Rose Weasley and Lily Potter had a notoriously rocky relationship. But as Lily often said, the best thing that had come out of her disastrous almost wedding was that she finally made up with her cousin.
"Its been a horrifying week," Rose sighed. They were sitting in a very nice, very small coffee shop that had sort of become their place over the last three years. Lily would never admit it but sometimes her bitch sessions with Rose were the highlight of her week.
"Campaign killing you?" Lily asked sympathetically.
"A little," she said. "Scorpius just has so many people to meet and it helps if I go with him. It's a little difficult to be prejudiced against Death Eater spawn when he's screwing the daughter of two thirds of the Golden Trio."
"Dad always hated that name," Lily said, smiling at memories of her father scowling at the Daily Prophet every time they used that term. "He said it made them sound like a boy band."
"And not to mention that I have to take night shifts at the hospital now because I have to be around during the day for all the campaign nonsense. I think I'm going to go back to modeling."
No you aren't," Lily said with a laugh. "You love Mungo's. I've never seen anyone as excited about gaping wounds as you."
"You make me sound like a psychopath," Rose said. "That Japanese bloke sitting two tables down just gave us a distinctly freaked out look. Probably thinks I'm a serial killer. But anyway enough about me. What's going on with you?"
"Nothing much," Lily said untruthfully.
"Its Daemon isn't it," Rose said with a sigh. "I love that boy like a brother but I am going to kick his ass."
"Its just that Lucy's back," Lily said quietly. "And well I think she was always the love of his life and I was just someone who looked a little like her."
"Dump him," Rose said bluntly. "Its not worth it in the long run."
"Isn't this the long run though?" Lily asked. "It's been two years. And I… I can't just leave."
"And he does love you incidentally," Rose said. "He told me several times. He's just…"
"Confused?" Lily finished for her.
"I don't know," Rose said thoughtfully. "I think its more like he doesn't quite know what to do."
"I should start looking for a place to stay shouldn't I?" Lily said, seeming almost resigned.
"That might be wise," Rose agreed.
"What about you?" Lily asked. "Found any good apartments?"
"I wish we had time," Rose groaned. "We chose the worst time to move in together."
"Well at least you have someone who loves you," Lily said, feeling a little sorry for herself.
To her surprise she saw Rose shift uncomfortably.
"What?" she asked her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"He hasn't told me he loves me," Rose said, her voice lowered.
"You've been together for three years," Lily said unable to hide her surprise. "Not even once?"
"Not even once," Rose said a little sadly.
"Why don't you say it then?" Lily asked.
"Well I don't want to seem clingy or anything," Rose said defensively.
"You know sometimes I feel like you're a totally different person than you were three years ago but then other times I feel like you haven't changed a bit," Lily said a little harshly.
"What does that mean?" Rose asked, fired up.
"It means you're still painfully immature," Lily said crossly.
"Hark look who's talking," Rose said.
"You think I'm immature?" Lily asked, her tone becoming a little shrill.
"What you dated Andrew for like a year and then literally jumped into a serious relationship with Daemon barely six months later," Rose said, quickly, as if the words were spilling out of her mouth almost against her will. "You literally haven't been single for more than a couple of months in your life and you let your whole existence be defined by your relationships, which incidentally is not a healthy thing."
"Are you finished?" Lily said woodenly.
"I'm sorry," Rose said sighing again. "I don't want to fight."
"Neither do I," Lily said, sounding almost close to tears. "Its just that you do realize you have a perfect fucking life don't you? You're doing a job you love and you're with someone you love, who adores you by the way. So why won't you just tell him that you love him? I don't understand."
"It's complicated," Rose said slowly. "We're complicated."
"I know I know," Lily said. "I've heard the backstory. But just because your relationship started with a lie- which I haven't entirely forgiven you for by the way- doesn't mean it isn't real."
"I know that," Rose said. "I know. I'm just scared."
"Well don't be you loser," Lily said with a smile. "I mean you're moving in together. I'm pretty sure that means he wants you around."
Lorcan Scamander had rolled up to lunch with his godmother looking distinctly disheveled.
"Hello hello," he said kissing her on the cheek. "I was quite surprised when my PA told me you had called. It's been a while."
"It's nice to see you too Lorcan," Ginny Potter said. "And I assume your PA is responsible for the state you're in now?"
"Aunt Ginny," Lorcan said reproachfully.
She just shrugged and smiled at him cheekily.
"And no," he said regretfully. "I wish. The Minister's been running me ragged lately. I haven't slept in about a week. It's all thanks to your son-in-law. He sounds so painfully heartfelt compared to the Minister's obvious insincerity. It's giving us trouble."
"Well that's actually what I'm here to talk to you about," Ginny said, seeing an opening. "How would you like to come and work for my painfully sincere son-in-law?"
"Ah so this wasn't a social visit," Lorcan said with a wry smile. "I see."
"Not entirely," Ginny said. "But I have missed you. You should come by more often."
"You know you're the only person in your family who can stand me," Lorcan said, looking not put out by that fact at all.
"Well you can come and visit me then at least," Ginny said firmly. "I am your godmother you know. I think I'm owed at least one visit every three months."
"But does Malfoy really want me?" Lorcan asked, changing the subject. "I never exactly got the feeling he approved of me."
"Well he knows when someone's good," Ginny said. "And he wants only the best for his team."
"What would I be doing?" Lorcan asked.
"Campaign manager," Ginny said.
Lorcan let out a low whistle. "He wants me to run his campaign?" he said incredulously. "He called me an unprincipled toad with more money than sense about two months ago."
"You are an unprincipled toad," Ginny said laughing a little. "But you do know how to win and that's what Scorpius wants."
"A change would be nice," Lorcan said meditatively. "I mean everyone high up in the ministry now is about three-hundred years old."
"Exactly," Ginny said. "And Drudge is terrible. You know that."
"I'm practically the Minister's right hand man now though," Lorcan said. "And Malfoy and I rarely see eye to eye on anything. How do I know he won't boot me off his staff once I win him the election."
"You're getting a little ahead of yourself aren't you?" Ginny noted. "And he won't because he's very principled."
"He's a little bit of a cold fish isn't he?" Lorcan asked. "The most life I've ever seen from him is when he gatecrashed your daughter's wedding. How do I know he has the passion it takes to win this?"
"Just talk to him for about ten minutes and you'll see why he should be Minister," Ginny said. "You know you want to do this. With Scorpius you can make a difference. And while I'm sure being the Minister's lapdog-"
Lorcan let out a slightly surprised snort at this.
"Is a lot of fun," Ginny continued ignoring him. "People like Scorpius are our future. And you know you want to be a part of that future."
a/n: So another one. I'm not doing so bad am I? Please tell me what you thinkk :)