Waking in the rubble, Alice opened her eyes, everything hurt. What had happened? One moment she was duelling the man she was trying to arrest. A smuggler of Dragon fangs and then she was on the floor, surrounded by wizards and witches in dark robes and silver masks. It was supposed to be something simple, just a smuggler, he wasn't a follower of You-Know-Who. But when they arrived there, they found the warehouse was being used as a dark wizard's hideout.
Alice looked up, and the ceiling of the building had crumbled down and fallen over her and… Oh, for Salazar's sake, where was her partner. She tried to sit up, but the pain was agonizing. She reached one hand to her middle as she fell into her back once again.
Her Auror Robes were wet. Raising her hand back to her face she could see the blood, her blood. Alice bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying, in fear, in shame, in pain. She was an Auror, she would not make a fool of herself.
"Howe! Declan!" She called for her partner, but there was no response. Please don't let him be dead. Please. When Alice calmed herself she realized that she needed to call for help. Where was her wand? Please let it be intact, please.
She summoned it wandlessly, just like they taught them in the first year of Auror training and just a second later it was on her hand. And her phoenix appeared. "Frank. Warehouse, 3 kilometres away from the east entrance of Godric Hollow. Bring healers." The silvery figure disappeared, and Alice closed her eyes. She was tired, she just needed to rest for a minute. She would be okay.
Alice opened her eyes again when she heard someone Walking over glass, not just someone. Her husband. He was rushing in her direction, dodging, and jumping over the bigger pieces of rubble until he reached her.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered once his characteristic smell of honey and pine touched her nostrils. She just wanted to wrap her arms around him, but everything hurt.
"Shhh, Shhh, Shhh, love. Don't try to speak. Save your energy." He said, kissing her forehead. "Where's my healer!? I need a healer here!" He yelled to the group of people by the entrance of the building.
"Am I in such awful shape that you even overcome your fear of healers?" She teased, touching his wrist.
"For one time in our life, Wondergirl, just do what I say and save your energy." He pleaded. His eyes were on her during the time that took the Auror-Healers to approach, their claret robes with lime green stripes.
"I was never very good at doing what I was told." She confessed, as she diligently swallowed the vial that the Kenna Vance placed on her lips.
"Oh, I remember." He had tears in his eyes. Her foolish Gryffindor Husband was working so hard to not let them fall.
"Come closer. I want to tell you something," Alice whispered. When he was close enough, Alice kissed him. She needed the distraction. The pain had subdued but the discomfort and the sensation that something was wrong with her body had increased.
"I don't know if this is the time, dearest." He gulped, soft lips brushing hers with every word.
"Healer Vance doesn't mind… just let me…" She whispered and her lips travelled along his cheek until they fell right under his left eye. And the touch made his tears release, Alice licked each of the salty drops as they fell on her lips. "That's it… let them fall… I'm here."
"I can't, Lissie. I need to be the strong one." He whispered, and his hold on her cheek tightened. "You will be okay…"
"Neighbours say we're trouble…" Alice murmured, her hazel eyes very wide for a moment.
"What? You're not making sense, love. Just rest while the Healers work." He said and Alice tried to turn and look at Healers, but Frank stopped her, his hold on her face unmoving. "No… Keep your eyes on me. What did you mean with the neighbours said you were trouble?"
"When Declan and I arrived, we were trying to find the right warehouse… and one of the neighbours said that Aurors always bring trouble." She explained.
Frank nodded. "I will tell the headquarters to interview the neighbours." He assured. "You will be okay."
"You keep saying that. Are you trying to reassure me or yourself?" She asked, placing her best smirk on her face.
He laughed, tears tracking down his cheeks and landing on her face. "You're my wife… we're a package deal. What happens to you, happens to me. So I'm reassuring both of us."
"Well that time has passed." Healer Vance said. "You're ready for transport, Auror Blishwick."
"It's been Longbottom for a while now." She said looking at her husband. Alice had no doubts that Kenna knew that, it was probably a test to check her reaction. "You need to let go now, Frank."
"I'm not sure I can do that." He confessed.
