Diclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

"I don't hate you. I'm just not necessarily excited about your existence."
-Anonymous

The lesson has gone on with not a lot of people paying attention to me sitting next to James, past some staring and a little whispering.

I'm quite sure that I've felt Erick staring at me in shock a few times through the last hour, but I haven't dared to look at him. It's not even that hard not to; just the thought of now seeing the face I've dreamt about for so long makes my eyes wet. Especially when I can't stop picturing him snogging Vivienne. At least, along with that thought, I've also gotten angry with myself for reacting like such a pansy, and that has helped to keep the tears at bay.

As I shift about uncomfortably, I feel a leanly muscled arm snake itself around the back of my chair. My body becomes rigid as calloused fingers tuck a stray piece of my auburn hair behind my ear. I force myself not to pull away so I don't look even more ridiculous than I already do.

"Well, that got a reaction," James whispers in my ear, his warm breath tickling the side of my face.

Then, he kisses my cheek. As casual as you please!

I feel my cheeks flame and I hear him chortle lowly as he pulls away, righting himself back into his chair. I watch him as he begins to doodle precariously on the top right corner of his parchment, as though he didn't just make a very public display of affection with me.

I, Gabrielle Silk, was just kissed – albeit on the cheek – by James Potter.

I feel like I need a shower and anti-bacterial scrub.

When the dismissal bell finally rings, I grab my belongings and sweep out of the classroom before anyone can stop me. I'm not quite sure how I can avoid Erick or Vivienne for the rest of the day in this veritable prison.

I hurry to my next lesson, heedless of whether people are or aren't staring. Knowing my luck, the whole school already knows about James's little stunt. In reality, however, it won't be until afternoon tea before everyone finds out that James Potter has been seen canoodling with the likes of Gabrielle Silk. J just hope that I can avoid all three of them until…

Well, the end of time is preferable at this point.

I wade through the rest of the day, avoiding everyone.

I bet I look like a right bitch to my mates, but I just can't face them asking me if I'm happy for Erick and Vivienne. And, if Nigel's reaction is anything to go by, everyone would grill me with question after question; whether I saw it coming, if I've known, have I been in the middle this whole time just waiting for them to get together, did Erick ask me to tell Vivienne, has Vivienne spent sleepovers wistfully planning their wedding, have I been wondering if I should just say something already?

I know it's a shit move on my part, but I just can't face it, or them, with this feeling of betrayal weighing my heart down like it's been thrown to the fishes by a Mafioso.

So, I ignore everyone and they seem to pretty easily and quickly get the memo that I don't want to talk with them. We've dealt with issues only one way in our group; we ignore them until the person with the problem gets over it, because nine times out of ten it's a mountain out a molehill – all of us have been guilty of it on numerous occasions over the years, myself included.

I went through the day watching Erick being Erick; people calling out to him in the hallways for a moment of his attention, smiling and laughing with the group as they would hang onto his every word avidly like it was law, and just generally being the cool, popular guy he is as Vivienne clung to him like she might lose him if she let go. When (read: if) Erick noticed me looking at him, he would pause and throw me a pleading look and I knew he wanted to talk. At the sight of it, I almost forgot that heavy sense of betrayal. But, then Vivienne would look at me with this indecipherable look on her face and I felt it all over again, totally raw.

I manage to make it to my dormitory, it's there when my resolve melts away. I collapse on my four-poster, totally exhausted; not sure if I want to cry or not.

And that's where Perry finds me, Merlin knows how much later.

I hear his chuckle, followed by his knock on the door. "It's Monday, how bad could your day have been?" he inquires.

I mumble unintelligibly into my duvet and Perry laughs again.

"Of course. Couldn't have put it better myself."

I lift my head long enough to say, "Shut up," only to realize that breathing is actually easier without my face in the blankets. So I ungraciously roll onto my back and stare listlessly at the canopy of my bed.

There's a pause in which I can picture my brother – without even feeling the need to look at him – trying to decide if this is something he wants to involve himself in, or not.

"Is this period-related?" he asks hesitantly.

I snort humorlessly. "Unless you equate the pain in my heart to the pain of my womb trying to kill me once a month, no."

Perry enters the circular room and drops down beside me, joining me in staring at my canopy. "Okay. What's up, then?"

"And, if I said it was period-related?"

He sighs fatalistically. "Then I'll lie here and listen, anyway."

"You're getting soft in your old age," I mutter, nudging him.

He huffs a laugh, nudging me back. "Yeah, because seventeen is ancient."

"You're risking your reputation here, Perry."

I feel him shrug. "I'd only do it for you, kid."

I smile then, feeling the best I have all day.

Perry is, by all accounts, a bit of a prat in his own right. But, I don't pay much attention to any of that. I don't really care how many girls the rumors have said that my brother has hooked up with, or hearts he's broken, or stupid stunts he's pulled, because when it comes down to it he's my big brother and I love him. He's all but eighteen months older than me, but we've almost always got on pretty well.

