Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and events from J.K. Rowling's wonderful Harry Potter books. I am writing this for my own enjoyment and hopefully for the enjoyment of readers. Anything you recognize belongs to JKR. The rest belongs to me.
Chapter 84: Vablatsky's Prediction
Awkward. That was the word of the day, and it seemed like an understatement.
The students were gathering on Platform 9 ¾, some trying desperately to lift their heavy trunks onto the train and others seeking out friends they hadn't seen since the beginning of summer. One girl stood to the side, waiting for her friends to arrive.
Alice had arrived early, her dad having dropped her off to make an early meeting at work. She sat on her trunk, feeling a batch of fresh butterflies fluttering about her stomach. She always felt a touch of nervous anticipation with each new school year, but this year seemed different. She had tried to keep herself busy that summer, but she constantly found her thoughts straying to a certain chocolate-eyed boy who had captured her fancy recently. She found that she missed seeing him everyday and being able to talk to him.
Alice worriedly wondered if she would be able to have that friendship with him that year, now that the O.W.L.s were over. That had been the basis for their meeting in the first place, but what if he felt he didn't need her anymore? Although Alice still fancied Frank terribly, she tried to resign herself to the fact that he was seeing another girl. That didn't mean that she didn't want to be near him, to hear his voice and get a glimpse of his warm eyes.
"Alice!"
Alice broke out of her reverie and turned to see Marlene and Lily rushing toward her. She gave them each a hug and stood back, looking for any changes in her friends since she last saw them. Marlene had gotten tan, probably from being outside at her family's resort all summer. Alice noted with slight disgust that Marlene was a little taller, while she herself remained as short as ever.
Lily smiled and exchanged pleasantries with her friends, but Alice couldn't help but notice that Lily seemed a little uneasy about something. Every so often, Lily's eyes darted around the platform, only to return to her friends no less apprehensive than before.
"Who are you looking for, Lily?" asked Marlene.
"Nobody," replied Lily. At her friends' unconvinced looks she added, "I was just curious about who the new Heads are, that's all."
"Riiiight," said Marlene. "C'mon, we should get on the train before all the good compartments are taken."
The three girls started to push their way through the crowd, each dragging her trunk. Alice, as usual, almost dropped her owl cage and stopped to right it on top of her trunk. Suddenly she heard a muffled, "Alice!" through the horde of noisy students. She looked around for the source, unable to see beyond the tall seventh year students that were nearby. Once again, she cursed her shortness.
"Alice!" repeated the voice, a little closer.
Alice waited, trying to see who was calling her. Finally, a few of the nearby seventh years moved a little and she was able to see Frank rushing toward her, a big smile on his face. She found herself smiling in return, her heart speeding up at seeing the boy she had missed so much over the summer.
"Frank-" started Alice.
Frank stopped in front of her and grasped her shoulders. He was out of breath but he was smiling, so much that he was practically laughing. "Alice, you won't believe it. I can't, and I just found out!" He held up a slightly crumpled piece of parchment.
"Frank, what in Merlin's name are you going on about?" asked Alice, rather amused at his enthusiasm and almost breathless from the hand that was still on her shoulder.
"My O.W.L. results, Alice!" he exclaimed. "Mum and I just got back and I didn't get to see them until today!"
Alice felt her heart speed up in anticipation. "Your results? How'd you do?"
Frank stepped back a little and waved the parchment, replying, "I got an 'O' in DADA, Alice!"
"What?!" she exclaimed. "You got an Outstanding?"
Frank nodded animatedly and said, "An 'O', can you believe it?"
Alice felt his words hit her and she soon found herself jumping up and down and shrieking in delight. The next thing she knew she had leapt into his arms and was giving him a tight hug. She felt warmth encircle her as he hugged her in return. "I knew you could do it, I knew it!" she said. "You're going to make a fine auror!"
"I couldn't have done it without you, Alice," he said.
Alice felt a tingle travel down her spine at the sound of his voice by her ear and she felt a giddy intoxication from his scent. She found herself pulling back slightly just to get a glimpse of the eyes she had missed seeing during the summer. She told herself that she just wanted a peek and that there was nothing wrong with that, but once she locked eyes with him, she couldn't help herself. She leaned forward and kissed him, and she realized how perfect his lips felt on hers.
