The Right by Parks and Fiction Chapter 23.
Thanks for getting the gifts for the healers, Neville said.
A week ago, he'd mentioned he was struggling to make time to
run to Diagon Alley to pick up something for the Janus Thicky
Ward healers. Rather than admit that she'd
already bought some, Pansy promised to grab something on
the way home from work. What do you get, by the way?
He shifted the tissue paper to peek at the presents.
Oh, just some hair products or from Madame Toussaint's line.
By now she'd met all 12 of the healers who rotated through the
ward and took care of Alice and Frank.
There wasn't a single one that she hadn't had a conversation
about hair products and Madame Toussaint's line, so it felt
appropriate. Neville's head snapped up.
What? He cringed and rubbed his
forehead with the heel of his hand before he pulled out his
watch. He put it back before he even
opened it. It's Christmas, no shops are
open. He muttered.
Why would we need an open shop? She asked, her voice sharp.
He cringed. Sorry, he said.
I just, I wouldn't have gotten them shampoo.
These are luxury products, she said.
I thought they might appreciate some pampering.
He forced a smile. No, that's great, he said.
I'm sure they'll know you had good intentions.
She ground her teeth together to keep from snapping back at him.
She was already on edge about the visit.
It had been fairly easy to convince the healers not to
mention her visits to see Alice to Augusta.
Almost everyone was terrified of the harridan, so they didn't
question Pansy's little white lie that Neville and her had
agreed not to mention it to his Gran.
If Augusta or Neville had noticed how much better Alice's
hair looked, neither of them mentioned it to her or the
healers. It helped that they only saw
Alice on Sundays, and by then she'd spent two nights sleeping
on it, and it was usually flat and matted by the time tea
rolled around. Ever since Alice started gifting
her gum wrappers whenever she visited, Pansy had managed to
come up with excuses to miss Sunday tea, so she was never
around Alice the same time Neville or Augusta were.
There was no avoiding Christmas tea.
However, if Pansy hung back and didn't draw any attention to
herself, maybe Alice wouldn't even notice her, especially
without doing her hair. Either way, as soon as tea was
done, she planned to slip away to the loo and tell Neville
she'd meet them at Augusta's, so there was no chance for Alice to
give her a gum wrapper. It was a good plan, it would
work, it had to work. Neville wasn't going to find out
about her visits to see his mum, and she wouldn't have to spend
Christmas attempting to defend herself from the inevitable
accusations that would follow. Neville passed six of the 12
carefully wrapped bags into her arms and took the other half
before he LED her to the fireplace.
As soon as they landed at Saint Mungo's, she froze the minute
she saw Augusta's companion. Augusta stared down at them.
We were wondering where you two were.
Neville grinned. Happy Christmas, Gran, he beamed
at her companion, Minerva. Thanks for coming.
Mcconagall, who was carrying a bouquet of flowers and a pack of
Drupal's blowing gum, finished greeting him and turned to
Pansy. Miss Park?
She cut herself off. Something bordering on shame
curled through Pansy when she remembered their last
interaction. Pansy's fine, professor.
She offered her a tight smile. Happy Christmas.
You too, she said. I didn't realise you were
coming. Augusta's gaze slid to Neville,
and she lifted a single eyebrow. Mcgonigal smiled.
Frank is my godson. Shall we?
Augusta asked, marching down the hall without pause.
Mcgonigal fell in line with Neville, chatting about whatever
nonsense the latest set of troublemakers had gotten into
over break. When they reached the ward,
Pansy hung back to place the gifts next to the other ones
left out for the healers. Most were chocolates or candies
or other sweets. A couple of baskets of fruit,
bottles of wine. Shite.
Maybe she had fucked this up. Mary, the head healer on
weekends and holidays, came over.
They're all set up in the back. The others just sat down.
Thank. You.
Mary spotted the gift with her name on it.
For me, yes, she said. I didn't realise everyone else
brought food, but I thought. Mary squealed when she saw what
was in the bag. You remembered?
Pansy smiled. At least she'd done one thing
right today. Feeling someone's eyes on her.
She glanced up and saw Neville hadn't sat down with his
grandmother and Mcgonigal, but was watching her instead.
Everyone's is a little bit different, but I put names on
the tags. She told Mary.
