"Oh, Ron made prefect?" said Hermione. "Good for him."

Honestly, she thought it would've been Neville. Maybe even Dean.

"Mum's buying him a new Keeper's broom," said George.

Hermione studied the twins, and thought back on their tone. "You're jealous!"

"Are not!"

"They're jealous," Cedric confirmed. "Oh, I'd better go clean up my mess in the ballroom before picking up the takeaway."

"Would you like help?"

"No, thank you," he said. "I have a system."

After he left, Hermione got to her feet and a wave of dizziness washed over her. Ginny and George came forward and held her steady.

"I'm fine," she said. "Come on, let's make this place super nice for your mum."

Cleaning wasn't their idea of fun, but they didn't argue with her. Besides, without Mrs. Weasley home, the girls could use magic freely under the supervision of Professor Lupin. Fred and George took the job seriously and decorated the hallway with twinkle lights and went downstairs to decorate the ballroom.

Hermione hummed as she used magic to bake desserts and chop vegetables for trays. They turned out a little clumsy rather than Hana's, Tía Manola's, and Tío Greg's beautiful arrangements, but they were adequate.

"Ooh, snacks," said Ron, reaching around her.

Hermione smacked his hand. "These are for the party."

"And so is this," said Cedric, entering the kitchen, arms laden with brown paper bags. He used his own magic to put it all into bowls. "Mrs. Zhang is a very nice woman."

"Isn't she?" said Hermione, inhaling deeply. "Mmm… smells good."

She plucked a spring roll out of a bowl and munched on it.

"What, you're allowed to eat and I'm not?" said Ron.

"I'm taste testing," said Hermione. She thought about giving him a hard time, but decided not to and offered him one of the rolls.

He looked at it skeptically and took a bite. His eyes widened and he stuffed the rest into his mouth. "Mm!"

"I'm home!" Mrs. Weasley called. "Everyone clear out of the kitchen so I can… cook."

"Cedric and I took care of dinner for you," said Hermione.

"Oh." Mrs. Weasley put a hand over her heart and teared up. "I… that is so wonderful of you both."

She went in for a hug which Hermione ducked out of, letting Cedric get the full force.

"It's no problem," said Cedric, patting her back.

"I'll go set this up downstairs."

"Just so you know, Fred and George decorated."

"Oh, no…" Mrs. Weasley rushed down to the ballroom. Moments later there was a shriek, not of anger, but of delight.

"I explained to them that the Cranky One needed support," Cedric told Hermione in Spanish. "Said they could give him a hard time tomorrow, but tonight was his moment."

"It's your moment, too," said Hermione, stepping aside so the platters and bowls could file down the stairs. "You made Head Boy."

"Wotcher!"

"Tonks!"

"So, ickle Cedric made Head Boy after all," said Tonks, stretching her height so she could comfortably drape an arm around his neck. "I am so proud of you!"

"Thanks, Tonks," said Cedric. "My jukebox is downstairs."

"Yes!" Tonks ran down to go see it.

Hermione was eager to see how Cedric adapted it, so she followed him downstairs. She was amazed to find that Fred and George did a beautiful job decorating the ballroom with balloons, lights, and streamers and even had banners congratulating Ron and Cedric. In the corner was the jukebox, the multi-colored sides glowing and a stained glass bird flapped its wings on the front.

"I did research and Madam Rosmerta can even put CDs in it," said Cedric, popping open one side to show them the mishmash of singles tapes and CD decks. The records were able to be seen through the glass top, and a booklet with the songs the jukebox contained was next to the buttons, which looked like they came from a vending machine.

"I did get it from a vending machine," said Cedric. "The jukebox was broken when I found it. It's crazy the stuff people throw away."

"Exactly!" said Mr. Weasley, entering the ballroom.

"The Ariel complex is strong with you two," Hermione teased. "What does the jukebox take?"

"Three knuts for one song, a sickle for five songs," he said. "For you? No charge."

As he rambled about how he was able to manage that, Hermione browsed the selection and pressed E5. "Cry to Me" by Solomon Burke filled the room and Hermione bopped her head and swayed her hips.

