Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my characters

Note: Well, if ever a secret were to get out, the Hogwarts Express is not the best place...

35: Trouble

"I thought—" Draco started but I held my hand up to stop him. I didn't want to hear what he thought, mainly because whatever it was, was wrong.

"Just stop thinking" I said in a tired tone as I shook my head at him.

"Well, at least she said she liked it" he snorted back as I glared at him.

"Yeah, until you reminded her it didn't matter if she liked it, it 'wasn't anything special'" I said, waving my arms as I mocked him. "And to think she actually likes you, I mean who—" I twirled around as soon as the words caught my ear. I clamped my mouth as I stared at Draco, hoping he didn't hear me.

"She…she likes me?" he asked; I shook my head but I knew it was already too late. "How long have you known? Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" he asked. I could hear the edge to his voice, I didn't blame him, he liked her, but as it stood he was the wrong choice for her. That was simply all there was to it.

"Draco…" I started but he shook his head.

"You knew this whole time and you didn't tell me? All the things I told you, all the trying I've been doing—"

"What trying? You've been making a fool of yourself, that's about it" I reminded him angrily but he just continued glaring at me.

"So the only girl I like likes me back but my idiot cousin can't tell me because…she's selfish? Forgetful? What? I'm sure you have a reason" he said coldly as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Why you arrogant little toad!" I shouted. "I didn't tell you because she deserves better, and in case you forgot, she's dating George." I knew I didn't need to remind him, it was more so for myself. After all, if had I remembered I probably wouldn't have said anything to Draco.

"Is everything okay out here?" I looked over my shoulder to see Lee Jordan standing there looking caught between amused and worried.

"I was just going back to my compartment" Draco mumbled before turning and walking away. I looked after him, but only for a minute.

"Thanks" I said to Lee as he moved closer.

"You alright?" he asked as I nodded. "Sure?" he asked with a raised an eyebrow and a little knowing smirk.

"Can I tell you a secret?" I asked in a rushed tone.

"No, because naturally it's going to have something to do with Fred and as his best mate I'm obligated to tell him, so if I were you I'd try Melinda, but, I do have a secret to tell you" he said, his grin growing.

"Is it about your best mate?" I asked glancing around.

"He cares about you Tam," he said as I wrinkled my nose, that wasn't a secret. "Trust me, it's weirder for him, he's never exactly been in this kind of situation, but, he said it's nice, liking someone and all, refreshing he called it" Lee explained with a little laugh.

"Is that your secret then?" I asked plainly.

"Yeah; my best mate really likes you, don't hurt him" he said as I felt a wave of guilt flow through me.

"What about accidents?" I asked but he only shook his head.

"There are no accidents, everything happens for a reason, you of all people should know that" he said still grinning.

"Thanks Lee" I said, my mind now back on Burnner. "I'll see you around, if not, Merry Christmas and all" I said as he bowed before walking off. I remained where I was. Burnner knew what she was doing; she knew how I was going to react to seeing Oliver. Maybe Olive knew it too, but she knew and she told him and it played out exactly like she wanted. I didn't doubt that she had any intention to hurt me or my friend.

Trying not to give myself too much time to think about it I headed back toward the compartment, Ron was talking with Harry while Hermione was reading a book and Melinda was writing. "Hey" Hermione said looking up at me. "Where have you been?" she asked.

"With my cousin," I said dryly as Ron made a face.

"Sorry mate" he said as I sat down. I waved him off and grabbed one of the books Melinda had on the seat between us. Not to wanting to start a discussion about why I was with Draco or what Draco said I dove into the book.

I was happy we didn't get any interruptions through most of the journey. Like they said, the twins returned when the trolley came around. Fred squeezed in next to me while George offered his lap as a seat for Melinda—who blushed like crazy, but refused—and squeezed next to him. For a moment nothing seemed wrong, everything that happened with Oliver seemed to be like a long time ago, even the conversation with Draco didn't seemed to have happened.

At last we saw the Station just out of view, and the twins left to go get their things ready. I offered to help but they took Ron and Harry instead, saying they need the man power rather than nagging. Hermione stayed for a few minutes but then left to go talk to Ginny about arrangements. "So, I take it you're with the Weasleys this winter?" I asked Melinda as we sat on opposite seats.

"Yeah" she replied looking out the window "So, um—"

"It doesn't matter, don't worry about it, he doesn't know what he's saying" I told her already knowing she was wondering about Draco.

"Right" she quickly said glancing at me and then out the window again.

"Oliver kissed me" I blurted out. It must have taken a moment for Melinda to comprehend my words because all she did was stare at me rather than attack me. Finally she let out a little laugh.

"It's weird, I thought you just said Oliver kissed you" she said, still smiling as if I had indeed made a joke.

"He did, in the common room; that was partly why I was late" I told her. Again she stared at me, but this time it was only for a few seconds. She got up and closed the compartment doors the rest of the way and sat back down but moved to the edge of her seat.

"What?" she hissed, her eyes big.

