Alice Longbottom loved bubblegum. She loved it because Frank loved it, and she loved Frank. In fact, their first kiss had tasted like bubblegum. Years later, as she sat by the fire celebrating the end of the war, she still remembered that first kiss.
She had been a fifth year. She had never really thought about Frank Longbottom before, except as the boy who loved Herbology. Alice had been walking back from Hogsmeade when he ran up to her. He told her that he had to kiss her on a dare. Before she could respond, his lips were on hers. They tasted like the bubblegum he was chewing. He smelled like it to.
The kiss lasted five seconds. Afterwards, Frank apologized profusely. Alice gave him a cheeky grin and dashed off, heart beating fast and the taste of bubblegum on her lips. Frank had been chasing after her ever since.
A couple of years later, Alice held a tiny baby boy on her lap, trying to sing him to sleep. Neville simply refused to close his eyes. Frank leaned in the doorframe, watching his wife sing, coo, and beg. He took out a piece of gum and chewed it thoughtfully. He then blew a big bubble. Baby Neville stared at the bubble, fascinated. Slowly, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Neville loved bubblegum.
A week later, Alice sat by the fire again, giving Neville a bottle. She heard a noise. Thinking Frank had come home, she put Neville in his crib and walked out to greet her husband.
He lay on the lawn, at the wandpoint of Bellatrix Lestrange. Crucio. Alice whipped out her wand, but was not fast enough. Crucio. It hurt so much, like every bone in her body was on fire and melting. The only thing to do was to slip into unconsciousness. Alice retreated to a space in her brain, and never came out again. Her last sane memory was of Neville staring wide eyed at the bubble.
Now days, a strange boy came to see Alice. He would stand there sadly, with a flame of hope in his eyes. Alice did not know why, but she felt like she had to give him some bubblegum. However, all she ever had was wrappers. She pressed them into his hands, her eyes urgent. She felt like making him happy, but she did not know how.
The boy came often, and collected quite a few wrappers. He collected them for years from his mother when one day he had an idea. When Alice gave him a wrapper, he gave her a piece of gum. He watched hopefully as she popped it in her mouth. Her eyes went wide with pleasure.
Alice Longbottom loved gum.
My first fanfic! Great? Probably not, but I won't know for certain unless you review. Go ahead, you know you want to.