank was kissing Alice, he tapped on the window beside him. Alice didn’t seem to notice the kiss but she did notice the low chuckle from Sirius Black. “Fralice! So good for you to finally make it. Snogging on the side of headquarters, I see. Not that much has changed from Hogwarts, has it?”

The couple rolled their eyes as Sirius let them into the meeting. Before every Order meeting, they had time to mingle and talk. Everyone hardly saw each other that the news and gossip was welcomed by all.

It was in that moment that Frank loudly cleared his throat and proclaimed. “Can we just make one quick announcement?” When everyone quietened down, Frank pulled Alice close to him and said happily. “Alice is pregnant. We’re having a baby.”

Cheers erupted between the group and people ran over to congratulate them and ask endless questions. As this went on, Alice guessed she wasn’t so scared anymore. 

[defence-against-the-drabbles]

Fralice: A pairing I think deserves more recognition for anon

Alice gives a grunt of frustration and drops her head onto her arms, making the rickety wooden table underneath creak with the added weight. “I’m going to fail,” she moans.

“Don’t be melodramatic,” Frank laughs from beside her. He’s scribbling hastily in the margins of his textbook – he’s always had aptitude for Herbology, which Alice finds ridiculously unfair – but he looks across at her when she groans louder. “Here,” he says in a gentle voice, and he tugs her textbook out from under her arms. “What’re you stuck on?”

She looks up in disbelief. “Are you helping me?” Her brown curls bounce with the brisk change in position and she smoothes them down absently, the action ingrained into her with fourteen years of rebellious hair.

“Are you complaining?”

“Not at all,” she says with a shake of her head – it makes a curl fall on her cheek, and she blows it away with a huff from the corner of her mouth – “You’re just normally so absorbed in your own work to notice my miniature freak-outs next to you.”

Frank is scanning the page Alice had been reading, but looked up at that and gifted her with a small, cryptic smile. “I always notice, Alice. I notice everything when it comes to you.” He stands up before she has time to respond and taps her cheek with his knuckle. “You’re on love potions, right?” She nods. “Come on then,” he says, and holds takes her hand, pulls her behind him to a more secluded section of the Greenhouse.

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[defence-against-the-drabbles]

Fralice: Frank flirting with Alice in Herbology for anon

The third greenhouse was the brightest on spring days, and Alice Prewett tended to the plants every so often. Frank Longbottom took this opportunity to spend more time with her. Frank had loved Alice for ages, but he was far too timid to admit his feelings for her. Though, all of Hogwarts could see that they were perfect for each other.

Peonies were Alice’s favorite flower, but she had not seen these. So, Frank carried the pot of yellow blossoms from the second to the third greenhouse.

Through the open window, she could hear her enchanting singing voice. She could make the boring old Hogwarts Alma Mata seem like the prettiest melody.

“Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, Teach us something please. Whether we be old and bald, Or young with scabby knees…” Alice had sung. The carnivorous plant swayed happily at the too. Even the most demon like plants were fond of her. Though, Frank hadn’t blamed it.

The singing had stopped once Alice had seen Frank. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him, and the plant’s leaves ruffled at this utterly annoyed.

“These are for you.” said Frank proudly, showing her the potted plant in which he’d lugged over.

“Oh, Frank they are lovely.” Alice smiled closely examining the plants pedals. “How did you know that I loved peonies?”

“Lucky guess.” Frank lied. He knew everything about her.

All the while, the very hungry carnivorous plant grew closer to Franks resting hand. It large fangs took in a large chunk of his skin.

He let a yelp. Coming to his rescue, Alice hit the plant with a gardening trawl.  

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

008. My roots started here

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

010. It’s not what it looks like

There was a huge pile of children’s clothes on their livingroom floor, and Alice sat surrounded by them. She had been folding those for an hour, right after she had gotten back home, and saw the package from Sophia waiting for her. Alice had sniffled almost every little dress and shirt, sock and blanket, dreaming that someday her children would use those too. She had saved some of those clothes, put them to her drawer, but most of them, just as Sophia has explained, were going to her friend’s kids here in London.

For some reason Alice had brought her old photos down there too, oh she was being emotional!, seeing if any of those clothes were from her childhood. And if they were, they definitely weren’t going to someone who wasn’t family. She had recognized her old blue dress, and some other clothes, and was glad that she had saved those. Maybe she should write mom and tell her that she had saved those. Though if she heard that Alice had been there, trying to find her old clothes for her own children to use…. Well, her mom would think she would become a grandma to her younger daughter’s kids too. Which wasn’t the question here, Alice was no way pregnant, and her mother and sister knew that very well.

A very well known noice brought her back from her thoughts, when Alice heard someone apparating in. And because of the spells protecting their house, it could only be Frank. Soon she heard his familiar footsteps too, and saw her husband walking in on her surrounded by baby clothes and pictures. Frank’s shocked expression made Alice’s huge smile vanish in a second, because she knew what he must be thinking, and started quickly explaining things. “Frank, Frank darling. It’s not what it looks like", she spoke quickly. “I’m just doing a favour to Sophia. I’m not pregnant, these clothes aren’t for us." She smiled at him. “Well, I’m saving some of these, mostly what I know have been mine and Sophia’s, but everything else is going to some friend of her’s here in London", Alice said while standing up and walking to Frank. 

"I will tell you in a better way than this, when ever I need to tell you the news", Alice said, giving Frank a quick kiss. “You want anything? I’m starving", she asked, making her way to the kitchen. Though that might make Frank even more confused because he had seen Sophia while she was pregnant, and Alice’s sister was almost always hungry.

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

If, Merlin forbid, you had to choose between saving the life of your husband or saving the life of a hypothetical unborn child of yours, which would you choose?

Merlin! How does one even ask these questions. This is just plain cruel, you do know that, right?

If I let Frank die, I would still have a memory of him in that unborn child. But then he couldn't see our child growing up, the first steps, the first words, getting his or hers Hogwarts letter, getting the wand, going to school for the very first time, nothing. Nothing at all. The child would grow without a father, which would be too cruel. And I? I woudl lost my other half, my soulmate, my best friend. I don't know if I could life without Frank, let alone know that I could have saved him.

