cunning ambition

“I’ve known that since I was about seven, thanks,” he chuckled in response. Albus let his eyes close again, feeling as if he could pass right back out again in a second. “Well, yeah. That was my plan. I put in a long practice yesterday, think I earned it.” Not to mention he was still recovering from the events of the holiday. It had been a while since then, sure but it still weighed heavy on him.

“Oh, talked to Scorp. He broke his phone,” he said plainly. “We’re gonna take Lucius to pick out a new one.”

She dropped her head to his chest and looked up at him. “I thought we said we’d drop all talk of family members in this room. And here you brought up two.”

He moved slightly when she curled up next to him, his arm moved back behind him so it draped over her. Albus let out a groan as he put his extra pillow over his head. “I got a week still.” It only took him a moment longer of lying there before he turned onto his back, sliding his arm behind her. “Why’d you have to remind me?”

“Because I like bothering you.” She leaned over and kissed the side of his head, before snuggling up against him. “So, are we just being lazy and not getting up for the rest of the day, then? Because I’m okay with that.”

“No, it’s definitely crazy.” Alicia smiled and sat down on a bench. “You were safe though, right? And your family?”

She nodded, “”Yeah, we were fine. My family’s okay too. I don’t think any of them were really near all that mess except for my brother, but he’s alright. Yours was okay too, I assume?”

“I worked a bit on Christmas too. Laurel wasn’t too happy about that,” he admitted with a shrug. “I sure hope so. I appreciate that you’d trust my writing. Now I just got to work my way up to a full time job. Speaking of work, you enjoying playing with the Harpies?”

“I do. I think it’s about time an honest writer worked at the Prophet instead of all that politics-driven, fabricated nonsense they try and pass off as news.” Cassie nodded, “But I am. It’s a lot more work than I thought it’d be, though. I guess I really wasn’t anticipating playing professionally to be so much harder than playing at school.”

“Resolution? Nobody follows those,” Molly replied with a slight laugh. She personally couldn’t recall a single resolution she’d pulled through on.

“It’s settled then – next time we’re dressing up nice and curling up and watching movies. How’s that sound?” she suggested with a grin. “Christmas? Chaotic, yes. That’s a perfect way to put it. But still enjoyable. And yours?”

“Right? They sound good in theory, up until you hit mid-January.” She looked at her and smirked, "Fine, all settled. Who knows, you might even be a better date than your cousin.”

Chelsea’s head snapped up and she sucked in a breath, shrugging. “I haven’t seen Leo since before midnight.” She answered, looking down at her knees. “How are you? Where’s Albus?”

“Al’s fine. He’s over there.” Cassie worried her bottom lip when she mentioned not seeing Leo since before this started, moving her hand to rub her back in a soothing motion. “Chelsea...” She sighed. “I’m sure he’s okay. You know how he is. He probably got caught up in his heroics trying to make sure everyone’s okay or something.”

Albus froze at her statement, his gaze fixed out the front window. He’d had his suspicions that they’d come back full force eventually. He just hated being proven right in this instance. His arms wound tight around Cassie’s shoulders, her safety shooting up to his top priority. “Is your phone working? Text Scorp and tell him we’re alright. Ask if he’s heard from either Lily or James.” He couldn’t tell if his own phone had been going off, the adrenaline coursing through his veins had seemingly shut down all his nerves, making his entire body numb. 

“Wait here a moment.” Al dropped his arms and pushed through to the door, retrieving his wand from his pocket on his way. He cast a quick protection spell on the building to keep the crowd that had accumulated safe and followed up by reinforcing the door. If for any reason the shop was to become the target of one of the Death Eaters, he would at least make it as difficult as possible to get to. Once satisfied with his work he joined Cassie once more, his arm hooked around her shoulders. “That should hold a while,” he hoped. “Any luck getting through to anyone?”

Cassie was on edge until Al was back at her side. She shook her head at his question, immediately leaning into his touch. “No,” she moved her arms around his waist, tears prickling in her eyes. Cassie closed her eyes and buried her head against his chest again. “I texted Scor and told him to text me as soon as he could.” She lifted her head a little to look at him, her eyes falling back to the window. She couldn’t see anything, and she almost glad for that. “All this time, I just dismissed everything going on...I didn’t think it was real.”