The room soon filled up with guests who milled around and snacked from the buffet table. Ron was telling anyone who would listen about his new Comet and was wearing his prefect badge on his t-shirt, and Cedric explained the jukebox to anyone who would listen before allowing them to pick a song.

There was still someone missing. Sirius. Hopefully it was because he remembered to pick up Cecilia. Sure enough, Sirius came down the stairs and, behind him, there was Cecilia. She removed her sunglasses and waved at the crowd.

"Hola, everyone!" she said.

"Look at Tonks," Cedric whispered in Hermione's ear gleefully.

She looked and saw Tonks's jaw hanging open, her hair the exact shade of blue Cecilia was wearing hers.

"Cecilia!"

"Bill!"

"I didn't know you were coming here," said Bill, crossing the room to give her a hug.

"Well, we think it's best to have someone escort Herminia home," said Cecilia. "We'll be going by portkey on the first but, until then, I'll be working at Gringotts here."

"Sirius, are you barking mad?"

Mad-Eye Moody, freshly out of the hospital, had attended the party.

"What are you thinking bringing a stranger to headquarters?"

"She's not a stranger, Alistair," said Sirius. "She's Hermione's cousin. Don't worry, I asked her a question to make sure it was her."

"He asked me who my pen pal was in school," said Cecilia. "Bill was. I sent him a cursed hat because I was mad that the exchange program fell through."

"She apologized and got me this cool earring," said Bill, pointing to the dragon fang. "We're friends now."

Cecilia greeted Hermione and Cedric with hugs and kisses, and the party continued. Hermione stood against the wall with Cedric, and the pair watched Tonks try to follow the other Metamorphagus around.

"I've never seen Tonks so enamored," said Cedric. "Mind you, I'd never seen her enamored with anyone. I guess I assumed she was like Charlie."

"What do you mean?"

"Charlie isn't really interested in anyone in any way," he explained. "He and Tonks kissed once, but it was only to get it out of the way."

Hermione hummed and glanced up at the ceiling. That thing in the floorboards burned right through. She could see it as if it were right above her rather than two floors up. Once she saw it, she couldn't unsee it.

"What's wrong?" Cedric asked.

"Can I borrow a screwdriver?"

"Phillips or flathead?"

"Flat."

He opened the compartment in his forearm and gave her a flathead.

"Ask Cecilia to do the chicken thing for everyone so I can go without notice?"

"As you wish," he said and spoke up. "What's your name?"

"Cecilia," said Cecilia without missing a beat. Her face morphed into a chicken's, her red glasses sliding down her beak. "Chicken."

"You're a metamorphagus, too!" said Tonks. "Can you do this?"

She scrunched her face and gave herself a dog's nose. Cecilia laughed and did her elephant trunk and ears trick.

With everyone distracted and laughing as the two women tried to outdo each other with crazy faces, Hermione snuck up the stairs and to the parlor. The only one who could probably see her was Moody, but by the time he would make it up two flights of stairs she would already have it.

Whatever it was.

When she reached the parlor, she tucked her eyepatch away into her pocket and opened the door to see Mundungus Fletcher poking around the items. His magical signature wasn't very strong, which would explain why she couldn't see it through the normal magic that was weaved into the walls.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you," she said.

He jumped and whirled around. "I—er—I was just lookin'."

"Sure you were," she said. "You shouldn't steal from your hosts."

"I'm not stealing!" he said. "Why don't you keep your nose out of other people's business?"

"How about I tell Mrs. Weasley that you're stealing from Sirius?"

Mundungus paled.

"Go downstairs."

When he left, Hermione slid the door shut and knelt to the ground where the odd object was. She worked up the floorboard with the screwdriver and found a few objects that seemed important. When she touched the locket bearing an S , she recoiled with a sharp gasp. It radiated anger. It was definitely something as dark as Tom Riddle's diary. Hermione conjured a black, velvet bag and put the locket in it before picking up what looked like a diary. It had no magic on it and, sure enough, when she opened it, everything was in code. She stashed it away, replaced the floor board, and got to her feet. She could figure out what it was at the safety of Castelobruxo. Emilia, Paula, and Abril wanted to be Unspeakables and could help her take care of something this dangerous without harm to herself.

