The Prince's Tale

【11】The double meaning of being strong——Augusta Longbottom

【"No one is born strong. I hope you will never have a day as strong as me."】

July [-]th, [-], left only a glimpse in my long life, and it passed away quietly.I don't quite know what happened in the last few hours of that day.All I remember is that I drank a lot and had a splitting headache, probably carried back by Edward like a broomstick.

Edward... I remembered the words I had yelled at him, and suddenly felt guilty... It took a lot of effort for me to open my eyes and adjust to the harsh sunlight in the room.I was surprised to see Edward, bloodshot and stubbled, sitting in front of the hospital bed, staring blankly at a spot on the sheet, not even noticing that I was awake.I was so weak that I had to clear my throat, and only then did I see Edward's eyes regain one-tenth of their usual brilliance.

"What's wrong with you?" I frowned and asked him tentatively, "Is it because of work?"

This must be the first time I've asked about his work unsolicited.But after a long time, he still just looked at me quietly and didn't speak.I really panicked this time.

"Looking at your expression, you won't be fired, are you?" I said cautiously, and then showed a relaxed smile that I didn't even think of myself, "It's okay, I will support you!" At that moment, I really Thought Edward would never have to go to work at the Ministry of Magic again, and our fireplace would finally be safe from uninvited guests.I even started planning that maybe we could go on vacation and go to the warm seaside to enjoy the sea breeze and sunshine.

I thought afterwards that maybe it was the sentence I said "I support you!" that woke up Edward, a proud and arrogant lion.

"Jane, you can't make fun of your body anymore," Edward said in the serious tone of a teacher disciplining a student or a boss scolding a subordinate, "You know you—"

"I know, I just drank too much wine—" I said nonchalantly, but this nonchalant look seemed to offend the Gryffindor lion again.

"'Didn't you just drink too much?'" he repeated me angrily. "Did you know you were pregnant!"

My eyes widened, my surprised expression almost fell to the ground.

"I really don't know..." I said weakly.Edward looked at my innocent appearance, angry and funny.

On March 21, [-], my son Edward and I, Alan William Jones, was born.He has the same blue eyes as Edward's father.Edward insisted on giving him an "A" name.I had no choice but to use, with equal determination, William's name as the middle name of little Ellen.

Ever since little Ellen was born, my life has been completely occupied by this little guy.At the busiest time, I even called Fila, the house-elf who stayed in the manor, over.

"Miss Jane finally thinks of Fira!" The thin elf cried and wiped away tears at my feet, "Fira thought Miss Jane abandoned Fira!"

Little Alan burst into tears when he heard such a sharp voice.Faintly, I found myself drowned in the duet of babies and elves, two species known for their high-pitched voices and loud cries.

But to be fair, with Phila's help, my workload has been reduced a lot.It's just that I find Edward a little awkward every time he sees me ordering Fila to work.This time I really couldn't figure out the key to it, but I still made up my mind to send Fila back to the manor when I am not so busy.

In [-], Edward received the official appointment as the Deputy Director of the Auror Office. Since then, the frequency of welcoming uninvited guests by the fireplace at home has changed from once a month to once a fortnight.Three months later, I got into a big fight with him, after which he moved to the office for a month before moving back home again.Before that, I was almost ready for a divorce.

In [-], my pharmacy opened a fourth branch.I stopped arguing with him about whether there was an intruder in the fireplace because I started getting as busy as he did.The current residence is not so much the home of our family of three, but rather the home of Ellen and Fira, and the hotel of Edward and me.

In [-], I had to have a good talk with Edward because of a special letter.That's when I woke up with a start - it seemed like it had been a long time since my husband had sat down to have a good conversation, we hadn't even sat down for breakfast.

I suddenly remembered the days when we worked together in Diagon Alley.I remembered that he approached me every now and then with all kinds of reasons, just to find out if I was working for the mysterious person; I think of those warm and unreal afternoons when we sat in the ice cream shop; So many things can be said; and now we have almost become a couple in name, the most familiar strangers.

At the age of 33, I have finally reached the age where I start to miss the past crazily.

On Tuesday morning I went to the Ministry with a letter from Algie Longbottom.Now I am not even sure whether Edward can listen to me seriously and undisturbed at home to finish a matter.I looked at the silver badge (Jane Jones, Consulting) spit out by the machine and smiled wryly.

I was surrounded by the crowd and flocked to the entrance. I struggled to squeeze out of the crowd and walked to the "Security Check" sign.The wizard in the peacock-blue robe took a tester and scanned my body routinely, and muttered to me: "Magic wand."

I took out my wand and handed it to him, but didn't take my eyes off my wand the whole time.This gave me a little bit of a sense of security.

My wand was thrown into a brass machine, which vibrated slightly and spit out a narrow strip of parchment.

"Eleven inches, black walnut, snake nerve core, twenty-two years old. Is that right?" he asked listlessly.

"Thank you." I took the wand back from the machine, smiling slightly out of habit.

I'm back in the trend of Ministry staff going to work.I was shoved into an elevator by a group of yawning, lifeless Ministry employees.The hair of a young witch next to her was dyed bright pink, which was very conspicuous among the pretentiously serious and old-fashioned staff. It reminded me of the bubble gum that Allen likes to eat.

