Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters.

Note: Things are getting good...(Don't freak out over this chapter SiobhanPhelps!)

Never Trust an Attention Seeker

Sure enough it took two weeks, thought time seemed to fly by. I hated that Courtney laughed at his jokes, granted they were funny, but I still hated it. Charity seemed to get a good kick out if it, I could have sworn she was encouraging it, though really that helped us. It made Courtney less suspicious. And Fred was right about her doing it to spite Matt. The more he acted friendly toward me, the more he opened up, the public close interactions we had the more she seemed to go out of her way to find Fred 'just to say hi.' I don't know who promised Abby what but she was doing an amazing job at not kicking all our asses.

I wasn't too surprised to see George's mood was a bit back and forth about it all, he knew what we were doing but he didn't like that Matt seemed to actually enjoy it. "Like I told Fred, Matt doesn't want anything with me" I told George a few days before our trip to Hogsmade. "We're just friends and he wants me to be with Fred" I added though this seemed to hurt my case.

"Guys friends don't like their girl friends boyfriends. It's a fact. I don't care what Matt says, he wants something. I'm not saying he's that type of guy—though I do applaud him for not making some kind of move" he said with a shrug. "But, mostly, I just, I don't trust him. I know you've heard the same thing from Melinda but I know you're not listening."

"He's my friend, why can't I have friends!" I exclaimed.

"You can have friends, you're friends with Draco, but, Matt… Tammie, it's just he likes you and there's something strange about him" he replied. "You know you feel something for him, you would've blown him off by now, he's not moving on so maybe you should" he concluded.

"So who decided to add the bit about Draco being mad Fred liked Courtney?" I asked in an attempt to change the topic.

"Draco" George said with a laugh. "Tamm" he said as he started for the stairs. "I know I'm supposed to be nice to you, but, you hurt my brother, I can't forgive you for that and I don't know if you'll do it again. And even if you do love him, I can't take that seriously. I can't take you seriously" he said. "And you're going to find out eventually," he paused to sigh. "He met Charity his first year, I always caught them together. Sometimes I wish it was her instead of you. I know Matt wishes the same thing and that's another reason I hate him, he has too many secrets and wants what he can't have," he sighed again. "But, it is what it is." He turned and started down the stairs but stopped again though not turning around. "You hurt him again though, I will make sure you never see him again" he said, my stomach disappearing as I gulped.

"Okay" I was all I could say.

The morning of our trip to Hogsmade I paid special attention to Draco and he paid special attention to me and both of us paying special attention to Courtney though it seemed flawless, she really did look like she fell for the whole thing. Even Matt was nearly certain she had been fooled. I left the Great Hall first, giving Draco the smallest nod as I passed. Fred and George were out in the hallway waiting for me. "Is this really going to work?" George asked, already sounding fully in doubt though we spent most of the morning telling him it would.

"For the thousandth time today, yes George, it will work" I told him with a roll of the eyes. I looked back; Melinda was now walking out, giving us the slightest thumbs up as she ran up the steps. "Go" I said to George nodding toward Melinda who was waiting at the top of the steps.

"You sure you wanna do this?" Fred asked, playing with my pinky. I nodded as I leaned back, waiting for Matt. Draco came out next, walking between Crabbe and Goyle, still talking louder than needed. "You think those Weasleys would go for someone whose more in their league. No, first they go for Malfoys and now her…some wizarding families should know better" he said as he stormed pass us and up the stairs, giving me the slightest questionable look. I nodded as I grabbed Fred's arm tightly, knowing he wanted to punch Draco.

"It's just pretend, relax…" I reminded Fred.

"At least he's over your cousin, that's good, right Draco? You said yourself, Malfoys should only have the best and well, dirt is the worst and that's what the Weasleys are" I heard Goyle say as they walked off. Fred was still shaking his head when Matt came over.

"Relax…" I told him again as I smoothed the front of his shirt for no reason. He sighed deeply and then nodded, touching my hand.

"Alright, see you in Hogsmade" he said leaning over but then he quickly pulling back, his face red. "Bye" he added quickly before running off.

"I thought you two agreed you wouldn't…'you know'" Matt joked now leaning against the wall beside me as I tried to ignore the sudden longing for him.

"Shut it" I told him though I could still feel myself smiling.

"Matt!" Courtney called running out of the Great Hall.

"Time to play…" Matt whispered as a familiar mischievous look crossed his face. "I'm going—oh" she said running over to him, but stopping and looking at me. I gave her a little wave but she just stared at me, it seemed, for the first time, it wasn't the innocent little girl smile, but rather the trademark Slytherin glare. "Hello" she said still glaring at me.

"Hi" I said trying to sound kind.

"I just wanted to let you know" She said turning back to Matt but I knew it was something she wanted me to hear. That's how I knew she was fooled. "I'm going on a date today, in Hogsmade, so if you see me with Fred don't freak" she said with a smile as Matt tried to smile back. "And Tammie, just don't go near tea shops, you know how you and Melinda have bad reactions to being in those places and seeing your exs" she said as gave her a tight 'I'm gonna cut you' smile.

"Go have fun" Matt said as Courtney smiled again.

"You too, I know you've waited for this" she said giving Matt a wink which seemed to, make Matt tense up. What did that mean? I wondered but Courtney's wink and smile reminded me I wanted to jinx her. But Matt grabbed my hand and dragged me in the direction of Melinda just as I was forming a fist. I started to turn back and glare at her but Matt was blocking my view. "Hey" Melinda said cheerfully finally holding her bag away from her face.

"Let's get this over with before I jinx her" I said as we headed out and made our way to Honeydukes where Draco was waiting by the far window.

