She couldn't love him.

She said starting a relationship would put their friendship at risk. She said that it would destroy everything they had. She said that it would ruin everything between them. But they never even got to take that chance and she wouldn't even talk to him. He didn't get to have her before he lost her.

Before his confession, their fight consisted simply of not speaking to each other. Now it was strict avoidance. He only got to steal glances at her, look at her from the back of the classroom, watch her from the opposite ends of the Ravenclaw table.

How could losing a friend be that simple?

Liam didn't know if Eleanor told anyone. He had watched Joseph carefully the day after, waiting for her boyfriend to come over and hex him for making Eleanor cry.

But nothing happened.

For the entire week, Liam waited for Eleanor to tell Joseph. He deserved to be hexed. He deserved to be yelled at. After all, he tried to steal Joseph's girlfriend and it didn't matter if he was Eleanor's friend first. She was in a committed relationship and he tried to ruin that for her. Liam deserved whatever Joseph did to him.

But Joseph didn't know. No one did, except for maybe Eleanor's roommates.

Liam watched the couple leave the classroom as Suzanne trailed behind them. Just as they were about to go out of the door, Suzanne turned, catching Liam's gaze. His eyes widened and he tried not to look as though he had been caught staring, but it was impossible. If Suzanne didn't know, then she had to be suspicious. Just like the rest of the castle.

Everyone knew that Liam and Eleanor weren't talking and because they had no clue why, they were beginning to gossip. Eleanor shagged Joseph, Eleanor decided she was better than Liam, Joseph wasn't allowing Liam and Eleanor to talk...

Everything was centered around this love triangle that made Liam sick to his stomach.

Stuffing everything recklessly into his bag, he made his way out of the classroom, keeping a safe distance from the couple up ahead. He could see her laughing, grasping onto Joseph's arm as he lead her back to the common room.

Liam grimaced, slowing his pace.

Then he stumbled as something grabbed him by his hand, wrenching him into the nearest classroom. The door shut behind him and Liam grasped for his wand, pulling it out and accidentally poking whatever was right in front of him.

"You're awfully jumpy."

With a "lumos," Liam's worst fears were realized. "Oh no."

"What a lovely way to greet someone." The sarcasm was heavy, but somehow, it was with a teasing tone.

"Marnie," Liam started, taking a step back. She hadn't trapped him yet and there was always the other door. "I'm not-" He paused, searching for the right word while looking for his way out, "fornicating with you in a classroom."

She snorted, grabbing his arm and pulling him back toward her. "I'm actually quite flattered that that was your first thought-"

Liam's eyes widened. "No-"

"But I just want to talk."

"Talk?" Liam knew that talking was never on Marnie's to-do list.

"Talk," Marnie agreed with a sincere nod.

"As in no attacking me?"

She laughed. "I never attacked you."

"Corridor," Liam reminded her. "Last year."

Marnie's hand was still on his arm and he tried to shake it off but she just held on tighter. "You may be the only boy to object to that-"

"You hate my best friend-" His throat caught on "friend" and he wondered if it was true or not. Probably not anymore. Ex-best friend.

Marnie's eyes suddenly lit up and she let go of his arm finally. "Speaking of Eleanor, when exactly did you tell her you love her?"

He blanched and Marnie smirked.

"Was it almost a month ago? That's when you stopped talking."

How did she figure it out?

"Or was it just recently? I think you two have been more hostile this past week. Did she throw a fit when you tried to tell her?"

Liam had to remember how to speak before saying, "She told you?"

"No, but you just did." Marnie laughed, leaning against the wall next to him.

She knew about it. She just guessed and figured it out all by herself. And she had to throw him into an empty classroom to let him know?

He turned his head her way and she looked over at him, that victorious smirk still playing on her lips. "What do you want, Marnie?" he asked.

Marnie stared at him for a few seconds and then said, "Good question. I want to help you."

Help. From Marnie. The girl who used him to get to Eleanor, the girl she despised. "Why?"

"Why not?" Marnie was quick to reply.

He wasn't used to these type of mind games. "No, really-"

Marnie pushed herself off the wall, stepping in front of Liam. He watched her, wary of any sudden movements. "If I want something, I'm going to get it."

He blinked. "What do you mean?"

The smirk never left her face. "I'll see you around." And with that, she disappeared out of the door.

Liam sighed loudly, thankful that he wasn't snogged again. He didn't know what Marnie was talking about: she was no help to him at all. If she was trying to trick him with her mind games, he wasn't going to let them get the best of him.

-x-

He couldn't go into the common room.

Joseph and Eleanor were always in there, talking and laughing and snogging right in his line of sight. If he tried going to his dormitory, he'd have to walk past them. It was much better sitting outside in the corridor, waiting for the hour to pass before dinner.

Other students walked by him, their eyes studying him. No one asked why he was sitting there; an explanation wasn't needed. They didn't care.

Liam sighed as he played with his tie, tracing over the colors and following the line of the stripes. If he had been sorted into Gryffindor, would things have been different? Would he have had the courage to chase after Eleanor even after she told him "no"?

If she had been sorted into Gryffindor, then would she have given him a chance? Went up and told him "I don't care" and kissed him until he couldn't breathe?

He was almost a Gryffindor. He almost wanted to keep trying with her. But he was positive Ravenclaw was the only house the Sorting Hat ever considered for Eleanor. She didn't want to give him that chance.

She was scared.

He understood that.

He was being stupid. He was willing to throw everything away for that idiotic "you know, this might work out to be something more." She was logical, he was not.

Checking the time, Liam calculated that there was still forty minutes until dinner. He slowly got to his feet, taking his time as he walked down the corridor.

