"Frank and Alice Longbottom - poor devils," growled Moody. "Better dead than what happened to them."
~ Alastor Moody, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix
Alice - The Girl Who Persevered
0.
"Alice Fortescue!" Minerva McGonagall announced.
The Great Hall gleamed as a new batch of eager-faced first years stood in a line, waiting to be sorted into their Houses.
A plump, sandy-haired girl had stepped up to the stool where the Sorting Hat sat. She hadn't looked nervous at all, but instead had a rather intense gleam of excitement in her dark eyes. The expression on Alice's face had taken Minerva by surprise, as it had reminded her so very much of herself on her own first day at Hogwarts. After a few short seconds, the hat cried out "Gryffindor!" and Alice had let out a short peal of pleasure.
Her smile splitting her rosy cheeks, Alice bounded to the cheering Gryffindor table. Minerva spared a second to glance at the retreating figure of the girl, and the professor allowed herself a small smile.
1.
"Do not," Minerva said, her voice ringing out through the silence of her classroom, "underestimate the complexity of Transfiguration. When not applied correctly, it can yield disastrous results. This is not the class you can fool around in. Should I detect even the slightest unruliness from any of you, even those of you who are Gryffindor, I shall have you removed from my class. Permanently."
It was the first day of classes, and Minerva's eyes scanned the room of first years intently.
Her words seemed to have had their intended effect on the class of first years. A look of anticipation and nervousness dawned on the faces of everyone in the class, even if it was to a limited degree for some. But when Minerva looked to Alice Fortescue, the girl still had the same look she had on the day of the Sorting: a look full of daring. As if she was challenging someone to say she couldn't do something, just so she could prove she could.
Minerva eyed the girl sharply and was displeased to find that her glare hadn't lessened the look of daring shimmering in Alice's eyes. If anything, Minerva's displeasure only seemed to strengthen it.
For the majority of the class, the professor had her students taking intensive notes — mainly to drill into their heads just how serious Transfiguration was. Nearing the end of the class, though, she decided to indulge them a little bit.
She passed out matches and instructed the class to turn them into needles, gesturing with her own hand the correct movements to make with the wand. A little more than five minutes passed when Minerva heard someone let out a gasp of disbelief.
She turned to see Alice brandishing a perfectly transfigured needle, and the boy seated next to her was staring at her with wide eyes.
"You- you transfigured it!" the boy exclaimed.
"Please, Mr. Longbottom," chided Minerva, "We are still in class, so do try to contain your excitement."
Frank Longbottom turned red and nodded before attempting to turn his own match into a needle. As Minerva passed Alice's desk, she smiled at her briefly.
And Minerva could've sworn that Alice's eyes glowed brighter at the sight of the professor's smile.
2.
"Miss Fortescue!" Minerva cried, bounding swiftly forward through the corridors and towards the source of the commotion. "Put your wand down immediately!"
Alice ignored the command (if she had even heard it in the first place).
It was nearing the end of Alice's second year, and Professor McGonagall had just finished her last class of the day when she heard a loud shriek of indignation followed by a loud smack split through the peaceable silence. Deciding to investigate the noise, she walked swiftly through the hallways to see a large group of students crowded around two in particular.
From the angle Minerva was at, she could only see the back of a familiar sandy-haired, plump girl brandishing her wand at a silver-haired boy. The boy in question was scrawled on the ground, groping for his wand with one hand and blotting the blood oozing from his split-lip with the other.
A Gryffindor girl with dark black hair lunged forward from out of the crowd of people, and she wrapped her arms around Alice's middle — effectively restraining her. Minerva recognized the girl as Vivian Bay, an exceptional sweet muggle-born first year.
"Alice, stop it!" Vivian cried, tugging her away from the silver-haired boy on the floor, "Please, it's not worth it!"
"Let go of me, Viv," snapped Alice, struggling against her friend's grasp, "I said LET ME GO!"
The boy on the ground snarled at Vivian, "Listen to your friend, Mud—"
In an instant, Alice broke free and turned to the boy with a bright red face. "You — you horrible, vile, bastard! How dare you call her that again? A fat lip not enough for you, was it?" Alice had shouted at the boy, and she proceeded to lift the wand straight at his face. "Titillando!"
