A Couple Of Lonely Birds
Alice awoke in an excited fervor as the sunlight trickled in through the room. Today was Minnie's birthday which meant it was finally the day of their big birthday party! Since everyone in her family had birthdays so close together, even her Great Gran, they'd throw one big party for all their friends and family. It normally fell on whoever's birthday happened to be a weekend. Except Alice's mother, she was never home for her birthday.
The family jokingly called it the Longbottom Leo party because they all shared the astrological sign. Everyone they knew would be there.
Alice waved her wand, making her record player begin its joyful tones. She knew she shouldn't do magic outside of school, but she'd never really been in trouble for it if her parents were around. She bobbed her head and sang along to her favorite Taylor Swift album, Lover of course.
Alice pulled her favorite green and orange pinafore dress over her body. It had a butterfly on her chest and she adored it. She put on her large radish earrings her Godmother had made her, before braiding her hair into two long pigtails down her back.
"Turn off that nonsense at once!" Her Great Gran called into her. She hated any music played that wasn't classical.
Alice missed her actual bedroom and being allowed to play her music as loud as she wanted. She waved her wand, taking the needle off the record.
It didn't matter anyway, Alice was dressed for the day. Alice left her bedroom before going to the railing of the stairs of her Gran's three story home. She straddled the railing before sliding down it. She found it to be excellent practice for Quidditch.
"Good lord child, what are you wearing?" Her Gran asked as Alice reached the bottom. She had a stern expression, but Alice knew how to handle that.
Alice jumped off of the railing before giving her Gran a kiss on the cheek, "Clothing of course. Grandma Fyre made it for me."
"It's a bit extravagant, your Grandmother normally makes such refined outfits." Her Gran said before walking with her to the sitting room. "I suppose you had a hand in it."
"Only a small one." Alice giggled before sitting down next to her sister, Minnie.
Her Gran went to the kitchen, presumably to grab her coffee. Alice could faintly make out the sounds of pots and pans banging together and her parents chattering.
Today her sister looked radiant as she sat in the front sitting room, sipping her coffee looking over a Daily Prophet.
Alice tried not to giggle too much as she reached tiny silver box under the paper. She wrinkled the paper slightly. She popped her head over the paper after her sister grabbed it.
"Happy Birthday Minnie!" Alice exclaimed with a smile so wide her cheeks hurt.
Minnie smiled back showing a bit of her dazzlingly white teeth.
"Thanks Lissy." Minnie put the paper down before untying the silver ribbon wrapped around it.
"Uncle Jack and I spent hours the other day finding the perfect gift."
Minnie opened the box, inside was a tiny silver charm bracelet.
It had three charms.
"It's all the stuff I think about with you." Alice explained, "A guitar of course for your music, a notebook for your investigations and a lion for your bravery."
Minnie smiled as she looked over the lion.
"You could argue it's all of us too, because I gave you your guitar, mum's a writer and dad's got the same Patronus. So you can have pieces of us when you start Auror training next year." Alice choked back a tear that gripped her throat, "And I won't see you at school anymore. I worry so much you will forget me Min."
Minnie stood before kissing her sister on the forehead, "Lissy, you are my sister, I'd never forget you."
Alice was exceptionally proud of her sister. She was a hero, when Alice was a third year, Minnie had saved the whole castle and uncovered a dark mystery. She'd even saved their parents and a bunch of teachers.
Alice had noticed a change in her sister since the ordeal. She'd been more confident in the last year than she'd ever been. She'd been so quiet and forlorn before.
During the last year of school Minnie had soared academically. She had only received Outstanding grades on her OWLs and she had been given an early acceptance into the Auror program, seeing as she maintained her health and grades.
Alice also noticed, that although Minnie had always been beautiful, she'd really grown into herself. Minnie had always had beautiful almond shaped nearly black eyes and beautiful dark hair with silken freckled skin. However, her hunched shoulders had receded and she'd grown more into her ears.
