Chapter 2 \\ New Year's Eve \\ WICELA

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series nor everything that comes with it. The rights go to J.K. Rowling. The only thing I own are the holes in her stories that I filled with my fantasies.

Beta: Codename Jellybean (ff)

Updated: June 16 (2015)

"So? What happened?" Albus asked. He knew that Rose was reading her case, over and over again, just to show him she'd a legit reason to ignore him.

"What do you mean?" Rose asked, turning the page of her case. She didn't really pay attention to him, while he just rolled his eyes.

"Really Rose? Are you going to try that one on me? You do know I know Scorpius my entire life and thereby know a little bit too well what is sex-smirk is? You look thereby if you have had a rough night and for a fact I know for sure it isn't because of your case," Albus said. He grinned from ear to ear and could see her blush spreading to cover her entire face and quite a bit of her neck. If it hadn't been obvious before, it now was sure of hell.

"And how's your love-life? Have you told your parents yet?" Rose asked. She gave him a dark smile, when she changed the subject. Albus's smile immediately faded away. She defeated him, again.

"No, I haven't, actually," he answered, blushing too. Rose groaned and this time it was her time to roll her eyes.

"Albus!" She shouted. Frustrated, she threw her arms in the air.

"Have you told your parents yet?" Albus asked. It was his attempt to change the subject and the second he'd said that, he knew he failed desperately.

"Told my parents what exactly?" She asked, giving the 'what' some extra attention.

"Told them that you and Scorpius are dating, of course!" Albus laughed again. Rose looked up and sighted lightly. Working on her case wouldn't be possible for at least some hours, Albus was beginning with distracting her from her case.

"There wouldn't be much to tell as we aren't dating. I'm just curious why you would think that," Rose answered. She cleared her case up, took a sip of her glass of water and hoped for the best. Perhaps if she gave him some flat answers, he would just drop it.

"I wasn't eavesdropping on purpose, but I was looking for you and heard the last bit of your conversation, before smelling the sex inside your bedroom. Also: you could've just given him the kiss he obviously wanted," Albus continued. He was always like that. Like it was completely logical to discuss her sex-life with him, her very male cousin. Of course they talked about everything, but these were the things Rose preferably talked about with Helga. Not so much with Albus, because she found it rather awkward. Perhaps it was because of Scorpius that made him even more open about everything.

"I've not...I'm not...I didn't..." Rose rambled, not knowing what to say. She sighted and thought about what she would tell Helga if it was her sitting there instead of Albus.

"Really Al?" she asked eventually. Her face went down and she felt hurt. Why did Al have to do that.

"We don't date, okay? I said no. Which you should've known if you say you eavesdropped — accidentally — on us," Rose answered when she finally had an answered that satisfied her. But did it really satisfy her? The minute she'd said that, she realized she was disappointed of her own statement. Albus was even more shocked than she was. He spitted his drink all over her desk. Rose groaned "Albus!" but he didn't even bother to listen.

"You said no?" he asked. His mouth fell open and he almost drooled. Of course he knew that one of the only thing Scorpius and Rose had in common — according to themselves — was that they were both his best friend and thereby always fought, but Albus had seen so many similarities. It was probably why he was able to be best friends with both of them. They fit that well together, that Albus couldn't even think about protesting that his best friends had done the deed together. Hadn't he shipped them since forever?

"Why?" Albus asked, because he genuinely didn't know a reason Rose would say no.

"Why? Come on, Al, there are so many reasons! He does only one-time-thingies and I just broke up with Nick and that plus plenty of other reasons why not," Rose exclaimed.

"You just broke up with Nick and that's a bad thing? That's a good thing, Rose. You're free again and why don't you fill that spot with Scorpius?" Albus asked again.

"Because it's not appropriate facing Nick. We did date for a lot of years, Al!" she just said.

"Not appropriate? That's nonsense and you know it! You two were never as together as you liked everyone to think you were. Nick was just there for your name and you were there for whatever reason you made up this time. Just like you make all those reasons up just so you won't be together with Scorpius. Well, I do know him a lot better than you and I know he will be different with you. Not only because you have cousins like James and me, but for a lot of other reasons too," Albus defended his friend. Why was Rose saying these kind of...excuses to him? There was more behind it all. There was another reason why she didn't want to date Scorpius, but Albus didn't know what. He breathed in and out and let it sink in.

"How did he react?" Albus asked eventually. He looked out of her window. Scorpius's reaction would say everything about his feelings and he looked Rose deep in the eye.

"He was surprised...I guess? He probably isn't accustomed to have to accept no for an answer, but I know him, Al. I know it's fake and he's fake. He even wanted to convince me by kissing me and let me say this: I'm not that easy." Rose turned around and grabbed a book.