"Hermione."

She jumped and whirled around to see Ron. "Hey, Ron, what's up?"

"Er—nothing," he said. "I just wanted to talk to you."

He hadn't been mean to her in six months, so she waved her hand as a go-ahead. Ron slid the door shut most of the way.

"I'm sorry I've been mean to you," he said. "All the things I've said."

"Well thank you, Ron," she said. "I accept your apology. We should go back—"

"That isn't all I want to tell you," he said. "I know why I've been mean to you."

Hermione fought the urge to say something snarky but still raised an eyebrow.

"I'm in love with you, Hermione!" Ron blurted.

Hermione blinked.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm in love with you."

"No, I heard that," she said. "I just think that reason is stupid."

"What?"

"Ron, you aren't mean to a person because you like them!" she stressed. "I believe you were jealous and I think you like the idea of me, but you don't actually love me. Besides, what did you expect? That I would return your feelings? Leave Cedric for you? You're only telling me this because I'm going to leave in three days!"

Hermione pushed him away and slid the door open with a bang. She stomped to her room and slammed the door shut so hard it rattled the frame. In her anger, she didn't notice that Cedric was standing just outside the parlor.

Cedric stood there with his eyes wide then snapped his gaze to Ron.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"She just went crazy," he said, guilt flooding his stomach that the older boy just might have overheard the entire thing.

Cedric refused to make a scene. He knew the cycle. Ron's anger that his siblings wouldn't take his side in something like this, the insecurity that they liked Hermione more than him, which ignited his temper, which caused him to lash out, which caused his family to get on his case, and his family didn't know when to take his side anymore.

Ron was another Percy waiting to happen.

Still, he couldn't help but be furious that Ron would try something like that. That he was secretly hoping Hermione would return the sentiment even though it made him feel guilty. It would take extreme willpower to not make Ron's prefect life hell. The bloke needed a chance to prove himself, and being prefect gave him something above Fred and George. Cedric ran his fingers through his hair.

"You just like the idea of Hermione, Ron," he said. "You have to accept everything about a person, not just what you think are the good parts."

Ron huffed and stormed up to his room. It wouldn't take long for him to move on. At least… Cedric hoped it wouldn't. It was amazing how easy it was for a person to convince themselves someone is right for them.

Cedric went downstairs to the ballroom and stopped the music on the jukebox before shrinking it down and placing it in a big box lined with a cushioning charm, then put that box in his backpack. Making sure everything was clean and away, he went up to the kitchen.

"I thought I heard doors slam," said Mrs. Weasley. "Is everything okay?"

"I don't know," said Cedric, shrugging. "Hermione was feeling overcrowded from the party. I think she went to lie down."

"Oh, poor dear," said Mrs. Weasley. "How about I make her a cup of tea?"

"No tea will be necessary," said Hermione, entering the kitchen. "I'm going home. I miss my parents and I want to spend my last few days in England with them. Cecilia? Did you bring your motorcycle?"

"Yes."

"Are you up to seeing London at night?"

"Sure."

Hermione kissed Cedric on the cheek and gave Harry and Ginny hugs.

"I'll see you off on the first," she said to them. "Bye Sirius, thank you for letting me stay."

"You're welcome."

Hermione and Cecilia left.

"Hermione seems upset about something," said Harry.

"Probably just having to leave everyone behind," said Professor Lupin.

"Not to mention her childhood bully sucker-punched her just this afternoon," said Cedric, knowing that it absolutely was not that. "Again."

"She seems to get hit in the face a lot," Harry commented.

"Hopefully that will change once she's at Castelobruxo," said Cedric. "I hate seeing her get hurt."

"Are you going to her house then?"

"Not tonight," he said. "I think she needs some time just with her family. I'll go over tomorrow after I get the stuff for the prefect bags."

"I don't think it's safe for you to leave, Cedric," said Mrs. Weasley. "There are dangerous wizards about."