Alice worried her sister had lost too much weight, she'd been eating very little for a couple years. Her once rounded cheeks had flattened out a little, but many had complimented her beauty, so no one seemed alarmed by it. Everyone seemed distracted by the glow that her confidence had brought her.
Alice looked away from her sister to see that Duke the miniature dragon was tapping on the window, a big mouse in his mouth.
Alice stood and opened the window, making the small dragon circle the ceiling. Alice loved watching him fly, she'd always wondered what it'd be like to have wings. Having a broomstick was close enough she supposed.
Duke dropped the mouse beside Minnie's seat. A bit of blood began staining the couch.
It was tradition, he always brought his best 'gifts' on birthdays and Christmas.
He looked at Minnie with giant eyes and his head outstretched to her.
Minnie smiled at the dragon, she picked the mouse up by its tail. "Oh, it's beautiful Duke. Thank you."
Duke danced in a circle before flying to Alice's shoulder, impatiently awaiting breakfast.
"Don't worry Dukey, I'll get us bacon in a moment." Alice insisted before nudging his nose. "You know since it's Minnie's birthday, mum and dad always attempt flapjacks first."
"And they will muck it up as they always do." Minnie wrinkled her nose.
"Yes, but do allow them their attempts." Gran said as she joined them in the sitting room. What Alice supposed was intended to be a smile had graced her face. "With this being your seventeenth, I know they are a bit nostalgic, considering none of us know where you will be in a year Minerva."
Minnie's eyes drifted downward, she took a deep breathe. Alice could tell she was uncomfortable.
Her Gran's coffee smelled black as she seated herself across from them and crossed her legs, making her plain brown skirt shift.
"What did you do the day you turned seventeen Gran?" Alice asked.
"Oh, I got engaged to my dear Francis of course." Gran said looking towards one of the few family portraits on the mantle. "I still had a year of Hogwarts, but he convinced my father that once I graduated we should be wed."
"At seventeen?" Alice was shocked.
"Things were different." Her Gran smirked, "And I suppose love makes a person do ridiculous things. You will both understand someday, not too soon though I hope."
Minnie swallowed a bit looking up from putting on Alice's bracelet.
If either Alice or Minnie had a reaction to their Gran's statement it went unheard as a shower of blue stars floated into the room.
"I guess we should go and see the damage." Gran insisted before standing up. Alice and Minnie followed to the kitchen.
The table was covered in a lilac table cloth and an extensive layout of breakfast foods. Fruits, sausage, black pudding and a large plate of flapjacks. The flapjacks had a candle in the middle in the shape of a star.
Alice felt confused, the flapjacks didn't have the burnt rubber scent as usual and the array of fruits were covered in sugar. Alice began to wonder if her parents had actually made breakfast or not. Averagely something was on fire or the food was barely cooked.
Her mother was leaning against her cane with a wide inviting smile. Alice's father had his arm wrapped around her waist. Both were wearing aprons covered in flour and syrup.
"Happy Birthday Minerva!" Her parents boisterously exclaimed.
No one questioned the validity of their cooking as they all sat down to dig in. After eating breakfast Alice's mother announced she had a gift for Minnie.
She pulled a handkerchief wrapped item from her apron pocket.
Minnie opened the handkerchief cautiously. The watch she received sparkled familiarly in the morning sun.
Alice and Minnie both knew the watch well. They'd learned to tell time from its hands. Their mother had always used it to check time during class and any other occasion. It was even in pictures of her and immortalized in her stories.
"It is tradition for a witch or wizard to receive a Gold watch on their seventeenth birthday." Her mother revealed as she hesitantly stood to be behind Minnie.
"It's your watch." Minnie exclaimed running her fingers over it.
"Yes, and before that it was my mother's and before that, it was my Godmother's." Her mum revealed before kissing Minnie's forehead.
"You really wish to part with it?" Minnie questioned looking at her mother in disbelief.
Her mother pulled out a flower shaped watch from her pocket, "I have a perfectly appropriate watch to take its place. Your father and I decided years ago that it was only appropriate you have something of your namesake."
