I'm sorry I'm bad, I'm sorry you're blue, I'm sorry about all things I said to you
And I know I can't take it back
I love how you kiss, I love all your sounds, and baby the way you make my world go round
And I just wanted to say I'm sorry:

This time I think I'm to blame

-Buckcherry

Sienna slid into the seat beside Michael. "What's the big news that you wanted to tell me?"

He grinned at her. "You got my messages?"

Sienna grimaced, pulling out her vibrating Witch Mirror. "All seven of them."

Michael laughed, kissing the top of her head. "Just wait." He pointed to Eva, who was heading to the front of the Great Hall. "You'll see in a minute."

Sienna laughed, loving Michael's excitement. She watched as Eva greeted the Headmaster before turning to face the Hall full of students. She held up her wand to her throat, amplifying her voice. "Excuse me!" she said importantly, waiting until everybody quieted down before continuing. "I would just like to thank everybody who participated in the Auction. We raised over one thousand sickles for the hospital!" She paused, allowing everybody to cheer. Sienna clapped loudly, giving Michael a happy grin. "As you already know," Eva continued once the clapping had died out, "that the auction secured a handful of you lucky ladies to accompany our very handsome bachelors to the Winter Ball next month. The Ball will be December twentieth on Saturday at eight p.m. Buy your tickets now before the prices go up! They'll be increasing as we get closer to the date. Now, before I go, I have one more surprise for the Winter Ball. Last night, I received a letter from the Weird Sisters. They've agreed to perform at our Ball!"

The Hall erupted into thunderous applause and shouts. Sienna glanced at Finn. He wasn't exactly a fan of the Weird Sisters. Sure enough, he was wincing into his dinner. Victoire and Teddy, who listened to the Weird Sisters religiously, were on either side of him, cheering loudly.

Eva cleared her throat. "Yes, well, we have some more exciting news! The Weird Sisters are also sponsoring another event. We'll be holding a singing competition next weekend, and the winner will receive an extremely generous prize from the band. Not only will the Weird Sisters donate a new wing to St. Mungo's in the name of the winner, but the very lucky winner will also be able to perform with the Weird Sisters during the Ball!"

After a moment of stunned silence, the students exploded into deafening clapping and cheering. Eva beamed, delighted at the students excitement. "We've already had three people sign up!" she informed the eager students. "If I were you, I'd hurry up and sign up before it gets full! The forms are in each House's common rooms. So far, the people who signed up are Jordan Marco, Emily Avil, and Sienna Ellis! Let's give them a round of applause!"

Sienna felt her heartbeat quicken and her palms begin to sweat. "What? No! I never signed up!"

Michael grinned. "I know. I signed you up! Surprise!"

Sienna's panicked expression slowly transformed into one of anger. "What?"

"I've heard you sing. You're amazing! I think you honestly have a shot of winning this!" Michael told her genuinely. "You'll be brilliant!"

"Why...how...why would you do that?"

"I'm just giving the rest of the school a chance to listen to your voice."

"You had no right to do that." Sienna stood up, her hands trembling with anger.

Michael blinked. "What? S, I've heard you sing a thousand times...what's the problem?"

"I just...I don't like singing in front of people, okay?" She flipped her hair back in her best imitation of Skylar. "Get my name off that list, Michael." She turned around, storming out of the Great Hall.

She left her dinner untouched and Michael looking confused. He glanced across the room to the Gryffindor table, where all of Sienna's friends were sitting. He slowly made his way toward them, hoping to get some answers. As he reached their table, Finn leaned over toward Teddy. "Hey, when did Sienna get over her stage fright?" he asked curiously.

Teddy shrugged. "No idea. I'm as surprised as you are."

Victoire was the one that noticed Michael hovering over them awkwardly. "Hey, Michael!" she said cheerfully. "Where's Sienna?"

He cleared his throat. "Erm...I don't know...she's upset with me..." Finn looked at him. "If you guys see her in the common room, just tell her to come see me. I want to talk to her. Tell her I'll be in the Astronomy Tower waiting for her," Michael said.

"The astronomy tower?" Finn frowned.

"That's her favorite spot in the castle," Michael told him.

Finn nodded. "Yeah, I know," he muttered. "It's mine too."

Victoire smiled at Michael. "Don't worry, I'll make sure she gets the message. And don't worry. I'm sure you two will make up in no time."

