Tragedies Of War - Marauders Era

Alice and Frank Longbottom

Auror Office - Longbottom Residence

November 4, 1981

'I don't care what game Dumbledore is playing at, Frank!' Alice exclaimed as the two of them burst into her office, 'I'm his godmother! I have every right for guardianship!'

'Al -'

'Lily always made it very clear that her sister was never to have Harry! I don't care what authority Dumbledore thinks he has -'

'Alice -'

'They can't raise somebody like us, Frank! They'll probably lock him up and forget about him!' Alice interrupted, her eyes full of tears. 'If it were Neville, Lily would've done everything she could to look after him!'

'Maybe Dumbledore's right,' Frank persisted, 'Maybe it's better for Harry to grow up away from this world, Al. Plus, there are still people out there that want him dead -'

Alice shushed him immediately.

'Frank!' she hissed, fear crossing her face, 'don't talk like that! The war is over!'

'There's still death eaters out there Alice,' Frank repeated firmly, 'We've got some of them like Black and -'

'Don't,' Alice interrupted, tears threatening to fall down her face, 'I can't - Sirius isn't capable of a betrayal like that - and to James? They were brothers, Frank.'

'There were witnesses, Al,' Frank whispered gently. Alice shook her head.

'We grew up with them, Frank! You shared a dorm with him! Tell me Sirius is capable of selling Lily and James to you-know-who.'

'I had trouble believing it,' Frank admitted, 'But the bodies were proof, even if he didn't betray the potters.'

'It must be a set-up!' Alice insisted, 'Sirius would never - you heard his screams on Sunday, we all did. Someone like Sirius would never kill his friends, directly or indirectly, there must have been a death eater present! One must have been hiding!' Frank hesitated, considering it.

'Maybe...'

'When was the trial? I thought the thing on Sunday was just sentencing him,' Alice thought out loud.

'He didn't get one,' Frank said bitterly, 'It's ridiculous. Even if I do think he was the traitor, he should've got a trial.'

'What?!' Alice shouted in shock, standing up abruptly, 'Did they just sentence him? Without any actual proof? What about Veritaserum or -'

'They used the bodies as proof.'

'That's stupid!' Alice snapped, 'We all know there could've been someone lurking in disguise!'

'I know, Al, I know! To be honest, I don't even think they're angry at him, but more at his family. Let's face it, his parents were right up there with all the pure-blood stuff, two of his cousins married suspected death eaters, and we all know Bellatrix was in his inner circle. His brother was one too, we don't even know what happened to him!'

'Maybe he tried to help the order!' Alice insisted, 'Maybe he was a double agent but he got caught!'

'Al -' Frank began but was interrupted by a vulture Patronus flapping through the door.

'Come quickly - I can feel the wards being broken,' it said in a voice they both recognised as Augusta Longbottom's.

'Mum - Neville!' Alice shrieked as their eyes both widened. Grabbing his hand, Alice apparated to her mother-in-law's residence where Augusta was babysitting Neville. Rushing into the nursery where she heard Neville's cries, she sighed in relief when she saw Augusta holding him, white-faced but smiled feebly at her when Alice hurried in.

'Alice!' Frank yelled, bursting in, 'Death eaters!' they heard the front door fly off its hinges.

'Mum, take Neville and go!' Alice ordered pulling out her wand, 'Keep him safe, I love you both.'

'Alice, you go too!' Frank shouted at her, pulling out his own wand, 'I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you.'

'Nor could I if something happened to you!' Alice said grimacing as she heard Bellatrix's mad cackles. Grabbing for his hand, Alice smiled at him sadly. 'Let's go!' The door blew open to reveal four figures in black cloaks. One pulled their hood down to expose a pouting Bellatrix.

'No itty bitty baby?' she asked mockingly as she glanced around the room, 'Shame.'

'You bit -' Alice started angrily but screamed as one of the other death eaters hit her with the cruciatus curse.

'ALICE!' Frank exclaimed but screamed as well as he too was hit with the curse. Bellatrix sighed in admiration.

