I'm hiding from Wood for the fifth time this week. He's been trying to catch me between classes for the past three days so we can talk, but I always manage to make an up an excuse to not see him. I've been arriving at class just as the bell rings so he can't get to me before, and as soon as the bell rings for the end, I rush out and hide in the bathrooms. I'm smart.

'Er, is Ava Grier in here?' a tentative voice calls out. I'm sitting on a toilet in one of the cubicles, waiting for the bell to go.

'Yeah,' I call out.

'Err, Professor McGonagall needs to talk to you. She's just down the hall.' I groan and open the door. Standing there is a nervous looking first year.

'Will you follow me?' I smile reassuringly at her and nod.

'Thanks hun,' I say and she leads the way out the door.

I follow her down the corridor and she indicates a door on the right.

'She's in there,' she says before scarpering. Weird.

I open the door and am about to step inside when a hand grabs me and pulls me in. I scream and the door shuts behind me. A hand is thrown over my mouth.

'God Grier, keep it down!' comes a familiar Scottish drawl. I immediately stop screaming, and instead lick his hand. He pulls it away looking disgusted.

'What?' I say, looking up at Wood innocently.

So he's finally cornered me. In an empty classroom, no less. It's dimly lit, and has an eerie feeling to it. Or maybe that's just because I know what's coming.

'How'd you get that kid to come get me?' I ask, curious. He smirks at me.

'First years would do anything for the quidditch captain.'

'Uhuh. Can I go now?'

'No, I want to talk to you,' he says, sounding annoyed, 'You've been avoiding me.'

I decide to play it dumb.

'No I haven't.'

'Yes, you have.'

'No.'

'Grier, I've seen you hiding behind people all week. I'm not daft.' Bugger. Here I was thinking that he'd lost all his brains having been hit too many times by bludgers.

'So what if I have?' I say, folding my arms and leaning against a desk.

'Look, about Friday night -' he starts but I interrupt.

'Oh, you actually remember that, do you?' I say, feigning surprise. He scowls at me.

'Yes. Why wouldn't I?'

'Well I was under the impression that you'd had a bit to drink.' He looks at me, confused.

'So?'

'So, it was just a lapse in judgement, letting the alcohol get the better of us. Okay? Now can I go?' I say, heading for the door. However I have only taken a step when he grabs my arm. He lets go rather quickly.

'No,' he says forcefully. I turn back around to face him.

'What else then?' I say impatiently, tapping my foot. I honestly did not like being stuck in an empty room with just Wood. What else could there be for him to say. Its obvious it meant nothing to both of us.

'One more thing - Don't you have a boyfriend?' says Wood, and I freeze.

'Yes.' Wood runs his hand through his hair, as though nervous.

'Have you told him?'

'Do you think I'm that stupid?' I ask, and he breathes out.

'Good, 'cause that guy scares me,' he says. I stare at him for a second before bursting out laughing.

'Luke scares you?' I gasp out and Wood glares at me.

'He's hexed me before,' says Wood, still glaring at me. I stop laughing abruptly.
'What? When?'

'A while ago – I was talking to you and once you left he came up and said 'Don't ever look at her like that again,' and he hexed me.'

I look at Wood in disbelief for a second. Luke actually hexed him? Overprotective bastard.

'Are you serious?' I ask and he nods, 'How were you looking at me?'

Wood blushes slightly and looks away, scratching his head.

'Well, err, I may or may not have been lookingdownyourtop,' he says, looking at me and smiling sheepishly. I look at him in shock.

'You were looking down my top?! Perve!' I cry, and slap his shoulder lightly. I'm not actually offended. In fact, it's nice to know that Wood was checking me out. No! No its not! I'm disgusted!

'Sorry, I couldn't help myself! Your top was extra low that day…' he says, grinning slightly. I shake my head at him.

'So is that all you wanted to say?' I ask Wood.

'Yeah, so we're good?'

'Yes, we're fine. But lets never mention it again, okay?' I say before leaving.

I haven't seen Luke for two whole days. I don't know where he's got to. With him being in Hufflepuff, we don't have all the same classes, but I would normally see him at least once throughout the day.

I've been planning on breaking up with him – ever since my talk with Wood I've realised just how damn overprotective he is. I mean seriously, hexing Wood for looking at me? Way too overprotective. Plus, he thinks I don't notice him flirting with other girls. Well I do. And I don't complain, as long as it doesn't result in anything more. But another guy can't even glance my way without being punished for it.

I'm on my way to our Friday quidditch practice, when I finally see him. He's walking along the 2nd floor corridor with one of his friends.

'Hey Ava!' he calls when he sees me, I half-smile in response. When he reaches me he pulls me into a hug, to which I only half-heartedly respond.

'Can I talk to you for a minute?' I say, 'In private?' I look pointedly at his friend, who takes the hint and leaves.

