A/N: Hi Beth here. This is my very first fanfic so just let me know what you think. Oh and just a heads up this story isn't going to be bookverse. I hope you like it!xxx

Before

Chapter 1

I don't really remember how it started, a few stolen glances; the odd bumbling comment (from me that is; he was just all too smooth) and we'd just occasionally fall asleep together in the common room after some light flirting. But you don't need all the boring details the point of it is that I loved him and I thought that he loved me.

He was your risk-taker destined for fame and fortune and I was your quietly clever dependable shoulder-to-cry-on. He was, no intimidating isn't the word, he was imposing, and striking and I blended into the background. My name is Alice and his is was Tom. Slytherin's poster couple for our years together at Hogwarts and of course we were horribly wrong for each other but we made it work. For a while.

We were both good with secrets not that our relationship ever was one he just walked straight over to me one day in the common room and kissed me full on the mouth in front of everyone. He later told me that he was "just sick of waiting to find out whether or not we were something". I asked him whether we were and he just kissed me again not even bothering to answer.

Anyways I was the agony aunt of the house and was privy to many a whispered confession or angry rant but Tom he was always the suffer-in-silence type all I could do when he went quiet was hold him and hope that I was doing enough. It wasn't until years later that I found out he was even better than me when it came to keeping secrets.

Seventh year came around far too fast and passed in a blur of sleepless nights and scrawled potions essays (all my own work I might add, no help at all from that potions wiz boyfriend of mine). Graduation is one of the moments in my life that I still cling on to; it was the night that Tom proposed to me in front of the whole school including my poor father who almost fainted in shock. One minute I was giving a speech about how this was only the beginning and how much I was going to miss everyone and the next thing I know Tom's walking up on stage, all casual and kisses me the way he did the very first time and by the time I've opened my eyes he's down on one knee. He just says it plain and simple, "Al, will you marry me?" and looking into those green eyes of his there was only one answer I could give.