"You're screwing everything up, Rosie," Albus said dramatically. His ship was sinking. Not that he was totally giving up on it, but this really wasn't good news.

"Yeah, well, you've no right to speak, Alby. There will be a day that Eric won't come back," she said, turning to her case again. This time, Albus didn't react.

:: :: ::

Albus was fully aware of what Rose had said to him, but she probably didn't know her timing couldn't be more perfectly. Albus turned on the lights in his apartment and sighted. He was alone.

"Eric?" he asked, just to be sure. There was no answer. Albus sat down on his couch and tried to catch his breath. The tears ran down his cheeks. He felt like Eric had stabbed a knife into his heart and there would be no chance of recovery.

"It's almost New Year's Eve, Alb, how are we going to celebrate it?" Eric asked him and Albus almost choked. He hadn't really given it much thought, but he knew what Eric was implicating.

"Eh, Scorpius invited us?" Albus said, forcing a smile.

"Again? Well, you know how much I like his parties, but I thought you'd said last year we were going to celebrate it with your family this year?" Eric gave him a hopeful look and when Albus looked down, he realized what was going on.

"You still haven't told them, have you?" he asked, but he knew the answer before he'd even asked the question.

"I'm so sorry, Eric, but you know my parents and..." Albus tried to say.

"Yeah, but Al, that's the problem. I don't know them. I don't know them other then from the papers, your stories and the time you introduced me as 'a friend of yours'. It hurts, Albus. You've been there like, ten years or so? I've been convincing you to tell your parents — and how to do so — for the same amount of years now. I thought that getting a place together would make things easier for you, for us, but it's just hurting me more and more," Eric told him. Albus tried to fight the tears in his eyes, but lost the battle when a little tear escaped.

"Eric, please...please don't. I will tell them, you know that!" Albus tried.

"Yeah, well, you have been saying that since the beginning of all of this. And I've given you your space. I've given you everything I could, but I can't do it anymore. I'm done, Albus. I'm not going to be in a relationship with someone who isn't out of the closet. Hell — I can't even hold your hand in public!" Eric said frustrated, looking away from Albus. He couldn't even look him in the eyes right now. The two guys weren't exactly the most emotional guys ever known. The fact that they both were so close to crying, said something. Albus was by far the handsome one — although Eric wasn't exactly ugly either, but this fight was something that made both of them look ugly.

"I know that, I'm working on it," Albus mumbled, but the second he'd said that, he realized he wasn't. He was so scared of what his parents would say that he convinced Eric and almost convinced himself to do it, but every time he had been close to telling it, he stepped back. So it was really true then. If he was a Gryffindor he would've been brave and would've told his parents. But it wasn't. He was a Slytherin.

"That's not enough anymore, Albus. I can't do this anymore. I'm done — we're done." Eric walked away, taking his stuff with him. The door slammed shut, leaving behind a hollow silence that broke when Albus started crying.

They had met at Hogwarts. Eric had been one of the smartest of their year, but didn't stand out as much as Rose and Scorpius — as he was way less talkative and famous. They officially met somewhere near their second year, but according to what Eric had told him, he liked him the minute he saw him with the Sorting Hat. Eric completely came out of his comfort zone, when he asked Albus if he could help him. He had looked like someone who really needed help — that was how Eric had described him then. Albus described himself more as a really desperate person, not knowing what to do with all those people expecting everything of him. He wasn't as smart as Rose, he wasn't as good in Quidditch as James and even Lily, but he had been handsome.

They were in their fourth year, when Eric came out. Albus had found it really awkward in the beginning to accept that — he wasn't really sure about what he exactly was. Some weeks later began the chick-phase. Albus hung more and more around Scorpius, instead of Eric — they already were best friends, but because of Eric, they hadn't seen each other very often. He wasn't that bad as James, Fred, Louis and Scorpius even, but he had dated in two months, an amount of fifteen girls. The girls came and the girls went and Albus desperately tried to feel something, but he didn't. A week after his last girl — which was odd, considering — Albus had locked himself up into a broom closet. Eric found him. Eric comforted him. Eric knew what was 'wrong' with him.

Their relationship didn't start until they had both attended some lame Hogwarts-reunion party from a girl they both barely knew. In some drunk truth-or-dare game, they kissed and somehow ended up together at Eric's couch. The next day had been awkward, as Albus had to admit he hadn't told his parents yet. Eric had said he didn't mind — he had to tell them when he was ready — but now five years had passed and everybody in their area had a steady relationship, Eric wanted to make them official too. They lived together, but for the outside world, it looked like they were best friends and Eric didn't live there — Scorpius came very often at his apartment too, which made it look less weird.

