Yeah, next chapter. I have to say, this is one of my favorite chapters so far. Tell me what you think! Please?

My PICTURE-PERFECT reviewers of chapter thirteen:

Lala girl in lala land

smartykat

XxBroken-PromisesxX

BlackHaru3

The Yams of Gondor

mEEEm

vballplaya7

d112hpfan

If I could, I would give each and every one of you a pony! But I can't. So get over it.

Chapter Fourteen: Only Marley

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"Good morning, Marley. How was your sleep, dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley as Marley walked into the kitchen.

"Fine, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you for letting me stay here. It means a lot," Marley told her, sitting down at the table.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all. Toast?" Mrs. Weasley set a plate of it on that table, along with eggs and bacon.

"Yes, please!" cried Marley enthusiastically, loading her plate with breakfast. It was the morning after Fred and George had saved her, and even after a huge dinner, Marley was starving. She'd hardly eaten anything at her aunt's house.

"Morning sleeping beauty," mumbled a sleepy Fred, sitting down at the table next to Marley. George wasn't far behind, his hair sticking up like his brother's.

"Morning," greeted Marley in between bites of toast and marmalade. Fred and George proceeded to take even more than Marley on their plates, not bothering to use utensils.

"Boys, we have a guest! Use your manners," scolded Mrs. Weasley, brandishing her infamous spatula. Fred and George paid no attention, too absorbed in the art of fitting as much on their plate as possible. Next, Bill wandered into the kitchen, followed by Charlie and Percy.

"Morning, Marley," they chorused, taking their seats. Marley just waved a bit, since her mouth was full.

"Is Dad already at work?" asked Bill, grabbing a piece of bacon on Charlie's plate.

"Oi," cried Charlie, whacking his brother on the back of the head. Mrs. Weasley turned around, still holding the spatula, and the boys immediately sat still, chewing with their mouths closed.

Marley giggled, and they sent her half-hearted glares. Marley made a face, swallowing her egg. After breakfast had been cleared away (Ginny and Ron had eventually come down, but had been too tired to make communication.), Fred and George took Marley up to their room to show her all of their creations.

Their room was one of the largest, since they needed to share it. Their beds were a mess, and you could hardly find anywhere to step on their floor that wasn't covered by junk, but Marley loved it anyway.

"This is what we're working on right now, see. It'll turn anyone who eats them into a canary!" exclaimed Fred excitedly, showing Marley a little container of what looked like cream filling.

"Oh, Fred, that's awful," gasped Marley.

"Don't worry," comforted George, "it only lasts a few minutes. It's bloody funny, though."

Marley nodded. "Have you tested it yet?" Fred broke out in a grin, so did George. Marley began to feel like she regretted asking.

"Yeah, you could say that," chuckled George.

"Crabbe was spitting out feathers for a week," sniggered Fred, putting away the jar. Marley couldn't help laughing along with them. The idiot probably deserved it, anyway.

There was a knock at the door, and George leapt from the bed. He hastily shoved a glossy magazine under his bed just in time. Seconds later, Mrs. Weasley opened the door. Marley would have to ask them about that later.

Mrs. Weasley poked her head in, saying casually, "The garden needs de-gnoming, dears." Fred and George groaned.

"Mum, we hate doing that."

"Yeah, and it's Ron's turn, anyway," whined Fred. Marley gave them a look.

"We'll be happy to help, Mrs. Weasley. C'mon guys, let's go," Marley said happily getting up. Mrs. Weasley patted her on the shoulder as she walked by. "Thank you, dear. That would help so much."

"Bet Mum did that on purpose," mumbled Fred, scowling as he followed Marley out into the garden.

"Argh, they keep coming back," Marley cried in frustration, stomping her foot. All the gnomes she had thrown had just come back to bite her. Literally.

"Marley, you're bleeding," noted George, tossing a gnome over their picket fence.

"I know. Stupid bugger got me when I wasn't looking," scowled Marley, throwing another gnome in a high arch over the fence.

"Aha! Gottach!" George sprinted to the other side of the garden, diving headfirst into a patch of radishes.

Marley laughed at the spectacle. She picked up another gnome, who was throwing punches at her from arm's length, and tossed it up into the sky. Marley growled in frustration as it walked back, a little unsteadily, to the garden.

"You're throwing them too high," said Fred, coming up behind her. Marley turned to face him, annoyed at his know-it-all smirk.

"Oh, like you could do it any better," muttered Marley, making a face.

