Paige finally put up the cast list. I felt that I needed to keep up my image so I didn't go see it right away. The next morning Dumbledore stood up to get the attention of the students.

"Thank you. Please turn your attention to Professor Matthews. She has a few things to say in regards to the newly developed theatre department. Professor Matthews?"

Paige scowled as she stood up. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. As many of you know we are doing Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, this winter. The auditions have already taken place and if you would like to be in the spring musical, please keep it in mind and see me after Christmas. Now, for those of you who are anticipating your audition results, the cast list has been posted on the main door of the auditorium. Yes, we do have an auditorium. I hope to see you all there supporting your fellow students when the date is finally set."

She finished her speech and sat back down. I tried to seem as though I was not involved. I laughed at it and said that I would not be watching, which I secretly hoped was not a lie. I told the table I had some things to finish up from the previous night and I slipped off to the auditorium where I would find my desire had been realised. I looked down the cast list finding that I was to play Hamlet and Bridget was to play Ophelia.

"Hey," I said as I approached Draco, who was standing at the cast list. I had seen him leave the Great Hall and assumed that he was going to check the cast list. This was the perfect time to have a chance to talk to him.

The blonde boy turned around and looked at me with hurt in his eyes, "Hey." He replied.

"I heard you got the part of Hamlet, congratulations." I said, trying to figure out why he looked so hurt.

"Thanks. Congratulations to you too," Draco replied as he turned to leave.

"Wait," I touched his arm and he stopped and looked at me. We stood awkwardly for a few seconds with my hand still on his arm.

"What's wrong?" I asked with genuine concern.

"It's nothing." Draco answered as he looked down. I could tell that he was lying and I had a feeling that it had something to do with me.

"You're a really bad liar," I observed as I looked at him with a sympathetic smile on my face.

"Funny," Draco commented, "I've never been told that before."

"I'm pretty good at seeing through people," I felt myself move closer to him. Draco closed his eyes and I found myself drawn to his lips. Suddenly, the bell rang and I sighed as I moved reluctantly away from him. He sighed as well and picked up his bag.

"I suppose we'd better head to class," the blonde said.

"Yeah." I started to walk away, cursing silently that I didn't try and kiss him sooner.

"Wait," Draco said as he jogged to catch up with me, "Can I walk you to class?" he asked when he caught up.

I smiled, "Absolutely." The two of us walked together silently, each of us praying that no one would notice the growing attraction between us. Neither one of us could deny it. And if the truth was to be told, I don't think that either one of us wanted to deny it.

That night I had terrible trouble sleeping. The day kept running through my mind. Neither one of us said a word on the way to class, and yet, neither one of us had to speak. I knew I wanted to be with her but I could not see a way. I spent all night thinking about her and I knew there must be a way, I just hadn't found it yet. It must be a secret, for everyone's well being, unfortunately, it would be hard to hide how I felt about her.

That tension between us after the near occasion of a kiss had risen drastically. Every time I saw her I thought about it, and I knew she was thinking about it too. A thought crossed my mind. She may be with Potter, but she is interested in me. If I kissed her, would she change her mind? Would she be with me? Perhaps if I kissed her things would change. The next question was when? When would we be alone together again? Theatre class would be my best chance.

"I really like him Livie," I said in the common room later that night.

The raven haired girl stared at me with an incredulous look on her face, "So what are you doing with Harry?" her brown eyes studied me closely, as if waiting for me to burst out and say "April Fools!"

I stared back at her and sighed, "I'm not saying that anything would happen between us. It was a one time thing."

Livie rolled her eyes, "Please, I see the way you two stare at each other during that scene you two had to do together."

"But it's not like anything's going to come of it. I mean think about it, he's in Slytherin, and I'm in Gryffindor. Never going to happen!"

She sighed again, "That's not the point. You're one step away from having Harry ask you out. He really likes you! And I thought that you liked him."

"I do," I insisted, though a part of me knew that there wasn't the same attraction between me and Harry as there was between me and Draco. "It's just an infatuation."

