Disclaimer: You know the drill; whatever I don't own, JK Rowling does. Okay, that said, I had a bit of a brain fart. Rose wasn't supposed to be at the Burrow; so, for all intents and purposes, she wasn't there and will instead appear in this chapter. I hope you all will be able to adjust ;)

Albus did not leave his room the next day. In the spirit of prudence, Harry left him alone. Ginny was beside herself, however, and Harry didn't think he would be able to keep her out much longer. When he had envisioned having his whole family back in England, this hadn't been exactly what he'd had in mind. He was proud of Albus, more proud than he could say, but he hadn't liked Albus being so far away one bit. He had seen too much not to worry every second about his family's safety and having his son, who was just out of Hogwarts and still a child in Harry's eyes, half way across the world, completely out of his jurisdiction had taken some getting used to. When he was honest with himself, he had been waiting for something like this to happen. Despite all of Albus' assurances that everything was perfectly safe and Arsenius' oath that nothing would happen, Harry had been anticipating a crisis.

There had been a slew of curious and sympathetic floos throughout the day. Friends and co-workers had flooed, ostensibly, to ask if Albus was alright; Harry had a suspicion that they just wanted to confirm or disprove the rumors they had heard. He had had heard some of them too. Ron had overheard a man in the shop say that Albus had been struck silly by poisoned curry. Hermione had heard a young Ministry clerk say that he had been kidnapped by a Sufi mystic. Indeed, some of the well-wishers had seemed a bit disappointed that Albus was only bedridden and would make a full recovery.

Harry was set to return to the Ministry the next day and had received a note from his secretary with an update on the office. He was looking forward to getting back to work. There he wouldn't have to deal with Albus' constant animosity. However, a lot had piled up in his absence and, if Neil was to be trusted, he had ten new cases to look over.

By dinner time, Harry was more than a little worried about the lack of sound coming out of Albus' room. The boy could not have left the house without him knowing; Harry, anticipating Albus' desire to leave, had installed alarms. No, Albus had not tried to escape. Ginny obviously shared his worry and the two of them went up together, carefully pushing open the door to Albus' room. It looked the same as it had when Albus had left. There were still touches of his childhood scattered about.

His favorite stuffed animal, a Hungarian Horntail Charlie had given him for his first Birthday, lay on the dresser behind a picture of Albus and Rose on Rose's seventh Birthday. They had their skinny arms wrapped around each other and were grinning at the camera, waving madly. Rose's brilliant red hair hung in pigtails by her face. She had the same brilliant eyes as Ron did but had inherited Hermione's slightly oversized front teeth. Albus looked much the same, if not a little more scrawny. A signed Chudley Cannons poster hung on his wall beside a peeling image of the Weird Sister Albus had found in Ginny's old school trunk ("You really listened to the Weird Sisters Mum? And all this time I didn't think you were cool").

His old school books were organized on his shelf, some more well-worn than others. His Potions books were nearly falling apart. His first potions set, a gift from Percy, was organized on his desk, meticulously cleaned. The walls were still the same deep green, the carpet was still soft and stained with spilt potions ingredients but it felt different. It was like walking into a museum. Suddenly, after so many years, it felt forbidding and remote. It didn't feel like their child's room anymore. Harry shivered slightly and wrapped his arm around Ginny's shoulder.

Albus was sleeping in his bed, the tray of lunch Kreacher had brought up untouched on his bedside table. He looked so peaceful that for a moment, Harry forgot what had transpired and, even if only for a second, he was taken back to Albus' childhood, when everything had seemed so simple. "It will be okay," Ginny whispered, reading his mind. "He won't stay mad forever."

"I know," Harry sighed, squeezing her arm. "But he's not ours anymore; he's all grown up."

"Maybe not all grown up. He will always be our son . . . whether he likes it or not. Well, I'm glad he's sleeping at any rate. He needs a good long rest. When is he supposed to go into work?"

