2 Sept: No Chance, No Way: Mary

[Alice Longbottom]

Tuesday, 2 September 1975

Well, f*ck

It wasn’t her best thought of the day, but it was the only one she could think. Last night after her prefect rounds had been the first time it popped into her head, as she’d watched Frank go off to the boy's dormitory. She had missed her friend so much over the summer and had been delighted by their exchange of letters It had been those letters that had started her down this line of thinking she was on, which was not doing her any good. Because now all she could think about was how good Frank looked, and how when he looked at her it made her heart race. They were only one day back into school and she was already losing focus! Just because she had passed her O.W.L.’s didn’t mean she had time to slack off. She still needed to apply herself, especially in Herbology. And not just because she wanted to spend more time with Frank when he was so easy on the eyes when he was involved with a plant…

”Alice?”

Snapping back into reality, she realized that they were outside the Gryffindor common room - and her Slytherin partner for tonight was staring at her like she had two heads. “Right, guess this is my stop,” she forced a laugh, hoping that it didn’t sound too fake, and waved goodbye to the retreating Slytherin. “Mimbulus mimbletonia,” she muttered to the Fat Lady, glad when the portrait swung upon to reveal the path to the Common Room. Daydreaming about Frank and not paying attention to where you’re going, great Alice. She was thankful when she spotted a familiar flash of red hair in the common room, and Alice made her way over to where her sister was crafting in front of the fire.

“I’m doomed Mary,” she said as she sunk down next to the other girl, rubbing her face with her hands as she stared into the fire. She’d asked Mary earlier to wait up for her, because she needed to talk to someone about this. And who better to discuss her lingering crush with than one closest to her heart? “You remember when my relationship ended last term, and I swore that I was done with dating until after school was over?” she asked, looking over to Mary. Things had ended back in May between her and the Ravenclaw, and while she wasn’t holding it against him, she’d decided that maybe dating wasn’t worth it. Not when it hurt. “I’ve spent half my day in my own mind remembering what Frank looks like in a tight-fitting shirt.”

[Mary Macdonald]

Mary was just days into her fifth year at Hogwarts, but already she was regretting returning to the wizarding school. Oh shush, like you’ve got a choice in the matter. Her regrets were her doing, after all, and the girl knew she had to own up to them and move on - which she'd thought she would have by now. But she couldn't keep her thoughts from turning to Roderick - memories with him, wondering how training was, who he had met... She so rarely let her fears get the better of her that, frankly, she was ashamed at allowing them to ruin something so special. But they'd ended over the summer, and there was no way she'd brew a Forgetfulness Potion strong enough or work a time-turner properly to make them forget, or to stop them from breaking themselves up. And while Mary had hoped they could be friends again, while she needed her friend in her life, she was much less sure of that outcome now. She'd hurt someone she loved, and who loved her, and while time would help heal…

Perhaps it was her distraction with the how of that - for how did you get an ex to forgive you enough to come back into your life? and how selfish was she for wanting that, for assuming he’d want it too? - which led to her failures in front of the fire this evening. She'd wanted to make something nice for her dormitory door, something special for her and the other fifth year girls, but what had looked so simple in a magazine was turning out horribly in reality. And if Alice had been a few seconds later, she may have come in to Mary throwing the ragged thing into the fireplace in frustration. As it was, Mary turned to see her sister at the other's lachrymose tone, utterly perplexed at the statement. While Alice had asked her to wait up and she'd been curious as to the why, she'd hardly thought that anything could've happened in the last days which bespoke doom. The reasons for it became clearer by the moment, however, as Mary nodded along to the clues. As she'd learned in the last months as well, for as many wonderful things that dating brought into one’s life, the ending of it left an ache of loss that didn't simply go away. But as the person behind Alice's doom came out, Mary had to struggle not to laugh.

"Well…how does Frank look in a tight-fitting shirt?" she asked innocently, letting her own mind drift in the direction of her sister's co-prefect. Frank was a lovely fellow in his heart and in his face, but she hadn't much wondered about the details of his physique. He and Alice had spent time together just before school, gone to Diagon Alley, and she'd thought she'd heard the whole story afterwards. But if Alice was doomed, that meant she was into Frank Longbottom. That wasn't how Mary had expected this year to begin, but Frank was a dear, he and Alice were friends, so…just because dating a friend didn’t work out for you, doesn’t mean it won’t work out for them. So she let her smile break out and gently tugged the girl towards her to stroke her fine hair. "I did not see this one coming. Frank Longbottom…Tell me all about it, honey."

