Author's Note: IKhandoZatman, yeah... Cedric is a jerkwad. Carry on.

She was partially right. Harper had been having a hard time stuck with the twins, but at the same time, they were some of the best few days she had spent in a long time. Fred was a sweetheart when he wasn't being a beast, who always intervened when George wouldn't suppress his beastly ways. George was another thing entirely. Harper didn't know what to make of him anymore. It was nigh impossible to even pretend to hate him because he changed face ever so often. And then Fred would toss him this knowing smile every so often that was infuriating to Harper because then she knew that she was missing something and she hated being out of the loop. Nevertheless, having quality time with them wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it would be. She was still alive, at least. And now she was absolutely positive of Fred's feelings for Onyx. The fact that she had nearly forced it out of him one night after they had chased George away had nothing to do with it, either. And the more she thought about it, the more she approved of it. Fred was a sweetheart and pretty much exactly what Onyx needed. They were like polar opposites in some ways, and yet not.

George just had fun teasing his twin about it which led Fred to point out that he and Harper were polar opposites just like Fred and Onyx were. This made Harper laugh and this was exactly what they were discussing when the front door suddenly flew open and there stood Onyx herself.

Harper blinked. "Onyx?" she asked, not sure if this was a prank or not.

"Hi." Onyx then turned around. "Okay, thanks Ced. Tell your father I say hi! Happy Christmas! See you later!"

"Okay, I lo-"

Onyx cut him off. "Okay bye!" she said, quickly shutting the door before he could say anything. She then locked it for extra measure. "Phew," she muttered to herself before turning back to Harper. "So. How goes things?"

"What are you doing back so soon?" Harper asked, jumping up and running at her.

"You don't want to know," Onyx said darkly, hugging Harper back. "Where are the twins?"

Just then, Fred popped up right in front of them. "About bloody time. What took you so long to come back to us? And what," he said, staring at her hand. "Is that?"

Onyx quickly hid her left hand behind her back. She had forgotten about the ring. "Oh, its nothing," she said, reaching out to hug him but he grabbed her hand.

"What is wrong with your hand?" he demanded.

She made a fist and covered her left finger with her thumb and then showed him. "What? There's nothing wrong with my hand. See? Totally normal."

"She's engaged!" George cried, popping up just like Fred had.

"What?" Harper stared.

"No, I'm not engaged!" Onyx said quickly, horrified that they had reached the conclusion so rapidly. "It's a promise ring!"

"That's just as bad!" Fred accused. "It means the same exact thing!"

"Oh, it does not," George said. "It just means he's planning on marrying her is all."

Fred scowled at his twin.

"Not helping, George," Harper said, giving him a poke.

He shoved her back. "You're just jealous that she's engaged and you aren't."

"I'm not engaged!" Onyx shrieked. "Stop saying that! It's freaking me out."

"What, you didn't have a good time with Pretty Boy?" Fred sneered, looking uncharacteristically put out.

Much to their surprise, Onyx suddenly slumped. "Actually, no," she admitted. "Those were the worst three days of my life."

"Excellent," Fred and George said together. Harper hit both of them.

"What happened exactly," Harper wanted to know.

Onyx walked over to the couches and flopped down. "Do you want every detail or just the worst parts?"

"Details," Fred said simply.

And so Onyx began her tale. They were a good audience, gasping and laughing and looking horrified in all the right places. Fred and George took great pleasure in giving each other high fives whenever something exceptionally terrible had happened, much to Onyx's chagrin.

"Well I'm glad you guys are taking pleasure in my torment," she said glumly.

"I can't believe you actually have a ring," Harper muttered to herself. "I was so hoping that I was wrong…"

"Wrong about what?" George wanted to know.

She glanced at them. "I had a dream."

"Oh well that clears everything up," Fred said sarcastically.

Onyx shoved him. "Be nice."

"Anyway," continued Harper. "I had a dream last night that Onyx got a ring." She pointed at Onyx's hand. "Just like that one."

"Just like this one?" Onyx sounded skeptical.

Harper nodded. Divination was her strong suit. All throughout her childhood she would have dreams that ended up coming true within the next few days. At first she thought it was mere coincidence but as it kept happening and with bigger events, she realized she had a power. It was that same year she got her letter from Hogwarts.

"You're a freak of nature," George informed her.

"You're just jealous that your dreams don't come true," she shot back, completely unphased.

He sputtered at this but she was already ignoring him.

"So what did you say?" Fred asked Onyx, trying to act as though he really wanted to know.

