A/N: This was incredibly sad to write…that is all.

Written for the Seven Fics Challenge (amazing challenge, check it out people). I had to use the character Alice Longbottom.

Destiny works in strange ways sometimes.

Frank Longbottom stirred in his sleep. Frank Longbottom stirred in his sleep because he was dreaming. Frank was dreaming about one of his co-workers, Benjy. He saw, in his dream, the way a curse hit him square in the chest, the green light reflecting against Frank's glasses.

So because destiny is strange and on that particular night Frank Longbottom dreamt about Benjy's murder, Frank stirred in his sleep. This, in turn caused Alice Longbottom to wake up. Had Alice Longbottom not have been awakened that night, she wouldn't have crept towards her sniffling son's bed.

But she did. Alice Longbottom cradled Neville in her arms as she sat on the edge of her bed, whispering into the bundle of blankets soothingly. Neville, it appeared, was too having a bad dream and he was gently placated by his mother. A loud snore erupted from Frank's side of the bed, and both Neville and Alice jumped before giggling slightly. Her heart swelled in happiness at the sight of her son, and relief at the fact that Voldemort had disappeared.

"We're going to have a great life now," she whispered into the darkness, "just you watch, Neville."

Little Neville, not understanding what his mother was saying, began to gently tug on his mothers locks, a wide grin on his face. She smiled patiently and continued to stroke his back, their silence interrupted only by the gruff sounds of Frank breathing.

What Alice Longbottom did not know was that this was the last night she would be spending with her son and husband as a sane woman. This was the last night she would look down at her baby with understanding eyes and a coherent mind. What Alice Longbottom didn't know was that tomorrow night she would be awoken by the creak of their gate and the cackle of a evil woman.

If Alice Longbottom knew any of this, perhaps she would have spent the entire night with the warmth of her child in her arms. Perhaps she would not have placed him back in his bed, five minutes later. Perhaps she would have fled or perhaps she would have said goodbye.

But destiny works in strange ways sometimes and Alice Longbottom did none of those things because she did not know.