They met on a Tuesday.
Growing up, Pureblood children whose family stuck to the traditional ways were taught to speak at least one other language besides English, to do several popular ballroom dances, and play at least one instrument. All of these talents were taught to help round a child and help them become a contributing person of society. If one could not play an instrument or speak a foreign language or even do the foxtrot then they were not deemed to be of worth, and in Pureblood society worth was everything.
It had become a standard, then, to form an orchestra of sorts for Pureblood children so they could not only learn several instruments, but also get use out of it, to have a constant exposure to their instrument of choice without having to be forced to practice at home, or bother the parent. Being of the same age group, Frank and Alice were, as it would follow, placed within the same orchestral group.
He was sixteen, having just taken his O.W.L.s and preparing for his future, thinking about what he'd be doing and the pressure his parents were putting on him to succeed and make something of the Longbottom name. She was fourteen, still enjoying her youth with nary a care for the future, O.W.L.s were still only an idea to her, she was still in awe of Hogsmeade.
She played the cello, he played the flute.
During the summers, for the orchestral group only met during the summers now that the members were of Hogwarts age, met from ten in the morning until noon, when the teenagers would then go home to have lunch. It was on a Tuesday at eleven fifteen when Derrick Burke, the conductor, was leading the cellists through a solo that Frank Longbottom, sitting with oboist and best mate, Trespassers Macmillan, let his eyes wander as they muttered about their plans for the evening.
Alternatively, Alice Fawley who was currently involved in said cello solo had long since paid attention to Derrick Burke, caring not for this version of classical music, was staring at the clarinet section where the self-proclaimed love of her life sat, starring attentively at Derrick Burke as though it was he that was currently playing the solo. Alice had, for the last few minutes, been trying to will him to glance her way to no avail.
It was by complete happenstance then, that Frank and Alice's eyes met and the two shared an exchange.
Giving her eyes a moment of rest Alice had shifted momentarily towards the flutist, as was the practical movement when one had been bearing a hole in the clarinet section, and at just this moment Frank's eyes had happened to carry over the cellists.
They both paused for a second, as if in fear the other was under the impression that they had been staring at them under romantic implications, and then Frank reacted.
'Boring, huh?' he mouthed raising his eyebrows.
Alice made a face in response, showing her agreement, which was unfortunately caught by Derrick Burke who required a stoic face and complete attention even when one was not playing, which she was.
"Miss Fawley!" He reprimanded, causing Alice to jump and play the wrong not, blushing furiously.
"Sorry Mr. Burke." She apologized glancing down at her cello in embarrassment.
After a moment she glanced up, through her eyelashes, where Frank sat offering her a slight smile.
'Sorry,' he mouthed causing Alice to offer a reassuring smile.
The rest, as they say, was history.
Disclaimer: JKR owns all, I just own silly plot ideas and a bare minimum knowledge of orchestra.
First in a series of eight (which do get longer I promise), eh wot. Review? (: