A/N: Hey guys! I know it's been ages but I've been extremely busy with school, work, etc as of late! Please forgive me :-) Anyway, here you go!

Rachel didn't like to admit it, but Noah Puckerman certainly was easy on the eyes. She'd decided this a long time ago, so she didn't really understand her aversion to the truth.

They were walking through Hogsmeade in search of a bookstore because Rachel had persisted that they needed to catch up on their assignment before school returned - which happened in a weeks time.

"I really don't see the point in this," Puck drawled, shoving his hands into his pockets and pouting at the floor like a grumpy toddler, "Its Muggle studies. Why can't we just make shit up?"

Rachel shook her head, her long ponytail swishing from side to side. "If Amy's going to raise that baby whilst in Law school, we're going to need hard facts."

He groaned. "Amy isn't real."

She laughed as she looked up and back at him. He shrugged, giving her a look of indifference. "Of course she isn't real. But she's our assignment. She's going to get an A for life, and we're going to get one for our grade!"

They entered a nearby bookstore. An old wizard stood behind the counter, dozing off. Rachel giggled at him. Puck raised his eyebrows. Slowly, they searched through the 'Muggle' section of the store. Of course, it wasn't filled with books that Muggles would actually read. The books were extremely childish, written for young witches and wizards who were learning about the strange people.

Rachel sifted through the books, slowly becoming more and more agitated. This was the third – and final – bookstore in Hogsmeade. And nothing had been of use to them.

"You could always ask Madam Pince if there's anything in the library," Puck offered.

She shook her head as she pushed the last book back onto the shelf. "No. I already did that this morning."

They left the shop, unsure of where to go next. "Do you want to go back to school yet?" Rachel asked, wondering if he hated being seen in public with her. He probably did.

"Nah, we should hang around a bit," he said, looking at the signs of the shops nearby. Rachel nearly smiled. But she'd stopped herself just in time.

Or so she thought.

"What you looking so fucking goofy for?"

"Nothing," she said quickly.

Puck let it go. He was tired and he'd spent a good hour looking in book stores. He didn't want to argue with anybody, even jokingly with a friend. "Wanna go to Honeydukes?"

Rachel's stomach crawled. "I don't know if I should, after what happened last time," she whispered, remembering waking up with chocolate all over her face.

"Aw, come on. It's been like… two months since then. You can eat something bad for you; it's not going to affect anything."

She shrugged. "Alright, but I probably won't buy anything."

Honeydukes rose up out of the distance. They made their way through its lavish doors and were welcomed with the smell of candy. "Food, glorious food," Puck muttered, staring at its sheer beauty, "The Puckzilla approves."

They exited after ten minutes. Rachel had a Chocolate Frog in hand, and Puck a Blood-flavoured Lollipop. She'd been disgusted and confused as to why he'd chosen such a thing. "Just wanted to try it, babe," he'd smirked.

Puck un-wrapped the stupid candy and placed it in his mouth, only to quickly spit it out into the snow. He spluttered and Rachel chuckled. "Don't laugh at me!" He exclaimed, and she laughed again, "That was disgusting. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!"

Rachel smiled, "And who is your worst enemy?"

Puck paused in thought, his face still vaguely sour-looking. "Karofsky," he finally decided. Rachel scoffed. She'd never seen them bother one another too badly.

"David? He's harmless," she said before biting into her chocolate frog, "And a Prefect. He can't do anything to anyone without being revoked of his badge."

"I ain't scared o' him, Rach," Puck rolled his eyes, spitting again. Rachel tried to hide her disgust. "He's just Slytherin Quidditch captain. It makes sense to hate him."

"Oh, so you feel inferior?"

"No!" He spat, laughing, "Gryffindor are gonna win this year, just you watch."

Rachel watched him laugh. He was handsome, but not as refined as Jesse. He was more… masculine. Her eyes roamed his face as she asked her next question, "So… is that what you're doing? Sitting on your broom at the pitch everyday?"

He looked down. "What do you mean?"

"You know I watch… you even smile at me sometimes. Are you making game plans?"

Slowly, he nodded, "Something like that."

"Sometimes I like to make game plans," she admitted, grinning.

"Oh, yeah? Of what?"

