It was Thursday of their graduating week, when Frankie had sent a very urgent paper crane to Tom, requesting that he meet her in the library as soon as possible. He answered her immediately, quickly dropping everything he was doing, and walked at a very brisk pace from the Slytherin dorms to meet her. She had not detailed why she needed to see him so suddenly, but considering they were bound to be separated in three days, he would've rather not wasted a single moment. Even if she were bound to give him more unpleasant news, like she had when she told him that she would be accepting an apprenticeship with Professor Dumbledore and would be staying at the castle until further notice. Tom had tried to convince Headmaster Dippet to give him the Defense Against the Dark Arts job, but had been unsuccessful. It stung a little bit, but truthfully he had only considered it to stay together with Frankie.

Tom found her sitting at a table waiting for him, patiently. She oddly had no books out on the table. He assumed she'd be in deep research when he found her. She'd be monopolizing the entire area with about ten books open at once and even he'd have trouble getting her attention. That's how he usually saw her in the library anyway. Not today. It suddenly hit him that this might be a more serious meeting than he'd originally thought.

"You wanted to see me?" Tom inquired, curiously, upon his arrival.

"Thank you for coming. Please be seated." she replied, politely.

"—Okay, why are you already acting like a professor? You haven't even started your training yet—"

"—Just listen for a second." Frankie snapped, right across his snark. She took a deep breath and calmed herself again, while he sat down in the seat across from her. "I have found a solution to our problem."

"Have you now?" Tom answered, quite skeptically. It wasn't as if he didn't think she was smart enough to come up with a solution to their future, it was just that he'd personally rattled his brain about the subject for months and she'd somehow managed to come up with something new within a few days. "Well, let's hear it then."

She placed a simple letter on the table. It was only a couple pages long, covered in nervous ink blots, and had a suspiciously chewed corner on the top of the second page. Tom had caught glimpses of similar letters from over her shoulder before to recognize that all of these were telltale signs that Mr. Newt Scamander was the not-so-mysterious sender.

"This is a letter from Newt. He explains that he is not going on another research expedition for at least a year. However, he would be more than happy to train me at his London residence until it is time to go." she added.

"It seems you are piling up with offers, clever girl," Tom smirked, resisting the tempting urge to pinch her cheeks or rustle her hair. "Aren't you bright?"

"It is my dream job. However, it is not exactly a paid position, working with Newt. I would probably need to take up a position at the Ministry as well, in order to make a reasonable living." Frankie explained. "My proposition is that we both stick it out for a year, get the money we need, and get out as soon as possible. When it's time to travel the world, we'll go. But, until then, we shall suck it up and be responsible adults at the Ministry."

"Sounds like a decent compromise..." he mumbled, immediately, yet he was still mulling it over in his mind.

"You know Professor Slughorn has probably had our letters of recommendation at the ready since at least third year. All we really need is your compliance." she concluded, returning to her formal attitude. This was a serious matter and she felt she needed to approach it as such, if she was going to get Tom to agree with this plan. However, in order to be successful, she would also have to appeal to his cold heart. Frankie gently grasped one of his hands resting on the table. "Please say yes."

"I have conditions." Tom added, with a reluctant sigh. "We shall continue to live together when we return to London and walk together every Sunday."

"Is that all?" she smirked, with a faint blush in her cheeks. Frankie nodded in agreement and held out her pinky, "I promise."

"I promise..." Tom answered, interlocking his pinky with hers.

"Then, we'll all be together," she added. "You, me, and Twilit."

"I nearly forgot about him." he sighed. While Twilit had always been somewhat Tom's owl as well, Tom wanted to finally have Frankie all to himself. No orphans. No Mrs. Cole. No Gryffindors. No Slytherins. Just the two of them and no one else. "It'll take considerable time to teach him not to drop all our mail at the orphanage..."

"He can do it!"

"I'm not so certain about that..."