It was when Alice felt his sharp intake of breath that she realized what she was doing and pulled back, feeling her face fill with several shades of pink. She forced herself to look up into his eyes to see if she could discern Frank's reaction. He was looking at her with a mixture of surprise and something else, but before Alice could figure out what it was he had leaned down to recapture her lips with his own.
After Alice's initial surprise, she kissed him back, overwhelmed with the sensations caused by his lips on hers and from his hands which were caressing her back. When they started to run out of breath, they at last pulled apart enough for Alice to gaze up at him. Frank was looking at Alice as if trying to decide if he should say something or kiss her again.
Alice was leaning toward the latter but froze when she felt Frank suddenly tense. Following his gaze, she turned around enough to see Amy standing behind her, her face full of shock and hurt. Alice turned back to Frank, who was looking back and forth between Alice and Amy as if trying to decide what to do.
Amy, having seen enough, turned and rushed away through the crowd. Frank looked at Alice, trying to think of something to say but instead letting go of her and following after his girlfriend. Alice stood there by herself as she heard Frank call out after Amy. Seeing him walk away from her left her feeling empty and heartbroken.
Alice felt a hand on her shoulder and soon saw Marlene and Lily standing in front of her. She opened up her mouth to say something but found herself unable to utter a single word due to the large knot forming in her throat.
"C'mon, Alice," Lily gently said, putting an arm around her friend. "Let's get you onto the train."
Alice allowed Lily and Marlene to guide her onto the Hogwarts Express, all the time wondering how Frank could walk away after kissing her like that.
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"What is with you two?" asked Marianne. She had just accompanied James and Sirius onto Platform 9 ¾ and they had been acting strange ever since. James had been looking around the platform, trying to be surreptitious about it. Sirius had been glaring through the crowd at something.
"Huh?" muttered James.
"You two," said Marianne. "You were joking one minute, and now you're both quiet." She watched as James looked toward the train where three girls were boarding. She easily recognized the red-haired girl as Lily, the one who James had had a crush on for a while. "Still Lily, eh?"
James gave his mum a fleeting look before asking, "What are you talking about?"
"You still like her?" she asked.
James shuffled his feet a little and shrugged. He had replayed the post-DADA O.W.L. incident in his mind numerous times, especially the last part where Lily had told him that he made her sick. Her words had nagged at him and he wasn't sure what to do about it. Part of him wanted to brush it off and continue to be the carefree boy he had been last year who had flirted shamelessly with her and asked her out all the time. Another part of him wanted to throw her words back in her face and prove how right he had been to teach Snape a lesson.
James could feel his mum's gaze burning into the side of his head, and he knew she wasn't going to let the subject go. He looked at Sirius, hoping his mate would help him out because he wasn't in the mood to discuss his love life, or lack thereof, with his mum. Sirius, however, had his attention focused elsewhere.
Not too far from them James could see Elphaba Black bidding Regulus farewell. She gave him a dignified embrace and a peck on the cheek, gazing fondly at her youngest son. Shortly thereafter she turned to leave, bringing her straight toward Sirius on her way to the barrier. James could see Sirius tense as she approached, waiting for her to make some snide comment. He watched in surprise as Elphaba walked past them, not bothering to say anything to Sirius or even look at him.
Marianne had seen Elphaba walk by and couldn't contain herself. She walked after Elphaba and said, "Excuse me, Mrs. Black!"
Elphaba turned around and gave Marianne a cool glare. "Mrs. Potter," she said.
Marianne looked her in the eye and said, "I'd like to know why you just walked by without even acknowledging your son."
Elphaba's jaw tensed but her face remained cold. "I just said goodbye to my son, or did you not see?" Giving a quick glance in Sirius's direction, she added, "I have no other son."
"No other son?" echoed Marianne disbelievingly. She straightened herself to her full height, reminding James of the image of a proud hen about to peck out someone's eyes. "What kind of mother are you? You gave birth to him and you must have held him as a small child. What kind of cold creature are you to ignore the bond a mother should have with her son and mistreat him the way you have? And now you're pretending he doesn't exist? How could you not see what a wonderful young man he's becoming?"
Elphaba took a step closer to Marianne and bitingly retorted, "That boy you're referring to is a disgrace. He is no longer considered a Black, and he's been erased from the family tree."