But if the unborn child died? Would it be a child to begin with? All the plans Frank and I would have had, vanished. Vanished like a smoke in the air. The one comforting thing would be, that even if the lost would be huge, don't know how I could really deal with that, we could always try again. To have other children, tell them that they had had either a big brother or a sister. But could I really do that? To my own child, my own flesh and blood? Not to learn to know him/her, not being able to see his/hers first steps with Frank...

This is, oh for Godric's sake! I do not choose. I can't, I won't. This is something one can't say anything, and I hope I'll never have to be in that situation.

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

Do you have any favorite stories from school?

I have quite many favourite stories from Hogwarts to tell, but when me and my girlfriends dyed Frank and Benjy's robes in purple might be the favourite one that I can share with you.

It must have been in our fifth year I think, and very early March. I can't remember why we actually did that, the boys must have done something to piss us off, which was quite easy back in the days, and we decided that they needed to pay for that.

One of my dear friends, Stella, was amazing with spells (a true Ravenclaw may I say) and she taught us the spell, because it wasn't very longlasting, and we needed to charm the robes at least ten time that day only!

But yes, that very morning I walked to the boys dorm room, saying that Benjy had forgotten to give my notes back (which was sometimes true, but not that day) and boys didn't ask questions. I just marched there and murmured that spell, pointing Frank and Benjy's robes and tada! They were purple! When the boys finally woke up, yes, they had been sleeping behind the closed curtains like usual, you could hear the yells and laughter to the common room! Oh how fun we had had with Julia and Faith, just waiting what would happen.

We quickly left the common room and went to get some breakfast, and to see if the boys really had their purple robes on them! And they did, the professors were quite strick about the fact that we had our robes on. But that day, when ever we saw them on their robes, and if they looked even little bit elapsed, someone charmed the robes again and they didn't know how to get rid of that colour.

We were kind though, we let the colour faint over the night and the next day their robes were back to black. I don't know if they knew who was behind that. Maybe they suspected me, maybe not, but we never confessed.

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

002. Meanwhile, locked in …

It had been a long day for the Aurors in training, but for Alice Hughes it had been the worst in the whole time of her being there. It wasn't like it was easy, being one of the few girls in training, but she had made it and earned the respect from the other trainees as well as from the trainers too. But lately Alice had been out of focus, and today had been just awful. "Stupid Frank Longbottom and his pretty face!" she mumbled while walking towards the elevators in their department. Alice had almost gotten herelf badly injured and her partner too, when she had been too occupied watching how Frank was doing rather than concentrating on her own work. Why did she need to have these stupid emotions towards him? She wasn't allowed to have those! Angrily she stepped in to an elevator, not noticing she wasn't there alone.

"Alice," Frank said, nodding in a way that was somewhere between curt, snide, and indifferent and probably came across as arrogant. However he came across, though, wasn't entirely accurate. In truth, he was toggling between anger and that funny sort of feeling that comes with a perverse fascination. She was quite unlike most girls--a spitfire with attitude, a girl definitely more capable (and terrifying) than most of the other trainees--but that only served to spark the competitiveness in Frank. That, and she seemed to enjoy pushing his buttons. Of course, that meant he enjoyed pushing hers back. "You've recovered I see. That was a nasty spill you took. Could have been much worse than it already was."

Alice didn't even bother to turn around, when she heard someone saying her name. Longbottom. She had been spending too much time with him to recognize his voice everywhere. Oh how she hated and loved his voice at the same time, especially now when Alice would hear his annoyance and arrogance in his voice. She would have been the same though, but not right now. Right now Alice was just pissed that he just had to be there too, just her typical luck. "Frank", she answered way too sweetly, still not turning around. Alice often wondered why the feelings came up now, not back at Hogwarts when they were all hormonal teens and adventurous, but now, when they were almost adults and soon-to-be Aurors. Well, she never got the timing right. Plus Frank had became more interesting since his Hogwarts years. "You think I could be taken down that easily? Dream on, Longbottom", she said, rolling her eyes even if Frank couldn't see her do that. "And please, we both have had it worse than that."

Frank let out a short chuckle. "I could take you down. We both know that." He sneered a bit at the back of her head. "Though you seemed to do just fine with that yourself." In truth, they were evenly matched, and Alice had bested him as many times as he had her. At this point, though, technicalities were irrelevant. He just wanted to see her fume. "It's okay, though. You'll get it eventually. Everyone's rooting for you."

It was at that moment when the elevator lurched violently and the lights flickered, reminiscent of the electric lights Muggles used. The lights soon stopped being dramatic and returned to their normal brilliance, but without the strobe effect Frank noticed they weren't moving. Muggle lifts would jam, of course, but he hadn't expected it from a magical one. Examining the doors and walls (for what, he wasn't sure), he turned to Alice. "Looks like we're not going anywhere anytime soon..."

Alice was once again rolling her eyes when she heard him chuckle. What an arrogant lad! And her stupid heart had created feeling towards that git, Merlin help her! "And we both know that I could take you down even more easily", Alice said though she knew that Frank could take her down, but she could take him down too. They were quite even with that, even if either of them didn't want to admit that. Alice sneered at Frank's comment and said: "And yet I didn't, because I'm still here." She finally turned though, and leaned to the doors, hoping they would open only when they were at the Aquarium. Otherwise it would be a bit embarassing. Other than that, Alice's mind was blown away thanks to Frank's words. Oh no he just didn't.  "Well isn't that just sweet, maybe I should bake them all a cake when I "eventually get it" like a good girl should", Alice said, her voice dripping with sarcasm and snide. She didn't get to be more mean though, because the bloody elevator desided to have problems just then. Alice hadn't really thought that the magical elevators could have any real problems, but this definitely was real. The lights went flashing and then returned, and pretty soon after that Alice noticed that they weren't moving at all. Surely you didn't notice the elevator moving when you travelled between the departments, but it was easy to notice that they just stayed there, unmoving. She moved a bit when Frank came to see the doors and such, like he knew anything about them. "Thank you for stating the obvious", Alice said with an angry sigh. "Just great. So bloody great."

