Marlene and Amos walked hand in hand down the path away from the Potters house,

"Sorry to drag you away from the ball, Amos," Marlene said, "I was having a lovely time with you, it's just, I don't know, I needed to get out of there."

"Don't worry about it." Amos said, "You were the most entertaining thing at the ball, so I'm just glad you brought me with you."

Marlene smiled, "You're sweet."

She couldn't get what she had said to Lily out of her head, why was she such a bitch? Is this what Sirius turned her into? She felt awful about what she had said to Lily. She should have explained the conversation she overheard about Sirius with Lily, but she was just so angry and ended up taking that anger out on one of her closest friends. Marlene sighed, and looked at Amos' hand clutched around her own. He really was lovely, charming, funny, and incredibly attractive. Not to mention he was a year older than her. While Marlene did feel a little guilty about using him, she was surprised to find that she was having a nice time. Amos was good company, and easy to be around. Maybe it wasn't meant to be with Sirius. Amos on the other hand was clearly interested in her, and he would make a very good distraction.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Amos asked after a moments silence.

Marlene laughed, imagining a conversation in which she vented about Sirius for half an hour on a romantic walk with another guy, before telling him the reason she chose him was because he was an easier alternative.

"No, that's alright. You won't want to hear it. I just need a distraction right now."

"Well I have it on good authority that I can be quite distracting." Amos smirked, "Come with me, I know somewhere fun we can go."

Marlene followed Amos down a creepy, deserted alleyway, before he stopped halfway down,

"Are we smoking meth?" Marlene asked him, confused,

Amos laughed, "No, we're going to apparate. Just needed to go somewhere we wouldn't be seen, now come on." He said holding out his arm. Marlene linked her arm through his and felt the familiar pull of apparation. She realised that dating a seventeen-year-old would have its perks.

Marlene had no idea where they would end up, but she could say with certainty that she would never have guessed this,

"A swimming pool?" She asked,

"Yeah, I live down the road from here, it's a muggle public pool. Closed until 6am." Amos said smugly,

"Aren't there security guards?" Marlene asked, looking around.

Amos laughed, "nope. Fancy a dip? The waters refreshingly cold" He said as he started to remove his dress robes. As much as she was enjoying seeing more and more of his chiselled physique, she felt quite nervous.

"Amos?" Marlene asked, he was now wearing only a pair of boxer shorts,

"Yeah?" He asked as he stretched out his muscles.

He knows what he's doing. She thought to herself rolling her eyes internally.

"I can't exactly swim in this! And it's not like I've got a bikini on under here, I'm not even wearing a bra" she confessed. Only now realising the irony that they bought a dress she couldn't wear a bra with after her mother went out of her way to purchase a new bra for dress shopping.

"Yeah, I noticed," Amos said, looking at her chest with no shame, which she was ashamed to admit sent her tummy into butterflies. "Don't worry, I'm not wearing one either," he smirked.

She rolled her eyes externally this time, so he wants to play, she thought.

"You go on and do a few lengths," She removed her shoes and sat on the edge of the pool with her feet in the water. "I'll watch, and take in the view," she added, smirking.

"Very well," Amos said, before diving underwater.

Marlene watched as Amos swam to the end of the pool, and wondered what on earth her next play was. She had never actually kissed a guy and here she was pretending to be this confident seductress. Marlene knew that tonight could lead to a lot more than kissing and she was nervous. Sure, she liked Diggory, he was crazy hot and had an amazing body, he was clearly a lot of fun. But what about Sirius? She doubted Sirius was giving Marlene much thought while he had his hand in Hufflepuff trollops pants. Nor when he was doing merlin knows what, with that girl earlier today. Fuck it, she thought. If he gets to be with other girls she can fool around a bit with a guy.

Amos was swimming back toward her now, ugh look at those arms, she thought, and the muscles on his back were smashing against the edge of the water. He rose his head out of the water and leant on the edge next to wear Marlene was sitting.

"Changed your mind yet?" He asked. "You can always wear my boxers if you've no knickers either,"

Marlene laughed, and pushed his arm of the edge of the pool where it was perched, sending him back under water,

"I wouldn't play that game," Amos teased, "Unless you want to get as wet as me?"

