DEV MADE HER WAY OUT OF THE COMMON ROOM AND FELT HER HEART DROP AS HER SUSPICIONS WERE CONFIRMED. There was George, standing awkwardly with his hands in his pockets. He offered her a weak smile, which she forced herself to return.

"Hi," He greeted. "Can we, uh, go somewhere and talk?"

Dev nodded, following him as he guided her through the corridor. The walk was filled with an awkward silence, one that typically wasn't present in her interactions with George. Contrary to her time spent alone with Fred, Dev was completely comfortable around George, at least usually. She didn't have to worry about stumbling over her words or her blushes betraying her.

George led her out of the castle. It was still light out as kids milled around, some studying in the grass or chatting with friends. The two passed by, making their way down towards the black lake. Dev could feel her heart rate increasing, questions flurrying through her mind. What if George revealed he liked her too? How was she supposed to explain off the change in her feelings over the past few hours?

As they approached the lake, George stopped and took a seat in the grass. He tentatively patted a spot next to him, but that still had Dev at a distance. She took a seat, and they both fell back into silence. Dev looked out at the water, watching as it rippled and pooled. She had never given much thought to its gloomy contents, but in this moment she considered it might be more enjoyable to be stuck at the bottom of it.

"So." George started after some time.

"So." Dev echoed, not daring to glance over.

"Uh, Freddie, told me something," George scratched at the back of his neck, causing Dev to finally look over. "I just want to say, I'm flattered. But uh..."

"I don't fancy you, George." Dev interrupted quickly, recognizing where he was going and sparing him the awkward ordeal of turning her down.

"Oh, thank Merlin." He breathed a sigh of relief, breaking out into a light chuckle. "I'm sorry, not that you liking me would be a bad thing, but uh, it would be a bit weird. You're kinda like a sister to me."

Dev smiled and nodded, understanding where he was coming from. It was odd, she thought, how she could view George as nothing more than a brother, while being so head-over-heels for his twin.

"So, he was just pranking me, yeah?" George looked over at her, letting his arms rest around his knees.

"Not exactly," Dev replied cooly, beginning to pick at her nails to avoid his eyes. How was she meant to explain lying to his brother? "Fred really does think I fancy you."

"Why?" George looked at the girl in confusion.

"If I'm being honest, I have no clue why I said it." Dev sighed, throwing herself back so she was laying in the grass and stared up at the clear sky above her.

"Ah," George nodded his head, sounding as if he understood completely. "Perhaps you said it so he wouldn't realize who you actually fancy"

"What're you on about?" Dev grinned, trying to play off her panic.

"I guess I'm just the less clueless twin," George shrugged, copying the girl and lying back in the grass. "I realized a week ago, the way your face fell after he said he was going to ask Angelina. I thought maybe, when he told me you fancied me, that I was the reason you got upset. But now I know for sure, it was him."

Dev bit down on her lip, trying to shake the memory from her mind. She focused her attention on the few clouds, trying not to overwhelm herself with all of her emotions.

"You should tell him, you know."

"Funny," Dev laughed. "That's what he said when I told him I liked you."

"I'm serious, though," He turned his head to look at her, the movement causing her to glance over as well.

"It's all in my head, Georgie. It'll just make things weird, like they would've been if you had to let me down."

"It's different with you two," George looked back upwards. "You know, all summer mum kept asking him if you two broke up and that's why you weren't coming around. Even when he'd say you guys were just friends, she'd pull the rest of us aside and pester us, thinking he was lying." Dev kept her eyes focused on the side of the boy's face, trying to process his words. "It's not all in your head."

"Fred fancies girls like Angelina, you know? Beautiful, sporty, types. That's not me."

"How would you know? It's not like he's ever had a proper girlfriend. Probably because he's always too busy chasing you around."

Dev considered what he was saying, finding truth in some of it. It was true that Fred had never gotten serious with any other girls. It was only ever random, one time dates that Dev was careful to avoid the details of. She wondered if there was any truth to her having some play in his perpetual single hood. There was no denying that Fred was popular and well-liked around school, he could have just about any girl he was after, so why hadn't he had a girlfriend?

"Look, Dev, I can't say anything for sure, because I really don't know. Maybe I'm wrong. But I won't say anything to him. I still think you should."

"Is your 'not saying anything' the same as your brothers?" Dev raised her brows.

