Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters affiliated with the story, all rights belong to JK! However, Alice does belong to me.

For the readers, I decided to rewrite the original To Be Young because I thought it could be better! Enjoy.

PROLOGUE (PT. 1)

Alice Longbottom

A couple years ago, when she was only nine and her dreams revolved around that of all normal children, Alice never once thought that beginning school would be the single most terrifying idea in all of her life. In fact, her only fear two years ago was being force fed a snail by her young friend, Lily. It was not unusual for Lily to try and shove disgusting bugs down Alice's throat, they spent a lot of time together at the Burrow. Alice and her family, the Longbottom's, dedicated many of their summer's to the company of the Potter's and Weasley's. After all, Alice knew that her father and mother had both been great friends to Harry back when Voldemort threatened the wizarding way of life. It was for that reason that Alice was such good friends with Lily and her two brothers, James and Albus. Rose, Teddy and Hugo were often around when Alice came to visit as well, and every single one of them was like her family.

However, after the year Alice turned ten, her mother and father decided to take her on a magnificent journey around the Muggle world. That meant that Alice would not be going to the Burrow for the one summer before she began school life at Hogwarts. It was an exciting and yet sad time for her because she would not see her friends for nearly a year. That did not stop her from writing to them every day and sending along pictures of her family at what the Muggles called 'tourist hot-spots'. Luna, Alice's mother, suggested that she keep a diary from the time she was able to read and write so that she could record all of her greatest memories. Alice wrote in her journal nearly as much as she wrote to Lily. Everything she thought was important, she recorded in the pages of her second journal. She towed it everywhere with her because it was special.

Why?

Well, some summers ago, a young boy walked up to Alice while she wrote for the first time in a little blue notebook her mother had given her. It was a beautiful journal with pretty images of constantly swirling white flowers and crisp, lined pages within the careful binding. The boy asked her what she was doing and she told him her idea.

"I'm going to write all of my special memories down." She smiled up at a curious James. James Sirius Potter, to be exact. He scrunched his nose up as if he were confused.

"Yeah, but why?"

"Momma said I should. That way I don't forget everything." Although James teased her for writing when they could have been playing with the irritable gnomes in the garden, the memory stuck with him. On her tenth birthday, which she celebrated at her home with all of her family and friends, James presented her with a prettily wrapped gift. He told Alice in a bashful manner that it was for her to record all of her 'special memories' in so that she could share them with him when she returned. It was the first gift that Alice ever held onto with great care.

And now, as she tucked the small journal in the side pocket of her brightly colored satchel, there was still that great amount of care as she did so. This would be the only bag she would take onto the train with her as she cast a long, narrowed glance at the trunks of school stuff that awaited her. Alice and her mother had gone shopping ages ago, before they left for their journey, because they already had the school list ahead of time. Neville, Alice's father, was currently in a position that gave him forwarded news about Hogwarts. He was the Herbology professor.

Alice clearly remembered picking out her wand, or rather, it picking out her. She waltzed that morning into Ollivander's, which was under the careful jurisdiction of a serious apprentice, and tried out no less than five wands. It took nearly all morning until the perfect one came along. It was made of pine and unicorn hair, and spanned the length of about five and a half inches. She thought it was rather lovely. Everything else, including a caged owl, sat beside the staircase. It was all new, including Alice's outfit.

A butter-beer cork necklace, inherited from her mother, sat neatly around her neck. It was joined by a silver locket that played a musical tune that she had bought in a hidden wizard bazaar on the streets of France. She decided to wear her favorite outfit, a black and white pin-striped sun dress with purple leggings and a dark blue cardigan. Alice's flaxen hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall and was pulled back by a peacock colored head-band. Since there was a light sprinkle outside, she donned her polka-dotted goulashes. She took one last look in the mirror to examine her image. She looked most like her mother with light blue eyes that peeked out from under long black lashes and rosy pink cheeks. Like Luna, Alice had a slight taste for all things strange and often wore the same starry-eyed expression. In this light, she was certainly pretty.

"Alice! Are you ready?" Her mother called up. Alice peeked down the flight of spiral stairs to catch of glimpse of her mother.

"Yes, I just need some help with my luggage."

"Alright, I'll let daddy know. Now come on down, I've made you some breakfast." Alice's stomach growled, as if on cue, and she trampled down the stairs.

Alice passed her father as he raised his wand and muttered a spell that brought all of her luggage down in front of the front door. She caught his eye and he gave her a wink. He was already dressed in his teaching robes and his curly brown hair was a mess. Alice could not help but laugh.

In the kitchen, her mother wore a loud, bohemian dress the color of champagne, spattered with paint to add something of her own artistic sense. She wore many colorful necklaces and bracelets. Her hair, the color of Alice's, was braided down her back. She so serene as she flitted from one end of the kitchen to the other, humming. A breakfast that included too many dishes to mention was sprawled out. Alice did not take her time in choosing what to eat. She wanted to be done and out the door.

"Do you plan on chewing your food before swallowing?" Luna asked cheerfully as Neville shoved pancake after pancake down his throat. He mumbled something incoherent that caused Luna to laugh. Alice looked between them casually. This was normal for them.

"Can we get going?" She groaned loudly. Luna patted Alice on the head and stood up. Every dish on the table followed her and Alice laughed. Her father was still poking at a pancake and trying to pick it off before the plate zoomed away.

"What time were we meeting Harry?" Luna chirped.

"In twenty. Which means we better get going now." Neville swallowed his final pancake and took one last, long, sip of joe from his mug.

Alice was the first to run out the door. She skipped gingerly to their little Muggle car, a 1987 Blue Bug that Luna picked out because it had 'a unique charm'. They only ever used it to blend in with Muggles but that was hardly ever. She and her parents used the Floo network or Apparated to and from places. This time they would not, and as Neville packed the last of the luggage into the trunk, which had an undetectable extension charm placed on it, Alice felt squeamish. The loud engine roared to life and Alice watched her little house disappear further into the distance. She knew that she would miss the crazy, wild knick-knacks, the books lying around, the old pictures, and enchanted brooms sooner than she expected. And as she said good-bye to her old home, she could see the outlining of her new home, Hogwarts, clearer than anything else.