A/N: I told you I'd be back soon!
Chapter Nine: Times Change
As promised, James did write me about Quidditch strategies and ways to score a perfect goal. I replied to his letter with a word of thanks, and a full brood of London news. He wrote back with the latest Godric's Hollow brewing, and the well-beings of my former neighbors who I hadn't thought of in the longest time. We continued to correspond regularly, and soon, nearly every week, I wrote to both him and Liana Scamander. There was still some uncomfortable feelings located in James's and my letters to each other. We didn't have the full friendship that was had in Godric's Hollow, but we were close to it.
Meanwhile, in September of 2015, soon after Dad left for work, I received word from Liana that Michael had returned to Hogwarts for his second year. When I shared this with my mother, she shuddered. "Second year was one of the worst for me."
"Why?"
"Well, I don't know if Daddy has ever told you this, but…" Mum hesitated a bit, but continued bravely. "In our second year at school, a place called the Chamber of Secrets was opened, and there was something in there that went on to hurt Muggle-born students."
"So…" I was beginning to rack my brain of the adults I knew had Muggle parents. "Mrs. Weasley – Hermione – she…?"
"Yes, she was hurt. So was my friend Justin – you remember him, don't you?"
I nodded. This friend would often visit us at the Leaky Cauldron.
"And then the scariest part came…James's mother was taken into the Chamber by the thing that was hurting everyone."
"But she's not Muggle-born!"
"No, but she was doing something that caused her to be taken there. It's difficult to explain, really, and I don't know if I should tell you more…" Mum looked pale, always having avoided talking about her school life to my siblings and me.
"Please do, Mummy," I placed my hand on her knee, with a begging face.
"Oh, well, it ended happily. James's dad saved her from the Chamber, and Ron Weasley was there too, but he was trapped in another area, I think."
"Is that what made Mr. and Mrs. Potter fall in love?" I rattled on.
"No, no, they were only in their second and first years then."
This was a story that had not been told to me by my father or Mr. Potter, who often had shared school tales with James and I back in Godric's Hollow. I was intrigued that they had all faced scariness even at the beginning of their schooling. At the time, I only knew the later stories, the ones that occurred when they were in their sixth and seventh years. I also knew of the cause of my late grandparents' memory losses, and Dad and Mr. Potter each being a contender for the Prophecy's words. Although the adults preferred to avoid it mostly, I found it interesting and couldn't wait to learn of it in school the following year.
In November, we received a surprise visit from the Scamanders, sans Michael. Mum had just filled Luna and Rolf's goblets with firewhiskey at the bar when Luna politely pushed aside her drink. "No thank you, Hannah. I shouldn't be drinking much now. You see, I'm expecting. We're three months along already."
Luna said this so calmly and airily that my mother nearly dropped the pitcher of pumpkin juice she was pouring into my goblet, Liana's, and Frankie's and Eleanor's. Setting aside the pitcher, Mum exclaimed excitedly, "You're pregnant!"
Both Rolf and Luna grinned, nodding at her words. My mother hurried around the bar to hug Luna, while I turned eagerly to Liana. "Did you know?"
Liana smiled widely and nodded. "They swore me to secrecy! I wanted to tell you so bad!"
We quickly explained Luna having a baby to Frank and Eleanor, then seven and four. I then slid off my bar stool to approach the happy couple. "I'm so excited for you, Luna. I love babies."
Luna beamed at me. "Me too, little Alice. They say a house with a baby prevents Nargle attacks, you know."
I soaked in her words like I was a sponge. "That's lucky for you!"
The Scamanders began visiting us for the duration of Luna's pregnancy from then on. Each time they came, I noted a growth in Luna's stomach's bulge, and was proud to share my observation with her. They came for Christmas, Michael and Mr. Lovegood being with them this time. Our entire holiday dinner was spent discussing names and colors for nurseries.
Then, as Dad began passing out the pieces of pie Mum had just sliced, Rolf rose from his seat, "We've been waiting to tell you all this, and now's the best time." He glanced down at his wife, who smiled lovingly at him. "Just last week Luna and I went to the Healer's and learned that we're expecting twins!"
The table's occupants broke out in a roar, cheering and applauding, and leaning over to touch Luna's bulge, hoping to feel two different kicks this time. The future mother just sat there, smiling graciously at the ones she loved. The glow of motherhood had arrived early for Luna, her face radiant already.