[Alice Longbottom]

Declaring her doom was a tad dramatic, and Alice knew that. Having feelings for someone wasn’t the end of the world, even if she felt like it could be. She’d had plenty of little crushes over the years that she had never acted on, but this one just seemed different. It was more intense, more real. She could see herself falling for Frank the same way she had fallen before And that was what scared her the most. Being in love was a wonderful thing, and it was something she wanted for her future. When she was done with school, maybe even when she was done with Auror training. So had so much to focus on, so much to do. She couldn’t let herself fall for Frank, not now. Not ever.

“He’s so fit,” she said with a sigh, mind wandering back to their time together in the greenhouses. Robes could get in the way when working with plants, and so what if she’d spent some of their time together last year observing him more than the plants. She couldn’t help it, not when he was so unfairly attractive. It was perfectly normal for her to find herself attracted to him, as long as she didn’t act on it. Leaning into Mary as she gave another sigh, Alice was grateful - for not the first time - that they were here together. “I think I have a type,” she said with a small laugh, “And that type is Quidditch player.” She’d never been that big of a fan of the sport, but after last year she’d found herself growing attached to it. Not enough to have a favorite Quidditch team, but she certainly wouldn’t mind watching Frank fly around on the pitch.

Sitting up, she turned to look at Mary, a sudden seriousness on her face. “I mean, I knew I was starting to catch feelings for him when we went to Diagon Alley together, but I thought it was just because I hadn’t seen him in a while.” It was the only time she’d gotten to see him over the summer, and they’d become so close last year. He was starting to come out of his shell, bit by bit. “I figured when we got to school, things would be back to normal. I can’t ruin our friendship, peacock. I can’t feel this way about him.”

[Mary Macdonald]

She had to allow herself a quiet laugh as Alice's admissions came out, and she smoothed the girl's blonde hair with the ultimate fondness. "As far as types go, that's one I can fully understand," she consented. There was absolutely nothing wrong with being attracted to Quidditch players, even if it did lump them in with the fangirl population. Those broad shoulders, and strong arms, and being literally swept off your feet - do calm down, Mary. And Frank, he didn't have the unattractive ego that some of the players did; he was good at the sport and served his team well. He likely had a quiet, underground following, and if she put her ear to the ground she'd probably be able to track them down. But none of them would know him as her Alice did - and the soft-spoken Gryffindor couldn't say no to her, could he?

But hearts weren't the simplest of organs to work with, and perhaps her sister's premonition of "doom" wasn't so far off.

Mary shifted with some discomfort as Alice turned more serious and her words hit so close to home, and deliberated on how to continue. She wanted to protect the heart of her dearest, of course, and letting it be shared with someone else would make it vulnerable. But Alice deserved a love story more powerful than those in her romance novels, and she'd never get it if she didn't try. Mary sighed and glanced towards the common room's entry, but finding no Frank Longbottom there to interrupt them, did her best to advise the girl. "You can't help how you feel, Alice," she said quietly, just in case, "or force yourself out of it. It'd be risky to try for something, more so than if you weren't already close, since you have more to lose." She cleared the frog from her throat and blinked rapidly, doing her damndest to be present for her sister. The level to which Alice was a goner was important to help her determine, after all. "Do you think - do you think it's just a crush? Lusting away after him? That might just fade away on its own. Or...is it something more?"

[Alice Longbottom]

She had never pictured herself as the type of girl to swoon over a Quidditch player, but here she was turning into a fangirl. At least she only had one player in her head, which kept her from feeling like she was part of a group of overzealous girls. Even if this did make her the kind of girl who had only dated Quidditch players. Not that she was dating Frank, but it was hard not to consider what it would be like to be more than just his friend. He was a catch, even if he didn’t seem to realize it. She knew sometimes he was insecure, but weren’t they all insecure about themselves sometimes? She thought everything about Frank was absolutely perfect. He was adorable when he had to duck through doors, and his knowledge of Herbology was simply unmatched.

