♫ sweater weather

- the neighbourhood

"'cause it's too cold

for you here..."

Content Warning at the end of the chapter.

✧

Nitara and Cedric couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces when Priscilla walked into the Diggory Cottage with the Weasleys. She was even wearing one of the iconic hand-knit sweaters Molly Weasley sews her children because her sweater had been covered in soot and flour.

She looked effortlessly sour and unamused.

"There you are, Ms. Roberts!" Amos Diggory, Cedric's father called from where he sat on the armchair. "We were wondering when you'd show!"

Nitara and Cedric started chuckling out loud so they had to cover their mouths to hide their complete betrayal.

"At least she was in good company, eh Amos?" Arthur called, walking over to his friend with a bottle of gifted wine in his hands for the occasion.

Molly rushed to bring the pie, which was still piping hot, into the kitchen for Cedric's mother. Everybody else dispersed and made their introductions to the other party-goers.

In attendance that night were dozens of witches and wizards Priscilla had never seen before. A good handful were neighbors, like the Lovegood and Weasley family, but others were Amo's work friends and blood relations. It was a crowded room filled with excitement for Cedric's Tournament propserity. Posters and flyers of him were plastered to the wall, along with Prophet snippets Mrs. Diggory had saved of Cedric's skill and pinashe. A huge photo of the dragon covered in pumpkin seed was framed over the mantlepiece.

Harry just smiled awkwardly and sipped his pumpkin juice in the corner.

"Hello everyone," Luna Lovegood said as she strolled over to all her classmates. "Would anyone care for a smoke? My father grows weed in our garden, it's quite enjoyable."

"YES," Ron and Priscilla said in unison, making the group laugh.

✧

Cedric's mother also had a beautiful garden overlooking the vast greenery of Ottery St Catchpole. In the middle of their yard was a handsome gazebo littered with twinkling lights and festive garlands, which is where all the students stowed away for a quick hit of the Lovegood strain. 

"You're right Luna, this stuff is really nice," Priscilla complimented. She offered it to Ginny who was sitting beside her but George reached over the both of them and took the joint before she could.

"Hey!" Ginny wined as George had a long drag. "I'm not a child, you know."

"Ah but you see Ginny, you are, and I'm the big brother, therefore I'm in charge," George said smugly.

Fred plucked the joint out of his twin's hand and handed it over to Ron, who was sitting impatiently on his other side. "Yeah? Well, I'm older, dimwit."

They stuck their tongues out at each other and everyone laughed. As Cilla laughed, she couldn't help but sneak glances at Fred. What was she going to do?

Her eyes lingered on him as he took a hit of the joint. As he breathed in deeply, she watched his chest rise and fall, scanning for any telling signs of nerves. As he passed the joint along, he scratched the back of his neck. Bingo, she thought. So he was nervous.

He looked up at her and she quickly cast her eyes in the opposite direction, playing innocent.

Not long after a few joints were finished, Cedric strolled out of the cottage with a few bottles of alcohol in his arms and a handful of shot glasses.

"Don't you dare," George warned Ginny, who huffed and looked at Priscilla.

"Fred's in charge, remember?" Priscilla countered, and Ginny turned to pout at Fred.

"What's in it for me?" Fred asked.

Ginny smirked, mirroring her brothers. "You know how much blackmail I have on you, genius."

"The woman shall have a drink! A very, very, small one," Fred concluded, pinching his thumb and index finger.

George put his head in his hands, absolutely defeated, making Nitara laugh at his expense.

✧

"I thought we'd switch things up with a game of truth or dare," Cedric announced. He pulled a small vial out of his pocket and wiggled his eyebrows at everyone. "Behold, mortals, veritaserum!"

Nitara grabbed onto Priscilla's knee in fear and Cilla held onto her hand in response. Veritaserum was truth elixir, and Nitara had a huge secret to hide: her late-night rendevous with Cho. "I'll cover you," Priscilla whispered.

Everyone consented to the game and had their shots of veritaserum vodka. It didn't go down any better or worse than usual, and it was funny to watch everyone's faces twist in disgust at the taste.

"Right! Who's first?" Cedric announced.

