Who: AJ Longbottom & Belle Weasley-West What: dealing with her emotions. Where: Outside of the Castle When: Friday morning.
Alice was not the sort of girl who wore the same clothing two days in a row, or stepped out without brushing her hair. She was also not the type of girl who slept in the clothing she’d wore either, and yet, there she was sitting on the steps of the castle with all of those things applicable. She’d been upset, about things Crouch had said, and about things her own family had said. She’d gone for a walk with Albus, and still couldn’t concentrate. She’d elected to go to her unfinished room in the castle. She had no clothing there, and all of her personal things stayed at the house. She didn’t want to go home, she knew it would be tense, and so she allowed herself to neglect the things she typically wouldn’t.
It’s not that Alice’s family had never argued before, because they had. Over stupid things like chores or curfews or little things. But this felt huge, and suffocating and she couldn’t remember seeing her parents on such different pages. It was neither parents fault. Neville wasn’t used to having her or Frankie, and was blind with anger when it came to crouch. Hannah had had more time with Frankie, and maybe she would have done things different, and was used to Neville being on the same page as her and felt frustrated. It was less her parents fault than it was the villages fault, she supposed.
Alice sat on the stairs, leaning against a stone pillar, and sighed. She knew she had to go home soon, but she was avoiding it.