They got married on a Thursday.
It was not a particularly extravagant affair, nor was it well planned out, or planned out at all. Weddings in those days rarely were. What had been the potential for a war had become one, and wars led to proclamations and marriages like family vacations led to arguments. They were inevitable, and always somehow a little unexpected.
For Frank and Alice marriage was more a necessity than it was a profession of their love.
Born in an age where love was much more fluid than generations past, where marriage was the next progressive step, it wasn't as important to Frank or Alice as it was to, say, their parents, who found the idea of the two sharing a flat with each other in Diagon Alley without being married to be an outrage. They didn't get married to please their parents though, it was more necessary than that.
Marriage hadn't even occurred to the two until after Alice had finished her own Auror training, and they were both off on field missions.
Field missions were, of course, exceptionally dangerous, particularly when the wizarding world was at war and it was no longer simply the occasional dark wizard, but rather nine out of ten times a Death Eater, prepared to use Unforgivables and kill if it pleased their fancy.
It wasn't uncommon for either of the two to end up in St. Mungo's after a particularly long mission, or at least to be back at the Auror's Department having a coworker perform a few healing spells to patch them up, and it had become a regular thing for the two, to the point that if someone hadn't broken an arm or incurred some kind of scar from dark magic after a few weeks that they'd be on edge.
One day, however, the usual scrapes became much more serious than a broken bone a coworker could easily fix up, and that changed everything. Frank and his partner had been sent out to go after and bring in a notorious Death Eater named Rodulphus Lestrange and things did not go as well as planned, as they tended to do in that day. While a few lesser Death Eater were caught and sentenced during the excursion Rodulphus managed to escape, but not without first sending Frank on a rather serious visit to St. Mungo's.
Alice had been filling out paperwork, the less glamorous part to being an Auror, when she heard and she was out the door and flooing to the hospital before Kingsley had even finished his sentence. That was when the trouble started, only family members were allowed to visit and despite Alice's pleading 'live-in girlfriend' did not count as family. Eventually Mr. Longbottom got her in to see Frank, but that did not solve the root problem. Especially after the two of them found out about the Order of the Phoenix and hospital visits became much more frequent.
It was thus that Alice put together the dots and came to the conclusion that the only way they wouldn't have to put up with rubbish bureaucratic rules and fuss was to do the routine thing and get married.
She proposed one morning as the two were cuddled in bed, simply enjoying the fact that neither of them were out on a mission.
"We should get married," Alice declared into Frank's chest.
"Hmm?" Frank replied, half listening.
"I said," Alice repeated, raising herself up on her arms to look at Frank, "we should get married.
"Have you been talking to my mother again?" Frank asked with a laugh.
"No," Alice continued unperturbed. "I really do think we should get married."
Frank's eyebrows knit in confusion as he pushed himself up into a sitting position, forcing Alice to readjust as well.
"Where's this coming from?" He asked finally. "I thought we both agreed there was no point to it?"
"Yes," Alice agreed, "we did. However that was before St. Mungo's started barring hospital visits based on the fact that we 'aren't family' and the Auror's Department stopped even telling us if the other ended up there. I only found out last time because Moody is a decent human being."
Despite himself, Frank laughed.
"This isn't funny," Alice admonished at once. "You do realize they wouldn't even notify me if you were dead, I'd have to hear about it through the gossip chain."
"I think my parents would tell you," Frank replied.
"Yeah, if your mum decides she likes me that day," Alice disagreed.
"I don't want to start an argument, Alice," Frank said running a hand down his face.
"Then don't laugh about something serious," Alice retorted.
"I wasn't laughing about that," Frank clarified, "I was laughing because our parents have been harassing us to get married for a year now and we've always just said it was unnecessary and the thing that's finally made you come around is because you're sick of bureaucratic bullshit. It's the whole reason you didn't like marriage in the first place."