Marlene put her hands up in surrender, "sorry"

"I forgive you." He said, pulling himself out of the pool to sit next to her.

"I also forgive you for running away when I tried to ask you to Hogsmeade at the end of term. I will assume that you had an urgent case of explosive diarrhoea and had to leave immediately, and obviously you were too mortified to explain yourself."

"Explosive diarrhoea, that's what you're going with?" Marlene laughed,

Amos shrugged, he was sitting right next to her now, their arms were touching they were so close.

"I need to feed my ego, can't go thinking it was because you didn't want to go with me to Hogsmeade. That would hurt."

What an arse, Marlene thought to herself. She didn't remember him being this arrogant. Marlene simply smiled. Still hot though.

"So, you come here often?" Marlene asked, desperate to move the conversation into safer territory.

"Yeah, most days actually, or nights. I like it here. It's quiet and I find it a good way to clear my head. I live in the next village over. Found it a couple of years ago."

Marlene was trying to work out what to say in response, unfortunately all that came out was "Hmm" and a nod. Fortunately Diggory came to the rescue again,

"I'm glad I decided to go to the ball tonight, I nearly didn't."

"Oh?" Marlene asked,

"Yeah, to be honest with you, I needed a distraction too. My, erm. Well, this morning I found out that I didn't get a place I'd applied for to study in America when I graduate from Hogwarts. It's a research programme Professor Flitwick recommended me for, but I didn't get it." He shrugged,

"Oh, I'm sorry. That sounded like a pretty cool opportunity, but I'm sure other things will come up." Marlene said, "And I hope I've been a good distraction."

Amos smiled, "You've been a very good distraction,"

They both looked out at the pool as the water started to settle, the glistening of the lights was reflected around the room, and created a beautiful mosaic effect on the walls and ceiling.

She looked over to Amos, realising suddenly that he was looking back at her, did this mean they were going to kiss? What should she do? She had never kissed anyone. His face was moving slowly towards hers, and then his lips met with hers. She kissed back, mouths closed at first but then his mouth opened. I can do this, this isn't so bad. I just copy what he does, Marlene thought. She opened her mouth allowing his tongue entry. Their tongues swirled for a few moments. Shit my eyes are open, Marlene suddenly thought, she closed her eyes and tried to focus on the sensations of the kiss but was then alerted to Amos' hands going some places Marlene realised she didn't want them to go. Marlene placed her hand over his and moved it back down to her hip before placing her own hand on his bare back while they kissed.

It was strange, kissing. Marlene thought it would feel more exciting, but instead it just felt very unnatural. Amos was starting to move his hand back up her rib cage again, did he not get the point? Marlene thought irritably. She once again placed her hand on his to move it back down, but this time Amos broke away,

"Is everything alright Marlene? I thought you wanted to have a bit of fun,"

"I do, it's just," Marlene paused, you're not Sirius. She sighed to herself. Why can't she get him out of her head? It's not like they've even done anything. The extent of their relationship is her walking in on him with someone else and then him making a comment about her nipples. Why was she so hung up on him?

"I'm sorry Amos. It's nothing you've done, I'm just_"

"Let me stop you there, you don't need to break up with me Marlene," He laughed, "It's cool."

"Really? But I've been leading you on all night," Marlene said, surprised at how mature Amos was behaving. See now that just made him seem more attractive.

Amos laughed, "You have been an irresponsible tease. But I'm a big boy, I can take it. If you do change your mind, you know where to find me." He added, "So, what now?"

Marlene pondered that for a moment, "How about you take me home? And if I am too riled up to sleep, I'll send you an owl."

"Well now, there you go leading me on again." Amos shook his head, "I guess so long as we hang out I'll have to get used to rejection." He joked.

"I suppose it is something new for you." Marlene laughed, "Maybe it'll help shrink that ego down a fair bit."

"Ouch. Marlene McKinnon, you sure know how to hurt a guys feelings," he jested, clutching dramatically at his chest.

She swatted her hand over his shoulder, "Come on, get dressed and take me home."