Author's Note: Written for Vegablack62's prompts from the "28 Flavors" challenge.


They'd had their first real row today.

There had been other arguments, of course. Silly little things about where to go on their dates or which restaurant had the best food. These so-called "arguments" had usually left them laughing at each other afterwards if not during. Today had not been one of those.

While staying with his parents in the Orkney Islands for Christmas, they had begun discussing their wedding and who would be in their wedding party. She hadn't been surprised when Ernie said that his brother would be his best man and that he'd like Hannah to be one of the bridesmaids. He, however, had been surprised when she decided that she didn't want one of her sisters for a bridesmaid. It was no slight to them but Daphne had always known Asteria had little interest in the role and Kallisto was too busy planning her own wedding to be much use to her.

Pansy had seemed like the obvious choice. They'd been talking about their dream weddings since they were fourth years and had believed they would grow up to be Mrs. Draco Malfoy and Mrs. Theodore Nott, attending the same events as the cream of the wizarding world. She might even still have that list they'd made when they were fourteen of what they did and did not want in their weddings.

Ernie had hated the suggestion from the start though he hadn't said so at first. It had taken her a couple of days to draw that out and by then they were both in towering tempers. Their fight had begun as an argument over Pansy's role in the wedding and grew to include where they would live afterwards, Daphne's impending conversion, and everything in-between. They had spent the remainder of the day not speaking, forcing his parents to carry the conversations during meals.

She turned over in bed, the gap in the bed hangings allowing her to see past the frosted window to the night sky beyond. It was snowing again and despite the roaring fire, the down comforters, and the man sleeping beside her, she could still feel the chill in the air.

There was a loud pop from the fireplace and Ernie awoke with a start and a surprised snort. He sat up in bed, his hair rumpled from sleep and the firelight giving his pale skin a warm glow. "You're awake."

"I am," she said, sinking under covers as she felt the cold air around her shoulders.

He obliged without her asking, wrapping his arms around her and murmuring sleepily, "What time is it?"

"A little after one."

For a few minutes he said nothing and she thought he had fallen back asleep. "Why are you still awake?"

"Just thinking."

"Anything you want to talk about?" he asked with a kiss to her shoulder.

She looked at him. "Are you all right with Pansy being my maid-of-honor?"

They had talked it over a bit but focused more on her converting and where they would live before being distracted by other things.

"No," he admitted and she felt her heart drop. This was something she wouldn't compromise on – Pansy was her best friend.

Ernie looked at her, reaching out to brush a stray lock from her face. "But I will be."