"Made us come around," Alice corrected. "Unless if you don't care that the only way you'd find out I died was during coffee talk with Kingsley."
"I think I'd notice when you never came home," Frank pointed out.
"You know what I mean," Alice said.
"I do," Frank agreed, "but it isn't all the bureaucratic bullshit that makes me want to marry you, it's you. If you want to get married we'll get married, I don't need more convincing than that."
"But you're the one who said you didn't like marriage in the first place," Alice said in confusion. "You said it was all just rubbish social conduct. You can't suddenly be for it now."
"And I'm not," Frank replied. "I still think it's unnecessary societal expectations, but being another statistic fulfilling society's wishes isn't half as bad if I'm doing it with you. Plus it'll be nice getting into your room in St. Mungo's without having to slip a mediwitch a couple of galleons.
"I love you, you know that?" Alice said a smile on her face.
"I think you've mentioned it before," Frank remarked, "once or twice or a hundred times."
"Wanker," Alice exclaimed slapping him lightly on the arm.
"I love you too," Frank said, putting on an air of reluctance. "Otherwise I wouldn't be marrying you."
"That sounds so weird coming out of your mouth," Alice observed.
"Just wait until we tell our parents," Frank teased. "They'll be absolutely ecstatic."
And they would have been, had it not been for the fact that both Frank and Alice had failed to tell either of their parents that marriage had even crossed their minds, let alone the fact that they were going to get married. It wasn't until if they got married that most anyone found out, and their parents were, understandably, rather irritated.
It happened, anyhow, on a Thursday. Frank had the rare day off, or at least didn't have to be in the office, and was hanging out with his best mate from, well ever, Trespassers. The two were catching up when Trespassers offhandedly revealed that he had been ordained quite recently for his sister's wedding which had been an interesting affair. Frank's ears perked up at the offhand comment and so he casually, as casually as Frank Longbottom did anything which was rarely casually at all, asked what exactly getting married required.
Trespassers, typically, ignored the question and instead asked if Frank was still getting married.
"Planning on it," Frank answered trying to keep off any comments.
"Who are you and what have you done with Frank Longbottom?" Trespassers demanded at once.
"It's complicated," Frank explained.
"You know the bird up?" Trespassers asked knowingly as this was, in fact, how he had landed his first wife.
"No," Frank said trying not to sound offended.
"Lame. Who is it then? What bird has convinced our dear Frank to conform?" Trespassers inquired.
"Alice…?" Frank answered as though this were obvious.
"Still?" Trespassers exclaimed in surprise. "Well shit, I'd be honored to marry you two."
"What-no one said anything about-." Frank began to dissuade.
"But you were going to," Trespassers pointed out. "All you need is two witnesses and a marriage license."
"That's it?" Frank asked in surprise. "That seems so…simple."
"Marriage is simple, my friend," Trespassers declared.
Frank raised a dubious eyebrow.
"We're going to the Ministry of Magic," he told Trespassers.
"Today?" Trespassers said. "Okay, sure today works."
When they arrived in the Auror Department after getting the marriage license Kingsley demanded to know why Frank was in on his day off, before getting Alice per Frank's request.
"Frank I have to say I'm a little concerned if you can't go a day without being here," Alice said as soon as she was in earshot.
"Trespassers can ordain people," Frank exclaimed.
"Pardon?" Alice asked in confusion.
"I can marry people, you, namely," Trespassers explained.
"Well you can't marry me, you're already married, love. Sorry," Alice teased.
"And last I heard you were engaged. Quite off the market, the both of us," Trespassers agreed with a sad shake of his head. "Ah, what could have been."
"What couldn't have been, you mean," Alice scoffed. "Anyways don't you have to have a marriage license to get married?"
Frank held up the official document he had only just acquired.
"Well, shit," Alice exclaimed. "This is actually happening."
"Unless you don't want to?" Frank checked.
"No, I do," Alice assured. "Don't we need witnesses or something?"
