Chapter 10: Evil Plan

New Year's Eve had finally arrived. After a few days of longing and waiting, it had finally arrived. In those few days Albus had been able to think of a very devilish plan to be able to get out of the Burrow without the parents noticing. Rose didn't know it,but just one look shared with Albus and she knew he had found a way, a cunning way to be free from parents. Of course, she didn't know any detail. Just that it was an evil plan.

Scorpius was supposed to arrive around lunchtime. So around twelve o'clock Rose was pacing around her room, thinking about how their encounter would go, what she should say to him… She wasn't usually so nervous with boys, but Scorpius wasn't an ordinary boy anymore.

Albus had gone to the kitchen to wait. He was sick of Rose's walking around and worrying about how she looked.

While Albus was fiddling with his wand, he heard a bang, and a few shouts. He looked outside and saw that Scorpius and his father had arrived.

"Rose! Scorpius is here!" and then he ran to open the door the freezing Malfoy's. Rose didn't hear this, too occupied in checking her hair.

Albus hadn't expected to see Draco Malfoy standing in the snow beside Scorpius. His family tolerated and had learned like Scorpius but Albus was so sure how they would react to Draco Malfoy. It was already too late his mum had already come into the kitchen and had noticed the two silhouettes waiting to be let in. She carefully opened the door, scared of what she would find out there.

Ginny tried to show no sign of surprise or shock; she was used to Scorpius, but not to Draco appearing at Christmas at the Burrow. That was a bit too much for her. She wordlessly let them in.

Albus and Scorpius greeted each other with their usual enthusiasm. During that moment, Harry and Ron had appeared into the kitchen. They both stiffly shook Draco's hand. Even thought the war between the old schools friends was over, it was still hard getting used to being nice around each other.

Albus thought fast about a way to get the tension into the kitchen to break, but he found no genius idea. Instead he called Rose.

"Rose! Come here! Scorpius had arrived! He shouted into the Burrow. Then, the whole had shook, as Rose ran down the stairs and walked quickly into the kitchen.

"Hi Scorpius!" she said brightly and then she noticed Scorpius's father, looking at her curiously. She calmly walked over to him to shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you Mr Malfoy!"

"Like wise. Scorpius talks endlessly about you."

This made Albus and Rose giggle, but not Scorpius who had gone bright red. It was the first time Rose saw Scorpius blushing and feeling uncomfortable. Usually he was so confident, it was hilarious for Rose to see him like that.

"Yes that is my daughter, and I would appreciate that you keep your son away from her!" said Ron angrily.

"Dad! " Rose sounded so much like Hermione that Ron looked at little bit scared.

"For god's sake! When will you stop being so rude to the Malfoy's? How many more times must we tell you that Scorpius is our friend! We don't give a shit about the problems you had at school! It was 25 years ago! Grow up!"

After that animated speech, Rose stormed out. She quickly regretted what she had said to her Dad, but she didn't care anymore. Enough was enough! She decided to wait for Scorpius and Albus in their bedroom.

Rose didn't have to wait too long. Scorpius and Albus joined her in no time! They wore surprised expressions. They still couldn't believe what had just happened.

"Rose you did it! They won't ever criticize Scorpius! Ever!" Albus told her excited. He was jumping around the room like crazy. Rose laughed and caught Scorpius' eye, he smiled at her and whispered.

"Thank you." Rose simply winked at him, still with a big smile on her face.

Albus was jumping on ever bed available; he finally calmed down and collapsed on his bed.

"Man I'm getting too old for this." This drove everyone to hysterics. When Rose could finally breathe again she bravely told them that she had to talk to her parents.

Rose walked down the stairs carefully; she heard some whispers from the kitchen and went in as quietly as she could. There she faced her parents, uncle and aunt all looking at her curiously.

"I wanted to apologize for screaming early." Everyone was silent and still looking at Rose who was growing more and more uneasy. Harry spoke first.

"It's okay Rose. We understand. I don't think I would've liked if my parents had criticized or hated Molly and Arthur."

Ron looked at bit terrified. He didn't think that Rose could like a Malfoy like Harry had liked Ginny. It was almost impossible!

"From now on, we will refrain from criticizing Malfoy in front of you." Hermione added. Rose felt like hugging her. They were being so understanding.