Thank you. Mary reached down to squeeze her
hand. Really.
She flashed her a quick smile and then glanced over at
Neville, who was watching her with a suspicious glint to his
gaze. Mary squeezed her hand again and
winked. I'll let you get back to your
family. She said.
Alice will be so happy to have you all here together.
That's what she was afraid of. Neville's gaze left hers to
watch as Mary beckoned over another healer.
Look what Pansy got us. Unable to resist, she stopped in
front of him with a fake smile. I guess they realised I had good
intentions. His brow furrowed in confusion.
Are they clients of yours or fuck, She hadn't realised what a
slip up that would be. She smiled instead.
Yes. Not all of them were, at least
not yet. Olivia, for one, was spending
all of her free time helping out her sister who had just given
birth to twins. Pansy was going to add them both
into her schedule as soon as her sister felt ready to venture out
her treat. If there was anything a woman
who had just given birth to twins needed, it was something
to help her feel beautiful and back to her old self again.
Did you know they worked with my mum and dad?
Yes. He cringed and rubbed his head.
Pansy, I'm sorry, he said. I should have trusted you about
the gifts. I just, today's always hard for
me, especially after yesterday. I.
The contrast between the Weasley family Christmas and the sad
assembly on the Janis Thickey ward was stark.
Swallowing, she reached down and squeezed his hand.
Everyone deserved a little kindness on Christmas.
He gave her a forced smile in return.
Before they sat down for tea, Alice didn't look over at Pansy
once. Granted, she didn't look
directly at any of the others either.
Pansy did her best to speak as little as possible throughout
the entire conversation. It wasn't like there was
anything Neville could prompt her to tell his mum that Alice
didn't already know. When Frank started fidgeting in
his usual sign that he was done with the conversation, Mary came
over to assist him back into bed.
Pansy was about to excuse herself when Mcgonigal spoke.
Alice seems different. She studied at Alice with the
intensity she'd afforded students who tried to pass notes
in her class. Stronger, perhaps?
Has anything about her care changed?
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Everyone's attention turned back
to Alice as she handed Neville his usual gum wrapper.
Nothing has changed on our side. Neither has her prognosis.
But as we've said from the beginning, family makes all the
difference in comfort. Mary said.
Missus Longbottom's visits here have had a remarkable impact on
her. Fuck Mary and her big fucking
mouth. Pansy watched as Alice picked up
another scrap of pink wrapper and turned around.
Not that Mary keeping her mouth shut would have mattered.
Neville and Mcgonigal turned to Augusta, who looked as confused
as either of them. I haven't done anything
different than I always have done.
Oh, I meant the younger Missus Longbottom.
Mary said. Everyone turned to their right
as Alice stopped in front of Pansy, holding out the second
gum wrapper in her hands. She blinked back the stinging in
her eyes. Of course she remembered.
Even though Pansy hadn't done a thing for her, they barely said
a word. Alice remembered her Pansy.
Neville asked. Fuck, she was not going to let
them see her cry. I didn't mean to overstep, she
said. In all your photos she just had
such long beautiful hair and they were going to cut it off,
so I thought if I could help take care of it for her.
Mcgonigal's expression softened. Augusta's eyes narrowed.
She his having her hair washed. It was the water on her face.
Mary said Pansy figured out and made a special headband for her
been very successful treatment on a number of patients who've
also had water aversions. It wasn't that complicated.
She just copied the charms on the towels they'd used that
absorb water and change the shape.
She makes them 4 cent mungoes for free whenever one is needed.
Mary said. Merlin, did she know how to shut
up? Neville still hadn't moved or
said a word. She didn't know how to explain
this to him, why it mattered to her, how it would feel to not be
able to visit Alice again. She always had such elegant
hair. And it's what I would want
someone to do for me, Merlin. That just made her sound worse.
Mcgonigal however, smiled, a look of fond remembrance
crossing her face. Frank used to tease her, she
said how no self respecting aura would put more effort into their
hair than their duelling skills. Augustus smirked.
Usually end up with him flat on his arse, didn't it?
Never watched the two women. A desperate longing filled his
face for those small scraps of information about his parents.
