Authors Note: Hey everyone!

Important note I want to make, a reviewer has brought to my attention that everyone's age in this story isn't really adding up to their actions and feelings. And I should have made this clear way back in Chapter one, so that's my fault and I apologize. This story isn't being 100% faithful to Harry Potter mythology. I made the mistake of forgetting that first years in Hogwarts are 11 years old and I had it in my head, for whatever reason, that first years started at 13 years old. So on top of that mistake, I bumped it a year older, so my story technically started out with Octavia and friends being 14 years old (first year), and Bellamy and friends being 15 years old (second year). So right now, in Chapter 4, Octavia and co. are 16 years old (their third year) and Bellamy and co. are 17 years old (their fourth year).

I'm sorry, that's confusing, and I should have said something about it at this point. So I hope that this clears everything up and sorry again!

That Monty was dating Miller, and that Bellamy was dating Echo, was all the group could talk about for like, ever.

They wanted to know everything. Every detail. Every pet name, fight, quirk, inside joke, secret make outs pots, and even favorite colors. At first, it was endearing. Then it got a little repetitive. And then it got real annoying, real quick. And the bastards knew it, and were doing it on purpose. They saw it as some kind of punishment for keeping the relationships a secret from them to being with. Raven took particular delight in announcing, as loud as she could and no matter what room they were in (and that included in the middle of class), every time some form of PDA was displayed. Even prolonged eye contact was not safe from her shrill voice.

Bellamy was lucky, in that respect, since Echo didn't hang around with them as much as Monty and Miller did. But even Bellamy could admit it was pretty amusing to see the two of them blush red like tomatoes.

But it was not so amusing when he was the target of his friend's amusement. Echo was no Lexa and had no qualms against hanging out with their group of friends. She actually fit in pretty well. Potions wasn't Echo's forte but she knew about it more than the average student and that was enough to impress Raven and Wick. And she wasn't that much of a talker, earning her some favoritism from Miller. Then there was her dry wit and naturally sarcastic (but not offensive) nature that got her on Octavia's good side. Jasper couldn't stop begging her for some Quidditch tips (she was one of the best players on Slytherin) and Wells and her found some kinship in their shared interest in politics. She was a good sport with all their teasing and could even dish it back, so honestly it was no problem at all for Echo to find a comfortable spot in Bellamy's life.

Things were good. Normal.

Of course it wasn't meant to last.

Bellamy couldn't exactly pin down why he thought things would inevitably go south, but he knew, every time his eyes met Clarke Griffin's, that something was looming in the distance. Now that Lexa was a thing of the past, and Clarke had apologized more than once for her behavior, she had taken her normal position in the group. Which was, basically, the mother hen to their band of misfits. And also the mother hen to Bellamy's grumpy father figure (as Raven liked to tease). And also, to his surprise, back to being his best friend.

It was as if the conversation they had in the Weeping Willow, what they had almost admitted to each other, never happened. Gone and forgotten just like Lexa. Bellamy often wondered, more than once, if he had imagined the whole thing to begin with.

But it was times when Clarke was quiet and looking at him with such a thoughtful gaze, that he would know, without a doubt, the conversation had certainly happened. Because in those moments when their eyes met, everyone else—absolutely everyone else—faded from existence.

Even Echo.

It would last for only a few seconds but to Bellamy, it was like an hour. And the moment it ended, because it had to end, guilt would claw viciously at him. He had a girlfriend. It was wrong. It didn't matter if they were just looking at each other because Echo should be the only person Bellamy looked at that way.

So he tried to go back to normal too. He went back to studying with Clarke, Quidditch practice with Clarke, hanging out with Clarke. And when they weren't looking at each other so inappropriately, it was fine. More than fine. They were friends again, and neither of them realized how much they missed that friendship until they got it back again.

So for the sake of the friendship, and Echo, Bellamy chose to live in blissful ignorance of any underlying tension between him and Clarke. And she, apparently, was willing to do the same.

So of course something had to go wrong sometime. It was just a matter of when.

"Like this," Echo called out before doing a complete 360 on her broom. It was she doing the 360, not the broom. She twirled around the piece of wood mid air, trying to show Bellamy how to catch a quaffle if it was thrown underneath him.

Though impressed, Bellamy gruffly stated, "I'm not doing that"

"Oh come on!" Echo laughed. "It's a badass move!"

"I'm not denying it. But I weigh more than you, so gravity isn't that kind."

She rolled her eyes and brought her broom next to him. "Chicken shit"

Bellamy grinned at her. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me!"

And just before they started a game of playful midair tag that would undoubtedly end with one of the pouncing on the other, and then other things, a voice called up to them.

"Hey guys!"

Clarke was walking on the field with a smile on her face, waving enthusiastically at them. Behind her was Murphy, definitely not as ecstatic to see them.

