Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. :)

Passing
written by ameo

Peter was sixteen and he had a huge crush on Emily Laurence, a sixth year, just like himself, and the only class he shared with the her was on Tuesdays and Fridays for Advanced Herbology. He was fascinated by her.

She was a member of the school's chorus and she spent some of her evenings tutoring students who needed help with any subject available. He admired her for her being so helpful and caring.

He noticed how she always wore her hair either up in a ponytail or down in waves. He loved it when her hair was down because it cascaded down her back in a fashion that would hypnotize anyone who dared to look.

Whenever he passed her by in the halls between classes, he would say a quick "Hello!" and sometimes even a "Hey, how are you doing on that Herbology essay?" every now and then. Sometimes she'd respond back with a smile or a cheerful wave before continuing on her way; and if it was a good day, Emily would actually stop and start a conversation with him! The sound of her voice made his stomach do flip-flops and loop-de-loops.

When it was announced that there was to be a school dance, he was ecstatic! He'd be able to ask her to go with him, as a date! Images of the school dance flashed through his mind: him asking Emily to dance and whisking her out in the sunset on his noble steed…

The only problem was doing the asking. One of his best friends, James, had given him an entire list of ways to ask; one of which included using twenty parrots, ten pounds of pure chocolate, and the mailman. Peter was too nervous to try any of them, for the ways James had suggested were far too bold for him. They didn't shout Peter's name, they screamed James's genius.

He was sitting at the lunch table when the unthinkable happened. Emily sat down right next to him! And even asked if she could join them for lunch! Internally he quickly thanked whoever was watching in the heavens and decided that he was going to ask her to go with him to the dance.

Emily seemed a bit fidgety, he noticed, but she was smiling that amazing smile of hers and the two of them began talking about their Advanced Herbology class. Lunch was almost over by the time he brought up the courage to ask her. Right when he was going to open his mouth to pop the question, she opened hers.

"Hey Sirius, do you want to go to the dance with me?"

Peter was taken aback. So was Sirius, whose eyes were wide in shock. His best friend quickly recovered and answered with the smile all the girls claimed that made them melt, "Of course! I'd be delighted to be in your presence for the evening."

Peter felt like he had been punched in the face, the stomach, and kicked in the ass. Emily beamed at his best friend with such happiness that made him feel jealous and angry towards his best friend.

Now, whenever he passed her by in the halls between classes, he'd say a quick "Hello!" and sometimes even a "Hey, how are you doing on that Herbology essay?" every now and then. She didn't even acknowledge he was there. She walked right past him, giving Sirius the biggest smile. Peter to a great extent wished she'd smile at him like that.

It wasn't the first time he had lost a girl to his best friend. Peter didn't like that passing feeling at all, and he desperately wondered when it would be his turn, when a girl would want to be with him and not his best friend.