After the Yule Ball, it was clear that something had changed between Roxanne and Albus. More than once would someone notice them exchange glances or share a silent smile between them.
And by the time of Albus' graduation, everything was just perfect for the two of them. Yet, when the time finally came and an adult now Albus graduated, something dawned upon them.
The Grand Tour would take place and he with Elphias Doge, would spend one year travelling the world.
Roxanne knew that day would eventually arrive but she was not looking forward to it. Especially after what happened at the Ball, she did not wish to see Albus go, even though they would exchange letters constantly.
As per usual, the three friends were under the weeping willow and were talking about the upcoming plan.
Albus was laying his head on Roxanne's lap and she was gently massaging his head while they enjoyed the shade, the tree provided. She had her back pressed against the bark and by her right, was Gellert.
Her head was close to his shoulder but not touching, relaxing while he was busy studying a book that could lead him to the Hallows.
"Hogwarts will not be the same without you, Godric's Hollow too," Roxanne said, eyes looking pretty much at anything as her fingers worked through his hair.
Her words and sightly whining tone amused Albus. "It will only be for a year, you will be fine. Plus, I do leave you in the most capable of hands"
She smiled and turned to look at Gellert, who was focused on his latest book and it was unclear whether he had heard them or not.
Roxanne leaned her head on his shoulder, her face a little too close to his neck and for a moment took in his scent; which surprisingly seemed to drive her mad.
Feeling the weight added to his shoulder, he turned his head to look from his book at her. Their movement caused their faces to come extremely close, their noses almost touching.
Her lips parted faintly, seeing how close they once again were. Her mind could not help but focus on his well-structured European face before got reminded of the kiss they shared in winter Gathering enough courage, she pulled her head away and tried to look anywhere but at him.
Her eyes landed on Albus, who had been watching them intensely.
However, in his eyes, she could not see anger or betrayal; not even judgement. At that moment, she was certain she saw curiosity and even some small excitement before his eyes travelled to Gellert, making the two young men stare at one another for a long time.
Eventually, it was Gellert who broke the silence and the intense eye contact by shutting his book closed. "While you will be travelling, I will start looking for the Hallows. Tensions rise between humans and wizards, and it is only a matter of time before something big happens"
Roxanne moved her free hand and placed it on top of his forearm, making him look at her. "We will get look and find the Hallows. I promised I would help you and I have two months before Hogwarts starts again"
Her words seemed to please him and he gave a nod of his head. While he was used to doing things alone, it had been proven across the school year that this mission required second-hand to assist.
He would have asked Albus but since he was so busy with the travels, he had only discussed it with her. He would not complain, though, for she was nothing but qualified for it.
She was smart and a prodigy with the potions while having a certain advanced level in charms. Her metamorphmagus abilities, in addition, were the perfect weapon and she had already proven that there was nothing alive she could not transform into.
"Oh well, if you two don't finish all the quest alone. I will help when I am back" Albus said, once again drawing their attention to him.
Gellert's lips twitched upwards into a smirk. "You sound as if you are suddenly interested in them" he teased, earning an eye roll from him.
Albus moved his body so his arm was on top of Roxanne's lap and he leaned his head on it, now laying at his front. This allowed him to have a better view of his other companion.
"Perhaps I have started to get interested after hearing you talk about it for so long," he said, bringing up his own smirk.
"Hmmm...and I do wonder what you will gain from it"
He was thoughtful for a moment as if that question was a trap. "Right now, personally nothing but if we plan to change the wizarding world and its laws about muggles; we all know power will be needed...for the greater good"
Roxanne was surprised to hear Albus talk like that, never truly being one who was after power. He did a good job of staying humble or at least not letting his mind get affected by the praises and the power he could possess.
His way of talking showed that he was tempted by that power but at the same time, redirected his mission to help others and make a bright change that could save wizard lives.
Then, the two of them turned to look at her and she felt intimidated by the sharp gaze. She gave her usual smile despite the goosebumps appearing on her skin.