"Bet I could," grinned Fred, grabbing another gnome and lifting it above his head. After two swings around his head, Fred let go and watched the gnome fly over the fence. The chances that gnome was coming back were nonexistent.

"Show off." Marley stuck her tongue out at Fred, who mimicked her. "Stop that," she commanded.

"Stop that," said Fred in a high feminine voice, putting his hands on his waist.

"Fred, I swear!" Marley stomped her foot.

"Fred, I swear!" Fred stamped his foot.

Marley moved her head to one side. Fred moved his head to one side.

Marley walked closer to Fred. Fred walked closer to Marley.

Marley looked up into Fred's eyes. Fred looked down into Marley's eyes.

Marley smiled. Fred smiled.

Marley raised her right hand. Fred raised his right hand.

Marley slapped herself. Fred slapped himself.

"Ouch! Darn it, Marley. You tricked me," complained Fred, rubbing his sore cheek.

"That's what you get for copying me," retorted Marley, flouncing away to catch another gnome. Fred watched her go, thinking about what an unusual girl she was.

What other girl would volunteer to work in the garden with him? What other girl would act like this the day after almost being killed by Death Eaters. (They had contacted Dumbledore, and he had sent professional Aurors to look for them.) What other girl could trick him, the Fred Weasley? What other girl could make him feel like this?

No other girl, only Marley. That was the way it always was, is, and always will be.

Fred shook his head. What was he thinking? This was Marley he was talking about. He walked up behind her as she picked up another gnome. She tossed, and it fell before it reached the fence. She let out a breath of annoyance.

"You're throwing them too high, Mars. Let me show you," Fred offered, searching for another gnome. Once he found one, he handed it to Marley.

She looked down at it, and then back up at him. "I thought you were going to show me."

Fred smiled. "I am." Marley eyed him warily, taking the struggling gnome. Fred walked behind her, taking her wrist that was holding the gnome in his hand. His other hand came to rest casually on her waist.

"Now, you don't want to aim it too high," Fred whispered, since he was right next to her ear, "or they'll lose all their momentum."

Marley nodded. Fred moved his had upward, bringing Marley's with it. "Steady now," muttered Fred, moving his hand back and forth in a swinging motion. "One," he breathed, "two…THREE!"

Fred swung his arm just as Marley let go, and the poor gnome went flying, never to be seen again. Marley beamed. "Fred, I did it!"

Fred still holding Marley, nodded slowly, enjoying the moment. Marley turned to look at him, their faces now only inches apart. "I-" Fred began, letting his gaze fall on Marley's lips.

"Marley? Fred? It's time for lunch!" called Mrs. Weasley from the window. Fred and Marley hastily moved away from each other, both blushing.

"Well…we should-" began Marley.

"Yeah…" finished Fred, stuffing his hands in his pockets. After an awkward pause, they both started walking to the kitchen at the same time.

Both wished they were still in the garden, continuing the moment they had almost had.

George's head popped up from the grass, his eyes narrowed. His name brought fear to all gnomes; his footsteps brought terror into their communities, his-

"Oi, George," called a voice, interrupting his monologue of power. George looked up to see Cedric Diggery heading toward him.

"What in the name of Merlin's bead products does he want?" George wondered aloud, brushing off his jeans as he stood up.

Cedric jogged of, grinning slightly. "I was wondering if I could have a word."

"I'll be generous. You may have two," George deadpanned dryly, holding up two fingers.

Cedric, not getting the hint, continued. "Have you heard from Alicia lately?"

George narrowed his eyes. Was it possible to throw a human over the fence too? George was very tempted to try.

"A bit," he replied jerkily. "Why?"

"Oh, well I was just wondering if she had a boyfriend," admitted Cedric, looking at the ground sheepishly.

George raised his eyebrows. "Really, why is that?"

Cedric looked up, a little pink from being put on the spot. "Oh, well, you see, I was thinking of asking her out," he breathed.

"Oh? Well in that case, she's out of your league. Big time," emphasized George, leaning toward his newly acquired public enemy numeral one.

Cedric looked a little taken aback. "Oh, well…I see," he stammered. "I-I'll see you around then." He gave George a little wave (Which George did not return.), and walked away, hands in his pockets.

Jaw set, George made a grab for the nearest gnome, chucking it at the stupid pretty boy. It hit him squarely on the back of the head.

Cedric lurched forward, surprised. Then he turned around.

"Sorry," George apologized, not meaning any of it. That brainless prat would get a lot worse if he went near Alicia. His Alicia, to be exact.

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Yeah George! Kick Cedric's sparkly butt! And Marley and Fred almost had a moment! Review?