So introducing the Godparents to the readers was lengthier than I had expected. As it stands my previous author's note is invalid, we'll have about two more chapters till Hogwarts now since I want to explore the family showing Harry life doesn't suck. Lady Lily Anne as always was an immense help so props to her, outside of that I hope you all enjoy this chapter even though it has no Harry or Dancia.
Please review!
Lady Alice Longbottom was no stranger to strife and turmoil, growing up in Pure-Blood society with its constant politicking and back stabbing had fairly well guaranteed that really. What little ignorance that may have remained had been burned away by war, the struggles, the blood, the dead loved ones, and the nightmares dealt with afterwords. Yet she had never really let it effect her long term, something that always impressed her best friend Lily Potter
Hell, even being held under the cruciatus curse for several minutes by that psychopath Barty Crouch Junior, may he burn in hell eternally, hadn't been enough to break her resolve, what it had broken though, well...
Kneeling in the greenhouse that Frank had built for her as a wedding gift a little over a decade ago, Alice's shaking hands dug through the rich topsoil of the planter before her while gritting her teeth in consternation, forcing her frayed nerves to cooperate.
Irreversible nerve damage caused by a dark curse fueled by the hate and mania of a truly depraved wizard was such a joy to live with, in fact if she had been under Crouch's curse even a minute longer she likely would have gone permanently catatonic.
The first responder Medi-Witch seemed to have thought this news was a good thing to share and something positive to focus on when she relayed it to Alice, who in turn saw it as proof that the old stereotypes from school held some weight after all.
Hufflepuff housed far too many dull knives for its own good.
Grimacing she gently placed the pot of the plant that was to be transferred before her and shakily pulled it free being careful to avoid the poisonous barbs along the petals edges, guiding it towards the depression she had dug her eyes soon widened in panic.
Another spasm attack.
Her hands began shaking beyond her control, a moment later she would have dropped the plant to avoid pricking herself if it were not for a small pair of hands steadying her wrists.
"Don't worry mum, I've got it."
Tears gathered in the corners of Alice's eyes as she glanced to her little Neville who deftly slipped his fingers through the soil held in her hands and placed the plant in its new home without fuss. Ignoring his mother's frayed state with practiced ease in order to cover his concern the little boy patted down the loam before turning back to her with a beaming smile.
Oh how she loathed that her child had to see her like this, see her so broken and weak, yet she felt a swell of pride that he never judged her for it, never treated her like an invalid, like something that he needed to be ashamed of.
Now only if her mother in law could learn something from the boy...
Silently gritting her teeth at the thought of that woman Alice smiled at her son as she raised a slightly soil stained hand to rub a thumb against the now grinning boy's cheek.
"What would I do without you Nev? Thank you, why don't we pack this in for the day and go inside for some tea and perhaps a movie?"
Lily Potter, may whatever gods exist rest her soul, had exposed Alice to many wonders of the muggle world, the top three tying for greatness being movies, pizza, and modern fashion. So she had done her best to make sure her son at least understood some of the muggle's culture, just as she was positive Lily would have made sure Harry would be with the magical wo-
No, don't think about Harry, don't think about how she was barred from seeing him by the Wizengamot due to her injuries 'Posing An Ongoing Danger' to her godson. Oh how she loathed those old bastards for using something out of her control baring her from raising Lily's boy alongside Neville, it was almost as bad as using Sirius's short false imprisonment to block him from doing the same.
If she had been at the top of her game as she had been at the height of the war, when Death Eaters literally ran in fear when she and Lily appeared on the scene she would show those-
"Mum, you're seething again." Alice paused, blinking rapidly as she turned back to her son who was giving her an understanding look before continuing on, "Harry?" He asked this without inflection, already knowing her response, such a smart boy her Neville.
She nodded, and he did so in return before smiling, "Lets go get cleaned up and watch a movie, I like that idea mum!"
Oh Neville you sweet misunderstood child, if only Augusta and the others were not so hard on the boy despite Frank's efforts to get them to back down on constantly comparing his son to himself.
Letting Neville take her hand the pair walked back to the manor proper and passed some of the extended family lounging on the patio, all of them giving disdainful glances at their dirty work clothes.
That had Alice rolling her eyes, like she was going to wear a gown while transplanting the new imports, because that made all kinds of sense. Why the extended family thought it proper to stay in her home after Neville's eighth birthday party was beyond her, but since Frank could never say no to his mother she had to deal with the squatters a few more days.
She seriously needed a drink, maybe Narcissa or Andromeda would be up for a nightcap after they put the kids down for the evening, something to muse on at least.
Before she could think any further on the subject a large barn owl landed before them, offering up a letter wrapped in twine, Neville stepped forward and took it silently and the owl quickly winged its way back up into the sky. He snapped the seal and slipped the letter out before handing it to his mother.
"The seal is from the Blacks mum," well well well, what do we have here? Taking the letter in slightly shaking hands she immediately noted it was from Andi, the understanding and wonderful woman who had been her physical therapist since Crouch's attack. She still didn't know if her offer of free services was due to her being Lady Longbottom or as penance for what her sister's husband had done to her family.
Not that she actually blamed Bellatrix for it really, considering the woman had sent her a bouquet of coral roses and purple hyacinth after her release from the hospital. If anyone was that happy her husband was dead, well, Alice really didn't have anything to say about that.