Bellamy flew down to meet them, and missed the way Echo's smile dropped before she followed after him.

"O told us you were practicing out here so we thought we'd join." Clarke explained and began to mount her broom. "Want to be at our best for Ravenclaw this week, right Echo?"

Echo smiled, more forced. "Right" She replied curtly, and remained hovering some feet above the ground. "But I thought I'd teach Bellamy some moves for his game against Hufflepuff."

"Not much hope there," Murphy snarked. "Besides, the only real threat that team poses is Collins. Doesn't matter how many quaffles you get past your buddy Jordan, Collins always manages to get that snitch."

"Not against me," Clarke pointed out. "And he isn't that invincible."

"She's right," Bellamy agreed. "Collins gets cocky and that's when he slips up. Clarke, I can practice some snitch exercises with you if you want."

Echo's eyes narrowed. "Bellamy-"

"Echo I'm sure you'll have a more productive day with Murphy than me. You can go over some Slytherin strategies you don't want a Gryffindor like myself privy to."

Murphy scoffed and took off into the air. "Don't flatter yourself Blake."

"Bellamy," Echo tried again but her boyfriend had already began to follow Clarke towards the other end of the field.

He did hear her though, and turned back to give her a questioning gaze. "Yea babe?"

But she closed her mouth and again gave another fake smile, shaking her head and promising to see him later.

But she didn't. She and Murphy finished practicing much earlier than he and Clarke, and Echo hadn't bothered to wait around for him.

Raven had her nose buried deep in a Muggle Studies book and didn't look up when she said, "It's Wick's birthday next week."

Bellamy felt Octavia subtly nudge at his side and suppressed his own smile. He dared a glance at Raven, and saw she was still deeply focused in her studies. Perhaps a little too focused. He then looked over to Clarke, who was also battling at keeping her face in check.

Raven and Wick had been "not dating" ever since their first "not date" at Madame Puddifoot's Tea Shop. Perhaps Raven's insistent teasing of Bellamy and Echo and Monty and Miller had also been a attempt to divert attention away from her own blossoming relationship. Not that she veer dared call it a relationship. If you asked her, she and Wick were just hanging out. Of course, if you asked Wick, the answer was the exact opposite.

So that she was showing some interest in his birthday, perhaps maybe like a girlfriend would, was something the rest of them were not going to let go unnoticed.

"Any plans?" Octavia inquired innocently.

"Nope," Raven replied quickly, a little too quickly.

"Any plans to make plans?" Clarke cut in.

Again, Raven simply replied, "Nope."

And that was the end of the conversation.

But it got brought up again, two days later, when Bellamy, Echo, and Wells were attempting to tutor Raven in Muggle Studies.

"I could really care less about their obsession with social media." Raven groaned, slapping her book shut. "Why the hell did I think taking this class would be easy?"

Wells promptly opened the book right up. "It would be easier if you actually attempted to study."

"Besides, this chapter is a lot more interesting to learn compared to other things." Echo piped up. "Trust me, I'm drowning in dates of all the wars they've been in. And Wells is right, your test is Monday, you need to study Raven."

"But I don't have time for this!" Raven exclaimed. "I need to go Hogsmeade this weekend, not study!"

Bellamy rolled his eyes. "I think missing one weekend won't kill you."

"It's not that!" She fell back in her seat and shut her eyes. "Okay, I'm going to say something and if any of you dare to laugh or make some crack I will make sure you suffer dearly for it. Got it? I'm doing something for Wick's birthday, obviously I am. So I was going to go to the stupid Tea Shop and reserve the stupid table that he had our stupid first date at because Wick likes that kind of sappy stupid stuff. But I can't do it if I'm here studying this crap!"

…

Bellamy couldn't help it, he laughed.

"You're dead Blake," Raven growled.

"Oh come on," Bellamy breathed. "If I had just rambled out what you just said, you would be all over me."

"It is okay to show emotion Raven," Wells grinned. "No one is going to hold it against you."

"Guys come on! What am I going to do?"

"You're going to study," Bellamy ordered. "And I'll go make your stupid reservation."

"Nu-uh Blake, it's not just the reservation. It's ah, other things too."

"Care to elaborate on that?"

An actually blush painted her cheeks. "No, I don't. Not to you at least. But…." She but her lip as she contemplated something. "Octavia is stuck studying this weekend too, so Clarke. I can tell Clarke. And then the two of you can go do this for me."

"You're so weird," Wells chuckled.

"Whatever it is," Bellamy said. "Just tell us. We'll do it. You just study, got it?"

Later that night, nestled in a secret cove in the library were prefects were sure not check (because maybe tonight it was Monty on duty), Bellamy held Echo to his chest and was content to listen to their breathing match up.

"So, Hogsmeade this weekend huh?" She said into his chest.