Mcgonigal laughed. I used to swear she was the only
one who could. Her face fell as soon as she
said the words, heartbreaking, her eyes echoing the one in
Augusta's, Anne Neville's, Because in the end, they'd all
been wrong about that. Pansy's visits have brought
about the largest change we've seen in Alice since after her
first year. Mary said.
Physically, obviously, but mentally and emotionally as
well. Their walks in the courtyard
have been just as beneficial as the hair routine.
That elicited another round of shock from all of them.
Alice, obviously fed up with Pansy not accepting the gum
wrapper, reached out and tugged a lock of her hair twice.
Mum. Neville asked.
She's asking if I'll be back to do her hair.
Pansy said. Neville blinked.
She swallowed. What do you want me to tell her?
His throat bobbed as he held her gaze.
She couldn't read the expression on his face.
It almost looked like he was in pain.
Mary put her hands on her hips. By Alice's distress, when
Pansy's unexpected appointment with the Aura office threw off
her week and she couldn't make it in for six days, in my
professional opinion, it would be far more detrimental to her
care to not see Pansy. That was a rather flattering
spin to put on her probation appointments, but she hadn't
been able to confess the truth. What distress?
Augusta asked. She put gum in her hair.
The three of them looked horrified.
She's never done that before Augusta.
Said I'm sorry, Pansy said. I didn't know that would happen.
I made changes to my schedule so it won't happen again next May.
She watched the pieces fall into place in Neville's mind.
Alice tugged her hair again, harder this time.
Tears stung her eyes and she blinked.
What do you want me to tell her? She resigned herself to whatever
he decided. It was his mother, after all.
Maybe if the healers followed her instructions exactly, Alice
wouldn't even notice she was gone.
Yeah. Neville said.
He cleared his throat. If you don't mind.
And it's good for her, of course.
Pansy smiled back at Alice. Yes, Alice, I'll be back
tomorrow. She held out her hand again, and
this time Pansy took the gum wrapper.
She didn't look up from the gift in her hands as Alice turned and
walked herself back to bed. An emerald robe swished into
view in front of her. She'd never noticed before how
often the former Head of Gryffindor house wore green.
Her gaze flicked up to meet Minerva Macgonigals.
She offered her a small smile. Poppy would have been proud.
She wasn't going to cry again. She wasn't.
Tell Madam Pumphrey hello from me next time you see her.
Neville was rather surprised to hear how disappointed she was to
miss the wedding. She deliberately ignored the
unasked question. Of course, Neville knew nothing
about that. We intentionally kept it small
on purpose. Perhaps you should try coming
clean more often, Missus Longbottom.
Mcgonigal said, a twinkle in her eyes.
I am certain that you have many more surprises, and proving
others wrong seems to bring you a special sort of enjoyment.
Proving people wrong, yes. Being doubted and having to
defend herself at every turn? Not so much.
I forgot something back at the house.
She said. Will you tell them I'll meet
them at Augustus once I'm done? Mcgonigal nodded.
Without another word, Pansy turned and strode from the ward.
She managed to make it downstairs and through the flu
before she let the first tear fall.
It was stupid to cry. Parkinson's didn't cry, but
after the day long humiliation of Weasley's Christmas and the
stress of not knowing how Alice would act or Neville would
respond if he found out, perhaps she was allowed a tear or two.
Pressing a hand to her chest, still clutching Alice's gift,
she took in a deep, shuddering breath.
Alice had remembered. Alice had seen her, even though
Pansy hadn't done her hair that day.
Even before she asked if Pansy would be back to do her hair,
she'd offered it to her. A true gift from a woman who had
almost nothing left to give. If there was any doubt about how
Alice felt about her, it was proven today.
She swiped at her cheeks, pushing away the telltale
moisture. Slowly, her breathing returned
to normal. Once she was calm, she went to
the bathroom to fix her hair and make up armour for whatever the
elderly Longbottoms would put her through.
When she arrived, she still didn't know how Neville actually
felt about it all. She'd find out sooner rather
than later, but hopefully in privacy after they were done
with his family. Maybe since it was Christmas
he'd go easy on her just for the day.
Appearance fixed, she strode out of the bathroom and stopped in
her tracks when she found Neville leaning against the wall
opposite the bathroom waiting for her.
His arms were crossed over his chest.
She couldn't read the expression on his face, but his gaze
immediately dropped to the pink wrapper she clutched in her
hand. She gave him a flippant smile.
