I'm a loser baby

asteraki-nikoleta​:

“No, I’m not. But it’s not so much awkward as it is interesting…” Nikoleta smiled softly at Frank, making her way through the small crowd over to him. “Besides, there are plenty of parents here who had some….apprehensions of the professor to replace Professor Sinistra, this was a perfectly good way to ease there minds.” In truth that was the biggest part of why she was here, though she had also just wanted the opportunity to socialize with people other than her fellow professors. She had seen a few milling about here and there, including Frank’s father Neville. Nikoleta hadn’t been surprised when he had told her who his father was, and in truth she absolutely could see the resemblance now that she knew both of them.

“And what about you, Frank? It must be nice to catch up with old friends, but I imagine with your father’s position here at the school it sometimes feels like you never left?”

“Wait, what do they have against you?” Frank eyed her up and down. The dress she had on was a deep blue ballgown, with her hair tied back in curls. While Frank knew everyone was putting in effort, she looked effortless.

“If they didn’t want you, then they could find someone else to replace you, right? Besides…” Frank’s eyes darted from side to side, though it wouldn’t have mattered; there weren’t very many people in the hall. “… I’ve been told they’re so desperate for professors that they’re hiring from Durmstrang.”

There was a special kind of person, in Frank’s mind, who could be a professor, and it wasn’t a position people were really eager to fill as far as he was aware.  

He led the two of them further down the hall, navigating his way to the familiar grounds of the castle. The greenhouses felt further than Frank realized, especially since he had wandered out so far in the middle of the night.

oxfordasp​:

Albus watched the other man draped across the bottom of his bed and his legs and grinned.  He nibbled at one of the pastries, giving a pleased little hum.  Company was nice.  Especially company that was as easygoing and comforting as Frank.  Plus, easy on the eyes.  God what he wouldn’t give to be in another bed but a a hospital one.  

“You have no idea.  Surprised you didn’t see half the clan camped out ya know?” he grumbled, poking rather viciously at a cupcake.  “Though you got to meet my goons!  I think they’ll be around for a while now…” he sighed.  Which that wasn’t a possible thing.  

“Dude!  I did!  At the end!  Once!” he squawked, looking put out.  But Frank wasn’t wrong.  He’d done a pretty awful job of defending himself.  Or putting up a fight as any sort of magic user.  He sighed and slumped backwards, shoving half a cookie into his mouth.  He was going to have to do so many laps for all this he was eating.  “Uh, dude of course.  I mean my hiding plan was really just like…under your bed?  You’d feed me and hide me right?” he asked with a fake little pleading voice.  He waggled his eyebrows.  

“At this point, I’m just looking forward to going back to Oxford and sitting on my balcony and being incredibly relaxed.” 

“You know, I’m kind of glad I missed them? I like your siblings and all, and I guess your parents are... cool? I don’t know. But it’s hard to be around people who are like, super paranoid like all the time, you know?”

That wasn’t to say there weren’t things to be paranoid about, case in point having already happened. But after having talked with Arlo, it was hard to imagine what kind of evil lurked around the corners that it was easier to ignore that they existed. Sure, Frank was worried about Albus—but no one had any real idea what they were up against.

“So are you planning on sharing any of those?” Frank asked with a falsified concern, turning his head to Albus. One of his hands slid along Albus’s thighs, trying to be fake sneaky by pulling the box towards him from underneath. He could make more at home, but that required him to actually leave, and just because he could make more cupcakes, doesn’t mean that he had a good occasion for it.

evan-rg-jr​:

Evan felt mildly overdressed for such an event, but with pureblood - for the most part - parents that grew up with at least some form of etiquette lessons meant some things stuck. It didn’t matter that both of his dads had escaped from that lifestyle, old habits died hard and being well-dressed was one of them. His other problem was that he thought it made him stand out right now. Most people were used to seeing him in a t-shirt and jeans, not a full suit.

It was strange in general to see all these people back in one place, all the generations mixed, because some of them knew his family in the past and were openly glaring at him as he walked by. Earlier, he’d snatched his name tag off the table and shoved it in his pocket before most people could see, but that didn’t stop people. Anybody that knew him closely, knew that sort of thing.