Maybe if he took back everything he said, they could be friends again. He could tell her that he was wrong and he only wanted friendship. Friendship was better than nothing.

He needed her in his life. If it was the only way...

Liam just needed to talk to her.

"Liam!"

He stopped on the first step of the staircase. It couldn't be-

The quick, soft footsteps echoing made him turn around, clutching onto the railing as if he was going to fall.

Eleanor was making her way down the corridor, straight toward him. He had to be hallucinating. He wanted to talk to her so badly that he was making this up. She was slowing down, her steps hesitant as she caught his gaze.

He was rooted to the spot, just watching her slowly make her way over. He couldn't even gather his voice to say "hello" or "Eleanor?" or anything. She didn't seem to mind; she kept taking steps over to him.

"I – I just want to try something, okay?" she said, her eyes wider than normal. She was thinking or contemplating something but Liam had no clue what it was. Whatever it was, it was making her tremble noticeably.

Eleanor stopped on the top of the stairs, right in front of him. He had to remember to breathe before he could nod.

"Don't – don't move," she breathed, so close that Liam could actually feel it.

He forgot to blink as Eleanor lifted a shaking hand, pausing a long moment before tentatively placing her fingers on the side of his head. After a moment, she finally brought her palm down, resting it there. She was staring at her hand while Liam stared back at her, watching as she let out a slow breath.

She wasn't-

His breath caught as her fingers curled and she moved her head forward, clearly worried about what to do.

Eleanor's eyes stopped on Liam again, and he could tell by the way she was looking at him that she was scared, but determined to do it anyway. He didn't know why, he didn't know how, but he wasn't going to complain.

Then she froze and Liam could almost feel her bottom lip trembling. Her eyes were downcast and Liam knew she was too frightened to move. But he couldn't wait anymore.

He only moved slightly, but it was enough to close the gap. Suddenly, he was kissing her, his eyes closing as he parted her lips with his. Liam could feel Eleanor's surprise; she was frozen, except for the hand that fell to her side.

He moved his hands to cup her face and felt her finally relax. His heart started pounding when she moved to kiss back, actually kiss him back. Liam knew everything about the girl, but this – he couldn't even begin to fathom this. It was new and exciting, with some hint of the familiar.

One of his hands found its way into her curls – the curls he never got to touch and now could. He could touch her now without worrying about any boundaries. Everything missing from their previous relationship was now attainable.

Liam was about to deepen the kiss when he heard someone shout down the corridor.

"Eleanor!"

His eyes snapped open and Eleanor immediately moved back, her hands cupping her mouth in surprise. Liam could see Joseph stomping his way over, a blazing look in his eyes. Eleanor gave Liam a quick look before turning around herself.

"What the hell is this, Eleanor?" Joseph shouted, his hands clenched into fists. "I can't believe you would do this behind my back! And with him. You said you were- I never knew you were such a slu-"

Liam didn't even wait. As soon as Joseph was in range, he swung back and punched him as hard as he could. There was a sickening crack and Joseph fell back straight onto the cold floor with a loud thud.

It resounded throughout the corridor: the crack of the punch and the fall of Joseph's body. Liam winced, staring at his fingers, too nervous to look at Eleanor. He tried to check his injuries he sustained but his heart and mind were racing.

Taking a deep breath, Liam cleared his throat. "I've been waiting to do that since fifth year," he finally admitted without ever taking his eyes off his hand.

When he glanced up, Eleanor was kneeling down next to Joseph's unmoving body. "I think you knocked him unconscious," she said softly, glancing up at Liam.

"It sure felt like it," he muttered and flinched as he moved his fingers again.

She kept staring up at him and they both fell silent, not sure what to say. She was the one that wanted to kiss him, but he was the one that made it happen. She knew how he felt about her, but he didn't know if she felt the same way. After the way she kissed him back, there was hope, but Liam wasn't sure.

"Should we take him to the hospital wing?" Eleanor asked softly, and then, answering her own question, shook her head. "What am I saying? He doesn't deserve it."

It was then Liam noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks and he fell to his knees beside her. "You okay?"

She shook her head again. "Maybe I deserved being called a – maybe I shouldn't have - "

"No, no, you of all people don't deserve to be called anything like that," Liam murmured. "You're wonderful and great and Joseph's a bloody idiot, that's what he is."

"It was just Marnie was talking about the day she kissed you, and I just-"

"Marnie?"

Eleanor nodded. "I thought maybe it'd convince me if I-"

Marnie. It was Marnie's fault that Eleanor kissed him. She had actually helped him.

"Does your hand hurt?" Eleanor suddenly changed the subject. Liam looked down at his bruised hand and moved the fingers slightly. It stung, but it didn't seem like any bones were broken.

"A bit. It's only bruised."

He wanted to talk about the kiss. He wanted to ask her everything about it.

"Here, let me see." She took his hand, inspecting the injuries. Without letting go, she moved in front of him to see better, pressing down on his fingers as she did so. It stung even worse, but Liam kept silent. He was too distracted by her close proximity and the urge to kiss her again.

When she looked up, he was already tilting his head down.

"We can't," she said, leaning away from him.

He should have known she wouldn't change her mind that easily. It was just a kiss, and even though he had been dreaming about it, it didn't mean she felt the same.

Eleanor turned her eyes back on his hand, lightly running her fingers over his bruised ones. "We have to put some ice on this first."

He blinked. "First?"

She tried to hide her smile, but the corners of her mouth upturned anyway. "First," she confirmed and Liam was sure the whole thing was definitely a dream.

Punching and snogging and fornicating...what a lovely chapter.

But yes, that just happened. Are they officially together? We shall see. Eleanor did seem to change her mind quickly...

Thanks to mew-tsubaki for editing and all of you for reading!