"Well, when I go to Broadway-"

She paused, hoping that he hadn't caught on. She didn't need another wizard telling her that she had stupid ambitions. She'd keep her 'stupid' dreams to herself if it meant that she didn't have to defend them constantly.

"Yeah?" Puck prompted, apparently un-fazed by her words.

"You- you might think I'm silly," she murmured, swallowing her nerves, "But I want to go to New York to go to Muggle college. I want to be a Broadway actress."

"That's cool; I guess," he replied, "My uncle lives there. He's got a job at a theatre kinda thing."

She instantly brightened. "What does he do?"

"He does the lights and effects," he said carelessly before he looked down at her, "So, like Broadway musicals or plays?"

"Musicals," she sighed dreamily, "As soon as I finish college I'll begin my career. First, something small. Then, perhaps, Sarah in Guys and Dolls. Her range is far easier for me that Miss Adelaide's. Then, maybe Maria from West Side Story... Elphaba in Wicked. Oh, and of course I couldn't forget Eponine-"

"Yeah, not that I don't care, Rach… but I have no idea what you're talking about," he chuckled.

Rachel blushed. "No, of course not. Sorry."

"Hey," he said quietly, "Don't be sorry. I think it's cool that you have so much… passion, I guess."

She looked down and smiled. "Thankyou, Noah."

"'s okay."

They walked through town in silence. Rachel risked a glance at Puck, but he didn't catch it. He walked with a growing smirk on his face.

"So, uh, Rach?"

She looked up, her eyes bright. "Yes?"

"You know how the Graduate Ball is coming up…"

Rachel's heart hammered in her chest. Was he about to ask her out? She didn't know what she would say if he did. He'd been rude to her almost all of their lives. But now… he was different.

"What do you think I should spike the pumpkin juice with?"

"Oh," she whispered, deflated. Then she realised what he'd said. "If you so much as put a drop of anything in that punch I'll have to report you."

He laughed. "Come on! Half of us are of legal age."

"You aren't," she chided, "I'm not... Blaine isn't! There are plenty of us who aren't old enough. Besides… think of what I was like last time I was intoxicated."

Puck scoffed, "Annoying and clingy?"

"I was not!" she replied, her mouth wide open with shock, "I was just… confused."

"You're what I like to call a clingy drunk, Rach."

"I didn't try anything on you, did I?" she asked, appalled and embarrassed.

"Naw," he shrugged, "You tried to hug me but that's about it."

"Good."

"Why? Were you worried you tried to make out with me or something?" He laughed, "It wouldn't have given you herpes, babe."

She crossed her arms, feeling uneasy. "I know that."

"Well, then why don't we ever do it?"

"Because I'm not one of your… floosies," she spat, "I have self-respect."

"I know," Puck said sarcastically, "You're a prude."

"Just because Jesse was my first kiss-"

"Wait? That asshole was your first kiss?" he demanded, stopping her in her tracks by grabbing her arm. His hand was incredibly warm. Rachel felt like she'd been zapped. Electric currents travelled between them, and for a moment she wondered what it would it have been like to have him as her first kiss. But then she remembered that she was Rachel Berry and he was Noah Puckerman.

"Y-yes," she stuttered, shrugging away from him, "And I'm not ashamed that I waited so long. Although, it seems like I didn't wait for much, did I?"

He dropped his hand as annoyance clouded his features. "I can't believe that was your first kiss."

She was growing furious. "I know it seems ridiculous for people like you, Noah, but some people do actually wait until they're my age to go around snogging!"

He stared at her, looking embarrassed and slightly annoyed. "I'm not talking about that! I- I just… Look, Rach. Even a guy like me knows that a girl's first kiss is meant to be special or somethin'…"

There was silence as she considered his words. He was Noah then, someone who contrasted 'Puck'. He'd showed his softer side to her, and willingly too. She risked a small smile, making sure he didn't see her do so, because if he'd seen it he would have thought she was making fun of him. "I thought he was special. But he wasn't," she whispered, "He was just like any other boy. He used me."

"Not all of us are like that."

Rachel knew that there were boys out there who treated girls with respect. She knew that. The truth was, she was a bit of a drama queen and she relished in her own pain and sorrow, at least a tiny bit. "You've used girls," she replied.

Slowly, he nodded. "I know."