"Arsenius said whenever he's ready. I can bring some of it home tomorrow and let him do with it what he will."

"Good, I don't want him to overexert himself."

"I'd like to see him try, what with you watching over him," Harry smirked. "You're worse than Madam Pomfrey sometimes."

"I learned from the best; my mother could run circles around Madame Pomfrey any day of the week." Ginny chuckled, leading Harry away from Albus' room. "Anyway, I know something that will cheer him up."

"What is that?" Harry asked, interested.

"Rose is back."

Rose and Albus had been best friends their entire life. To many people's surprise, they were more the exception than the rule as far as Weasley cousins were concerned. Of course, they were all friendly to each other but Albus and Rose had something special. They complemented the other in a way very reminiscent of their parents. Rose had inherited her mother's brains but also her father's obstinacy and pig-headedness, a very dangerous combination. She had done well in school but lacked the drive to satisfy and please that had spurred her mother to perfection. In the subjects she did not find interesting she showed little effort. Albus on the other hand got nearly perfect marks in every subject. He had been compared to his Aunt Hermione on more than one occasion.

Once Rose decided what she wanted to do, she threw herself into her studies, showing off her keen intellect that would later win over her future employers. She had decided to become a journalist in her sixth year, oddly enough the same year she and Albus had had their first big falling out. They didn't speak for over three months, the longest three months in either of their lives. But by seventh year, they were back to normal much to their parents' relief. Ron, thinking that Rose would follow in her godmother's footsteps had become excited, envisioning free Chudley Cannons season tickets. Rose broke the news to him over a Butter Beer and an early Birthday present of two sets of season tickets.

Just as Albus had taken a job as far away from London as he could find, Rose flew the coupe as well. She had become an International Correspondent with the Daily Prophet. She had been all over the world, even stopping in on her dear cousin when they were doing a cover on the International Wizards Forum in Mumbai a few months before. Everyone knew that the best way to improve Albus Potter's mood was a visit from his favorite cousin.

Harry left for work early the next morning, stopping in on his son briefly to say goodbye. Albus had pretended to sleep. A few hours later, Albus heard a knock on his door. "Go away for Merlin's sake. I don't want to talk to you right now." He grumbled, sinking deeper into his covers. The door opened anyway and he turned to glare at the person entering.

"Don't give me that look you great prat!" Rose ordered, grinning. Albus felt a wide smile spread over his face.

"Rosie!" he exclaimed, attempting to push himself out of bed.

"No, don't get up. I'm under strict orders and you look like a feather could knock you off your feet anyway." Rose hastened good naturedly. She crossed the room and sat down beside his bed. "I came as soon as I could Al. You look like shit by the way."

"Thanks," Albus sneered, the smile not leaving his lips. She was tan, her face even more freckly than normal. Her once fly-away, bushy hair now hung in perfect auburn ringlets around her shoulders, pulled back by a pair of posh, black sunglasses. She was wearing a pair of well-worn jeans and a loose white tunic that made her skin stand out all the more. "How have you been Rosie?" Albus asked, happy for the first time since he had been admitted to the hospital.

"Good, we just finished doing a story in Sierra Leon. I learned a bit of Krio."

"Let's hear it then."

"Okay, wɔwɔ lɛk babu we de sɔk lɛm," she finished, blushing a little.

"And what did that mean?" Albus asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Rose rolled her eyes.

"Albus, you need to get your mind out of the gutter. Actually, it was very appropriate."

"What did it mean?" Albus asked again, choking back a laugh.

"It meant ugly as a chimpanzee sucking a lime." Albus burst out laughing.

"What?!"

"I know! It's one of the few phrases I actually remembered. Our liaison and translator Allie taught it to me."

"Ah, that's classic."

"How about you? Have you learned any Hindi phrases?" Albus shook his head.

"Maddy tried to teach me some but I'm bullocks at languages." His smile faded suddenly.

"Oh Al, Aunt Ginny told me. I'm really sorry."