When Frank spoke up behind him, Evan jumped a little and his showed despite his best attempts to hide it. “Hey, Frank,” he mumbled, “It’s lovely. Though the whole thing is weird to me…just strange to be back, and I forgot how few friends I actually had at school, but whatever. How’s the night been for you so far? See anybody you forgot about?”

“Oh, I think I’ve seen just about everyone!” Frank didn’t want to say he was popular back when he was in school, but he certainly had a lot of friends and tried to get along with everyone he met. It was easy when everyone knew his dad and he knew most of the castle’s secrets, just short of having the Marauder’s Map. “How about you? Did you get a chance to talk to Professor Longbottom?”

Frank was teasing. Evan had mentioned before that Herbology wasn’t his strong suit, though Frank didn’t question it too much aside from when they first met. In his mind, anyone could be good at Herbology if they tried.

“What do you mean few friends? I mean—they never host events like these, you know, I’m sure you could make some new ones! Even from people you only sort of knew then. I don’t know what house you were in, but maybe it’s time to start talking to some Gryffindors or something in the meantime? I know they like to party!”

leah-proudmore​:

Leah was just standing there between the people admiring the great hall. She stood in that homely place nearly three years ago and she could still feel it like if she had never left. She had a butterbeer in her hand and she couldn’t stop smiling. 

Leah turned around when she heard Frank’s voice. “Oh, hi” Leah smiled wider “Oh I was just wandering around the centre… to be honest I got lost” chuckled Leah softly as she cheeks got covered in red “But I found a little party dress shop” continued the brunette “Oh I just followed the advice that you gave me and after an hour trying ton different colours and styles I went home with this one” said Leah bowing a little happy to be wearing a beautiful dress and also wearing his old house colour. “Oh Mrs ‘Everything-I-touch-suits-me’ you’ve been shopping as well?” chuckled Leah. “Oh, no, I just got the owl… well as everybody here” explained “but I’m ready for everything” chuckled softly “But if anything happens…” Leah showed him her little golden purse “…I’m always ready” smiled.

“Yes” smiled “You know I asked for ‘Frank’s special Butterbeer’ but they didn’t know how to prepare it” laughed along with him “But your secret is safe with me, no-one will know the recipe”.

“Oh?” Frank was actually surprised she had taken him seriously, because he hadn’t taken himself all that seriously when they had chatted. Sure, Frank had a flexible schedule, but who had the time? He wasn’t sure if he was more proud or more impressed with what she ended up going with. “And how long did that take you to find the perfect outfit? I mean, it suits you—but I’m surprised that it was what you picked!”

Frank shrugged; she wasn’t wrong about everything suiting him, and it was probably because he was so freakishly tall that everything looked somewhat ridiculous on him, so he had to adapt or die as far as fashion was concerned. “Nah, my mom bought this suit for me.”

He didn’t go into further detail, though he did glance over her head to see that his mom was still distracted with her Hufflepuff friends as to not glare at him for having shown up in all green, with his shoes sparkling nearly blinding people who looked at it from the wrong angle.

FRANK LONGBOTTOM - HUFFLEPUFF’S PRIDE

TRANSFIGURED - The suit is handed down from Neville, but tailored by Hannah to fit since Frank is a few inches taller than his father. Unfortunately, she didn’t agree with the new color scheme--Frank’s suit was not originally green. Rather, it was a happy accident when his own sister was trying to charm her own dress. He’s not in Slytherin house, but it suited him much more fashionably than the original color that he doesn’t remember anymore.

It was nice that all of Frank’s friends were finally all in one place. He did feel a bit envious knowing that most of them all scattered—because if you weren’t working in Diagon Alley, you were definitely working for the Ministry, and the Ministry sent you where they felt like sending you. It was easier for young people to be sent to random field offices all over the country, or even international if you were lucky.

Where Finn had gone, Frank wasn’t so sure. Journalisrm seemed like such a busy profession, though Frank couldn’t find more interesting people than his corner of Diagon Alley.

Frank clapped a hand over Finn’s shoulder. They weren’t in the same houses, but Frank never felt like there was ever a difference between the two of them every time they met. In spite of the time, it felt like they just picked up where they left off. If Finn has changed, Frank had no idea.