Ron raised his hand, stepping up to the plate. "Luna Lovegood," he announced. The girl snapped her attention back to him, she seemed to be preoccupied with something beyond the gazebo. "Are nargles real?"

"Of course they are," she responded simply with a dazed air about her.

Harry pursed his lips and looked at Priscilla. "I don't think this stuff works."

"No, wait! I can prove it!" Ginny announced. She stood up in the middle of the circle with a snide grin. "Who has got a date with Michael Corner? Me!"

The twins and Harry stared at her with their mouths open.

"The man's a walking ghost, Gin!" Ron shrieked. "He's transparent! He haunts the halls, I've seen it!"

"No, this is rubbish! I'll really prove it to you lot. Fred, what was the name of your stuffed hippogriff when you were nine," George asked.

Fred slapped his hands over his mouth and muttered something against his fingers. Ron leapt up and tried to pry his hands away, eventually getting him to release.

"PETUNIA!" Fred yelled, then looked incredibly embarrassed.

Priscilla and Nitara thought they were going to burst. Everybody was in an uproar of laughter, and Fred wasn't having any of it.

"Oh yeah, George? I dare you to kiss Dayal!" Fred countered.

Nitara went still, and Cedric's eyes went wide. "Nini, you don't have to -"

"PUCKER UP, WEASLEY!" Nitara yelled. She crawled over to George and gave him a quick peck before she lost her nerve. Everyone applauded them and George looked red in the face.

When Nitara returned to Priscilla's side, she was looking at her in shock. Nitara shrugged, still riding off of the adrenaline. "Just in case anyone asks me who I kissed last," she whispered. The two linked pinkie fingers behind their backs with a smile.

"Ginny, I dare you to cut an inch off your hair."

"Harry, have you figured out the egg?"

"Ron, I dare you to ask Mr. Diggory where the potty is!"

"Priscilla, who's the closest friend you've made at Hogwarts so far?" Harry asked with a kind smile.

"Easy, you guys. Oh, and Hermione, Neville, Cho, Cassius, and Adrian of course," she replied.

"Not Malfoy, then?" Ron chuckled, making the group snicker.

"Do you like Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.

Cilla nodded. "It's way better than Ilvermorny. Better people, too. I'm a lot happier here."

"Well, we're all glad you're here, Cilla," Cedric added with a supportive smile.

"It's not easy, opening myself up," Priscilla admitted, the vodka adding to her confidence. She fiddled with her glass in her hand as the truth began pouring out of her in a steady stream. "But you guys make it so. I feel like I can be myself now and I've never been more comfortable with a group of people before."

"I love you."

Everyone turned to look at Fred, who was in a trance. He was looking right at Priscilla.

"Children! It's time for cake!" Cedric's mom called from the gazebo.

Ron, Harry, and George nearly fell over trying to get out of the gazebo. Ginny looked so happy she could burst, and she grabbed onto Luna and made their way to the house. Nitara gave Cilla's shoulder a squeeze before leaving with Cedric.

When they were finally alone, Priscilla thought she could hear her heartbeat in her chest. The world began to cave in on her and she forgot how to breathe. Love? Isn't it too soon? When do you even say that word in a relationship?

"You... love me?"

"I've known for a while," he admitted, still dazed.

Priscilla had no idea what to do. Other than Nitara, Cedric, and her parents, she had never heard those words directed at her before. Especially from someone she had strings with.

"I thought... you needed space." 

Fred stepped towards her, slowly closing the distance between them. "When I think about you, I can't help it. I love you, Priscilla Roberts."

She began to shake her head. "Fred, the veritaserum... you shouldn't be saying this."

"It's not the potion," he shrugged. "I want to tell you. I almost said it when I gave you the ring."

She had put it on for the first time since the night of the Yule Ball after their conversation at his house. It was so small, but suddenly it felt like so much weight was on her finger. "Fred..."

"I've thought about what happened a lot this past week," Fred confessed. "I was so hurt, but then George helped me realize why you did it. Malfoy never really bothered you directly, did he? He was never mean to you in the slightest. Your plan was to protect all of us, and I believe you now when you say you never meant to kiss him. I saw him covered in paint after, I know that's the picture you meant to take."

