Chapter Text

Chapter One: Noble

Good, righteous, virtuous, honorable, brave

On August 14th, 1955, a little girl was born to Ivan and Anne Fortescue in a little town called Pinner Green. Ivan and Anne were so longing for a baby girl, and they took one look at her delicate little smile and fell instantly in love. 

This isn’t the last time that this will happen.

The Fortescues named their daughter Alice, meaning noble, and she embraced the name whole-heartedly. When she first learned to walk at the ripe age of two, she insisted that she and her mother take a walk to the toad pond at the bottom of the hill their cottage sat atop of. At four years old, little Alice took to the pond herself, deciding that her frog playmates needed a constant companion. And, at six years old, Alice witnessed the horrifying scene of a flock of  birds attempting to eat her froggy friends. No matter though, noble little Alice did not let that happen.

One sunny afternoon, shortly after Alice had turned six, Anne was standing at the family’s kitchen sink washing the dishes, overlooking Alice as she ran down the hill to the familiar pond. The skies were particularly clear that day, and Anne could remember hearing the birds singing along with her as she hummed an absent-minded tune. The sound of soft hums and clanking china split into shrieks from outside, and Anne’s legs couldn’t take her there as fast as her heart was racing. She left the sink running, and her bare feet met the grassy hill before she let out a breath. At the bottom of the hill, she found Alice, at the edge of the pond, waving a fallen branch that was just about the same size as her. Above her were three large birds, all attempting to dive down into the pond but each one being stopped by the branch Alice incessantly waved.

“Alice, dear? Are you alright?”

“No, mama,” Alice never turned to look at her mother, just continued as if it were her life’s mission, “The birds are not playing nicely. They won’t be nice to the frogs, mama. Make them be nice to the frogs, please.”

“Oh, Alice. Mama can’t make the birds do anything. Birds are living things just like you and me, dear. They have a brain and lungs and most importantly a heart.” Anne smiled softly as she said this, “Alice, you have the biggest heart of them all. I see that you’re doing your best to protect your friends, and I am proud of you. Although I can’t make the birds stop, they can make that decision on their own. And until then, you are here, being the good friend you are.”

Anne slowly walked over and grabbed another branch from underneath the tree, and held it up to the sky just as Alice was. No other words were exchanged between the mother and daughter, but they stayed that way until the skies turned pink and then black, and the birds retired to their nests. With that, Anne and Alice returned hand in hand to their own home, and a sleepy little Alice would never forget the words her mother spoke to her that day.

Chapter Text

The Train

July, 1966

The Fortescues were purebloods, so Alice had been surrounded by magic her whole upbringing. She would soon find out, though, that it was much different than many of the other pureblood families in wizarding London. She spent her whole life in Pinner Green, knowing only the grassy hills, the small bustle of the town center, and the quiet magic her mother often used for house chores and gardening. Anne refused to keep a house elf, calling the whole thing completely unethical. Alice didn't know much about house elves, or anything else for that matter, but she trusted her mother above all else, and if she said it was bad, then so be it.

The summer that Alice received her Hogwarts letter is one she would never forget. It was particularly warm that year, and the sun shone down bright and unrelenting. She spent the days studying the various plants and grasses that resided near the pond under the shade of a large oak, and every time the family's tawny owl, Neona, flew overhead, Alice would come billowing inside the cottage as if being pulled by some invisible force. She was waiting for something. Something comforting, exciting, exhilarating even.

It came in mid-July, about a month before Alice’s eleventh birthday. Neona dropped a large letter with a dark crimson seal onto the kitchen table and cooed gently. Alice rewarded her with the biggest homemade biscuit she could find, and as the little owl took off out of the open window, the ten year old hungrily tore open the envelope.

Alice could not have been more excited to officially be going to Hogwarts. She heard all about it from her parents and other relatives who attended, but most of all from her uncle, Florean. Florean Fortescue owned an ice cream parlor on the North end of Diagon Alley in London and, during the busier times at the end of summer, Alice often traveled to visit him and his shop. The parlor is quite possibly Alice’s favorite place on earth. When she’s there she gets to see witches and wizards of all kinds, not to mention the hoards of Hogwarts students stocking up on their school supplies.