In an instant, purple hands appeared from out of nowhere and began tickling the silver-haired boy on the ground, who was now squealing with laughter. The crowd around the boy started laughing, and the boy seemed to turn an even darker shade of red as he tried repelling the purple hands.
"Miss Fortescue!" Minerva scolded. Again, the girl seemed not to hear.
Minerva instantly lurched forward, pulling out her wand to utter the counter-hex. In an instant, the silver-haired boy was released, though still red-faced and gasping for air. Now that Minerva was close enough, she could tell that the boy belonged to Slytherin: Lucius Malfoy.
He was cursing under his breath as he picked himself off the ground. "Filthy blood traitor... foulsome bitch..."
Alice seemed unaware of Minerva's presence, for she spun around on her heel, furiously snarling. "You want to say that again, Malfoy? Perhaps this time I'll Crucio you—"
"ALICE FORTESCUE — IF YOU SO MUCH AS MUTTER ANOTHER HEX, SPELL, CURSE, OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, I SHALL HAVE YOU EXPELLED!" Minerva shouted, her chest heaving. The girl froze immediately and turned, apparently only now informed of her professor's presence. The professor turned to Lucius, "As for you, Mr. Malfoy, I better not hear you using such foul language in my presence again! Kindly have Madam Pomfrey have a look at your lip, then return to your Common Room."
Lucius shot one last scowl at Alice, tightening his green tie around his neck, and set off.
"And you, Miss Fortescue," snapped Minerva, turning to Alice who seemed to shrink. "Come with me to my study. Now. And as for the rest of you," she turned to the crowd of spectators, "return to your Common Rooms immediately."
Swallowing hard, Alice followed the professor back to her study.
Once inside, Minerva took a seat at her desk and commanded Alicia to sit in the seat across from it. Alice ducked her head in shame as Minerva glowered at her.
"Miss Fortescue," Minerva said slowly, "Please take this as your opportunity to explain to me what, exactly, compelled you to physically assault, hex, and threaten to perform an Unforgivable Curse on another student! In the hallways, no less!"
Alice lifted her head in a look that might've passed for defiance. "Malfoy called my friend, Vivian Bay, a..." she trailed off, staring intently at her shoes.
"A what?" asked Minerva sharply.
Alice looked reluctant. "A Mudblood," she said finally, "Lucius called Vivian a Mudblood, then spit on her." She met the professor's eyes. "Professor McGonagall, I'm only sorry for threatening Malfoy with an Unforgivable Curse. But I'm not sorry for hexing him or giving him a split-lip. He and his friends were all belittling her, and-and it wasn't right!"
Despite herself, Minerva felt something in her soften.
"It's admirable of you to feel the need to defend a friend," Minerva said, her tone still firm, "But I will not tolerate this behavior in the future. You are not, under any circumstances, to hex or curse another student. And you are especially not to ever, ever threaten another student with an Unforgivable Curse. If I ever hear you threatening or - heaven forbid - performing an Unforgivable Curse without expressed permission from a staff member, I shall escort you from Hogwarts myself. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Good." The professor gave a stern glance at the girl, "But that doesn't mean you're off the hook either, Miss Fortescue. I'll have to take points from Gryffindor, and you'll be serving detentions with me until the term is over. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Professor."
Minerva's scowl lessened. "I hope I won't have to repeat myself. Please return to your Common Room."
Alice nodded once more and straightened herself. "Thank you, Professor."
3.
Minerva was pleased with herself.
She had just taught the hardest lesson of third-year Transfigurations, and it hadn't gone bad. In fact, it went rather well. She glanced around the classroom and saw a few students still in her classroom, gathering up their belongings before going to their next class.
From across the classroom, she saw something strange: a nervous-looking Alice Fortescue, getting nudged by a mischievous-looking Vivian Bay, towards an unsuspecting Frank Longbottom. Curious, Minvera leaned back against her chair and observed the situation.
Vivian nudged her friend before calling out to Frank. "Oi, Frank!" she called, smirking at Alice's look of discomfort. "Alice has got something to tell you."
Frank turned, a smile quickly crossing his face. "Yes?"
"Well, I was thinking we could go to Hogsmeade?" Alice said, looking sheepish. A panicked look crossed her face, and she quickly added. "Not alone, of course! But, like, with friends. Because that be weird, going alone!" She gave an awkward peal of laughter. "That would be like a date! And that would be weird, right?"
From beside her, Vivian slapped a hand to her forehead.