'What's up?' asks Luke cautiously. I take a deep breath, ready to say the speech I've been going over and over in my head.

'We've been going out for, what, 7 months now? Well that times been great. But I think it's time we moved on.' I say calmly. He looks at me as though he doesn't understand.

'You know, see other people?' Still no response.

'Break up.' I say bluntly, and I finally get a response.

'You're breaking up with me?' he asks disbelievingly. I sigh and nod.

'Why? Is there another guy?' I open my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it.

'Is it Wood?' he spits.

'No! What?'

'Oh come on Ava, I've seen the way he looks at you. He's tried something on you hasn't he?' he snaps coldly.

I stand there speechless, utterly incapable of forming words.

'No – I- uh,' I stutter and he looks down at me coolly.

'Forget it. I'm over you anyway,' he snaps and walks off.

I stare after him in total shock for a minute before I manage to get my thoughts in order. Well, that could have gone better.

I walk down to the quidditch pitch in a daze, still not believing I'd just dumped him. I change into my gear, grab my broom and wander out onto the pitch where the rest of the team are.

I don't hear any of Wood's motivational speech, or his explaination of what we're doing, so it comes as a shock to me when the rest of the team takes off.

'Grier!' I jump at the sound of my name. Wood is strolling towards me. 'Did you not hear my instruct- Are you alright?' he asks, his face suddenly looking concerned.
I shake my head to clear it, before looking up at Wood.

'Yeah, sorry. I – I just broke up with Luke,' I mutter.

'Oh, what'd he say?' Wood looks genuinely concerned. Looking at him reminds me.

'Wow, you're actually showing some compassion!' I cry. Wood scowls at me. 'Well actually, he thought you'd tried something on me,' I say, apologetically. Wood's mouth forms an 'o.' 'I don't know what he's got against you. Apparently he's "seen the way you look at me,"' I say, smiling slightly, and using my fingers as air quotes. Wood grins back.

'Oh yeah? And how's that?'

'Who knows? I don't think he actually knows what he was talking about. He seemed completely shocked I was breaking up with him,' I say, laughing lightly. Wood joins in laughing.

'So you're alright, yeah?' says Wood, and I nod, 'Okay, then get going then!'

I don't need telling twice. I climb onto my firebolt, and push off the ground hard. Soon enough I'm soaring around the pitch, feeling much better. Flying has always made me feel good.

I scan the pitch to see what the others are doing. Fred and George Weasley who are beaters, are whacking a bludger back and forth between them, laughing loudly at something and every know and then winking at the chasers. Our chasers, Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet, are throwing a quaffle between them, occasionally throwing it at the hoops where Wood would normally be. Angelina keeps gancingooking over at Fred. Someone has a little crush…

'Grier, I'm letting out the snitch!' calls Wood from beneath me. I've played seeker since my 4th year, and loved every minute of it. We haven't won the quidditch cup since my first year on the team though, which is quite disappointing. But I feel we have a good chance this year.

We play a mini game, before retiring to the ground.

'Good practice guys,' calls Wood as we gather round him, 'Keep that up and we've got a good chance at the cup this year. Now I've worked out a few tactics, judging by that practice…' he drones on for a while, and as is always the case during his speeches, I tune out. Eventually we are told to get change.

As soon as we enter the girls change room, Alicia starts chattering.

'Ava, Wood was totally watching you all training,' she says conversationally. I nearly drop my broom.

'No he wasn't,' I say stupidly.

'Yes he was. He flew right into me 'cause he was too busy staring at you,' she says, smiling broadly and showing off her perfect white teeth. I scowl.

'Oh, come on Ava, Wood's fit! It's a good thing!' cries Angelina, gesticulating wildly with her hands. I scowl at her.

'But you'd much rather have Fred watching you, wouldn't you Ange?' smirks Katie, changing the subject and Angelina blushes. I smile gratefully at her. Good old Katie, always knows when to move on.

'Wh-what gives you th-that idea?' stutters Angelina, not looking at anyone. Katie, Alicia and I all give each other a look, and swarm around her chanting, 'Because you luurrrvvee him, you want huuuuggg him, you want to kiiiiss him -'

'Okay, okay! I like him!' cries Angelina putting her hands over her ears. We all squeal loudly, even though we already knew this. It's just so much better having her admit it.

'Just never ever sing that song again!'

We all laugh and continue changing.

'Hey Ava, what was up with you at the start of training? You looked a bit out of it,' asks Katie looking concerned.

'Oh, I uh, I broke up with Luke just before I came down,' I reply slowly. The three girls turn to look at me, and suddenly I'm attacked in a group hug.

'You finally did it!' cries Alicia. I'd told them last training session about my plans to break up with him.

'You're my hero!' cries Angelina.