Alice raised an eyebrow. "Well, I think you need to let go so you can catch the bastards that hurt me, Frankie. Don't come and visit me at St Mungo's until you have caught them."
It was so easy to play a Gryffindor. She had enjoyed it so much during her time at Hogwarts. She had played this game back when she was Head Girl. Teasing him, giving him goals. Finish your Transfiguration Essay and only then you can join me for a walk. One week without getting detention and we can have a butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks. Oh, and the things she made him do until he could propose.
Frank kissed her forehead before pulling away. "I will see you soon, Lissie" He whispered.
Alice smiled as she was portkeyed to St Mungo's. But as soon as Frank was out of sight and lime green robes were surrounding her, she let all her tears fall.
The mediwitch was kind enough to slip her a handkerchief for her to clean her tears. She had been badly hurt before, but this time was different. Frank didn't know, no one knew. "Did I lose it?" She finally asked.
"I'm sorry, Auror Longbottom. You're still young, there will be other chances, don't worry about it at the moment. You're alive." The mediwitch said, and Alice nodded. "A sleeping draught, will you consent to it?"
Alice nodded. She just wanted to forget. Maybe when she woke up it would all have been a nightmare.
Alice woke in the middle of the night, a scream tied to her lips, losing something important to her … and she had no one to share it with. Then she heard the light snoring. Her husband was sleeping on an armchair, a couple of papers sprawled around him, his wand still illuminating the room.
"Frank?" She asked, trying to wake him up. He had always been a light sleeper. The first time they slept on the same bed, there had been little sleep. Whenever she sifted and turned, he would wake up and ask if she was comfortable, so she had stayed awake, very, very still. Then, through time, they had got used to each other and how their bodies belonged together in a mattress.
"Yes, Lissie?" He asked, even before he opened his eyes. Then he put his papers all on the side table, and walked to the bed, kissing her forehead. "We caught him. The stupid man came back to the warehouse and he confessed the name of some of his associates." He chuckled, but there was not much joy in his tone.
"I… can you call someone? I need to go to the bathroom." She confessed.
"Alice, I've seen you naked, love. I can help you into the bathroom." Frank said, stroking her cheek. "I will be very gentle."
Alice let herself be carried to the bathroom. Frank gave her some privacy after settling her on the toilet. The Slytherin could see a figure Peering from the mirror, but she was not sure who that woman was.
"No, that isn't me" She yelled, and that made Frank rush inside.
"What is it, love? What's wrong?" He asked, kneeling in front of her, gentle thumbs stroking her knees.
"You did not tell me how bad my face really looked…" She said, raising one hand to touch her cheek. The greenish tone meant that the healing bruise paste was working and that her face had been black before.
"You're still the prettiest girl I have ever seen." He said, kissing her hands, "And your face will be back to normal in just a few days."
Alice nodded. It was not her vanity speaking; she had just not understood how serious the accident had been. "There's something I need to tell you… And I understand if you don't want to see me ever again."
"You're scaring me, Lissie. You're perfect, what could you possibly have done that you think would drive me away." He said, helping her back into bed.
"Can you lay with me here for a bit?" She asked, patting her pillow.
Frank discarded his dragonhide boots and climbed on the bed beside her, stroking her long sandy brown hair. She probably needed a shower, someone had scourgify her hair, but it was not the same as a good bath and maybe a hair mask.
He gave her time; he did not push, he just waited for her to let the words out. He was so good. "We have been married for almost 4 years." She said.
Frank nodded, kissing her temple. "Yes. That's right, love. 4 years in August."
"And even if we were not trying, if it happened it would be okay…" She whimpered, hiding her face on his chest.
He held her tighter, letting her sob, his lips brushed against the top of her head. "There, there. Lissie, my love, don't cry… don't cry."
"You don't understand, Frank. I knew it! I found out a couple of weeks ago, and I was supposed to tell you soon, maybe this weekend, I would make a cake, and a t-shirt and…" And she kept crying.
Frank whispered the same words as before. "Lissie, Lissie, my love. Don't cry. We are young. Just rest now. It's okay, I love you! I love you so much, Alice." But his voice was strained, and she knew that he was using all his willpower to stay strong, to keep his face stoic and calm.