"Who else would you want to be stuck with?" he asked, pressing his ear against the door and straining to hear if someone was coming. He cast a few spells to no avail, then tried Disapparating. Nothing worked, because that would have been too easy. "Someone's not happy," he said, sitting on the ground against the wall and crossing his arms. "Come on. Talk it out. You know you want to."

Alice rolled her eyes for how many times, she didn't know, but she didn't care either. Frank Longbottom was driving her crazy. "Anyone really but you", she said honestly. The long haired young woman watched as the dark haried man tried to accomplish something by listening the doors. And the apparating away. Hadn't he learned that the Ministry was quite like Hogwarts; one couldn't apparate inside the building. Their loss sadly. Alice sat down, moving away from still standing Frank, hoping that the lift would start working soon.

"Oh, you noticed", she answered sarcasticly. But unlike Frank thought he knew she knew it, Alice didn't want to talk to him about her personal life. Sure they were some kind of friends, they hang out every now and then, but Frank wasn't the one Alice would tell what was going on in her life. "And what if I don't want to talk? You'll make me? Don't think so Frank", Alice told him, hugging her knees and resting her head against them.

There was clearly something going on, and it was simultaneously fascinating and obnoxious. He hasn't done anything, but here she was, being incredibly unpleasant. The surly attitude sucked the fun out of the air, and as he sat, he realized he was in for quite a long wait with someone who for whatever reason didn't like him at all.

"Well never mind then. I'll entertain myself then."

Alice stayed still, quiet and trying not to think of all the things she should be doing rather than being stuck in a magical elevator that should get stuck in the first place! Training was what came to her mind first, she knew the perfect place to practise magic without anyone to notice, and that's where Alice would have rather been than here. Or cleaning her bathroom. Or even on the field, making mistakes! This wasn't fun at all, and Alice knew she was being a bit too stubborn and annoying, but she had had a bad day, thanks to Frank even if he wasn't aware of that little fact, and Alice needed to do something and then take a bath. A hot bath was all she wanted, yes. Skip the practising, a bath was what her body needed right now. But was that going to happen? Not in a while no. Her mind on her own thoughts, Alice missed completely Frank's words.

She lifted her head only to let it fall to the wall behind her and closed her eyes. "Let us out here", she mumbled more to herself than for Frank to hear. Alice wasn't really afraid of small and closed places, and they had been locked in only moments, but she was already a bit freaked out.

"Okay then. Fine. Ignore me." After a moment, though, he realized that it wasn't as simple as that. She seemed...unsettled? Claustrophobic, perhaps? "Alice, you okay over there...?"

Alice came back to Earth only to hear Frank being his arrogant self, and there she was, rolling her eyes at him again. She swayed a bit from side to side, but stopped soon because it felt and propably looked stupid too. She sighed when Frank asked if she was okay. Alice send him a small smile. "I'm fine, this is just the last place I would like to be at the moment", she told him honesly. Funny how the rudeness had weared itself out, but Alice was very sure that he would say something to push her buttons again. It was what they usually did around another.

"Well now, honesty is refreshing, innit?" He looked away and took particular interest in the buttons on the lift. Of course he should have expected so much, but this felt different from their normal banter. More callous. More real. "Well, I'm sure we'll be out of here soon and you can be rid of me. I'd hate to be a bother for much longer."

"Refreshing compared to what? The studying or the field work?" she asked, and locking her eyes with that very interesting corner in the lift. Hadn't noticed how perfectly that one was made too... Maybe there was a person taking care of the elevators' corners too. Oh what a silly thought, but that kept Alice thinking of other things. "How? The Ministry was almost empty, and they won't be wondering why this one elevator isn't there, because they are almost always moving. You bothering me is the smallest of our problems at the moment really", Alice said giving Frank a small smile but soon getting back to see that corner next to her.

"Yet it's clearly taking it's toll. Clearly pleasant conversation is beyond you, so let's just get this damn thing moving." Frank stood, removed his wand, and began casting spells at the ceiling and floor alternately, though after a few minutes without progress, he held out little hope that he could get them out any faster. Whatever the trick to the lifts was, he didn't know it.

Alice fight the urge to cast a silencing spell at Frank, or at least stick out her tongue, but she had to act like a mature adult should. "Well gee, sorry for not being my bubbly self after this horrible day!" she practically cried out loud. Alice watched annoyed as Frank, having no idea what to really do other than cast spells around the lift, didn't get the elevator moving. "I don't think any of our spells will make this thing move", Alice said, stating the obvious this time. She was still sitting down there, watching. "You don't think there is a hatch on the ceiling, like in those Muggle films, where we could try and get out?" that was all she had. If Frank's spells weren't working, hers wouldn't work either because they knew almost the same spells. So they would need to escape Muggle style. Maybe.

Something was clearly very wrong, and it was equally clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. He ignored her barbs as he tried a few more spells before eventually relenting and nodding. She was right; if there was a hatch, they could maybe get out manually. Studying he ceiling, he saw a ridge that may have been a hatch and he pointed. "I'll give you a leg up? Then you can be rid of me sooner."

She shook her head as Frank still thought that he could be able to cast a spell to let them out. Hadn't he realised it yet, that his spells weren't working and wouldn't work. Men. Though this one seemed to finally realise that she had been right, as always,  when Alice saw him nod in agreement. She stood up while Frank studied the ceiling, and finally find the hatch and pointed it out, Alice following his finger. "That's the only option really", she said shrugging, not answering to his comment of her getting rid of her sooner. Thank Godric she had pants today and not a skirt like she liked to have. "You ready?" Alice asked, taking steps and closing the gap between them, ready to be lifted up.

