Opov

Reagan perked up over the next couple of days and while she was still upset about being benched, it didn't dampen her excitement for out match against Ravenclaw and was one of the loudest to cheer at the end of the game.

"I can't believe it!" she said tackling Alicia and I into a hug as we made it into the common room with the rest of the team. "We won!"

I laughed and hugged her close, pretending it was the excitement after the match that made my stomach clench and my heart rate increase.

"We have a real shot at winning the cup now!" Alicia said happily and together, arm and arm they walked to the drinks table discussing strategies that would be most useful for beating Slytherin.

I followed, grinning, thoroughly enjoying the image of two pretty girls talking about quidditch tactics and grabbing a cauldron cake from the pile of food that Fred and George had managed to sneak into the common room.

We'd just sat down by the fire when a voice said.

"Mind if I steal Alicia away?"

I looked up just in time to hear Alicia shriek.

"AIDEN!" she practically bounced out of her seat and into her boyfriend's arms, but for the first time I felt no resentment. "How did you get in here?"

Aiden, who was a Ravenclaw, shouldn't have been able to get passed the portrait hole.

"One of your team mates let me in. That new portait you have is mad." he said then looked around the room. "This is quite a party you've got going on." He looked at me. "Good game Oliver. As much as it pains me to admit it. You lot won fair and square."

"Thank you." I said and again I was surprised that when I smiled it wasn't forced. I genuinely had no issue with him being here.

"Let's get a drink." Alicia said brightly. "You guys want anything?"

"I'll take one." Reagan said.

"Me too."

"We'll be right back." She said happily taking Aiden's hand and I looked at Reagan who was watching the two walk away with an unreadable expression.

"What's on your mind?" I asked and she blinked then looked back at me.

"What? Oh nothing." She said and though I didn't quite believe her I let it go. "You played really well today."

"Thanks." I said grinning and feeling my heart skip a beat. "I would have been a different story if you were on the other team."

"I dunno." She debated playfully. "You made some pretty spectacular saves."

"You're being modest." I accused.

"So are you."

"So." Alicia said bringing back the drinks with Aiden and looking at us happily as they sat down. "How many points would we have to win by to win the cup."

"More than two hundred." Reagan and I said in unison and she grinned at us.

"Alicia is right." Aiden said looking a little amused as he handed me a butterbeer. "It really is like you two share the same brain."

"You should see them when they really get going." Alicia said with a laugh. "It's like they don't need to talk and when they do they're constantly finishing each other's sentences. It's adorable."

I threw Alicia a look but was surprised when Reagan blushed.

Alicia gave me a knowing smile.

We continued to talk about quidditch for the rest of the night until McGonagall came up to the common room and told us it was time to go to bed.

Alicia said good night to Aiden then decided to get some sleep but Reagan and I remained in the common room after the party had disbanded.

"How you feeling?" I asked her eventually when it was just the two of us sitting by the fire.

"Great." She said with a smile. "We won."

"I mean about last night." I said and her smile faded.

Yesterday had been their match against Nigeria which she'd been forced to sit out. They'd lost by 30 points, even with Lang catching the snitch.

"Oh," she said frowning. "That."

I nodded and she sighed.

"I'm frustrated." She said angrily. "I shouldn't have been benched and everyone knows it. Even when we were losing he didn't sub me in and even though there was nothing I could do," she hesitated. "I feel like I let everyone down."

"Your coach let people down, not you." I said and her eyes met mine, they were glittering, reflecting the fire in the low light. It was much darker now that almost everyone had gone to bed, but I could still see her quite clearly. "He was the one who caved to the pressure of the board members."

"I know but I was brought on to help win games."

"Not watch them." I said and she nodded.

"Yeah it's not fair." I agreed. "They are going to let you play in the next one, right?"

She nodded but her mood didn't improve and I was starting to wish I hadn't brought this up.

"What does Drake say about all this?"

"He says it sucks." She said with a shrug. "But I don't think he really gets it." She smiled slightly for a second but it was a little bittersweet. "Sometimes I think he doesn't really get me."

"In what way?" I asked feeling a spark of hope flit through me that I tried to ignore.