Just needed a quick touch up before we go to your gran's.
She said. Give me a SEC and I'll be ready
whenever you are. The rest of the wrappers Alice
had given her were at the shop, tucked away in a tiny box with a
notice me notch arm on it. This one could just go on her
night stand for now. Never leaned against the door
frame of his bedroom as she slipped it away.
How long? Letting out a slow breath, she
shut the drawer. Apparently they were going to do
this now. So much for a Christmas truce.
July Why hadn't they been through this already?
Because the healers weren't doing it right, she said.
I don't blame them. They have a lot to do, and your
mum's aversion to water on her face made it even more
difficult. But she waved her hand at the
pitchers along the dresser. She was such an elegant witch,
she said. I thought she lost so much, but
I thought I could give that little bit back to her.
Foolish really, that she'd ever thought that.
And yet having her hair styled calmed Alice.
Why didn't you ever tell me? She expected him to be mad,
suspicious, furious. Instead he just sounded lost.
I thought I would just go a few times until it was better, but
then she seemed to enjoy it so much and I liked being there
with her. I didn't think she'd get
attached. No one else ever had.
Typically the more time people spent with her, the less they
liked her. I didn't do it on purpose.
Above anything else, she needed him to know that I wasn't trying
to ingrain myself in her life or make her dependent upon me.
I just. He looked horrified.
What? Why would I?
He shook his head. I would never think that you'd
do something like that. She shrugged.
Maybe because you don't know me very well at all.
He took a step towards her. No, it's because I know you that
I know you wouldn't do that, not to her.
Tears filled her eyes again and she looked down, blinking them
back before another one could fall.
This is probably the nicest thing anyone has done for her
since her since what happened. She wanted to lie and tell him
that it was nothing, but it was something to both her and Alice.
That's why you cancelled on Pavati.
He said. Because my mum put gum in her
hair and you spent the afternoon getting it out.
It had only taken an hour. She was back in time for
Maisie's appointment. You chose my mum over your
business and your reputation, even after an already hard week.
She straightened. That's a little dramatic.
She said. My business is hardly dependent
upon the goodwill of a group of Gryffindors.
Thank Merlin for that or she'd have nothing.
He must have heard it in her voice, because his face
tightened. I'll tell them what happened.
You will not. She snapped.
It's none of their fucking business.
He'd never been good at hiding his emotions.
It was what made him so easy to tease throughout school, what
made it so fun too. She watched them flicker across
his face now. Anger, sadness, guilt,
confusion. He dug a hand through his hair.
When it dropped, he glanced at her and at the bed and back to
her. Do you?
How can I thank? She stepped away, feeling like
he'd slapped her. I didn't do it for that.
Merlin, was that what he thought of her?
And he'd accused her of cheapening that part of their
relationship. His face fell.
No, ah, no, I didn't mean. He dropped on the bed and buried
his face in his hands. I'm sorry, he said.
I'm not good at telling people how I feel.
His throat bobbed. But you did what you're doing
for her. It's I don't think I can tell
you what it means to me. I didn't do it for you.
The corner of his mouth rose. I know, he said.
That makes it mean even more. She looked at her feet, not sure
what to say to that. In all her planning, she never
expected things to go in this direction.
If he found out all she had prepared were defenses and
justifications. She didn't know how to accept
his gratitude. Taking care of Alice had just
sort of happened. She kept coming back for herself
as much as Alice. I know it means a lot to my mum
too, even if she can't say it. He said the gun wrappers.
I know it's not a homemade scarf.
Laughter burst out of her before she could stop it.
Neville's head snapped up, confusion on his face.
She'd fucking break if he thought she was laughing at
Alice. You can't even call that thing a
scarf. She said it was too short.
He frowned. That wasn't a fashion thing.
She rubbed her head, regretting bringing it up.
No, maybe she thought she was trying.
The only person in that room who didn't see it as an insult was
you, she said, And possibly Lovegood.
They weren't laughing at you like they did Draco.
Why did she have to spell it out for him?
That was a prank. They were laughing as much with
him as at him. She said Molly was intentionally
trying to humiliate me. You're welcome to ask Hermione
if you don't believe me. Apparently it's a rite of
passage. The Potters and Weasel would
probably deny it, reassure him like the morally upright,
devoted friends they were. Neville dug his hands through
his hair. Fuck.