As the floors continued to rise, wizards continued to go out, but the light purple paper airplanes hovering above their heads came in and out.By the third floor (Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters), almost all the wizards had gone out.It was just me and the pink-haired young witch in the elevator.

"It's a terrible day today, isn't it?" she said to me in a very light voice.I saw a slight frown in her hair.To be honest, even if I was a young girl, it would never have occurred to me to dye my hair this color.Suddenly I felt a little sympathy for the young witch's parents.

"The second floor, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Prohibition of Misuse of Magic Office, the Auror Office, and the Wizengamot Management Agency." The mechanically indifferent female voice in the elevator said.The golden fence door was slowly opened, and I followed behind the pink hair all the way to the noisy Auror office. I happened to see Edward holding a long parchment list and calling the candidates in one by one by reading the names on it.

I stood in a corner very patiently and observed Edward carefully.He was wearing a formal black robe today, and the silver buttons on the cuffs were slightly reflective.I noticed that he had a new wound on his cheek at some point, but it didn't affect his mature handsomeness in the slightest.He has a scar on his right hand holding the quill, I know that...

After Edward finished reading the last name, he glanced around habitually, and only then did he see me standing in the corner. "Jane?" He looked at me puzzled, looking a little tired.

"I have something to ask you," I walked forward, feeling that the atmosphere between the two of us was a bit weird, "it won't take up too much of your time."

Edward looked at me puzzled. "Jones, don't forget yesterday's mission report!" Suddenly, such a voice came from a small compartment inside.He hesitated for a second, then turned his head and shouted at the people inside: "I see!"

"What's the matter?" He turned his face and looked down at me, looking at my calm eyes, "Honey?" He called out a little cautiously.

"A letter from Mr. Longbottom inviting us to Black Lake Docks on Saturday afternoon. You know, he's a very respected apothecary. I want you to come with me and make a good impression on him. Do you know what I mean?" ?”

"I understand, but—" Edward nodded and said in an apologetic tone, "but you have also seen that we have been selecting newcomers this week. I really can't leave, I'm really sorry. If you had told me earlier -"

"I get it, Edward. I get it." I don't want to embarrass him here, but I can't completely suppress my anger, "Next time if this happens again, I will make an appointment with you half a year in advance Yes." I said slightly sarcastically.

"It doesn't take half a year, you tell me two weeks in advance and I can arrange it." Edward said sincerely, as if he didn't hear the sarcasm in my words.I looked at his serious eyes and suddenly laughed.

"Okay, good, great. Edward, I will definitely make an appointment with you two weeks in advance next time," I was exhausted by his sincerity, "I'll go by myself on Saturday. It's fine now. Then, You go back to work."

"You and Alan, and Phila—are you all okay?" he asked suddenly.

"Everything is fine. It's time for you to get back to work," I said firmly, "and it's time for me to go about my business. Goodbye, Edward."

So on that rainy Saturday, I went to the Black Lake Pier alone.Hogwarts Castle was looming in the distance in the mist, and the air smelled damp like a rainy day—as a pharmacist, I've always been sensitive to smells.

In this well-rounded small gathering, I met many people I expected-the bloated, retired Professor Slughorn greeted me cordially, and I thanked him with a smile Betty Abbott, who recommended to my store (the girl who is very good at herbal medicine, found the colchicum in the bear's onion in time last week); Others were discussing whether they could invent a potion to help werewolves relieve their pain during the full moon, and the other party had already shown their boredom on this topic; a large number of Mr. Algy Longbottom, who was still in good health, was holding a glass of drink by the lake and a The old witch was chatting, and the old witch's hat was decorated with a stuffed vulture.

I found the target, walked over with a glass of wine, and met the person I least wanted to see in my life on the way.Severus Snape had just escaped Belby's babbling, and the latter had to find the next person who might be interested in his potion.

The last time I saw Snape was at Irene's funeral, four or five years had passed since today.I convinced Snape to bury Irene in the family graveyard not far from William.Snape's reappearance reminded me of my last promise to Erin.

——I have no resentment in my heart.

"Mrs. Jones."

"Professor Snape."

We nodded to each other and passed each other, just like two random strangers at this party, it seems that the past grievances and grievances have finally been washed away by the years, leaving only shallow traces to prove that it once existed .

I go to the lake.The voice of the old witch came to my ears intermittently.

"...Obviously not as talented as his father. Frank had shown magical abilities at the age of two, but Neville—" She stopped abruptly, obviously aware of the presence of outsiders around her.And the content of this conversation is not suitable for outsiders to hear.

The outsider who broke into this conversation suddenly was me.But when I discovered this, it was too late, because the old witch and Mr. Algy Longbottom, who was opposite her, looked at me together.I am in a dilemma.

"Jane Jones, you know." Algie introduced me to the old witch unexpectedly, and then turned to look at me kindly. "This is Augusta Longbottom, Frank's mother."