"Just some of the things he says. It feels as if he's a little too perfect you know? Like he tries really hard to be Drake Dennings, every girl's dream guy."

"Isn't he?"

"Yeah I guess." She muttered with a shrug, but continued when she saw my curious expression. "Don't get me wrong." She said quickly. "He's great it's just, I think he needs to be Drake Dennings the superstar you know? As much as he says he doesn't like all the attention, I don't think he knows how to be anything else. And whenever we're together I feel like Reagan Williams."

"Not just Reagan?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yeah. I think when I date someone, I want to be just Reagan to them. Nothing else."

"That must be very hard for you." I said frowning. "Trying to keep your two lives separate."

"Drake says it's easier for me because I don't let people in. I don't trust them."

"I never got that impression." I said honestly.

"Yeah well I trust you." She said quietly looking into the flames and I felt my heart skip a beat again.

"It just sucks." She continued and I looked up at her. She was still staring into the fire and I saw a frown cross her features. "How am I supposed to find someone who likes just Reagan when when I step out into the world, the quidditch player is all anyone ever sees, all they ever want me to be? And even if I found that person." She continued with a sigh. "How could I ask them to deal with the craziness of my life?"

"If they're worth it, you won't have to ask." I said. It was strange giving relationship advice to the girl I fancied, especially when all I wanted to say was that I couldn't stand the thought of her with someone like Drake and that I wanted her to be with me, but she looked so miserable and confused I didn't want to push her any farther. "If they truly love you, they'll be there when you need them no matter what craziness they have to deal with. You're worth it."

She looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." She said shaking hear head again and avoiding my gaze.

"What is it?" I asked not sure if I wanted to hear the answer.

"It's just." She said with a slight laugh. "I don't think I'll ever meet anyone who puts up with more than you."

My heart started to pound as she continued.

"I mean, that night Alicia dragged us to 'the club' and you had to deal with the paparazzi and all the times I've nearly disfigured you when we've practiced spells on each other. You were even there when I woke up in the hospital wing when I should have been the one to comfort you for Gryffindor's loss."

She didn't really end this thought so much as let it hang between us and I wasn't sure how I should respond.

"Well I'm your friend." I said awkwardly.

"Yeah." She said but for some reason she seemed disappointed.

This confused me.

"You alright?" I asked her.

"Yeah." She said but she didn't look it. "I'm just tired. I think I'm going to go up to bed."

"Oh, alright." I said disappointed.

"I'll see you tomorrow." She said not looking at me as she headed up to the girl's dormitory.

I watched her go feeling uncertain and a sense of loss.

I could hear Alicia's voice in my head now telling me I was an idiot and that I should have told her how I felt, but the fact of the matter was she still had a boyfriend no matter what she was feeling about him at the time, and the odds were that she didn't feel the same way. So, with a sigh, I stood up and walked to the boys dormitory wondering if the moment would ever be right, and if I'd ever be able to tell a girl I fancied how I felt.

'But you don't just fancy her, do you?' said a voice that sounded strangely like Cassie in the back of my mind. 'You fancied Alicia for years, you even thought you loved her, but it never felt like this.'

This was true. Nobody, not even passed girlfriend or even Alicia had even come close to taking over my mind like Reagan had. I'd never wanted to desperately to be around someone, or to even just talk to them all the time. I thought about her even when she wasn't there and every time she was, well, I never wanted to say good bye. No I'd never felt this way about any other girl.

Was it love?

I pondered this question as I changed and got ready for bed, and as I laid down random thoughts chased back and forth in my mind as I was unable to sleep but also not fully awake.

I stayed in this semi conscious state, still thinking about Reagan, until shouts rang from the common room and all of the boys in my dormitory jumped out of bed and went down to investigate the noise.

"What's going on?" I asked Alicia having found her first and spotting professor McGonagall talking to a young redheaded boy who I knew to be the twins' brother Ron.

"Sirius Black!" She said her eyes wide and terrified. "He got into the Gryffindor Tower! He nearly attacked Fred and George's little brother with a knife!"

"Where's Reagan?" I asked feeling my eyes go wide.

"I don't know." She said sounding worried as we scanned the crowd and panic creeped through me. "I was asleep before she came up and she wasn't in her bed when I woke up. But several of the girls came down before I did."