Marianne stepped closer to Elphaba, and James wondered if his mum was going to pummel her. He looked at Sirius and noticed Snape standing nearby, a smug look on his face as the Slytherin watched Sirius's reaction to the scene.
"That's your loss, then," said Marianne. "And my gain," she added. "Sirius Black will always be welcome in my house, and as far as I'm concerned, will always be like a second son to me."
"Then I suggest you watch yourself around stairwells," hissed Elphaba. "If that boy ever tries to step into my house again, then I will make sure the proper authorities know what really happened to my husband."
Marianne paled but then retorted, "And if you or any of your family ever lays a finger or wand on him, then I will make certain that not only the proper authorities, but also the press know how you and your husband abused your eldest son."
Elphaba gave Marianne a steely glare before turning and marching away. Marianne couldn't help herself when she grabbed her wand and spelled the words 'Kick me' onto the back of Elphaba's robes.
"Mum?!" exclaimed James, surprised but impressed that his mum hexed Mrs. Black.
Marianne turned around and casually said, "Wand must have slipped."
"I'll try to remember that excuse," mused James.
"We'd better get on the train," said Sirius, wanting to meet the rest of his mates and forget about seeing his mother.
"Sirius, wait!" said Marianne, approaching him. She grabbed his hand and said, "I meant what I said back there. You've become like a second son to me, and you're always welcome in my home. Don't let what she said nag at you, because you are a wonderful young man."
"Thanks, Marianne," said Sirius, touched but rather uncomfortable about the situation. He had never been used to maternal affection, and part of him was jealous that James could accept Marianne's affection as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "And thanks for everything this summer, you know?" he added.
Marianne hugged him and said, "Have a great year at school, and don't get into too much trouble."
"Not too much trouble, eh?" said Sirius, a small smile forming. "But some trouble is okay, right?"
"I didn't mean it like that," said Marianne, grinning.
"Well, we won't be able to help it if our 'wands slip' occasionally," said James, teasing her for her earlier comment.
"Oh hush," said Marianne, pulling James into a hug. She noticed Sirius had started to move toward the train and took the opportunity to whisper to James, "Make sure he's okay, will you? I'm worried that what happened is going to eat at him and-"
"Mum," interrupted James. "Don't worry about it, okay? It's Sirius we're talking about. He's strong and he'll get past all that." He gave Marianne a peck on the cheek and grabbed his things, jogging to catch up with Sirius and leaving his worried mum behind.
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A few hours into the train ride, Alice sat by herself ruefully replaying what had happened with Frank over and over in her mind. About an hour earlier, she had told Marlene she needed to use the bathroom, but instead ended up cloistering herself inside an empty compartment.
Why did she have to go and ruin everything, she wondered. She had been resigned to the idea of being Frank's friend, even if her feelings were stronger than friendship. She shook her head and sniffled, realizing that she didn't just fancy Frank; she was in love with him. The kiss had cemented that fact.
A million 'what if's' circled around her mind. What if she had accepted Frank's invitation to Hogsmeade in fourth year? What if she had realized her feelings before Frank had fallen for Amy? What if she had come forward with her feelings that Valentine's Day? What if she hadn't kissed Frank and ruined any chance of friendship?
As time passed, confusion and anger set in. She was angry at herself for opening herself up for heartbreak. She was confused about Frank's reaction to the kiss. He had kissed her back! He had kissed her as if he had shared her feelings, but then he left her standing alone on the platform. He left her to find his girlfriend and make things right with her. How could he have kissed her like that and left her?
Alice took out her wand and scourgified her handkerchief before trying once again to mop the seemingly endless stream of tears that had been coursing down her cheeks. Blowing her nose, she once again tried to figure out what to say or do once she saw Frank again. Her mind continued to draw a blank and she couldn't fathom having to face him now that he knew. He knew how she felt, and he didn't stay with her! A small voice in Alice's mind wondered if Frank had purposely gotten her to like him so he could break her heart the way she had broken his in fourth year.
Alice heard the door to the compartment open and turned to stare out the window, hoping whoever it was would see she wanted to be left alone and just leave.
"Alice?"
Alice felt her stomach form a large knot at the familiar voice. 'So much for needing time to prepare for this,' she thought.
"Alice, we need to talk."