Frank took a knee and positioned his other underneath the hatch. "Let's get this over with then," he said, extending his hand for her to grab to help balance herself as she stood on his leg. At least to him, the scene was now infused with awkward fomality. Whatever her issues were, he wasn't keen on getting yelled at again. Their normal banter had soured, and while Frank usually found her annoyance with him endearing, he was now beginning to wonder if she truly hated him. While there would be time to mull that over later, right now he was singularly focused on getting away from Alice, and consequentially getting out of the lift.

"Right", Alice answered when tooking his hand and then took a step/small jump to get herself to Frank's leg. It wasn't the world's most steady place to stand, but she soon find a good position for her legs, hoping her small steps wouldn't kill Frank's leg, and stopped wobblying. Alice noticed that she was still holding Frank's hand, but maybe that was for the best, it really helped. She had her mind set to try and get them out of there, so Alice wasn't even thinking the position and situation they were in. She managed to lift her hand up enough to try and lift the hatch up but it didn't move. Alice tried again with as much force as she could with only one hand, but still nothing. She couldn't be that weak couldn't she?

Alice took out her wand and pointed the hatch with it. She muttered some spells, but the ceiling stayed as it was. Great, just great. "It doesn't move when I try and lift it up, but it also doesn't respond to my spells", she informed though Frank must have noticed that himself.

Frank helped her down then stared at the ceiling. "Well, I can try to muscle it open, but I'm not going to stand on you..." He trailed off as he considered what he could have thought of before. Pulling out his wand, he conjured a small table, solid and wooden and large enough for two to stand on. "This may work better," he said, scratching his nose and clearing his throat, wholly embarrassed that he hadn't suggested this first.

He stood on the table and tried banging on the hatch, but it wouldn't move. "So clearly it wasn't just stuck..."

Stepping down from Frank's leg was easier than getting there, and Alice was just glad to stand on something other than a human flesh. She flashed a smile to him as he said he wouldn't stand on her. "Yes, that would be a disaster", Alice said: "But you can try if you want to. Not sure if it'll work." She took a step aside as Frank conjured a table, thinking why either of them hadn't thought of that before. Well, better late than never, though the better would have been nicer. Alice could feel her cheeks coming red, and tried not to watch as Frank went and stood on that table.

And yet the hatch didn't move even with more force. "If it had been, I might have as well have it moving", Alice said. "I think these are charmed from the outside or something."

"Damned security..." Frank muttered, sitting down on the table and studying Alice. "So looks like we're stuck til someone gets us out. So until then..." He trailed off and crossed his arms. "What's up, Hughes? Why do you suddenly want to hex me into oblivion?"

"It's always working when it shouldn't be", Alice said, joking, though she wasn't sure if Frank's statement was for her to hear or answer. She leaned to the wall and watched as Frank sat down to the table. "Yeah, looks like that'll be the case now", she answered. Alice let head head fall back to the wall, and sighed when Frank asked what was really going on. "Well, Longbottom", she started but didn't really know how to continue. Because I have feelings for you though I would prefer not to have? Or because I want to do more pleasant things with you at the moment? No, absolutely not, never in a million years would she say either of those things.

"If you hadn't noticed, you push my buttons way too ofen that I would like. Maybe I just don't want to put up with that right now?" she blabbered trying to say something reasonable.

"Because you're always so pleasant," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Come on, more than half our conversations end with a fight, and you initiate the majority of those. But usually you don't act like you want to murder me. I must say, it's rather disconcerting. I quite prefer you simply fired up."

"Of course I am", Alice answered, lifting her head up and watching Frank. She rolled her eyes, oh really. And he had nothing to do with those fights, yeah? No, she wouldn't swallow that that easily. "Well if I'm the one starting those fights, why do you keep up with me. It's not like you have to fight back, you know. You would want to murder me too if you'd had a bad day and as if that wasn't bad enough you get stuck in a bloody elevator!" she huffed angrily. "And I don't give a damn how you prefer me", Alice hissed. Deep down Alice hoped that Frank would never find out that she was just covering her feelings towards him with all those fights and sarcasm.

"If you didn't, dear, you wouldn't keep sniping at me, and you wouldn't project all this pent up frustration out on me. So come off it," he said, hopping off the table and closing the gap between them. "It's not me, and it's not this elevator, so what is it, Hughes? Man up." His face inches from her, he lowered his voice. "Tell me what's really eateing you."

Alice wasn't sure if her speechless was because Frank might be right or because he was being arrogant. Either way, Alice didn't like the way he spoke to her, even if it had a hint of truth in it. "You are not the only one how I fight with, if you hadn't noticed", she only stated and while that was true, Frank was clearly the one she fought most of the time. Alice hadn't even realised that he had hopped off the table, and with just few steps he was way too close to her than Alice would have liked him to be.

His words didn't go through her head because she couldn't concentrate on them; only to his face, inches away from hers. Alice was looking at his lips when Frank spoke again, lower voice this time and she just needed to snap it out and not watch his lips anymore. Oh, he really wanted to know? Yet she didn't want to tell him. Because that wasn't part of the plan, it was the total oppostite, the thing her parents wanted to happen! "Other than the things I've already told you? Something that isn't your business, and it'll never be your business", Alice told him, and while she would have loved to take steps away from Frank, she somehow find her feet unable to move. Great.

"That's likely," he said, smirking but remaining planted. "Let's be honest here. If I pester you enough, you'll tell me. And it will be explosive and delightful, so why not just get on with it. It's not like we'll be getting out of here any time soon. So spill. What are you secrets, my dear?" While he was quite aware of how much of an ass he was being, he was rather enjoying watching her fume. Yes, she was legitimately pissed; no, he didn't care, not when she was sniping for no reason. And not while they were stuck together. He might as well have some fun, especially at her expense.

Oh dear Godric how big ass he was being at the moment! In any other situation Alice would have hexed him or at least punched him, but not when she could feel his breath too close and see his eyelashes, almost counting them. He was asking for it, and Alice was feeling way too hot thank's to Frank's presence, plus her heart was being girly with all those feelings it had created for the man standing in front of her. So Alice did what her mind had unconsciously wanted to do for weeks; with no words she took a good grip from Frank's collar, rose on her toes and placed her lips giving Frank a kiss with full of emotions. When ending the kiss, but still keeping her grip, Alice asked: "That enough of secrets for you, Longbottom?"

