graduating

James Potter sighed, practically dragging himself up the Gryffindor Tower steps despite never feeling so awake in his entire life. "We have to do something," he threw back behind him, catching the glint in Sirius Black's eye as they trudged loudly. Sirius automatically smiled, and James knew that he knew exactly what he was thinking.

"We did just do something," Remus Lupin replied wearily, a couple of steps further down. "Running around for half of the night in the Forbidden Forest wasn't thrilling enough?"

Sirius let out a tutting noise. "You're just saying that because you're bitter about riding around on a broom to keep up, Moony," he said, beyond hiding his taunting tone.

"I didn't even get to run," Peter Pettigrew mumbled quickly from the end of their little line. Sirius swiftly swatted at Peter's head and James interrupted again before anyone could continue.

"No," he started, stopping as he hit the landing. "I mean, seeing as it's our last night here... we have to do something big. Like a goodbye gift to Hogwarts from its best." James sent a knowing look to his friends as he waited for them to reach the top of the stairs.

"Lets involve the Slytherins," Sirius interjected rapidly, a huge smug smile now on his face. The four of them went silent for a moment, Remus and Peter obviously thinking over this new development, James and Sirius plotting their next move.

"Like last year?" Peter asked, picking his head up as he spoke. "With the water balloons?" With that one comment, Remus gave an internal groan. There was no stopping this locomotive now.

"Except better," James stated, moving to throw his arm over Peter's shoulder. "We can do much better than throw colored water."

"What your plan?" Remus questioned wearily, knowing the look that was quickly consuming all three of his friends' faces. Not waiting for a response, he opened the dorm door to walk inside. Perhaps if he showed he was disinterested.... James, Sirius and Peter followed, and before Remus knew what was happening, Sirius had sprinted over to Frank Longbottom's bed, and Peter and James had begun to turn on every possible light source in the room.

"FRANK!" Sirius screeched, ripping open his roommate's curtains dramatically with one swift motion. The hour of the morning could not stop someone like Sirius, and never had before. "GO WAKE UP THE WIFE." Frank did not seem to respond quickly enough, so Sirius jumped onto the bed, moving directly to open Frank's eyes with his fingers. "AND TELL HER TO BRING THE OTHER GIRLS."

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ON NOW SIRIUS!" Frank's voice suddenly roared through the room, followed by the natural sound of Sirius' body hitting the floor.

"WE HAVE HISTORY TO MAKE FRANK!" he continued to scream, now laughing as he rocked on his back. Something flew out from behind Frank's curtains to hit Sirius square in the face, which quieted him only enough for Frank to stalk out of his bed much like an aggravated bull. James rushed over to him, knowing very well how to calm the beast. Getting Frank on their side for this was important.

"Frank," James started, his brows high as he approached the other boy. Just because he knew how to deal with him didn't mean Frank wouldn't have more things he could throw. Frank glared, but James took his friend's silence as a pass to continue. "We want to get final revenge on the Slytherins. And it's our last night! Sirius is just overly excited."

Frank did hate Slytherins. After a few moments, it seemed that James had succeeded in calming down the sudden rage Sirius had created. His stubborn glare washed away, and something of a small smile spread across Frank's face.

"I do like leaving legacies..." Frank responded tonelessly, and invigorated cheers followed him out the door as he went to fetch the girls.

* * * * *
"Now, James said that we should just---"

"We know Alice. We were there," Lily Evans shot at Alice Longbottom from across the table, making Alice openly frown before quickly redirecting her gaze down at her empty plate.

"She was just summarizing, no reason to be short about it," Marlene McKinnon immediately supplied, using one of her rather stricter tones. Lily rolled her eyes, and leaned forward to retort, but Liz Fortezcue threw her arm over in front of Lily to stop her.

"Shut up! I want to watch this in the best way possible," she smiled, looking at all three of the girls in the same way-- with a wicked smile plastered across her face. "Should be only a few more minutes now..."

"Should only be a few minutes now," Frank mused happily, appearing from behind Alice. He sat down quickly next to her after a swift kiss, not daring to comment on how there had been no comment. Not too far behind was the rest of the seventh year Gyffindors, seating themselves around and in between their female counterparts. Without care for who thought it look peculiar, the entire year sat silently (with the exception of Sirius who would let out a random cackle), waiting for their hectic work from this morning to finally come to life.

