@frxnkislong​ / @alamoody​

@frxnkislong

dorcxsmdws​:

She slowly closed her eyes, letting her body relax at the sudden warmth.  Of the room, of the blanket.  She knew it would have to be short-lived, so she would enjoy it while she had it.  Especially because she wasn’t sure she would remember this when she was surrounded by the dementors again – or, if she’d remember it properly.  “No,” she admitted finally.  “I guess I’m not okay.”   But it was much more nuanced than that.  She wasn’t okay, but she also was acutely aware that she was in here because of her own choices.  She knew that the Death Eaters wouldn’t have been able to figure her out if she hadn’t given herself away.  And she knew that she didn’t regret saving Marlene for a second, even if she had to spend the rest of her life in here.  So, while she was the opposite of okay, she was able to hang onto that knowledge.  

She just nodded, eyes on the ground.  She couldn’t meet Alice’s eyes, couldn’t deal with seeing sympathy in them.  She knew what she had signed up for.  She hadn’t really considered the possibility of Azkaban, but she had accepted death.  It was a calculated risk, but one that was worth it, and she couldn’t very well act like she regretted it now when she knew the possibility of a consequence was there.  ‘It’s not exactly an impartial fight,” she said softly.  “Moody’s good, but the Ministry is corrupt and not in our favor..   But it very well might be a losing battle, I know that.  You don’t have to sugarcoat it for me.”  Her voice was flat and low.  She coughed to clear her throat.  She wasn’t stupid, far from it.  In other circumstances she may have said it less bluntly, but she was sure she still would have thought it.  “I hope it’s not.  I don’t want to stay here, but – If I do you don’t have to worry about me.  I won’t tell them anything.” she shook her head.  “Thank you for coming though.  Even a few minutes away from them is a gift.”

She took the picture in her shaking hands, just looking down at it for a long moment before tucking it away in her pocket.  It was good that they still had each other.  It was good that neither one of them would be alone if she couldn’t manage to get out of here.  If she was stuck here she was under no illusions that it would be a big and great loss for most people.  Most would be sad for a moment for her and then move on; but it would be hard for Paulie and Fabian, and she was glad that they’d have each other to get them through it.  “What did you name your kid?”  She asked softly, knowing that she had him the day she was locked away in here, but she hadn’t heard anything.  

...

Alice knew that Dorcas was fighting an uphill battle to hold on to any ounce of hope while surrounded by dementors, but it was a striking reality check to see her this way. Even in the worst moments of her time as an undercover agent, Dorcas had been able to hold some sort of positivity within her, a reason to keep fighting. She had never given up, no matter how hopeless a situation seemed or how horrible the things she saw in her double agent work got. Even when Gideon had been lost, Dorcas hadn’t lost hope -- if anything, it had spurred her on even further. But there was none of that hope in Dorcas now, no energy left to fight, not that Alice could see. “Dorcas, I know it’s hard, but hold on to the truth. You’re innocent, you did nothing wrong. That’s not a thought the dementors can take away from you.” 

Alice shook her head, wanting desperately to find the right thing to say, helpless to realize that there was nothing she could do that could really help Dorcas, not until they got her out of here. “That’s not what I’m worried about,” she replied, keeping the sense of aggravation at the situation out of her tone. “I know you would never break. What I’m worried about is you.” She put her hand on Dorcas’ arm, wanting to give her some sense of human contact while she still could. “And we will get you out of here Dorcas, one way or another. We’re trying the legal route now, but we won’t stop there.” She gave the younger woman a determined look. “Don’t forget that you have three of the top ranking aurors on your side, not to mention a couple of reckless friends. If anyone can figure out a way to break you out of here, it’s us.” There was no doubt that there would be a line of people willing to take the risk: Sirius, Marlene, Fabian, Paulie. 

It was scary to see Dorcas like this, to know that a mere 6 days in this place had reduced her to this resignation. How long would it take for them to get her out of here? And if she was like this after less than a week, what state would she be in when they finally did? Alice knew firsthand that many people lost themselves in this place, she had seen it over and over again. She had to believe that Dorcas was strong enough to withstand this, but there was a tiny part of her that was terrified she wasn’t. She softened slightly at Dorcas’ question. “Neville,” she replied softly. “Neville Gideon.” Alice squeezed Dorcas’ arm. “Fabian is his godfather. And he can’t wait to meet you.” 

@fxprewettx​

I Dream. Sometimes I think that’s the only right thing to do.

Haruki Murakami, from Sputnik Sweetheart (Alfred A. Knopf, 2001)

@fxprewettx

@frxnkislong​

mrlenexmc​:

tagging: @alicelxngbottom​

For all the years that they’d known each other, Marlene would have been able to spot Alice Longbottom from a mile away.  Alice may have been a few years older than Marlene, but she’d always looked up to her, and, embarrassingly enough, when she was younger had followed Alice around whenever their families were brought together.  She was both happy and nervous to see that she’d shown up to the party.  The night had so much potential to turn ugly, and while she knew that pregnant women were hardly delicate little china dolls, she held a lot of worry for both Alice and Lily.  Alice surely would have been on the guest list though, so at least she had that going for her.  Besides, because she’d known Alice for a long time, she knew that it wouldn’t have done much good to try to talk her into staying home, no matter what the danger was.  Frank seemed nowhere to be found, and after a while of debating whether or not to approach Alice, Marlene finally decided to, sidling up to her in a way that was meant to be casual but probably came across as anything but.  Surely nobody was paying them any attention, and it wouldn’t hurt to check in with her for a few minutes.

“Howdy, stranger, fancy seeing you here”, apparently Moody was rubbing off on them all.  “Are you having fun?  Should we get you some sparkling apple juice, or something?  Give people a heart attack when they think you’re drinking champagne, that could be fun.”

...

As soon as Marlene spoke, Alice recognized the figure that had sidled up to her. Though she was a few years older than Marlene and James and their friends, she had know many of them for all of their lives. Her father, being the most level-headed Rosier, tended to have stronger relationships with the types of families that her aunt and uncle would consider blood traitors, and the Potters and McKinnons fell pretty squarely in that category, along with the Weasleys and the Prewetts and a few others. So it would take much more than a simple disguise for Alice not to recognize the young woman who had always been like a little sister to her. Of course, it helped that she knew Marlene would be around here somewhere. Laughing softly at the greeting, Alice shook her head. “It seems you’ve been spending a little too much time with my mentor over there,” she replied with a slight incline of her head in Moody’s direction.

With another laugh, Alice met Marlene’s gaze. “That sounds like a splendid idea,” she said with a mischievous smile. “I’m a little tired of everyone shoving water on me, and I’d love to see the look on my aunt’s face if she thinks I’m drinking a glass of champagne at this point in my pregnancy.” Of course, Alice’s parents were probably around here somewhere too, but they were far less likely to make any sort of stink, thinking rightly that their daughter was a grown woman who could make decisions for herself. At the thought of her parents, Alice’s face turned a little more serious. “My mum and dad are around here somewhere, try not to run into them. They’d recognize you for cert, and of course they don’t know about the Order.” Beyond the fact that they had been proclaimed a terrorist organization, that was. “They would probably be smart enough not to blow your cover, but just in case.”