He stood up and started pacing. I fucking talked to them.
He turned to her. I promise.
I talked to Harry and Ginny and Ron and Padma.
I didn't think I'd have to say anything to Molly, for fuck's
sake, She sighed. It's not your fault, Neville.
All he wanted was to see the good in people.
She didn't want to be the one to shatter that for him, not with
people he so obviously loved. No, but I didn't see it and I
didn't stop it. Fuck, he said again.
I thought I had it under control.
It wasn't as if there was anything he could have said to
make things better in the moment, not without ruining his
relationship with all of them. Neville.
He spun to face her. I'm so fucking sorry, Pansy, he
said. I knew you wouldn't want to talk
about Herbology, but you also wouldn't want me to smother you
all day. So when Molly started asking me
about her garden, I sent Luna to say hi and made sure you were
with her or Hermione or me or Draco all day.
She pressed her lips together at the very sweet but incredibly
misguided notion of sending Looney Lovegood to keep her
company. Granted, for all her quirks, she
had been nicer to Pansy than just about anyone else there.
Which, considering how rude she'd been to the other witch
over the years, really wasn't deserved.
It was probably past time to stop calling her loony, even if
she only did it in her head. Neville shook his head.
I was so worried that you weren't going to get a gift and
you'd feel left out. And then there was one for you,
and I was so relieved she'd made you something that fuck.
As she watched him pace, part of her wished that she hadn't
brought up the scarf, that she'd let him have his naive belief in
the Weasley family, that she hadn't had to be the one to
shatter his trust in them. Neville pressed the heels of his
hands to his temples. I told Ginny that you didn't
like pansies. He said back in May when she
asked why there weren't a million at the wedding.
She must have told Molly. That's what the Pansy comment
was about, wasn't it? She wondered how Ginny figured
that bit out. He turned towards her.
I will talk. His voice trailed off as she
flicked her eyebrows up. She'd made her opinion on him
sharing things about her with his friends rather clear by now.
His face tightened. If you told them what really
happened in the Great Hall, Hermione Granger doesn't even
want to hear my explanation for what happened.
She said. There's no fucking chance anyone
with the last name Potter or Weasley will either.
He frowned. You've tried to tell Hermione?
He asked about why you said what you did in the Great Hall.
Apparently I'm actually a good person on the inside, and she
knows I didn't really mean it. She said.
Every time I insist that I did, she changes the subject.
He sighed. If you just told her, it would
get her the exact same place it always had.
What hurts the most, Longbottom? She asked, Realizing your
friends are just as prejudiced as you once accused mine of
being, or knowing you were the exact same way just a few months
ago. The stricken look on his face
said it all. You want to know the real reason
I never told you about my visits to see your mum, Why I stopped
visiting her with you once she started giving me gum wrappers
each time I saw her. He looked like a little boy
who'd just lost his puppy, but she couldn't find it in herself
to stop. For the exact reason I haven't
told Hermione about Mcnair's plans for her, she said.
Or Jinny, or any of her insipid relatives about what my father
planned for her. She took a step forward, rage
rolling off her in waves. Because people only see what
they want to see, she said. And while I may not give a fuck
about what Harry Potter or the rest of the DA or wizarding
world at large thinks of me or the decisions that I made during
the war, I wasn't going to let you do that to me about this.
To question, to judge, to condescend to, to stop her from
going back. This has nothing to do with you,
she said. If it had, I would have stopped
a long time ago. He reached out, then dropped his
hands. I'm sorry, Pansy, His throat
bobbed. Thank you, he said.
It's thank you for seeing the gap in her care and filling it.
I mean it. His gaze was so pained, so
earnest. She nodded in acknowledgement.
And I'm really sorry about yesterday, he said.
I'm going to take a step back from DA nights and any other
time that group all gets together.
She stared at him. What?
Every time I think I have it handled, they get more
underhanded. He said.
I miss it and you end up hurt. I obviously can't be trusted to
be a good judge of what's going on when it comes to them.
It had stung when Neville missed the intent to humiliate her, but
she knew it wasn't malicious. He wasn't the one who should be
beating himself up. Wanting to see the best in your
friends isn't a bad thing, Neville.