"So, come on. Tell me what's up. Did Viv go get ice cream without you?" he teases in a baby voice.

I sigh deeply. "Something like that. If 'get ice cream' is dating Erick and 'without me' is the whole school knowing before me, then yeah."

He sucks in a harsh breath, all joking aside. "Ouch. Sorry, Elle."

I try to shrug it off and feel tears welling.

"Did you, uh…?" He leaves the question hanging by a mile, but I know what he's asking; there's very little about my life that I don't tell my brother.

I shake my head, wiping my burning eyes. "No. No, I found out before I got the chance."

"So, he doesn't know? You're sure?"

I gnaw my lip for a moment, considering. "I don't know. They didn't see fit to tell me they'd hooked up, and I only found out when I saw him kiss her in the hall this morning. I don't know what's going on."

"Well, it sounds like Vivienne's being a bitch and Erick's not much better," Perry says as he pulls himself upright. "If you want, we can sneak down to the kitchens for ice-cream and stuff our faces."

I shake my head again. "No, thanks. I have some homework to do, anyways."

"Must be bad if you're turning down ice cream. Let me know if you change your mind. I can only justify breaking my diet if it's for you."

"James will kill me if I made you break your diet."

Perry laughs. "Yeah, well, what Potter doesn't know won't hurt him, will it?"

I sit up and smile, and Perry grins right back at me.

We're obviously siblings; the similarities between us brands us as nothing less. We have the same auburn hair and brown eyes, not to mention the smattering of freckles on our faces. We have the same shape nose and eyes, and we even smile the same. He's inherited a bit more height than me, but I take after Aunt Georgie that way. Not that I mind all that much; being as tall as Perry would make me taller than Erick, and teenage boys seem to have an enmity with girls taller than them.

But, I think we've established that teenage boys are stupid.

I nod to Perry. "Okay. Maybe for dessert?"

His grin widens. "I say we also make up a nice sauce for the ice cream."

I can almost feel the sugary goodness running through my veins, and all my issues pales into an insignificance I can deal with just then. "Yes."

He rubs his hands. "Brilliant! I s'pose I best get to practice, then… If you won't give me a reason to ditch," he adds accusingly. "I'll see you for supper."

He pops back into my room, kisses my hair, and hurries out as I laugh. "Bye!"

I slept like shit and I'm willing to bet I look like shit.

Still, I walk into History of Magic on Tuesday morning with my head held high. And, if by high we here mean that I stare at my shoes as I sit in that lonely seat up the back that the other kids deem as haunted, then yeah. Head held high.

I ignore everyone again all through morning lessons.

Vivienne doesn't even bother trying to talk to me, and she does a bang up job at acting like I don't even exist. But, a few of our other friends smile at me nicely and Erick looks a little forlorn every time I accidentally catch his eye. Not quite forlorn enough to take his hands off Vivienne's waist, though…

I find myself in the library again at lunch. And this time I manage not to cry or feel like my heart is going to pound out my chest, so that's a plus. I just lean my head back against the wall and settle into the moment of silence…

That is then rudely interrupted by a voice I can do without.

"Well. This is incredibly sad."

I open my mouth, but close it again poste-haste and frown up at him.

"Are you actually not talking to me?" James Potter laughs, seeming totally unfazed by it.

Like a small, petulant child, I get out a scrap piece of parchment and quill from my bag. 'I don't talk to people that snog me without my permission,' I scribble the words out quickly and shove the paper across the table to him. As he reads my message, his eyebrow quirks and the corner of his mouth goes with it as he tries to suppress a smile. When he looks back at me, I stick my tongue out at him and that full smile flares to life.

I suppose I can see why girls fall over him…

"I think this counts, though," he states, waving the parchment in my direction. "And it was the kind of kiss I give my gran."

I frown again, if only to stop the unfathomable smile that wants to sneak in. "Still, you didn't ask."

"Then I'm sorry," James apologizes, taking me by surprise, as he situates himself in the chair across from me. "So, what brings you to the library during lunch hour?"

"Erick hasn't screwed up again, so you needn't care."

James chuckles, shaking his head. "Y'know, Elle, your little problem with Tilpin has got me thinking…" So not good. "If you're seen with me, I can guarantee he'll want you." He winks at me, and I can't help but frown at his obvious implication.

"Erick's a better person than you'll ever be." Unfortunately, my insult doesn't deter him.

James leans forward, his hazel eyes never once breaking contact with mine. "Maybe," he murmurs, his voice taking on a husky quality that has me squirming. "But I'll never break your heart."

My heart skips a beat at that admission.

"So, come hang out with me."

In what universe would I ever hang out with James Potter?

"And why, pray tell, would I do such a thing? I'm not one of your flavors of the months."