Frankie smiled properly at him. Tom wouldn't admit to her that she'd found a really good solution to their seemingly inevitable separation. This matter had been a particular source of stress to him over the past week and it felt like a giant weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Although, he wasn't happy to be working at the Ministry, Frankie would be there with him at least. Tom trusted her enough to follow her plan. He had learned that if they stayed together, they could conquer anything.

So, over the next few days, they planned out this new future together. Frankie managed to get a recent copy of the London newspaper and circling the ads for flats. They would stay at the Leaky Cauldron until they managed to hunt down a place for themselves. They also managed to get letters from Slughorn, despite the fact that he'd already sent off owls boasting all about them to a couple of Ministry department heads a few days prior without their official consent. Finally, understanding Frankie's desire not to be an Auror, Slughorn conceded in giving her what little insight and connection he had to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Meanwhile, Tom would be applying himself for something in close proximity to the Minister of Magic, despite the fact he did not wish to be the minister. It was a bit ambitious to aim for the Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic, especially when the Minister was not very fond of him. But, if Tom was to put up with working there for year, he would be nothing less than brilliant. Better than the Gryffindor boys who would be Aurors, and his own roommates, who would probably end up in the Wizengamot or some other position paid for by their rich family names. He would make his year at the Ministry matter.

                                                           *~*~*

Frankie and Tom ended up graduating in incredibly high spirits. They had managed to sort almost everything out and still enjoy their final days of school together. They took the train back to London in the same compartment as Peter and Ellyn, who couldn't help but to share in their happy news. They would be getting married in August. The couple asked Frankie to be Maid of Honor and Tom to be the Best Man. Naturally, they both accepted, even though Frankie might have extreme difficulty entering the town of pureblood Slytherins they lived in for the ceremony. Tom and Peter spent the rest of the train ride strategizing how they might sneak her in, while Frankie and Ellyn mainly talked about the dress. Tom didn't realize how much she adored fashion, until this rare moment he could casually listen in on her. He was excited to learn new things about her that could only be discovered by living an adult life. Tom lost track after she started using phrases he didn't understand and phased out completely when she started talking about puffed sleeves. Eventually, they reached Platform 9 ¾ and said all their proper graduating goodbyes, even though they would be seeing each other in a few weeks tops.

Barkeep Tom welcomed Tom and Frankie back without question, and they settled back into the atmosphere of the Leaky Cauldron effortlessly. Although it was plainly obvious that they were now a couple and even searching for a house together, Frankie had requested they both stay in separate rooms during their stay. Apparently, she felt weird about sleeping in the same bed with him. Even though they'd basically done so already. Tom agreed to it, but warned her she'd better get over this irrational feeling by the time they found a place together. Tom was not about to sleep on the floor of his own room again.

It only took them about a week to find a place to live with magical assistance on their side. With Frankie's savings from her parents and the current exchange rate, she was actually considered to be rich in muggle world standards. However, they obviously still needed to forge many documents and charm certain people. Frankie had not said anything, but Tom suspected that she got some assistance from the Minister, once he knew they were coming back with the intention of working for him. There was no chance that they would've even been allowed to step foot in Mayfair otherwise. Mayfair was a wealthy area and not even a year ago they were both living in an orphanage. However, Tom couldn't help but like the neighborhood. They were nestled in a nice gap in-between the Ministry and Hyde Park, as well as within walking distance of several good bookstores. They were also a fair distance away from the orphanage. Far enough for him not to feel sick, but close enough to terrorize Mrs. Cole, if he felt like it.