“Uncle Flor, what is Hogwarts like?” The pair was cleaning up after closing shop on a busy friday. Alice slowly swept the floor as Florean magically lifted each chair and set them gently on top of the tables from the other side of the colorful parlor.

“Hogwarts is an unimaginable, indescribable place. It’s different for each student who attends. You have to make it your own, Alice. You can’t be worried or distracted by any silly little things. You need to make the most of everything and live life loudly. If you do that, you’ll be gifted the most amazing experience you could ever imagine.”

Loudly

Alice could do that. She’s been doing that her whole life. She knows who she is. She could introduce herself and immediately be telling that someone exactly who she is. 

Hiya, I’m Alice. I’m noble.

Noble, good, righteous, virtuous, honorable, brave

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September, 1966

“Bye Mum! Bye Dad! Love you!”

Alice’s head was practically hanging out of the window as the train pulled out of King’s Cross and her parents grew smaller and smaller. Only once they faded from view did she pull her head back into the train car and joined her soon-to-be classmates. The Hogwarts Express was bustling with students of all ages, some in robes, some in muggle clothes, but all chatting and moving through the corridor looking for open carriages. 

By some miracle, Alice was by herself. The anticipation was making her giddy. All she could do was sit and wait for someone to open the door and sit with her.

Merlin, I hope they’re nice. Of course they’ll be nice, I hope they like plants. Maybe we could talk about fluxweed. Or maybe they know more about gillyweed! We could be sorted into the same house and maybe even share a dorm and we could be the best of friends. We’ll share sweets and eat dinner together and–

“Oh dear. Not this one, Cissy. We’ll find a better carriage. People like us shouldn’t be seen anywhere near someone who dresses like that. ” Alice looked up, startled. She hadn’t even heard the carriage door open. Standing in front of her were three girls, and they couldn’t have been much older than her. The one who spoke stood the tallest, hovering over the other two with her pale face and dark, curly mane. The venom practically dripped from her lips as she spoke, and she was looking Alice’s denim dungarees up and down. Subconsciously, she crossed her arms and drifted her eyes towards another girl.

“Bella, hush. Come along, Cissy. We do need some privacy.” The second girl had kinder eyes, but she looked almost withdrawn from the other two. Although her hair was still plenty dark, it swept past her shoulders in a perfectly managed wave and settled just past her sternum. It was brief, but Alice could’ve sworn she saw an apologetic look brush across her face. It was over before it started, though, as the tallest girl pulled her away from the door and past the cabin entirely.

Alice almost forgot that there was a third girl. Cissy, Alice assumed. The only one that remained. She was still, staring with big blue eyes. She looked nothing like the other two. She was bright and curious, and her hair reflected the sun rays that shone in from the window behind Alice. The two just continued to stare at each other for what felt like eternity. She has never been speechless before. It was an odd feeling.

She tried her best to remember her uncle’s words. 

Live loudly.

Of course! How could I forget?

“Hiya, I’m–”

“Cissy! Come along now!”

And with that, the small blonde girl disappeared down the corridor without a word, as if she were never there. Alice would have thought she imagined her if it weren’t for the feeling she left behind in her chest. 

Alice’s racing heart wasn’t given a chance to slow, however, as three more people came stumbling into her carriage. Each of the new faces were overcome with smiles and loud laughter, and Alice could feel herself relax as the group took their places next to and across from her. 

Once things had settled, she was able to get a better look at the people around her. To her left sat a short and pale girl with dark auburn hair. She was red from holding her breath, but Alice could see a strew of freckles dotting her cheeks.

Across from the girl sat a lanky boy with tanned skin and a heap of dark hair on top of his head. He still hadn’t recovered from the fit of laughter and was curled up in his seat giggling. The boy was a mess of limbs wrapped around each other, slightly resembling a newborn giraffe that can’t tell up from down.

