October 22, 1998

Calandra woke early the next morning and met Harry in the kitchen. She gave him the address of the flat and told him she'd be there if he needed to find her. He gave her a hug and promised he'd talk to the Minister for Magic first thing.

She went back to the flat and cleared out all the dust. She practiced her cleaning charms a bit, but was pretty rusty at them. She resorted to cleaning the muggle way and got lost in the mundane tasks that gave her hands something to do. She stopped frequently, coming across a piece of her old life that triggered a memory and reduced her to tears.

She ran a cloth over a picture of Alice and Frank on their wedding day and her heart gave a tug. Alice. Calandra stopped her cleaning. She'd love to see Alice. She hadn't seen her in so long. Calandra shook her head and smiled. There was nothing stopping her, she'd go do that now.

She grabbed a quill and a piece of parchment and wrote a quick note. She kept it vague, saying that she was a schoolmate from Hogwarts and would like to catch up over dinner. Her father had broadcast her death as publicly as he could. She'd read her own obituary in the prophet. She didn't want Alice to think this was some prank.

She folded the note and grabbed a handful of coins from the bowl on the table, thankful she wouldn't have to go to Gringotts and deal with that headache. Calandra straightened her robes and set out for Hogsmeade. Buying her own owl would be less of a hassle, but what was the point in buying an owl now? She felt that at any moment she'd just wither away.

Calandra walked through the bustle of the little village, keeping herself close to the buildings. The open space was wonderous, but it made her nervous. She strode purposefully down the street, making her way to the Owlry. It was full of witches and wizards bustling about. She walked over to the line in front of the perches where the tiny owls for local deliveries sat, and looked around at all the people. It had been ages since she'd been around so many people.

A young witch was holding on to the hands of two little boys, both clutching papers in their small fists and bouncing with excitement. A wizard with long red hair leaned against the counter and filled out some sort of forms. Two elderly witches chatted as they waited, their bags sat at their feet from shopping they must've done earlier. Calandra saw what was definitely a vampire in the far corner, purchasing wax and a stamp. She stepped forward as the line moved and caught the conversation between the Owlry witch and a young wizard at the front of the line next to her.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm not sure if it will be safe for the owls to carry it." She gestured down to some sort of plant on the counter in front of them.

"I'll box it up and make sure it's charmed to sleep." the wizard said. "It's not a long journey, just a few hours. I just need to know how much it will cost."

The witch looked down at the plant.

"Well, you'll have to fill out the forms for it in case it wakes back up in flight. It'll be 10 sickles, Mr. Longbottom."

Calandra's head jerked up to the young wizard. Her eyes roved over him, looking for similarities. He was a tall young bloke, with sandy colored hair and a strong jaw line. That was all she could tell from where she stood.

"Thanks," he said gathering up the plant. "I'll fill out the forms now if you have them."

"Miss…Miss…Can I help you?"

She turned her head and looked in front of her. An Owlry wizard was gesturing to her impatiently. She just shook her head and turned back to where the young wizard stood, but he wasn't there.

"Hey Neville!" she heard a voice and whipped around.

Did she hear that right? Was her mind playing tricks on her?

The wizard with the long red hair clapped a hand on the young man's shoulder as he took his papers to the counter and leaned in to speak with him. She couldn't hear what they said from this distance, and started weaving through people to get to the counter. The red-haired wizard laughed and sent his papers over to a slot in the wall with a wave of his wand. He lifted his hand and headed out the door.

Calandra took a step forward. The young wizard with the plant bent over the counter, carefully filling in the sections of the form.

"Excuse me." she said, and he looked up. "Are you Neville Longbottom?"

He smiled a weary smile, as if this wasn't the first time someone had asked him that question, and nodded.

"I am." he held out his hand. "What can I do for you?"

She didn't actually think it would be him. She thought he'd tell her she had the wrong person.

"You're Neville!" she said excitement filling her voice.

He nodded again and stumbled back. She'd thrown herself forward and wrapped her arms around him. He seemed flabbergasted by her display. Calandra stared up into his face, mapping it and finding familiar cheeks and eyes.

"I'm sorry." she said stepping back. "I don't know what came over me. It's been a long time since I've seen you."

He looked at her curiously and something flickered behind his eyes.

"I'm sorry." he said shaking his head. "You seem very familiar, but I'm horrible with names."