I tuned her out and pushed my way through several people searching frantically but I couldn't' find her.

"Reagan!" I shouted eventually, before the panic I was feeling in her absence overwhelmed me.

"Oliver!" she responded from near one of the windows and I turned to see her waving. "Over here!"

I made my way towards her and pulled her into a tight hug, just now realizing the grip my anxiety had me in as it loosened. I felt like I could breathe properly again.

"Are you alright?" I asked letting her go and she nodded looking up at me.

"Yeah. He was in the boy's dormitory, I was worried about you."

She was staring up at me with wide eyes filled with the same relief and concern I was experiencing. I hugged her again, wrapping my arms around her tightly.

"I'm glad you're ok." She said quietly.

"Yeah." I said softly while closing my eyes. "You too."

Holding her like this gave me the clarity that logic and reason just couldn't. It didn't matter if she was a quidditch star, it didn't matter if she was dating one of the most famous singers in the world, I couldn't deny my feelings for her any longer.

I thought I'd understood it when I fancied Alicia, but nothing I'd ever felt had been this strong and letting go of Reagan was one of the hardest things and watching her walk away without telling her was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do.

This was love.

Rpov

There was no denying it. After I thought something might have happened to Oliver I couldn't pretend that I could get over my feelings for him. I spent the next couple of days trying to figure out what I should do, but in the end it all lead to the same thing. If I felt this way about Oliver, it really wasn't fair to Drake to keep dating him.

"Hey." He said meeting me at the muggle coffee shop that was down the street from my apartment. I'd asked him to meet me here after practice last night.

"Hey." I said and immediately felt guilt burn through me as he pulled me into a hug. This wasn't going to be easy.

"You know I have to say I'm a little surprised you asked me here." He said sitting across the table from me and smiling. "I thought you were a little annoyed with me after you were almost suspended."

"We need to talk." I said and he grinned.

"Sounds serious." He said in a joking tone, but when I didn't smile back his faltered. "Oh," he said matter of factly. "I guess it is."

"Look." I said looking at my hands which was holding on to my mug of coffee. "I've really enjoyed out time together, and you've been really great to me, which is why I feel I owe it to you to be honest."

"About what?" he asked and while he didn't look angry, his eyebrow raised.

"I don't think this is going to work out." I said after a deep breath and looked at him.

"I had a feeling you were going to say that." He said with a slightly bitter smile.

"You didn't do anything." I said quickly determined to tell him the real reason. "It's just-"

"It's just you don't like me as much as you should." He said with a knowing tone. "And you're a decent enough person to end it before I get hurt."

I looked at him uncertain how to feel. It was like the one time he understood me was when I was breaking up with him.

"Well I can't say I'm surprised." He said shaking his head, again with that bitter smile. "It's a shame because I really do like you Reagan. But maybe in the same way that you like me. Just not quite enough."

"So you're ok with this?" I asked him.

"Yeah." He said. "I'd even say we just might be able to remain friends."

I smiled and he smiled back, a real one this time.

"I do have one question though." He said suddenly.

"What is it?"

"Is it that Oliver bloke?" he asked. "You know, the person who made you realize you didn't like me enough."

"How did you-" I started but he shook his head and cut me off.

"I could see it from the very first time I saw you two together." He said with a sigh. "You two just get on."

"Yeah." I said looking at my hands again.

"Should have known." He said but he didn't sound upset. "You're too nice of a girl to want to be with the pop star and you're too in love with quidditch not to end up with a player."

"What about you?" I asked looking up at him. "Did you meet anyone?"

"No." he said honestly but then gave me an arrogant smirk. "but that doesn't mean I won't."

He stood up.

"Well," he said. "Now that we've broken up, I guess my business is done here."

"I'll see you around?" I asked him.

"Well considering we've both got to keep an eye on Jason I figure it's unavoidable." He said and I laughed. "Plus, Spellbound is having that album release party next month if you're still interested in coming."

"I'm still invited to that?" I asked.

"Well you won't be my date." He said with a half smile. "but who knows. Maybe you can bring Oliver along."

"I doubt it." I said my smile fading. "No matter how I may feel about him, he's still in love with someone else."

