Author's Note: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I think it may be a little boring, kind of uneventful, and nothing really happens, but it was the best I could do right now. I also know it's a day late, but I didn't really have many ideas this week. I dunno, just enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 21: Sarcasm and Being Difficult

July 13th

*Abby P.O.V.*

I walked down the crowded street from Ollivanders Wand Shop towards the cafe I had promised to meet Rose, Gracie, and Lina. Work was very interesting, and I was learning a lot, which is why I applied. I didn't want a boring desk job, but I didn't feel like being the ultimate girly stereotype and going to work at Madam Malkin's or something. And it was a very important store, and something I thought would interest me. As I came to the window of the cafe, I saw Rose and Gracie sitting at a table, talking. A smile lit my face immediately as I saw my friends. I hadn't hung out with either of them in so long, and Lina, too. Almost as if she had sensed me, Gracie turned towards the window, and her face broke into a smile like a kid in a candy shop, which made me smile wider. She began jumping up and down and gestured for me to come in vigorously. I giggled to myself and pushed the door open just as Lina came out of the bathroom. She started to make her way back to the table, then stopped when she spotted me, she ran towards me and wrapped me in a hug. I smiled and hugged her back. She pulled back and smiled, dragging me towards the table.

"I haven't seen you in soooo long!" Lina exclaimed as she scooted her chair in. I smiled.

"I've been busy is all. Where've you guys been? I thought Rose and you were supposed to be working at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes here." I said curiously. Lina winked at me.

"I convinced Rose's Uncle George give us this one last summer before we started working." she said. Rose grinned.

"Or she got James to. She's got him around her little finger, I swear." Rose said. I grinned, leaning forward.

"Speaking of having guys wrapped around your fingers, how are Scorpius and Albus?" I asked. They both blushed, and I smiled wider. "I guess they're good."

Gracie rolled her eyes and nudged me. "Don't be teasing us when we can't tease you back. Still a single pringle?"

"Ah, what's life when you waste it on guys?" I said, leaning back. They all snorted. Right then Rose looked past me out the window and wrinkled her brow.

"What's Fred doing around here?" she asked, confused. I whipped my head around so fast I swear I had whiplash. Fred Weasley was outside the window, waving at Rose. As he noticed me, he smirked. I rolled my eyes and turned back.

"He works around here, didn't you know?" I said to Rose. She tilted her head to the side.

"I thought he was still training to be an Auror." she said. Lina was the one who replied this time.

"No, James told me he quit. Didn't feel like it was right for him. Now he's working at the Leaky." she said.

"I didn't know that. Do you see him around, Abby?" Gracie asked. I failed to conceal a snort.

"More than I'd like to." I said disdainfully. Rose gave me a sympathetic look.

"Is he hassling you or something?" she asked. I sighed.

"Kind of. He's convinced I want to sleep with him."

"Do you?" Lina pressed.

"No!" I said, offended. Rose put her head in her hands.

"Shit, you wanna sleep with my cousin." she said.

"Hey, didn't you hear me, I said I didn't!" I protested.

"Yeah that's why I know you do. Because if you didn't you would just be all sarcastic about it or say that you do." Rose said, her head still in her hands. I snorted. Rose looked up at me challengingly. "Okay then, tell me that you are not attracted to my cousin with a straight face."

"Rose," I began, smirking slightly, "I am not in any way attracted to your cousin Fred Weasley II in any way. Happy?"

"I don't believe you." Rose mumbled, putting her head back in her hands. Lina put her hands up just as I was about to reply.

"Okay, whatever! I didn't invite you guys here to squabble over whether or not Abigail wants to get in bed with one of Rose's many guy cousins! We came here to plan my wedding. And that is what we're gonna be doing." she said as both Rose and I groaned. "Now Abby," she turned to me. "Can we go to your house to plan, or are we going to stay here?"

"Whoa, claws back! Yes, we can go to my place, though I was hoping to get a latte or something." I trailed off. Lina grabbed my arm and lifted me up out of my seat.

"Nope, sorry." she said, dragging me off with Rose and Gracie following. I rolled my eyes and followed her. Once we were outside the cafe, Lina turned to me.

"Which way is it?" she asked me. I rolled my eyes and gestured for them to follow me. My apartment was in a far corner of Diagon Alley that not many people knew about it. It was cheap, and it was easy to tell why. The buildings didn't have the usual cheeriness that came with Diagon Alley, and you could almost feel the life being sapped out of the air as you got closer. There was a pub nearby, and many raucous men came out of it to leer at you if you came or left when it was dark. As we neared my house, the girls grew silent, looking around cautiously.

I walked to the porch of my house, crouching down and grabbing the key from under the mat, and opening the door. I looked back to see my friends lingering a few feet away. I raised an eyebrow. I knew my house looked back from the outside, but it wasn't that bad.

"What are you waiting for?" I questioned. Gracie looked around the street, then back to me in concern.

"Abby, you know if you want you can stay with Albus and I or something, right?" she said. I sighed.

"Come on guys, it's better on the inside." I said. They gave each other looks and then passed me through the door. I smiled and closed the door after them. I led them into the slightly cramped living room and they sat themselves down on the couches. This room was painted a light coral, as I had painted it a few days ago from its original gray. Lina leaned forward.

"Explain." She demanded. I sighed.

"I thought you would react like this." I said, making a face.

"Damn right we're gonna react like "this". You're living next to all the people who work in Knockturn Alley or something, and you keep your key under your doormat. What are we supposed to think?" Gracie burst out.

"You could be happy that I have my own house?" I suggested gingerly. They all gave me a look. "Okay, okay, I get it!" I said, putting up my hands in surrender. "I shouldn't have taken the risk and just gotten a more expensive house somewhere else! I'm sorry!" I said, annoyed, crossing my arms. Lina sighed.

"Sorry, it's just...we're worried about you. Do your parents know you live here?" Rose asked.

"Uhhh...not...exactly?" I tried. They all rolled their eyes.

"Fine, just be careful." Gracie said. I nodded exaggeratedly, glad that conversation was over. Lina took over.

"Okay," she said, clapping her hands together. "Can we get around to what we planned to do?" She said. We all nodded. "Okay, so I've decided that Rose is going to be the Maid of Honor."

"Hey, why does Rose get to be Maid of Honor?" I said jokingly hurt. Lina rolled her eyes.

"Because she got James and I together. Now let's get to planning."