"No, you don't have to apologize, you wouldn't remember me. I haven't laid eyes on you since you were a baby. I was friends with your parents. My name is Calandra." She held out a hand.

"Oh, well…" he stammered, taking it.

"Your mother was my best friend." Calandra said, eyes shining. "I'd love to see her again. I was actually just mailing a letter to her, to ask her if she'd like to meet up."

He stared at her his mouth open. He looked like he was having a hard time breathing.

"Neville? Dear boy, are you alright?" she asked, concerned.

"You…you were friends with my mum?" he choked.

Hadn't he seen any pictures? Didn't Alice ever mention her? Ever at all?

"Yes." Calandra said, searching his eyes for the answers to her unspoken questions. "Alice was my best friend, the best friend I've ever had. We were closer than sisters. She let me stay with her for a bit during school and after we left."

He couldn't seem to find words. He was trying to piece something together in his mind as he looked her.

"How did you talk to her?" he asked.

Something in his voice reached out to her.

"What?" she asked brows furrowing together.

"How did the two of you talk to each other?"

His eyes were focused on her and she realized what he was asking.

He must have found it.

"We had journals." She answered. "Both were bound in dark brown leather. We charmed them to glow when the other person wrote in them. After we left school, we used them as a way to make sure the other made it home safely."

His shoulders fell and braced himself against the counter.

"You're Callie?" he asked.

She nodded. His next question took her by surprise.

"Why did you stop writing to her?" he demanded.

"I….I…"

What could she say? She still didn't even know half of what went on the day she left. She didn't even know if anyone other than Harry knew Sirius was innocent. She looked into Neville's eyes and hated the anger and pain she saw.

"I was locked up. Taken to St. Mungo's after an accident." She said quietly, unable to tell him anything but the truth. "I just got out. I didn't have the journal."

"You were in St. Mungo's?" he asked, unbelievingly.

She looked him straight in the eye. "For the past seventeen years. Top floor. Private ward."

He looked like the wind had been taken out of his sails.

"I missed your mother every single day." Calandra said gently. "Believe me, I begged for that journal. I asked the healer every day for years if I could have an owl, if I could talk to someone. I offered the keys to my vault in Gringott's if they'd just give me two minutes with your mum."

A wave of that familiar desolation washed over her. "They never let me."

"I'd appreciate it if I had the chance to apologize to her. Explain everything."

His eyes met hers and he shook his head. She went on.

"If you think she wouldn't want to see me that's ok. But please, will you give her a letter for me. I want her to know how sorry I am. How much I love her."

He shook his head again and cleared his throat. He looked at a point somewhere over her head.

"Mum and dad are both in St. Mungo's…..they…they don't… They're in the Janus Thickey Ward."

Janus Thickey Ward. Permanent spell damage.

Her voice caught in her throat and she tried to swallow her tears. Permanent Spell Damage. She wondered what had happened. She wanted to go see Alice. To hold her hand and smooth down her hair and tell her everything would be alright, but Neville obviously didn't want her going near them.

Had Alice gone looking for her? Is that what caused their injuries? Perhaps Neville blamed her. Calandra certainly would.

She squeezed Neville's arm and forced her voice to remain light.

"Well, I'm sure they won't want me bothering them. Just pass on my love next time you go, if you will."

He was still looking over her head.

"They don't really recognize most people."

He meant him.

They don't recognize him. She wondered how many times her heart could break before she just dissolved into nothing. She stared up at the young man in front of her and saw his mother in so many small things. His mouth, his cheeks, the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes.

"Well," she said slowly. "It would be impossible for me not to recognize Alice, so I'll stop in and see them if you don't think they'd be upset."

He nodded.

"Does your mother still like Drooble's Gum and Jelly Buttons? And I think Frank was pretty partial to the Chocolate Frogs?"

Neville nodded still not meeting her eye.

"Well, it was wonderful seeing you, Neville. If you need anything just send an owl. Anything at all. I'll head on up to Honeydukes, then."

She turned to leave but his voice stopped her.

"You're going now?" he asked.

"I've waited seventeen years to see Alice. I don't think my patience will hold out much longer. I'd love to sit down and have a chat with you. Anytime you'd like, we can grab a drink or have lunch."

She gave him a wave and walked outside.

She turned and started up the lane to Honeydukes; walking slowly, her mind on her friend. She heard hurried footsteps behind her and suddenly someone was walking with her, slightly out of breath.