Alice knew going to Mary with her thoughts was the best option, but she did want to tread carefully. She had seen her sister's heartbreak after things had ended with Roderick. And while she understood Mary’s reasons, it still hurt Alice’s heart to watch her dear sister be so sad. When she had first heard about Mary’s attraction to the now-former Hufflepuff, she had her concerns. But he had been sweet and had so clearly been head over heels for Mary. Alice doubted that he was taking the break up well, but she hasn’t seen him since they had called it quits. He had become a fixture at the parlor, and it had been odd finishing off their summer work there without him hanging around. She didn’t want to remind Mary of that pain, but she also knew her sister’s experience would be beneficial in this situation. Roderick and Mary had been friends before they were more, and it meant Mary could understand the hesitations Alice felt.

She knew when Mary was thinking of Roderick, and she pulled her sister’s hand to her lap and gave it a squeeze. Even in her pain, Mary was trying to help. She pondered the question posed by her sister carefully because she hadn’t considered it herself. How deep did her feelings go? Was this just a passing thought in her mind, her adoration of Frank? That was just it though. She adored him, and not just as one of her friends. She found him to be sweet, and funny. He was charming in his own way, and he was considerate of her thoughts and opinions on things. “He reminds me of Mr. Darcy,” she said quietly with a laugh, “Not when you first meet him, but at the end of the story. When he and Elizabeth get together.” Alice had read Pride and Prejudice to Mary more than once over the years and had long talks over Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. “He is one of the most genuine and compassionate people I’ve had the pleasure to befriend, and I feel selfish for wanting more.”

[Mary Macdonald]

"Sweet pea," Mary said in some well-earned astonishment, admittedly rather taken aback by Alice's admission, and wonderfully distracted from her own heartache by the surprise, "you're comparing the boy to a lead in one of the most - in the most spectacular literary love story of all time. I think it's safe to say that what you're feeling for him falls decidedly into the something more box." While she wouldn't have necessarily drawn the connection herself between Frank and Darcy, wasn't love in the eye of the beholder and all that? Darcy was just as poor with words when he was out of his element as Frank was, actually. He wasn't aloof, but he didn't brag about himself either, wasn't entirely forthcoming, and perhaps there were accomplishments and kindnesses that were quite unknown due to his humility. He was the sort of person who could grow on you, if you took the time to try, while he was content enough to simply be with in the greenhouses or on the pitch or in the library...

She laced their fingers together, taking comfort in the touch while her eyebrows might just permanently affix themselves into the upper tier of her forehead. "You, Alice Fortescue," Mary declared firmly, "are anything but selfish. You are not selfish for having feelings for him and hoping to explore them. If you do try, you've just got to...be aware of his heart, as well as your own. Just like you are with me." With a flash of a smile, she drew their clasped hands to her and popped a kiss onto the back of Alice's, although her hazel eyes were soon looking over the girl curiously. This girl who had taken her in without question when she had no one to turn to, who looked out for her and her roommates like they were all sisters, who never had an unkind word or thought about anyone else - who wasn't deserving of it - thought her love could be selfish? "Can I ask what's got you worrying about that?"

[Frank Longbottom]

First practice of the year - check.

Their team was incomplete, and as he hiked back up the Tower with the lot, Frank found it just as odd to have fewer folks racing to the top as it was to be down by a few in the air. A proper duo of Beaters was sorely needed, and a new sharp-eyed Seeker, and they'd see what there was to see at try out's over the weekend. Tonight, though - tonight, he was happy just to fly with his team again. They all practiced as much as they could over the holiday, he and James had run more than a handful of drills at the Potter house, but it was something else to be back together at this pitch. The energies of last season's victories still vibrated in its air, carrying with them the roar of their House and the sweetness of sweat and springtime rain. He still felt flushed, and sorely needed a rinse - their Captain wasn't one to waste time, and they had to do a few races (even if James was going to be insufferable now for the next few days) - and a lie down, and would only have been happier had their graduated teammates surprised them with a visit.

Well - that, and if they'd drawn a few spectators.

One, really, one spectator, he wasn't greedy, and yes, it was a school night, he understood...