What came after the kiss surprised Frank even more than the sudden kiss had. After a few moments of wide-eyed gaping, he pulled Alice closer and pushed his mouth against hers. Heat rose to his face as his mind expelled logical thought, and after he broke the kiss he stayed close enough to feel her breath. "Well, that has effectively ruined our rivalry, now hasn't it?"

She would have smirked at Frank because his shocked expression and gaping looked hilarious, but right now Alice was just waiting for him to react. She feared for the worse, but you couldn't undo what just had happened. And it would be her own damn fault if -. And then he kissed her back! That was something Alice had not expected, not at all. Her hands on Frank's collar eased their grip but she had her hands still between them and she could feel his hands on her back. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of Frank's lips on hers. Again. Alice felt breathless after that kiss, and her eyes still shut, she could feel Frank staying close to her.

"For once, I agree with you", Alice said, opening her eyes and looking up to see his face, a small smile on her face.

Frank turned up his nose and leaned backward, hands still on Alice's back. "Are we going to have to be nice to each other now?" He cocked his hand to the side. "That could be uncomfortable, you know... I do so enjoy watching you fume." He smirked, hesitating--just in case--before going in for another quick kiss.

She leaned more to the wall behind her, letting her hands drop from Frank's chest to her sides. Alice was surprised for that question, but after Frank explained that a bit, a smirk found its way to Alice's lips. "If you like it so much, then maybe we don't need to be nice to each other", she said. Alice had no time to say anything else, because she felt Frank's lips on hers again, but this time the kiss was quicker than the previous ones.

Alice once again rose to her toes, but this time she didn't kiss him, but rather brought her lips to his ear and whispered: "That means hot make out sessions then." As if there were other people to hear her saying that.

"If that's the case then I'll pretty much never be nice to you. So get used to it. This is how it's going to be." Frank leaned down again just in time to hear a strange thunk to his left. It was akin to some Muggle machines he'd been around, but he was at a loss for what was causing it in the Ministry. The thunk came once more then stopped, so he put it out of his mind. "You will be the death of me, Hughes." He paused and smirked, his face inches from hers. "Sounds like a hell of a lot of fun."

Alice wasn't really used to flirting, she had only had couple boyfriends and in the clubs it was more about the dancing than flirting with guys, so she wasn't sure what to respond to Frank. "I can't wait", was what came to her mind and out of her mouth first, and Alice hoped that it would sound alright. She was ready to be kissed again, but she as well heard the noice coming from behind the elevator doors, though Alice had no idea what was the cause of it. The thunk stopped though, and Frank was leaning against her again. "I hope you won't die too early", she whispered and was ready to be kissed by his soft lips again, but then the noice was heard louder than before.

She quickly turned her head so Frank's lips found her cheek instead of her lips, as Alice had her head turned to the doors. She saw the doors opening an inch, and that's when she turned back to Frank. "I think they've found us", she said, somehow relieved that she wouldn't need to share the small space with Frank for long. Alice broke free, she didn't want them to be found this closely, not yet anyway, and took steps closer to the jammed doors. "Is there anyone?" Alice yelled through the doors, and she got an answer: "You'll be out of there soon!" She turned to see Frank and said: "Dear Merlin they found us."

Frank blinked stupidly as she moved, spoke, and dislodged herself from him. Of course, propriety mattered--it was hardly good form to be snogging in a broken-down lift--but Frank couldn't help but feel confused and a little disappointed. Still, as the lift doors opened and he saw their rescuers, he was rather glad to be out. At least to no longer be trapped. After the other wizards left, he shuffled his feet a few times in Alice's general direction. "Well, then, now we're free I should head home." It was awkward and lame, but what was the alternative? Trap themselves back in the lift or go back to his, but both were terrible ideas. "I'll see you tomorrow then."  He started to turn then stopped. "It was nice being trapped with you." He smiled once more, then left, his head swimming to catch up with everything that had happened.

Alice knew she might have been sending mixed signals or what ever her girlfriends called that, but she honestly had no idea how to handle these kind of things. This was the very first time she had had feelings, and this time like real feelings, not those teenage girl feelings, for a guy after Hogwarts and this was nothing like her crushes back at school. So yes, Alice Hughes, and Auror-to-be was a bit scared of all of this. She had her main focus on their rescuers, and smiled wildly as she saw them, thanking them and finally stepping out.

The other wizards disappeared as quickly as they had gotten there, Alice hoped that they would fix the elevator soon!, and she turned back to Frank's direction. She could feel the colour on her cheeks changing to very bright red, and felt very awkward. But thank Gedric she wasn't the only one, since Frank seemed to have some troubles too. "Yes, well, me too. Early morning and everything", she said, smiling at him, not knowing what else to say to him. "Tomorrow it is then", Alice answered, her smile getting more bright and happy. She watched as Frank started to go, but then turned back at her.

Alice wondered if he had forgotten something or what was going on. To his next words, Alice chuckled a little. "I too enjoyed it", Alice told him, and as Frank turned to leave, she went to her own way too, wondering what would happen next. A real date perhaps? If that was what Frank would want. But Alice needed to think. And maybe talk to her sister and friends about everything that had happened.

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

004. Diary: Tombstone

February 3, 1969

I haven't been writting to you for the longest time and I apologize for that. My latest writing must have been from the early October or something, but I've just been really busy with this Auror training, and every day I've been too dead to even think of writing anything down. But today I just need to get this out, out of my brains and my eyes. I just, ugh. Let's start from the beginning.

So, it wasn't like this was the first time we were on the field, no, they had let us to the field quite many times before, but we have just been there, watching from afar, not taking any contact with anyone. But today was different. Surely we didn't do all the hard job, that's for the real Aurors, but they let us come with them and to try and fight against some murder bloke there. I first wondered why they needed like six Aurors, and us trainees of course, to take down that man, but after I saw the curses he threw towards us and heard what he had done all by himself, I totally get it.