Although it was evident Luna was excited for her children's arrival, it was also clear that carrying them wore her out. As we finished dessert that Christmas night of 2015, I placed down my fork and said to her confidently, "It'll all be worth it, Luna. Your babies will love you for keeping them in your stomach for so long."
That made Luna laugh, and she warily smiled at me. "Thank you, Alice. That is what I needed to hear."
January 1st, 2016, brought my family the annual visit of the Potters. This time, James, Albus, and my brother Frankie included me in their bar-located game of flying around on their broomsticks. After supper that night, James presented me with a late Christmas present.
"What is it?" I asked eagerly before opening it.
James remained firm. "You have to open it to see."
I finally ripped apart the wrapping paper, and saw a copy of the latest book on the market, Quidditch Through the Ages, Part II. I had been eyeing it ever since coming across it in Flourish & Blotts several weeks before. Grinning at my friend, I gave him my thanks.
Things were surprisingly looking up. I was back in touch with James, still managed to write to Liana, and Luna's stomach was growing by what seemed like the minute. Before my father left for Hogwarts after holidays, he presented me with a personalized stationary to use to write him. My initials, AL, were printed on the top of each paper, the gold lettering shining brightly. Hugging Dad tightly, I promised to begin writing to him on the stationary the moment he left, so a letter would arrive shortly after he came to Hogwarts.
I also used the paper tablet to dictate letters to Liana. I received her response to my first personally-designed letter quicker than expected, to find her letter on her own personalized paper, with the initials LS on the top in bright purple. I found myself disheartened at this sight – for once, I wanted something my best friend didn't have, and the stationary clearly was not it.
But when Liana dropped in for a visit in March of that year, my envy of her belongings vaporized, and I found myself delighted to se her again. She was already eleven years old and didn't hesitate to showing me her Hogwarts acceptance letter, she having received it on January 17th, the anniversary of her birth. However, I was not going to receive my letter until mid-July or earlier, the time where all August-born children were informed of their acceptance.
"Isn't it exciting, Alice?" she waved the creamy-colored paper in my face once more. "I'm going to Hogwarts! Oh, I wish you didn't get these on your birthday, you'll have to wait until July for yours!"
I weakly ignored this comment, and changed the subject promptly. "Have you sent in your accepting letter yet?"
Liana snorted. "No, I have plenty of time. They're not due until July 31st; I'll get it in sometime before then."
She fell down upon my bed, wearing a dazed expression. "I still think I'm dreaming. Uncle Rolf's taking me to get a wand as soon as he gets back from his expedition." She peeked up at me with vast eyes. "I'll have a wand. Can you believe it?"
I plopped down next to her. "No. I'm still wondering about how my dad'll treat me in Herbology class – don't you think it'll be a little awkward?"
Liana nodded in agreement. "Yes, people will think he'll favor you."
"Do you think people won't like me because my father's one of the professors?"
Liana turned to me calmly. "Maybe. But I'll know the truth and I'll be your friend no matter what they say."
With her words in mind, I felt more confident towards the upcoming school year. Throughout the following weeks, my mother absentmindedly shared with me news of other children receiving acceptance letters.
"Fred Weasley got his letter yesterday…"
"Did you hear that Mr. Thomas's middle son has been accepted?"
"...Do you remember the Corners visiting the pub awhile back? Their oldest daughter was accepted to Hogwarts just last month…"
All of these announcements were making me even more anxious to receive my letter. The only other August birthday I knew of was James's, and I shared with him my irritability through writing about it to him. He responded by sympathizing and sharing similar feelings.
But finally, a distraction arrived. In the early evening of April 14th, 2016, a frazzled Arthur Weasley Apparated in our living room, a sweeping smile on his face. "Luna's had the twins! Two boys – just hours old!"
This called for my mother shutting down the Leaky Cauldron the next day, for her to take my siblings and me to Ottery St. Catchpole to visit Luna and her new sons. We arrived via Portkey right on Mr. Lovegood's doorstep on April 15th, to be greeted by Rolf, wearing an incandescent smile. "Hello, hello! Come and meet the boys, they're just marvelous!"
He led us up the curved stairway to the bedroom he slept in with Luna. In the room, we found Liana and Michael, who was home for Easter holidays, sitting off to the side with Mr. Lovegood. Luna was resting in the massive, circular bed. I barely recognized her at first glance, because she appeared more jaded than I had ever seen her before. Unmistakable dark circles were evident underneath her eyes, and her usually well-combed and flowing hair seemed lank and dull.