“Are you here working?” Frank asked, reaching over to grab a glass. It was daintier than the Butterbeer mugs, and the wine glasses at the Cauldron were charmed against particularly nasty customers. “Like, you’d be covering the biggest night in the magical world—that’s some big league shit, right?” 

The reunion had been a wonderful night so far, though Frank wished there was a much less formal event. Hufflepuff House knew how to have fun dressed down, and he’d rather have a housewide pillowfort in the empty classrooms than this. He waved and embraced his friends, careful not to knock their wine over their clothes.

Damn, did he wish that he didn’t have to be on his best behavior. Small talk wasn’t his deal and he was already hoping someone would suggest some kind of afterparty. Frank turned around, realizing that someone was behind him. “Hey, how’s it—oh.”

It was not that he did not like Caleb. Caleb was just fucking weird. He was a little younger than Frank, but he just had some bad vibes trying to rub elbows with Slytherin house. And while there wasn’t anything wrong with interhouse unity, Frank couldn’t help it feel that, for how accepting Hufflepuff house was, Caleb just refused it.

But he had been wrong before, though he wasn’t out to prove himself wrong now. He stood up a little straighter, though there was no need because he towered over just about everybody, and repeated his question with as much stiff politeness as he could. “How’s it going?”

Among everyone’s dazzling colors, Leah Proudmore was easy to spot. She wore a statement red, though Frank wondered if she chose it to represent her house. It looked good on her, though she didn’t really strike him as someone who tried to stand out.The first time they met, he felt like he had to coax her out, and he still didn’t really know her beyond the fact that she was a customer.

“So where did you go shopping this time?” Frank asked. Girls were into that sort of thing, weren’t they? Frank’s mother had picked out his clothes for him for the occasion, though he didn’t really understand why this was so important. “And are you here on Auror duty?”

He knew that Albus had come, so technically that meant that everyone was safe now right? It everyone got an invitation, that also meant the Death Eaters did too, right? But no one there was really dressed for a fight, were they? Frank sure as hell wasn’t planning to do any running in his suit. It was too nice for the sweat stains.

“So are they having butterbeer? That boring, boring butterbeer?” Frank laughed at his own joke in reference to the half-shot he served her the other evening.

Frank’s second job at the art shop had passed with relative uneventfulness, and Frank really preferred it that way. With Albus trying to skewer dark wizards, Frank was grateful not to have found a Death Eater’s den when he had gone looking. But had Frank been the one who ended up at the hospital, he was sure that there would have been no national news about it.

He shouldn’t have been surprised to find Evan at the reunion, but it was weird seeing him out of the art shop. It reminded Frank of how people were surprised that he, who eternally stood behind the bar serving drinks, could sometimes leave the Leaky Cauldron. Evan was not at the shop all the time, but Frank never thought about him outside of it either.

He never did ask his father about him. It just never came up and Frank didn’t go see Neville that often now that Frank has moved back to London. Maybe now was a good time to make some introductions, though Neville had wandered off to talk to a Patil twin.

“What’s the buzz, boss man?” Frank asked Evan. While he respected Evan, it didn’t stop him from sounding so casual around him. “What’s your opinion on the decor?”

Frank has been back to the castle a few times, though he has spent the majority on his time at Hogsmeade after he finished school that he could stop in whenever he wanted. Usually it did take his dad asking for help maintaining the greenhouses, and Frank found himself wishing he was there instead of the Great Hall. His friends were enjoying the food, though many were tempted to sneak into the kitchens to get a more exclusive menu than the one that was prepared for them there.

He followed them out long enough before making a wrong turn on purpose, though it should not have surprised him when he had company. Frank wasn’t so far from the Great Hall so there were still people milling about, but he stopped to pay attention to a familiar face.

“You’re not an alumni, are you?” He asked. “How awkward is it then that everyone here is totally like, oh Merlin, it’s been forever? I mean if I’m being honest, it really hasn’t been forever at all.”

