Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything associated with it.

Chapter One

"Myrtle, please, I'm trying to do my homework!" I snapped.

Moaning Myrtle glared at me, her lower lip jutting out slightly. Oh sweet Merlin. It was obvious how it was going to say out. Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything after all.

"Oh, as if I hadn't heard that one before!" She wailed. "All the time! Whenever kids come in here to use my bathroom, and you're always complaining and being rude!"

"You know I didn't mean it like that... but I'm trying to do my homework. And you can be a tad bit annoying when you don't shut up," I shrugged.

"Charming! Absolutely charming!"

With that, she let out a half strangle half sob noise before disappearing down the nearest toilet. Thank the heavens. I could get on with my Potions essay now. You're probably wondering why I chose to do it in the 'out of order' bathroom on the second floor. Well, it's definitely a lot quieter here. Plus, Madam Pince watches me like a hawk when I'm in the library, as if I'm going to do something wrong and she's just waiting to pounce on me and land me in detention. I mean, honestly. Just because my ancestors were all rebellious and loud, didn't mean I was going to be the same. Quite the opposite really.

After finally finishing my homework, I gathered up my books, parchment and quills and shoved them back into my bag. Rather messily I may add. Making sure not to be noticed, I slipped out of the bathroom and started heading down towards the Hufflepuff common room near the kitchens in the basement. I mean, can you imagine the bullying and teasing I'd get for doing my homework in a toilet? Hell, I practically use that toilet as my hangout enough already as it is! I reached my common room and said my password to the portrait, clambering through the hole and heading straight to the girls dormitories.

One of my best friends, Belle Creevey, was sitting on my bed waiting for me. She jumped up in excitement when she saw me, rushing over like a restless puppy dog.

"Lucy! Lucy, you wouldn't guess what!" She squealed.

"Nope," I shrugged. "What am I supposed to be guessing? Can I have a clue?"

"Lysander Scamander asked me to go on a date with him this Saturday to Hogsmeade! Can you believe it?! I've had a crush on him forever!"

Wow. I know that we're fifteen and in fifth year and everything, but dating... dating just seemed too mature. Maybe it was just me. I guess so, seeing as all the girls seemed to be wearing make-up more now and getting boyfriends all of a sudden.

"If I remember correctly... you had a crush on his twin Lorcan until he asked out Freya Macmillan last week. Or do I have it mixed up?" I raised my eyebrows mockingly.

"Oh, shut up!" Belle gave me a light shove. "They're pretty much the same, anyway. Well... they look exactly the same. I'm not sure about the personality side of things."

"Both of them are in Ravenclaw, so they must be pretty similar."

"Yeah, I guess so. You're happy for me then? My next mission in life is to set you up with someone now... so, who do you fancy? Give me a hint so I can work my matchmaking skills and find you a match made in heaven."

I snorted - rather unattractively, which is why I suppose boys don't take an interest in me - and rolled my eyes at my naive best friend. Her 'matchmaking skills' had never worked. Never. Once she'd tried to set my two cousins Albus Potter and Rose Weasley up because they hung around together so much. She claimed that they both had crushes on each other and they were waiting for the over to proclaim their love. When I told her that this would incidentally be incest, she got confused because they had different surnames. Bless her little heart. She really was clueless.

Not only that, but she was the busy body of the school. Imagine her setting me up with someone! It'd be out everywhere within a day. Gossip spread fast when she was the bearer of fresh news. But she was like a loveable bunny, so you couldn't stay mad at her for long, despite how much she embarrassed you.

"I don't fancy anyone, you know that," I muttered.

"You must fancy someone! Come on, don't play all innocent. I bet you have cheeky little fantasies when you're alone," Belle giggled as I lobbed a pillow at her.

"Belle! I do not! Take that back!"

"Take what back? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Merlin. She was so annoying. I straightened out my school uniform, not wanting to look like I'd just woken up for going down to dinner in the Great Hall.

"So where were you this afternoon?" Belle persistently questioned.

"Doing my Potions homework," I answered.

"With your secret admirer? I bet you have one. Or was it, like, your long-term crush since first year? That would be so romantic. Are you a hopeless romantic, Lucy Weasley?"

"No, Belle Creevey, I am not a hopeless romantic."

"Alright, alright, don't spoil the mood. I bet you fancy the pants off someone really un-obvious... like... hmm..."

"I don't fancy the pants off of anyone."

"Merlin's pants then. Wait, do you fancy Merlin?"

"What...? No, I don't fancy Merlin!"

Belle shrugged, joining me in front of the mirror and brushing out her light brown hair. I envied her hair. It was... fluffy, almost. Cute and fluffy. It just about described Belle. And it really suited her. She was generally beautiful with pale blue eyes and dimples and a clear complexion. And me...? Well, I wasn't bad... I had inherited the typical Weasley genes from my father, Percy Weasley. My hair was frizzy and ginger and reached my waist. A lot of people thought I never brushed it. Gits. I had pale skin, dotted with a lot of freckles which almost looked like acne scars just to top off my luck. I was skinny, but in that lanky way which is never good for a growing teenage girl. The only thing I'd inherited from my mother was her warm brown eyes, surrounded by a lot of thick lashes. My highlight, I liked to think. I sprayed my hair, hoping to tame it. Hoping, I said.

"What about..." Belle was still going. "A Slytherin? Oh my God! I bet Merlin that you fancy some hunky Slythering! That would be just like... what's that film you watched with your Muggle grandparents? Kind of like Romeo and Juliet! Yes, that's the one! A Hufflepuff and a Slytherin. It's unheard of, but perfect."

"Belle, I don't fancy anyone! Please just drop it!" I groaned.

"That's a sign that you do fancy someone. I bet my socks off that it's some really arrogant, cocky git. You're probably hoping to tame him or something. Some sod like Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy."

What? I blushed furiously, turning away from her. Why did she say his name with such venom? He hadn't done anything wrong. Except pick on everyone in the corridors, hex anyone who got in his way, and generally acted moody and selfish. But he was just so gorgeous and he seemed like such a laugh, and...

"Oh my God! You fancy Scorpius Malfoy, don't you?!"