I

Neville and his grandmother, a most unamused Augusta Longbottom, looked at the assistant Healer with looks of either shock or disbelief.

Harried looking wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol were all at the Janus Thickey Ward, poking their wands inside Christmas trees and inspecting the enchanted fairy lights, as though they would provide a clue as to where the patient disappeared. The few Healers and Mediwitches here on Christmas Day frantically scurried about doing answering their questions while performing their normal duties with a touch of nervousness. It all seemed surreal to Neville, still tired from the surprisingly pleasant Yule Ball the night before.

"What do you mean?" Augusta Longbottom's normally shrill voice was low and reminded Augustus Pye of a kettle about to whistle and burst. Preparing himself for the formidable witch's ire, the assistant Healer held in a shudder and repeated his words once more.

x

Snowflakes were stuck to the enchanted windows, which brought in the red, green and gold lights of Christmas inside the dark ward that night.

She sat on a narrow and stiff bed – achingly close to the one beside her where her sleeping husband slept. Slowly removing the coverlet from her cold body, she felt relief flood her as she realised that she was bound no more, safe and still alive to see him and touch him.

As she came to his side and cupped his face, tears streamed down hers as she realised that he would had been suffering for years. His worn face was one of muted terror, telling her that even her husband's sleep was not peaceful. Frank, once tall and strong, was now shrivelled and so old; to Alice, he was the strongest man in the world, and deep sobs racked her frail body as she realised that he, like a magnificent mountain, had fallen in on itself.

She was unsure as to how long she stood at his side, sobbing silently about what they had become, before she slowly took her hand away from her husband's sunken cheek. Walking away from him hurt her more than seeing his reduced state for the first time she had become lucid; and so she did not spare him even a glance as she walked through the doors of the ward, lest she be overcome with the promise she had made to never leave him again.

Alice was sure Frank would forgive her for leaving him if he knew their son was in danger.