It is if you get her in the process.
I know I had a rough night one night, but I really don't care
what they think of me, she said. They don't have to like me.
I don't particularly like any of them.
I care, he said. She sighed.
Neville, I'm the one who keeps dragging you to all those
events, hoping this time it'll be better and it's only getting
worse and more malicious, he said.
Neville, you cannot cut all your friends out for me, she said.
It's not fair to me. I never asked for that.
I never wanted that. Choosing her over them was only
going to make things worse in the long run.
I'm not cutting them out, he said.
It's probably hopelessly, foolishly naive of me, but I
still think that things will get better and that they'll see you
the way that I do. And he looked down for a
heartbeat and she wondered what he cut himself off from saying.
But until they apologise and actually mean it and change
their behaviours and make things right, I'm not going to walk
into any situation and blindly trust that they're going to be
decent people. He said.
I can't keep putting you through that, and I can't keep having my
trust betrayed like that. Her throat felt thick.
It was too much for him to give up, especially for her.
She couldn't keep asking, keep taking from him without giving
him anything in return. She didn't want to ruin his
life, to come between friendships that he'd had for
almost a decade and a half. And yet no one had ever defended
her like that, stood up for her and taken her side.
It was brash and reckless, and she wanted to scold him for it.
And she also wanted to curl up in his arms and let him hold
her, to rest her cheek against his heart and breathe in his
scent until her heartbeat In Sync with his.
Don't get it. He dragged a hand through his
hair. They think you're my wife and
that I'm in love with you. She knew it was pretend and a
complete charade. That was always the plan, always
the intention. But something about the reminder
stung for the first time. How can they believe that and
treat you like this? He demanded.
Even without knowing what they do about your plan.
It was 7 fucking years ago when we were children.
Why can't they just fucking let it go already?
She swallowed, unsure what he wanted her to say.
Neville turned towards her. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you
like I promised I would be yesterday.
He said. I'm not going to let that happen
again. I didn't blame you for
yesterday. She said softly.
You should have. She didn't want to keep talking
about the Weaseleys, it was just too fucking exhausting.
The weight of him giving up all his friends for her when they
were in a fake marriage was just too much for her to take, too
much to process. We should get going so we're not
late. She said instead.
He studied her for a moment before he finally nodded.
OK. In the living room, he paused
before the fireplace. Did we forget one?
She eyed the small package on the coffee table.
Oh, she said. I wasn't sure when we were going
to exchange gifts. He brightened.
Let me get yours. He disappeared into the guest
bedroom and came out with a large box.
You first. Smiling, she pulled off the
wrapping paper. When it fell away, all she could
do was stare at the box. Neville smirked proudly.
It's a ribbon organiser. I can see that.
She pressed her lips together, staring at the photo printed on
the outside of the box of some sort of Muggle wooden dowel
contraption to hold up the spools of ribbon.
A scrap of parchment caught her eye.
She grabbed the note and then looked up at Neville.
Why is there a note from Penelope that just says I'm so
sorry I tried to stop him taped to the box or he said it's a
muggle thing so I had to ask for her help.
She pressed her free hand to her mouth.
I remember Hermione saying something about her mum or aunt
using one of these, but she refused to help me with your
Christmas present because she said she wasn't going to lose to
you twice over. She bit the inside of her cheek.
Gift giving was a competitive sport to her, one she had never
lost, yet everyone else had given up.
But Granger still got pissy about it, and beating her was
absolutely delightful. I thought it would make you
laugh, Neville said, suddenly sounding uncertain.
It's very funny, she said. Thank you.
He gave her a sheepish smile. I got you something practical.
She handed in the box she'd wrapped.
I thought you could use them in the greenhouse.
He tore the wrapping and stared at the gloves for a heartbeat.
Instead of the elation she'd been expecting, he forced to
smile. These are great, thanks Pansy,
He said. I can only use dragon hide in
the greenhouse, but these will be great for the rest of winter.
She had a black thumb. But she wasn't that useless.
They're Peruvian Viper Tooth. Most dragon hide came from
Swedish short snouts. The magical properties were
perfect for protective gear, but at times they could be bulky and
limit mobility. Peruvian Viper tooths shared the
same properties as short snouts, but with the smallest and
smoothest scales of any dragon. It's leather was rumoured to fit
like a second skin. Heavily coveted by alchemists
and herbologists alike, the few manufacturers of the Peruvian
vibretooth hide goods had wait lists years long.