Frank found the school to feel newer, now that it was under the blanket of the evening. He had a few memories of sneaking out at night, but the mystery of it made it worth savoring more.

asteraki-nikoleta​:

“My house in school was made up of students studying astronomy, mythology, magical literature, and divination as their main subjects…so just a little, but it wasn’t my focus. Though you mentioned your father, is he on staff at the castle?” Her eyebrow quirked just a bit, smiling a little playfully herself when he broke eye contact.

“Since childhood? That’s quite a time….so your family also owns The Leaky Cauldron as well as your father being at the castle? Your life must be quite interesting…” She laughed a bit at his question, shrugging a little. “You could say I’m a little tired of it…any recommendations for replacements?”

“Oh ho ho!” Frank did find Divination interesting, but the way she talked about her school was the most fascinating thing she had mentioned so far. “So what are the other houses then?”

Frank had heard of Ilvermorny, he could never know for sure what house he would be if he had gone to school in the States instead. Perhaps that would make his life more interesting than he thought it was, considering that his grandfather was an Auror and his father was actually a little famous for, I don’t know, killing a Horcrux?

“That depends—what do you feel like drinking? If you really want something out of a professor’s comfort zone, I’d just give you straight shots of muggle tequila. That’ll make you dance, let me tell you.”

The pub had mostly magical drinks, but since they also had to cater to the few muggle parents who accompanied their students during school supply season, there were muggle favorites too. Frank thought those were more interesting sometimes.

He grinned, as if to seal the deal. “Once you order, I’ll tell you who my dad is.”

leah-proudmore​:

“You’re right” laughed Leah “But I have to say that I won’t answer to that question as long as I don’t want my boy to hear it” explained Leah. The last this she wanted was Harry to hear she told someone his son’s name was strange or anything like that.

“Oh, I dont’ really think my clothes are in style to be honest” smiled Leah. She really liked using muggle clothes, as Frank said before muggle clothes were better, but as long as she had been really focused on her training she didn’t really had time to think about her wardrove. Maybe now that she was working, thanks to Harry’s willing to get to work as soon as possible frgetting about her last training day, she could look for some time to get some stylish clothes. “But I don’t know where should I look for them or how does the people get dressed nowadays” admitted as her cheeks burned slighly as they were covered in red, she really sounded to herslef as she was an old lady.

“To be honest you’re right” smiled Leah “But as long as I’ve just been — I don’t know if hired is the word, but” rambled Leah before keep talking “I’ve just been given the oportunity to get to work forgetting my last year of training” said Leah with a proud smile on her face “Maybe I could tell Harry about your brilliant idea” smiled wide looking at Frank.

“Oh, right—he’s your boss…” Frank couldn’t help but lean in conspiratorially though. Having worked at in the food industry long enough, he was privy to people’s conversations whether they wanted him to be or not, and maybe that was what made him such a gossip. “So what’s working with him like? Especially since he let you off the hook one year early?”

He wasn’t sure if Leah Proudmore were going to be honest with him, though he had a tendency to assume that no one was really telling the truth unless they said something he agreed with. Perhaps this was a quality in his character that he should work on, but he didn’t really know that being biased towards his own ideas of what should and shouldn’t be was a bad thing.

“I dunno. I haven’t gone shopping in a while either,” Frank admitted. “I guess you just… go into the store… and try things on and see what look nice? Unless you’re me, in which case, everything I touch looks good on me.”

Where the hell did that confidence come from? The girl in front of him already seemed impressed, despite the fact that she had just announced something way cooler than just looking good in muggle clothes. She must have been very good at her job, but Frank didn’t know shit about being trained as an Auror.

“Now, did you want another drink to celebrate? I don’t know how many people who are so good—or so lucky—” If Frank were being honest, he didn’t know very many people who did go through Auror training. “—but aren’t you scared? Like, wouldn’t you be missing a lot of training if they decided to let you skip a whole year?”

oxfordasp​:

“Because I want to make sure.  I’m wounded,” Albus whined dramatically.  And then he let out a woosh of air as he had parcels in his lap.  He hummed, poking about and selecting a delicious looking cupcake to munch before whatever evil nurse his sister had stuck him with confiscated it on health grounds.

Really, it was torture.  

He shuffled a bit to the side, making room for Frank on the bed and grinning up at his friend.  He liked that someone wasn’t treating him like broken glass or anything different.  He was still him.  And people who remembered that.  He let out an affronted squawk.