He nestled his chin on her head and held her little tighter. "Yup. Even though she professes not to care if I screw up one detail, Raven will have my head on a pike."

"Clarke too?"

"Yup, even though it would be fun to watch those two go at it."

"I don't understand why you both have to go." Echo continued. "If Raven doesn't want to tell you some details, I'm sure Clarke is capable of handling it herself."

"But I know Wick better than Clarke," Bellamy pointed out. "So if anything comes up regarding him, I'd want to be there."

"But what could possibly come up?"

"I don't know Echo, it's just in case."

"But I just don't understand why-"

"They're my friends," Bellamy snapped, not understanding why she was being so difficult about this. "I want to do this for them."

Echo placed her hands on Bellamy's chest and lifted herself up, meeting his narrowed eyes with her own. "I get that Bellamy, I do. But I just don't understand why you and Clarke have to do it. I don't understand why its always you and Clarke."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Don't act stupid. I think you know exactly what I mean."

"Are you accusing me of something?"

Echo growled and rose to her feet. "Maybe. I don't know."

"Echo, come on-"

"I hate this Bellamy. I really friggin hate this. Cause I am not the jealous type. But-you and her, I just-I tried to ignore it. And I think I did a pretty damn well job doing it. But how much am I expected to take?"

"Clarke and I are just friends-"

"Yea, yea, the closest of friends. You do everything together Bellamy, more than you do with me. And I'm your girlfriend."

Bellamy's throat began to tighten with guilt but still he continued on. "Echo, if I've upset you why didn't you just tell me?"

"Because then I'd be the nagging girlfriend, okay? And I do not nag. God Bellamy, do you know how hard it is for me to just grin and bear it when you two have your little study sessions or laugh at some inside joke I'm not aware of? And I'm in Lexa's house if you've forgotten. I know all about what happened with that."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Why she and Clarke broke up. What you had to do with it."

"I had nothing to do with it!" Bellamy growled. "Me and Clarke were barely speaking when that happened."

"And why do you think that is?" Echo countered. "Because Lexa saw what I see between you and Clarke. And now I'm kinda getting why she hates you so much."

"Echo I have never been unfaithful to you-"

"Do you see what this is doing to me?!" She cried, flinging her hands in the air. "I hate that we are having this conversation right now. Absolutely hate it!"

Bellamy strode over to her and grasped her by her shoulders. "Then let's stop talking about it! I'm with you Echo, not Clarke."

"Then don't go this weekend." Echo begged. "I hate that I'm asking you and I hate that I'm making you choose. But Bellamy, if you go this weekend with her I might lose my mind. I-I just can't stand seeing you with her anymore."

A frown tugged at Bellamy's lips as a very dark feeling crept through him. "What are you asking me exactly?"

"Not to stop being friends with her, I'd never ask that. But just…just not be so close to her! Don't hang out with her as much, don't make me feel like the third wheel."

"Echo, I never wanted to make you feel that way."

"But you do Bellamy. All the time. And I can't pretend that it doesn't hurt me anymore."

He should have just agreed. Because she was right. She was so right that Bellamy had no leg to stand on to argue. But something in him couldn't bend to such a request. As he stood there holding Echo, looking into her mournful eyes, all Bellamy wanted to do was make her frown disappear. To kiss her and assure her of his affection. But he stood frozen, unable to form any thoughts or word. A stubborn, selfish—terribly selfish—part of him couldn't bear to think of agreeing to stay away from Clarke Griffin. Under any circumstances.

"Don't you trust me?" He whispered, not exactly saying no to Echo but not saying yes either.

Her bottom lip trembled and she looked down at her feet. "I wish I could say yes Bellamy. I really do. So don't make it hard for me. Make me trust you."

Bellamy's hands dropped from her shoulders. "That's not how that works."

Echo's eyes widened as he took a step back from her. "Bellamy-"

"I would never cheat on you. Ever. And this ultimatum-"

"You're choosing her." Echo whispered. Sad. Quiet. Defeated.

"No…no it's not like that." Bellamy wasn't sure what it was like though. Wasn't he choosing Clarke? By refusing to give into Echo's demand, he wasn't choosing her, right? His heart was pounding with confusion, and it was even worse in his head. He was probably the most wrong in this situation but wasn't Echo wrong for making him choose? How could they have a relationship if she didn't trust him?

But had he truly given her enough reason not to trust him?"

"I'm sorry Echo," Bellamy said quietly. "I'm…I'm really sorry."

She took in a shuddering breath and nodded her head. "Yea, me too."

Bellamy didn't want to talk about the breakup, so he didn't mention it. He'd tell everyone, eventually, and sooner rather than later, but not just now. He could barely wrap his own head around what happened let alone explain it to other people.

