All credits to others... thanks for your comments!

The next day, I walked down to the pitch with Vivian and we watched Raven and Erik play the Slytherin team. Both were Ravenclaws, though Raven played Chaser and Erik Keeper.

"They've got a good looking team." I muttered to Vivian, who laughed and nodded as Erik made a spectacular catch. He passed it forward, to a Ravenclaw player who was almost hit by a bludger. Raven flew forward and hit it out of the way, drawing cheers from the crowd. I clapped and turned to look at Vivian. We were giddy in this insight of love that had come upon us.

As soon as the game was over (Snitch caught by Ravenclaw) and the Ravenclaw players mobbed, we rushed down the stands to meet the players. Erik grabbed Vivian by the waist and kissed her hard on the lips. A loud cheer came from the crowd around us, though I noticed Professor Sotheby watching disdainfully. I turned around to look at Raven, and he took me by the hand.

"Shall we walk?" He muttered smoothly into my ear.

I nodded, "where?"

He grinned, "somewhere."

For a moment I was reminded of Teddy and how the rain-pond didn't freeze over. The lake here was frozen, so I paused. He had said somewhere too, but it was unfair to compare them. Teddy was a different breed, so evangelically perplexing, while Raven was just mysterious. They were similar in some ways though, exceedingly handsome, scornful, adventurous, dark. These were my kind of men.

"Are you okay?" Raven wanted to know, a frown crossing his face.

I nodded, and smiled as he led me down toward the lake. I didn't look back, but were I to, I would've seen the last person I expected watching my back.

We walked around the lake slowly, completely alone.

"Did you like the game?" He asked.

"It was wonderful. You won!"

"I had noticed."

I shoved him playfully. "Why are we walking?"

"So that we can talk. And I can explain some things."

"For example?"

"Me. This day. Love. Would you like me to elaborate?"

"On the first one, please." I smiled.

"Well, I was born in London, and came here as a First year. I've been here since. I joined the Quidditch team during my third year. I'm in my sixth now."

"Me too."

We were silent for a long while, just the sounds of our feet crunching on the wet ground. It was a beautiful day in early spring; just before it got warm.

"So explain to me why you wanted to talk today?" I asked him.

"Well, in light of my obvious victory, I wanted to get another one. You are quite attractive, Victoire."

I scoffed, and he took me by the shoulders. "I'm not joking though." It was quiet.

And then, without thinking about it, I leaned forward and met his parted lips with my own. I had kissed boys before, but this was different. He pulled me in, daunting with little jabs of his chin. He was wonderful. I leaned into him, feeling his warmth through his robes. His hair touched my forehead and I brushed it aside with my hand, looking into his dark eyes. Finally, we stopped and he touched his hand to my face.

"Do you believe me now?" He asked quietly.

I nodded.

After this we started going everywhere together. It wasn't like any other boyfriend I had had. We fought viciously, screaming and didn't speak, then made up and were together again. I hated him more than anyone, but I loved him too.

At the end of that year, I realized with a start, that Teddy was leaving. He wanted to become an Auror, and would make it too. I started looking at him again. He was so different. I still loved him. Was it possible to love Teddy and Raven? I made it possible.

And then, Teddy approached me one of the last days of school when I was sitting in the common room.

"Hey. So you and Raven, huh?"

I nodded, my voice choking.

"I'm leaving now." His voice made a strange noise. I told myself. This was not Teddy Lupin. This was not Teddy Lupin. "And I just wanted to tell you…"

No.

"And I know this is out of the blue, but…I live in the blue." He chuckled

No.

"Because I'm leaving I had to tell you…"

No.

"...That I love you…"

It was no use. I loved Raven, didn't I?

I loved Raven.

I loved Raven.

Teddy saw something on my face, because he nodded painfully and turned to walk away. Only then did I notice something. I took in his appearance, and remembered very suddenly a drawing I had done such a long time ago. A cartoon; with dark hair and blue eyes. That was Teddy.

He had taken it.

He loved me.