"Everyone clear on the plan?" he asked looking around at us. "Hang on, where's—" he cut himself off just as George and Lee Jordan ran over.

"Sorry, we had to make sure Courtney didn't make any detours; she didn't, she actually seemed pretty excited" Lee said with a wide grin. I looked at him then George, glad they were able to convince him.

"Everyone clear on the plan?" Draco asked again, a little harsher this time. We nodded. "Alright, hopefully, right now Fred is saying all the things to make Courtney feel special." My stomach did a flip; I didn't want Fred telling anyone they were special except me. "Phase two should be starting…now, so Tammie, you come with me. And you too Matt, it would look weird if you were still with them. You lot, go down there, you know when, just give us the signal." Draco concluded, grabbing my wrist as Matt followed us out. Draco let go of my wrist as we walked to the tea shop. I leaned against the building, waiting for the others to give me the cue.

As soon as Fred pretended to be interested in whatever Courtney was saying to him, George would stroll by with Melinda, notice, and, well, freak out. He'd instantly blame Matt for breaking up me and Fred and somehow manipulating his own sister. Matt of course would react as any normal wizard would and they'd duel and Courtney would run to Matt's side, giving us all the firm proof we needed that Professor Madison was indeed controlling us, and then, someone give us a start as to how to expose her. "He looks madder than he should…" Matt said, bringing me out of my thoughts. I looked over too, George was heading toward us. I gave Matt one last reassuring smile and stepped aside, closer to Draco.

"You pompous little ass" George shouted, still some distance away.

"What did I do now?" Matt asked humorously. George got closer, but still several feet away from Matt, a few students had stopped to turn around and look, but most of them kept walking.

"What did you do? I'll tell you. You took away the best girl my brother would ever have because you're so greedy. And then you gave your sister permission to go after said brother…after she failed at taking Draco; whom might I add is just as much as a pompous ass as you" George said, still shouting.

"This is about us, leave Draco out of it" Matt said firmly trying to keep George's focus. He nodded, bringing himself back to the plan.

"What makes you think you can just barge in here—and your swine of a sister—and just mess up relationships whenever you feel like it?" George asked shaking his head.

"Like it really took a lot to mess up the screwed up relationships at this place?" Matt said sarcastically, giving George a smug smile.

"You know what your problem is Matty boy?" George started, though his tone, his words didn't sound like we planned. "You're jealous. You can't have what Fred and Tammie have so you take it away and fed your sister the leftovers. Same with Melinda's relationship." Matt stared at George and George started at Matt.

"God you're pathetic. Fighting for a girl you know doesn't love you." Matt said, now making a step toward George.

"At least I had something with her. I felt something real for her. She cared about me for real reasons." George said, no longer looking like he was playing any part of a plan. "How does that feel Matt? To be used by someone you can't have?" Matt's wand was out before George's, but when George pulled his out a smug smile danced on his face, because he knew he was going to win, he had to win.

The orange spell shot from Matt's wand first, missing George by a foot, who dodged it and aimed a set of gold-ish colored spells in Matt's direction, one catching Matt's foot, though he seemed to take no notice of it. Melinda had joined us by now, her gaze transfixed on George's wand while my eyes remained on Matt's; it was amazing how well they were able to get their spells out while dodging each other at the same time. Matt dodged another spell as I heard running footsteps; Fred was at my side, gripping my arm for moral support. I forgot how worried he might be for his brother, but if he gave any sign of knowledge, our plan might not work.

"Incindeno!" Matt shouted at George, though his point was off and he was slow in saying it, making it easy for George to dodge.

"Expelliarmus!" George shouted back, Matt's wand flying from his hand. They were back to performing, they had to know Courtney was watching.

"Bastard…" Matt hissed turning around to look for his wand. George paused; for a moment he looked uncertain, Matt's back was turned, that was his moment, I knew he wanted to hurt him, I could see it in his eyes, he hated Matt. I looked at Melinda but she was now looking Courtney. I started to turn my gaze toward Courtney but a spell whizzing at Matt's back caught my attention. Matt let out an annoyed grunt as he fell over, gripping the back of his head. George took a step back, still staring at Matt as I went to Matt. "You alright?" I asked him, placing a hand on his head as he reached for his wand, which was much closer than I thought. He nodded as he rubbed his head and started to look around, his face draining of all color. I turned to look behind me, Melinda, Lee, and George were gathered around Fred, but I couldn't see why, Draco was yelling at Courtney who was pointing her wand. My heart felt like it stopped as my eyes got bigger as Melinda moved aside, unintentionally. Fred was crouched down, his hands over his ears, he was twitching, why was he twitching? I ran over, crouching next to him.

"Fred…" I said lightly shaking him but I knew it wasn't going to do any good. I turned to Courtney, pulling my wand out as I did. "Expelliarmus!" I said, watching her wand fly across the grass. I turned back to look at Fred, but he was still twitching, his hands still pressed to his ears.

"What's happening to him?" George asked, his panic quickly setting in.

"Stop it you bitch!" I heard Melinda shout at Courtney as she pointed her wand at her. "I said stop!" she shouted again. I looked up, Melinda's blue eyes seemed to be flames and I knew in seconds that wand was deadly.

"Stupfey!" Courtney hit the brick building a few feet away. I looked at Melinda but she shook her head and nodded in the opposite direction. Matt. He was standing up, wand still pointed, a mixed look of pain and guilt clear on his face but for the moment I had to ignore him. "Fred…" I repeated, pulling his hands away from his ears. He looked at me, confused and terrified. "Hey, it's okay, it's okay" I said taking his hands as he started shaking. "Do something!" I shouted around me, moving closer, tears filling my eyes. I heard footsteps running away but didn't look away from Fred whose eyes seemed to be getting empty.