My cousin Niamh and my bestie Meghan both have honourable mention in this chapter, as they are both obsessed with Draco Malfoy. Meghan, prepare to be utterly embarrassed and hate me for life!! :D (I leave some to the imagination in this chapter!)


Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the three comfiest chairs by the fire in the Gryffindor common room the night after their first day back after Christmas. Hermione was in full on gossip mode, spilling everything she had heard that day.

"You will never guess what Lavender Brown just told me!!" she announced proudly.

"What?" Harry asked, not really listening. He was thinking about Luna. She had been avoiding him since they had got back. In fact, the last time they spoke was at Slughorn's party.

" Lavender heard it from Parvati who heard it from her twin, Padma in Ravenclaw who heard it from a friend in Slytherin who heard it in their common room."

"What is it?!" demanded Ron.

"Malfoy's gone and got himself another girlfriend!" she declared.

That got Harry listening.

"I thought he was going out with that Ravenclaw chick, what's her name, Niamh something," said Ron.

"He was, and still is. His two timing her for that b**** of a Slytherin, Meghan Colvin" she said.

"Oh, god! Her! Every lad in Hogwarts has been chatting her up since day one!" said an astonished Ron. "How'd he pull her?!"

"That's nothing! You'll never guess what Pansy Parkinson says they've been up to behind poor Niamh's back! Apparently….." Hermione looked around to see if anyone was listening and continued in a whisper.

Ron and Harry both looked halfway between amusement and revulsion. Hermione giggled.

Just then, Neville burst into the common room, his face livid. He glared around, spotted Harry and stormed over. They had never seen Neville look so mad. Ever.

"You b**t**d!!" he spat at Harry, yanking him out his chair and onto his feet. "I've just been to see Luna. I have finally plucked up the courage to ask her out and you'll never guess what she just said!! YOU KNEW HOW I FELT ABOUT HER!! AND YOU WENT AND F***ING SNOGED HER AT SLUGHORN'S PARTY!!"

Hermione's eyes glinted with excitement. This was exactly the reason Harry didn't tell Hermione secrets, she was the biggest gossip in the whole history of Hogwarts.

"N...Neville! I can explain!" Harry stammered, terrified of Neville's rage. He obviously liked Luna a lot.

But Neville didn't listen. He punched Harry straight in the face. And Harry punched him back. He didn't know what was happening, he had always like Neville, but he knew he had to fight for his girl.

"Stupid Hermione…" muttered Harry. It was the next day and already everybody in the school knew that Neville Longbottom had beaten Harry Potter in a fight. It was the most embarrassing thing Harry had ever had to live through. People shrieked with laughter when they saw him in corridors. And Neville was being treated like a hero.

And worst of all, Luna had come to see him that morning.

"Harry," she started, uncomfortably. "I think we would be better off as friends. Or maybe not even that."

Harry's heart faltered. "Why not?" he said, his voice begging her to change her mind in every syllable.

"Umm… well… because…. well because you're a wimp." She said in a rush.

That's what he had expected but Harry still nearly broke down in tears. That would be all I need, he thought to himself, crying in front of her, while trying to prove I'm not a wimp. When he was able to control his voice he said, "Please Luna!!"

"Being beaten up by Neville though," she said. "I'll be laughed at rotten, even more than usual, if I go out with the boy that got beaten up by Neville Longbottom." She admitted sadly. "And plus, he's really cute!"

And then she walked away, hand in hand with Neville who was standing waiting for her a little along the corridor. He did not meet Harry's eye.