Just one more reason to take down Bellatrix Lestrange, Alice dropped her brush when she noticed Harry's image appearing in her mirror, "Who are you? Where's my Frank and Neville?"
Back in the real world Joan was wiping sweat of her dad's brow, it was now over half an hour since he'd went into a trance, when she took a sharp intake of breath, "He's found her!"
It was almost ten seconds later before Hermione could confirm the news; Joan seemed able to read emotions from Alice as well as her dad and may prove a quicker link. Hermione was struggling to remain in contact with Harry and the real world at the same time.
Harry could see she was very anxious and could understand that reaction, time didn't seem to have any meaning in here so he was trying to prepare for her shock when learning that thirteen years had passed since she last saw her husband or son.
Harry took a deep breath to steady his nerves, "Hello Alice, I'm Harry Potter and my best friend Neville Longbottom asked me to fetch his mum, my godmother so she could meet his beautiful betrothed."
The fear in her eyes was plain to see as she stuttered, "Where's my Frank?"
Harry sat down crossed legged, trying to make himself look as unthreatening as possible. "I really don't know how to tell you this so I'll just come right out and say it. You're currently in a bed in St Mungo's where you've been for the last thirteen years, I'm in your mind trying to bring you back to Neville, and Frank is in the same condition and lying in the bed next to you."
This information floored this version of Alice Longbottom as she struggled with what that would mean, "Why didn't you try Frank first?"
Harry got the impression she was stalling for time, "What would have happened if I'd woke uncle Frank first? When he came round and saw you lying there he would have kicked my arse for not waking you first. When he wakes you have to be sitting there waiting on him or I would never hear the end of it." He had no memories of the Longbottoms but it just sounded right.
Alice almost smiled as this young man had described perfectly how her husband would react, "I would like to leave here but I don't know how, and I'm frightened."
Harry tried to offer reassurance, basically he would tell Alice anything to get her out of here and she could shout at him later if she liked. "Things have changed a lot since you've been here, Neville and his betrothed, Luna Lovegood are very powerful and together with my wife and I have wiped out the death eaters."
Joan was concentrating before saying, "Now, it has to be now!"
Remus had insisted the group learn the charm but could never have foreseen the use his students would put it to, Neville thought of actually being able to talk to his parents and his patronus literally had his mother in a bear hug. Luna used the memory of Neville asking for her hand and a Old English sheepdog was licking her future mother-in-law's face, Hermione just needed the memory of being in bed with her husband last night and the silver otter was swimming over Alice's legs. Ginny had the most trouble with perfecting her patronus, flying or Quidditch memories just didn't cut it, the memory of Harry bringing Bill to the Institute because of her nightmares was such a wonderful thing for a friend to do that she refused to be embarrassed by her form. Harry Potter was Ginny Pomfrey's knight in shining armour so what other form could her protection from evil take. Her knight added to the positive energy that was radiating around Alice Longbottom.
Alice was glowing as she asked Harry what was happening. "That's your son and his betrothed casting their patronus charms to guide us home."
Harry could see his godmother was desperate to leave but was still hesitating, her last experience before retreating to here was excruciating pain that she never wanted to experience again. "I want to believe you but what if it's a trap?"
Harry could sense it was now or never and he would have to take whatever risk he thought necessary, "You knew my dad was an animagus?" he asked.
Her nod led to the appearance of prongs and she couldn't take her eyes off the stag.
Alice whispered "James!" as the sheets began to disappear revealing a door that prongs sheparded the hesitant witch towards, as she walked (was pushed by prongs) through the door Harry vanished, regaining his body.
Harry couldn't remember ever feeling this exhausted in his life, he was both physically and magically drained. The fact that he and his wife were back on the same instantaneous wavelength brought a smile to his face though he was aware that Hermione was just as cream crackered as he was. Joan was still residing on his lap while Ginny and Emma holding on to him were the only reasons he was still upright in his chair. Hermione had her dad and Luna helping her as she had been feeding power to Harry over their bond and was now more than ready to just curl up with her husband and spend the next twenty four hours asleep.
The sound of sobbing interrupted their mental checking of each other as they both glanced over to see that Neville had replaced his patronus in having his mother in a bear hug, a hug that was being returned for the first time since the young wizard was a toddler.