And it isn't like I hadn't seen a dead body before, I've seen more than some will see in their lifetime (okay, only like ten), but this was the first time I saw someone actually kill a person. To see how the life escaped from their eyes and the body just went lifeless within seconds from that spell. And I know he was a murderer, a bad guy, what ever, but getting killed... I wouldn't wish that to anyone. Though that is more pleasant than getting "kissed" by a Dementor...

It was an accident really, that Auror who killed him, didn't actually use the Avada Kedavra curse, just a simple blocking spell that happened to happen at the right time. So the murderer's Avada Kedavra blowed backwards and hit him. I saw it happening too close, the way his eyes went all big when he realised what had happened, how he didn't have time to apparate, his blood rushing away from his face and his hands... Oh Merlin, his hands. They started shaking and he dropped his wand and, Merlin. As if he had been any of my friends, my family even, and here I am, almost in tears thinking of that.

I'm not trying to justify his doings, to undo his death, I'm happy that it was him rather than the Auror he was trying to kill. But a kill is still a kill. I somehow wish this hadn't been the first death I'd wistnessed, maybe I wouldn't take today's death this hard. We talked about this, Frank and I, and I guess there were some other trainees too, but it was a bit blurry so I don't know for sure who they were. But Frank said that this is what we have to get used to, and maybe even do by ourselves.

It sounds horrible. Getting used to see people getting killed in front of your eyes. Or better yet, kill someone, which I really don't want to do. The times are changing though, and I think I might have to kill people just to stay alive myself. Someone once told me that I wouldn't survive this training, or at least would quit as an Auror as soon as I saw death. I hope I don't have to do that. I know I can't really do that. I would betray myself, but also the people who believe that there can be change here. I can't let these deaths affect on me, it's my job. I knew that would be part of my job when I get in. I won't quit, not now after witnessing my first death, not when I need to kill someone, not ever.

I just can't.

And if there are some words I can't later understand, let's just say that it isn't rain. I really need to stop being too emotional, otherwise I won't be doing this for long, and I really want to do this. I know I can.

[ifyousurvive-secrets]

ϟPLOT | RULES | CHARACTERS | APPLYϟ

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

If you want to know, I am at my best when I know where my husband is. We are the best goddamn Auror team in the whole Ministry of Magic! And no, I do not lean back even with Frank here, but I do enjoy having him finally back.

With our weird working times I'm used to "lose" him every now and then, but I know he'll come back home to me after every mission. I don't know when he, or I, will have our next mission, but that's the fun part really.

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

003. Long walks on the beach

A witch on her late twenties looking for an older wizard who understands her need to stay independed. Bubbly witch who enjoys simple things, nothing too fancy because I'm not too fancy woman myself.  While wanting to earn my own money I don't mind a man taking care of me every now and then, but never am I the damsel in distress. If you can keep up with my talkative personality and oddly timed job at the Ministry, we should give it a tryi, shouldn't we?

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

001. My list

What’s On Your Bucket List? (things to do before you die)

1) See this war ending, to our favour of course 2) Live to the day when we have a proper Minister of Magic 3) Have children with Frank and to see them grow 4) Travel around the world and meet wizards from other countries 5) Fly on a dragon which is crazy since I dislike flying on brooms to the death

What’s On Your Regrets List?

1) I'm not already a mother but you can only blame this war really 2) I only ever wanted to be an Auror not that it's a bad thing, but what if I can't do that forever, what then? 3) I saw Frank as a friend for years, but better late than never, right? 4) I haven't stayed in touch with my close friends as well as I would have loved to 5) Joining the Order, maybe my life would be easier if I hadn't let Frank persuading me to join with him, though Frank joining by himself wasn't an option back then or is it now either

What’s On Your Kitchen Counter?

1)  Cookbooks, Muggle ones, wizard ones, everything goes really, as long as the food is good  2) A pan, why is there a pan on my kitchen counter? It should be where the others are, hidden in the closet, not for everyone to see! 3) Flowers, always a fresh bouquet for me to enjoy 4) Paperwork, mine or Frank's, you can't be sure since we work at the same department. But they shouldn't be there either... I really need to clean this place, it's a total mess. 5) A timer so I won't burn my cookings not that magic can't do that, but I like the little thing too much to get rid of it

What’s On Your Nightstand?

1) Pictures (of Frank and I, my family and closest friends) 2) The little jewelry I own 3) A book, at the moment it's work related aka the notes from my latest case so the papers on the kitchen counter are Frank's 4) A clock 5) My wand, well it's either there or under my pillow, usually under my pillow

[afrankandtryingtime-blog]

March 18th, 1979: Frank & Alice (Restless)

[afrankandtryingtime-blog]

They had a sort of dance they did during the rare nights they shared together. One would begin worrying and the other would be the voice of reason. Then later, when the other began worrying, any logic they’d previously used would fly out the window.

The worry came in varying degrees, but for Frank it was always a result of his tendency to over analyze a situation. And between the Ministry meeting he was to attend later and having to continue tailing Lily Evans, he was hardly surprised that he couldn’t sleep.

But Alice was exactly right. Damn her. Worrying would do nothing but distress him further, nor would it do anything to solve all the problems they were working to fix. Even if it felt like a small betrayal to his duties, a cup of tea would not lose the war. If anything, rest would make them better.

He let out a small chuckle at the idea. A cup of tea saving everyone? How incredibly British.

He set his mug down and leaned over to take Alice’s hands. He said nothing as he studied hers first, then his, examining the bruises and scars and the odd way his own left index finger angled slightly to the right. His were not the hands of a 28 year old. Then again, he thought bleakly, perhaps they were, what with the war. Twenty-eight had become something akin to 50, and the idea of a cushy life was as far from possible as a quiet marriage with a dog and children.