Alice felt a small sting of jealousy. Not that her sister didn't deserve it, but Alice felt rather miffed that she wouldn't receive her mother's prized watch. She'd probably end up with a brand new one that held no history.
"You will get the rest of your gifts tonight, but I thought I'd start the day with an important one." Her mum smiled.
"And this way you can wear it tonight at the party." Her dad mentioned with a big smile.
Gran shivered slightly, "Better be an amazing party if I am to risk my home's integrity."
"Gran, you insisted we throw the party here." Her mother insisted before her father could protest.
"Not if they are all using the floo network, nasty mode of transportation, always gets coal all over the floor." Great Gran said with a sour tone looking up from her coffee.
"Don't worry, nearly everyone who's coming is old enough to Apparate now." Minnie smirked.
Alice took a deep breathe, she'd be the youngest, again.
"Well, except for Alice's friend, Ruby is still coming right?" Her mother asked with a big smile.
Alice swallowed her milk, "No, she can't come."
She'd gotten Ruby's letter the night before, it had been somewhat of a blow.
"She's with her dad this weekend, and he's a muggle, so he can't bring her." Alice explained.
"I'm sure I could pick her up if she needed a way over." Her dad offered.
"No offense dad, but you are horrible at side Apparating." Alice griped back as she played with a remaining piece of her flapjack, "She might not have toes."
"It was one time you little terror." His dad put his hand on her head like a spider, "And Miss Abbott was able to regrow your toes remember?"
"When was this?" Her mother asked raising an eyebrow as she stopped sipping her coffee.
"Remember last Summer when I took Alice down to see Jack?"
"Yeah."
"She lost a toe, and Hannah regrew a few people's toes during the war, and she used to regrow my toes back in the day when we were," Her dad stopped and rubbed his neck, "You know when we were,"
"Dating." Alice interrupted.
"Thanks Alice." Her dad rolled his eyes.
Her mum began laughing, "Oh toe regrowing, very romantic I suppose."
"Not at all!" Alice griped, "It hurt worse than last year when that bludger broke my kneecaps."
The Slytherin team's beater had purposefully sent a bludger at her knees during the final match of the year. Alice remembered how close they'd been to winning, she had just blocked one of Cas' attempts at a goal and Kristy had been so close to catching the snitch. Alice didn't remember anything that had happened after that. Supposedly she fell to the ground, she awoke to the news they'd lost.
Of course since Cas had saved her life she had to be a good sport. Not to mention he had Minnie's arms wrapped around him in pride. Alice knew she couldn't protest his win or their relationship, no matter how deep the desire. Her sister's happiness was too important to her.
Her Gran shivered again, "Oh Alice, must you play such a dangerous sport?"
"Of course." Alice shrugged as she handed Duke her leftovers, "It's less dangerous than dragons Gran. I have to be prepared."
"Oh yes." Gran's nose wrinkled, "The dragon ridiculousness."
Alice felt tears well in her eyes. She wanted to be a Dragonologist. Why couldn't she be? She had studied plenty about them and with her physical physic finally beginning to match what she needed, nothing could stand in her way.
"It isn't ridiculous." Alice mumbled.
"Augusta." Alice's mum snapped with a raise of her eyebrows, "It is a fine career if that is what Alice desires. Not to mention she's the top of her class in Magical Creatures and Charms."
Gran didn't respond just sipped on her coffee.
Alice felt very hurt by the whole morning. She was attempting to make the best of it.
So what if Ruby couldn't come? Lily Potter would surely be there, with her fiancé Harold. Aunt Luna would be there and they could dance together while planning her visit in a month. Cody would be there, he and his whole family was very funny. Lysander and Lorcan would also be there.
Alice decided since Lorcan could possibly be there, she should dress a bit more as a fifteen year old would. Her birthday wasn't officially for a week, but she could begin at least. She wouldn't have a beautiful and history filled watch, but she did have a new sparkly blue dress her grandmother had sent her. It had pretty ribbons on the shoulders and dark blue butterflies along the trim.
