Hope for The LongBottoms

Alice, sitting by the window, glanced briefly at the newcomers before turning back to count the people walking by on the street below. Her gaze was vacant, detached. Merriam gave Augusta and Alex a sympathetic nod before stepping out to give them some privacy.

Augusta walked up to Frank, taking his hand in hers. "Frank, you need to eat less sugar. Too much isn't good for you," she said softly, her voice filled with both love and heartbreak. She checked his clothes and bedding, meticulously ensuring everything was in order. The nurses clearly did their job well, but Augusta couldn't help herself; it was a mother's instinct.

Alex sat beside Alice, trying to engage her. "Alice, it's Alex. Do you remember me?" he asked gently, but she didn't respond, her attention still fixed on the window. Frank, meanwhile, clutched his candy, his focus entirely on the treat.

After a few moments, Alex turned to Augusta. "Mrs. Longbottom, I'd like to ask for your permission to do something."

Augusta looked up from adjusting Frank's blanket. "Why are you being so formal? Just say what's on your mind."

"I'd like to check their memories," Alex said carefully. "I know it might not help right now, but I want to see if there's something—anything—that could lead to a solution."

Augusta sighed heavily. "Alex, I know you mean well, but when it first happened, Dumbledore himself tried. If he couldn't help, what chance do you have? I don't want you wasting your energy on false hope."

"I understand," Alex replied earnestly. "But I'm still young, and just because I can't do something now doesn't mean I won't be able to in the future. And…" He hesitated, his voice softening. "I promised Neville I'd bring his parents back to him someday."

Augusta's stern expression softened. She studied Alex for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Give it a try. Maybe… maybe you'll find something everyone else missed."

Alex nodded gratefully and approached Frank. "Frank, it's Alex. I'm going to try something. It might feel a little strange, but I promise I'll be gentle."

He placed his hands lightly on Frank's temples and closed his eyes, focusing his thoughts. As soon as Alex ended the Legilimency spell, he sat back, drenched in sweat. Controlling his magical vision to delve into the depths of Frank's mind had been far more exhausting than he anticipated. The deeper he explored, the more frequent the memory fragments became, like drifting flotsam in an ocean of thought.

Within this boundless space, where directions held no meaning, Alex followed the memory fragments as though chasing a distant lighthouse. He moved steadily toward the areas where fragments clustered more densely. After what felt like an eternity of searching, he found the source of the problem—but the sight before him was staggering.

In his magical vision, an enormous, twisted mountain towered into the void. It wasn't made of stone but of countless memory bubbles and fragments, compressed and bound together into a chaotic, towering mass. Every moment of Frank's life—past and present—seemed to have accumulated here, fused unnaturally.

"What... is this?" Alex muttered to himself, his voice tinged with disbelief. He scrutinized the grotesque monument, determined to uncover its secrets. Something within the mountain glimmered faintly—a soft green light flickered deep inside the mass of memories.

Alex hesitated, weighing his options. Eventually, he decided to probe further. Carefully, he extended his magical "tentacle" of thought toward the mountain's peak, inching closer to the source of the green glow.

As soon as he made contact, Frank's body convulsed violently in the physical world. His previously blank, dazed expression twisted into a mask of anguish, and he began thrashing against his restraints. Startled by the sudden reaction, Alex immediately pulled back his tentacles, breaking the spell.

"What's happening?!" Augusta hurried over, alarmed by her son's outburst. But as Alex withdrew, Frank's struggling subsided. He returned to his usual catatonic state, his body going limp once more.

Augusta bent down to inspect Frank closely, her brows furrowed in concern. Despite her careful examination, she couldn't find anything visibly wrong with him. Her gaze then shifted toward Alex, filled with unspoken questions. Alex, still catching his breath, wiped the sweat from his brow. His voice was steady but tinged with fatigue. "Frank's situation is… complicated."

"You found something, didn't you?" Augusta asked, her tone sharp with a mix of urgency and hope.

"I think so," Alex admitted cautiously, "but I haven't figured it all out yet."

"What does that even mean?" Augusta pressed, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

Alex thought for a moment, trying to simplify his explanation. "All of Frank's memories seem to be… stuck together. It's as if the Cruciatus Curse twisted and fused them into a single mass. This mountain I saw—it's not natural. If we want to restore his memories, we'll need to somehow untangle this mess. But it's not as simple as pulling them apart."

Augusta paced the room, her fingers gripping the edges of her robe tightly. "So, you're saying there's a way to fix it, but it's dangerous?"

"Exactly," Alex nodded. "Memories aren't like bricks you can stack and unstack. They're fragile, and trying to tamper with them could cause even more damage. I've read every book I could find on memory magic, and I've never come across a case like this. Without guidance, I can't risk using Frank or Alice as experiments."

Augusta let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders sagging under the weight of his words. "I knew it wouldn't be simple… Still, thank you, Alex. Your effort means more than I can say. At least I know someone's trying. Even if they never recover, I'll be happy as long as I can see them."

"You don't have to give up hope just yet," Alex said, his tone firm. "I'll figure something out. I might not have the answer now, but knowing the cause is a step forward."

Augusta forced a small smile, appreciating his determination. "Thank you. Let's leave it here for today. It's been a long morning."

The two left St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries and Maladies with heavy hearts. Back at the Longbottom estate, Alex spent the next few days pouring over magical texts and scribbling down notes, but no breakthrough came. It seemed like he was at a standstill.

"I need more information," he muttered to himself, closing yet another fruitless book. "Maybe I should broaden my search. And while I'm at it, I can take care of… him."

The next day, Alex approached Augusta with a proposition. "I need to visit Diagon Alley for supplies. I'll head back to the house afterward."

Augusta nodded. "Be careful, and don't overdo it."

Taking Muggle transportation to the Leaky Cauldron, Alex was greeted by the familiar sight of its weathered wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze. Inside, the air was filled with the warm hum of conversation. Behind the bar, the ever-reliable Tom was polishing a glass, just as Alex had last seen him three years ago. "Boss, a butterbeer, please," Alex called out casually as he approached the counter.

Tom's head shot up at the familiar voice, and his face split into a wide grin. "Well, well! If it isn't Alex! You've got some nerve showing up after all these years, you rascal. Three years! Where've you been hiding?"