They must've owned the most modest apartment in the area squished between all the government officials and debutants. There were three floors, but they were fairly small in size. The ground floor comprised of a kitchen, a dining room, a bathroom, and a parlor for entertaining guests. Everything else was just empty rooms that they could assign purpose too as they wished. The second floor had two rooms and a hallway closet, while the third floor only had two rooms. While they could've changed everything completely with magic, they really only added an extra bathroom on the third floor. Tom and Frankie decided that one of the rooms on the top floor would be theirs and the other would be for a guest, if they ever had one stay the night. The second floor would consist of Tom's study, which was much smaller than the other two rooms on the same floor. Frankie's workspace, which would undoubtably have at least five different creatures living in it by the end of the week and be a completely chaotic mess, had to be much bigger. Twilit was also kept there when he wasn't out, but Tom had a hunch the fat glob wouldn't like to sleep so far away from them. Meanwhile, the future library was the last room on the floor, in-between the two studies. It would be a common space that needed to be as large as possible, for obvious reasons. The space was currently a little bigger than a small closet and sparce, with only their old textbooks and a few random books they'd managed to hold onto throughout the year, filling the space. However, as their book collection grew, it was clear that the room would also continue to be expanded to match.

Tom and Frankie's interviews at the Ministry were both strictly for clerical purposes. With a mixture of high grades, Slughorn's influential remarks, and even vouches from the Minister of Magic himself, it was impossible for them not to get the jobs they wanted. They both ended up securing work they could endure for at least a year. Frankie would be working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, specifically in the all mysterious Spirit Division. However, the department seemed very short staffed, and it was extremely likely she would get to do odd tasks from literally every division. Tom would be Junior Assistant of the Minister, which he could only assumed he got because the Minister wanted to keep an eye on him. Deem him unworthy beyond blood and make try to make his life harder. A decision Tom would make him regret before the year was out.

                                                      *~*~*

"—Please explain to me why we're doing this again?"

It was their first Sunday in their new home and after a brief walk in the park, Tom and Frankie suddenly found themselves in Frankie's old house stuffing various salvageable furniture pieces into her trunk with the Undetectable Extension charm. They'd underestimated the size of the couch and were stuck with it vertically halfway out the trunk. Of course it might've been a little easier if Tom werent perched on the tall end of it, like a cat, giving Frankie rather unhelpful advice about what spells she might consider using.

"—Because, my dear. You and I both know we're going to burn through our book budget immediately trying to fill out the library," Tom replied. They'd already expanded the closet into an actual room, after finding some extra books at the bottom of Frankie's trunk. They'd also literally plotted out all the bookstores in London on a map and planned on hitting most of them next weekend, before they got too busy with work to enjoy the luxury of having weekends. "We've got to cut costs where we can, and personally I'd still like to eat this month."

"I'm sorry my parents donated most of their books to Ms. Bagshot before they left Godric's Hollow," Frankie sighed. "But, do we really need the busted couch?"

"I need something I know I can sleep on." Tom added.

"Do you really expect to be sleeping on the couch a lot? I mean, one of the only new pieces of furniture pieces we bought was a bed." she reasoned.

"I have the sneaking feeling you won't let me sleep in it."

"I said it'll be fine. I'll get used to it..." Frankie mumbled. A redness had grown on her cheeks, and it was not from the occasional ineffectual push she gave to the couch. She was imagining it.

"I don't see why your struggling this much with the idea of us in the same bed. We slept together on this couch. We slept in my room at the orphanage." Tom argued, bitterly. "Why is it so different for you now?"

"You might have...expectations..." she murmured, quietly.

"Expectations?"

He sounded surprised, however, it was not genuinely. Tom's tone was mockingly fake. Of course, he knew what she was referring to when she said "expectations". Her good nature had always made her far too prudish for his liking. Mrs. Cole was also to blame. She never bothered to properly educate both them. They were sinful enough and teaching them to reproduce would bring further destruction. "—I can neither confirm nor deny such vague notions. However, I assure you that my highest priority is sleep."

"How am I to know you aren't waiting to attack me?"