Between international dragon hide regulations and the
reclusive nature of vibretooths, the hides were not easy to
obtain. Of course, the wait lists would
move quicker if people didn't bribe their way up to the top
like she had six weeks ago, but that wasn't her problem, just
that of people who didn't design robes coveted by one of the top
manufacturer's granddaughters. Neville's head snapped up.
Are you serious? Dropping the wrapping, he slid
them on. She immediately smirked at the
perfect fit. His fingers flexed as he
examined them. Pansy, these are amazing.
I thought about trying to get on a wait list, but I didn't think
I'd even be able to afford them if I got off.
But he broke off and then looked at the muggle ribbon contraption
he'd picked out for her in horror.
Or God, Rick, he muttered. It was a really sweet gift, she
said. Funny to both of us and yet
practical as well. If she ever got the urge to
display a tiny fraction of her ribbon collection on an odd
wooden contraption. Should have gone with the
amethysts. He muttered.
She bit the inside of her cheek. Was that his backup plan?
There was no way Penelope Griffiths suggested those as a
present. He sighed.
I'm sorry. Unable to resist ribbing him
further, she smiled. I know you had good intentions.
His face fell. Pansy.
Aye. Laughing, she leaned forward and
kissed his cheek. Happy Christmas, Neville, she
said. Let's go before we're late.
He followed her through the flu moments after.
By the time they arrived, Augusta had already informed the
elderly aunts and uncles about Pansy's visits to see Alice.
Her presence alone had made two elderly women burst into tears,
and not in the fun way, but the awkward hugs and offers of
decades old candy from their purses or pockets kind of way.
After an hour, she managed to get a quiet moment to herself on
the couch. She sipped a cup of tea, wishing
for something stronger as she debated the chances that she
could get the ministry to approve her to take a trip to
Italy next Christmas. Augusta marched over and sat
next to her with a heavy red album.
Pansy quickly set her tea to the side as Augusta flipped open the
album without regard for the hot liquid she was holding.
And 11 year old Frank smiled up at her from the pages with the
excited gleam of a young boy off to Hogwarts for the first time.
All of Neville's pictures of him were of a grown man, a fit and
trim accomplished aura. But as an 11 year old, he was as
chubby as Neville used to be. She couldn't help but grim back
at the smiling blonde boy with plump, rosy cheeks.
He looks just like Neville at that age.
Augusta smiled as she flipped the page.
Across this one were pictures of 11 year old Alice at King's
Cross. He's the perfect blend of both
of them, really. He is Augusta.
Said simply. There was a picture now of Frank
in Gryffindor robes with his arms around 2 friends.
She pointed to the boy on the left.
Tear to Tonks. Augusta had said they were close
in school. Augusta nodded.
She pointed to the other boy, Fabian Pruitt, another victim of
the war. As they flipped pages, she
watched Frank and Alice grow up before her eyes, any picture
that Frank and Alice were in together.
Frank's eyes drifted towards Alice.
Even as a schoolgirl she was always neatly put together,
flawless hair and skin that Pansy would have hated her for
had they been the same age. A casual elegance in her
movements, but the way she smiled and laughed took away
from any pompous air she might have had.
She reminded Pansy just a bit of Ginny Weasley, a compliment the
Wieslet certainly didn't deserve.
Around 6th year, Frank had shot up in height and his robes were
filled out with muscle. The Alice in the photos started
sneaking glances back at him. By the end of that year, there
was a picture of them holding hands and smiling shyly
together. She watched their love blossom
across the page. Graduation pictures, gatherings
with friends at pubs. The two of them dressed up for a
date. At least Alice was.
She shook her head at Frank's outfit.
It was an unfortunately recognisable jumper.
Tell me she hated the jumpers. Augustus smirked when they.
Moved in together, he put. A blood lock on his.
Closet so she couldn't get to them she.
Laughed like father, like son. Frank scored almost twice as
high as her in the Aura programme.
When they were disguising themselves as Muggles, she said.
Never seen a man that smug. Next were the wedding pictures.
Alice absolutely glowed, looking more beautiful than ever.
