Author's Note: The following contains elements from the work of the Honourable J.K. Rowling. Please, please Read, Review and Enjoy. Se gap lai nhe.

Chapter VII:

The Fall of the House of Prewitt

It was a cold, brisk December day across the countryside near Hogsmeade. Snow lay thick on the ground. Indeed, the weather was so picturesque that even the seemingly run-down Shrieking Shack looked beautiful. However, the Shack was not quite so dilapidated as it appeared. In the months following their marriage, Alice had managed to repair much of the interior, plugging the leaks, painting the walls, etc, etc. She had even managed a clever enlarging charm that enabled the Shrieking Shack to expand while remaining the same size on the outside. It was no longer a Shack, but had achieved the status of a cozy and loving home.

Christmas was fast approaching in the Longbottom Residence, and merriment was in the air. The Dark Lord, while still at large, was no longer wreaking havoc on the same scale as before. Many of his top lieutenants had been captured, or killed by Frank and his associates. Even though Bartimius Crouch, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had claimed this to be the work of his top-notch Aurors, the majority of the magical community knew that Frank and Mundungus were responsible for the state of relative peace. To help further boost spirits at the Longbottom residence, Barty Crouch Jr., and Regulus Black were still alive and well in their covert roles.

Despite all of the good that was going on in her life, Alice had never been more distraught. The simple fact of the matter was that Alice had not heard from her brothers, Gideon and Fabian since she began seeing Frank. She knew perfectly well that the pair mistrusted and despised Frank for his work as a Bounty Hunter. They saw him as a profiteer and vigilante, and they hated him for it.

Frank arrived home late on Christmas Eve night, after a grueling day searching for Fenrir Greyback, the leader of the "Free Werewolves," who had recently led a riot near Dufftown. When he stepped into the kitchen, he found his wife in tears.

"Alice, m'dear, what's wrong?"

"Oh, I just can't bear the thought of not speaking with my brothers over the holidays. Since I was very young, we were always very close. So close, I never thought anything could come between us. But now…now that they're not talking to me…" Alice let out a loan moan of despair that seemed to resonate from her very soul.

"You miss them, don't you?"

"I do, very much."

"Well, then. You know what we'll do? We'll pay them a visit tonight. We'll go down their chimney like Father Christmas himself."

"That…that would be swell," Alice said happily. "It just wouldn't be Christmas without them."

"I know." With that, the pair prepared to use Floo Powder to surprise the In-laws.

Indeed, it would be an unpleasant surprise, but not one without some merit.

At the Prewitt household, Gideon and Fabian were having a cheery start of the holiday festivities. As everything had been peaceful, recently, however, the pair had become careless and let their guard down. Little did they know that the Dark Lord had secretly sent his commando extraordinaire, Antonin Dolohov to the household with a single purpose—the Fall of the House of Prewitt.

As Gideon and Fabian toasted the holiday with eggnog, Dolohov blasted the front door off its hinges with the force of a small bomb. The battle that followed was horrific and bloody as the pair fought against Dolohov and Company. Even though they were outnumbered 5:1, the Prewitts managed to cut their attackers down, until Dolohov and two others were all that remained. Fabian fell first, the victim to a killing curse. Gideon managed to slay his brother's killer before he was hit. However, Dolohov did not fire a killing curse at Gideon Prewitt. Indeed, it would have been kinder had he done so. Instead, he used the most dastardly weapon in his arsenal—the Entrail expelling curse. Gideon suddenly was hit with unspeakable pain as a horrible gash formed across his abdomen and his entrails were viciously pulled out. As he lay dying, Antonin Dolohov stood over him and leered.

Dolohov raised his wand again, but a spell never came. Frank Longbottom came whizzing out of the Prewitt's fireplace, and knocked him over. Alice came next, and screamed as she surveyed the ghastly scene. Things may have gone ill for the pair, had it not been for Frank's superior reflexes, as he stunned the other surviving Death Eater, and kicked Dolohov's wand, breaking it in half, and breaking his nose with it.

Dolohov was bound and gagged while Frank called for backup to come. The mortally wounded Gideon Prewitt beckoned him forward.

"Frank, I may have been wrong about you," he said in a laboured voice as Frank attempted to heal his wounds. "Perhaps, you're not the scoundrel I took you for."

"Gideon, this is no time for sentimentality. Save your energy."

"Gid, you're going to get well," moaned Alice.

"Nay, nay. I know now that my time's up. But I did not go without a fight. Frank," he whispered. "Frank, promise me—promise me you'll look after Alice…when I'm gone."

"I shall, Gideon. She's my wife." Upon hearing this last, tears filled Gideon's eyes as he grasped Frank's hand.

In a low, almost inaudible voice, Gideon whisper, "May God bless you and the House of Longbottom." And with that, his eyes closed for the last time.

Following the arrival of the authorities, Frank and Alice returned to their cottage in a shell-shocked state. Word came to Frank concerning a request for him to debrief what happened with Amos Diggory, but before he could depart, Alice said, "Frank, I don't think I can handle being alone just now."

"I understand. Here shall I remain, by your side."