"It just happened, he was saying bye and then, it happened" I told her.

"Things like that don't just happen, you don't just kiss someone, start from the beginning" she insisted.

"He was still glum about the tea shop and he told me I obviously feel something for him and I said no and then he sorta started to leave and then he kissed me" I explained.

"And you didn't think to slap him because why?" she asked.

"It was harmless, on the cheek" I hissed.

"Have you told Fred?" she asked as I almost laughed, thinking now she was trying to make some sort of joke.

"I'm not stupid" I told her but she only blankly looked at me. "I'm not that stupid" I corrected but she continued staring.

"So, you didn't tell Fred; you let Oliver kiss you after it was basically confirmed you actually care about Fred" she said.

"I do care about him, look, it was just an accident. Besides if Burnner hadn't told him what she did then none of this would've happened" I tried saying.

"If you had some self-control…" Melinda mumbled as she glared at me.

"Oh c'mon, like no one sees how you look at Draco" I snapped at her. "Everyone knows you like him and he likes you, even George, I don't even like Oliver" I said, again more so as a last attempt to justify my actions.

"Don't make this about me, you know as well as I do that what you did was wrong, you let another guy kiss you and you won't even tell Fred. At least George always knows how I'm feeling, he knows he can trust me and that no matter how I look at Draco I wouldn't even let him touch me as long as I'm with George" she explained in a raised voice.

"So, what, you just assume because you share your feelings with George it doesn't bother him? That he's not worried about his relationship" I snorted.

"Again, this isn't about me, this is about you messing up. You need to figure out how to make it right, I'll deal with my own problems" she said. I started to say something else but there was a light tapping on the door. We looked over to see both twins standing there, giving us their best faces while pressing them against the glass of the door.

"I can't tell him" I said turning back to Melinda who sighed and looked at me. "I know I need to but I can't, I just wanna pretend it didn't happen, I feel awful, more so now but, I told you because I need you to hear me out, and yes, I was kind of hoping you'd tell Fred—"

"No, I won't do that to him, not unless he asked, but, if you can't tell him, tell George" she said nodding toward the door.

"I don't know…"

"You'll feel better, if anything, it will make me feel better" she said before going over to slide open the door where both twins were still making faces.

"Hello ladies" Fred said as strolled in and kissed my forehead.

"Help me get these suitcases down" Melinda said to Fred as she pulled her own down. Fred looked at George who shrugged.

"Course" he said as he grabbed two of the suitcases and then following Melinda out as George remained in the compartment with me.

"Lee told me you had a screaming match with Draco" he said.

"Something like that" I said with a sigh.

"Wanna know the secret to a good relationship?" he asked as he moved over to close to the doors again.

"Honesty?" I asked flatly.

"Well, no, I was thinking talking, but, honesty works too" he said.

"Talking?" I repeated as he nodded and sat down.

"Melinda is my friend, I like her, she's smart, pretty, funny, pretty, smart—I don't know, a whole bunch of other stuff. Anyway, she likes me, but everyone knows she likes Draco too" he paused to shrug. "She'd never tell me of course, but, I can tell, and I told her it's okay, I mean, we have crushes in the early stages of a relationship and it's not like we're blind in relationships. Save that marriage" he said with a little laugh. "So, I know she thinks he's cute or whatever you girls think you feel about a prat like Draco, but she's kind enough to be completely obvious about it. That's the different between you and her. She'd never admit it, you'd never deny it" he said.

"Oliver kissed me…" I said looking down at my feet. I heard a loud sigh from George and had to look up when he didn't say anything, only to see him nodding. "I didn't mean to let it happen, it was all so quick" I said.

"Nah, you just didn't think of the consequences. But, it's not like we didn't predict something like that would happen. Actually, I told Melinda after the tea shop thing something bad was going to happen. You care too much to think that you're never getting played. You're impulsive enough to want to make everyone feel better, it wouldn't make sense for Oliver not to kiss you" he said.

"Why does no one think he kissed me because he likes me?" I asked, feeling slightly annoyed with him and Fred's constant take on everyone playing someone.

"And that, that right there is why you let him kiss you. As soon as we get the idea that someone may like us in our head we like them back—"

"But I don't like him—"

"Then you would've smacked him!" George snapped back. "Tammie, you would've stopped ages ago, but you don't want to see him all gloomily, you like him, whether as a friend or more is irrelevant. The point is, you like him and he knows that, but in his thick mind he makes it for more. And because you didn't stop him you've now lead everyone else to believing it's something more" he said.

"Are you going to tell Fred?" I asked feeling exhausted.

"No, because he's my brother and he really likes you and I don't want to see him hurt. I rather you live with guilt until you tell Oliver to back off. No one is doing that for you, no one can tell Oliver to stop except you. But who know, maybe you don't want him to" George said with one last tired shrug before going over to slide open the doors just as the train came to a stop. "I'll tell mum and Fred you went to the Malfoys for a day or two" he said before walking out, leaving the compartment door opened just slightly.