Clarice picked up the box, which was wrapped in silver paper. She unwrapped it carefully to uncover a ring box. What? she thought, He can't be asking me to marry him! We've only been dating six months! I don't want to say no, but I'll have to! It's too soon! I wish he had forgotten about my birthday! Trying to hide her panic attack she took a deep breath and opened the box to find....a key? She picked it up, carefully. It was silver, very modern looking.

She looked inquiringly at James and said, "What's this go to?"

He smiled brightly and said, "Oh, nothing....Just my new apartment." Oh my god!!! Thought Clarice, I'm glad he didn't forget! She lunged forward and kissed him. She was so excited. Moving in was way better than getting married. I mean, she wanted to get married eventually...but the commitment was too much for her.

"So...is that a yes to the question I never got to ask?" said James as they broke apart.

"Yes," said Clarice, beaming.


"What's up?" asked Albus, stopping to get a better look at her. She couldn't have found out, could she? he thought desperately.

"We--we need to talk," she tried to sound firm. What if I chicken out? she panicked.

"About what?" Oh no, she definitely knows! At least she'll be nice about it...or she could yell again.

"Listen...you need to hear me out. I--" I can't do this! "Ithinkthatweshouldtryagain!"

"What?"

She took a deep breath before saying, "I think--I want to try again. To try us again. I really want it to work this time, because...I still really like you. I know that you don't feel that way about me, but I had to get it out there in the open."

Albus froze. What? She actually wants me back, after all the horrible things I did?

Annabel teared up a little, but kept her face basically composed as she said, "So, I guess that's the end of our friendship, but, I had to get it out there. Goodbye Albus."

It wasn't until she was at the end of the corridor that Albus unfroze. He barely had time to yell, "Annabel wait!". She stopped, and looked back at him. He ran over to her and said, "I want to try again. I have for a while, but I didn't think you'd want me back after all the terrible things I said and did."

She smiled and said, "So, forgive and forget?"

"Definitely," and for the first time in six months they kissed. It felt perfect, for both of them.

"Listen," said Albus, "I know it was awfully painful while it was happening, but everything we did brought us to this place."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way," finished Annabel, before leaning in to kiss him.


The next morning Rose and Scorpius arrived downstairs to see Clarice and James still asleep on their couch. As they approached Rose picked up the ring box and started hyperventilating, "Oh my God!!! He asked her to marry him!!! And she said yes!!! Oh my God!!!"

"She didn't say yes," said Scorpius, looking carefully at Clarice, "She isn't wearing a ring."

"If she'd said no they wouldn't both still be here. They're getting married!" squealed Rose in delight.

"No, they aren't," said Scorpius, taking the box from Rose and opening it to reveal a key.

"They're moving in together!!!" cried Rose in excitement.

"Dammit James," muttered Scorpius.

"What?" asked Rose curiously.

"The guy always has to steal my ideas..." he said, pulling out a gold key from his pocket.

Rose rushed forward and kissed him.

"Yes!" she said as they broke apart.

"So, I don't even get to ask?" he said in mock disappointment.

"Sorry," said Rose, "Go ahead."

Scorpius cleared his throat and said, "Rose Hermione Weasley, would you do me the honor of moving into my new apartment with me?"

She hugged him and took the key, saying, "Yes. But I get to chose the decor."

"I was hoping you would. I don't want to bother with that."

"Good. Clarice and I can design our apartments together!" squealed Rose.

She was about to give Scorpius a kiss when Clarice and James awoke.

"Who's making all this noise?" grumbled James, but he was drowned out by a squeal from Clarice, who had spotted Rose's key.

"Oh my God! You guys are moving in together too? This is going to be AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!"

By the time that Albus and Annabel arrived hand in hand to tell the others their news Clarice and Rose had gotten out sketch paper, and were designing their respective living rooms. The first day term ended they planned to visit the two apartments together.

"Guess what?" asked Annabel, holding up her and Albus' joint hands.

"OH MY GOD!" screamed Rose and Clarice.

Annabel and Albus sat down, when they saw the drawings and the keys, and Annabel screamed, "You're moving in together!!!!!"

"Yes!" said Clarice in excitement, "That's what James gave to me for my birthday!"

"Great idea, mate," said Al appreciatively.

"The best idea," corrected Clarice.

The entire afternoon passed in a floury of plans for the summer holidays, which they were delighted to say, started the next day.

A/N: Hey! Raise your hand if I fooled you into thinking they were getting married! Raise it high! Did you really think I would do that? I try to be realistic. Anyway, hope you liked the Al/Annabel get together. I'll probably do one or two more chapters, and I have a plan for an epilogue, so this isn't over. Once this is over I'm going to really focus on my Lily/James story, which I sort of abandoned, so I would LOVE it if you would read that. It's called "Three Days Before Christmas". I really LOVE reviews, so hit the little bar at the bottom of the page!!!