"Well I fought it at first," she began. Fred looked slightly happier. "But then he told me he loved me and that was that."

The other three gaped. "He told you he loved you?" Harper shrieked. "What did you say back?"

"Um, well, I didn't exactly return his sentiments…" Onyx admitted with a sheepish look. Much to her surprise, the others looked relieved.

"I knew you didn't love Pretty Boy," George said, laying down on his back, now completely at ease. "It was just a matter of time before you realized it yourself."

"You don't have the connection," Harper nodded.

"Oh please, not that again," Fred moaned. "You're starting to sound like our mother."

"I just feel bad," Onyx confided. "I mean, I like him a lot but just not that much. It's like being caught in a rock and a hard place." She sat back, looking torn.

"Aw Nyx, don't feel bad," Fred tried to comfort her. "It's not your fault all the bad boys love you."

She managed a smile. "Thanks for that, Fred."

"Anytime, darlin'."

Harper rolled her eyes. "Moving on," she cut in. "So you had him bring you back this morning because you'd finally had enough?"

Onyx nodded. "It was miserable. His mother was miserable, he was miserable after he said he loved me… his dad is really nice though," she added as an afterthought.

The others all had to nod in agreement.

"Onyx Diggory just doesn't have a nice ring to it," Fred said thoughtfully. Harper grinned at him.

"Not that you've thought about it at all," she said slyly.

He reddened slightly. "I'm just saying," he said lamely.

"I agree," George said, coming to his twin's rescue. "It leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

"So don't say it," reasoned Harper.

"Stop being so logical," he responded.

So she shoved him. And then he shoved her back so hard she almost fell over.

"George!" she cried. "I almost fell on top of Onyx," she said, hitting him again.

"Would you two stop being so violent?" Fred asked in exasperation. He turned to Onyx. "They've been doing a lot of this while you were gone."

"Oh?" Onyx smirked. "What else have I missed?"

"Ice skating. You missed ice skating, otherwise known as the Harper and George show," Fred began.

"Harper and George show?" George repeated in mid-shove. "Why is her name first?"

"It just sounds better," shrugged Fred.

"Does not!" George argued. "The guy's name always goes first."

"But she wears the pants," Fred pointed out. He laughed as George glared at him. "Well it's true!" he defended himself. "Onyx?"

"Oh, you are not bringing me into this!" Onyx said, holding up her hands in front of her to guard herself. "You are on your own, buddy."

"Harper doesn't wear the pants," George said, poking his twin in the ribs which Harper got in one last shove. "Stop beating up on me!"

"Yes, she does," Fred sang, enjoying the torture he was putting George through.

"No she does not," George sang back, getting up and tackling Fred.

"Hey guys, stop it!" Onyx cried as they both fell to the ground as one entity. "You're going to get hurt."

"Are not," Fred huffed, now attempting to tickle George. It was working perfectly, because George spasmed in laughter, practically paralyzed.

"He's ticklish?" Harper asked in wonder.

"No!" George yelled out as best he could. "I'm not. I'm not ticklish. Don't you dare!"

She gave a shrug but opted to sit on the couch with Onyx instead. "Maybe next time."

"No!" Horrified that Harper now had a new weapon, George decided to take it out on his brother and then a full-out tussle began.

"Oh great," Onyx muttered. "And to think I missed this."

"Come on," Harper nudged her. "You know you love them."

"You're one to talk," teased Onyx. "What have you two been up to while I was gone?"

Harper tried to hide her smile. "It was all him, I swear. The ice skating, and shoving and everything else. All him. I did nothing."

"Sure you didn't," Onyx said, watching as the twins started rolling across the floor, trying to tickle each other.

"No, really," Harper said earnestly. "I was all set to spend time with Fred because Fred's the sweet one, you know? But George kept butting in like the annoying git he is." She looked at Onyx. "Why are you grinning?"

"I told you he liked you," Onyx said triumphantly.

She said the magic words. The twins stopped fighting and stared at her while Harper's jaw dropped.

"Does not!" both she and George insisted in unison.

Onyx merely grinned. "Denial," she sang.

"Denial," Fred agreed. He quickly moved his head before George could punch him. "I'm only saying!" he said defensively.

"Well stop saying," George threatened.

"Saying what?" Fred asked, trying to slither away . "That you like her?"

He had to jump to his feet and leap behind the girls to escape. George almost followed but he would have landed on top of all of them and it probably would have hurt.