They were done. Eric and he were done. For real now. His empty apartment told him everything. The smell of food wasn't there. The heat and the mess that their fight had contained, was still there. It didn't feel right. Albus didn't bother to clean up the cups he had thrown at the ground. Today had been good, seeing Rose and laughing with — and at — her, but he knew he wasn't ready to completely give her all the attention she needed. He needed to work on his own problems now. And in the condition Rose was in now, she could use a little more help than that..

:: :: ::

Scorpius was sitting in his office, when his boss, Auror Potter Senior, came into his office. He was just finishing his work as it had been a long time since he should've been at his house. Perhaps that was one of the benefits of being single.

"I guess Albus already told you, but I will inform you about your change of jobs," he said, looking a bit stressed. The old man could use a holiday, Scorpius thought, but he just sighted instead. Albus hadn't told him anything, so a letter would be coming soon.

"You will be exchanging jobs with Albus. He will continue researching the case of the Knights of Walpurgis, while you will be looking out for Rose," his boss used his business voice while saying this. Scorpius groaned in his mind. His colleagues and he were finally at good terms about everything and he finally didn't feel judged anymore because of his name. This would change everything. The damn girl kept judging him when he didn't even do actually something to be mad about. That would mean loads of fights and almost no sleep. It wasn't the only reason he didn't want to do that job, though. After he had left last night, he couldn't stop thinking about her. When he had asked her out — in his mind a completely normal question, — she had said: "No, and you know why," while he clearly had no idea why. Well, he had an idea, but he thought she would know it would be different with her. Although...perhaps not. Normally he wouldn't think twice about it — there were more birds who dared to say no, — but this time was different. He knew that if he ever screwed up, it wouldn't be as easy to continue to the next one, with Albus being their best friend.

"So, Scorpius, please take the job." Auror Potter smiled and held the paperwork in the air. Scorpius knew that his boss could've just asked some of his other colleagues — like Frank, who was much closer to Rose than he ever was — but he didn't dare to suggest now. His late-night-being-at-the-office behavior was probably the reason behind this job.

"Yeah, of course," Scorpius answered, while he took the contract his boss handed him. He didn't read it. He just signed it and handed it back. His day couldn't be any worse, so a job he didn't want was something he could handle too, wasn't it?

"Oh, and Scorpius, can you please talk to Albus anytime soon? It looks like he doesn't want to talk to us and there is clearly something off..." His boss became more like the man Scorpius knew, the father of his best friend. He looked worried and it was clear that he didn't know what was happening inside of his son's head. It was true that Albus's mother knew that Al was gay, but it looked like his father wasn't that sure.

"Of course, but I think he doesn't want to talk to anyone, anytime soon," Scorpius reacted. His boss smiled back and walked out if his office. It was almost midnight and Scorpius couldn't stop thinking about the other night. Rose...Rose...He needed to protect her of course! Scorpius's ability to relativize wasn't that good at this hour and he realized he had to read the conditions in his contract.

"Accio copy of contract!" he said, holding the copy only a second later in his hand. Scorpius scanned the contract quickly.

New protecting rules apply from the first of January...

...according to the increasing danger to this case we will set some extra protective rules...

...day and night...

...shifts will only be changed if the Auror isn't capable of doing his job...

...at least a month of protection will be required before a new Auror will take over...

Wait...what? At least a month?! A month of 24/7 protection of Rose Weasley?

"Auror Potter?" he asked, when he stepped into the office of his boss.

"Yes, Scorpius?" his boss said, while he yawned. It really was late.

"Is it really necessary to be twenty-four seven present?" Scorpius said, hoping that his boss would say no.

"Well, you're able to sleep and go to family-meetings. Also you will continue your work on the case you already were working on — because we don't like you to be sitting there in front of her apartment and doing nothing — but there will be rules. Rules like, you have live in the same house as Rose, so Rose only has to move when something happens to her. You will communicate with your colleagues by different owls and for important situations is a Patronus allowed. If you have to leave for short occasions — like a family gathering or illness — one of your colleagues will be taking over for that day, but you have to talk to me first about something like that" His boss smiled at him, like he knew that this wouldn't be easy for him. It was no surprise he said that, as it was all over in his contract. Did he wanted to do this...contact your supervisor. Did he wanted to do that...contact your supervisor.

"This would be so much fun for Al," Scorpius sighted and he saw almost a smile appear n the tired face of his boss.

