It's Nice To Have A Friend

4) Intervention

Mary had prepared everything she needed to help out FP, so when he came into the apartment at the end of the day, everything was ready to teach him how to make a proper meal. She loved cooking, but she loved helping her friends even more.

"Are you ready for your first lesson?" Mary gleamed when he stood next to her, already having wide, confused eyes.

"It's brave of you to be my teacher." FP smirked, knowing that it was going to be a challenge for her too.

"It's braver of you to come ask me for help." She gave him a warm smile, which FP truly appreciated. Asking for help definitely wasn't his strong suit.

"First, you want to heat the water, alright? Turn on the stove on its lowest, so it's cooking when we have finished cutting the vegetables." She explained to him.

He immediately took a pan, filled it with water and put it on the stove, before slightly turning it on.

"Okay. Done." It was a tiny step, but he was convinced that with Mary's help, he could really learn something.

"Then, you want to cut the courgette in slices. Can you do that?" She handed him a plate, knife and courgette. He looked at it a little sheepishly.

"Look, like this." She showed him how to cut them exactly right, which made it easier for FP to follow.

"Take some pepper and salt, to give it a little bit more taste." She instructed him.

He nodded, and looked at the cabinet where they kept their spices, and shoved everything aside to find out what else was there that they could use, until his eyes fell on a tiny orange bottle with a white lid. It definitely wasn't part of their gigantic spice collection.

"Mare? What's this?" He took it and showed it to his friend, hoping she would know what it meant.

"Alice's name is on this. It's Adderall." She read the inscription, before meeting FP's eyes.

"That's why she is acting so energetic." It explained so much, which was both a relief and bigger concern than before.

"It's almost empty. Look at the date. She only picked this up a few days ago. She's using way too much." She had taken off the lid to see how much was left and easily had a conclusion ready.

"That can't be good, huh?" FP wondered, believing he had to be worried too, even though he felt like she didn't deserve that from him.

Before they could even discuss what to do, the front door opened, revealing Hermione who has just gotten home from work.

"Look at the two of you in the kitchen, you're adorable." She gushed, seeing the love of her life and her best friend cooking together was a sweet sight for her.

"What is it? It looks like you've seen a ghost." She said, joking slightly. However, she didn't know what they had just found out.

Mary handed her over the bottle, for her to come to the same conclusion as they had done a minute ago.

"Adderall? Okay, so? Her prescription isn't our business, is it?" Hermione said, feeling as if she was imposing.

She didn't even want to know where they had found it, too afraid they had been snooping in her stuff.

"She's using way too much, Hermione." Mary argued, telling her with one look that they were just worried about her well-being, not that they were judging her.

"Do we have to say something?" Hermione asked, a little nervous. She wasn't a fan of confrontation.

"I think we do." FP said, finally speaking up. He might be mad at her, but she could be in big trouble.

"Take it from a guy who's very grateful that you pointed out his drinking behavior. Without you I'd probably be an alcoholic." He said, his cheeks flushing slightly.

It had been a while ago, but he still remembered it vividly. When he drank now, he always made sure not to cross a line.

"It might be innocent, but if it's not, she can become addicted. I don't want that for her." He said, explaining why he cared.

"I feel bad. I don't want to impose." Hermione said quietly, looking down at the bottle again.

"She's staying here for free, Hermione. I want to know who's in my home. I love Alice, but we've got to know what's going on. We can't safe her from something that we don't know about." Mary said, which Hermione couldn't disagree with. They needed to confront her.

**

"You guys think it's serious?" Fred had come home not much later, and was quickly caught up with the situation. He wasn't so sure they had to worry this much.

"This is Alice we're talking about. She used to take a pill every now and then. Come on, we've all done it." Fred argued, which he believed was a valid point. What was the harm?

"XTC or Jingle Jangle isn't the same, Fred. We used to do that to party, Alice seems to be using it to distract from anything that she's feeling." Mary said, having realized already this went further than just taking one for pleasure or to simply concentrate.

"It can be bad, Freddie. We're just worried about her." FP said, which was enough for Fred to realize that maybe they should talk to her.

FP wasn't easily worried, and it was well known he was pissed at her. If even he wanted to talk to her, than it must be serious.

"Alright, I trust you. She's going to be pissed, though." He said, preparing them for what was about to come.

"Nothing I can't handle. If she snaps, she can deal with my anger. You guys have nothing to worry about." FP said, knowing that if she would lash out on anyone, he would put her in her place.

**

When Alice came home around nine from her shift, the other four were sitting in the living room, all eyes turning her way.

"You all look... serious." She chuckled a little uncomfortable as she hung up her coat.

"You didn't cut your hair." FP's eyes softened when he noticed she still had her long curls. She had said she would cut it, but it seemed that she changed her mind.

"I didn't... I liked it this way." She gave him a soft smile. It was thanks to him she had kept her signature curls.

"Please sit down." Mary gestured for the couch, the spot between Fred and FP.

"What the hell is going on?" Alice asked confused, again focusing on the seriously worried faces of her friends.

"Is this an intervention?" She joked slightly. They didn't move a muscle.

"Oh god, it's an intervention." She gasped, realizing what it meant.

Mary took the orange bottle out of her hands and handed it over to Alice, who's face turned pale.

"Where did you find this?" She asked quietly.

"FP did, tucked away with the spices." Mary said, her voice soft.

"It helps me focus. That's all." Alice said, knowing she needed to defend herself.

"We know you use more than you're allowed to, Alice. That's dangerous." Mary argued as carefully as she could, not wanting to scare her away, but needing to be direct too.

"We're not here to attack you, we just want to help you as much as we can." Hermione added softly, meaning every word. If she was struggling, they would be there for her. That was a promise.

Alice's shoulder softly started to shock, and she couldn't win the battle against her tears any longer. She sniffed softly, while her tears began to run free.

"Hey, hey... what's going on?" Fred put his hand on her back and softly stroke it up and down to comfort her. It helped a little.

"I've been taking these for years. Hal gave them to me." Alice confessed quietly, afraid to look at them, too ashamed.

"Alice, what happened with Hal?" Mary finally had dared to ask what has been on her mind ever since she stood there in her wedding dress. It was time for the truth.