"I hate all of you," he said darkly, turning away. And then suddenly he whirled around and with a yell, leapt over to them. The other three gave corresponding screams of terror as he landed on them.

"What is this ruckus?" they heard Mrs. Weasley shout from the stairwell. They all turned to look at her in embarrassment as she appeared in the doorway and stopped to stare at them. "What are you doing?" she asked suspiciously.

"Mum, Onyx's back!" Fred told her excitedly to distract her.

It worked. "Onyx's back?" Mrs. Weasley's eyes widened with excitement. "Where is she?"

"Right here," Onyx called from around George's torso. She tried to wave her hand but it was trapped where ever it was.

Mrs. Weasley squinted at her. "What are you doing?" she asked. "And when did you get back? And why didn't anybody tell me?"

"She just got back, Mum," Fred explained. "Then she told us how horrible her weekend was and then George and I got into a fight which is why we're like this."

Mrs. Weasley shook her head in disbelief and then continued on into the kitchen. "So Onyx," she called. "Tell me all about your weekend."

Onyx was glad for the excuse to get off the couch, which had gotten incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. Shoving George off, she got up and walked over to Mrs. Weasley, taking a seat at the large table. Harper quickly followed suit, leaving the twins on the couch and lonely.

"Well his mother hates me," Onyx began in a sullen voice.

Mrs. Weasley whirled around. "No!" she said. "That's impossible."

"Apparently not," Onyx said, but she was pleased that Mrs. Weasley thought so much of her. "She wanted me to wear the ugliest dress to their big fancy party. It was terrible."

Mrs. Weasley clucked her tongue sympathetically. "Silly woman. What else did she do?" She sat down next to Onyx and looked at her eagerly, expecting more gossip. And so for the next few minutes, Onyx relayed all that had happened at the Diggory's. Mrs. Weasley was a slightly better audience than the other three had been, but mostly because she had a slight flair for the dramatic.

She made the others all jump when she screamed all of a sudden. As it turns out, Onyx has just shown her the ring.

"He's not supposed to do that!" Mrs. Weasley cried.

"Well apparently he loves me so…" Onyx trailed off, staring unhappily at the ring. She felt bad, because looking at the ring shouldn't make her feel upset and yet that's all it did.

"Loves you?" Mrs. Diggory repeated blankly. "Did he say that?"

Onyx nodded.

"Did you say it back?" she then asked sternly.

Onyx shook her head. "I couldn't lie to him."

"That's my girl," Mrs. Weasley smiled her praise.

"I'm getting tired of hearing about this ring," Fred grumbled from the living room. He and George had ceased fighting and were now working on a house of cards. Harper was, of course, knitting alone on the couch.

"Me too," she agreed with him. "Stupid git. Why'd he have to go do that? Did he honestly think she would want it?" She lowered her voice in case Onyx or Mrs. Weasley heard her. "I mean, it's obvious she doesn't love him like that. He's not stupid, he has to see that they don't have the connection."

"Oh, enough with the connections already," Fred rolled his eyes. "They don't work all the time. What if you have a connection with somebody and they don't feel it? It's a stupid concept and you need to drop it." He placed the last card on top of the house, holding his breath.

"Be careful!" George suddenly hissed, making Fred almost slip.

"Don't do that! I almost dropped the card and ruined the whole thing."

"And then I would have cursed you. It's a win-win situation," George responded.

Harper chuckled into her knitting. "Don't hurt him anymore, George," she warned.

"Why not? He's my brother. By law, I am allowed to hurt him as much as necessary."

"And I, you," Fred nodded.

"See?" George said to Harper. "So stop worrying that pretty little head of yours."

"I always worry," she said. "It's my job."

"Well you're fired," Fred said simply.

"So what do you want me to be instead?" she asked absently.

"Be a stripper," the twins said in unison.

She put down her knitting to give them an exasperated look. "Nice try," she told them. "But not gonna happen."

"I heard it pays well," Fred said conversationally.

"Do you even have strippers in the wizarding world?" Harper asked curiously. She had never heard of that kind of thing ever talked about before, she realized.

George shrugged. "Like we'd know."

Fred smirked.

"You two are impossible," Harper sighed, turning back to her knitting.

"No, we're outpossible," George corrected her. He sat back on his feet, looking at the house of cards. "I'm bored now."

"Me too. What do you want to do? I vote we go maul Ronniekin's room," Fred suggested excitedly.

George's eyes lit up. "I like the way you think, brother."

"I do what I can." And with that they up and disappeared up the stairs.