With a small smile, Alice’s eyes traveled from the first boy to the second, the one directly across from her. He seemed to be the only one to have gotten over his fit and was now looking at Alice the same way she was him. He had broad shoulders and you could tell he hadn’t fully grown into them. He sat just a few inches taller than the curled up boy next to him, and Alice was sure that if they were standing he’d be towering over her.

“Hi–”

“Hiya–”

They seemed to have the same idea, at the same exact time. Alice motioned for him to continue.

“Hi, I’m Frank. Frank Longbottom.” He had a warm smile that made Alice feel comfortable. Like she was back sitting on the edge of the frog pond. Like she was home.

“I’m Alice Fortescue. It’s really nice to meet you”

“It’s a pleasure, Alice. You two, show some manners.” Frank turned his attention to the two others in the cabin, they were both settled now but still breathing considerably heavily.

The girl was the first to speak, and a thick Irish accent shocked Alice for a moment. “Hiya, I’m Laoise Kelley, and this eejit here is Benjy.”

“Benjy Fenwick, enchanted,” he gave a little salute towards Alice and slumped back into his seat.

“Are you a first year like us, Alice? We all just met on the platform. May have gotten into some trouble with the trolley witch already, though.” 

“Yeah, I’m a first year too. What did you lot do to that poor witch?”

“I wouldn’t ask. All I’ll say is that you definitely should not get any exploding bonbons from her. They might bring back bad memories,” Benjy could hardly get through the end of his sentence without breaking into another fit of giggles, and Alice had to stifle her own laugh.

“What house do you all want to be sorted into? I personally want to be in Gryffindor. All the best players on the Irish National quidditch team were in Gryffindor.” Laoise’s eyes lit up when she mentioned the team, but the others seemed nervous about the question. 

With a bit of hesitation, Frank replied, “Well, I honestly don’t think there’s a wrong answer. Each of the houses have so many positives.”

Benjy rolled his eyes, “Yeah, right. Gryffindor is the obvious answer. You don’t get into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw because you’re courageous and awesome. You get sorted there if you’re no fun. And of course you don’t want to be a Slytherin.”

“Piss off, Fenwick. You don’t actually believe that. All of the houses are equal.” Frank shot an apologetic look towards Alice. It was only then that she realised that the other three were looking at her for an answer.

“Oh, um, I would be happy with any of them really. My mum was a Ravenclaw, and my dad was a Hufflepuff. My uncle Florean was a Gryffindor, though. I think he’s the coolest person I know.”

“ See. The Gryffindors are always the coolest.”

“Hold on.” Laoise was fully turned to Alice now. “Florean as in Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor? Mam used to take me there every summer. He makes the best sundaes in the UK! We must be best mates now.” She was beaming at this newfound discovery.

“Gladly.” Alice’s smile widened as she looked around the cabin at the little group she’s formed. Any and all wariness she had has dissolved as the breathtaking views speed past their window, and she’s almost completely forgotten about the girl with the blonde hair. 

Almost.

Chapter Text

Houses

September 1st, 1966

The group of young witches and wizards stood on the edge of the lake, looking out towards an illuminated Hogwarts in the distance. As each group of four first years were ushered into the small wooden boats, Alice, Laoise, Frank, and Benjy all gathered into one of their own. The sail across the water was led by a very large and hairy man, and Alice found herself wondering how the little boat was able to stay afloat underneath him. 

It was a long walk onto the grounds and through the castle, but well worth the burning legs and aching feet. Hogwarts was the most stunning place Alice had ever been, and she couldn’t imagine it as her home for the next seven years. She had to be dreaming.

“Blimey,” Benjy muttered under his breath at the sight of the older woman and her huge hat standing at the top of the steps. “Mum and dad will never believe me when I tell them about this. Emmeline neither.”

Alice learned on the train that Benjy was muggleborn, and he has lived in England his entire life. His best friend Emmeline lives just two doors down from him, and although her family are also muggles, Benjy is entirely convinced that she will receive a Hogwarts letter when she turns eleven, too. 