Priscilla was at a loss for words. He was saying exactly what she had hoped he would, but it was scaring her. It felt too real, this is different than imaging him say this before bed.

He loved her, and it was terrifying.

"I... I don't know what to say," she admitted.

He walked closer to her but stopped when she flinched. "Are you alright, love?" That word again.

"This is too much, I'm sorry," she choked out before hurrying out of the gazebo and into the field beyond the property. Fred watched her go, trying to make sense of what he did wrong.

✧

As Priscilla parted her way through the tall grass, her mind was running a mile a minute. She didn't feel like she was going to cry, and she wasn't anxious in the slightest. If anything, she was in complete shock at what she just heard.

Fred loved her. He believed her. She hasn't lost him.

Then why couldn't she say it back? What is stopping her?

She groaned and rubbed her temples as she gave herself a moment to process everything. So much had happened in such a short amount of time, so much had shifted.

Could she love Fred, too?

The grass shook some distance away, making her stop, her heard beating in her chest at the sudden intrusion. She looked around to find the source and realized she strayed further away from the house than she meant to. She was surrounded by tall grass in the dark.

"Fred?"

No reply.

She felt around in her pocket for her wand but it wasn't there. She left it in the cottage. The grass shook again, confirming her suspicions. She wasn't alone.

"This isn't funny!" she called out. Cilla began to look around for the direction of the house frantically. Her feet began to move and she wasn't sure where she was going, but she was being followed. She looked over her shoulder and saw a flash of somebody in the distance.

"Priscilla?"

She ran in the direction of the voice calling her and eventually broke out of the tall grass. Harry was standing by the gazebo, clutching his forehead with a pained expression.

"Harry, were you in the grass? Are you okay?" Cilla asked, looking over her shoulder frantically.

He shook his head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Everyone is inside."

Priscilla turned to look at the grass one more time, trying to make sure of what she had just experienced. It was quiet other than the sounds coming from the party. She turned back to Harry and put an arm around him protectively. "Let's go back inside, Harry."

As they walked back inside, Harry looked at her with a calculated expression, suddenly watching her every move.

✧

♫ ribs

- lorde

"you're the only friend I need

(you're the only friend I need)sharing beds like little kids(sharing beds like little kids)..."

✧

For the remainder of the party, Priscilla decided to avoid Fred and ignore Harry's glances in her direction. This night was turning out to be a disaster for her, putting her in an off mood.

She still wasn't sure who was out in the field. She told Amos and he said it was probably just snakes or stray garden gnomes, but she was sure she saw someone out there. As a precaution, Arthur put up some protective enchantments around the house so the party could continue with peace of mind.

Priscilla was standing in the kitchen getting a glass of water when Ginny came up beside her to pop a couple of dishes in the sink. "So, my brother loves you?"

Cilla sighed and looked at the girl, who was smirking at her mischievously. "Oh, stop," Priscilla replied, but Ginny wasn't finished.

"Why aren't you two together? I see the way you look at him," she added on a more serious note.

Priscilla turned around to look in Fred's direction. He was standing with Cedric and George but wasn't really tuned into their conversation. "I've never been with someone like that before," Cilla admitted.

Ginny shrugged. "Me neither, but how bad can it be if you're happy? You two love each other, right?"

Cilla looked down at the ring on her finger and nodded slightly, making Ginny's face light up.

"Then be strong and tell him. I could use a sister," Ginny pushed, making Cilla laugh.

When Fred heard her laugh, he looked over in her direction. The two locked eyes across the room and a smile slowly grew on his face.

Ginny was right. If diving into the unknown waters despite how much it scared her was going to make her and Fred happy, then it was worth it. This conversation was the push Cilla needed. It's what she wished she could've found earlier that evening in the grass. Strength to do what she had never done before, strength to give herself to someone else after everything she's been through.

She held up her finger with the ring on it and nodded at him with a smile.

Fred practically flew over to where his girlfriend and sister stood in the kitchen. He hugged Priscilla so hard she thought she was going to suffocate.