'Welcome to singledom!' cries Katie. I laugh and we break away from the hug. Katie looks at me expectantly.

'So, what'd he say?' she asks eagerly. She was always a lover of gossip.

'Well firstly he didn't get what I was trying to say. Then once he caught on, he accused Wood of being the cause,' I say. They all look outraged by this.

'He did WHAT?'

'What's Wood got to do with it?'

'Apparently he'd seen the "looks Wood's been giving me," whatever that means,' I shrug slightly. Alicia suddenly grins.

'So it wasn't only me who noticed them!' she cries, and I look at her confused.

'Oh come on Ava, he's been staring at you all week!' she says, as though I should know it. Which I don't.

'What? Why?' I ask, completely confused.

'Because he likes you!' cries Katie as though it's the most obvious thing in the world.

'No he doesn't,' I reply. Honestly, where do they get these ridiculous ideas from?

'Yes he does,' she says, and looks pointedly at the others. Suddenly I'm surrounded. Hang on….

'He lluurrrvvess you, he wants to kiiiiss you - ' they chant.

'Okay, okay!' I cry over the top of them. They all smirk at me. Now I know why Angelina was complaining about the singing. Or rather, chanting, since none of us can actually carry a tune.

'Wood loves Ava!' cries Alicia loudly. The other girls dissolve into giggles as I shake my head at them.

'Real mature, guys,' I say, 'I'm going up to dinner now, coming?'

'Yep, lets go!' says Alicia, and we all link arms and skip towards the castle. Training always puts me in a good mood.

We find Max sitting at the Gryffindor table, reading the evening prophet while chewing on a piece of chicken.

''ow was trainin'?' she says with a mouthful of food as I plonk into the seat next to her, and the others sit down opposite. I turn my nose up at her eating habits.

'Not bad,' I reply.

'Wood couldn't stop staring at Ava,' says Alicia, giggling slightly. Max smirks.

'Told you he likes you!' she cries.

'Who likes who?' a familiar Scottish drawl comes from behind me.

'No one!' I squeak quickly, hoping he hadn't heard the rest of the conversation. Wood sits in the seat next to me, causing the girls to snigger. I glare at them.

'Uhuh…' says Wood, raising his eyebrows, 'You weren't talking about Fred and Angelina by any chance?' He smirks, looking at Angelina. She blushes and ducks her head.

'What?!' she squeaks.

'Ange, you two are so unbelievably obvious,' says Wood, 'Flirting all the time, stealing glances at each other. Just find a broom closet already!'

'What's this about a broom closet?' asks Fred, as he and George sit down at the table, Fred seeming to sit extra close to Angelina. Angelina blushes even more.

'We were just saying how you and Angelina need to find one and snog already,' says Wood, shrugging. Us girls all turn and glare at him.

'Wha'?' he asks through a mouthful of food. He has no tact that boy. Fred, who is normally not phased by anything, let alone embarrassed, is sitting there staring at his food, determinedly not looking at Angelina, who's face is the colour of a tomato.

'You idiot!' I mutter to Wood, slapping his arm. He looks at me innocently. I roll my eyes.

We all sit in silence for a minute, chewing on our food, not knowing what to say. Oliver's arm brushes against mine and I jump.

'What do you call a donkey with three legs?' asks George loudly, trying to break the awkward silence. Everyone turns to look at him.

'No idea, what do you call a donkey with three legs?' says Alicia, grinning at him.

'A wonkey!' cries George, laughing loudly at his joke. We all roll our eyes and groan. Alicia looks at him and giggles. He winks at her.

'You seriously need some better jokes, mate,' says Oliver. George just shrugs and continues to grin.

'Anyway, I have to go, err.. polish my wand,' says George. I don't miss the look he gives Alicia. 'See you all later.'

George takes a last bite of his potato and leaves, again looking pointedly at Alicia.
'Polishing his wand?' mutters Alicia shaking her head, 'Anyway I've got homework to do. Bye.'

As she leaves we all stare after her in shock.

'Was it just coincidence that they left right after one another? And am I the only one who saw the look?' I say.

'I saw that too…' says Angelina, who seems to have recovered from her embarrassment. She's staring curiously in the direction Alicia walked out.

'You know what this means girls!' cries Katie, smiling broadly, 'It's detective time!'

Max, Katie, Angelina and I all jump up simultaneously, grinning. Wood and Fred look at us as though we're insane. We're girls! We like to know what's going on!

'What are you- ' starts Wood but I cut him off by putting my hand up.

'Sorry, no time for talk. Lets roll,' I say, pointing towards the door. We speed walk out of the great hall, ignoring the weird looks we're being given. Once outside, we stop.

'Ava, Max take that way,' says Katie, pointing to the right, 'Me and Ange will go this way,' she points to the left, 'Be back in the common room by 7.30 to report your findings.'