It was his own fault, this whole missing-Alice-Fortescue business, because he could've asked to see her more over the summer. Or simply visited her family's shop and happened upon her. But no - no, he'd busied himself with other friends, tending the gardens at home and at the Etiquette School, slipping into the woods to check on the growth in his usual haunts, losing days in books old and new until weeks went by, only seeing her at the tail-end of August when they arranged to get their new school books together. Reconnecting again on the train as they listened to their new Head Students, and last night on rounds - they picked up right where they left off last term, or so it felt to Frank. But, then again - not right where they left off...

Or so it felt to Frank.

Last year, she'd become a friend, a confidant, someone whose vision for her future was as clear as his own and just as aligned with righting the wrongs of the world. She'd become someone he looked for first in a room, and it wasn't hard to find her, not with the way she lit them up. Maybe he'd just never noticed the little changes in Alice when they returned from the summer holiday, or maybe she didn't usually get a darling smattering of freckles on her fair cheeks and had this time around, or maybe she'd just never smiled so broadly at him as she had last night when they'd been paired up - but he found himself noticing, now, and his own cheeks hurt from grinning to himself as his mind drifted unbidden to those times. It was a marvelous thing, really, how the little moments could stack up, one right on top of the other like the rocks of a cairn, a precarious pillar growing steadily into something impossible not to notice.

It wasn't time to deliberate with the lads, not yet, too delicate a thing that he was only just starting to put words to, and he made excuses for the grins whenever they brought a tease or two. He wasn't allowed to simply be happy to be back? And in a year without extreme exams?

Frank filed into the common room with the lot, and a scan of the space again brought his grin, and he couldn't be bothered to hide it. Alice and Mary sat together at the fire, and his legs moved him there on their own. "Didn't miss anything too exciting out there tonight, did I?" he asked jovially, giving Alice's shoulder a light squeeze as he passed her. The lad settled in at the edge of the hearth before them, realizing rather belatedly that he could be interrupting a private sisterly chat, and coloring for it.

[Alice Longbottom]

Mary was right, as she usually was. If Alice was comparing Frank to Mr. Darcy - and how could she not? - then she was definitely feeling more than just a small crush on her friend. Frank was just so wonderful, and Alice felt honored that he had chosen to let her into his world. They’d been at school for five years before they’d really gotten to know each other, and not a day went by that she wasn’t kicking herself for not making him open up to her sooner. He was one of the good guys, in every way, and Alice knew her hesitations weren’t because of anything about Frank. She was worried about getting hurt again, the way it had hurt when things ended in the spring with her Ravenclaw beau. When her desire to join the Auror program had cut things off, and she’d tried to stay friends with him, but it was hard. She understood not wanting to become an Auror, but you couldn’t exist in this world without knowing the terrors outside of these halls. How he could simply ignore them and not wish to be associated with her for her dreams had broken a part of her that had taken time to mend again.

“I think something more might be putting it lightly,” she teased her sister, letting a sigh escape her lips. She was just as doomed as she had been lamenting to Mary and gave her sister’s hand a squeeze as Mary laced their fingers together. She wanted to believe Mary, that she wasn’t selfish for having feelings and wanting to explore them, and she nodded to her sister’s words. “It’s just…” she trailed off, trying to decide how she could explain her complex feelings on the matter. “He’s a Longbottom, and that means something in society. And yeah, they’re more like the Weasleys or the Prewetts when it comes to the attitude of their blood status, but I’m not…I’m not a catch. I’m not a smart match for him, and I’m worried that if I did express my feelings I’d only get my heart broken later on down the road.” She didn’t know if Frank’s parents were the type to match him off to someone, as many of those she knew that had arranged marriages were often paired off when they were still infants, but it was no small secret that while the Fortescue family was pureblood, they were not well to do.

A ruckus from the portrait hole drew her attention, and a smile played on her lips as she saw the Gryffindor quidditch team filing in from their practice. She had wanted to go, but this was a rare chance to talk with Mary without many of their friends around. It seemed like between the two of them they were friendly with the entire team. She looked back to Mary after she found Frank in the mix, and was pleasantly surprised when he was joining them by the fire only moments later. He looked embarrassed after his question, and Alice knew that he was worried he was interrupting, but perhaps this was a good time for an interruption from him. She knew that Mary would be analyzing this conversation, and that was always helpful. “Well, I suppose that depends. Do you find knocking on broom closet doors and shooing students out of them exciting? There was a lot of that tonight,” she answered with a laugh. “Mary and were just discussing the intricacies of Pride and Prejudice, a very enlightening conversation. How was practice?”