"I'll go with you." he said.

She offered him a smile and they made their way to Honeydukes.

She asked him questions about school and his interests while she picked out sweets for her friends. He answered her easily, telling her of interesting things that had happened at Hogwarts and talking about strange plants. She paid the clerk, and they headed to the apparition point. He asked her a few tentative questions about his parents at school and she told him a couple stories as they made their way to the old storefront. She paused before going in and Neville waited with his hand on the door.

"Neville." Calandra said, hesitantly. "Before we go in. Did they….did she…."

Calandra took a deep breath and looked up at Neville.

"Did your mum, go looking for me? Is that why she got injured?" Calandra asked.

Neville shook his head.

Calandra nodded and turned back to the door. She stared at it for a moment. She'd just gotten out. Could she go back in? What if they tried to make her stay? What if they tried to lock her back in that box?

She looked at Neville's face; guarded but a bit hopeful, and she decided it didn't matter. She was going to see Alice.

She let Neville guide her up to the fourth floor and onto the right ward. He gave a light knock on the door then opened it. She waited a beat then followed him in, standing a bit behind him. He walked over and pulled a curtain back, revealing two beds.

"Hi mum. Hi dad. It's me Neville." he said, words coming out in light tones. She imagined he'd greeted his parents with those exact same words hundreds of times, perhaps hoping they'd trigger something sooner or later.

"I've brought a friend today. She's excited to see you." Neville said and looked back at her. He motioned her forward and she stepped to the side.

A thin man laid propped up in one of the beds in the room. His hair was mostly gray, though a few streaks of brown showed through here and there. His hands were clasped on top of the blanket that covered his legs and he stared at the wall.

A small woman with very fine white hair sat on the edge of the other bed. She wore a blue nightgown and slippers. Her feet barely brushed the floor. She looked up at them. Her face was thin and peaked. But Calandra was staring at her eyes.

Big amber eyes.

Alice's eyes.

This was Alice.

Calandra slowly stepped forward and sat on the edge of the bed next to the small woman. She reached into her pockets and grabbed two of the candies she'd bought. She put one in each hand, her eyes never leaving Alice's.

She held out two fists and cleared her throat. She forced her voice to be light when she spoke.

"I'll buy you a month's worth if you guess which hand the sweet is in."

The woman stared at her. Calandra swallowed. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Maybe she should've introduced herself first and just gave them the candy. She felt the faintest tap on her right hand and looked down. A small, thin finger rested on her closed fist. She turned her hand upwards and opened her fist. A piece of bubble gum rested on her palm.

"You always could get it right." Calandra said, holding her hand up to Alice. "I guess I owe you a few boxes now."

The corner of the woman's lip moved up an infinitesimal amount. It was barely noticeable. She took the sweet and carefully unwrapped it. She popped it in her mouth. Her hands fell to her lap and she fidgeted a bit. Calandra wanted to embrace her but was unsure if it would upset her. She laid a hand on Alice's knee then moved to Frank's bed.

"Long time no see, Frank." she said jovially. "I brought you something."

She tossed a chocolate frog box on his lap near his hands, and he slowly reached for it. He turned it over in his hands and lifted the flap. He drew the card out that came with it and flicked it away before he shook the frog out of the box. She smiled.

"Sorry." Neville whispered. "He always does that."

"Don't be." she said still looking at Frank. "He always has. He could hit a snitch from thirty meters away."

"Oh." Neville looked at his father.

"Oi! Frank!" she said squaring up. "What say we open all these frogs and you and Neville here can have a bit of a go at each other?"

Frank took a bite of his chocolate frog and looked up at the wall. He didn't say anything. He didn't make any move to show he even noticed they were there, but his hand laid out palm up on the bed. Calandra grabbed one of the bags she'd dropped on the floor at the end of the bed. She handed about half the boxes to Neville and laid the rest on Frank's bed, placing one directly on his upturned palm.

"Have at it, boys." she said. "Alice and I will spectate."

Calandra grabbed another bag and settled herself on one edge of Alice's bed. She shook out a few different sweets on the spot between them and sat back. Neville had taken a few of the cards from the boxes, carefully closing the boxes back so the frogs wouldn't jump out. He waited until Frank opened his box and flicked the card away, then he lightly flicked his card towards his father. It landed on the bed. Frank opened another box and flicked the card away. It landed on the floor. Neville flicked another card forward.