He scrubs a hand along his jaw thoughtfully. "No, you're certainly not. But, what a message it would send to that wanker…"

My frown becomes more of a scowl. "I don't need to send him a message."

Although, I won't deny that a part of me feels like it wants to say yes; I feel like spending time with James just to have the opportunity to shove it in Vivienne's stupid face. It will also go a long way to shoving the proverbial 'it' in Erick's smarmy, gorgeous face.

He didn't want me? Well, I don't want him either!

"You've thought about it, though," James states, interrupting my brain tantrum.

"I have not." And I haven't, but I might now.

James grins over at me. "If I were you, I would've thought of nothing else than showing him up."

I feel my eyes narrowing as I look at him. Just how does he know what I do or don't feel about Erick? If James has known that I've been in love with Erick since forever, this surely means that Erick has known, right? How could James Potter know and Erick not?

"Sounds like a normal Tuesday for you. Don't you normally think of little else than sex, Quidditch, and showing someone up?"

James nods as his eyes roves and he rearranges his bag on his shoulder. "Yeah, I suppose so."

"Let me guess. If you were me, you would have hooked up with at least six people by now and shown him exactly what he's missing out on?"

James's eyes snap back to me as his smirk widens. "Something like that. But, I'd think one would be commotion enough for Gabrielle Silk."

I roll my eyes. "Well, yes. It's all relative, isn't it? You probably hook up on the daily, so you can make a statement–"

"Whereas, you're with none. So one would be plenty."

There's a note of teasing in his voice that elicits a smile out of me, but I stamp it down quickly. Although, not quick enough if the mischievous look on his face is anything to go by.

"How about you settle for hanging out with little old me?"

I shake my head. "No way. Not a snowflake's chance in hell."

"Not even to hang out with me?" He pouts.

I can't help the small laugh that escapes. "No, not even for you. Sorry."

He shrugs. "Alright. Different terms. How about you tutor me, then?"

I gape over at him, not sure how serious he's being. He's all James; languid and at ease. His face a perfect mask of nonchalance like nothing fazes him, and he knows he's stupidly good-looking. As I stare at him, he raises his eyebrow as though he's waiting for me to answer.

"You're actually asking for me to help you?" I ask.

He scrubs his hand over his jaw again. "Looks that way, yeah."

"Two questions."

"Shoot."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Are you failing, or something?"

He scoffs. "One of those."

I cross my arms. "Not really an answer, Potter."

"What's your second question, then?"

I sigh, figuring I'm not getting any more out of him regarding my first question. "Why me?"

"Three reasons. First, you're good at History of Magic. Second, I don't like Tilpin. Third, you can use tutoring me as an excuse to avoid the git whenever you like."

"He's not a git."

"Isn't he, though?" James asks, his voice rising as he shrugs.

"No. He's–"

"Let's agree to disagree, shall we?"

We stare at each other in silence for a while, just assessing, evaluating.

Never in the six years that I've known James Potter has he been anything other than a troublemaker. I don't think I've ever spoken one-on-one as much in all those years as I have in the last two days.

I jump as the bell rings, signaling the end of the lunch hour. I get to my feet and grab my bag, very much aware of James as he rounds the table to stand next to me.

"Come on, Elle. Would it help if I said please?" he inquires, smiling at me.

"I didn't realize you knew that word existed."

He huffs a laugh. "Please, Elle. I can really do with the help...? Besides, Neville's been on my case for ages to find a tutor." He searches my eyes like he can find something that will make me say yes.

I think about it, momentarily ignoring the fact that James just referred to our Head of House by his first name. Bet's are that since James's marks haven't picked up since the beginning of term, the Potters have owled Professor Longbottom to drill their son to improve his grades, what with them being mates and all.

I sigh. "Fine, I'll help."

A grin pops up on his face for a brief second then he kicks his head behind him. "Come on, then. Minnie won't be pleased if we're late."

"What's this 'we' we're talking about?" I ask as he starts walking away.

He only lets go of one of my hands, so I'm forced to follow as he pulls me along behind him by my other. "A killer team."

"There is no 'we,' Potter."

"No, of course. We hate each other." His grin continues to grow as he says this, as if he knows something I don't.

"Exactly."

A/N: Chapter two for ya! I'm sick in bed, unfortunately, but I got this chapter proofread quicker than I thought, so I decided to go ahead and upload! :)

Hope you all are enjoying the story so far! I find myself really enjoying writing the banter between Elle and James. I think they make quite a pair lol.

Drop a review of your thoughts/opinions! I love reading/responding to them! Also, if you have any constructive criticism, I'm all for that; I always look for ways to improve my writing.

Also, I do proofread my work, but it's still possible for me to overlook some things. Hopefully it still doesn't take away from the story!

Until the next chapter,
-Dev.

P.S. Favorite quote from the chapter? Let me know in a review, if you'd like!

P.P.S. I picture Luca Hollestelle as Gabrielle, and Stefano Masciolini as her brother, Perry.