“Welcome to Hogwarts. In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.” The woman spoke as if she had been making this speech for years. Alice couldn’t tell whether to be frightened of her, or completely enamored with her, “Now, while you’re here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule-breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup. The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily.”

With that, the witch waved her wand, and the grand doors opened to reveal a hall full of students, with four tables sprawling all the way to the back of the room where a man with a long white beard stood next to a mangy-looking hat.

“That’s Dumbledore, and the Sorting Hat too!” Laoise whispered behind Alice’s shoulder as they walked. “Wicked.”

Dumbledore spoke, and the Sorting Hat sang some sort of song. Alice is sure she would have been bored out of her mind if it weren’t for the amount of things waiting for her to take in and analyze. She could see stars in the ceiling, and little gold fibers seemed to twist and wrap around every nook and cranny in the walls. The colors of the house robes loomed behind her, and all she could think about was her future house. Her future family.

Professor McGonagall, as introduced by Dumbledore, began calling out the first years in alphabetical order by last name. Not soon after the ceremony had begun and the first few students had been sorted, the professor called out the name Narcissa Black, and a hush fell over the room. 

Alice immediately recognized the girl from the train as she took her time walking up the few steps to join the professor. Her head was held high and she was radiating an entirely different energy than she was when Alice had first come into contact with her. She now reminded Alice much more of the two older girls she was with on the Hogwarts Express, and it made the sickly feeling in her stomach return.

The hat had hardly hovered over Narcissa’s head when it called out its decision, and Alice kept her eyes on the girl as she sauntered away until she was lost in the mass of green robes at the far end of the room.

Benjy was the first of her friends to be called up to be sorted, and Alice could do nothing but hold her breath for him. He very obviously wanted to be in Gryffindor, he said so on the train. As he sat, though, her mind couldn't help but drift away. 

Does the wearer have any choice in the matter? What does the hat make its decision on? How does it know? Can it–

“ Ravenclaw!”

Oh no.

Alice looked up just in time to catch Benjy’s eye before he looked away and walked off towards the Ravenclaw table. Something inside of him seemed to crumble, and there was this almost beautiful dichotomy of Benjy’s reaction and the rest of the Ravenclaws’ that welcomed him over to their table. She would make sure to find him after the feast and try to talk to him about the whole ordeal.

It wasn’t long after that her own name was called, and she gently pushed past the other students in the sea of black robes to walk up to the stool. With one deep breath, Alice turned to face the crowd, and settled onto the chair.

The feeling of the hat was odd. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t pleasant either. It is like Alice could feel the Sorting Hat rooting around in her mind. She could hear its whispers crawling through the crevices of her brain.

Hmmm, where to put you? Where to put you? I sense a strong mind, and a thirst for knowledge. Ravenclaw might make good use of you. Or perhaps Hufflepuff, you are quite the hard worker and more patient than most. There’s no mistaking the bravery in your heart, you seem to consistently protect those of value to you, just as a lion does. However, there is no doubt that you have a strong sense of identity, and a drive that Slytherin could help you concentrate into something great. But where to put you?

“Better be Gryffindor! ”

Alice opened her eyes, unaware that she closed them to begin with, and Laoise was throwing her arms into the air, celebrating as if she herself had just won the Quidditch World Cup. She was undoubtedly elated at the decision, though Alice couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for Benjy. But when she looked over to the span of blue, there was an earnest smile waiting for her.

Past Benjy, and past the unfamiliar faces donning yellow, Alice could finally see Narcissa sitting with the Slytherins, two of which were the same ones she encountered on the train. She couldn’t be certain, but it felt as though Narcissa were staring right back at Alice. She wondered how she would eat her dinner if her stomach kept doing flips.