[Mary Macdonald]

Mary wasn't accustomed to hearing Alice speak like this, and the girl didn't quite know what to make of it. Alice had no reason to put herself down, or to think that Frank would take such things as "society" into account when thinking of her - right? He hadn't said something to put that worry into her mind, had he? It hurt her heart to hear Alice speak about herself in such uncertain terms, to say she wasn't a catch, to worry that Frank - or, more likely, his family - would split them apart because she wasn't a "smart match." Those were big considerations, and ones that, truly, had gone over the fifth year's head. 

"I forget he's from one of those old families," she mused, tightening her hold onto her sister's hand. "I know he's...he's never had the loudest voice in the room, but he doesn't let anybody walk over him either, you know? I'd hope that, especially when it comes to important things, he'll keep standing up for himself and the people he cares about. If he doesn't, though, and his family has something to say...that's not someone you want to be with. You deserve someone who knows just how big of a catch you are - because you are, Alice. If he's making you feel like you aren't..." Mary cut herself off with pursed lips, not wanting to say something she'd regret - if Frank had been saying things, she still couldn't expect Alice to fall out of her feelings in an instant - but letting the silence do the talking. If he'd made her feel less than, undeserving, anything like that - she deserved better, and would find better, Mary would make certain of it.

The lightness of a sweet crush had taken something of a turn, but it was easy to forget when she saw how quickly Alice's attention went to the noise at the portrait hole. She gave a wave to her friends, but saw that Alice's smile was mirrored in Frank's in an instant, and she watched her sister and the off-duty Chaser as he came to join them. Frank touched Alice's shoulder - More than friendly?... - on his way, and sat with the fire to his back, cheeks red from the heat or something else before he'd said a word. "You must know all the spots to avoid when you're looking for a private moment," she teased with as much of an air of innocence as could be mustered, before breaking into a wide grin and waving away the sudden ghost-like white that had paled Frank's face. "Prefects, I meant prefects. But you would know where to go to not get caught, a perk of the job?"

She smirked as Alice brought up the book, and watched for Frank's reaction. Did he know the muggle novel, or did she need to grab the copy from her room?

[Frank Longbottom]

"Oh, absolutely. I'll take ruining their fun over uniform checks," Frank laughed. With how much of their evening hours on rounds were spent helping students find their dormitories again, as they evidently thought the way was through each and every hidey-hole instead, it was all too apparent that the security systems at the castle needed an upgrade. Or the rules needed relaxing. If he cared more for school gossip, he'd have to take notes to keep track of and compare who was caught with who, and who was known to be seeing each other. It caused a bit of a strange dynamic sometimes, admittedly, when prefects were privy to - without wanting to be - such things. It was a delicate part of the job, deciding whether to bite his tongue or prod them to be honest or demand apologies when someone was being wronged - but he'd learned that there was some benefit to having a peer's guidance instead of a professor's, however much the others weren't generally keen, in the moment, to take his advice.

Mary's offhand remark could have been taken as offhand in other company. Or if it'd come from someone other than the sister of the girl he fancied. Or if she didn't look so smug. But, alas, Frank felt the blood rush from his face, because did she, did they, think that of him? Did they talk about him? He hadn't done much dating, not nearly enough to warrant sneaking off to snog in, yes, one of the many places of which the older prefects had passed down their knowledge. He forced a laugh that was just as convincing as her nonchalance. "Technically, well - technically, you're not wrong," he admitted haltingly, feeling rather trapped as he looked between the two of them. "But I resent the implication that I've put such treasured trade secrets into use. I wear that badge proudly, Mary, come on now." He chanced a grin at the light tease, hoping that there was no harm done. 