'Good curse Crouch,' she praised, turning to Frank and Alice she added, 'Now little Aurors, I know you know where the Dark Lord is, so tell us.'

'Never!' Alice cried defiantly. Bellatrix's eyes flashed dangerously.

'Very well, I'll just loosen your tongue a little then! Crucio!' Alice screamed again as Bellatrix's curse hit her, combined with three others from Roldolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr.

'Frankie,' Bellatrix smiled sweetly, 'You know I don't like hurting Alice, but I promise I'll stop if you tell me where the Dark Lord is.'

'Expelliarmus!' Frank replied, disarming Bellatrix as she hissed angrily.

'Crucio!' one of the Lestrange brothers cried, pointing his wand at Frank.

'Rabastan, grab my wand, and their wands too, I suppose,' Bellatrix ordered, and Rabastan followed quickly. 'This is your last chance,' she warned them, 'tell me where the Dark Lord is!'

'We don't know you stupid, arrogant, good-for-nothing bitch!' Alice shrieked at the death eater.

'Alice!' Frank cried in warning, receiving only a shrug in response. Alice turned to face him sadly, reaching for his hands to grip tightly.

'She's going to kill us anyway,' Alice pointed out, 'She's a complete nutter. Just know that I love you. I love you with all my heart.'

'I love you too, Al, but-'

'You insolent blood traitors!' Bellatrix hissed, 'Tell me where he is! I know you know!'

'You're right,' Alice nodded solemnly, 'I'll tell you actually. He's up your -'

'CRUCIO!' Bellatrix and Alice screamed, one in anger and the other in pain.

'ALICE!' Frank yelled.

'CRUCIO!' Roldolphus cursed, pointing at Frank. The Longbottom's screams filled the house for what could've been hours until they eventually subsided, having gone numb.

Aurors appeared and seized a cackling Bellatrix, terrified Crouch and the calm Lestrange brothers, but it was too late.

'Longbottom...' Mad-Eye Moody murmured as he knelt down next to Frank. 'Get the healers!' He yelled down the hall, 'And call Augusta Longbottom!'

....

'LET ME SEE MY FUCKING CHILDREN!' Augusta screamed, losing the little self-control she had been maintaining since she disapparated the night before with Neville.

'Ma'am -' one of the healers attempted to disarm her, but she slapped him clean on the cheek.

'WHERE ARE THEY?'

'Madam Longbottom -'

'WHERE ARE MY FUCKING CHILDREN? WHERE ARE ALICE AND FRANK?'

'Augusta!' a gruff voice called. Turning she saw the grim face of Alastor Moody.

'Where are Frank and Alice?' She asked immediately, abandoning all formalities.

'Augusta -'

'Where are they Alastor? Where are my children?' Augusta interrupted.

'They're being treated too,' Moody confessed under her terrifying stare, 'but -'

'Take me to them!' she ordered.

'You have to understand, they are in no fit state -'

'I don't care. Take me to them!'

'No,' Alastor stated firmly, 'Augusta, I am sorry, but healers say the two are going to have lifelong effects on what happened last night.'

'Like what?' Augusta whispered, bracing herself for impact.

'They have been reduced to a shell of their former selves. Much like the effects of a Dementor's kiss, though I say that would be kinder,' Alastor revealed sadly, 'I am so sorry.' Augusta closed her eyes to stop the tears from falling.

'W-what happened?' she managed to choke out.

'A group of death eaters tortured them to insanity, courtesy of the cruciatus curse. They have, of course, been arrested.' Moody answered readily.

'C-can I see them?' Moody nodded, seeing she had calmed down, and pushed open the door to the Janus Thickey Ward. Augusta covered her mouth to stop the sob that threatened to escape her.

'Frank...' rushing to her son's side, she held his face in her hands, scanning his face. His eyes were unfocused, and a confused smile flitted across his face feebly at the sight of his mother's face, triggering not much more than a vague memory. Glancing across at Alice, Augusta realised she was in the same state, sucking on a piece of gum and smiling slowly to herself. Augusta couldn't stop the sobs from escaping her as she pulled Frank close.

'I'm sorry Frankie, Al. I'll look after Neville, I promise.'