She undid the double braids in her hair, instead placing her hair into one plait down her back with a big butterfly clip on the end.
Her Gran may not see her reason for Dragons and Quidditch, but Alice did. She was determined to prove her Gran wrong. She wanted to read without distraction and learn new things.
Alice had maybe two places she could take respite from everyone at her Gran's. She knew if she went to her room she'd be easily accessible. She wanted a bit of time alone and no one ever seemed to mind when she wasn't easily found.
She liked the mulberry bush beneath the kitchen window the most. She could easily crawl behind it and the large and leafy branches could hide her quite well. Her father had planted it around the time she was born, so she felt a small connection to it. It had been a sapling he'd brought from America when he and their mother had gone to visit.
Beneath the shrubs Alice began reading over the quidditch strategies. She had been practicing several new rolls over the Summer, there was one she couldn't quite manage yet, she had the flexibility, but her arm strength was lacking.
Alice wondered if she was supposed to help with the party, but she supposed since no one called for her, she assumed she was not needed.
"Isn't there a subspecies of polymorphic bejeweled algae in Whitehaven?" The voice of her Aunt Luna sounded above her from the kitchen. Alice considered getting up and going to see her Godmother. Her Godmother was one of her favorite people in the whole world. Not to mention she probably brought her sons and her husband Rolf.
"Yes, due to the silica, but since we ended up spending our time off last year doing that treatment for Sam's heart, I think we will actually take a real vacation this year." Her father whispered to Aunt Luna, "The doctor mentioned she needs real rest. She insisted on still pushing through teaching last year, but honestly she hasn't been herself in a while."
Alice stayed still, listening intently. She thought her parents had gone to the Maldives the year before. Why didn't her parents tell them her mother was getting treatment?
"I've noticed she hasn't recovered as she should." Aunt Luna agreed, "She's barely been writing in the last year, only two articles and just half a book. Not to mention, she hasn't given up the cane."
"Lores mentioned she should be dead after that whole thing and that the treatment should have worked better."
"A physical body can't heal if the internal one is suffering." Aunt Luna's voice sounded lucid, "I suppose after her ordeal with Crawford and with another event of nearly dying, emotionally she must be struggling."
"Yeah, I think so." He said, "She never talked about Crawford before, well she did a little, she told me the basics, but she never lingered on the subject."
"And then last year she had to live it all out, not an easy thing to recover from." Aunt Luna reminded.
"Then she told me yesterday that she hates the idea of burdening me or the girls with her disease. She's so nervous, especially with the girls picking careers and venturing into the world."
"Well if anyone knows anything about giving up dreams and ambitions for someone you love, Samantha would be considered the expert." Aunt Luna reminded, "I suppose she would never want to crush the girl's dreams."
"Of course not." Her dad admitted.
"Is Lissy still considering Dragonology?" Asked, Aunt Luna, changing the subject. "Her quidditch training has certainly made her an excellent candidate for the more physical aspect of the career. I worry about her size, but I believe she may be able to prove everyone wrong."
Alice smiled a little, sitting up, she had been training vigorously for years. It was nice to know Aunt Luna believed in her.
"Of course she can, she has been unmoved in her decision since before she was old enough to talk. Then she didn't stop talking about it, ever." Her dad sounded like he was laughing. "Then again, it takes a lot to get her to stop talking about anything."
There it was, Alice had never heard her father discuss her loudness in a negative way. At least not to her face. Alice felt her throat feel warm, like she was about to cry.
"I like her insatiable desire to be heard." Aunt Luna complimented.
"I do too, but I think it overwhelms people."
"People are overwhelmed by anything they don't understand."
"I just don't want her ruining any chances she has in life." Her dad exclaimed, "She's too talented, and I know it's not easy to be alone."
Alone.
That word kicked Alice harder than any other word.
She felt alone a lot.