Michael nodded before leaving the Great Hall glumly. He'd felt like such an idiot. How did he not know Sienna had stage fright?

Victoire and Skylar were sitting on Sienna's bed. "I'm just saying," Skylar said, "the boy looked suicidal."

"Just talk to him," Victoire pressed, thinking of Michael's wilting smile as he walked away from them earlier that night.

Sienna sighed, pulling her hair up into a ponytail. "He had no right to sign me up!"

"He didn't know!" Skylar exclaimed, exasperated. "You're the most fearless person I know. You're a Gryffindor for Godric's sake! How was he supposed to know that your greatest fear was getting up in front of a crowd of people and singing? I mean, that seems like nothing compared to what we have to face every other day just in class!"

Victoire threw a pillow at Sienna. "Talk to him."

"Fine," she grumbled, pulling a robe over her pajamas. "It's just...Finn would've known..."

Victoire and Skylar exchanged looks. "Sienna," Victoire said quietly, "you can't compare the two of them. Of course Finn's going to know you better. You two have been friends for years."

Sienna sighed. "I know. It's just...it's only hit me now...I'm not with Finn..."

"You chose to end it with him, remember?" Skylar reminded her. "You made your choice."

"I know. I know. I just...I'll go talk to Michael..." She gave the girls a small wave on her way out.

Once she was gone, Victoire turned to Skylar. "Merlin! She's mental, that one. Comparing sweet Michael to Findley, who I love with all my heart, but is quite possibly the biggest prat on the planet!"

Skylar grinned, hopping off of Sienna's bed. "Come on. Let's go back to our room. There's only so much drama that I can handle in one night."

Luke fiddled with his jacket. Grace reached over, placing her hand over his. "Stop," she said. "I'm trying to concentrate."

Luke grinned at her. "Sorry."

"Luke, if you're bored, I can leave. I'll catch up with you later."

He shook his head, pulling Grace closer to him and giving her a long kiss. "I don't mind watching you study," he mumbled into her ear.

Grace pushed her books off the bed, climbing on top of Luke. "You realize I never actually get any studying done when you're in the room," she said, kissing him.

"I have noticed that pattern," he replied.

"Woah!" Finn shouted. "Can't you two at least put a sock on the door or something?"

Grace groaned, sitting up. Luke laughed, straightening up into sitting position. He shifted Grace so that she was on his lap.

"Anyway," Finn said as he strode into the room, "my Winter Ball date is waiting for me outside the common room. She wants to take me on a real date before the Ball."

"And you agreed?" Grace asked, surprised. For the past couple of weeks, Finn had been moping over Sienna. He hadn't gone out with a girl in ages.

"Well, she did pay one hundred and five sickles for me." Finn shrugged. "If Sienna's moving on, then I should too. Right?"

Grace nodded. "Right."

He grabbed a jacket. "Anyway, don't wait up for me."

"We weren't planning on it," Luke said as Finn shut the door behind him. "Speaking of dates, who is technically my date? Skylar or Victoire?"

Grace laughed. "I guess technically Skylar is since she and Vic traded, but you'll be going with me."

"Good," Luke said, kissing her. "I guess having Vic bid for me paid off in the end."

"No kidding. You would have been stuck with some random bimbo otherwise."

Luke grinned. "Were you really that jealous?"

"I was not jealous."

"Come on, Gracie. Have a little faith." He was teasing her. "I wouldn't have done anything with the other girls. Maybe just a snog or two. Let them get their money's worth, you know."

Grace glared at him. "That's not funny."

Luke stared at her. "I was kidding. Gracie, come on, you know I don't care about any other girl."

Grace hesitated. "Yeah, I know."

"You paused," Luke accused.

"What?"

Luke slid Grace off his lap. "You hesitated before answering. Grace, you do trust me, don't you?"

Grace didn't say anything. "I know how much you care about me, Luke."

"But you don't trust me!"

"How can I? You don't exactly have a very credible past!"

"You're still talking about Jennifer?" Luke groaned. "Will you ever let that go? We weren't even together!"

"Jennifer is just one example," Grace snapped, standing up.

"Name one girl that I've even looked at since we got together?"

Grace opened and closed her mouth.

"Exactly," Luke said triumphantly. "You can't think of anyone! I can't believe you honestly think I would cheat on you..."

