Corrine came back down soon after Oliver's conversation with Emily. In other words, he had very little time to contemplate what his final decision was to be. In some odd way, he wished that Corrine had heard what Emily said to him. It certainly would have saved him a very awkward conversation and a lot of explaining. Well, it would have saved him from a bit of explanation. He didn't want to cause her any pain but he was selfish and he knew it. He was in pain himself and to keep this from her for any longer would only scramble his mind further.

"Hey Oliver, what's wrong?" she asked. He was instantly snapped back into reality and could his feel his heartbeat race at the upcoming conversation he had prepared in his mind. He had set himself up for this and was determined to say it, even if it meant spitting the truth out.

"I need to tell you something Corrine," he said, sweating out of his shirt.

"Okay," she replied, taking a seat on the kitchen chair. He cleared his throat loudly before continuing. Her eyes became wider with every second she waited which made him more nervous than ever.

"Well, I… uh. I'm not going to beat around the bush with this, so, here it goes. Corrine, I l-."

"Corrine! Oliver! Get back into the living room! We need to take photos! Come on now!" Oliver had never been more upset about his mother's timing ever before. Corrine shot out of her chair cheerily and grabbed hold of Oliver's arm, dragging him along. "Alright, you two stand right there, next to Emily now. Conner! You stop pulling your cousin's hair this instant! Everybody smile and look at the camera!" A chorused "cheese" was sung and a bright light followed, snapping a photo. "Alright now Corrine, Oliver, over hear. Right, stand right in front of the fireplace. Perfect. Oliver, put your arm around her waist. Perfect! Alright, "cheese"!" Oliver was almost certain his face was bright red by the time his mother had taken the photo. Even though this wasn't exactly the closest he had ever been to her, it was the most intimate thing. Corrine didn't seem to mind however, which brought him to wonder if she had permanently classified him as a friend. What if telling her truly did ruin their friendship? It was possibly best if he didn't say anything.

"So, what were you saying?" Corrine asked, turning back to Oliver with curious eyes. Oliver suddenly became hyper aware of the fact that his arm was still wrapped around her waist and retracted from her quickly. His eyes shot up to the ceiling and he could feel a light rush of blood in his ears.

"Uh, nothing. It was nothing," he stuttered.

"Are you sure?" She leaned closer to him. He was almost entirely certain that she wasn't aware of what she was doing.

"Yea, very sure," don't worry about it.

"As long as you're sure!"

o

Corrine had slipped from Oliver's grasp the minute she laid eyes on George on the Hogwarts express. He wasn't sure what to do about letting her go and he was hell as certain confused when she decided to bring George to sit with him and his friends. Why on earth would she bring her boyfriend? It was possible that she truly was ignorant after all.

"Hello Wood," George greeted.

"Weasley," Oliver replied.

"Come on! We have to find a compartment or we'll get stuck sharing!" Corrine shouted. She really had learned quite a bit from her first day if this was her behavior now. Oliver remembered how confused he was on his first day on the Hogwarts express and he imagined that for her, it must have been much worse.

"You sure Fred's okay with you leaving him for the ride back?" Oliver asked, trying to make polite conversation with George while he hinted for him to leave. He didn't take the hint.

"Nah, he'll be fine. We've seen each other all break. Besides, gives him the opportunity to 'work his moves' on Angelina. The poor girl." Oliver chuckled humorlessly.

"Found one," Corrine announced, sliding a door open to reveal an empty compartment. The three of them rushed in. Oliver hoped the others would arrive soon enough. Just as Corrine had taken her seat next to George, the door slammed open to the side to reveal Katie Bell.

"There you are Corrine! Come on! You've got to get over to our compartment! Alicia's got a bit of gossip you'd LOVE to hear!" It didn't take much to get Corrine to jump out of her seat and rush to Katie's compartment which left the boys alone.

"So," Oliver began awkwardly, "what did your family do over the Christmas?"

"I take it you didn't tell her yet?" George asked immediately.

"Tell her what?" Oliver replied. He had a feeling he knew exactly what George was talking about but he didn't want to bring it up himself.

"That you like her."

"No. No I didn't."

"You really should."

"Why are you encouraging me? You're going to lose your girlfriend."

"I told you, I want her to be happy. Even if it means she isn't with me."

"You're being stupid."

"No I'm not. You're my mate before she was my girlfriend. You come first you numpty."

"And what if she ends up rejecting both of us?"

"Then she'll be happy without the both of us."

"And what if she gets troubled by the fact that I like her? Wouldn't that make her unhappy?" George's eyes diverted and he took a deep sigh before responding. George sat in his seat and contemplated the fact for a moment.

"Possibly but I really would rather that she know the whole truth around her. You're supposed to be her best mate. You have to talk to her. For all you know she really may like you. She talks about you a lot."

"But like you said, I am her best mate. Of course she would talk about me most."

"But she has Katie, Alicia, Angelina and Fred now."

"Best mate."

"You can keep saying that all you want Oliver and you could probably convince the both of us that it's just that. But for now, I don't think so. She's passionate when she talks about you. And as much as this bothers me, and it really bothers me mate, I think she's still confused. She did spend the Christmas holidays with you, you numpty."

"If you haven't heard, I'm about as stubborn as a mule. I'm not telling her."

"Fine." As if on cue, the door slid open to a smiling Corrine. "Hey Corry," George greeted.

"Hey Georgie!" Corrine replied, bouncing into her seat next to her boyfriend. Oliver's shoulders slumped in disappointment. He could only handle so much of this. "Oliver," Corrine called out. His head jerked upwards at the sound of his name. He must have seemed so pathetic. "When is our first practice back?"