"No, I promise," George smiled and reached out his pinky which Dev gladly accepted with her own.

"Thanks, Georgie."

"Thanks for not fancying me." He chuckled, causing Dev to shove him.

"Well if it isn't the love birds!" A voice called out, causing both of them to sit up and glance back. May and Fred were approaching, May's eyebrows raised at Dev as she concealed a giggle.

"We're just friends, Freddie," Dev rolled her eyes as he plopped down to her left. "Thanks for being so good at keeping secrets, by the way."

"So, no romance here, then?" He looked between the two, ignoring her comment save for his smirk. When both of them shook their heads 'no,' his smirk morphed into a grin. "Can't say I'm too upset. Would've probably wretched at the sight of the two of you snogging."

"Would've made you too jealous?" George challenged, Dev taking note of the way his eyes flickered to her momentarily.

"Yes, that's totally why, Georgie Boy," Fred chuckled sarcastically.

"Oh, well in that case," Dev teased and began leaning in towards George. She didn't make it far before Fred's was tackling her lightly. His arms snaked around her waist, pushing her back onto the grass and pinning her there. Dev erupted into a fit of giggles.

"You're such a cheeky little shit," Fred laughed from on top of her.

"Ew, get a room," May whined from her place beside George.

"Oh? That's how you're going to be?" Fred let go of his grasp on Dev and leaned up, his eyes focused on May with a smirk. She quickly scrambled to her feet and dashed off, Fred hot on her heels as he tried to catch her. George and Dev watched them run about for a moment before they both laid back in the grass and resumed their cloud watching.

"Like I said, it's not all in your head."

The four spent the afternoon lounging in the grass, staring at the clouds and swapping stories they'd missed over the past week. Fred and George were eager to share every prank Dev had missed out on, and she listened with a smile. When she didn't let her typical teen bullshit get in the way, she realized just how good of a distraction the boys could be. They could all just be kids when they were together.

When they finally decided to head in, Fred tugged Dev back lightly.

"Hey, are you okay?" He questioned softly, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his robes. George and May walked slowly ahead, glancing back once before continuing on. His joking facade seemed to fade without them as an audience.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, searching the boy's face.

"Well, I mean, everything with George," He gestured ahead at his brother. "When I told him, I really thought you might have a chance. I wouldn't have said anything otherwise."

Dev couldn't help but smile at his concern.

"I'm fine, Freddie," She assured, placing a hand on his arm. "It was, uh, just a silly little crush. In fact, when George brought it up, I realized how ridiculous it was. Really, I'm over it."

"Good," Fred's concerned expression was replaced with his charming smile. "The bloke doesn't know what he's missing, anyways."

Fred threw his arm around Dev's shoulder and they began to make their way back towards the castle. George's words from earlier rang through Dev's head as they walked.

☽

THE REST OF THE NIGHT WENT SMOOTHLY, save for the occasional questioning glances Dev got from Roger. She knew she had to have a talk with him, but she figured it could wait a day. The day had started so wildly and ended so perfectly, there was no reason to ruin it by dealing with him.

After dinner, Dev had filled May in fully on her conversation with George, both girls being relieved he hadn't revealed he was harboring some feelings for her. Now, they sat in their common room, perched at their usual spots on the couch with textbooks in their laps. Dev had long since given up on progressing any further on her transfiguration essay, figuring it could be finished the next day. Now, she was catching up on her Care of Magical Creatures readings, flipping silently through the pages.

As she turned the next page a new chapter began; dragons. A 3d image of a common welsh green dragon flitted to life above the page. It seemed to soar in place, breathing out fake fire momentarily. All it took was one second before Dev was transfixed, going into a haze. Her eyes seemed to glaze over as the world around her disappeared.

"Dev?" May questioned, although her voice seemed far away. "No, no, not here—" She faded out.

Suddenly, Dev was in what looked to be an arena. Her eyes squinted at the tiny faces, the roar of the crowd. The roar of their shouts was nothing compared to the roar of the beast looming before her. Her eyes trailed up slowly, taking in its full form. A dragon.

She tried to scream, but the sound never came. Where was she? How had she ended up here?

Her panic was disturbed when she saw movement to her right. Harry Potter tentatively made his way out, garnering the attention of both the beast and the crowd. 

No. She wasn't really there. That was evident in the way the dragon nor Harry even spared her a glance. He began to run, moving right through her as he did so. 