'Great,' she thought. 'The four most popular words you want to hear at a time like this - we need to talk.'
She felt him sitting next to her but couldn't bring herself to turn and look at him. "What do you want, Frank?"
"I want to know what happened back on the platform," said Frank.
"We kissed," said Alice. "Is that what you wanted to know?" she added sarcastically.
"You kissed me," corrected Frank. "And the last I knew, you didn't have any feelings beyond friendship for me."
"Things change, Frank!" exclaimed Alice, standing up and finally turning to face him. "You changed them! I was prepared to tutor you and enjoy a nice friendship between us, but you had to go and be so wonderful, and make me fall for you!"
For a moment Frank didn't say anything. His face full of surprise, he echoed, "Fall for me?"
Alice felt the color drain from her face at her admission and she bit her lip, turning so that Frank couldn't see her face.
Frank stood up and, in an odd voice, said, "How long? How long have you felt this way?"
Alice sniffled, realizing that it was futile to lie at this point. "Valentine's Day," she whispered.
"What?" he exclaimed, searching his mind for any memory, any clue that she had given him since then. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"
Alice let out a choked laugh and said, "What was I supposed to say, Frank? You had a girlfriend. You have a girlfriend," she added. "I decided to settle for being your friend."
"But then you kissed me," said Frank.
Alice turned to face him again, her eyes bright as she exclaimed, "And then you kissed me back! And then you left!"
"I had to go after her," said Frank.
"I don't want to hear it," said Alice, shaking her head and stepping back.
Frank stepped closer and said, "I had to find Amy, Alice." He grabbed her hand and said, "I had to find her and explain what had happened and that it's over, because if there is the slightest chance you feel the same for me what I feel for you, then I need to take that chance."
Alice, who had been trying to pull her hand away, stopped suddenly at his words and looked up at him, her heart pausing before gradually picking up its pace. "What?" she gasped.
Frank raised his hand and cupped her cheek, his eyes oddly bright as he gaze into her reddened, tear-stained eyes. "It's you, Alice," he said. "It's always been you."
"What?" she gasped again, starting to notice that the hand that was on her cheek was shaking, and that Frank was just as nervous as she was. "You mean, you…"
"I've always loved you, Alice," said Frank. "I resigned myself to being your friend, so I tried to move on, but it's always been you."
Alice tried to absorb what he had just said, wondering for a moment if she was dreaming. Then Frank's lips were on hers and she knew it had to be real. The kiss lasted just a moment, but when he pulled back Alice looked into his eyes and said, "I love you, too, Frank."
When she saw his beautiful chocolate eyes light up, she smiled and let out a joyous laugh, jumping into his arms and reveling in the fact that he was holding her like he'd never get the chance again. She felt him swing her around a little, which was difficult considering the small amount of floor space in the compartment. She felt him stumble a little when he had backed into the seat behind him and she smiled, knowing that inside the young man she had fallen for still existed a bit of the klutzy boy he had once been. It made him more endearing to her and she pulled back enough to draw him into another kiss.
When they were out of breath, he pulled back and drew her down onto the seat beside him. She snuggled into his arms and traced the lines on his palm, suddenly recalling the words of Professor Vablatsky during third year, predicting she would find a strong and true love. Alice smiled and kissed Frank's palm. She felt him kiss her temple before he asked, "So does this mean we're together now?"
Alice shifted so she could look into his eyes. Smiling, she leaned upward and kissed him, reaching up to run her hand through his hair, her heart racing alongside his as he deepened the kiss. When she pulled back, she had a playful glint in her eyes as she replied, "What do you think?"
Frank tried to catch his breath and, looking adorable with his mussed hair, replied, "I'll take that as a yes."
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A/N: I can't say how happy I am to have finally gotten those two together. Their story has been in my head for ages, and it's a relief to have finally written it. So for all you Alice/Frank shippers who have been bugging me to get them together - was it worth the wait?
Thanks to my latest reviewers: DreamAngel, Anu, pcgrimmy (x6), Dilna, God'sgirl, Golden Phoenix, phillygal, PottersPrincess, Jo Bob, Remus'sweetie, granger1191, kat black, Anonymous (x3), Mani12191, delpheena, Divya, rita skeeta (x8), German Wings, Calypso, alan22, and hpfreak.