Alger Longbottom's peculiar manner of introduction seemed to set the tone for the rest of our conversation.Of course I know Frank Barton.He and his wife Alice Longbottom were tortured insane by You-Know-Who's men shortly after the war ended.There was a lot of excitement about this incident at the time.I stepped forward hesitantly, distressed and embarrassed by my identity.

Jane Jones, the Auror's wife; Jane Prince, the Death Eater's sister.I can't appear in front of everyone as confidently as Andromeda.I have not been expelled from the family, I have not chosen a side, and I have even inherited a large fortune from the family and have lived comfortably and comfortably to this day.Compared with many people, I am undoubtedly lucky, but this also highlights my cowardice.

I stepped forward hesitantly, like a prisoner waiting to be sentenced.

Mrs Longbottom studied me with her haughty eyes.I moved my eyes from her green gown, the moth-eaten fox fur, to the tip of her vulture-trimmed hat.

"You must be the Prince girl," Mrs. Longbottom held out a dry hand like a hawk's claw to me. "I've heard Frank mention you before—he and Edward are very good friends!"

For some reason, my heart is heavy.I never heard Edward mention Frank Barton, or even that they were good friends.It dawned on me that I knew almost nothing about Edward's world, and Edward knew almost nothing about mine.

We just had a vague idea of ​​each other's past, like looking out a window through stained glass.You can see everything, but at the same time, you can't see all the details.

I held her dry hand and forced a smile.

At this moment, a young waiter quickly said something next to Algier's ear, he showed an apologetic expression, and followed the waiter to leave.Holding the wine glass in embarrassment, I looked at the vulture on Mrs. Longbottom's head, and suddenly felt that I had become the prey under her claws...

It seems that my problem of thinking wildly when I am nervous has not changed until today.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Longbottom," I said. "I'm sorry about your son and daughter-in-law." I said politely.

"Don't look at me that way, child," said Lady Longbottom, lifting her regal chin to me. "They sacrificed their sanity and their health for a better world—I'm so proud of them!"

After hearing her say this sentence, I felt hot on my face.I suddenly thought of William, and I remembered the words he wrote on the edge of the letter with his own hand - "I feel again the flame I once had".

"My brother . . . William Prince. He gave his life for the same cause," my voice trailed off, "but I never told anyone else that I was proud of him— — because he was a Death Eater," I said shamefully.

I suddenly realized that I had fallen into a strange circle.On the one hand, I put a sarcastic face on those who are prejudiced against all Slytherins; on the other hand, I dare not justify my brother in front of everyone because he was once a Death Eater.It took me eight years to finally see this, and Mrs Longbottom saw it right away.

"If you can't say that you are proud of him, how can you expect others to say anything?" Mrs. Longbottom suddenly softened her voice, which made me feel uncomfortable for a while, "William Prince... Yes, I've heard it, very brave. To provide information to the Ministry of Magic under such circumstances..."

A burning sensation rolls through my nostrils.Then, to my surprise, my eyes watered and my voice choked up.

"Do you really think so—do you think he's brave and worthy of respect?" I asked, a little disbelievingly.

"Of course, child! Is it that you are ashamed to be here that your loved one gave his life for this?" Her tone became harsh and sharp, and the vulture on her hat quivered horribly.

"Do you not mind that he used to be the subordinate of the mysterious man—your son and daughter-in-law—" I realized that I had made a mistake, and quickly stopped talking, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"You should be proud of him!" Augusta Longbottom said decisively, with the emphasis on "you" instead of "proud". "As for what we think and say, that's our business."

A moment of silence.

"You don't have to care too much about what other people say. Son, you are too sensitive," she looked at me with stern eyes along the tip of her nose. "When you are my age, you will know that gossip is like this changeable weather. .Never let it cloud your judgment!"

I showed a very faint smile.I remember a long time ago, in Diagon Alley in the autumn of 19, a [-]-year-old girl could warm her hands with her favorite herbal tea in the morning, and at the same time firmly said to the thick pharmacopoeia that she never cared what others say.But more than ten years have passed, and I also unknowingly discarded my firmness.The gazes of others are constantly corroding my heart, just like green rust slowly climbing up the smooth surface of a bronze statue.

"Thank you," I said from the bottom of my heart, "I wish I could be as strong as you one day."

"No one is born strong. I hope you will never be as strong as I am."

I smiled knowingly, and calmly faced Mrs. Longbottom's scrutinizing eyes.

Our conversation did not continue.While we were talking, there was a lot of movement on the other side of the pier, as if there was a "plop" into the water.I turned to see several adult wizards working together to fish a little boy out of the lake.The little boy was curled up in a pile of blankets, shaking, his round face very pale.

"Merlin!" Mrs. Longbottom beside me exclaimed in a low voice.Before I could react, her old man had already appeared on the other side of the pier at the speed of Apparition.

I heard later that the little boy who fell into the water was Mrs Longbottom's grandson, Neville.I always thought it was an accident until many years later I heard the truth of that day.It is also a very ridiculous reason.Mr Alger Longbottom throws Neville off the pier in order to force Neville to reveal his magical abilities.Unfortunately, he didn't see the results he wanted.But thankfully, Neville Longbottom is indeed a real wizard.