The hopeful look on Frank's face disappeared. "Oh." He gave a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Okay. Yeah, I guess it would be weird."
Now Alice looked downcast, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Right, then."
And with that, she left a mopey-looking Frank and a frustrated-looking Vivian behind and marched out of the classroom. A few moments later, Frank began to follow suit.
Vivian Bay, who had been the last to leave the classroom, rolled her eyes at her friends before glancing over at Minerva. "They really are hopeless, aren't they, Miss McGonagall?"
Minerva had been so surprised by Vivian's bluntness that she actually smiled.
Indeed, she thought silently.
4.
It was exactly an hour before students were to be dismissed from Hogwarts for their Christmas Holidays when Minerva McGonagall heard a series of firm rasps on the door of her study.
"Come in," she replied, not taking her eyes off the roll of parchment before her. She was just going through the list of students that were to stay over the break, just to make sure she wasn't missing anyone.
The door swung open and in walked Alice Fortescue, her face an unpleasant shade of green.
"Professor?" she said, her tone frightened yet angry. "I... I overheard something quite awful, and I didn't know who else to come to, Professor."
Minerva straightened in her chair and leaned forward out of concern. "My girl, are you quite alright?"
Alice looked like she was going to be sick, yet also determined. "Professor McGonagall, what are Death Eaters?"
A shiver ran down Minerva's spine at the mention of the term. Tom Riddle, an incredibly bright former schoolmate of hers, seemed to be going by a new name these days: Lord Voldemort. And his followers, his devotees, were affectionately named Death Eaters. Minerva never did feel quite comfortable around Tom Riddle, and she was especially unnerved when she found out that he had tried applying for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post a few years ago.
For now, the "Death Eaters" and "Lord Voldemort" seemed to be keeping a pretty low profile. Despite blatant and bold verbal discrimination against both Muggle and Muggle-born alike, there hadn't been anything to incite alarm yet.
Yet.
Despite how much she wanted to believe the contrary, Minerva knew it was only a matter of time before something horrible happens. Where ever hate is rooted, violence is sure to be sprung.
"What makes you ask that?" asked Minerva, trying to ignore the unsettling feeling brooding deep within her.
"Lucius Malfoy - I think he's a Death Eater," she blurted out, "Frank and I were walking past their table at the Great Hall, and Lucius was talking to his friends about how he was going to join some 'Dark Lord', and how he would become the most loyal Death Eater and vow to 'annihilate Muggle-borns and Muggles.' Oh, Professor, it was awful. Frank got really upset, you see, and I think he's arguing with Malfoy now, but I just had to come to you first."
Minerva set her lips into a thin line before outstretching her hand to rest on Alice's. "Miss Fortescue, please rest assured I shall inform the Headmaster of Malfoy's admission. Unfortunately, I fear there isn't much we can do. To answer your question, though, Death Eaters are wizards and witches who feel that Muggle-borns do not deserve the same rights as Purebloods. That they are, in every way, inferior to Purebloods."
"Well, everyone knows that's ridiculous," Alice said, frowning, "Vivian Bay is a Muggle-born, and she's the brightest witch of our year."
"I am well aware, Miss Fortescue, of the flawed logic of Pureblood Supremacy. I know several talented witches and wizards, myself included, who are not Purebloods," said Minerva. "And despite their lack of magic, there certainly is something to be said about the ingenuity of Muggles must have to thrive in a magic-less world."
Alice nodded half-heartedly. "I'm worried, Professor McGonagall, for my half-sister and my stepfather. My stepfather is Muggle-born, you see, and my half-sister is a Halfblood."
Minerva understood instantly her concern. And she'd be lying if she said that she wasn't similarly concerned for her own family. Still, her job was to assure students, not frighten them. "Miss Fortescue," she said, "the Ministry of Magic is working very hard to make sure that all wizards and witches are safe, regardless of blood status."
Alice didn't look pleased with the answer. "With people like Lucius Malfoy around, Professor," Alice said, "how long will the Ministry be able to keep order?"
And that was the first time Minerva McGonagall didn't have an answer to a student's question.
5.
It was two hours before the Halloween Feast of Alice's fifth year at Hogwarts, when Minerva found an unsettling discovery in one of the corners of the Library.