"That still doesn't change the fact that Malfoy is git." Everyone laughed at Ron's words. Rose suddenly felt much better, less guilty about screaming at her family and of course less embarrassed about seeming so in love with Scorpius.

Rose hugged them all and before she could leave she heard her father add.

"You'd better not marry him!"

When Rose came back into the bedrrom she found Scorpius and Albus reading a book. She thought it was very extraordinary that they were reading a book, together. They never did that.

And then she understood. As she looked more closely at the book she read the title and laughed so hard, that both Scorpius and Albus jumped.

The book was called "Twelve Fail Safe Ways to Charm Witches."

Albus went bright red, and tried to justify himself.

" It was a Christmas present. It's not like a need, with all the girls dying to go out with me. It's for Scorpius! He was more trouble than me!"

He glanced at both of them. Rose tried to change the subject before it got even more uncomfortable.

"Anyway, how are we going to leave the house without the parents knowing?"

Albus laughed his evil laugh.

"I have a masterplan." Like that could explain everything.

"Would you care to share it with us?" Scorpius asked.

"Fine. You see this." Albus took out from the top draw of his bed side table a square grey thingy, that Scorpius and Rose could not recognize. They had no idea what the hell it was.

"It's a portable DVD player." Albus felt it better to explain exactly what it was because of Rose and Scorpius' questioning gazes. "It's a muggle invention that permits you to watch movies. I even bought a movie. We'll just tell the parents that we want a quiet night watching this and instead we go out to the pub."

It was a genius plan. Nothing could possibly go wrong with a plan like that.

"This is so going to work, well done Al'!" Rose told him, he was smiling proudly.

"A few rule first. I want this night to be a magic-free night."

Silence. Nobody spoke. Scorpius and Rose looked at each and their looks said: Had Albus gone completely crazy?"

"I think Albus has gone crazy!" whispered Scorpius to Rose. She giggled.

"I heard that! Come one, guys! It will be fun! We can invent our own lives! And maybe chat up a few muggle girls…"

Rose understood now. She understood why and how Albus could've found such a good plan. He was motivated. By love.

"I understand now…"

"Rose! Shut-up!" Rose ignored him.

"Our little Albus had a crush on a girl!"

"So who is this mystery girl?" asked Scorpius.

Albus didn't want to say anything. He didn't want his best friends to make fun of him.

Scorpius and Rose knew Albus too well, they knew he wouldn't give up his secret without some sort of push. They read each other thoughts, and both went closer to him, evil grins spread on their faces.

"Speak now or die from too much tickling."

Albus pretended to be scared but decided to tell them.

"Fine! I'll explain if you insist! Just don't you dare tell James…"

Albus breathed in, he didn't know if he had the courage to continue. Her had never felt this way before, and he didn't know what to do. He wanted to keep it all to himself, feel like he had the control on what was happening to him, but on the other hand he needed to share his feelings, his fears. He needed their approval and more importantly he needed their advice.

"I went down to Ottery St Cachtpole the other day. It was before you arrived, Rose. I was bored. I walked into this shop and she caught my eye. She was beautiful. I don't know what possessed me but the next thing I know I was chatting with her. Then her friend arrived and pushed her away from me like I had a sort of infection or something. Then I realized it was because I was the weird kid from the Burrow... That's why I need us to be normal, for once."

Scorpius and Rose smiled. Albus was so sweet. They had never seen him like that for a girl which must mean she was of out of the ordinary.

"How do you know that she'll be at the same pub we're going to tonight?" Rose asked, puzzled.

"I happened to mention our little party to her. Now I just need to hope that'll she'll want to see me again and that she'll be there tonight. That's why I need you to be there. I need to look cool and impressive with cool and impressive friends."

"Dude, I think we're in!" said Scorpius, excited for once that he wasn't the one that got the girl. He was so sick of all the different girls that wanted to go out with him and seeing Albus' longing and jealousy. For once it was Albus' turn.

"Yes! I'll do anything I can so you can speak to her again! I'll even stalk her to the girl's loo if you want!" Rose was getting more and more excited. She couldn't wait to be tonight for obvious reasons. But there was another one that nobody suspected. She knew tonight would be a turning point in her relationship with Scorpius. She just knew it.

Albus looked terrified.

"Please don't stalk her."