"Are you sure?" he asked frowning and I looked at him in surprise.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." He said shaking his head. "Well, either way, yes you're still invited and feel free to bring any date you want. Including that pretty blonde girl who was with us at 'the club'."

"She has a boyfriend." I pointed out.

"You do remember who I am, don't you?" He said with a chuckle and I rolled my eyes. "I'll see you around Ray."

"Yeah. I'll see you."

I watched him walk out of the shop, then paid for my coffee and followed him out onto the busy muggle street. There were no paparazzi here, which was why I chose to do it in a muggle location, and I walked back to my apartment only to find that I wasn't alone.

"So." Max said from the table as he went through a stack of papers and sparing me a glance of interest. "How'd it go?"

"It went fine. What are you doing here?"

"I have some paper work you need to sign."

"What is it?" I asked as he handed me several highlighted sheets with many initial and signature lines.

"Just usual contractual obligation stuff. This allows you to be an official member of England's world cup team."

"Alright." I said taking the quill he handed me and starting to sign the papers as I sat.

He talked to me about travel dates and game times but I found for once I wasn't very interested in what my schedule was for quidditch. All I could think about was getting a port key back to Hogwarts.

"You alright?" he asked me after about ten minutes when I'd quilled my last signature and looked up.

"Yeah." I said uncertain as to why I felt so off.

"Not having second thoughts about Drake are you?"

"No." I said shaking my head.

"Then what's the matter with you?" he asked curiously. "You seem a million miles away."

"Just tired from practice." I said evasively not meeting his eye.

"Yeah I've heard that one before." He said with a knowing tone. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." I said honestly putting down the quill.

I wasn't sure why I was so bummed. All I knew was that breaking up with Drake had sort of made it official. I liked Oliver, and since he was in love with Alicia, there was nothing I could do about it.

"Is it that keeper boy?" he asked and I shrugged. I didn't much feel like talking about Oliver right now, not even to Max.

"Well I can see that you're just in no mood to talk." He said gathering the papers and giving me a critical look. "But I think you should tell him how you feel."

"He likes Alicia." I said dejectedly. "He's liked her for years. That's not changing," I said quietly. "Not for me."

"You never know."

"Can we just talk about something else?" I asked frowning. "Where's my portkey? Shouldn't it be leaving soon?"

"It's the broken stapler on the bar." He said nodding towards the kitchen where I spotted the twisted plastic object. "It leaves in a few minutes if you want to take it."

I nodded and walked over to the counter, grabbing the stapler and bringing it back to he table.

"When will I see you next?" I asked sitting down again.

"Well if everything goes according to plan, I'll see you at your interview with the 'Prophet'."

"Why am I interviewing with them?" I asked.

"Well now that you've broken up with Drake, you're going to have to give them something."

I nodded, not exactly happy about this but knowing better by now than to complain. Of course everyone would want to know what had happened, even though my love like was none of their damn business.

"What should I tell them?" I asked.

"That's up to you." He said with a shrug.

"Since when?" I asked my eyes narrowing. Max had always told me what to say during interviews.

"Since I believe you should tell the truth." He said crossing his arms over his chest and giving me a pointed look. "But you seem determined not to do it."

"It wouldn't do me any good." I said quietly. "He's in love with someone else."

Max didn't get to respond. Just as I'd spoken, the stapler had started to go blue. I touched my finger to it and after a jerk in my stomach, I found myself standing in the Gryffindor common room.

"You're back late." I turned to see Oliver and Alicia sitting at one of the tables working on home work. "Practice run late?"

It was Alicia who'd spoken, but when I answered I was looking at Oliver.

"Uh yeah." I lied.

"You want to finish your herbology essay with us?" Oliver asked and I looked away.

"No, I'm actually pretty tired." I said avoiding both of their gaze. "I think I'm going to go to bed."

"Oh, alright." Alicia said with a shrug but I could feel Oliver's eyes on me as I walked up to the girls dormitory.

'You're being a coward.' A small voice in the pack of my head said.

I didn't know why I didn't tell them about Drake, maybe I just figured it wasn't time. But all I knew was that I just didn't want to talk about it right now.