But no. This was not relaxing, he realized, and he turned his attention to their wedding rings. His seemed oddly misplaced on his rough hands, but the charms placed on them had kept them safe. They, perhaps, would manage to make it through the war unscathed.

“Thank you,” he said finally, turning his eyes up to Alice, “for…all this. I couldn’t imagine doing it without you.” The words felt strange, as Frank was not a particularly emotional person, but as they sat together, he found himself working to choke back tears welling up behind his eyes.

“I love you, Alice, and I… I just love you.”

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

Alice looked at Frank when he chuckled, wondering what was so funny at the moment. Though it was nice to see her husband a bit more relaxed than couple minutes ago, when all he could think was how they could win this war. Alice hoped that Frank would remember to laugh, or chuckle, more often. He was being far too serious for his age!

As if knowing what Frank would do next, Alice set her tea mug to the table, and when Frank reached out to take her hands to his. She didn't say a word, just like he didn't either, just loved the closeness between them, and the feel of Frank's hands holding hers. It was such a small gesture, but Alice felt like it was the world's biggest announcement of their love.

She watched as Frank studied her smaller hands first. Her small and pale hands, a few bruises here and there, but still soft. Alice would have thought that with the work they did, all the dirty places and rough grounds her hands have been, the cleaning and cooking at home, her hands wouldn't be as soft as they were when she was younger. But they were, and somehow Alice was grateful for that, grateful that she still had the softness in her hands that she knew Frank loved even if he wouldn't admit that.

Alice could see Frank's jaw tightening, when he studied his own hands. She would have loved to say that no matter how many bruises and scars there were, or how rough they were compared to what they were when they first started going out, she loved his hands. They belogned to a man who did his job better than anyone could even ask for. To a man who was ready to fight in this war they were in, and Alice found his worn hands sexier now than what they had been; when his hands had been just a boy's hands. Now they were a man's hands, her man's hands.

Their wedding rings were her favourites. Alice couldn't brush her fingers over Frank's like she usually did, since her hands were kept by him. She loved her small little diamond ring which she protect with every charm and spell possible, and the ring, just like Frank's, was in extremely good condition. They had the most perfect wedding rings Alice had always thought, and hoped that the rings would survive this war with no bigger damages.

She had been looking away from their hands, her eyes wondering over their kitchen, when Alice heard Frank speaking. She turned her head to meet his eyes, and Alice smiled. Everyone knew she was the bubbly one in their relationship, the one talking about emotions and showing them, but it wasn't often when you could see Frank like this. But Alice didn't mind, because in his own way Frank showed his love to her every day.

"That's why you don't need to do all this alone. I am here and I'm not going anywhere", she said. The I love yous almost brought Alice to tears. She loved hearing those words, especially from Frank. "I love you too, my darling husband", she whispered. Alice switched the position of their hands, and brought his hands to her lips, kissing both of Frank's rough hands.

"Come on love, let's go back to bed", she told him, standing up, her hands still hodling his, smiling at Frank. Alice took her wand from the table only to put it to her pants, and joined her hand with Frank's again. They walked in silence to their bedroom, and Alice hoped that the next time she would woke up, it wouldn't be till seven and with Frank still in bed.

[imgoingtodrinkmymugoftea-blog]

[afrankandtryingtime-blog]

March 18th, 1979: Frank & Alice (Restless)

[afrankandtryingtime-blog]

For a moment it was a sort of stand-off, with Alice pleading and Frank quickly resenting her. With his tendency to be bullheaded, he considered plowing on and forcing the conversation on her. Short of hexing him, she couldn’t very well stop him if he tried.

“This won’t just go away,” he added, staring and urging her to see reason. “We can’t just lie down and pretend it doesn’t exist!”

That is correct, Reason whispered in some distant part of his brain, and Frank noticed it sounded eerily like Alice. So you can concern yourself with it tomorrow.

He looked down at his feet.

He knew she was worried, too. After all, she’d refused to put down her wand even after finding him safe in the kitchen. And she had been an Auror long enough to know that ignoring a problem was never a good idea. There was always something lurking, and that, Frank imagined bleakly, would never change.

A delay, the voice explained. A short holiday with your wife.

The notion of a holiday was a depressing joke. Even their honeymoon had been cut short, and since then…well, between work and the Order, there was little time for luxuries, and even less time for frivolities like rest. Still, after all that time, and no matter how much he espoused the virtues of hard work to all his recruits, he was tired.

They all were.

Frank turned toward Alice. “You’re right as always, my dear. Tonight, just tea.” He help up his cup and smiled at her.

The implication of “tonight” was, of course, “tomorrow,” but he said nothing of that. They both knew it was inevitable, so it didn’t need to be said. No, tonight was their vacation, and though leisure was something Frank was quite unaccustomed to, as he sat with Alice he started forcing thoughts of the war from his head.

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

Little light words here and there weren't going to distract Frank from his thoughts and Alice knew that. He wasn't her Frank if he would keep pressing her buttons with the subject. Calmly, waiting for her husband to get back to the subject, Alice took a sip from her tea. Over the mug, her eyes drilled down to Frank's when he stared at her eyes and Alice stared back.

"I know love, believe me, I know", she said smiling sadly, sighning at the end. "But it won't go away even if we talked the whole night of the strategies how to beat them", Alice reasoned. It would only make it worse, them being sleepy on the next day and out of focus. That was the least they needed right now; be unfocused and that way getting easily injured.

The whole wizarding world was worried over this, for what reason, Alice didn't know. But it was like her husband was carrying all the worries on his shoulders, and Alice wished that she could have done something to ease that. She knew better though; Frank, just like Alice herself, would not ignore the problem as long as there was a problem. And usually when the one problem got solved, another one was there in seconds. That was just the world, there would always be problems. And people like Frank would always continue stay worried over those problems.

Feeling her eyes getting heavy, Alice took a longer sip from that tea of hers to stay awake. She refused to go back to bed without Frank now that he was finally back home. Bloody hell, she would charm herself to stay awake, but she would not go to their bed alone. Not again. The tea was getting colder so Alice mumbled a warming spell to keep it a bit warmer, cold tea was the worst ever.