But what captured our attention were the two identical bassinets positioned next to the bed. Four-year-old Eleanor was the first to haste up to the bassinets, and peer into them. I believe that with her young mind, she never registered until then that Luna was going to have two children at once. The look on her face when seeing the two babies was priceless, and she made us laugh when questioning our mother about the twosome. "Mummy, where'd the other baby come from?"
It was my turn to see the boys lastly, and when I did, they took my breath away. I had expected their skin to be blotched and reddish, remembering how Eleanor looked shortly after she was born. But I found the Scamander twins with lush, glowing skin, and even facial features.
"Oh, what are their names?" I gushed out to no one in particular.
"This is Lysander Timothy," Rolf motioned towards the baby in the left bassinet, "and over there is Lorcan Xenophilius, the big brother."
"They're gorgeous, aren't they?" Liana progressed from behind, adding boastfully, "I've held them both already."
"I don't see why she wanted to," Michael chimed in from his corner seat, looking bored. "They were crying like mad when she did."
"Would you like to take a turn holding them, Alice?" Luna spoke up meekly. I was beginning to forget she was even present, as she had been so quietly reserved.
I nodded readily. "Yes, please!"
Mum hurried me into a vacant chair and lifted one of the twins – I later learned that it was Lysander – from his bassinet. Rolf guided my arms into the proper baby-holding position, and my mother then gently placed Lysander in my grip. "Keep your arm underneath his head, Allie," Mum cautiously directed. "Avoid the slightest movement, and stay steady."
I felt myself stiffen at her rigid words, and nerves began to come alive. As if the baby could sense my uncomfortable state, Lysander broke out wailing, wiggling around in my hold. Rolf immediately swooped down to lift his son up and calm him down.
"The baby doesn't like you, Alice," Frankie announced gleefully.
"Hush," my mother shot him a look, then turned back to the new parents. "Perhaps Lorcan will feel better with her?"
Rolf picked up the second son, and placed him in the same position my arms were in with Lysander. This baby reacted better to my unfamiliar face. His eyelids opened to reveal sky-blue pupils, and somehow in this new face, easiness and friendship was evident. I could feel Lorcan's body relax in my hold, and my own body eased as well. Beaming, I looked up at my mother proudly.
Mum smiled back. "Excellent, Alice, like a mother's touch."
Frankie then demanded to hold one of the babies, much to Michael's masculine dismay. He eventually left the room, while Liana and we Longbottom children began taking turns holding Lysander and Lorcan. Luna smiled tiredly down upon us from her perch of pillows, while Rolf, my mother, and Mr. Lovegood supervised our behavior with the twins. When Rolf shooed us little ones out of the room for the babies to have a private feeding, we four received permission from Mr. Lovegood to stroll over to the Burrow for a visit.
We arrived at the Weasley residence to find only Arthur and Molly there, which was rare for their home – there always seemed to be children and grandchildren running about on their property. But we were pleased to see them anyhow, as they were happy to see us. We ate lunch with them, and then walked back over to the Scamanders' to find our mother ready to leave for London.
The following months were full of traveling to see Lorcan and Lysander settle into their new life. Even though we visited weekly, Lysander still became upset upon seeing me, while Lorcan always seemed to associate comfort with my image. I, too, preferred being with Baby Lorcan over his brother, as the former treated me more normally.
Soon, it was July, and my father had returned home for the summer. Each day, he scanned through the mail rapidly, then say to me, "It's not here yet, Allie, but mark my words, it'll come tomorrow." Most times, he was incorrect. But one day, he finally predicted right, and I had received my Hogwarts acceptance letter.
It arrived on a Saturday, when the pub was closed. Mum broke out a new pitcher of pumpkin juice to celebrate, and I was already asking Dad about class schedules and how big the Great Hall really was.
The very next day, we were given word of James Potter getting his letter as well, and Dad excitedly made plans with Harry and Ginny Potter to meet up with them in Diagon Alley next month, to take care of supply shopping with both James and I. I found it unfair that I had to wait until August to buy my wand and be measured for robes when Diagon Alley was literally my backyard, but told myself that the shopping would be more fun with James and his parents. Times were changing, and they were all for the better.
A/N: please review!