"I'm so sorry…" She cried, letting herself be soothed by his words, by his touch on her hair and back, anywhere he could reach.
"Alice Longbottom, you don't apologise. This wasn't your fault. Not your fault, Lissie. Don't steal the blame that it's not yours to take." He said and placing one finger under her chin, he made her look up. "I love you. You can cry, you can scream, but you're not to blame and I love you."
She nodded, a ghost of a smile spreading across her face. "I love you, Frankie. Thank you for loving me." She took a deep breath, his scent of honey and pine filling her, calming her.
"That's it, my love. Sleep well. I love you." And those were the last words that Alice heard before drifting into her slumber.
Alice woke up a couple of hours later, her head still resting on her husband's chest. Some pieces of parchment hovering above them. "Always working, Frankie, even when your wife is in St Mungo's." She teased.
"My loving wife is the one that keeps me on my toes. She said I could only visit her when I had caught the criminal who hurt her. Now I have paperwork to finish, or Moody will have my head." He explained. "Did you sleep well?"
"I had the strangest dream," she confessed.
Frank signed the piece of parchment with his wand and then kissed her forehead. "What about, love?"
"I was in the warehouse, lying on the rubble, A stranger getting nearer, and I couldn't move. I wasn't bound or magically immobilised, I just laid there, waiting. But the stranger wasn't you like I was expecting it to be." She explained.
"Who was it, then?" He asked. "What did they look like?"
"Caucasian, blond, light eyes." She said, closing her eyes and remembering the face she saw in her dream, half-covered by a mask. "Who can this person be?" She asked.
"It almost sounds like Malfoy. White skin, white-blond hair, grey eyes." He raised an eyebrow. "Why are you dreaming about your fellow Head Boy? Shall I be jealous?"
"Please, Lucius and I were friendly but never romantic. He was smitten by Narcissa, and I was in love with this foolish Gryffindor. I endured so much teasing because of you." Alice confessed.
"Oh… were you? In love, while we were at Hogwarts?" He asked, stroking her cheek. Alice raised an eyebrow. And Frank kissed her, very very gently. "I'm teasing, love. I remember Lucius and Narcissa. They invited us to the wedding."
Alice nodded. It seemed such a long time ago. Hogwarts, Auror Training, Becoming Constables, Fighting Dark Wizards. Lucius Abraxas Malfoy had been a friend while at Hogwarts. It had surprised her. The Blishwicks were not part of the Pureblood Directory because of her great uncle, who married a half-blood witch. She had not even met them. But Lucius had not been elitist. They had been Prefects together and then Head boy and Head girl.
"Do you think they are his supporters?" He asked, so very quietly that Alice almost missed. "His name was mentioned by the smuggler when we interrogated him, but-"
She hated thinking about it. How people she had been friends with within Hogwarts could become that kind of people, following a madman, thinking heritage is all a person really is. She shrugged, that should be enough to answer. Alice knew what he was going to say, Lucius wouldn't be stupid enough to get caught like that.
"If we ever arrest one of them, what would you say to them?" He asked. Alice knew her husband very well, he was not doubting her ability to keep it professional, it was just some curiosity.
"You wouldn't know me at all today," She whispered, her voice solemn, focused on the birthmark on his jaw.
She had discovered it when they were 15. He had been hurt on a Quidditch game, well, hurt by her, but it was not her fault his team beaters did not deflect the bludger in time. But she had been worried and inspected every inch of his pretty face. That's when she found the reddish march shaped like a lion's mane. He was always meant to be a Gryffindor.
Frank smiled "If I had not watched you grow, my love, I wouldn't know you either, Auror Blishwick. You were always good, your heart was always as beautiful as your face, but you changed for the best."
"Don't you mean Auror Longbottom, Auror Longbottom?" she teased, and Frank kissed her forehead.
"Rest a little longer, the healers will be around in an hour or so to check how you are," Frank said, very gently stroking her hair. Alice nodded, drifting to sleep, hoping no one would visit her dreams at that time.
