Order Only: Private Message to Frank Longbottom

[alt_sirius]

I was going to do this earlier but I went to watch the Quidditch and then -

Well, I'm sure he's okay. It was bucketing rain, so the ground was really soft.

I saw your Neville, in the stands. That's the real reason I'm writing, actually. Alice said he sent you a letter recently and since then you've been wound like a Swiss clock. He looked well enough. I think that was Evelyn sitting with him, too. She's got Allie's hair, yeah? Only curlier?

The point is, that Allie said you haven't told her what he wrote about, except that it's got you even crankier than usual. And that's got her in a knot, mate.

So. Why am I interfering in the affairs of a married couple? I told Allie I'd ask you if perhaps Neville had written you about the usual kind of things boys don't want their mothers to know. But I doubt you'd be twisting your big plaid knickers if it were the normal sort of thing.

Whatever it is, you ought to tell her. And if I can do anything from here, let me know. I've got a pretty reliable way to get messages to him, I think.

Either way, you're driving Allie right round the twist, and that can't be allowed. So here's me, putting my head in the lion's mouth: Give over, mate, before your head explodes. All right?

And I mean it: If there's anything I can do to help, name it. I told Moony I'd pop down London way but I'll surely be back soon enough - probably before the end of term. I'm not going anywhere before Monday, not with Harry in the hospital wing, anyway.

Comments

[alt_frank]

yeah. she does look like her mum. she look okay to you?

short answer to your question is there's nothing you can do, there's nothing she can do either, and it's the sort of thing I'd rather she not be burdened with. and neville thinks so too.

[alt_sirius]

She looked cold, but then everyone looked cold. She and Neville were sharing an umbrella. I was pretty far away, mind, but she wasn't ill or anything.

Why? Is -

Has Neville's letter got to do with Evelyn, then?

And what do you mean you're not going to burden her with it? Since when does Alice need protecting?

[alt_frank]

she doesn't.

I know that.

I just don't want to hurt her.

and she's gonna go spare, man.

I know I did.

[alt_frank]

and what happened with harry any road?

[alt_sirius]

Fell off his broom at about sixty feet. As if the wind and rain weren't bad enough, the Dementors crashed the party. Harry must have blacked out again, like he did on the train. Of course, with so many people watching, there were at least twenty wands all pointed at him to try to slow his fall, but he was blowing around in the gale so much that it was only party successful.

To make matters worse his broom hit the Whomping Willow. It, er, doesn't like to be hit. You may remember.

[alt_frank]

I remember. got planted summer before my seventh year. gave a second-year a set of broken ribs when it was still a sapling.

least poppy seems to think he'll be okay.

[alt_sirius]

Yes, only she can't give me a full report, sounds like, because Lucius bloody Malfoy is likely going spare himself over the thought of Harry getting hurt - not for Harry's sake, either, but because it'll mean his precious tintype of a son will lose privileges. But he's in that hospital wing, flapping his arms at Poppy, and not me, and if I didn't already hate him for all the blood he's got on his hands, I'd want to kill him just for claiming that right while I'm 200 yards away waiting to hear something.

We've all got headaches, Frank. And we're all helpless when it comes to wanting to be with our kids. Right? So whatever's bothering Neville, there's probably some solution if you look at it with a calm eye.

[alt_frank]

the best thing I can tell them both is to take what they're given and keep their heads down. you're a gryffindor, man. you know how hard that's gonna be.

and for merlin's sake, if it's getting this bad for them this early in the term

you know what they did to my baby girl?

they killed her cat, Sirius.

they murdered her familiar, cut off it's paw, and wrote a message to her in blood. and my boy had to write me and ask me what he ought to do, and all I can tell him is to keep his damn head down and try not to let it get to him, and damn it to hell, it's just not on. just not on at all.

and it's only going to get worse from here.

[alt_frank]

do you see why I didn't want to tell her?

[alt_frank]

and now I'm going to have to tell her, because she needs to hear it from me and not you, but I sure as hell don't want to.

[alt_sirius]

Merlin, Frank.

Has it occurred to you that Allie might be able to say something to Evelyn that will help her cope?

And that Allie deserves the chance to be their mum, just as much as you deserve to be their dad?

Go and talk to her. Do you both a world of good, even if there's no easy solution.

[alt_frank]

what I really want to do is take those sick fucks that are putting my kids through this and show them a taste of their own goddamn medicine.

as it is, I'm fucking useless.

[alt_sirius]

Nah, you're not useless. You're just following your own advice, keeping your head down.

It takes a special kind of wanker to go after an animal like that. It won't be too hard to shave his wand a bit.

[alt_sirius]

No, it's not on.

I did hear about a cat getting mutilated, actually, though I'd not seen anything mentioned. Of course, who would admit such a thing? And at least your son had the wherewithal to keep Evelyn mentioning it on her journal.

But as to there being nothing you can do ... you're wrong. You and Allie send them your love and we'll get it to them. And as to nothing I can do .... we'll see about that. As I said, I've a way to send messages into the castle. I might be able to send a different kind of message if the culprits can be found. And I might be able to find them, too.

Merlin knows it won't bring back her cat - and it won't be nearly enough recompense. But it'll make us all feel better.

[alt_frank]

I'll tell her.

we'll write them a letter.

merlin.

[alt_frank]

min knows, by the way.

rather it not get spread around too much, though.

[alt_sirius]

Well, no, I can't imagine it would be too wise for the whole Order to come marching into the castle to put the fear of Medusa into every last bullying one of them.

But - well, let's put it this way. Padfoot's bark is definitely not worse than his bite.

[alt_frank]

you do anything too attention-drawing, and al will hex you properly.





but thanks any road.

[alt_sirius]

Trust me.