"Two," Trespassers answered.
"Two whole people?" Alice asked in surprise. "Do we even know two people?"
"Not who aren't working," Frank remarked. "When's your lunch break?"
"In about an hour," Alice answered, glancing at her watch to check. "Why?"
"I'll get two witnesses and meet you back here in a hour then," Frank declared.
"This is happening today?" Alice exclaimed in surprise. "Today today?"
"No time like the present," Trespassers said.
"But I look awful!" Alice cried gesturing down to herself. "You're meant to be pretty when you get married."
"You look beautiful," Frank assured her.
Alice raised a dubious eyebrow.
"I'll get you a different set of dress robes?" Frank offered. "Get two witnesses and pick out something not ugly, easy."
"When did you get so spontaneous?" Alice asked with a laugh.
"When you decided you wanted to get married?" Frank offered.
"To be honest you've both really changed since Hogwarts," Trespassers commented unhelpfully.
"You haven't," Frank and Alice said at once.
"That's because I'm timeless," Trespassers declared confidently.
Frank and Alice both rolled their eyes.
"I have to get back to work," Alice concluded, biting her lip. "See you in an hour?"
"On the dot," Frank agreed. "I love you."
"I love you too," Alice replied, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "Oh! And make sure whatever you grab is white!"
As Alice hurried back to her desk Frank stared after her in surprise.
"I can't believe I'm getting married today," he breathed finally.
"You and me both," Trespassers agreed.
An hour later Frank and Trespassers were back in the Auror Department with two witnesses, waiting for Alice to get off. Frank was nervously tapping his foot as he glanced at the clock on the wall, aware that Alice should have been off at least ten minutes ago.
"Maybe she got cold feet," Trespassers offered helpfully.
"You wish," Alice declared appearing seemingly from nowhere. "Sorry I'm late, Moody decided I had to redo the whole Burke paperwork and wouldn't let me go on lunch until I finished. He thinks lunch is a privilege."
"Should have told him you had to go get married," Frank joked.
"Oh, I did," Alice replied. "He said, 'Marriage is a privilege, Fawley. You get married when you finish this paperwork. And tell Longbottom I said congratulations'."
"That man has a heart of gold," Frank said laughing.
"Where are we going then?" Alice asked grabbing the dress robes Frank had gotten her. "And who are out witnesses?"
"Right, how rude of me," Frank said. "Alice, meet James Potter and Lily Evans who we rather accosted on the streets."
"Nice to meet you," Alice greeted smiling towards the two. "Welcome to the craziest day of my life. This isn't white, Frank."
"You don't anything white," Frank replied at once as though expecting the comment.
"Bollocks, you're right," Alice realized blushing. "I'm Alice Fawley, by the way, since Ffransis the idiot didn't introduce me back."
"Nice to meet you," Lily offered smiling at the two.
"The pleasure's all mine, dear," Alice replied. "Right, so where are we going?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," Frank answered.
"Who are you? The Frank Longbottom doesn't know where we're going to get married?" Alice teased.
"Wait, are you Ffransis or Frank?" James asked in confusion. "I feel like I ought to at least know the name of the bloke who's wedding I'm witnessing.
"It's Frank," Frank said.
"But all of his close friends call him Ffransis," Alice continued.
"What?" Lily asked.
"All of my close friends are Welsh," Frank explained with a groan. "It's best you don't ask, really."
"I only have a half hour lunch," Alice reminded helpfully.
"There's a nice garden behind Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor," James offered. "You hop the gate by Eeylop's and it's a quick dash to."
"I like him," Alice proclaimed.
"I was afraid you might say that," Frank remarked.
"Oh look Evans, competition," James declared with a smirk.
Lily rolled her eyes.
"Not to be rude," Trespassers interrupted, "but I do have several other couples to marry today."
"I hope to Circe you're kidding," Alice said as the group headed out of the building.