"That was incredibly easy," Onyx mused aloud.

"Well I'm glad they're gone. Some peace and quiet would be really nice after the weekend I had." Harper rolled her eyes. "Speaking of which, I had an interesting dream the night you left," she told Onyx.

"Right. You mentioned that earlier."

"Yes." Harper tried to hide her smile. "I dreamt that Cedric was going to give you a ring. Of course, I thought it meant he was going to propose, and thank God he didn't but even so he did give you a ring. So I was right." She looked rather smug. Her perception for this kind of thing had grown stronger since she started going to Hogwarts. She would have dreams that would end up coming true in three or so days. And sometimes she would see something just by touching a person. It was a little cool to have an actual power.

Onyx stared. "Are you serious? You had a dream about this? Why didn't you tell me?" Her eyes were wide.

"Um because I couldn't get a hold of you?" Harper suggested. "I don't have an owl, remember?"

"Right." Onyx sat back. "I wish you could have warned me. Then I would have been better prepared."

Harper looked at her sympathetically. "Onyx, I don't like him," she said suddenly.

Onyx looked up, not hearing her. "Hmm?"

"Cedric," Harper clarified. "I don't really like him anymore."

"What do you mean?" Onyx asked slowly. "You liked him?" she asked in horror.

"No no, not like that," Harper hastened to explain. "I mean for you. I don't like him for you. He's been rubbing against me lately. I don't know what it is, but… ugh its really hard to explain. You just have to trust me on this."

Onyx stared at her. "You don't like Cedric?"

Harper's face fell. "Look, I know how this sounds and I'm really sorry about this. I just feel that all things considering, I need to tell you. Before things get worse. Er," she corrected herself. "I mean, further. Before things go further."

"No you meant worse." Onyx let out a long sigh. Harper began really feeling bad about the whole thing. She shouldn't have said anything and she didn't know what possessed her to say it in the first place…

"You're right."

Harper looked up. "I what?"

"You're right. About Cedric," Onyx admitted. "I didn't realize you were picking up on it too. That makes it all that much worse."

"Oh come on," Harper said brightly, trying to make up for bringing it up. "It can't be all that bad. I mean, at least he likes you. Like, really truly likes you. He gave you a ring for crying out loud!"

"Yes, a ring I don't even want," Onyx said disgustedly. "Harper, what am I going to do?" she wailed, covering her face with her hands.

"Er." Harper bit her lip. This was not going as planned. "What do you want to do?"

"I want to…" Onyx hesitated. "Well I don't want to be his girlfriend anymore." She looked up. "Wow I have no clue where that came from."

"Your heart," Harper said, trying to crack a joke. "It probably knows what you want more than you do."

Onyx considered this. "I don't want Cedric."

Harper gave a slight nod of agreement. "Well then, problem solved."

"No, problem not solved," Onyx groaned. "This just makes a whole new problem. What do I do now?"

Harper made a face of sympathy. "Break up with him."

Onyx gulped. "I was afraid you were going to say that." She shook her head. "I don't want to do this."

Harper wrapped her arm around her friend. "Maybe Fred and George can do it for you. I'm sure they'd make it quick and painless."

Onyx took a sharp intake of breath at the mention of the twins, which Harper was quick to notice.

"You know, he's been talking about you a lot," Harper said slowly. "In case you were wondering. When George wasn't bothering me, I talked to Fred a lot."

"So?" Onyx asked.

"You came up mostly." Harper tossed her a sly smile.

"So?" Onyx asked again.

"So, I think that might mean something. But that's just me." Harper looked away, trying again not to smile. It was proving difficult.

"Harper, what are you saying?" Onyx wanted to know.

"Oh nothing, forget it. Actually, forget the whole thing." Harper let go of Onyx and sat back down on the couch. "Go be happy with Cedric. I mean, you two look good together. You just don't have the connection, but that's really not all that important."

"Connection?" Onyx asked skeptically.

Harper shook her head. "Don't get me started. Point is, just forget it. Forget about Fred, forget I don't like Cedric, just go be happy."

"But Harps, I'm not happy!" Onyx pointed out.

"So break up with him," Harper said simply. "Not that hard."

"How do you know?"

Harper sighed. "Okay, so I don't know from personal experience. But people do it all the time so it can't be too deadly."

Onyx let out a humorless laugh. "Ok well I'm going to stop thinking about this and focus on something else."

"Good plan. Let's go see what the twins have done to Ronniekin's room," Harper teased.