We all stopped whatever we were doing, which was basically, eating, except for I, who was lost in my own thoughts. Nothing unusual.

Anyway, so we all turned to look at Betty, who was still staring at the piece of paper. It was hard to read her expressions. We all waited for Betty to break the ice, and let us know what was the whole deal about, but she kept reading and re-reading whatever it was for a long time and when she finally looked up, all three of us- Ken, Will and I had tired look on our faces.

"Oh tell it already!" I finally said, exasperated.

She turned the letter so that it faced Will and me. Words were scribbled untidily and there were drawings all over the page, but what really caught my attention was the drawing of a heart-shaped snitch with wings. It flew all over the page and it took me greater concentration to realize that there was something written inside the heart. Will and I seemed to focus on the same thing and both of us peered harder, and finally caught the words - SEEK ME.

Will and I looked at each other. We both knew what that note meant. Within a second, we burst into fits of uncontrollable laughter.

"Guys! This isnt funny!" Betty complained, but neither of us could care less. My stomach hurt and my eyes had turned watery from laughing so much but I couldnt stop. Neither could Will. He too had clutched his stomach and was laughing hard, occasionally even thumping the table. Ken looked utterly confused, since he had no knowledge of the letter or the reason for our hysteria.

"Baby, what is the problem? Why are they laughing so much?"

"Its nothing Ken. Joblessness has finally taken its toll on them."

After a good amount of time, I stopped laughing. Not because I wanted to, but because I was out of breath. Will, however, didnt bother to stop. Every few seconds he would go "Okay I'm sorry, no more" and the next moment he would flip again! After a while, he stopped too. His face had turned red and I assumed mine had too.

"You two, are goons!" Betty wasnt pleased with our reaction.

"And you, have a stalker." Will teased.

"Oh shut up, Will! That's nonsense. David is anything but a stalker."

Now it dawned to Ken. David Stainwright who happened to be the Ravenclaw Seeker, had a huge crush on Betty, since the second year of Hogwarts. He had tried innumerable times to impress her and when he was chosen as the Seeker, he had got all the attention from the girls but, Betty. Almost the whole school knew about David's infatuation, and Ken was no exception. And although Betty kept reminding him that she was never interested in David, Ken couldnt help feel insecure, and I didnt blame him. David did look handsome, what with the golden blonde hair and blue eyes, he could easily charm his way to your heart. All the girls were mad about him, but the one girl he really wanted to go out with, was least bothered.

The latest stunt he had pulled up was the fourth this month. Betty had received similar "anonymous" letters from him and though initially he had denied, it was him, once Betty caught him dropping one of his letters inside her bag, when she wasnt looking. And after a lot of confrontation, he finally admitted to it and also promised that he wouldnt stop until Betty agreed for one date. Betty was firm about her decision and she wasnt one to cave.

"That's it. I should talk to that boy. He cant keep bothering you like this." Ken almost got up to leave when Betty pulled him back.

"Kenny! Calm down! Look, he's a jackass! He'll stop when he gets the hint! They all do." That was true. David wasnt the only guy from Hogwarts who had been crushing on Betty. Betty was pretty popular not only among her batch-mates, but also otherwise. She had beautiful flowing strawberry blonde hair and a face, I considered flawless. With looks, she had the boon of a brain. She was smart and she aced in all her classes. There was nothing, not to like about her. But all the guys who had chased her in the past had eventually stopped, when they got that Betty wasnt interested. But David hadnt stopped in three years.

"I don't think he will ever get a hint, Bets." I pointed at the heart-shaped snitch, "Do you see that? He wants you to seek his heart!"

"Good Lord! Could this guy get any creepy? My appetite's gone. I'm out of here!"

"Betty, wait! Its ok-" I started but she was already up and ready to leave. She looked at Ken in a way which probably meant, 'Come with me' because he too got up and left along with her.

" 'Why don't you understand, love? My heart beats for you. You are the one, I know you are. I could give you so much luxury..." I turned to see that, Will was quoting the letter in his most dramatic voice. He was acting out, his voice changing its pitch with every word. He was pretty good, because I could feel another round of laughter building inside of me.

"...I could give you diamonds and flowers." He held my hand and with the cheesiest look I had ever seen on anyone, he went, "A house full of Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans, if that's what you want, darling..."

"Hahaha! Will, stop." But he didn't.

"... and I could fight ten dragons for you, all at once." Will stuck out his fork in the air and swirled, pretending to fight a non-existent dragon. And then he held my hand, "And we could fly away to a far off land, on my broom, and live there, just the two of us. But all I ask for now, is one date."

"WILL. STOP." I clutched my stomach as I gasped for air. I was laughing so hard that I couldnt breathe. He stopped reading and joined me. We laughed for quite sometime and for those few moments all the memories of the day seemed to fade away. All I cared about was that my friend, one the closest people in my life, was right next to me and we were laughing heartily. Like old times.


Tom's POV

From across the hall, I could see her laughing. She seemed happy. That guy, William, was reading out to her something that she found extremely funny, apparently. Something stung inside me. I didnt understand the feeling. It was probably the way, he was looking at her, the way he held her hand, the close proximity between them. I wanted to tear them apart and I didn't know why. I hadn't felt such surge of emotions for a long time, and I wanted to get rid of it. But the more I looked at them, the stronger did those urges get.

"Oww! Watch it, Tom!" Avery exclaimed.

I hadn't realized I had dug my fingers deep into his palms and now his hands were turning red. I withdrew my hand instantly.

"You squeal like a girl. Use some moisturizer for that." I mocked.

I turned back to look at her. There she still sat, smiling and talking to the same guy. And somewhere, somewhere in the deep down corner of my mind, I couldn't help wishing that it was me sitting there instead of that guy.


A/N : I have been getting some great responses from you people. Please keep reading and reviewing! :) Enjoy!