Suddenly, after a few more minutes of very patient waiting, it happened. As if on cue, all the Slytherins in their year (who were also sitting with each other at their own table), started to shriek and scream as the food sitting in front of them on the table began to attack. Literally. Eggs, toast and porridge in Bianca Vaisey's case, all spilled and splattered into the nooks and crannies of their faces, clothes, hair-- anywhere it could get, it was.

"HA HA HA!" Sirius stood up, unable to control himself any longer, sticking his hand out to point at the group across the hall. His laughter was soon cut short, however, and turned into a gasp of horror as he watched his arm rapidly begin to turn green. Green. With ink-like properties, the Gryffindors watched as this new dye spread across their bodies.

"My hair is silver!" Marlene screeched, her hands going to her head. She turned to see green spots forming on Alice's face, and Peter's fingernails turn black. How had this happened?

"We can at least wash all this out," Will Jugson announced as he stood up. He spoke loudly, though there wasn't any need; the entire hall had gone dead silent.

"Nice eyebrows, Black," Mira Jasper sneered, bacon falling out of her hair as she moved to stand as well.

"YEAH--- WELL---" Despite the silence, James felt the need to scream as he jumped onto the table, knocking a bowl of bagels over. Just before one fell to the ground, he scooped it up in one solid motion and hurled it across the hall, hitting Severus Snape smack in the eye. Adamina Hooke let out a squeak as she turned to help Severus, and Rhys Nott, in a final show of inclusion, pulled out his wand as he stood.

To defuse the situation, Remus went to his feet, but Liz beat him to it. "FOOD FIGHT!" she screamed, and the entire hall erupted into complete chaos.

betrayed

“I am going to help find Black.”

No, he was no longer Sirius, Sisi or a beater blood-brother, a fellow Order member, Padfoot or anything else that showed Frank had at one time called him his friend. Sirius had gone and done the unthinkable, what all of them had promised never to do, swore to never think of doing when they first joined the Order four years ago. He had betrayed all Gyffindor morals, something everyone could agree was the worst offense concerning seven year-long housemates, and even more derogatory when Frank knew the truth about the prophecy.

He had given up James and Lily. Black had given up Lily and James to Voldemort as if their lives had been meaningless. For Harry, his godson. A child! He may as well have killed them himself. It had hardly been a week since they had gone into hiding, and now--- Frank curled his hands into tight fists, his face set in stone.

That bloody bastard didn't deserve to live. Frank would take him down himself for what Black had done-- in his mind, it was as simple as that. The only way it could happen, the only way it made sense. It would not end like this, Black's whereabouts unknown and everyone running around with their heads chopped off. No, it wasn't going to end like this. Frank refused to let him get away. It didn't matter how close they had been in the past, their school days had long been over. He was going to find him, he was going to find and take down Black, if it was the last thing he would bloody do.

The worst part was that he had tricked them all. Giving them this act about how he was nothing like his family, nothing like Regulus, and how he would do anything for the Order, risk his life for all of them--- what a load of complete shit. He had fooled everyone, managed to put the pressure on Remus; directing all the attention to the werewolf seemed like a very good ploy.

Of course, of course no one would have suspected the disowned, popular Gryffindor to be the ultimate traitor. It had been such a perfect disguise--- Black must have wet his pants when Lily and James chose him for their Secret Keeper. The mere thought of what his face must have looked like when he had told Voldemort about them made Frank sick.

He and Alice had let that murderer babysit Neville, too. No, no--

Frank continued to stare down the other Senior Auror, almost daring him to say no. What the fuck was he going to say to him? No, you bloody can't, you're not good enough? After a few more seconds, Frank watched as the other man nodded his head slightly. Good. A twisted smile played on his lips, and he knew, this revenge would feel so sweet.

“We think we know where who he's heading after next....”

PATERNAL love

“No no no, look Neville, look--- look over here! Look at Dad! Look at your! Over-- no, Nev--” In one quick motion, Frank swept Neville into his arms, stopping his son from teetering the wrong way and over onto his head. It was just the two of them home today; Alice had decided to go to the Ministry after all. It wasn't an all day outing, just for a few hours to get reports and whatnot, but Frank didn't mind. In fact, he wanted her to stay out longer. Not in that sort of respect, but it felt like there had hardly been any Frank-and-Neville time. Just Alice-and-Neville, or Emmeline-and-Neville, or Ben-and-Neville, or... Gran-and-Neville. A lot of Alice-and-Neville-and-Frank, but--- it wasn't the same thing. He wanted some quality father-son bonding time, and not at all because James and Harry seemed to have all the time in the world.