“I’m just gonna go ahead and take the credit and say I’m the one who convinced you.” She said, ignoring the comment regarding Orion, and then laughed, “That is something coming from you.”

“Well, at some point you have to loosen up a little,” she smirked. “I still stand by what I’ve always said, though. Alcohol is the devil. And smells gross. But since Parkinson poisoned you, I’ll let it slide.”

“Oh I’m not, you’re not wrong there,” Wes replied, chuckling slightly. “I’m here because it’s New Years, but also because I’m working on another article. Let’s just say my job is never done.”

“Gross. Working on New Year’s? That sucks,” she commented. “Well, I guess at least with you at the Prophet we’ll eventually have actual news instead of the all fabricated rubbish they always post, yeah?”

“If he pulls some shit like that again just leave him to his own devices. He needs to stop getting so drunk that everybody has to baby him all the time,” Molly groaned with a roll of her eyes. “Yeah, it’s nice. I do sort of wish I was curled up watching a movie right now, but it is nice to dress up all sparkly for a night too.”

She smirked, “We’ll see about that. It was supposed to be his resolution last year, I’m pretty sure. We see how well that’s gone.” Cassie pouted at Molly’s suggested alternative. “Honestly, that sounds so much better. I’m so not one for these types of parties. Except the dresses are nice, I guess.” She got another drink. “How was your Christmas? Chaotic as usual?”

He wasn’t going to argue. After what had happened to his father a few months ago, he wasn’t about to sit in the thick of a fight like a sitting duck. They’d probably aim for a Potter given the chance. And there was a time and a place to play hero, right now didn’t seem like that time. Even if there was a group of them within view. “Yeah, come on,” Al said, gripping her had to ensure that she wouldn’t get lost in the crowd. “Any idea where Scorp is? We should make sure he’s safe.” And then his brothers and sister.

She was gripping Al’s hand too tightly as they maneuvered themselves through the crowd. She wasn’t looking up, only at the ground as she followed him in fear of seeing something she didn’t want to. “I haven’t seen him all night...” 

He scoffed at her comment. “Nuh-uh. And deal. 12:30, sobering up.” Al gave her a thumbs up before leaning into the kiss. “I love you, too.”

When he realized that the lightning had never struck Gringott’s, his hand immediately reached for her own. Just in time as darkness soon engulfed their surroundings. “This… doesn’t seem like it was part of the show,” Albus muttered, tightening his grip on her hand. “We should probably get out of here.”

Cassie rolled her eyes at his response, smiling despite that. She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at Gringott’s, waiting. Cassie registered Al’s change in mood about the same time darkness consumed the alley. She lifted her head off from him, stepping closer to him as people began to shuffle around them. Cassie opened her mouth to speak, but whatever she was about to say died on her lips at the sound of spell flying past them. “Al...” Cassie said in a harsh whisper, frozen when she saw a group of hooded figures starting down the street, masks covering their faces. Sure, she’d heard about them plenty from her grandfather, but seeing them was a different thing entirely. “Al.  She tugged his hand in the direction the others were going before he could turn to see them, knowing he’d try and fight, or do something stupid. “We need to go.”

“No, it’s doing a lot more than that,” Albus said, a sly smirk etched on his face as he blatantly gave her a once over. He moved his arms around her again when she moved closer, his face screwing up again in confusion. “What the hell is that s’posed to mean?”

He took a moment to think it over, but soon gave up. His mind was not in any state to be solving riddles nor was he a Ravenclaw. Thank god for that or he’d still be in school, probably. “Book lovers,” he said with an eye roll. Turning his attention back to Cassie he glanced down at his watch. “Almost midnight now.”

Cassie dropped her jaw slightly when he didn’t even bother hiding the once over he gave her. She rolled her eyes and lightly hit his arm. “You know you’re a lot grosser when you’re drunk, Potter.” Cassie glanced down at his watch when he did. “I guess it is.” She dropped her hands from his waist and put them around his neck as the clock neared closer to midnight. “But nice try, though. Get me out of here before 12:30 and sober up a bit, and I might show you later.”