"I just don't know why Rosie. I know I got pulled away but we had talked about me leaving. I was so sure that, I just hate this. Was it me?"

"Ah Al, don't beat yourself up. It couldn't have been you . . . Hey, do you want to go out for a drink?" Albus must have looked skeptical for she pushed on. "Do you know how many free drinks we could get with you in a wheelchair? Seriously, you need it love."

"It's only eleven o'clock."

"It's five o'clock somewhere. Come on, where's your sense of adventure?"

"Do you think you'd be able to spring me from this prison cell?" Albus mused, looking around at the walls. Rose grinned and flicked her wand at the shrunken wheelchair which was sitting by his bed.

"Come on, up you get."

"I'm not dressed yet," Albus admitted, blushing.

"Easily rectified. What do you want to wear?"

"There's a pair of jeans in the dresser, second drawer and a Heidelberg Harriers t-shirt in the first drawer." Rose gave him a withering look.

"You know the only reason to you allege to like that team is because that little German exchange student, what was her name, Gertrude, gave it to you."

"Her name was Heidi and there are teams other than the Cannons you know, teams that actually win occasionally."

"And to think, I was trying to help you." Rose glared at him.

"Just help me into my chair and I'll get my clothes myself."

"Nope, I can't have you going and doing yourself in." Rose quipped, shutting his dresser and throwing his clothes over.

"Do you mind?" Albus asked, his eyebrows raised. Rose rolled her eyes but turned her back none-the-less.

"It's nothing I haven't seen before you know. I've known you my whole life." Albus didn't answer, pulling his pajama top off and pulling on the t-shirt. He struggled a bit with the jeans but eventually cleared his throat. Rose turned back around and helped him into his chair.

"Now, how do you propose we get past my mum?"

"She trusts me," Rose answered simply, hovering him down the stairs. Ginny was in the office, typing away on her new computer. "Aunt Ginny, Albus and I are going out for a drink. We'll be back later." Without waiting for a reply, she pushed Albus out of the door, flicking her wand to lift the charms Harry had put in place.

They got to a muggle pub in town, the one they had escaped to during many an over-crowded holidays. Rose looked around and caught sight of a gaggle of blond girls. She positioned herself and Albus at a nearby table and elbowed Albus in the ribs. He doubled over and groaned. One of the girls looked up. "Aww!" she burst out, a look of such intense sympathy on her face it nearly made Rose sick. Blond-Bobblehead walked over to their table.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" she asked, her voice high-pitched and irritating. She was wearing a denim miniskirt and a violent pink tube top. She smacked her bubblegum loudly.

"Fine," Albus grunted, rubbing his ribs.

"Is this your girlfriend?"

"No, I'm his sister," Rose cut in before Albus could answer. "I'm afraid I'm the only family Tom's got left."

"Oh, that's so sad!" the blond exclaimed, motioning her ilk over.

"This is Tom, he's an orphan," she explained, garnering many more "awws" and sympathetic stares. "This is Cookie, Gracie, Lulu and I'm Tammy. How long have you been in a wheelchair?"

"He's been in there his whole life. He's never felt what it's like to run through a meadow or play a game of football . . . He's just been stuck in that chair," Rose said swiftly, casting her eyes to Albus for good measure."

"That's just awful!" Cookie said, twisting a strand of her bleach-blond hair around her finger. "Let me buy you a drink."

"No me!"

"No me!"

"I found him, it should be me!"

Rose gave Albus a self-satisfied look; Albus rolled his eyes. Rose would do absolutely anything for a free drink.

Meanwhile, at the Ministry, Harry was receiving some very interesting news. "So, what you're saying is that someone saw a mysterious man at the complex on the day of the attack and nobody told me? Not after the scores of interviews I conducted?" Harry burst out angrily. Gawain Robards, one of his oldest aurors was not shaken.

"Well, the little shit didn't tell me straight away. He seemed a bit scared, to tell you the truth, seemed to think you'd make a return."