"Fine—I am waiting to attack you then, idiot. Can you blame me?" he sneered. He was a little hurt by the assumption that he was so thirsty for her love that he was just waiting for the opportunity to strike. If that were the case, he had ample chances to do so over the years. He honestly just wanted to hold her close after years of being stuck on the ground and feeling as if they were miles apart. However, he decided to tease her instead of admitting such a truth. "As you know, I am a snake. I wish to wrap myself around you and steal all your warmth. That's what I require—Are you more satisfied with that answer, or shall I go on, about all that I plan to do with you?"

"Tom!—Reducio!" she blushed. Suddenly, the couch shrank into the trunk and Tom went with it. He landed on the nearby armchair, thankfully. However, the now very little couch dented into his back uncomfortably.

"You'll regret that!" he shouted up at her, threateningly. Tom lifted himself out of the abyss fairly quickly, however, still grabbed Frankie's hands when he stepped out, as if he needed the support. He didn't seem to be interested in actually taking revenge though, apart from flicking her forehead. Tom supposed his real revenge would come later when it would be time for bed and there would only be one.

"Are we done? Do we need to pack any of my old things?" she smiled, thankfully forgiving him.

"What use would we have for children's furniture?" Tom inquired, genuinely curious.

"Well, what if we need it in the future?" Frankie reasoned. Once again, he got what she was implying. Although he'd always fought so hard to have a future with Frankie, the details were always a little on the fuzzy side. It was always: "we'll cross that bridge if we even get there.", in Tom's mind. Evidently, the future had more hurdles to throw at him. He had been able to grasp the concept of living together, but having to deal with things like marriage and children, made him feel a bit queasy.

"Trust me. We won't need it..."

                                                           *~*~*

Thankfully, Apparating back home only took a second because both Tom and Frankie had gone a completely quiet. They hardly ever disagreed so much on anything. While they hadn't erupted in shouting and yelling at one another, there was still an uncomfortable amount of things the other would've liked to have said. With a few swishes of their wands, everything was repaired and unpacked into their new proper places. Except for a stained glass lamp that Tom had been sending to the parlor, was diverted by Frankie, who thought it would look better in the library. The lamp ended up lightly thwacking Tom on the forehead as it made its way upstairs. Frankie immediately set it down on the stairs and rushed to his aid, with about a million apologies. Tom was only angry for a moment, but was easily consoled when she kissed the mark on his head. Although, she hadn't said it directly, he had a hunch at least one or two of those apologies had to have been for the disagreements that had emerged that day.

Tom felt stupid. He was about to apologize too in order to fix thing properly. However, at that very moment, the doorbell rang, and a large shadowy figure could be seen through the blurry glass window on the door.

"Were we expecting anyone?" Frankie asked, eyeing the figure, trying to get some spoilers as to who it was. She was worried the Minister had already come to check up on her. She'd told him she was moving in, but she neglected to mention Tom had moved in as well.

"No..."Tom replied, already scowling. Who even knew they were here? He seriously doubted any of their new neighbors would be so chummy and go out of their way to introduce themselves. Tom sighed and opened the door, figuring the best way to solve this mystery was head on. He was very surprised to find Peter and Ellyn were on the doorstep, with the rest of the former seventh year Slytherins and Gryffindors behind them. "What are you lot doing here?"

"I knew he wouldn't be too pleased to see us." Lestrange argued, towards Peter.

While Tom expected that him and Frankie would be found by them eventually, he didn't think he would have to deal with the others so soon after moving in. Since the others had always planned to take jobs at the Ministry and had started prepping their future plans much earlier, they were all about a week or two ahead of Tom and Frankie. Their old schoolmates had already started their jobs and found places for themselves.

"You were the one who followed along, Lestrange. It was supposed to be just be me an Ellie." Peter reasoned.

"That's not fair, just blaming me. They followed too." Lestrange added, pointing a thumb back at the Gryffindors.

"We came to drop off housewarming presents." Daphne reasoned, simply. Lestrange sneered at her a little, but made no sudden moves to make her pay for answering him.

"Alright, if you all remain civil, you can stay for a spot of tea. But we are still busy getting it all in order. We have no