"I never said-"

"Especially since you're the one who cheated on Collin."

Grace blinked. "I can't believe you're actually holding that against me. It was just one kiss...and it was with you!" she reminded him.

"It's still cheating!"

"What? So, are you saying you don't trust me?"

"Maybe."

Grace let out a humorless laugh. "Well, then, if neither of us trust each other, then why the hell are we together?"

Luke stared at her. "Grace, stop it."

"No, tell me, Luke. Why are you with me if you think I'm just going to cheat on you?"

Luke jumped off his bed. "Don't put words in my mouth! That's not what I said!"

"Clearly it's what you think!"

Luke gave her a disgusted look. "Why do you always do this? You always find something wrong with us. We were doing perfectly fine!"

"I didn't do anything wrong! You're the one yelling!" Grace snapped.

"Why is it that I'm always wrong? Why is it that the problem is never you?" Luke shook his head. "Last summer, you didn't want to be with me because I was the problem. I was an arse. I was a player. I wasn't Collin. So, I changed for you, Grace. I committed to you. I stopped seeing other girls. I became friends with your friends, who I hated by the way. I've done everything to make you happy."

Grace stared at him. She didn't say anything.

"How is it that everything is still my fault? You know what, Gracie, you're right. I'm not Collin. I'm never going to be Mr. Perfect. And if that's a problem for you, then why are you with me?"

"I don't want you to be like Collin-"

Luke continued, ignoring her. "And why is it that everything is always my fault? Why are you never to blame? Why are you never wrong?" He laughed humorlessly. "I used to think that Skylar was the stuck up one. She's the type, you know. Beautiful, bossy, has all the girls terrified of her. Turns out, I was wrong. Skylar isn't the one that thinks she's better than everybody. You are. And why wouldn't you? Most of the time, you are. You're smart, beautiful...you've got it all figured out...but can't you just admit that maybe just one time you might possibly be wrong? That you're just paranoid and jealous and have no right not to trust me?"

Grace's eyes were sparkling with tears by now. She wiped her eyes angrily. "I-I can admit when I'm wrong. Right now, I'm thinking I was wrong in trusting you."

Luke sighed. "Grace-"

She didn't let him finish. She raced out of his room, an angry sob escaping her. Luke cursed loudly as the door slammed shut behind her.

Sienna found Michael in the Astronomy Tower just like he said he would be. He was leaning against the rails, staring up at the stars glumly. He sighed, checking his watch, waiting for her.

Sienna cleared her throat loudly, signaling to him that she was there. "You wanted to talk to me." It wasn't a question.

Michael turned around, giving her a hopeful smile, which she didn't return. Sighing, he said, "Listen, I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't know you had stage fright."

"Well, you would have if you had ever bothered asking me if I even wanted to compete in that stupid competition!"

"I wanted to surprise you!" Michael took her hand. "I thought it would make you happy. You love music."

Sienna wanted to tell him that Finn would have known not to sign her up, but she knew that that would just hurt him.

When she didn't respond, Michael sighed. "Fine. I'll ask Eva to take your name off the list."

She nodded. "Thank you."

"I just think it's sad, that's all."

"What?"

"You're supposed to be a Gryffindor...brave and all that rubbish...it's just sad that you're not acting like one..."

Sienna raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"You would willingly face a werewolf or banshee or whatever, but you can't get up in front of your friends and sing?"

"Michael-" she began angrily.

He held his hands up. "No, I get it. You're scared. You have stage fright."

Sienna glared at him. "You have no idea why I don't want to perform."

"Then, tell me!"

Sienna hesitated. "No."

Michael groaned. "S, you have an amazing voice. You deserve to be praised for that!" He reached for her hands, holding them tightly, even when she tried to pull away from him. "I'll help you. I'll be right there beside you every step of the way. If you ever get nervous, just look at me. Just pretend it's just the two of us and you're singing just for me. You can do that. You've sung in front of me loads of times before."

Sienna bit her lip. "And if I'm not good?"

"You are."

She hesitated, but, finally, she nodded slightly. "Fine."

Michael beamed. "Brilliant!"

"But if I suck, I get permission to push you off this tower."

"Agreed. You see that? I have so much faith in your singing talents that I'm willing to risk my own life!"

Sienna rolled her eyes, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I forgive you for signing me up."