Alice didn't want to hear the rest of the conversation. She knew what they would say, if only she'd stop talking.
She'd tried, she'd held her breathe, she'd kept thoughts to herself, but moments after feeling like she could, they'd burst forth like a cracked dam. She didn't know what was wrong with her, why she couldn't be quiet or demure like Minnie. She didn't want to be the way she was, she just was. She knew it annoyed people and of course it hurt to be alone.
"Where is Lissy anyway?" Aunt Luna asked, "I was sure she'd be here to greet me."
"Oh she's hiding, Gran snapped at her this morning and she found out her friend Ruby won't be making it, I suppose she just needed her space. Shouldn't let her miss the beginning of the party." Her dad explained. "I do have an idea where she might be."
"And I know who could coax her from her solitude." Aunt Luna insisted with a giggle.
She pulled herself from the bushes, deciding her spot wasn't a good one for respite anymore. She sent her book flying back to her room before walking away from the house to one more spot she'd always felt comfortable at.
A beautiful willow tree beside a pond at the edge of the property was a perfect spot to find solace. The setting sun cast golden shadows through the willow's branches. Alice sat herself beside the pond, she pulled off her shoes and allowed her feet a small respite in the pond.
Alice recognized the beating of small wings, Duke had followed her to the pond.
He nudged her cheek.
"You like me don't you Duke?" Alice asked the little dragon with beautiful eyes.
Duke danced on her shoulder, lifting his knees.
Alice giggled looking at the little dragon. She loved dragons, from their elegant scales, to their warm bellies, to the power they could hold, she adored every part of them. Her parents had taken her and her sister to visit the dragons in both Romania and Arizona several times.
Duke she loved a little extra, he was not only her mother's companion and protector, but he had once been the companion of the famed Dragonologist, Kai Jones.
Alice wondered greatly what he was really like. Her mother had known him and had written a famous book about him. He'd saved her mother and uncle's life and in many ways even Alice understood that in an odd sort of way, her mother had cared for him.
Duke jumped from her shoulder before diving into the pond. He was catching toads for supper of course.
Alice kicked her feet beneath her, wondering slightly if things would be easier if she herself was a dragon. Dragons could roar, but when they were loud, people considered them majestic. The water felt cool and that was what mattered.
The sounds of music began to float across the grounds of the house.
"Hey, you alright?" Lysander Scamander called to her. "You have to be careful, there could be sprites in the water."
Lysander was one of Luna's twin boys, Lorcan's brother. He was a good friend with a decent penchant for always making Luna feel better. Despite being Lorcan's twin, he was quite an opposite in looks, green eyes like the marsh and short platinum hair with pale skin like the snow. Lorcan had long platinum hair and crystal eyes like the water of the ocean. His skin was slightly more olive and his nose was more distinguished.
The biggest difference being Alice always felt more comfortable with Lysander, he didn't make her heart leap from her chest, he made her feel safe.
Alice turned and pulled her feet out of the water. She crossed her legs. "It would be interesting I suppose to be drug down into an underwater world."
"Come on, the surface can't be all that bad." Lysander said sitting down beside her. "Better than being eaten by sprites."
She shrugged feeling less alone. His presence was a bit like sunrise now.
"I suppose I shouldn't let them eat me." She said before flopping her head back and laying against the grass. She rubbed her palms into her eye sockets. "I do like the surface too. There aren't sunsets underwater."
He continued laughing, "You are something else Alice."
"What?" Alice exclaimed as she crossed her arms.
Lysander continued chuckling, "Because you do find the positives in everything."
"I try." Alice cackled as she noticed the sun lowering. "This is my favorite place in the whole world."
"I like it." Lysander lay down beside her, his face covered in the orange flecks of sunlight peeking through.
"My parents got engaged out here." Alice explained, "So did my grandparents."
"That's lovely, my mum turned my dad down, I think about ten times." Lysander said with the flecks making pictures across his face.