Cedric saw an underlying worry. One that she was trying to suppress due to her knowing that her prejudices against werewolves are wrong. She was afraid he would be approached by followers of Greyback and swayed to join their side. These past weeks he'd seen her and even Mr. Weasley chastise themselves for being nervous around him.

"I know it's important to have an alibi," he said. "Perhaps someone should go with me until I go to Hermione's."

"Brilliant idea," she said. "Tonks will go with you."

"I can't," said Tonks. "I've got to work."

"Bill?"

"I have work, Mum."

"Remus?"

"I need to prepare for classes," he said. "And make sure Ron and Harry completed their summer homework properly."

"Sirius, then."

"Working, Molly."

"I'll take Fred and George with me," said Cedric.

"Us?" they chorused.

Mrs. Weasley stammered a protest as she imagined London burning to the ground with her two troublemakers storming it.

"The three of us will be fine," said Cedric. "I doubt a Death Eater could navigate a super store without being overwhelmed, and we'll apparate right back here."

"What if you're seen?"

"Who would believe them?" Cedric reasoned. "Seeing three teenage boys disappear in thin air? They'll go straight to the loony bin."

"Oh, let them," said Mr. Weasley. "It will be a good experience."

"It's settled," said Cedric, slapping his hand on the table. "We leave at ten."

At ten the next morning, Mrs. Weasley was giving George and Fred a pre-lecture on what she was going to do if they pulled a stunt like Ron did three years ago. Cedric looked at his watch and sighed.

"Mrs. Weasley, they're more mature than you're giving them credit for," he said. "We should really go before the foot traffic gets too bad. We're in between work force and tourists right now."

"Oh, very well," she said. "But one incident and you will never leave this house again!"

Cedric steered the pair out and walked with them to the nearest underground.

"Honestly, it's like she doesn't trust us," said Fred.

"You two don't have the best track record," said Cedric, "but at least you never stole your dad's car for a joy ride. In terms of keeping under the radar, you have a better track record than your brothers. Sure, you pull pranks, but your sister killed a Basilisk, your youngest brother lied to Voldemort's face to protect the Philosopher's Stone, and three months later stole the car and crashed it into the Whomping Willow. Bill and Charlie broke Cursed Vaults left and right with Henry. It was crazy, remember? Cursed ice, sleepwalking curse, boggarts, dementors, dragons in a portrait, statue curse…"

"We were in the Circle of Khanna same as you!" George protested.

"Yeah, but what did we actually do except be target practice for upperclassmen?" he countered. "From the way things look, when it comes to hell-raising or even just chaotic good, the two of you are barely above Percy."

Their jaws dropped.

"We need to up our game," said Fred.

"If a spy is being placed in Hogwarts, then that just might be what's needed," said Cedric, slinging his arms around their shoulders. "But first, I need to prepare prefect bags. If things are getting bad, then we need to focus on emotional support for the younger years. Pranks to knock people in power down a peg can only go so far."

"I guess that's true," said George.

Cedric bought them day passes for the underground. "Have you ridden this before?"

"Yeah," said George. "Remember when Hermione threw that party for Harry? She took us to the movies."

"Poor thing tried so hard," said Fred.

"Of course she did," said Cedric. "She never had people over before except for me and we've been friends for years. Did you at least have fun?"

Fred nodded. "Well, yeah. We had loads of fun." He jumped up and down. "Amok, amok, amok!"

They boarded the train and took open seats side-by-side-by-side. Cedric explained to them what he was planning on filling the bags with and why.

"This place has pretty good prices for bulk items," he said. "If you two want to snag some snacks while we're there, I don't mind. I'll hide them in my bag so your mum won't take them."

"Thanks," said George. "I'm sorry she threw away your order forms the other day."

"She shouldn't be throwing away your order forms, either," Cedric scoffed. "Just because you're not on a career path she agrees with doesn't mean you won't be successful."

They took the underground until Walthamstow Underground where they had to exit and take a bus to Cooks ferry roundabout. All in all, it was about an hour to get there. The three boys chatted lightly, which made the time go by faster. Fred and George were fascinated as the city went by. They had been living in the area, but they never really got to see any of it.

"Once we graduate," said Fred, "the four of us should hit the town and really check things out. Not just see it from the street."