His interest was piqued at learning he'd just interrupted their discussion of a book - a muggle book, a famous muggle book - and his grin relaxed, although he had little to share. "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." Why the first line of the novel, one so lauded, had to resemble the chatter had over his head at society events growing up...If it hadn't, if it came up later, he may have been able to climb over it. But so far, at any attempt, it'd put too much of a bad taste in his mouth at the familiar echo. "You'll have to share your wisdom with me - I've read it, that, just the first bit, quite a lot. It's one of the greats, I know it is, but I haven't been able to get much past the first page, I'm embarrassed to say." It wasn't as though Frank didn't want to marry - one day. But his mother had cautioned him that other families may see him as a way to their money. For a child who preferred to think the best of those around him, it was a tough concept to understand, even when given under the guise of protection. 

"Practice was good, though, thanks - really good. You'll have to come see us soon, if you like," he kept up quickly, "y'know, while the weather's nice. Will be better once we've filled the team, but it's just grand to fly all together again." 

[Alice Longbottom]

Alice never wanted to darken a conversation with her sister, but the words of her concerns about Frank’s family and status had spilled out of her. She hadn’t thought herself that concerned about it, nor had she realized how much she was doubting herself. She wasn’t always so critical of herself, but she supposed she was letting the snide comments of others get to her. So she listened to Mary intently, squeezing her sister’s hand. “You are right, as you so often are Mary Mac,” she said with a smile, before continuing, “Frank doesn’t let society dictate what he does, that much I do know. And it wasn’t anything he said that made me question myself, but perhaps I am letting the words of a few Slytherins get to me.” She knew better than to take a snake’s words to heart, but it was difficult when they had a point. Frank’s family likely had ideas about who he would be with, and Alice wasn’t from one of those old families.

There would be more time later to muse over this with her sister, as the Quidditch team came in through the portrait hole and Alice waited for Frank to catch her eye. The friendship that had grown in the last year was an important one to her, and Alice wouldn’t do anything that she thought could ruin it. She looked forward to their prefect rounds together, and the long talks during late nights in the common room they’d started having last spring. It was hard to keep the smile on her face from growing as Frank joined them, and it turned to laughter as Mary teased Frank. Yes, wisdom from the older prefects did mean that they had learned about the private places to sneak away to, but Alice hadn’t taken advantage of any of them and she was positive Frank hadn’t either, mostly due to how quickly he answered. It was cute, seeing him all flustered, and Alice knew that Mary was teasing him because of her. A laugh tumbled out as Frank teased her right back, and Alice couldn’t help but think about how right all of this felt, the three of them together.

Frank quoted the book she had asked him about, and Alice thought she might just swoon as hard as Jane did over Mr. Bingley. Overall their talks in the past year, this particular book had never come up - although it was on purpose in Alice’s part. When she’d realized her feelings for Frank had started to be more than just friendly, she had wanted to keep it to herself. And asking him about her favorite muggle book was something she hadn’t wanted to hear. Except, he had read it. At least the first line anyway, and Alice grinned at him, “Well, I guess we will have to read it together sometime. I’m interested to see who your favorite character would be.” Turning the talk to practice seemed like an easy transition into a conversation the three of them could have, and Alice wondered if she seemed as flush as she felt at Frank’s invitation. “That would be grand, I will have to take you up on that. It’d be fun to see the team come together.”

[Mary Macdonald]

While she was grateful for the recognition of being right - she was, Mary just knew it - she was both perplexed and felt for her dearest companion as Alice went on. They could both use reminders to not take Slytherin girls seriously, it seemed, as that was a lesson that Mary had run into time and time again since first year began, and had been coached through each encounter by the girl at her side. It was a hard one to learn, perhaps it was impossible to learn it fully, when the girls had a particular talent for knowing where to strike to hurt the most and stay in your head. "Remember - they're trying to be hateful and make you feel bad, you can't take what they say to heart. They don't know the first thing about him," she assured. "You know Frank. It's you and him whose feelings matter here, and if you're feeling this much...I can't fathom how he couldn't be feeling for you too, and just as adamant about not losing your friendship. He might just need a few...hints."

While this had all been news to Mary, the fifth year supposed she could be more gracious about Frank being in the dark. Or, she could have, if when he and the team entered, the pair in question could have eyes and a smile for anyone else.