"Gran says it is a special tree. Legend says there is a branch for every person who was ever born with the Longbottom name." Alice sighed tilting her head.
"That's a fascinating idea." Lysander laughed, "Except it's a bit sad."
"I agree, especially since it's just Minnie and I now. Damn patriarchal ideals of the universe. Why should we be forced to leave behind our names?" Said Alice.
"Your mum didn't."
"Yes, but she still had us take dad's name." Alice giggled as she sat up, "What are you doing out here anyway Lysander?"
"The party is starting and I needed a dance partner. Your dad said you'd be out here." Lysander chuckled as he sat up with her, "Mum's got the dance floor set up and everything. It looks like bright red rubies this year."
"I do love a good party." Alice smirked.
"Besides, you are one of the guests of honor."
"All the focus will be on Minnie this year." Alice put her hands on her shoulders. "Not that I'm jealous, but I mean no one will know I've gone, I don't have any friends coming."
"I'm your friend."
Alice shook her head making her hair wildly bounce around, "Well, thanks Lysander but you have to be my friend."
"No I don't." He shrugged moving slightly closer to her.
Alice supposed he didn't have to be her friend, and she appreciated the comfort he provided in that one lovely sentence. He had a great way of meeting her eyes, making her feel like he actually respected her as a person, and not just as Minnie's annoying baby sister.
"I suppose we should rejoin reality." Alice admonished.
"Oh yeah, reality." He exclaimed.
"Well, there's no escaping it I suppose." Alice grimaced.
"No unfortunately not." Lysander shook his head, "Lorcan's already slipped away somewhere with Josie and Cody he's trying his luck with Louis again."
Alice felt her nose wrinkle. Lorcan and Josie weren't her favorite couple of all, they weren't anyone's favorite with their own parents loathing the pairing. Lorcan needed someone a bit more empathetic and interesting than Josie. Josie, in Alice's mind, she was a bitch, there was no easier way of putting it. Alice had heard the things she said about her off of the Quidditch pitch. If Minnie wasn't a bosom friend with Josie, Alice would have nothing to do with her.
"Sorry." Lysander held his hands together.
"I'm quite over Lorcan, no apologies please." Alice lied. She wasn't over him at all. He was so smart with creatures and his eyes sparkled like sapphires. When she looked at him she could hear her favorite vintage Taylor Swift song playing in her mind. She was convinced she'd marry him and Aunt Luna would be quite happy, they'd really be a family then.
"Liar." Lysander quipped, "I'm sorry."
"How'd you know?"
"Alice, you've had a crush on my brother for a long time." Lysander looked down, his green eyes now fully matching the pond's algae, "Can't drop those sorts of crushes."
"I'm sorry Lysander." Alice put her hand on his shoulder, "I guess you understand with Minnie and all."
"Minnie?" Lysander asked turning his head to her, the creases of his eyes lifting, "Oh no, I didn't mean Minnie. She and Cas seem very happy. I haven't fancied her since sixth year."
"Oh, then who has you looking so forlorn?" Alice asked kindly wondering who could have turned her friend's head.
"Just a girl I know." He said rubbing his neck. "She's brilliant and funny, but she's going to Hogwarts and I'm training with Ollivander, so I think I've missed my chance."
"Probably." Alice said sadly, "Relationships have a hard time sticking after that."
"We are a couple of lonely birds aren't we" Lysander joked and nudged her.
"I suppose we're a bit like Duke?" Alice commented as Duke emerged from the water holding a tiny toad in his mouth.
"We aren't that bad." Lysander chuckled and stood, "Duke is doomed forever essentially."
"Poor thing." Alice breathed out as Duke finished chewing the toad.
"Come on, let's get on that dance floor." Lysander held out his hand for her. "Mum is quite in the mood for a reel."
Alice stood with Duke following and sitting on her shoulder. She grieved the fact she wouldn't have Lysander to talk to at school.
"You look very pretty Alice." Lysander insisted as they walked back.
"You have to say that." Alice groaned.
"No, I don't."