I stood in the shower for a long time, mulling over the game that we had just lost. It was our first of the season, and Jessie Boot's first game as seeker. Though McKinnon, Smith and I had worked fantastically as a team and Daniel had had one of his best ever games, we had lost by twenty points when Slytherin's seeker caught the snitch. It was disappointing to lose after training so hard, and a small, childish part of me was frustrated that Jessie hadn't seen the snitch first, when she had been closer to it. However, I had pushed those thoughts down to console her after the game.

"You flew really well, and held up under the pressure. Sometimes things go your way and sometimes they don't; today they didn't. But you'll learn and improve, and you're the best seeker we've had since I joined the team so don't beat yourself up." Our team mates had seconded my speech, and Sirius had charmed his stick figure drawing of the Slytherin keeper to nose dive over and over again, which had made Jessie laugh.

I congratulated McKinnon on a brilliant first game with a kiss, until Sirius and Smith made vomiting noises and started throwing things at us. We had broken apart, blushing and laughing and Sirius and I had had a mock duel with tickling charms and laughing hexes that had left the others in stitches. The disappointed mood had lifted significantly with that, and even Jessie had a small smile on her face when she left the changerooms. I had told them to go on without me, so I could take some time to clean my broom, but really I just wanted to mope and reflect on the game by myself.

Eventually, I washed the shampoo out of my hair, dried myself and dressed, mentally preparing myself for the return to a letdown Gryffindor common room. At least I had the walk back up to steel myself, I thought, grabbing my still dirty broom and leaving the changeroom. I didn't get that far though, as someone was waiting for me.

"Potter," Evans stepped from behind one of the stands as I walked past her. The rest of the spectators were long gone, so I was somewhat startled to see her there.

"Evans," I shifted my broom to my other shoulder "What's up?"

"What's up is we need to talk," she said sternly, turning back under the stands and waiting for me to follow.

"If you wanted to get me alone in a secluded area, you could have just asked Evans," I grinned, raising my eyebrows at her. She just rolled her eyes and sat on the damp grass.

"Sit down, Potter."

I sat beside her, looking at her carefully, perplexed. "Seriously, Evans, what is it that is so important that you had to drag me under the quidditch stand?"

"Look, Potter, don't get mad at me but I need to say this. Why are you dating Marlene?"

I stared at her, fidgeting with my hair. I had not been expecting that. "I- why do you care? You've made it perfectly clear you're not interested in me."

"And I'm not. I'm just worried that you're only with her because she's my friend and I need to know that you aren't using her," Evans said determinedly, though her eyes were fixed to the blade of grass she was attempting to tie in a knot.

I knew I had to be completely honest if she was going to believe me, so I tried to explain my reasons for dating Marlene.

"Look Evans, it's not like that alright. Yes, I had feelings for you, and no they haven't completely gone away. But I do like Marlene, and I'm not leading her on for some nefarious purpose. I just want to spend time with her. Not everything I do revolves around you, you know."

"I know," she said a little bashfully. "And I thought you'd say that, I just needed to be sure. Because if you hurt her, I will hex your balls off." A snort of laughter escaped me at Evans' threat.

"Good to know someone has her back, but I won't be screwing her over anytime soon. I'd never hurt her, not on purpose anyway," I assured her with a grin.

Evans fidgeted with her blouse sleeves, smiling slightly. "Ok, well, good then. That's all I needed to hear." She stood, and I followed suit.

"So can I go back to our non-victory party now?" I asked, stretching my arms above my head.

"Yes, I'm sure they're all waiting for you" she laughed, walking back towards the castle. I fell into step with her, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say. Her laugh replayed in my head as if it was on repeat, and I couldn't help but grin at the thought of her smiling and laughing with me. I wondered if I was ever going to get over her. Marlene was great, but I didn't have that same constant urge to make her smile, and even when I tried I couldn't get Evans out of my head. Evans started chatting about a few of the fifth year prefects who were now dating, and I joined in the gossip, resolving to try harder to see Evans as a friend and Marlene as something more.