She couldn't help it, it was her duty to tease Alice's new beau someone who would be around a whole lot more a new friend, and thankfully Alice was all laughter and Frank was red in the face as he tried to laugh her off. All she had to do was sit back and grin, returning his look expectantly as his attention darted between the two of them, and send a wink Alice's way as the poor boy looked away for a moment and recovered. "I was just curious," Mary sent back just as innocently as she'd begun, glad that he seemed to be settling in.

But she had not expected Frank Longbottom to quote their book, and looked to see Alice near to pouring out her heart already - which she couldn't blame her for, if Roddy had let a line like that slip in her company, she would've gone for him even faster. "I think you'll be torn between Elizabeth and Jane." She laughed brightly, exchanging a look with her confidant. The eldest Bennet girls could be seen in both of them, she'd long felt, sometimes more strongly than others - although Alice certainly always held Jane's compassion and beauty, and Elizabeth's quick wit and strong emotions. 

Was Frank flustered? Inviting Alice to watch him at practice? And was she just as rosy? "Why don't you two compare schedules, and I'll run and fetch my copy of the book for you to borrow," she suggested, hopping to her feet and scooping up the sad first attempt of her craft as she darted off. "You can have my spot, Frank, you must be burning up down there."

[Frank Longbottom]

He could listen to Alice's laugh all night, even if he didn't feel fully in on the joke. For it was just a joke - Alice's laugh and the looks between the girls, Mary's far too righteous assertion, affirmed it. Although he did wonder if Mary would've asked such a thing to another prefect, if she'd tested Alice for that information before, why the embarrassing question was put on him. Just because Frank hadn't yet confirmed any suspicions his friends held, didn't mean that Alice hadn't done the same - if, if there was anything to confirm, on her end! Surely she would've told Mary. And if a harmless joke now and again was what he could expect from the younger girl as he danced around admitting how he felt - well, there were far worse situations to be in. 

The line from the book, long etched into memory, fell from his lips. The look that dawned on Alice's face was one he didn't recognize, and his eyes locked onto hers, the heat within them stronger than that at his back. Maybe it was the light of the fire playing tricks on him, dancing across her face and making her glow - but maybe it wasn't. Maybe there was something his friend was holding inside, or maybe he was grasping, trying to catch hold of something that would fall apart in the light of day. Whatever it had been, Alice spoke, refocusing him and inviting him to read the novel together, wanting to pick his brain about the characters and everything. His brows quirked as Mary chimed in, a look passing between the girls that he couldn't comprehend, and he nodded with enthusiasm. To spend whatever free time they had here, reading side-by-side, nudging each other as characters had thoughts and speeches that they had to share with the other? Learning why this was a book that seemed so significant to the two? How could he not? "Count me in," he agreed with a grin, a grin which broadened as Alice agreed to attend a practice too. He turned his attention to Mary - it hadn't been too long since he'd acknowledged her, had it? she wouldn't think him rude? and tell Alice? - as she excused herself for the moment.

"Yeah, er - yeah, it's getting a bit close. Thanks, Mary." Face burning as much as his back, Frank rose and shifted to take the newly open spot next to Alice on the couch. And the couch had been much bigger when it'd just been the girls, hadn't it? They weren't knocking knees, practically shoulder-to-shoulder, just sitting beside each other? If they were to share the couch while reading, they could read from the same tome, they were close enough, it'd be easy to put his arm around her, tuck her into his side, and maybe she would read aloud from the pages, her voice would bring the story to life in a way he would never forget - "We've - er - we've got the pitch on Tuesday evenings. Monday mornings, and an odd time here and there, otherwise. If you're up early this Sunday, you could come down? We could go to breakfast after - I think the elves keep track, you know," he dropped his voice to confide, "they always seem to do something extra for our table when we get back."

[Alice Longbottom]

The girls in Slytherin house, no matter what year they were in, were vicious with their words. Alice felt that the younger girls learned from the older ones, and it was a cycle that would continue forever if someone never stopped it. Slughorn never really wanted to punish those in his house, in favor of being known as one of the nicer professors. Which he was, especially with his time spent with the Slug Club, although Alice never loved going to the meetings. “A few hints? That sounds like flirting - and you know I’m no good at that. But you are right, I know Frank. And he’s not like the Slytherins, always looking for the next place to strike.” Frank was kind, and thoughtful, and handsome. It was really a wonder to Alice why he’d never had a girlfriend, at least not one that she knew about. But there wasn’t time to fret over that thought, as the Quidditch team made their way into the common room and Frank came over to them.