"For the greater good, indeed. What's the point of having all that power if we do not use it to help those that truly need it?" She said and while her words sounded cliche, the two young men knew that this was her.
It was what was expected from her and it was more than enough. Roxanne possessed a pure heart and she would never think selfishly, it was simply not her.
Joining at the idea even of such a mission proved how much she trusted them that they would not get consumed by power...and how wrong she would be for the near future.
The following week, a festival had been hosted at Godric's Hollow to celebrate a gentle-for-the-crops summer. No one truly knew what exactly took place that very same night but one thing was for certain.
The three friends had learnt something more about themselves.
For that special night, they shared a few drinks and eventually were led to do something no one would have them capable of. On that special night, they chose to fully expose themselves for whom they were.
They shared just like they always did, none left complaining and all got equalled shared; some perhaps little more than others. The feelings they had started to develop were wild and unpredictable, unable to stay with one person but instead chose to expand.
They led them to try something new where all three would participate in a night that would forever change their loyalties, and their thoughts for one another and would even play a role in their overlapping future.
But while Albus got two special individuals to fill his life and introduce him to things many would call a sin, life was about to completely test him in the most unexpected way possible.
For a few days before his Grand Tour, Arianna lost control of her powers. This time, though, someone did get hurt and badly.
Kendra Dumbledore had tried to help her daughter and suffered the wrath of her powers, forever ending her life at that very same spot she chose to stand in the room.
Needless to say, her death affected everyone differently but left all of them equally and deeply wounded by her demise. At her funeral, many villagers came to pay their respects, inducing Bathilda Bagshot, who tagged Gellert along with her.
The silent boy watched around him as people left flowers and a priest read from the bible while her coffin was lowered into the plot they had dug for her.
His eyes landed on Roxanne, who stood close to the front and was holding her father's hand for support. The metamorphmagus had a soft spot for the deceased woman, seeing her as some sort of mother since hers had passed away when she was a baby.
It was Kendra's kindness and how he welcomed her into her family that motivated and inspired Roxanne to do the same; to share these selfless feelings and bright mood with everyone.
Even in the last few years, with Arianna getting worse; Kendra still tried her best and Roxanne could see that. She tried hard for her kids, especially looking after her daughter when both her sons were attending school.
His eyes connected with her red and puffy amber ones, an obvious sign that she was crying but Gellert did not blame her. There was another silent glance before she chose to advert her eyes elsewhere and dry them with a handkerchief.
Gellert looked around and eventually spotted the two brothers. Albus stood the furthest away from the crowd and he was busy glaring at the ground in front of him.
Arianna as it was expected, was locked in the house by her own will; being devastated and sick with guilt after causing her mother's demise. Aberforth had stayed behind to look after her, not truly having the ability to see their mother's body again; after he was the one that found it.
When the funeral was over, Roxanne had to lead her father back home. The Old man was slowly getting worse and she would often come home and find him roaming the house and thinking the wrong things.
She even confessed to Gellert that one day he almost didn't fully recognise her and that it took her tries to make him realize that he had a daughter and that daughter was her.
He knew that eventually, she would have to send him somewhere to be looked after, for she could not spend all her life looking after him; especially with his memory failing him that way.
She cast another look at Albus, who was busy glaring at the ground in front of him. Her heart ached to see him like that but she knew right now she could not do much.
The days that followed had Albus carrying around a heavy heart, resentful and only clouded by anger; he was not the man everyone was used to.
His Grand Tour was cancelled for him, his chance of travelling forever gone. He had to stay back and look after his siblings, especially his sister that was a wrecking mess both figuratively but also literally.
Aberforth did suggest to drop out of school to look after Arianna but Albus refused to even listen to the idea; despite this being his chance to be free.
He accepted those responsibilities, having no other choice since he was now the Head of his little family.
Little did he know, things would drastically change and far sooner than he would expect them.