“I'm going to show you something very top secret.” Neville made no response, but Frank knew he was paying attention-- somewhat. “Which means you can't tell your mother.” This time, Neville gave a hiccup, which to Frank, was good enough. Off they went.

It was lucky that their house was so big (that still boggled him, the novelty would never wear off); it gave ample room for secret ways and hidden rooms. Which, Frank took full advantage of. “We're almost there! Calm down,” Frank laughed, juggling out his wand to give a tap to a seemingly-random stone on the wall after a two minute walk. The stone vanished, as well as the stones around it to form a small circular door way. They entered the room, candles flickering on as Frank walked through.

“Now, Neville. You are about to meet someone never important. Not to your mother-- she actually thinks he's dead. But as a Longbottom, the tradition must be passed down and you must know.” A smile appeared on Frank's mouth as Neville squirmed even more, and he put his son down on the large table in the middle of the room. A rectangular glass glass sat in the middle, and Neville wasted no time crawling up to the glass.

“This is Trevor, Neville.” The toad gave a sharp croak that ran through the room, and Neville gave a shrill laugh. Yes, this was the start of a beautiful relationship, Frank could tell already as he watched Neville press his face up to the glass eagerly.

bitchy

“JUGSON?”

A look of pure disgust spread across Frank's face as he looked upon Moody with sheer horror. The old man had lost his mind. No way he actually expected Frank to be partners with a bloody Death Eater for the rest of his Auror career. And be just dandy with it. They just as well just start his funeral sermon now! Because he surely wasn't going to last after he got his title.

“He'll kill me the first chance he gets! Are you aware that we hate each other?” Frank's voice was so condescending, a deep frown formed on Moody's face. “He literally--- how could you do this! You know, you know what he is and you just let--- let them do this!? How could you let them do this? Forever! Because that's what it is, FOR-EV-ER!”

“Longbottom! Control yourself!” Moody growled, sitting up straighter in his chair and watching the trainee's face become steadily redder. Well then. “Being obnoxiously arrogant will get you nothing except for a dismiss for the day,” he continued, as always showing no emotion on his face. Enraged by that, Frank pulled his lips together tight for a deep breath.

“MOTHER FUCKER! CONTROL?! YOU WANT ME TO---" Frank roared, slamming the folder in his hands onto the older man's desk. "Oh yes silly me, how arrogant of myself to not trust my death eater partner when we go out to catch death eaters in the field! I EVER wonder who's side he'll be on?!"

Moody let out an unpleasant noise, moving in his chair. "Keep your voice down! You can't even see the promising point of all this with your idiotic--"

"PROMISING!" Frank mimicked, now feeling like he was in an alternative reality. How was this exactly happening? "What in the POSSIBLE WORLD COULD POSSIBLY BE PROMISING ABOUT WILL JUGSON! THAT HE'LL MAKE IT QUICK AND EASY? I DOUBT EVEN THAT!

"I've had enough of your insolence!" Moody barked, finally standing up. "Get out of here! You're done for the day!"

"FINE!” Frank glowered. "How thoughtful, giving me time to write out my will." Holy fucking--- disgusted with himself, Frank let out another roar. He threw his hands up, slamming his right hand into the doorframe as he stormed out.

wary

Frank peered out through the window into the dark landscape, eyes going straight to the dirt path that led to the castle. All he could see now were students, but he knew what was standing there, behind all the students, waiting patiently to carry them all up to the castle.

Thestrals. The carriages. That's what carried the carriages up to the castle. Of course, everyone had heard inklings and ideas of what made the carriages carry themselves up the dirt path, but--- Frank knew. He knew now.

A small frown formed on his face as he moved his eyes closer to the window, completely ignoring the hustle and bustle going on in the compartment behind him. It wasn't that he was afraid of them, no no, that wasn't it. Just that--- well, seeing them meant something, didn't it? And who else here would even see them, besides him? Frank detached his eyes from the window, head swinging fast to look at the other people in his compartment, mentally preparing himself to check them off.