Minerva had been stopping by the Library for light reading (heaven knows she's due for some relaxation), and as she was about to round a corner to her favorite shelf, she was affronted with the sight of Frank Longbottom and Alice Fortescue snogging in the middle of the hall.
"Miss Fortescue! Mr. Longbottom!" Minerva scolded once she recovered from her temporary shock. "We — are — in — a — Library!"
At the sound of the reprimand, both fifteen-year-olds separated instantly. Frank Longbottom was turning a very impressive shade of red, and even Alice Fortescue had the decency to look somewhat embarrassed. Out of the two of them, Alice always had the edge when it came to daring, so, naturally, Alice was the first to manage to find her voice again.
"Sorry, Professor," she said, her cheeks dusted in pink, "It won't happen again."
"Yes," blurted Frank Longbottom eagerly, "Never, ever again."
The glare Alice gave him might've been comical had Minerva not felt so disturbed by the sight of two students snogging in a hallway.
Minerva straightened herself. "I am not so naïve to believe that Hogwarts students have never or will never betray themselves to their teenage hormones," she stated as properly as she could manage, "However, I do expect a certain level of decency from my students. I only ask you to refrain from physical intimacy whilst in public spaces."
"Yes, Professor McGonagall," Alice replied, an amused look dancing in her eyes. "We'll try our best to not betray ourselves to our hormones."
For his part, Frank chuckled (though still very red-faced).
Minerva felt she should've been angry about the backtalk, but instead the nerve of the girl managed to amuse the professor. "See to it you do," she replied, not bothering to hide the ghost of a smile on her face.
The professor turned on her heel to leave, when suddenly she remembered something.
"Oh, and you two?" she turned back around, facing the girl, "Don't forget about the meeting you both are to have with me this Saturday to discuss future career paths. You both would like to be Aurors, right?" Both students nodded, Alice, looking, for once, more worried than Frank. "Well, then, you both need to make at least an Exceeding Expectations on the Transfigurations O.W.L in order to take my N.E.W.T level course. In addition, you must make a high enough score to take N.E.W.T level classes for Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions next term."
A line formed on Alice's forehead, something that Minerva rarely saw in the usually carefree girl. "Professor, what can I do to make sure I get high enough scores on my O.W.L.s? I want to be an Auror very badly—"
"As do I," said Frank.
"—But," Alice continued, "I can't help but worry about my performance."
Minerva raised a brow. "Miss Fortescue, you know I do not give praise lightly, so believe me when I tell you that you are a truly gifted student in terms of Transfigurations. Of course, I can't speak for your other O.W.L.s, but if you give it your all, I don't see any reason you couldn't make an 'E' on your Transfigurations O.W.L.
And, Mr. Longbottom, I heard from Professor Slughorn that you've got a knack for Potions. And from what I've overheard from your Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms Professors, the both of you seem to be fairing well in those courses as well. But, still, I am devoted to helping any student who needs my help. Should you feel the need to arrange extra remedial sessions with me, I will be glad to help."
Both Gryffindors smiled, at both the compliment and the offer of remedial sessions.
"Thank you, Professor," Alice said, grinning.
6.
"Oh, Professor! Professor McGonagall!" shrieked a very delighted voice.
Minerva was in Diagon Alley, doing last-minute shopping for the upcoming school year, when the voice of sixth-year Alice Fortescue rung out across the street. The professor barely had enough time to turn around before she was suddenly tackled into a bear-hug by the sandy-haired girl. Minerva felt the breath escape her lungs in one fluid motion and could feel the hot stares strangers were giving her.
"Oh, Professor!" Alice shrieked once again, apparently unaware of the stares from the people around her as she wrapped her arms around Minerva's middle very tightly. "Thank you, thank you so much! I can't thank you enough!"
Minerva, despite herself, found a smile pushing itself onto her face. "Miss Fortescue!" she reprimanded, but not without endearment in her voice, "Compose yourself, my girl!"
Alice detangled herself from Minerva, her eyes watery. "Professor McGonagall, the O.W.L's results just came back this morning — I got 12! 12! Can you believe it? Oh, Professor, can you believe it?"
Minerva gave the girl a smile. "I certainly can believe it, my dear," she said, "I always knew you had nothing stopping you from achieving all 12 O's, with or without my remedial sessions with you. You just needed to believe you could do it." She quirked a brow. "So, I'm taking this as you officially enrolling in my N.E.W.T's Transfigurations course?"