"Rose isn't that bad, Scorpius. Perhaps way too smart for her own good, but also really kind and giving when you know her better. I think the two of you could get along, if you were able to look past some things," he answered. Scorpius laughed in himself, when he realized that his boss was right. That night, they had been getting along. They had been looking past things, but then the morning came and it was like Rose realized that what she'd done was completely mental. Well, perhaps it was, but not in a bad way, right?

"Looks like Albus's letter is coming," Scorpius said, when he saw a familiar owl coming into the office. His boss smiled and hit his shoulder in a friendly way.

"Good luck, Scorpius," he said, while walking away. Scorpius opened the letter and red it quickly.

Scorpius,

I'm sorry, but I'm thinking about all these things with Eric. I messed up, I really did. Perhaps I still have a chance, but I need time. Not sure what happened exactly between you and Rose — tell me everything, soon. Will you please look after my dearest cousin (and not sleeping with her and then ignoring her, like you do with your birds, admit it). I'll come back ASAP.

Albus

:: :: ::

Rose was almost sleeping, when she heard some noises coming from her kitchen. She was immediately awake and took her wand. Breathing in and out, she closed the door of her bedroom quietly and walked from her bedroom to her living room. There she saw a figure standing in the pitch-dark.

"Shit," was all Rose could hear. It was obviously a man, but she couldn't see anything else. If she turned just a bit further, she was able to hit him with a spell.

"Stupify," she whispered. The man was too late to use a protection spell and just fell down. Rose sighted surprised and stood still. That was...weird?

"Lumos," Rose said, walking towards the man. His blond hair was the first thing catching Rose's eye.

"Shit." This time it came from Rose's mouth. She was tempted to let him lie there, but knew that there would be something up. Otherwise, he wouldn't be in her house, would he?

"Rennervate," she casted upon him and he woke up.

"Well, that's what you call a perfect reaction when someone walks into your house at night. It hurt a bit, but you did well, Rosie." Scorpius stood up and walked towards her kitchen. He opened all her countertops like it was his's and messed around.

"May I?" he finally asked. Rose didn't react, so he just grabbed a mug.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, slowly.

"Our dear friend has chosen to think about his love-life, so he wouldn't be distracted while looking out for you. I'm taking over, for a month or so. Also: New Year, New Rules, so I will keep your company from Monday till Monday. Without even a break," he grinned and winked at her.

"You're kidding?" Rose asked. Couldn't this be one of his terrible jokes? If he said yes, she would promise him to laugh at it, if it just meant that this wasn't true.

"No, I'm not." His face wore quite a smirk and the only thing Rose wanted to do, was punching him.

"Well, suit yourself. I'm going to sleep," she murmured.

"And this time: stay in the damn living room!" she added.

"It wasn't like you complained?" he shouted back. Why was it possible for him to look cute whilst trying to use her coffeemaker and failing?

"Yeah, well, there was some alcohol involved and I would never do such a thing without alcohol," Rose was shouting too, now. Stupid, stupid, stupid fool, she thought. The owl at the framework of her window, let her groan.

"Stupid Al," she murmured under her breath. She opened the letter with anger and rolled her eyes.

Rosie,

Eric and I will fix things, but I have to work for it. You'll have to work for your relationship with Scorpius, too. Don't be too hard and be your loving self. I know you can do this. I will be doing my job soon, but Eric first.

With love, Al

"Idiot. Asshole. Bloody, bloody, stupid fool!" Rose muttered, while Scorpius walked into her room.

"Who's the bad guy this time? Still me or is it someone else this time?" He said, grinning at her.

"Leave me alone, Malfoy! Just go to sleep or whatever," she answered. She was, again, in her pajamas, while he was taking her bedding from her closet.

"Ouch, Weasley. I thought we had a great night, the other night," he tried to cheer her up. The bedding were flying out of her bedroom now and Rose rolled her eyes. He could never do something the muggle way, could he.

"In your dreams," she answered weary. She stepped into her bed and then realized what she'd said.

"Oh, those dreams are really special," he said smirking. Rose picked one of her pillows and smashed it towards his head. It missed, of course, by far.

"You forget I'm a really well trained Auror, roomie," he grinned and walked out of her room. Rose was almost sleeping, again, when he was walking into her room, again.

"We have to make house-rules some time," he said.

"Really looking forward to it, but let me sleep now," she answered sarcastically. She didn't want to look up, but as she didn't know if he left already, she did. He was indeed still standing there, with the moonlight shining on his well-trained stomach.

"Piss of Malfoy, and close the door," she groaned, while speaking towards her pillows.

"I'm gone already!" he laughed and with a soft noise, he really was gone. Leaving Rose behind, hating herself already. What was he doing to her?