It was so like Mary to tease Frank now that she knew Alice’s feelings about him, and Alice was glad that Frank could take it in stride. She didn’t always need Mary’s approval about things, but when it came to dating, she wouldn’t dive in if Mary found fault in the boy she was interested in. Luckily, it seemed as if there was no red flags for Mary to be concerned with. The look Mary shot her as Frank quoted one of her favorite books was a look that Alice was sure was on her own face. If she hadn’t had feelings for Frank before this, she certainly would have them now. Mary was quick on her feet, inviting Frank to take her spot on the couch while she ran to get her copy of the book. It was a kind gesture, but also a chance to leave her and Frank alone to talk, and Alice made a mental note to remember everything they talked about so she could report back to her sister.

They were so close to each other on the couch, it seemed like it had shrunk down to fit only the two of them. “That sounds like a plan, I’ll be up bright and early Sunday morning. Want to walk down to the pitch together?” She could just as easily meet the team down at the pitch, but Alice wanted an excuse to spend more time with Frank. “You know, I have noticed that about the elves, I think they might have a bias towards us Gryffindors. I’ve never seen extra breakfast specialties at any other table.” Not that she had been looking, but she imagined the elves did extra for anyone who was actually nice to them. “How was practice tonight?”

[Frank Longbottom]

Some of his teammates regularly had friends or partners attending practices, cheering them on, weathering the wind and what certainly had to be dull moments here-and-there - their captain's voice carried when giving directives, but not enough for spectators to always hear - and keying into the more thrilling chases and dives, maneuvers and misses. The how's of this were something of a mystery. To Frank, he'd begin recognizing faces in the stands, and it was as if they'd always been there. The boys in the year below frequently made themselves known, doing nothing to help James focus. But over the years, when someone's sweetheart attended - well, it was a nice thing to see. Flying over to steal moments here and there until called back by a teammate or a precisely knocked Bludger, the spectator's voice the loudest to their ears, if not really the loudest in the stands - it was a special show of support, brought a certain kind of elevated energy to his teammate, and did something to brighten everyone's spirits. As long as the team wasn't too distracted. Frank hadn't asked someone to attend, not like this, and Alice was his friend - "You will?"

Frank beamed. If she said she'd be there, she'd be there, on a morning that could have been spent sleeping in. "Yes - yes, we can meet right here," he continued through his grin, unable to contain it or the rising feeling in his chest. He nodded along in excitement as she added on, having noticed the very same as he had about the elves. Maybe it was because his housemates had a tendency to sneak into the kitchens, not that he'd know anything about that, and have a lark more so than many other houses, but the elves seemed to have a certain fondness for them that he reciprocated. He slung his arm around the back of the couch as he settled in, glancing over his shoulder to check for Mary and ending up seeing a gaggle of far-too-engrossed teammates watching them instead. Wishing he hadn't looked back, he was not going to hear the end of this any time soon, a red-in-the-face Frank turned back 'round.

"Felt great to fly with them again," he began, warm towards the lot even if they were insufferable at times - off the pitch. "James and I met up to practice over the summer, but I didn't see the rest as much as I should've. We're down a few players, odd to not have the full force in the air, but if everything goes well on Sunday with try out's, we'll have our next Seeker and pair of Beaters. Just rumors so far on who's planning to show up, but Rufus has made it no secret he's been eyeing a spot - hopefully Mick will come too, she's been waiting for an opportunity. Has Mary said anything?"

Their younger housemate would surely be in the know about her roommate's aspirations, and he kept his ears listening for a quick patter of footfalls down the stairs as he lowered his voice. "Is she doing alright?" The poor girl had been a wreck on the train, heart freshly broken and for reasons he wasn't entirely privy to, and didn't entirely understand. Roderick was a swell guy, one who'd patched him up in the Hospital Wing after mistakes in flying more than once and had the kindest, funniest way about him - and the couple had been all but inseparable last year. Even knowing Roderick wouldn't be returning to the castle, Frank hadn't seen their split coming. Not that he was one to talk, never having had to consider it - but was distance really such an insurmountable thing, when one was in love?