Reading the letter she smiled and walked to her desk to shakily write her reply before sealing the envelope and offered it to her son, "We are to have tea with the Tonks and several other guests tomorrow, mail this out will you?"
Neville grinned and took the letter before scampering off to the owlery with a, "No problem mum!" thrown out as he rushed from the room, leaving the smiling Alice leaning against her desk, contemplating this short notice invitation.
Amelia Black nee Bones was tired beyond words, considering being the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was tedious on the best of days, but with her limited budget effecting things? Well several swear words came to mind honestly but she refrained from expressing them mainly due to the fact she possessed a personality trait all but extinct in the modern British Pure-Blood world.
She had common sense.
Gritting her teeth she threw the last bit of today's parchment work into the out box and quickly kicked out from her desk. Sweeping out of her office she barely gave her Deputy Head Scrimgeour a nod before she ended up in the lift leading to the main floor and its floos. Sighing she removed her enchanted monocle from its perch so she could rub her fingers along the bridge of her nose.
Amelia honestly didn't know how much longer she could handle this bullshit, it was only her investment in keeping Susan safe that stayed her hand from grabbing her husband by the hair and dragging them to Canada or Australia. Still, they were of Britain as was she so she'd stick through the miasma of idiocy, for now at least.
Approaching the Floos as she put her monocle back in place Amelia snatched a pinch of floo powder and threw it into the fire before her while muttering
"Manor y marw Cysgu."
Stepping through the flames Amelia appeared in the Manor of the Sleeping Dead with a wry smile gracing her lips. The Bones ancestral home always felt homey, with its walnut paneling and evenly placed sconces lighting every available corner of the room and all. Any reference to her family's heritage was carefully kept from display though, since current politics frowned rather heavily on her ancient namesakes abilities.
Why the general populace had such a dim view on Necromancy was confusing honesty, but considering her family had been practicing the art since all those inhabiting the isles had been wearing loin clothes she frankly didn't care what the world thought on the subject. Her niece would learn just as she had and if anyone had a problem with that, well, they could bring it up to Willy.
If the five meter tall bonescythe golem was up for an interview, that is.
Her husband's sense of humour was truly rubbing off on her in all the worst ways, still, the thought made her grin regardless.
Sighing she vanished the ashes sticking to her pantsuit and made her way up to the second floor, soon reaching the landing leading to her husbands office. She paused hearing a familiar childish tone, and couldn't help glancing into the room, then grinning at what she saw.
Head Auror Sirius Black was holding an investigation document before him, attempting to ignore the strawberry blonde little girl sitting in his lap with notepad and quill in hand. Leafing through the document he eventually spoke out loud.
"The suspect insists he was at the Leaky Cauldron between the hours of eleven PM and two AM when the theft was committed, this brings up many questions, why?"
Susan was quiet a few moments as she tapped her quill's feather end on her lip before glancing up at her attentive uncle, "The Leaky Cauldron is only open till ten Uncle Siri, and kicks out all none-guests at one am. So that means..."
Sirius ran a finger down her hair slowly while drawling out, "Yeeeeeees?"
Susan's eyes scrunched together for a moment before she nodded, "He is lying, his alibi is not only false but impossible since Old Tom has been running things like clockwork for decades."
Sirius let out a bark of laughter as he ruffled his niece's hair and snatched up a package from the desk placing it in her hands.
"Absolutely right as always my little miss! Oh and that's marble cake, Hannah's favorite, why not head over to the Abbots place until dinner while I finish up all this work?" Susan's face beamed innocent happiness as she sat up and kissed Sirius's cheek.
"Thanks Uncle Siri! Be back in an hour!" With that the little girl scampered off leaving Sirius alone for a bare few moments before Amelia entered the room.
"You are far too indulgent with her you know, and those files aren't allowed to be viewed by civilians as you are well aware."
Sirius snorted as he threw his legs up on the desk, "Hell Amy she's practically following in our footsteps already, best to give Susie a chance to grow into the roll unlike us. As for the files, what are you going to do about it, arrest me?"
Amelia's eyes narrowed as she cocked her head to the side, "I could slap you in cuffs if you want."
Sirius only grinned in return, "Kinky, how little leather will you be wearing during this?"
His wife only rolled her eyes in return, "You are impossible, you know that right?"
He grinned wolfishly while shrugging lightly, "Obviously, I am amazing after all."
Before either of them could say anything further an owl dropped a letter on the desk and flew back out the window without pausing, freezing a moment Sirius was about to poke the unmarked item when it blew up like a howler, just not nearly as loud, and sounding far more polite.
"Sirius, you will come to tea tomorrow at noon, bring your family. You are not allowed to decline, if you do not show as is planned I will ask Bellatrix to drag you in for your social duties. You know she would do it gleefully too.
"Oh, if Amy or Sue is there, please note you're invited and insisted to intend as well, we have quite the surprise to show off to the family.
"Love, Andromeda
"P.S. Don't piss me off you mangy mutt, you know I don't make idle threats."
As Amelia resisted the urge to laugh she glanced towards her husband while shrugging lightly, "I always loved Andi's inability to give a damn what others think, so we have plans for tomorrow I assume?"
Sirius stared at his wife incredulously for a few moments before nodding slowly, "Yeah...lets...lets not tempt fate here...
Coral Roses-Friendship, Modesty, Sympathy
Purple Hyacinth-Sorrow, Forgiveness, Regret