Dev was brought back to real life abruptly. Someone was screaming, and she soon realized it was her, the scream that wouldn't come before manifesting fully now. Quickly, she ceased her yelling and took in the sight around her. May was standing in front of her, both hands on her shoulders. 2nd and 3rd years sat at their tables, gazing at the pair with wide eyes.

"Back to studying," May barked at them, causing them to quickly avert their gazes. "She's uh, scared of dragons." May quickly snapped the text book shut. "Dorm. Now."

Dev didn't have to be told twice. Both girls gathered their things and hurriedly took off up the steps without another word. Dev slammed the door shut behind her and threw her books to the ground, slowly sliding down with her back against the door. Church jumped at the sudden sound, then nestled back down in his place on May's bed. May glanced around to confirm their other two roommates were out before continuing.

"What was that?"

"I—" Dev tried to steady her breathing. "I don't know."

"Was it a vision?" May kneeled in front of her, brushing her hair out of her face soothingly.

"Yeah, I think." Dev nodded. "They've never been that clear before though. It was like I was there."

"Where's there?"

"An arena, with a dragon, and Harry was there, and there was cheering," Dev babbled, trying to quickly lament everything she saw as if it would escape her. Still, some part of her knew she'd never lose the sight of that dragon in front of her.

"The tournament," May breathed out the realization. "Dev, what if that was the first task?"

"Dragons?" Dev screeched, her eyebrows flying up.

"Maybe!" May threw her hands up. "You have to tell Harry. And probably Cedric, for that matter."

"What if I'm wrong?"

"Then they'll think it was some prank from the twins. But, if you're right, you could save them from being burnt to a crisp." May raised her eyebrows.

Dev knew the girl was right, but it didn't make it any less hard. After divination the previous year, she had been so set on keeping everything she saw to herself. To protecting herself and the reality of her visions. But, when it could be life or death, she couldn't keep this to herself. She nodded numbly. She raised to her feet and clutched the door knob.

"Wow, I didn't mean you had to right this minute."

"No, I have too. Before I change my mind." Dev continued out the door.

It wasn't hard to find Cedric, but he was in a crowd of friends and Dev recognized how odd it would be for her first conversation with him to be this. So, she decided to get Harry out of the way first. She found him sitting alone in the library, stealing glances at an angry looking Ron and an exasperated Hermione.

"Harry!" She smiled when she approached him, trying to bite back her nerves.

"Dev?" Harry looked up with a confused look on his face. The two were anything but close, only really interacting when they were both at the burrow.

"I, uh, need to talk to you." She slid in across from him, ignoring the skeptical look on his face. He glanced back at his friends and Dev followed his gaze, catching Ron huff and roll his eyes.

"Sure," Harry swallowed and looked back at her.

"It's about the tournament."

"Look, if the twins sent you to pester me about how I did it, I've already told them I didn't—"

"It's not that." Dev shook her head, biting down on her lip. Here goes nothing. "I know what the first task is going to be."

"What?" Harry's eyes widened. "How? No one knows. It's only been a week since the champions were even announced."

"It doesn't matter," Dev waved off his questions. "Dragons. The first task is dragons. Uh, if I'm not mistaken, Hungarian Horntails, to be exact." Dev thought back to her Care of Magical Creatures knowledge, a course she excelled in. She shuttered at the thought of that breed of dragon, a particularly vicious and nasty one.

"Okay." Harry entertained her words skeptically, raising his brows. "Is this some kind of prank?"

"No, no—" Dev shook her head with an exasperated sigh. She should have anticipated all of the questions this knowledge would raise. "Look, I can't say much else. You don't have to believe me, but I am trying to help. Just, uh, be prepared. And if I'm wrong, then I'm sorry."

"Well," Harry paused. "Thanks? I think."

It was clear he still didn't exactly believe her, but Dev knew there was no other way to convince him without exposing her ability completely. Even if she were to do that, it was unlikely he would believe her. She offered him a tight lip smile before nodding and standing from her chair.

"Uh, good luck, I guess." And with that, she was off.

Now, to embarrass herself in front of Cedric. Great.

author's note !

so

a lot to unpack in this chapter lol

it was very conversation-heavy so if that's not your speed I apologize

I'm almost sorry for all I put Dev through. Almost.

rose <3