InsaneJournal

Snap-pop
Characters: Alice, Neville
When: post-arrival
Location: outside Neville's room
Warnings/Rating: None anticipated?
Summary: Alice sees a familiar name in an unfamiliar place, and is curious
Status: Complete

It was uncanny, but it wasn't the first time she'd accidentally floo'd herself somewhere she didn't mean to go. It didn't happen terribly often, but often enough it was a bit of a joke among her closer friends. So she rolled her eyes and turned to face the fireplace only to find no Floo powder present. Well, bugger that. With a shrug, she withdrew her wand to apparate herself back to somewhere familiar only to find that she couldn't. Well. This was a muddle, wasn't it? No flooing, no apparating. Which left flying -- if she'd had a broom -- or walking. Exhaling heavily (despite the fact she seemed to be alone with no witnesses to her exasperation), Alice turned to make her way along the train. She started toward the front (well, what she assumed was the front, given the motion), and she moved as though she had every bit of business being there. She offered nods to anyone who happened to catch her eye, but until she had the feel of this situation, she was going to work it on her own, thank you very much. When she reached some cars that appeared to be sleepers, she quirked a brow. She did notice names that looked neatly painted (or somehow imprinted) onto the doors, and she lifted her hand to trace one. The next name over caught her attention, and her brows lifted. If it wasn't for the wrong middle initial, she would have knocked -- but the Lily she knew was a Lily Belle, not a Lily L. All the same, it was yet another uncanny thing about the evening. As she continued on through the car, she kept a close eye on the names. The next familiar one was Percy Weasley, and she recognized that last name, too. So far, a couple dozen names, and two of them familiar. Unsettled, she continued along, moving easily between the cars. The next familiar name she came across caused her to do a double-take, and she very nearly tripped over her own feet. Neville? How on Earth was her infant son here? It had to be ... some other Neville. Longbottom. Because that was a horribly common name. Perplexed, she lifted a hand before she stopped herself. Could it be a trap? It was possible. Things were getting very intense, after all. But was it likely? She'd been here for a solid five minutes, and no Death Eaters had leapt out at her. But ... she couldn't not knock. The worst that happened was ... well, some bloke who shared her son's name answered the door, she had a moment or two of awkward conversation, and she continued on with her dogged pursuit of answers. Lifting her hand the rest of the way, she rapped sharply twice on the door, and awaited a response.