"Well, all I have to say is that you had better is careful. I mean it. Harry's my friend. I don't want to see him hurt. I have to go. I'm meeting Neville so he can help me with Herbology." She picked up her bag and walked out of the common room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I knew who I wanted to be with. I wanted to spend all my time with Draco. I wasn't sure if I was quite in love with him yet, but it would only be a matter of time. The tension between us was almost unbearable. I just wanted him to hold me in his arms. I dreamt about it every night. My head was in the clouds. I could barely concentrate on my classes. All I thought about was him and that near kiss. It was even worse when he was in the same room as me. What could I do? There was no way that we could be together. Meanwhile, Harry was still under the impression that I was into him. What he didn't know was that every time he kissed me or held my hand, I imagined it was Draco. It was hard because I couldn't imagine Draco being as bad of a kisser as Harry was.

The days inched closer to our next class. Although only it was only few days, they seemed to take an eternity to pass. Finally the day arrived. By that morning I had worked everything out in my mind. The two of us would remain after class and, just like the last time, we would be talking and moving closer. This time however, I would place my hand on her cheek and lean in to kiss her before she had to run to class. I ran over my plan several times that day until I believed nothing could go wrong. I had a plan for every possible thing I could think of interfering. Unfortunately there was one thing I hadn't counted on causing problems: myself. I entered the classroom and looked around. Bridget was nowhere in sight. I set my things down and took a seat. Again, I went over my plan. A new thought began to enter my mind. What would happen if she pushed me away? Would she go back to Potter and tell him? Would I lose my chance to be with her? No. I couldn't think like this. She wanted that kiss just as much as I did. But how could I be certain?

Just then she walked in the door. I didn't look back, there was no need. I recognized her laugh. Paige asked everyone to sit and she began class. My thoughts and doubts kept distracting me and Paige had to speak to me on several occasions. Maybe today wasn't the best day for a kiss. No, it was simply my nerves, nothing more. I was going to go on as planned. I remained after to apologize to Paige and I noticed Bridget also remained.
"Go on, Neville, I'll catch up, I need to talk to Paige," she told her friend with a smile and she took her time packing up her things.
As I walked away from Paige my shoulder bumped into Bridget's. For a second we stood there staring into each others eyes. Her eyes were beautiful, a crystal blue I had never seen eyes like that before in my life.
"Sorry," I said as I looked away. My mind went blank. My plan was lost. I hurried out the door and leaned against the wall outside. I can't believe I froze.

I sighed and walked out of the classroom. Potions class was next and I had promised Harry that I would meet him outside of the class. Sure enough he was leaning against the wall. He straightened up when he saw me. I took a deep breath and put a false smile on my face. This was my fate. Nothing was going to happen with Draco. It was another disappointment in my already disappointing life. I smiled and walked up to him.

"How was theatre?" he asked with a small smile playing at his lips.

I smiled and blushed as I looked away, "Totally boring without you." Just then Draco walked by. I prayed to God that he didn't hear me, but something in my heart told me that he did. Harry took my hand and we walked into the classroom. I looked over at my sister and she seemed to be pleased that Harry and I were together.

"Sit with me?" Harry asked as he kissed me softly on the forehead.

"Of course!" I smiled and took a seat, then looked at him expectantly. He sat next to me. I couldn't help but look over at Draco. He looked as though his world had been torn in two. What was I doing? I asked myself, I don't like Harry. I'm in love with Draco. I suddenly was ashamed with myself.

"Boring without you." Those words rang through my head all day and into the night. I suppose it was a good thing my plan fell through. My cousin had always told me things happen for a reason and I guess this was why I froze. All of my doubts were true and Potter was the one she wanted to be with. That was it; I needed to forget about this girl. She's not worth my time if she'd rather be with an idiot like Potter.

I tossed and turned all night. Why am I letting Potter stop me from getting what I want? I thought to myself. Well, she seemed happy with Potter and I wouldn't want to take that away from her. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens...

When I walked into the Great Hall the next morning I casually looked around the room and spotted Bridget sitting quite close to Potter and looking as happy as she had the day before. She seemed to be flirting with him much more than usual, her hand was on his arm and they were both laughing. I couldn't help but scowl. I sat at my table between Crabbe and Pansy and began eating a piece of toast, my mind still on Bridget.