Wednesday 22nd December 1982 Vol CCXXXIX No CCCLVI

LAUDING THE LONGBOTTOMS

Well-wishers gathered Tuesday morning to pay tribute to the indomitable spirit and bravery of Frank and Alice Longbottom, whose unwavering courage during the wizarding war has left an enduring mark on those who had the privilege of knowing them.

While both alumni of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and members of Gryffindor house, it was in the Auror department that Frank and Alice forged a close bond. Reminiscing about his classmate, Arthur Weasley recalls Frank's swift temper and reflexes. "You wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of Frank," Arthur muses, "but he was an excellent wizard to have in your corner during a fight."

Auror Clive Carmichael, who trained under Alice, expresses deep admiration for the couple. "Alice was my mentor, and I accompanied her on many of my earliest assignments. She was one of the most accomplished witches I've ever encountered, with a sharp sense of humor."

Head Auror Eudokia Urquhart adds, "It's truly shocking that anyone could have caught Frank or Alice off guard. They were at the pinnacle of their profession, consistently performing at the highest level."

Rumors suggest that the challenges of early parenthood may have affected the pair, with Alice choosing to reduce her work hours to prioritize time at home, impacting her dueling practice.

"Neville was a demanding baby," shares neighbor Drosophila Diggle. "Alice felt guilty about being away from him, so after the war, she scaled back to spend more time at home."

Even so, Urquhart insists Alice was too tough to be captured. “"Unless her assailants had some form of leverage to coerce her, she would have defended herself fiercely."

The couple's reputation for bravery and quick thinking is well-deserved. Together, they apprehended notorious individuals such as the Wilkes brothers, Athenais and Apollodoros, as well as Orville Travers and his sons, Aloysius and Silas.

Healer Hygieia Hopkirk, attending to the Longbottoms at St. Mungo's, optimistically foresees a swift recovery. "Having dedicated the last two decades to working with curse victims, I can attest that Aurors tend to recover rapidly."

The Daily Prophet joins the wider wizarding community in hoping for a swift return to normalcy for Frank and Alice Longbottom.