He grinned, kissing her gently. "And I forgive you for overreacting."

She smacked him. "I didn't overreact!"

It was nearing midnight, but Teddy didn't want to leave the Quidditch Pitch. He was lying in the middle of the field, gazing up at the stars. This was his haven. Grace had the library. Sienna had the Astronomy Tower. And Teddy had the field. Whenever he was upset or stressed, he liked to come and lay in the middle of the field. Sometimes he'd bring a bottle of firewhiskey with him and sometimes he'd bring his plans for the next game.

Tonight, though, he hadn't even really planned on coming to the Pitch. He just sort of found himself there. He closed his eyes, remembering the look on Victoire's face when he had told her he loved her. Her eyes, which had been bulging with anger, had softened. She had opened her mouth slightly, unable to speak for a moment. She had been stunned.

"Hey." A voice from above broke his train of thought.

Teddy opened his eyes, focusing his gaze on the dark haired girl standing over him. "Gracie," he said, surprised. "How'd you know I was here?"

"I didn't. I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a walk." She plopped down beside him. "Luke and I had a fight," she told him.

He sat up, turning his body so that he was facing her. "About?"

"The fact that I'm a horrible girlfriend."

Teddy rolled his eyes. "I don't have time for self pity, Gracie. Tell me what happened."

Grace shot him an annoyed look. "May I remind you that you are the king of self-pity?"

"Excuse me?"

"Boohoo! Victoire hates me! Boohoo! Skylar hates me!" She rolled her eyes. "Cry about it."

Teddy grinned at her. "Aren't you supposed to be the nice one?"

"No, I'm the smart one," Grace told him. "Vic's the nice one."

"Except she's not that nice," Teddy snorted.

"Deep down she's a total softie. You know that better than anyone."

Teddy shrugged. "So, what happened with Luke?"

"I screwed up." She sighed, picking at the grass. "He was right. I do have to always be right. And it is my fault that we took so long to get together."

"Why did it take you so long to get with him?" Teddy wondered.

"Same reason it's taking so long for Victoire to get with you."

Teddy grimaced. He knew the answer to that one. "You don't trust him."

Grace didn't say anything. She stared at the ground guiltily.

Teddy sighed. "Listen, Grace, I've given Vic reason not to trust me. I was a shitty friend to her and Chris for years. I dated her best friend. I messed with her head. She has every right not to trust me. But you and Luke...that's different...He's turned his whole life around for you. He ditched Grayson and all his other friends, he played nice with me and Finn, he pined after you for months, and he hasn't so much as looked at a girl since the two of you got together...that boy loves you. Whether he's told you or not. Trust me, I can tell."

Grace looked up, locking eyes with Teddy. "You really think he loves me?" she asked softly.

"Just like I know you love him."

Grace gave him a small smile. "You're not so bad, Lupin."

"Back at you, Rhodes."

Grace laughed, leaning into Teddy. He grinned, wrapping an arm around her and kissing the top of her head. "Go fix it, Gracie," he said quietly.

Finn thought about it. "It wasn't a bad date," he said after a pause. "She was a nice girl and she was easy to talk to and fun to be around. It just...she wasn't Sienna..."

Luke gave him a sympathetic smile. "Still not over her, huh?"

"I fucked it all up. I had her, mate. I completely had her."

"Maybe this is a sign that it's time you stopped playing games and just acted like a real person." Luke thought about it. "Maybe give this Lisa girl another shot. Who knows? Maybe you'll end up really liking her."

Finn nodded. "Okay, I'm done talking about me. Let's talk about your fight with Gracie? Do I need to kick your arse?"

"No, you need to kick mine." Grace was standing in the doorway, looking at Luke nervously.

"Grace," Luke said in surprise.

She rushed forward. "Luke, you're right. I am the problem. I can never admit when I'm wrong and I didn't trust you. But I do now. I never had any reason not to. I just hope that you can forgive me and I totally understand if you don't but-"

Luke kissed her, shutting her up. "I'll forgive you if you just stop talking."

Grace grinned. "I love you."

Luke blinked, shocked. "I love you too," he said after a moment, grinning.

Finn stared at them from his bed. "You two make me sick," he muttered before slumping back.

Luke laughed, leaning in to kiss Grace again. She wrapped her arms around his neck, a wide grin spreading across her face.