We immediately head off in our assigned directions.

'Where could they be...?' Max thinks out loud.

'Lets just follow this corridor until the end, opening any doors and whatnot on the way,' I say. She nods and we spy-walk down the corridor.

I spot and door, so I kick it open.

'HA!' I cry. However, its just an empty classroom with no one in it. We move on.

'HA!' cries Max as she kicks open another door. Broom closet full off… cat toys?! Filch really is insane.

'HA!' Max cries again kicking open the next door. First year reading.

We continue in this way up the next two floors, but we don't find Alicia and George. However we do find two 2nd years making out (Hello? You're 12?!), Snape talking to the Astronomy teacher (in an empty classroom – as you do), a group of 4th year boys crowded around a book (I really don't want to know…) and the Defence against the dark arts teacher, Professor Didley dancing around the room (she's always been a bit insane).

We're walking along the third floor, when we open the door to a broom closet. The door swings open and reveals Alicia and George in a tangle of limbs, snogging. They realise that we're there, look at us, and continue.

'Um, guys I really don't need to see that!' says Max.

'Then leave,' comes George's voice, as he feels around for the door handle without removing his lips from Alicia's. Max and I look at each other, and slowly back out of the room.

'Well, that was a bit unexpected,' I say, and Max nods, her shocked expression mirroring mine. We head back to the common room, waiting to tell Angelina and Katie.

They aren't there when we return, but Fred and Wood are, sitting in a corner playing wizards chess. We head over to them and sit down.

'How was your, uh, detective mission?' asks Wood, smirking, clearly mocking us.

'Very successful,' I say, and Wood and Fred both look up, interested.

'What did you find?'

'Well we searched the first two floors with no luck,' I say.

'But then we arrived on the 3rd floor,' says Max.

'We came to a broom closet that looked quite promising.'

'And what did we find?'

'Alicia and George snogging!'

'Really?' asks Wood, looking disbelieving.

'Really, really,' I reply, nodding. Fred scowls and starts muttering something about 'Bloody George,' and 'Always has to beat me.'

We joke about Alicia and George for a while, until Katie and Angelina return. We fill them in on the news.

'Damn Alicia! I wanted to be the first one to snog a Weasley!' mutters Angelina. We all turn to look at her.

'Did I say that out loud?' she moans, knowing the answer. We nod and she groans, blushing again.

'You hear that Fred?' says Wood, nudging Fred, who had suddenly looked very happy after Angelina's outburst, 'Maybe you should go polish your wand, and Ange can give you a hand.'

'Ah yeah, Ange, want to help?' says Fred, smiling lopsidedly at Angelina. The Weasleys have identical lopsided smiles. It's kind of creepy actually. Angelina stands up and we immediately start wolf-whistling.

'Don't do anything I wouldn't do!' cries Wood loudly as they head out the portrait hole.

'Be safe!' I cry. We all immediately start laughing.

'Too easy,' says Wood.

A moment later George and Alicia enter the common room, laughing about something. They spot us and head over.

'Hey guys,' says George, smiling lopsidedly. See?

We all look at them expectantly, waiting for an explanation.

'What?' asks Alicia, sitting down opposite me.

'So…' says Max.

'So?' repeats Alicia.

'What's going on with you two?' asks Max, looking backwards and forwards between Alicia and George.

'Nothing,' replies Alicia, shrugging.

'So you just spent the last hour snogging, and there's nothing going on with you?' I ask incredulously.

'Nope, we're just friends… with benefits,' says George, smirking.

'And how long has this been going on?' asks Wood, looking suspiciously between them.

'Since we got back to school,' Alicia says casually. We all stare at them opened mouthed.

'What?!' cries Katie, 'And you haven't told anyone about this?'

We all stare at the two in shock. How could we have not noticed this?

'It's no big deal,' Alicia says.

'No big deal?!' cries Katie, 'Then why didn't you tell us! It is a big deal! You could get hurt! What happens if one of you starts to actually like the other?! Then what?!'

'See, this is exactly why I didn't tell you guys! We know what we're doing okay?' says Alicia forcefully. Katie glares at her.

'Alicia, this is absolutely idiotic! One of you is going to end up getting hurt! You can ever stay just friends in a situation like that!' Katie shouts, getting fired up. Oh dear…

'It has nothing to do with you! Stay out of it!' Alicia replies just as loudly, before storming off towards the girls dormitory.

We all stare after her in shock, and then look at Katie who's sitting there seething, muttering to herself and not looking at anyone.

I don't know why Katie is so mad. It's such an Alicia thing to do. She can't hold a boy for more than a week without getting bored.

There is a tense silence as we process what just happened. I stand up awkwardly, not being able to stand the edgy quiet.

'Uh, I'm going to bed, see you guys tomorrow,' I say before heading off to bed.

What an eventful day.