Frank watched her with a look of joy mixed with desperate
disbelief and longing, like he couldn't believe they were there
and that she was his. A rock settled in Pansy's
stomach. It wasn't in the cards for her,
but what she wouldn't give to have someone look at her the way
Frank did. Alice.
Augusta pointed out. The guests told a few stories
about each one. So many of the names were
familiar. Many of them she'd read on lists
of first war casualties, parents, aunts, uncles of her
classmates who'd never got to meet them.
She lingered over the picture of the original order.
A young James and Lily Potter first appeared, Newly graduated
17 year olds. Frank told them not to go
through aura training Augusta. Said by that point it was clear
the ministry was compromised. Not to the extent it was in the
Second War, but perhaps even more insidious because of it.
As they flipped through the album, faces started
disappearing. The ones who remained started
gathering injuries, scars. She froze at a picture of Alice
and Lily grinning at the camera with arms around each other.
Both their stomachs were swollen with pregnancy.
The first picture of Neville and Harry together right before.
They went into hiding Augusta. Said because of the prophecy
that could have been about either one of them.
For all that he was the Heir of Slytherin and a blood
supremacist, the Dark Lord was 1/2 blood raised by muggles.
The elite pure bloods of Britain might have flocked to him, but
he never understood them. If he had, if Voldemort had
truly been one of them, he wouldn't have looked twice at
the Potters. He wouldn't have ever considered
that the son of a muggle born witch would be the boy of the
prophecy. Not when the pure blood son and
heir of the Sacred 28 family was another option.
Augusta flipped to the baby pictures of Neville.
The love and pride and joy that Frank and Alice had of their son
was almost palpable. Now it was just the pictures of
the three of them. The Longbottoms were in hiding,
protecting their son while the war raged on around them.
The last picture in the album was of what remained of the
order. Halloween decorations were still
up wherever they had gathered. It couldn't have been much after
the Dark Lord's first defeat. There was sorrow and heartbreak
in the faces of the group, as well as far too many missing
people, but a determined triumph.
The Dark Lord was defeated. They had won, Frank.
Went missing the day after this 4 tour was taken.
Augusta said, voice soft. Alice.
Brought Neville to the house and said I was in charge until she
came back. And she never had, not truly.
Augusta closed the album. This was Alice's, she said.
She put it together when they were in hiding.
She'd always collected pictures. I had boxes and boxes of them,
but these were her favourites. Thank you for sharing it with
me. The glimpse of the people Alice
and Frank had been before she slid it onto Pansy's lap, I
think. She'd like you to have.
It. Her stomach flipped.
Oh, I couldn't. You saw her.
Augusta said, voice soft. You saw her, saw that what she
was missing, what she needed when no one else did.
She fingered the album. She's who I would have wanted to
be if I'd had that example growing up.
That her only two options weren't to just become an
ornament or a soldier. That someone could be both
beautiful and brave, elegant and determined, kind and fierce,
powerful and loved. You still can be.
Augusta said for once she appreciated the witch's gruff
demeanour, the lack of empty platitudes because she wasn't
anything like Alice, but the fact that Augusta believed
someday she could be. She swallowed, trying to push
down the lump in her throat. I should have seen it.
Augusta said she was. My daughter I should have
insisted on additional care, but.
She sighed. I was raising Neville and then
another war was brewing and I failed her.
You didn't. I had my reasons why, some good,
some bad, but I did, Augusta said.
By then I didn't see her as I used to.
I saw. Her as she was, you were the 1.
Who was different, she traced to the edge of the.
Album, I believe you now. Augusta said she glanced up.
About trying to become the type of person who deserves him.
With that, the elderly witch rose and strode off, calling out
to Enid about something across the room.
Neville was standing just apart from a cluster of his relatives,
watching her with an uncomfortably familiar
expression on his face, like he was trying to flay her open,
dissect her to try to find out what secrets she held.
Her grip tightened on the album, locking away the one she was
intentionally keeping from herself.
Because if she admitted it, even just to herself, it would
shatter her. Better to be a liar than broken
beyond belief. So she shored up her armour,
took to that knowledge away with the rest of the unpleasant
memories she'd worked so hard to suppress, and forced a flippant
smile to her face as one of the great Aunts strode by again with
a platter of desserts.