“The world should have ground to a halt!  I’m wonderful.”  He stuffed another bit of cupcake in his mouth and gave an outsized pout before keeping on.  “Yeah Yeah, I know.  Defense magic was never my specialty.  But I stabbed the guy.  With a bottle.” He tried to look proud at that and huffed a laugh.  “I should have really done that rather than going out to meet friends for a drink…”

--

Frank sat where Albus had left room for him, though Frank let his back drop onto Albus’s legs while he faced the ceiling. If Albus were really that injured, it wasn’t Frank’s responsibility to make sure he was healed—though if Frank were being honest, his boxes of treats were certainly doing Albus much more good than anything St. Mungo’s had to offer.

He did a little scoff at Albus’s demands. Frank wasn’t aware of the Potter’s family plans, aside from what he had inferred from the bits and pieces that he picked up—either from people whispering loudly at the pub or from what he managed to get out of people who did interact with them.

“I mean… the world hasn’t dropped everything for you, though I’m sure your whole family’s gone mad over what happened. I think. I haven’t actually talked to any of them.” Frank snorted at the retelling of what happened. “Your dad’s an Auror and you couldn’t pull the most basic expelliarmus out of your ass? Who are you even? Besides—you’d tell me where your secret hiding place is, right?”

asteraki-nikoleta​:

“Oh no, I only started in the position two years ago…though I imagine you must’ve been an excellent student so it is a shame.” Nikoleta grinned a bit, leaning forward a bit herself when he did. “I have heard wonderful things about Professor Sinistra, though I never had the pleasure of taking her class, growing up in Greece rather than the UK would have that effect.”

She laughed a little at his question, tilting her head slightly to look at him. “Once or twice every few weeks…normally late since I do have classes to plan for and assignments to grade. What about you, new hire?”

“How can you tell if someone’s going to be an excellent student?” Frank playfully broke eye contact when she made that comment about him.  She might have meant it to be poking fun at Frank, but he was genuinely curious. “Don’t tell me you’re into Divination too—or did my dad start talking about me to the new faculty?”

He was always genuinely impressed when people could read tea leaves, cards, the stars, or whatever. While he didn’t think he really believed in that sort of thing, he really only believed that he can’t actually do any of the predicting.

“New hire?” Frank laughed, using his wand to levitate a from the shelves. He hadn’t asked her for an order yet. “New to you, maybe—but I’ve been here for years. Since I was a kid even, and every summer while I was working at Hogwarts.”

It sounded a little boring when he said it out loud, but that didn’t mean he was no less proud of it, in spite of how much he wanted to leave. His plans weren’t so grand so much as he didn’t see himself in a managerial position like his mother.

vxlyahontov​:

“I guess you are right in that regard,” she said with a shrug, “I guess I forget how many people still work in this area. My work can sometimes leave me a bit…isolated.” She followed him through the crowds towards the bar, quickly taking a seat in the first available stool she spotted and taking off her bulky coat. “That doesn’t surprise me, my mum works at the Ministry, she’s always telling me how she comes here for lunch whenever she can,” she said with a small smile. Valerie rubbed her hands together to warm them up as her eyes quickly scanned the menu, “just anything warm and sweet would be amazing, these old bones don’t do well with the cold,” she said with a small laugh, “and you don’t have to do that, it’s a mutual never getting to see each other, but thank you.” Tucking her hair behind her ear she looked up at him with a smile, “I guess now I just owe you one.” It was strange, talking with him after so many years. She could still feel the lingerings of the silly crush she’d had on him fluttering in her chest, but they were easy enough to ignore. She’d never had many friends at school, but Frank had been one of the few she may have counted. “So did you get up to much when you finished school? We didn’t really keep in contact and now I feel like you’re a completely different person to me.”

--

“What are you doing now?” He sort of felt bad that Valerie felt isolated, but she had never been the one to seek out crowds when she was in school. “You should come visit more often. Maybe with your mum. And then you can pay me back. If you want something with a little alcohol, I can get that for you too.”

He quickly handed her the butterbeer over the counter, circling the top of it with his wand to properly warm it up for her.