She looked down at a rustling sound and saw Alice's finger running through the pile of candies. There didn't seem to be any sort of sense to the pattern she was tracing. Just round and round through the candies. Calandra watched her small hand grab hold of something and bring it to her lap. She'd found another bubble gum.

She looked back over at the two men in the room. They were flicking cards together now. Frank's cards didn't seem to have any specific purpose, they just flew out and fell. But Neville's always fell on Frank's bed.

"I have to say Alice," Calandra said in a low, conversational voice. "I think Neville is going to be taller than Frank."

Alice concentrated on the candy in her hands.

"Reminds me a bit of you though when it comes to Herbology." She went on. "I'll never forget the time we tried to crossbreed Coruscare Clematis with Popping Pods. You nearly singed my eyebrows off."

Calandra chuckled at the memory.

"Anyhow, Neville knows the names of plants I've never even seen. Probably took your spot as Sprout's favorite."

She looked up and saw Neville looking over at them, his throat bobbing. She gave him a smile and gasped when a card flew up and got him on the chin.

His head snapped back to his father. Calandra threw her head back and laughed.

"Go easy on the boy, Frank! He's got to practice for quite a while before he can hold his own with you when it comes to those cards."

Neville stared at his father. Frank's head was turned toward Neville. Calandra wasn't sure if he was looking at him or not, but it didn't matter. Neville looked at Frank like he hung the moon.

She reached out and held Alice's hand. Alice just stared down at their entwined hands. Calandra reached up with her other hand and brushed a strand of that fine wispy hair back from Alice's face.

"I've missed you Alice. It's lovely to see you again. I'm sorry it's been so long. You look as beautiful as ever."

Big amber eyes found hers and she stared into their depths. Eyes she'd looked to so many times. Eyes that had reassured her when she felt weak. Eyes that promised she'd always be there. Eyes that probably didn't recognize her.

Alice closed her eyes and sat back. Calandra looked back toward Frank and Neville. They took turns throwing cards. Frank's cards still just fell randomly. His movements were slower now and Neville slowed down to match his father's pace. Soon, Frank laid his hands on the blanket and rested his head against the pillow with his eyes closed. Calandra watched Neville pick up the cards his father had thrown. He put one in each of the open chocolate frog boxes and left one on the bed by Frank's hand.

She felt a slight squeeze to her hand and looked back at Alice. The woman's eyes tracked Neville's every movement. Calandra squeezed her hand in return and slid off the bed. She walked over and helped Neville gather the few empty boxes and put them in the bin.

"I'll leave in just a moment." she told him quietly. "I don't want to overwhelm them."

He nodded.

"Me, too. Our visits are usually kind of short."

They finished cleaning up and sat the rest of their gifts on the table. She gave Alice a hug with one arm and walked to the foot of the bed. She turned and looked at her old friends.

"I'm going to head out, now. It was wonderful to see you. I loved every second of our visit."

She glanced over at Neville and went on.

"I love you. Keep Alice in line for me, Frank."

Alice popped out of bed and shuffled over to Neville. She reached out and Calandra saw her press something into his hand.

"Thanks, Mum." He said softly. "I'll come visit you again tomorrow."

Alice shuffle back to the bed and sat down.

Neville picked up the bag with his plant in it and followed Calandra out of the room, softly shutting the door behind him. He stood staring at the papers in his hand. They stood there, unmoving in the hallway, until Calandra laid a hand on Neville's arm.

He didn't look up at her when he spoke.

"She's never given me two at the same time before."

He held up the papers. They were the silver wrappers to the Drooble's Bubble Gum they'd brought her.

She thought back to a gold wrapper exchanging hands and Alice's quick laugh.

"That was the moment I knew he'd fallen for you." Alice lay next to Calandra on the bed. "It was the sweetest thing."

"You're dreaming, Alice." Calandra chuckled. "He didn't tell me he loved me until months afterwards."

"I saw his eyes, Callie." Alice said. "He was gone for you, even then."

"Come off it, it was just a laugh." She rolled her eyes, looking at her friend. "Just a bit of flirting."

"No." Alice shook her head. "He loved you then. He just didn't know how to say it."

She knew who he was, and she loved him. Those silver wrappers said all the words she couldn't say.

"If you've got time for a drink, I'd like to tell you a story." Calandra said with a smile.

He needed to know.