"Oh, uh, Wednesday."

"Great! That gives me two days to relax and catch up!"

"Catch up on what love?" George asked.

"Well, you for one," she replied, winking in his direction, "and all the homework I forgot to do."

"Hah, I told you to do that a week ago!" Oliver cried, trying to laugh away the awkwardness that their public display of affection caused.

"Well, I happened to be enjoying myself too much to be bothered with it!" she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him. He noticed that George was practically glaring at him as he protectively wrapped his arm around Corrine's shoulder. "Emily was absolutely adorable! You should have seen her George! You would have loved her!"

"Sorry I missed it!" Oliver wondered if Corrine could hear the smallest bit of irritation in George's tone. He certainly did. He rose.

"I think I'm going to go and have a chat with Harry. I'll see you later then."

"Oh, alright. Bye Oliver!" Corrine said, waving her arm frantically.

"Bye," he chuckled.

o

Oliver was not okay with this. As much as he hated himself for his "chivalry", it was eating at him. A large part of him wanted desperately to tell Corrine and somehow move forward with his life, suffering the consequences. A small part of him told him not to. So how was it that the smaller portion of his mind was winning? It may have been because that small portion was attached to his conscience and morals. His needs were irrelevant. Unknowingly, he slipped into a depression that was nearly untraceable. His life had already been led in such a routinely manner that a monotonous behavior was far from abnormal. Only a few people seemed to notice.

"Oliver, is something wrong?" Alicia asked after a late Quidditch practice, "You seem quiet. And you completely overlooked the fact that Fred nearly hit you in the head with a bludger. It looks like, you're not into the game anymore." A handful of people in the room heard her and gasped. Corrine was among the group.

"Oh my gosh Oliver! Is it true?" she asked. He didn't bother answering her. He know that, if he looked at her now, he would be seen obviously blushing. She would still be in her Quidditch uniform and he knew that she always looked cute in the oversized thing. It would simply be impossible to keep his composure.

"He probably just needs a bit of shut eye eh Wood?" Fred called from the back of the room.

"Yea, that's it. I'm just tired. It's been hard, what with the extra practices and graduating and what not." He could hear Corrine sigh in relief.

"Oh. That's good. In that case, Hurry up and go to bed!" The team snickered as she gave out her commands to her Quidditch captain. She must have looked adorably foolish for the lot to laugh. He wished he could see her.

"Yea, I'll get right on that." He left hurriedly. He really was getting out of the game. It was almost as if he wasn't interested anymore. And he really wasn't. His mind was preoccupied with his frustrations over Corrine. Oliver mentally punished himself for having displayed his emotions. This really wasn't the time. A Slytherin game was nearing and he couldn't afford to throw the team off with his depression. He certainly couldn't allow Corrine to find out his true feelings for her either.

"George, do you think Oliver is going to be okay? I mean, he looked pretty awful earlier." George had waited for Corrine to finish in the changing room, allowing him the opportunity to walk her back to the common room.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. He just a bit of time to set out his priorities," George replied, removing his arm from her shoulder. He would have to do it soon. And quickly. Like pulling off a band-aid.

"I hope he'll be okay. It really isn't healthy for him to be so upset. Do you remember our first Quidditch match? When he downright drowned himself in the showers? That was awful. I don't want him to be doing that again George. I want him to be happy."

"Corry, are you happy?" George interrupted immediately, finding a perfect opening for himself.

"What do you mean George?" They had stopped walking and were standing in the middle of an empty hall. Her eyes seemed to be darkening, as if she were almost completely aware of what was to come.

"Are you happy with me?" he repeated, emphasizing the topic of their relationship.

"Of course George! Why wouldn't I be? You're absolutely wonderful!"

"But not as wonderful as Wood."

"Is this what this is about?" Her eyes brightened again; a bubble of hope forming within her. "You're jealous of Oliver? You have nothing to be jealous about George. I adore you!"

"You think you adore me. But you actually fancy Wood. Don't kid yourself Corry. I know. And I know you aren't doing this on purpose."

"What are you talking about? I do not fancy Oliver! He's my best friend!"

"You certainly don't talk about him like he's your best friend. You talk about him as if he were a bloke you fancy."

"George, are you leaving me?"

"I would never leave you Corry. Remember what I said when I first confessed to you? I'll always be there for you. I want you to be happy always. Even if it means that we aren't together. I'm not leaving you. I'm breaking up with you." Tears began to form in Corrine's eyes as she felt her chest throb painfully. "Think about it Corrine." That was the first time he had ever used her full name. She didn't know what to make of it. "I can see the way you look at him. It's different. You just need to accept it. I'll never leave you, but we can't go out anymore. I want you to be happy. I know you said you're happy with me now, but you're happier with him. You trust him more and you care for him more." He took a step forward to hold her to his chest as she cried. He could feel the pain inside of him as well, and knew that he kick himself for this later on. Corrine meant so much to him. She needed more than him. She needed Wood.

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update but I hope you liked it! Thanks to Poetically Lyrical Cheyenne and LoopyLizzie for the reviews on my last chapter. I know this chapter is a bit short but a lot of stuff happens and I ended up relying on speech to tell my story. Lots of mental mind fuckery here. Thanks for reading and remember, it's not too difficult to click that little review button just below! I give shoutouts to all my positive reviewers (not that I've received negative ones yet, thankfully). Thanks again and I'll see you next chapter!

-Sydney

P.S. I just found out that NONE of my page breaks have been working so I added this Snitch looking ones Hope this worked.