AN: Okay, sorry, this one might be confusing because it has some POV changes within the chapter itself, but I'll try and make it as clear as possible. Enjoy!
Lily's POV
I walked out of the classroom fuming. My mind too much on other things, I nearly didn't see the third-year Slytherin standing timidly in the middle of the corridor.
"Are you lost?" I asked, plastering on a smile and trying to forget Corey
The girl shook her head and looked behind me, possibly into the classroom at Corey. She leaned in and whispered, "You give me a galleon and I'll stay quiet about that."
I couldn't suppress my smile. Those Slytherins may not be Pureblood fanatics any more, but they're still pretty darn sly.
I dragged her a little way up the hall, to be sure that Corey wouldn't hear us.
"Here," I whispered, handing over a galleon. "Spread it for me. That and the fact that he slept with Ruby Hale at the Gryffindor-Slytherin party."
I backed away to look at the girl's face. Her eyes were wide with excitement.
"You've got yourself a deal," she said with a smile. "Mind you though, the school might already know – Peeves went past as you were arguing."
"Excellent," I said. "Now run along."
I watched her go. Revenge certainly was rather sweet, though I couldn't help but feel a prickling sensation in my stomach.
Third Person
Like any other juicy piece of gossip, the rumours on Scorpius's activities during that infamous Gryffindor-Slytherin party spread like wildfire. Thanks to that third-year Slytherin, Corey's whole House new by 11:55 that night. Well, all except Albus, who went to sleep early that night and didn't get up till late the next morning. Consequently, he got ready hurriedly and had no opportunity to hear the rumours about his best friend until he reached the Great Hall for breakfast. By then, of course, half the school knew, and that knowledgeable 50% looked up at him as he took his place next to Corey at the Slytherin table.
"Heard the latest rumour about Corey?" sneered Caleb as Albus piled his plate with food.
"You guys know how I am about Corey rumours," Al reminded them, "if it's not highly amusing, I couldn't care less. Because hearing the same thing over again isn't exactly interesting." He added to Corey, "No offence."
"None taken," Corey stammered. He knew that Al was secretly jealous of his popularity with girls, but wondered whether this would be enough to stop him hearing the rumour going around, especially since it concerned his little baby sister.
"It is rather amusing," admitted Caleb, giving a smirk to Corey.
Corey flicked his fingers off his thumb nervously. He was in for it now.
"Oh tell!"
"Oh should I?" said Caleb, obviously enjoying teasing both Al and Corey.
"Just tell," whined Al.
"Ruby Hale," said Caleb, glancing at Corey, who breathed a sigh of relief. "You'd think he could have got anyone else but Ruby Hale."
"Woah, Corey, did you want it that bad?" asked Al in disbelief. "Sheesh you're a bit of an addict, you know."
Corey gave a small, insincere smile. He wanted to argue. It was Al's fault, after all. If he hadn't had found Corey that first train ride into Hogwarts, Corey wouldn't have been so torn regarding his feelings – whatever they were – towards Lily
Lily's POV
I found myself walking to Charms alone after lunch, Emily having gone to the Hospital Wing with a case of Dragon Pox and Viv being held back by Ethan. The whispers that followed me only made me smirk – serves Corey right. It's about time he learns that, sometimes, his actions have consequences.
I was just pondering that when Corey came and walked beside me.
"You spread it, didn't you?" he muttered, a façade of nonchalance on his face. "I know it was you – your little friend was the only one who knew, after all."
"I didn't," I said. "But Daddy's money did."
Okay, so it really was Mum's money given that it came from my little emergency fund but hey, it wouldn't have had the same reference back to our row the other night.
"You really are low, aren't you?" seethed Corey.
I admit, a little pit opened in my stomach. I didn't particularly like Corey angry at me, but it had to be done.
"It's not like rumours about you never spread," I said, "and seeing as you don't feel anything for anyone, Ruby and I are just like anyone else. And if you don't want it to get out there, then clearly we are different, and you do feel something."
"Because you're my best friend's sister, duh. Don't try and trap me," muttered Corey. "I've gone seventeen years without dating anyone and you're not gonna be the one to stop me."
And he stormed off. Little did he know that that was just what I aimed to do, and us Potters don't give up without a fight.
Third-person
"Did you hear about Corey then?" Jordan asked Albus as he sat on a desk before their Transfiguration lesson.
"Yeah," said Albus with a smile. "I don't know what we're going to do with him, honestly, if you're that addicted."
"You're okay with it then?" asked Jordan disbelievingly.
"I find it thoroughly amusing," said Al. On seeing the look on Jordan's face, his smile vanished. "Why?"
"You find it amusing that your best friend got with your sister?"
"I find it amusing that he got with that slut Ruby Hale," said Al, his anger growing as he took advantage of the fact that they were the only two in the classroom. "Why, what happened with Lily?"
"Well, rumour has it they hooked up," said Jordan uncertainly. "I mean, I'm not saying that Lily would just randomly hook up with him or anything – I'm just telling you what they say."
Realisation suddenly dawned on Al. So his best friend was the one that Lily had hooked up with at the party. The one that Lily now thought was a jerk. Oh, Corey was in for it now.
AN: Okay yeah so that POV changey thing was confusing, I know, but I'll try not to do it within an actual chapter, it's just that I couldn't think of another way to show it all and yeahhh. I think the next chapter will be all third-person with a little bit of a glimpse at either Harry or James, I'm still trying to decide. Soyeah, hope you have a happy next however-long-till-I-next-update!