McGonagall got through the rest of the list, with both Frank and Laoise joining Alice at the Gryffindor table. The three friends made a plan to grab Benjy before the prefects could lead them off to their respective dorms to say their goodnights, and then dug into the perfectly prepared meal that appeared in front of them. There was pumpkin juice and turkey legs and treacle tarts galore, and Alice believed that she hadn’t seen this much food in her entire eleven years of living combined. 

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Dumbledore dismissed the students after dessert had been demolished, and the prefects began to call for their respective house’s first years. The three newly-appointed Gryffindors weaved their way through the throngs of people in the direction Benjy was in. When they caught up to him, you could hardly see his eyes for how wide he was smiling.

“I was so entirely wrong, mates. Ravenclaw is the best by far. These people actually understand me! Dearborn over there and I were going on and on about the Wizengamot during the feast, and it was an actual conversation! He wasn’t just nodding along politely!” Alice couldn’t help but laugh. She was ecstatic that her friend had found his place in Hogwarts so early on. 

The friends bidded a quick farewell to their Ravenclaw counterpart, and followed along at the back of the Gryffindor crowd up to their dormitory. Once there, the prefects gave a long spiel about the house rules and the common room password, plus the location of the dorms and the curfew times. The common room was breathtaking, Alice thought, but her dorm was beyond cozy and was sure to house many fond memories to come.

It was a hexagonal shaped room, with four beds all on their own wall, and a private bathroom directly across from the door to the room. Laoise’s bed is next to Alice’s, but they’re separated by the bathroom door. Aside from Laoise, Alice had two other roommates whom she got to meet at dinner. 

The first roommate, the one who took the bed directly next to Alice, is Diya. She is one of the prettiest people Alice has ever met, with thick, long black hair and tan skin. She was explaining to the group that her surname, Tiwari, is of Indian descent, but her parents moved to London right before she was born. Diya didn’t have much to say, but every time she spoke she captivated the entire room. She was direct with her words, but very kind, and Alice appreciated that about her.

Their fourth and final roommate, Rhian, was completely the opposite. She talked almost nonstop, and Alice didn’t think she ever once stopped smiling. Rhian grew up in Wales, and had an accent to match, so it took the girls a few times of hearing her speak to truly understand what she was saying. This didn’t seem to bother her though; she couldn’t stop giggling,her arms clutching her stomach every time Laosie made a face at her.

“Vaughan is my last name. I really feel like it matches me as a person. Don’t you think it really sums me up?”

“Rhian, nothing you’re saying makes any sense, love.” Diya threw a pillow at her from across the room. “I don’t understand how ‘Vaughan’ could sum up anyone, let alone a personality as big as yours.”

“My personality is lovely, thank you.” She waved her wand at it in an attempt to levitate it back to her, but the pillow stayed stagnant in its place on her lap. Letting out an exaggerated sigh, she peered over to see what her other roommates were up to.

Alice lay sprawled across Laosie’s bed reading “One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi” while Laosie sat at the end of the bed rooting through her trunk.

“I can’t find my Irish National Quidditch poster,” she pouted as she pulled her head out of the trunk, “That baby was meant to go right above my dresser so I could bow down to it every morning.” She flopped back on top of Alice, who made a noise and rolled her eyes, but didn’t move to get up.

“Suppose we should head to bed, girls?” Alice croaked out while placing her bookmark in the pages and closing the textbook, “We’ve got quite the day tomorrow.”

“Yeah, potions with the Slytherins bright and early. I can’t wait to see what Slughorn starts with,” Rhian seemed positively giddy as she tied up her curly hair.

“I’m glad at least you’re excited. I for one already know I’m going to be up against it in potions. Especially with the Slytherins joining us. I imagine I’ll be much more of a charms girl.” The dread in Diya’s voice was seeping out as the room grew darker and the girls returned to their beds. 

If she was being honest, Alice wasn’t bothered at all by potions, Slughorn, or even the Slytherins. All that occupied her mind as she drew the curtains on her four-poster was golden hair and an up-turned nose. Perhaps she’d find a way to see her tomorrow, and begin to solve the puzzle in her mind that was Narcissa Black.

Or perhaps she’d just keep dreaming.