But before Frank had a chance to do that, Benjy Fenwick caught his gaze immediately, smiling widely at Frank as he bent down slightly. "Ready, mate?" he asked, seemingly unaware of his friend's inner thoughts.

"Come on, Longbottom! We haven't got all day!" Sirius Black shouted from in the hallway while picking a second year's pocket for sweets. He let out a short laugh once his fingers wrapped around a chocolate frog.

"Frank. The train stopped like--- ten minutes ago. Come on!" James quickly shot in, sticking his head into the compartment for a few seconds before pulling it out again.

Frank let out a long sigh, and slowly stood up. There was no chance for escaping this, his friends had made sure of that. While their pressure was slightly comforting, it didn't stop him from dragging his feet the entire way to the carriages.

traumatized

He and Alice were bloody Aurors, how had they been unable to protect her?

The novelty shock had finally worn off; now all Frank felt was silence. The anger he knew would soon come hadn't, and the tears that had fallen wouldn't be shed again. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't knock the glazed look out of his eyes, and it didn't matter that he was letting this effect him. Marlene McKinnon was gone. Just--- gone. There was nothing else to it; no catches, no excuses, it was just the simple fact. He was never going to see her again, he was never going to see her ever, her entire family was just---

Frank's shoulders unclenched, and he felt them drop slightly. He didn't even know what to say to Alice, he hardly wanted to look at her. That empty feeling in his side just grew larger when he looked at her face; it wasn't her fault, just every time he saw her, he immediately thought of her, which started the whole downward sprial all over again.

This was too hard, too much. And for a split second, Frank thought about taking himself off the McKinnon investigation. Perhaps it would be... easier, that way. But as he slowly rose out of his seat, it occured to him that doing that would be the worst thing he could do.

"Come on, Longbottom," Will Jugson stated tonelessly from the door, this arms crossed over his chest. Frank looked up at him for a second, then heaved a sigh. Every time they went out on the field he had to push down his thoughts and emotions far enough that there was no trace of them. Emotion was weakness, and it made it difficult to grieve properly because of that. Just adding another bullet to the list of why he felt so fucked up sometimes.

baby

“I think Neville is much better than Harfang.”

As Frank looked down at the small baby wrapped tightly in his arms, he couldn't help but grin widely. Yes, he most definitely looked more like a Neville than a Harfang. Not to mention Harfang was much less offensive, but that was another misinterpreted conversation in itself. Either way, Frank was growing found of the name, even though just five months earlier he had sworn to never plague his child with such a name.

“Franklin Tybalt, do not name our child some name just because your mother is pushing for it,” Alice stated crossly from across the room, though Frank pretended not to hear her for a few moments. Which really wasn't smart at all, she seemed very edgy today. Minus the whole giving birth to a child event, he really had no clue why she seemed so. Nonetheless, he had most pleasantly done whatever she wanted him to do-- fluff the pillows, get chipped-ice, etc. etc.

“Hmm? No, I like it. Really. Come on Alice, you know 'Neville' is way better than 'Harry'.” It came out of his mouth before he could stop it, and Frank's eyebrows shot up in surprise at his own opinion. Er, that hadn't meant to be said out loud. “Don't tell anyone I said that,” he stated softly, looking more at his son than at his wife. He could hear Alice laughing quietly in the background, but Frank didn't care.

“You, Neville--”

“Frank, don't call him Neville, we haven't decided on anything yet.”

“Yes we have. See, look--- he perked up a bit when I said it. It's fate. You, Neville--”

“Oh, Frank.”

“--have so many people to meet. Like your godparents, Emmeline and Benjy-- you can call him Benwicky though, I'm allowing it--- and the Potters-- Lily's about to pop any minute now, so that'll be good at least you'll have a friend, and---”

“Have you guys chosen a name yet?”

Frank looked up from wiggling his finger in front of Neville's face, regarding James Potter with intrigued interest. A grin broke out as he watched his friend walk over and give the baby a good look. Frank mouth was open to give a response, but Alice got there first.

“Neville, his name is Neville,” she said, resting back on her pillows with a content look on her face. Frank smiled, and looked back down at his son. Totally better than Harry.

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