"FINALLY!" Nitara yelled in the living room, throwing her hands into the air. She walked over to Molly, who was looking extremely confused and cheers-ed her drink with hers.

"Say it, say it, say it, say it," Fred kept saying, wanting her to mirror his words from the gazebo.

"Don't push it, jackass," Priscilla said, absolutely squished in his arms.

Ginny wrapped her arms around them too, giving Priscilla another quick squeeze. "Oh, I love love."

"Gross," Ron added, making George chuckle.

"It was going to happen eventually, mate," George replied with a fond smile. He looked around at the crowd gathered to watch the scene then realized he was standing right next to Nitara. He frowned slightly and took a step away from her.

✧

Once everyone explained what just happened to Molly and Arthur, they offered Priscilla come stay with them for the rest of the holiday so she could get to know them better, but Amos and Cedric weren't having it. Cedric had a few days planned for him, Priscilla, and Nitara to hang out in Diagon Alley and go for hikes in the countryside. In the end, they all agreed to take turns housing Priscilla over the summer if she couldn't go back to America, which was likely the case.

"She's coming to Manchester, too. My mom will kill me if she doesn't," Nitara added, making everyone laugh.

The evening was nearing an end and the partygoers were saying their goodbyes. The Lovegoods went home first, along with Cedric's older relatives, leaving a few of his cousins and the Weasley family left in attendance.

Finally catching a moment to themselves, Fred led Priscilla onto the front porch to have a chat.

"Are you sure, Cilla?" he asked quickly. "I don't want to rush you."

She nodded her head. "Let's just take things slow though, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed, staring at her.

"Fred?"

"Yeah?"

She went up on her tippy toes and pecked him quickly, but stayed close to him afterwards. God, she missed kissing him, and it seems he felt the same way. They sighed and pressed their foreheads together, savouring the feeling of being in each others arms again. They wrapped their arms around each other and kissed again, both smiling into it.

"Oh, there's one more thing," Priscilla said.

"Mmm?" Fred was a little too preoccupied giving her little kisses all over her face.

"Nitara started calling Cedric meathead recently, but he swears he never sent the dress."

He pulled back a bit with a shrug to consider what she said. "Maybe he just hasn't sent it yet," Fred shrugged, turning his attention to her neck.

"Fred! Your family is inside," she said, trying to push him away.

He wasn't having any of it. "Quiet woman, I'm busy here," and resumed giving her little kisses.

✧

The Weasleys finally went home in the early hours of the morning.

"Are you sure you want to stay? I can come break you out of here, if you want," Fred asked one more time.

"How would you even do that?" Priscilla laughed.

George gave her a pat on the shoulder. "We broke Harry out of his uncle's place with a flying car once," he reminisced. Harry and Ron turned pale behind him at the memory.

Everyone said their goodbyes and the sleepy students made their way to Cedric's room for bed. Cedric's room was big and very simple. The walls were a comforting cream colour complimented by the wooden furniture he had. There were a couple of framed quidditch posters on the wall, and a gifted vase of yellow flowers from his aunt on his bedside table next to the golden egg from the first task. There were two extra-comfy sleeping bags on the floor next to his bed for Priscilla and Nitara.

They changed into their pyjamas in a sleepy state, brushed their teeth, and were finally ready for bed.

"Alright girls, goodnight. Love you," Cedric said as he crawled into bed. He sighed and closed his eyes, exhaustion from the evening's festivities in his honour washing over him.

His eyes snapped open when he felt Nitara and Priscilla crawling into bed next to him, nuzzling into his side. He chuckled a bit before wrapping his arms around them.

"We love you too, meathead," Priscilla said as she rested her head on his chest.

"I'm so happy for you and Fred, Priscilla," he added, and Nitara nodded with a yawn.

"Took you long enough," she added. Priscilla hit her with a pillow and Cedric grabbed them and pulled him back down to sleep.

"Absolutely not, don't you dare," he warned.

Priscilla and Nitara looked at each other mischievously across the bed.

"Oh fuck," was all Cedric could say before an all-out tickle war began.

Content Warning: Underage Drinking, Marijuana Smoking