Harry gave a hollow laugh. "Wonder what could have given him that idea. I never really trusted Rajish. Has anything come up on his record?"

"No, no connection to England at all. He didn't like Albus but I don't think his dislike ran deep enough to try to kill him."

"Why didn't he like Albus?" Harry asked.

"Well, apparently, Albus kept calling him in. He said he had a kid at home and Albus didn't ever let him leave early, always kept him a bit over. He seemed to think that Albus favored Madhavi Palekar over him."

"That's not enough for murder is it?" Harry asked, massaging his temples. Robards shook his head.

"I don't think so. I think it probably has to do more with this mysterious guy."

"Did you finish the background check on Madhavi?"

"Yes, nothing. She's the daughter of an Indian healer, father's unknown. She's never been to England before and she doesn't have any other spots on her record."

"Thanks Gawain. I really appreciate your hard work; you saved me these past couple of weeks."

"Don't worry about it Harry, Merlin knows I know what's it's like with kids. You'd do the same for me."

"Of course, now why don't you call it a day, go see your wife?" Harry smiled wearily and Robards left. It was three hours before Harry returned home. He was surprised to find Albus actually smiling as he sliced thick slices of bread with his wand. James was leaning against the kitchen counter telling him a joke, avoiding any manual labor as usual. The reason for Albus' cheerfulness was stirring a pot on the stove. "Hello Rose! How are you?" Harry asked. She turned and gave him a hug.

"I'm good Uncle Harry, really good."

"How was Africa?"

"Oh, it was great. We got a lot of work done though I haven't gotten anything published yet."

"Well, I have no doubts that we'll soon see your byline. It's only a matter of time. I am glad you're back though. Is it just you or-"

"My parents are in the sitting room with Aunt Ginny." Harry found Ron and Hermione sitting on the couch, chatting with Ginny about Lily's and Hugo's upcoming graduation from Hogwarts.

"-always thought Lily would be an excellent Auror," Hermione was telling Ginny.

"Not a chance," Harry said quickly. "I've avoided it thus far and I don't want to break the record." Hermione and Ron looked up. Ginny crossed the room and gave him a quick kiss. "Albus seems a bit different," he mused.

"Rose is a god sent. I'm glad she could make it back."

"It's about bloody time," Ron grumbled. "They've had her all over the globe for the past three months. They work her too hard and I've half a mind to go and tell them wh-"

"You will do no such thing," Hermione cut in. "She's a new employee and I for one am glad they are utilizing her so fully."

"When I first started at the Prophet I was out on assignment every other day and that was just Quidditch," Ginny reasoned.

"So what are we eating for dinner?" Harry interrupted, his stomach governing his mind for the moment.

"Rosie wanted to make some stew she'd had in Morocco. She won't tell us how she got the recipe but it smells good at least," Hermione explained.

"It should be ready any minute but we're waiting for Sophie." Ron commented mildly, shooting a look at Ginny whose ears had gone read and lips pursed.

"I still can't believe James is dating Dennis Creevey's daughter. It doesn't seem like he should be old enough to have a daughter James' age."

"She's not James' age. She's a gold digging little-"

"Gin, in order for her to be a gold digger there has to be at least a moderate amount of gold to speak of. Anyway, she's only a year younger." Harry tried to bite back his laughter. Ginny huffed but didn't say any more. They only had to wait a few more minutes before Sophie arrived and Rose hurried them all into the dining room. The mysterious stew tasted very good, especially with the wine Ron had brought and large slices of crusty bread. As they all ate, Harry looked around the table; this had been what he'd had in mind.

A/N: I know it's a bit late but I've been busy. I don't know if I'll get the next chapter up this weekend as I'm going to go hear CLINTON AND OBAMA speak!!!!!!! I'm a bit excited. Anywho, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and whether or not you did, please REVIEW!!!!!!!

Love y'all to pieces,

Liz