A Different Ending

Visiting Hours

They had flooded to Hogwarts, to Harry's amazement, and spoken about getting their house elves back. Dumbledore agreed or course and took them down to the kitchens. When Tizzy and Toby saw them they were so excited the jumped onto James.

"Master James has returned, we knew you weren't dead."

"Yes Tizzy i am not dead. We came to ask if you and Toby would be willing to work at the Potter Manor again."

"Oh yes Master James Tizzy and myself would be most happy."

"Ok do we need to bind you to us again?"

"That will not be necessary Tizzy and Toby would love to come work for Master James and Master Lily again. We will get our things." They jumped and ran away and apparated back to the Manor. James gave them money and they went shopping.

Later that afternoon, "James we should send letters to get in touch with people again. We need to owl Mary, Marlene, Dorcas, Alice and Frank. We could throw a party or something to reconnect."

"Sirius and Remus shared sad looks. "You tell her Rem i don't want her to kill me."

"Fine." Remus huffed.

"Tell me what? What happened." Lily now looked really worried. James put a hand on her shoulder but he was just as scared to get the news.

"You obviously don't remember but... Marlene's entire family was killed. And once you guys 'died' Dorcas disappeared. Nobody knows where she is. And Mary also moved when you guys were 'killed'." he turned away from her. "Sirius do i have to tell her about Alice and Frank."

"Are you going to make me do it?" Sirius looked very somber and unamused. Remus nodded.

"So this happened when you were in hiding, a couple days before halloween so we didn't tell you."

"Sirius..." Alice had been her best friend, the person she was closest to. The two of them were like James and Sirius, inseparable.

"Voldemort wanted information that they had... and they would give it up. They tortured the so much that... that.... They don't remember anything, not even Neville!" He blurted out the last part and Lily's eyes pooled.

"They have been in St. Mungo's since, Neville is with his grandmother." Remus but a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Can we go see them? I want to see Alice. Maybe i can get her to remember something. I know i can!"

"Lily..."

"No! Shes my best friends! I need to see her! Take me to her?" Her voice got very small at the end and started sobbing into James chest.

"Hey guys whats going on..." Peter had arrived.

"We just told her about Alice." Sirius clarified. His voice was almost cold.

"Were going to go see them once Lily stops crying. Are you going to come Pete." James was speaking over Lily's head.

"No, i cant ive tried to visit them before, it's too hard for me. I can't do it, i can stay back with harry if you want."

"Lily was wiping her eyes. "Thank you Peter that's very helpful. Let me go wash my face then we can go. Harrys in his room." She called over her shoulder as she walked away. Once she was out of view James conjured a small thing of tissues to prepare.

They had apparated into front of the wizarding hospital. Lily shivered remembering how much time they spent here in fourth year. She grabbed James' hand for support and walked through the door. It was just like she remembered, clean, white, almost to clean. They walked up to the front desk.

"Hello what can i do for you guys?" A tall dark haired witch looked up from the desk. At the same time her and Lily's eyes widened.

"Lily!" The healer ran around the desk and tackled her in a hug. "You're alive, you're here, you're not dead. I read the paper but i didn't let myself believe it. I can't believe you're here."

"Um... should i know you?" James raised an eyebrow. Laughing the healer stood and faced the trio behind Lily. The three boys eyes widened and all tackled her in a hug. "Dorcas!"

"Where have you been? Nobody knew where you've been for ten year." Remus spoke off to the left of James who was holding her shoulders.

"Well after you guys had supposedly died I quit the ministry, I quit being an auror, and i went to Beauxbatons to be a healer like i always wanted. I stayed in France for four years because i didn't want to face home again. It was like a ghost of you guys and everyone else. Then i did an exchange trip in America for St. Mungo's for two years, I came back and now i'm here. I usually work in the Janus Thickey Ward, but today is my day to do Alice and Frank so i switch and do reception so i don't have to see them." Her tone was solemn.

It quickly changed back at her normal bubbly happy tone. "Thats what ive been doing, what about you guys? Correction. What have you been doing Remus? I know the rest of you."

"I did the same as you i left England but traveled all around, worked, studied, just explored. I came back a year before i discovered Peter and have been with him since."

"That sounds interesting you will have to tell me about that later. Now what are you here for. Im guessing i know." She had retaken her seat behind the desk now.

"We've come to see Alice and Frank, Lily thinks she might be able to help." Sirius spoke for them all.

"Ok... I can take you up there if you like. Give Gwen her job back." She let out a forced laugh and beckoned for them to follow.

She took them up elevators and stairs and down a long hallway. They finally stopped outside a door that had, Alice and Frank Longbottom, engraved. Dorcas took a deep breath and pushed open the door and went it leaving the others in the hall. A short witch with bright pink hair walked out, she had a nametag that said Gwen.

"Go on in dears." She had a sad look on her face.

They pushed open the door and Dorcas already had tears in her eyes. There was Alice and Frank looking like they hadn't aged since they had last seen them. They weren't in hospital gown and look like they should come charging up and saying hello. They didn't, instead Frank looked curiously at the three Marauders and Alice was looking up at Dorcas like a little kid that had never seen this person before.

Lily went over and knelt next to Dorcas. "Alice... Alice can you hear me. Alice it's me Lily. Remember your best friend? We would talk about everything late into the night. I was the one who got you ready for your first date and helped you get with Frank. Alice... Alice.... Do you even know who i am anymore?" She wanted something, some sign that Alice recognized her. But Alice just looked at her, her eyebrows were furrowed. She reached out and touched Lily's long crimson hair, the hair that Alice would always style for fun. She put her hands on either side of Lily's face and stared into her eyes. Alice always said how much she loved her eyes. She stood and and gave Lily a gum wrapper, looked at her then took it back. She went over to a small box and brought out a picture.

Like the Marauders the girls covered one of their walls, but theirs was covered in pictures of them together. This one was of Lily one her way to her first date with James. She was blushing and laughing. Alice handed it to her and tilted her head asking a very obvious question. "Yes this is me. Do you remember me? Please say you remember?"

"Yes! Guys guess what...."