They started to walk again, this time slowly. He watched her, admiring the way she held herself before he realised that he'd been checking Rachel fucking Berry out. He seriously needed to get back in the game. He was spending way to much time with her.

"Do you want to try the library again?" Rachel asked, staring at him with hopeful shining eyes. He met them for a moment and almost said yes. But then his eyes slipped down to rest for a moment on her plump, red lips. He looked away quickly, nervously running a hand through his Mohawk. "Nah, I've got some shit to take care of."

Rachel felt a tug in her stomach, reminding her that she'd been a fool to even think Puck would want to spend his free time with her. Sure, he'd joined her today, but that was for the assignment, not for her. She tried to fake a smile, but it came out weak and watery. "Okay, well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. I'm going to go see Madam Rosmerta before I head back to the castle."

Puck saw the look on her face as she turned and walked away and he knew that he'd let her down. He felt like a bad person, letting Rachel Berry down like that. She may have been dramatic and more than a little conceited, but she was a genuinely compassionate person. She'd tried to reach out to him and he'd pulled away, as he did with everyone.

The Hogwarts term returned a week later, as promised. Things went back to the way they had always been. Rachel and Puck were friendly to one another, as they had become accustomed to. But that didn't mean that they'd stop and talk to one another in the hallway. They'd look away with respectful indifference, opting to save their conversations for the Muggle Studies classroom.

The seventh year ball – or the Graduate Ball, as it was known – loomed in the near future. Witches spent most of their class time gossiping about their dates and dresses and corsages. The wizards would offer the occasional grunt about their dressrobes and talk about how hot their dates were. Ball proposals were happening everywhere at every moment, and more than one or two girls were feeling incredibly left out and desperate. Rachel Berry was one of them.

Blaine offered to take her, saying that Kurt wouldn't mind if she tagged along and even stole a few dances with either of them. She politely declined. She was to spend the night making sure Puck - or any of the other Quidditch players, for that matter - got no where near the Pumpkin Juice bowl. That was her night, already planned.

Rachel found herself feeling slightly jealous when gossip got around that Puck was taking Brittany and Santana to the ball. She wondered why he'd hidden himself from her as of late, speaking to her only when he needed to. Their project wasn't going anywhere. Puck had decided that he didn't care anymore. He spent Muggle Studies making enchanted paper aeroplanes and throwing them into the back of David Karofsky's head.

Rachel held out for a date. She was mortified that no one had asked her. Jesse was taking some blonde bimbo. She didn't care though. Strangely, she couldn't get the idea of Puck waiting for her to ascend from the stairs into the Great Hall, his eyes wide and his mouth open in shock as he stared at her in her Ball gown, out of her mind.

"Rachel," greeted Kurt, slipping around the corner and catching up to her, stumbling only a little on his long legs, "Ve 'ave to go to 'Ogsmeade zis veekend. Blaine and I vill 'elp you find ze perfect dress, Oui?"

The brunette smiled. "I don't know, Kurt. I have plenty of dresses. Plus, I don't even have a date yet."

"Oh, but you vill!" He exclaimed, excitedly clapping his hands, "I 'ave figured out ze perfect design. Vat is your favourite colour?"

"Pink," she laughed.

The French boy wrinkled his nose. "No, no. Not good enough. Ve vill 'ave to go vit black."

"Black?" Rachel asked, wrinkling her own nose, "No thankyou. I'm not going to a funeral."

"Black eez not just for funerals," he chided, "But for 'aving a good time also."

She shook her head. "It's so… depressing."

He laughed. "No! You know vat eez depressing? You moping around after zis Noah!"

Rachel looked at him, appalled. "I am not moping about Noah Puckerman. He is a… rude, sometimes downright disgusting specimen of a man. He and I are merely friends. Blaine would have told you a million times over that I could never like someone like that."

Kurt only scoffed and walked away, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "You lie to yourself, Rachel Berry!" he yelled over his shoulder.

She rolled her eyes and continued on her way. She was in pursuit of a book about ancient remedies to help with her Potions assignment. Strolling into the library, she made her way to the back of the room. She was making her way down the last aisle when she came across something that she would never forget.

Noah Puckerman and Quinn Fabray, their lips attached in a passionate embrace, the blonde's back pressed against the hard wood of the nearby bookshelf.