So he was quiet, sullen and quiet, but he left with Clarke to Hogsmeade to arrange Raven's plans for Wick.

Octavia had asked if he was alright before he left and even Miller had pointed out his odd behavior. So he wasn't being subtle about it. Which meant Clarke had to notice too. So when she didn't ask about it, or even tried to engage him conversation as they travelled there, Bellamy suspected she might already know about the breakup. She and Echo were in the same house after all. Just because Bellamy wasn't telling people didn't mean Echo was doing the same.

But if she knew, he didn't ask. And if she knew, she didn't ask either. So they were quiet as they went to Hogsmeade, quiet as they reserved Raven's table, and quiet as they went around to the shops to buy a list of specific things Raven had given Clarke. He hadn't even bothered to ask what they were, and waited patiently outside each shop Clarke ventured into alone.

It was a dull trip and by the time everything was said and done, it was already time to go back to the castle. It was dark by then, and Hogwarts offered carriage rides to save students from walking into any unsafe situations.

Bellamy kept his gaze focused outside the window, staring blankly at the dark trees they passed.

"Bellamy," Clarke said quietly. "I think I've been pretty patient all day. But this is getting a little ridiculous."

Bellamy refused to look at her. "And what's that Clarke?"

"I know about you and Echo. And I'm sorry, I'm really sorry about it. But keeping quiet and shutting down like this isn't going to help you."

"And you know what's going to help me?"

"You have friends!" Clarke exclaimed. "We're here for you so you don't have to go through these kinds of things alone."

Bellamy closed his eyes and leant his head against the cool window. "Let me handle it the way I want to handle it Clarke."

"You've barely spoken two words tonight. It's disturbing. And we've spent hours together."

"Well sorry to be a bother."

"You know I don't mean it like that."

"Clarke, drop it now. I'm serious."

He heard her let out a huff but thankfully grow quiet. She remained tight lipped all the way back to the castle, even as they walked inside it. And when they reached the hallway where it was time to split ways, Bellamy decided to throw her a bone.

"I'll be fine Clarke. Just let me handle it my way."

She bit her bottom lip and Bellamy hated himself for starring for a couple seconds.

"I feel bad," She whispered, her gaze darting to the floor. "Because, Echo may have implied-"

"Implied what?" Bellamy asked sharply.

She blew out some air. "Implied that I may have had something to do with the breakup. And I don't how I'm involved but if I did something, anything, I'm sorry for it."

Maybe because he had been holding it all in, that he hadn't properly faced the fact that he and Echo were broken up, and that most of all, because Bellamy still wondered what it would feel like to kiss Clarke Griffin, he snapped.

"Are you sorry? Are you really Clarke? Cause this is feeling a little like déjà vu when you were accusing me of not being sorry for you and Lexa breaking up. And I believe you called bullshit on me so I'm going to call bullshit on you."

Well she hadn't expected for him to say that. Her mouth fell open wordlessly, and she sputtered for some response.

"Didn't you want something between you and me to happen? Isn't that what you wanted back at the Weeping Willow?"

"I didn't want this!" Clarke finally shouted. "I would never do anything to come between you and Echo!"

"And I would never do anything to hurt her so I guess we're both liars."

"Bellamy-"

He shook his head and let out a mirthless laugh. "Who were we kidding Clarke? Seriously, who did we think we were kidding? With you dating Lexa and then me dating Echo. Didn't we stop for a second and think, hey, maybe this isn't a good idea? That by being with them, by not completely being with them, we'd only wind up hurting ourselves and them? That it was doomed to fail to begin with? Who were we kidding?"

Clarke frowned sadly, unable to dispute anything he was saying. Because it was all true.

"Why the hell are we so stubborn?" Bellamy continued. "Why are we still being so stubborn?"

And then he kissed her. Cupped her cheeks roughly with his hands, and pulled her head roughly to his own. It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was teeth and groans, biting and pulling, desperation and anger and the fact that it had taken so long to finally happen.

It could have lasted seconds, or minutes, or hours. Bellamy wasn't aware of anything but Clarke. But somewhere in the back of his head knew this was wrong. It was the wrong time, and place, and the wrong kind of feelings fueling it. And with that in mind, Bellamy pulled back and all but jumped away from Clarke.

Her eyes blinked open and she looked at him with hurt and confusion.

"This can't happen right now," Bellamy said through heaving breathes. "It can't. It's not right."

It looked like it pained her to do so, but Clarke nodded her head in agreement.

"Someday Clarke," Bellamy promised. He wasn't sure when, so he didn't speak any further, but the one promise was enough. It would happen someday, when they were both finally in the right place, time, and feelings, but for now, for now they would have to wait.

So without another word they walked away from each other. Back to their quiet dorm rooms and their empty beds with nothing but thoughts of what could be swirling in their minds.