Flouncing into the common room I spotted Lys by the fireplace. I plonked unceremoniously into the seat beside her as she raised impassive eyebrows at me; her oval brown eyes alight with amusement.

She grinned. "Something the matter Weaselbee?"

I glared at her, before sighing. "I hate the world."

She laughed; pushing aside her parchment and books and placing her quill on the table lightly. She then returned her attention to me. "Does this have something to do with Cass? What's he done now?"

At the mention of Cass's name; Beatrice and Nessa materialised beside us; smiling expectantly. Nessa smiled sweetly at me. "What's up Vic? Something the matter with Cass?"

Supressing the twitch that was now forming in my right eye I observed her coolly. "No. Cass is fine. We just had an argument is all. Well; actually we didn't; but… it doesn't matter."

I trailed off in exasperation. What even was the point with these two? I was not in the mood for their faux sympathy.

I gazed listlessly across the common room; eyes following the constant whirring of motion as people flew about the room and doing my utmost to ignore the never ending chatter of our two companions; their irritability reaching new heights, even for them. Catching Alyssa's eye in the mirror's dusty reflection, I supressed a smirk; our lips twitching upwards in unison.

Gently flicking a loose strand of silver hair off my face, I resumed my cool expression, switching my gaze to look at my best friend directly. Her honey-brown eyes sparkled back at me in amusement, plump lips pulled back in a poorly disguised grin. I shook my head softly; inclining ever so slightly towards our companions in disbelief. The entire conversation since the moment I had dropped the subject of Cass had been spent discussing the various ways in which the Slytherin team were far superior looking to the Gryffindor one. And what was worse- I think it was supposed to be cheering me up; what with my boyfriend being the Captain of the Slytherin team.

I resisted the urge to shudder. If I was ever going out with someone for the sole reason that they were on 'the Quidditch team' I sincerely hoped Alyssa had the decency to do the honourable thing and shoot me. I would do it for her.

Stroking the hem of my skirt absently, I pondered how Beatrice and Nessa had ever been included in our gang. Alyssa and I had always been a duo- ever since that first journey on Hogwarts express; a tentative friendship that had solidified when we both were sorted into Slytherin- much to our joint surprise. She came from a long stock of Ravenclaws and as for me; I think I must have been the first Weasley in the history of time to be sorted into Slytherin. My whole family took weeks to recover from the shock; although I suspect my mother was secretly delighted. She had always imagined herself as a Slytherin had she went to Hogwarts. She was too image-obsessed and aloof to be anything else. I guess I'm the same in that regard. Although I'm not entirely to blame- I am part vela; vanity is in my blood.

Nessa and Beatrice had been included (as an afterthought mostly) in… third year was it? It was about the time that Lys and I had started to garner attention from the boys in our year- and then suddenly everyone wanted to be our friend. How we had picked these two dimwits beat me. Although I suspected it was in an effort to piss off Bursnell. But now; almost three years later, it had gotten to the point where we couldn't hold a conversation around them without the whole school hearing about it. No doubt I'd wake tomorrow to hear Nessa telling the world how Cass and I were on the rocks; a relationship doomed to sink.

"You okay Vic?"

I looked up to see Nessa staring curiously over at me; an overly sincere smile on her face. I nodded curtly. She suddenly burst into giggles; an abashed hand covering her mouth as her eyes sparkled.

"Oh My God- I am so sorry! I didn't even think how weird this conversation must be for you! Comparing the Gryffindor and Slytherin team- looks wise I mean!"

I frowned at her. What?

"I mean- what with Louis on the team?" Her blush spread.

Irritated; I waved away her concerns. "Please; Louis is only fifteen. I would think you'd know better than to be crushing on someone that much younger than you."

Nessa flushed as Beatrice interjected dreamily, stretching out on the floor in front of the fire and resting her head in her hands. "Especially when Lupin is on the same team."

I shot my gaze to her; more than annoyed now. Louis had much more to offer then that prat.

She looked up at me; embarrassed. "Oh come on Vic-He does have the most amazing smile- not to mention his abs!"

I scoffed. "He is not that good-looking. You only think he is because he's alright at Quidditch."

Beatrice looked up in outrage. "Alright at- Victoire- he's amazing! He singlehandedly brought the Gryffindor team to the finals last year- he scored twice as much as any other chaser in the league- he-"

"-Still lost." I smiled coolly over at her. I didn't know why her defence of fucking Lupin was getting under my skin so much. The boy was everywhere; everyone constantly singing his praises. Lupin is so funny; Lupin is so clever; Lupin is so talented; Lupin is so good-looking- it was fucking annoying! How did everyone else fail to see how arrogant he was? Yes he was everything she had said he was; but he fucking knew it- and beyond that- thought he was more.

The image of his crooked; boyish smile popped up in my mind's eye; his tanned face crinkling; brown eyes melting; untidy hair tousled and ruffled.

I wanted to punch him he was so annoying.

The group fell into awkward silence; the girls unsure of why I was so anti-Lupin at this particular moment. It wasn't that I was anti-Lupin; it just irritated me to be sitting here listening to snivelling idiots like Beatrice cooing over him when they didn't even know him. If they knew how annoying and cocky he really was…

They wouldn't be as keen.

And it was idiot girls like Beatrice; trailing after him and fawning all over him; despite knowing his reputation that only fuelled his arrogance. That boy seriously thinks he can do no wrong.

I rose abruptly.

"Lys- I'm going to borrow your transfiguration essay ok? Mine's all wrong and I want to see what you did with yours."

