Annabel, Albus, Clarice and Rose boarded the Hogwarts express for the very last time, feeling both sad and relieved.
"I can't believe it's over," said Clarice, as they got into their compartment.
"I'm really gonna miss it," said Rose sadly.
"Well, I'll always miss it, but I'm glad it's over," said Scorpius.
"What?" asked Annabel, looking shocked.
"Well, now we're starting a completely new phase of our lives. We've been accepted into our choice careers, and now we can just go for it," explained Scorpius.
"I guess that makes sense," said Al, "but it's a little scary."
"Yeah. For the first time in seventeen years I'll be cooking and doing my own laundry, and it's sort of crazy," said Rose.
"Well," said Clarice, "At least we won't have to do it alone. We'll all be experiencing it together."
"Yeah. It's a shame we're not all living in the same place," said Rose, "I mean we're," she gestured to Scorpius, "living in Ottery St. Catchpole, Clarice and James are in London, Al's in Godric's Hollow, and I don't even know where you are Annabel."
"I'm living in London too, but it doesn't really matter," said Annabel, "We can just floo or apperate."
"I guess..." said Rose.
"Anyway," said Albus, "We'll all see each other every week at the Burrow. Now that we're out of school we get to go to the Sunday dinner."
"What's 'the Sunday dinner?'" asked Annabel.
"Once we graduate from Hogwarts, and are considered 'adult enough' all the Weasleys and Potters meet every Sunday night at the Burrow and leave the kids at home or with a sitter," explained Rose.
"Well," said Clarice, "We," she gestured to Annabel and Scorpius, "Can't come."
"Yes you can," said Rose, "You're dating members of the family, which makes you part of the family."
"Thanks," said Clarice.
The rest of the ride passed pleasantly enough as they discussed their new jobs, homes, and futures. When they reached the station they collected their things slowly, and were the last to leave the train. They were unsurprised to see all of the Weasleys and Potters, plus the Malfoys, the Smiths, and the Longbottoms.
Clarice was at James' side, even though she'd seen him only the day before, and together they walked hand in hand over to the Longbottoms, presumably to tell them the news.
Rose and Scorpius went over to talk first to the Malfoys, and then to the Weasleys about their new plans, and Annabel and Albus were welcomed by the Potters with open arms.
Scorpius, Rose, Clarice, and James had met up the next day, and were flipping a coin to decide which apartment to see first.
"Ha!" said Rose triumphantly, "We win!"
"Fine..."muttered Clarice.
"Well, now we save the best for last," said James with a smirk.
Scorpius rolled his eyes as he grabbed Rose's hand to apparate. Rose grabbed Clarice's hand, and Clarice still held James' hand in her other one. They dissappereated to find themselves in front of the front door of an old-style farmhouse. It was white, with an old fashioned porch. Rose fell in love with it immediately.
"Do you like it?" asked Scorpius.
"I LOVE it," said Rose, taking the key from Scorpius and practically running to the door.
"It's a bit of a fixer upper," warned Scorpius, "but I couldn't let it pass. It's so close to the Burrow, and it's gorgeous."
Rose unlocked the door and grabbed Scorpius' hand to explore. The house still had an authentic country charm. It was two stories, with six bedrooms and six bathrooms, plus two half-baths. The best room by far, and the one that both Rose and Scorpius loved the most, was the library. It was HUGE. On every wall there were dark wood book cases, that already housed hundreds of books. There was a small area by one of the many fireplaces that had couches and chairs. The next best part of the house was the garden, which was out back. It wasn't too overdone, but still looked well-kept. There were roses, tulips, orchids, and violets. It was a magical place. By the time they came back out Rose was already making grand plans for the decor.
"I want to preserve the natural charm," she said, surveying the front yard, "Because it's so adorable this way. But, I still want to add my own personal taste. I'm thinking light blue for the living room. It was a good size, so we should be able to fit some great furniture in there. I want to keep the woods floors, but for the bathroom tile I want something white--"
"Rose!" said James, "We want to see our apartment by tonight."
"Fine," muttered Rose, as they all clustered around James to disapperate.
They arrived right outside the door of the apartment. Clarice took out the silver key and turned the lock. She gasped. Unlike Rose and Scorpius' house the apartment had a very modern look. Stainless steel appliances, with light wood cupboards in the kitchen, which had limestone counter tops, and a dark stone floor. The living room, which was the room they had first seen, had wood flooring, and a huge fireplace in the far right corner. The wall directly across from the door was a huge window, from which you could see the most gorgeous view. It turned out they were on the thirty-seventh floor of the building, and you could see everything from Buckingham Palace, to the Tower of London, to Big Ben, to the countryside. The house had a very open floor plan, the living room moving directly into the dining room, which moved directly into the kitchen. To Clarice's delight, this house also had a library/office compound. On the back wall of the office was a set of book cases, and right by the wall a ladder that brought them up to a loft which housed hundreds of books. It was such a big apartment, that the only thing that made it one was the fact that it was in a building with others. In all other respects it was just like a house, and was just as big. There were four bedrooms and bathrooms, plus two half-baths.
"James, it's perfect!" said Clarice, "We'll have to start picking furniture immediately."
"Tomorrow," said Rose, "We can all go shopping!" Clarice nodded, but Scorpius and James groaned.
"Why don't you do it?" asked Scorpius, "You both know we don't care as much."
"But, you should be involved!" said Clarice.
"I'll like anything you pick," promised James, and Scorpius nodded.
"Fine," said Rose, "We will go shopping for furniture, and you guys will go shopping for supplies, tonight we'll make a list of paint colors, and stuff like that."
"Fine," said Scorpius, "And then we can do the painting next weekend, cause we've got work all next week."
"Okay," said Clarice as Rose and Scorpius got ready to dissappereate, "Bye! See you tomorrow night for our first ever Weasley Sunday Dinner!"
"Bye!" called Rose, before they disappeared.
James gave Clarice a kiss, and as they broke apart said, "Welcome home."
A/N: I've got one more chapter coming, then the epilogue (which will probably be in at least two parts if not three). Review, and tell me what you thought about everything!