“Different how?” Frank wasn’t sure how he changed—even if he did look back he realized that he was a rather embarrassing teen. He didn’t think he matured much either; he was still at a loss then as he was now for what his next steps should be. Perhaps having the goal was what was different.

“I’ve just been working,” Frank answered, though he understood that what he had to say was sort of vague. “I mean, trying to figure out what I really want to do, you know?”

leah-proudmore​:

Leah chuckled when she saw the bartender, Frank, bowling. “The sixth” Leah smiled “Five more Frank Longbottoms, that just make your name… special?” Leah had heard a couple of times his last name maybe her father talked about his father or something, but she didn’t really know why she made that comment “Well, at least you know your name is important in your family

Leah couldn’t help but feel her cheeks burn after the wink.“Maybe I wasn’t expecting the fire whiskey shot” Leah said softly “But I repeat that I can handle it, I was just joking” Leah chuckled softly “But it is your fault if I ask for this, instead of a regular butterbeer” Leah admitted with a grin.

“Nearly two years” Leah said shyly “Next month I’ll be twenty” Leah smiled. “Yeah, you’re right they always look at you in a strangely if you wear a cloak” Leah laughed softly, she had experienced a couple of time being the centre of the attention. “Yeah, totally agree and I wish I could be something different to work but you know Ministry rules” Leah struggled a bit, she definitely liked better her muggle clothes even if they were just locked in her wardrove.

--

“I mean at least I’m not named Albus Severus,” Frank laughed. “What kind of dummy thought of that one?”

Even Albus himself should have a bit of humor about how terrible his name was, right? Frank lifted his wand to put some of the clean glasses back onto the shelf, though he might just need to bring them down again if she did order another spiked drink.

“Ha! No wonder your clothes still fit you! But—” Frank had been the king of growth spurts while he was younger, but now there was something else that he was concerned about. It wasn’t that what she was wearing was bad, but wizards weren’t really known for being well-dressed, especially since they didn’t bother keeping up with the muggles sometimes when they were supposed to try and fit in. “—is anything in your closet still in style?”

If Frank watched muggle television, he would be aware that muggle policemen also wore uniforms, but to him it didn’t make sense why the Aurors had a stick up their ass about clothes. He didn’t really understand what it meant to be professional.

vxlyahontov​:

She watched as he moved around her, mopping up the puddles left by other patrons and such. When he asked if she wanted him to dry her off she nodded, a relieved smile settling on her lips. “Please, I’m still useless at those kind of charms, I’d just as likely set myself on fire,” she said with a soft laugh, standing still so he could dry her off with ease, her hair curling back into it’s unruly waves as it dried. She shrugged in response to his question, “the weather, really. I was running some errands nearby and got caught in the rain, so I thought I’d follow the masses and try and find some sanctuary here. I wasn’t expecting to run into anyone.” Once she was dry she stepped out of the doorway, further into the building, “how long have you been working here for? If I’d known I’d have visited more often.” She looked around at the crowds, rubbing her cold hands together in an attempt to warm up her frozen fingers, she’d always run cold. Aside from Frank she couldn’t see anyone she recognised, which came as a small relief to the woman, less people to make small-talk with. “Do you see many of our old schoolmates here, or not really?” she asked, turning her attention back to him with a small smile.

“Well, you see, it’s also my job to clean the floors—wanna make sure no one has to go to St. Mungo’s just by walking in.” Frank had an amused inflection in his voice. He waved his wand over her, careful not to make the charm too hot as it dried the wet out of her clothes. “Although—if you’re ‘following the masses’, then I don’t think it should be that surprising for you to see someone!”

Frank inspected the floor and waited for the door to open again, though no one else had really come in. In the meantime, this was good enough for how crowded the pub was; he couldn’t dry everyone off himself.

“I’ve been here for a few months?” Frank had lost track of time. “It almost doesn’t matter, it’s like the same thing every day—I mean I guess I see some people, sometimes they just ended up working in the Alley. A lot of Ministry people show up sometimes, but this isn’t like a place to hold a business meeting or anything.”

He moved back behind the bar, making sure not to lose her in the crowd. “Do you want anything?” Without skipping a beat, he added: “It’ll be my treat. I never get to see you.”