Alice smiled back at Frank, her smile being more happy than sad this time. "That's aplan I like very much", Alice answered, her smile reaching her eyes also. This would be their evening with, hopefully, no thoughts of war.

[thelovelyameliabones-archive-de]

March 18, 1979: Amelia Bones at the Ministry of Magic

[rascal-rab-blog]

Rabastan cared for this meeting about as much as he cared for cats: none. This is probably why he had taken his seat next to his sister-in-law, slouched in his seat, and stared at a loose piece of thread as if it were the most interesting piece of string in the world. Of course he was half-listening: yada yada about the list - one he already had snatched and read - and about the poor unsuspected passing of Prosecutor Jones. As if the man were the Minister of Magic himself, they all reacted. 

He brought his eyes up when he heard his sister-in-law speak to him. “Me?” He repeated. Of course it would do well to hold such a high place in the Ministry, he was never one to be in the public eye. Hence why he became an Unspeakable, hidden away in the shadows. He was used to standing in the background, being the younger brother. It’s where he felt safe. But they couldn’t hope on Rodolphus using his surname to deal with such power. He’d probably go mad. “Nominate me then, dear sister-in-law, surely I can’t nominate myself. What would that make me look like?” he told her with a smirk after she spoke before turning towards the crowd. “I agree with Narcissa. Surely the wizarding world can’t survive much longer - without chaos being involved - without filling the position. That should be of vital importance.”

[alastortheauror-iyssurvivor-blog]

Alastor didn’t enjoy going to these kinds of things. He’d much rather be out in the field, working to uncover just who had been responsible for Jones’ death. But seeing as the old goons in charge of the Auror department were completely incompetent, he had to attend to ensure his department had some representation. And now, though he was rather irritated at having to waste time being here, he was glad he’d come. He himself had seen the list, simply because even though he didn’t have the rank, he was important enough to be in the know. And he’d have a lot of suggestions on how to set up this perimeter of security. But that was for in private, when he was certain there weren’t spies around to overhear. “Pardon meh, Miss Bones, but I gotta say mah spiel now. I carn see whare people’re concerned, whut wit tha security breaches in tha Ministry. N I agree that ya gotta show tha people that we carn protect our own base o’ operations. N ‘f ya’d be so kind as ta meet meh afta this, maybe we carn come up wit a plan o’ action. But ‘m gonna ‘aveta argue ‘ere that tha otha objective we gotta focus on ‘s makin sure tha people know thair government’s got their backs, that we’re gonna make sure thay’re protected.  Government’s ‘round ta ensure tha people’re granted thair rights, n ta ensure no one enfringes on those rights. Ta keep chaos n anarchy frem breakin out, n ta provent genocide n tha likes o that. So while we gotta show we carn cover our own arses, we gotta also show ‘em that we will always put thair needs in tha forefront.”

That bit addressed, Alastor sat and listened to the others’ opinions on the replacement of Prosecutor Jones, his brows lifting at the comment of Hestia Jones. For a moment, he was floored that the girl was here, and he felt his lips twitch up. There was a testimony to the strength of mankind. She was here, she was participating, she was giving them insight on what she saw despite everything that had happened. She was carrying on. When the chatter died for a moment, he siezed it to make sure he was heard. His wand touched his throat once more. “Pardon meh again, Miss Bones. But as I were jus sayin, tha job o’ tha government’s ta protect tha people’s rights. We’re a democracy. We’re struct’red ta ensure that tha people ‘ave a say in tha laws n regulations thay’re gonna ‘aveta abide by. So ‘m jus gonna throw mah bit out thare n say that maybe we should nominate a temp’rary figure’ead ta fill tha role, jus until ‘s secure ‘nough that thare carn be an election. Give tha choice ta tha people, but when tha time’s right. F’r now, instead o’ divertin our attention on somethin that carn wait, we should focus on tha pressin matter o’ security.”

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

Alice had been pleased to escape from her normal work routine. Not that she didn't enjoy finding the bad guys, and surely she would have loved to find out who had killed Prosecutor Jones, but this was equally important at the moment. She listened carefully as Amelia Bones spoke and nodded every once in a while. The crowd wasn't all too pleased, a bit shocked too, but in fact it was understandable. Things weren't going on as planned, they had failed protecting their owns and now they should be protecting wizards outside the MInistry too. It all sounded too much, but it was what they needed to do. If the Minister of Magic had agreed to this sivilian protecting operation, then what was Alice or anyone else to disagree. Plus she found it important also.

While listening people answering to Amelia, Alice was most pleased with Alastor's words. The man knew what he was talking about and was absolutely right. "I have to agree with Moody in this. And while I understand people's concer of how we are going to protect not only the ones working inside the Ministry but also the ones from the outside needing help", this was adressed mostly to the man who had questioned if Ministry was capable of that. "I am sure that we can do that. Yes, there are a limited number of Aurors, whom I suspect will be doing the protecting, but it's nothing we haven't prepared when becoming Aurors." She found both Frank and Alastor while saying this, and smiled to them both. It was their job, though they would have to make sure that none of the Aurors were working for Voldemort before sending to the protecting program. She stayed quiet for awhile, thinking if she should nominate the one person she trusted to do Prosecutor's job as well as Jones had done. "I would also like to adress my nomination for Prosecutor's position for Alastor Moody, even if temporary." Alice knew that there would be saying for nominatin Moody over Frank, but just this once she was being a bit selfish, even if she knew that both men wouldn't be thrilled over her words.

[mrs-alice-longbottom]

Were you taught proper table manners growing up? Do you feel that your table manners need improving? Would you like for your mate to point out where you could improve? Do your partner's table manners embarrass you when you eat in public?

We were not the Blacks, old and noble, but yes. My mother wanted us to learn the table manners, and as a good daughter I did learn them.

I think my table manners are good enough at the moment, and Frank's are too. When we eat just the two of us there is no need to be too strickt with the manners, but surely in public and with guests we act the best we can.