Alice sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. "Yes, of course!" she answered, a little exasperated.
Minerva chuckled, straightening her coat. "Just making sure, Miss Fortescue."
7.
It was in the beginning of Alice Fortecue's seventh and final year when Albus Dumbledore called Minerva McGonagall into his office. The gargoyle's outside Dumbledore's office were able to hear the tense conversation between the two professors.
"It would be best if you told her, Minerva," Dumbledore said wisely, "You are, after all, her Head of House."
Minerva sucked a sharp breath through her teeth. "Professor Dumbledore, how am I supposed to tell a seventeen-year-old girl that her stepfather and half-sister were just murdered? Or that her mother has been badly disfigured and tortured, and is now in St. Mungo's? By two teenagers calling themselves Death Eaters, no less!"
"How is anyone to tell a child such horrible news?" asked Dumbledore, "I understand your discomfort, Minerva, but if not you, who else? I hardly expect the girl to take the news better from me rather than from you. As the Head of Gryffindor House, she must surely be the most comfortable with you."
Minerva held gaze with the Headmaster, silently willing him to assign anyone else but her to inform Alice Fortescue that half her family was now dead, and the only surviving member was receiving intensive care at St. Mungo's. When his piercing blue gaze didn't relent, Minerva yielded; she knew, better than anyone, that she would be the most appropriate to break the news to poor, young Alice Fortescue.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, Minerva made her way to the Gryffindor Tower.
"Password?" asked the Fat Lady once Minerva approached the portrait.
"Gillyweed," replied McGonagall tersely.
"Correct," said the Fat Lady before allowing Minerva to enter.
Steeling herself, Minerva stepped into the Gryffindor Common Room — where she found several seventh-year students seated around a table with textbooks in front of them. They were preparing for their N.E.W.T's, no doubt. Among them was Alice Fortescue, who was seated beside Frank Longbottom. The two of them were explaining some bits of Transfigurations theory to the other students.
"Miss Fortescue?" Minerva called, announcing her presence.
Frank Longbottom poked Alice's shoulder, the latter quickly switching her focus from her textbook to the professor.
"Oh, Professor McGonagall," said Alice, raising a curious brow, "Do you need me for something?"
Minerva took a moment to take in her appearance. Her cheeks were still rosy, a hesitant smile spread across her face. Her eyes looked just as bright as they always had. Minerva hated to have to be the one the dim that light of challenge the girl always maintained.
"Please — Please come with me," said Minerva. "To my study."
The smile that was on her face was slowly slipping, morphing into an uncertain frown. She slowly rose from her seated position, looking uncertainly to Frank.
Frank Longbottom immediately stood beside her, his hand entwined with hers. "Is everything alright, Professor?" he asked.
Minerva straightened herself. "I just need to speak to Miss Fortescue in my study," she said firmly, looking to Frank, "Privately."
Reluctantly, Frank released her hand, and Alice stepped around the table before following Minerva out of the Common Room. But once outside the portrait hole, though, Alice stopped in her step and locked her jaw.
"Please follow me, Miss Fortescue," Minerva implored.
Alice stood her ground. "Whatever you need to speak to me about, you can do it here, Professor," she said.
"Please, Miss Fortescue," Minerva pleaded, "This — in the middle of the corridor — isn't an appropriate place to—"
Alice's brows furrowed. "Professor McGonagall, I need you to tell me what's going on," she said, a tone of worry lacing her voice. "And I'm not taking another step until that happens, because I know that whatever it is you need to tell me, it's something dreadful." A beat of silence hung over them. A look of grim understanding dawned on Alice. "It's dreadful, isn't it? It's something about my family, isn't it?"
Minerva felt her heart sink slowly.
Bowing her head, Minerva yielded to the girl, and the rest of the conversation was a blur for the professor.
She doesn't remember exactly what she said next to Alice. The professor doesn't remember how she told Alice that her stepfather and half-sister were dead, and that her mother was currently in St. Mungo's for treatment. The next thing she remembers was the look of shock in Alice's face. The pale, terrified expression that took over her. The way her nimble fingers trembled.
Then, Alice was crumbling to the ground with a cry of grief. Minerva barely had enough time to lunge forward and grab hold of the girl before she hit the floor.
The only thing she could do was try and solace a girl who could not be.
8.