A hop, skip, and a jump, literally, later and the odd group stood in Florean Fortescue's small garden rather illegally.
"We should probably not get caught," Alice reasoned. "Bit of an embarrassment getting arrested by your coworkers on you lunch break."
"Go change behind the bushes and we can get started then," Frank replied gesturing to the tall bushes in the corner.
"Not exactly how I pictured my wedding," Alice replied making her way to the bushes. "Lily, come help me please.
"You didn't picture a wedding at all!" Frank called after her as Lily dutifully followed.
"Wanker," Alice muttered once she was behind the bushes and changing. "Right, so Lily, you are…?"
"Seventeen," Lily answered taking Alice's discarded work dress robes.
"Right," Alice said. "And you and James are…?"
"Dating," Lily provided.
"Brilliant, so then you'll be the one catching the bouquet," Alice replied. "And you think Frank and I are…?"
"Lovely?" Lily offered. "Did he say you didn't want to get married?"
"It's complicated," Alice explained. "Life gets complicated when you get old, don't get old."
"I'll try not to," Lily assured. "But you're not that old, you're what, twenty-one?"
"Something like that," Alice agreed. "Merlin knows anymore. I already have grey hairs, you know. It's from all the wedding stress."
Lily laughed despite the fact that she, perhaps, was not in on the entire joke.
"I like you," Alice declared. "I'm glad Frank accosted you on the streets."
"Well thanks," Lily replied smiling. "Now let's get you married."
Lily and Alice emerged from behind the bushes, Lily in front, and Alice plucked a random flower as the two made their way towards Frank, James and Trespassers, James offering a very horrible rendition of the wedding march. When they arrived Alice gave Frank a quick peck on the cheek as Trespassers began on the vows. Things went smoothly until Trespassers called for the rings.
"Well bollocks," Frank cursed digging through his pockets. "I have this, uh, twisty tie?"
"Prettier than even my mother's wedding ring," Alice proclaimed admiringly as Frank went about twisting into ring shape.
"I need a ring too, love," He reminded.
"I left it a work," Alice said awkwardly. "No, I'm kidding, I'm actually prepared. Lily, dear, the ring."
"I don't have any ring," Lily hissed.
"Right pocket of my robes," Alice offered.
Lily dug about in the robes she held for a moment before pulling out a paperclip.
"Uh…this?" She said, holding it out.
"Perfect," Alice exclaimed taking the paperclip. "I haven't had it sized yet, give me a moment."
"I hope that's from Moody's desk," Frank remarked as Alice unbent it then rebent it.
"Oh you know it," Alice replied with a smirk, "nothing better for my husband."
"You know you could magic those into proper rings," said Trespassers dryly.
"You lack vision, Trespassers," Frank replied. "It's much more creative this way."
"Plus Frank's mother is going to give me her grandmother's wedding ring once she finds out we got married so we might as well do this on our terms for as long as we can," Alice added.
"Also my mother's going to force a family heirloom on us, yes," Frank agreed. "It won't be as beautiful as this twisty tie though."
"Nothing is as beautiful as that twisty tie," Alice said.
"All right, all right. Do you Frank Longbottom take Alice Fawley to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold as long you both shall live?" Trespassers asked.
"I do," Frank answered sliding his makeshift ring on Alice's finger.
"And do you, Alice Fawley take Frank Longbottom to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold as long as you both shall live?" Trespasser repeated.
"I do," Alice agreed, sliding her on makeshift ring onto Frank's finger.
"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride." Trespassers proclaimed with a dramatic flourish of his hands.
Frank drew Alice in for a kiss as James and Lily make loud applause noises.
"Ah yes," Frank declared glancing down at his watch as they separated. "One forty-six, Alice marries Frank, right on schedule."
"Wanker," Alice declared adoringly.
"And you thought this was all spontaneous," Frank teased as smile on his face.
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans, Happy Thursday to the rest of the world. Reviews, as always, appreciated. Xx