"Four of us?" Cedric asked.

"Yeah, you, me, George, and Lee," said Fred.

If this were a cartoon, a red exclamation point would have appeared over George's head at the sound of Lee's name. Excitement with a bit of panic. Cedric quickly backed out and vowed to work harder on building barriers so he wasn't accidentally reading minds anymore. Their business wasn't his business and he shouldn't make it his business.

"Sounds like fun," said Cedric. "Might be a good time before I leave for Japan."

"How does Hermione feel about that?" George asked.

"She's for it." Cedric ran his thumb along the grooves of his prosthetic fingers. "Helped me read through the contract and stuff. I don't really want to be far away from her, but we don't really have a choice in the matter. At least, until she graduates. I'm going to miss her terribly, but I don't know if she'll miss me as much."

"Don't be daft, of course she will," said George.

"We saw the goo-goo eyes she was sending you," Fred chimed. "At the World Cup, she barely looked at the game. Every time we looked over, she was watching your reaction. And this past week, we thought she was going to melt into a puddle every time you kissed her cheek. She's as mad about you as you are about her."

Cedric knew they were telling the truth, and that made him feel a bit better.

Finally, their stop came and Cedric led the way to Costco. He had been doing a little magic of his own since he saw the psychic paper on an episode of Dr. Who at Hermione's. You couldn't enter Costco's without a membership, and if this didn't work, then he would just have to shell out for a single month membership.

It had to work.

"Bloody hell," the twins breathed upon seeing the concrete monstrosity.

As they approached the doors, Cedric opened his wallet so the psychic paper was out and held it up to the worker. The woman barely glanced at it before waving them along. Cedric smiled and tucked his wallet away before grabbing a large cart.

"Look at all those tellies," said Fred, lingering over to one the size of their living room blasting a game of cricket.

"Oi." Cedric whistled to get the twins' attention. "Come on. Haven't got all day."

"Right." They jogged to catch up to him, but still craned their heads around like a Muggle-born at Diagon Alley to take it all in.

They helped him collect the items for the prefect kits before they could finally browse the more interesting items and stock up on snacks.

"Hey, check it, they've got clothes here," said Fred, stopping to pick up a shirt. "Ced, can we pay you back?"

They've never been allowed to pick out new clothes before. Cedric agreed and parked the trolley so they could pick out a few shirts and trousers that would fit them properly. He tossed in a few items for himself while they were at it.

"This place is brilliant," said George. "Everything you need in one place."

"We oughta find one of these places when we buy our flat," Fred agreed. "Get everything we need in one place."

"Not sure if they'll deliver furniture to Diagon Alley," said Cedric, taking a seat on one of the couches. "But I think magic will take care of the rest."

"Mummy!" A small child called. "That man only has one arm!"

"I didn't kill Harrison Ford's wife!" Cedric shouted.

George and Fred laughed all the way up to the registers. They didn't understand the reference, but they found the shocked look on the mother's face hilarious.

Cedric had to show his card again at the register and even though the end total was still pricey, he had luckily brought enough cash along to pay for it.

"We'll help you put the bags together, mate," said Fred.

"Thanks, but no thanks," said Cedric. "Hermione said she helped me and I was planning on spending the last few days at the Grangers' house. It is still early yet, though, want to go do something? How about a little sight-seeing? Tour your own capital."

"Don't we need to get all this home?" George asked, gesturing to their cart full of items.

"Nah, it'll fit in my backpack."

The worker checking their receipt gave them a bemused look before sending them along. Outside, in the heat of the day, most people were focused on getting out to their cars. Cedric unzipped his pack and began stuffing the items away while Fred and George kept a lookout. Once the final item—a giant container of cheese balls—was stowed away, they put the cart back and hurried along. It then occurred to Cedric that he should have checked for video cameras.

No matter… anyone who saw it would think it was a fake anyway and anyone who claimed it was real would be written off as banana balls.

"Alright, mates," he said. "I don't have a lot of money left, but let's say we sneak onto a tour bus and do a full-on montage of London's landmarks."

"Works for us," they replied.