It was the Graduation Ceremony for the students that had come to Hogwarts seven years ago, a group that included Alice Fortescue — who had an incredibly difficult seventh year after the torture of her mother and death of her stepfather and half-sister by two teenage Death Eaters.
But Alice managed to pull through like she always had. If nothing else, Alice Fortescue was the definition of perseverance.
The students, certificates in hand, were prepared to board the same boats that they had boarded as first-years. The boats that would take them away from the castle for the last time, just as it had once brought them to the castle for the first time.
Before she boarded that boat, Alice turned to face Professor McGonagall, who was standing to the side.
"I just wanted to thank you, Professor," she said earnestly, "You've always been such a great support to me in everything."
"There's no need to thank me, my girl," said Minerva, "I have devoted myself to supporting young witches and wizards. I take it that you'll be pursuing Auror Training with Mr. Longbottom?"
Alice's face took on the same determination that Minerva had seen time and time again. "Yes," she answered firmly, "After... after what happened to my family, I want to do my part in making sure it doesn't happen to anyone else."
Minerva smiled. "I'm very proud of you, Alice."
Alice brightened. "Thank you, Professor. For everything."
With that, the younger girl turned around to board the boats with the rest of her classmates. And Minerva McGonagall felt a definite sense of completion as she watched the incredibly bright young witch complete her "last rite" as a Hogwarts student.
9.
Over the next several years, Alice and her life updates had not been unpredictable.
Minerva wasn't surprised when Alice wrote to her announcing her completion of Auror Training.
She wasn't surprised when Alice became a member of the Order of the Pheonix.
Minerva wasn't surprised when she got the official invitation to the wedding between her and Frank.
She wasn't surprised when she got a letter in the mail a few years later, along with a picture of a healthy, bubbly-looking baby boy.
Nor had she been surprised when Alice had written to her, telling her that she was pregnant with a second child.
But nothing would've prepared Minerva McGonagall for when she found out that a group of teenage Death Eaters broke into the Longbottom's residence and attacked a pregnant Alice and her husband. Nothing would've prepared her for the shock that she had, finding out that they were subjected to the cruciatus curse until they lost their sanity and unborn child.
The Healers at St. Mungo's had thought Alice wouldn't make it through the night. After a certain point of enduring the cruciatus curse, the Healers had said, the body begins to shut down.
But Minerva knew that Alice would make it. Because, if nothing else, Alice was the one who always fought her way through everything.
10.
A month after the attack, Minerva decided to pay a visit to St. Mungo's. She visited Alice's room first and was shocked at what had become of her former student. Her skin was sallow, her eyes sunken in, and her hair brittle and gray. Minerva felt a pang of pity for the girl. Nobody deserved to live like this.
Quitely taking a seat beside her bed, Minerva reached her hand out to stroke Alice's.
"Ms. Fortescue," Minerva said softly, and her head turned slowly to meet Minerva's gaze, "Alice, please. Do you recognize me at all?"
She could only stare blankly ahead, her eyes empty.
"Can you say anything, my dear?" she continued, "Please, anything - anything at all."
Alice said nothing but shuddered slightly. It was so incredibly unnerving for Minerva to see one of her brightest students reduced to such a fate. It was tragic. She felt her eyes sting, and before she knew it, her cheeks were wet and tears were sliding down the curve of her face.
"How could this have happened?" she croaked in disbelief.
Alice had a brilliant future ahead of her. She was a genius. How, how, could this have possibly happened? How could she have lost this much control of her mind? She knew the cruciatus curse was horrific, but how could it have debilitated her to this extent?
"Sometimes, when horrific things happen, the only way for the brain to cope is to simply shut down," said a voice from behind her.
Minerva turned to see a Healer entering the room, his eyes fixed on the woman laying on the bed.
"When do you expect she will recover?"
The Healer grimaced. "It's unlikely that she will."
But Minerva refused to believe it. It may take years or decades, even, but Minerva believed that Alice was capable of recovering. If teaching the girl for seven years taught her anything, it was that Alice never gave up. She always kept going, even when things got difficult. That's just who she was.
Alice Fortescue Longbottom always persevered.
A/N: I thought it would be interesting to write a fic/collection of one-shots about McGonagall and her students who have passed away (or, in this case, went mad). This series will progress in age order (i.e. - it will start with Alice and Frank Longbottom and end with Fred Weasley). Let me know what ya'll think in the comments.