Lys nodded; quickly rising from her chair and escorting me to the stairs to our dormitory, calling an abrupt halt to Nessa's description of Aelius Greenwood's eyes. I sighed; now thoroughly exasperated. Who can even see his eyes under those ridiculous man-bangs?

Once the door was firmly closed behind us; she shoved me onto her bed, plonking down eagerly beside me. "Spill- you've been moody since the moment you arrived. What happened with Cass?"

I flopped back onto the bed; now lying outstretched along it as I moaned into her pillow. "Nothing really. Lupin came up to apologise to me and Cass freaked the fuck out- again."

She smacked my ass playfully as she burst into squeals of laughter. "Lupin came round again? And you don't find that odd?"

I scoffed audibly. "Everything about that boy is fucking odd."

She laughed good naturedly; absently playing with strands of my hair. "Except his appearance right? That boy is fit."

I rolled onto my back; glaring up at her. "Not you too? Since when did I live in a dorm of LupinLoonies."

She sniggered; oval eyes alight with mischief. "Give it up, Vic. If that boy was a Slytherin- or at least any other house but Gryffindor- I would climb him like a tree."

Waggling her eyebrows deviously; I chucked a pillow at her. Ungh. She was disgusting. Just the image of her and Lupin made me want to vomit.

Finally calming down she flopped back beside me on the bed. "So what was he apologising for? Didn't you send him to the hospital wing? Or did you do that because of whatever he did?"

I hesitated. "No- it really has nothing to do with Lupin ok? It's Cass I want to talk about-"

She cut me off; waving her hand impatiently. "No, I wanna hear what Lupin did first. Was it naughty? I bet it was- he looks like the type who-"

"LYS! I have a boyfriend remember?"

She smirked. "Never stopped him before."

Trying to supress a grin and stay angry with her; I forced a strangled glare her way. "Are you actually comparing me to Carlisle?"

She laughed. "No comparison sweetie. By the way- did you hear she's been stirring up shit about that Duelling Club incident? She tried to convince McGonagall that you did it to hamper Gryffindor's chances."

My mouth fell open. "That slimy bitch!"

Lys nodded sagely. "Two-timing, back-stabbing, lying, giant-squid loving turd."

There was a pause before we both broke into laughter.

"So Lupin..?" She pressed casually.

I sighed. "Disagreed with my plans for Bursnell; called me a manipulative bitch and said he understood now why I was in Slytherin."

Lys's eyes darkened dangerously. "He did not. He did not say that."

I nodded indifferently. "I don't think he knew what he was saying though. And he did apologise."

She glowered over at me. "Don't defend that tosser. Tell Cass! Let Cass deal with him!"

I rolled my eyes. "Like Cass would ever get it. I'm afraid we are the only people in the whole school capable of understanding just how much of a dick Ted Lupin truly is. Well; us and Carlisle."

Lys shook her head; shaking her thoughts free of whatever angry haze she was in. "No- it's just us. Word on the street is that Carlisle wants him back. Keeps sending him love letters. Beatrice swears she walked in on her concocting a love potion."

I supressed a grimace. I almost felt sorry for Lupin.

Almost.

Lys threw her arms up in realisation. "Tell Cass he made a move! Cass will sort him out for sure! Remember the time he caught Lupin looking at you? That was hilarious."

I glared over at her. "Who is ever going to believe that Lupin made a move on me? We could not be more ill-suited for each other."

Lys narrowed her eyes; tilting her head slightly as brown curls tumbled off her shoulder. "Are you… blushing?"

"NO! I never blush!"

"Victoire?"

We both turned in surprise to face the newcomer in the room. Beatrice smiled excitedly at me. "Vic- your sister's at the common room entrance."

I nodded quickly, anxious to escape Lys and her hawk eyes. Why the fuck had I blushed? I never blush.

Pulling the door to the dungeons closed behind me I peered curiously at Dom. She never came to visit. The truly was an afternoon of firsts.

"Dom- what is it?" I examined her carefully. She didn't seem distressed; just oddly excited.

"You're never going to guess what I found out today! You're going to die!"

I stared at her in surprise. What could it be? My mind whirled as I considered the possibilities. None of them were shocking enough to illicit this sort of response from Dom. She was normally such a cynic. I spotted Louis lingering a little way down the hall; his pale face anxious as he watched his sister.

Was this about Louis? Awwww did he have a girlfriend? Good; I thought quickly. That'll sort Nessa out. I must remember to warn him about her. She could be scary.

Lys followed us out of the door; leaning casually against the wall. "Well as long as it isn't Lupin related; I'm sure Vic would be delighted to hear it."

I shot her a warning glance; knowing all too well she was trying to illicit another blush; before returning to Dom. Her face had fallen somewhat; confusion flicking across it. "What? Teddy Lupin? Do you… know him Victoire?"

I scowled; irritated with everyone's incessant talk about Lupin!

"Yes I know him! It's fucking impossible to go anywhere in this castle without hearing about that prat! I thought I would be safe in the fucking Slytherin Dungeons but apparently; even HERE, everyone is obsessed with that boy! God! Can't people just move on already!"

Silence greeted my outburst.

"Vic- are you… Are you blushing?"

I glowered furiously at Dom.

"No- I'm just flustered; okay? That guy is just- ugh- really annoying." I breathed heavily; calming myself under her sceptical gaze. "What did you want to tell me?"

She narrowed her eyes even further; calculating. And then she smiled sweetly. "Oh- Louis has a crush! But I can't tell you who!"

Flouncing quickly away from me and down the hall; I could only watch her in confusion. What the hell? She came all this way to tell me that? She really was so odd. Watching her and Louis's exchange down the hall; my face creased in puzzlement. He didn't look mad at her revelation; in fact… he looked excited. They both did.

So odd.