The next morning Graham Montague held no shame regarding his actions of the previous night. He was however, still extremely bitter that his plan was foiled by Weasley and Davies. He came so close to securing Vicki for himself – one night with him and he truly believed she would not need a love potion from him ever again as this would cause natural feelings to grow. He was completely wrong, but he didn't know this.

Most Hogwarts students got up late to go to breakfast, Montague included. However in the sea of tired students he noticed that Vicki was absent from the Ravenclaw table. He also noticed that one of the Weasley twins was not sitting with the bunch of Gryffindors that he detested. Montague knew straight away that the missing Weasley twin would have been the one that had accosted him last night.

After scoffing down some bacon for protein to build his muscles (without Quiddich he found it was hard to stay beefy) he decided to go scour the corridors to hopefully find Vicki. He was aiming to get back into her good graces by lying, by stating he hadn't spiked the punch and it was romance and true feelings that must have overcome her. He was hoping he could manipulate her and turn her against Weasley and Davies and say they had implanted lies into her head.

He didn't make it far. Not too long after he stepped out from the Great Hall a lone figure stalked him down.

"Oi! Montague! I have a bone to pick with you!" The newcomer angrily spoke up as he stopped in front of Montague threateningly.

"Yeah? About what exactly?" Montague smirked as he crossed his arms casually.

"You know very well what. You stay away from her, alright? I don't want to see you anywhere near Vicki Hartwell." Montague's new rival demanded.

"See the problem is that I'm quite fond of her. So I'm going to have refuse. If it makes you feel better I promise to treat her nicely once I make her mine." Montague wickedly stated.

"Get it through your head. She never will be yours. So back off, or I'll create trouble." Vicki's defender snarled.

"Are those fighting words, Diggory? Didn't think you had it in you boy. Good on you." Montague nastily teased.

"You don't intimidate me at all, Montague. Last warning. I have a better social standing than you, and I have an inkling the teachers would favour me over you." Cedric growled.

Cedric struggled to be intimidating as he had never done anything like this before. It was absurd for a Hufflepuff like him to be threatening a well-built Slytherin, and usually Cedric stayed away from these dramas, preferring a peaceful and happy life.

The previous night just before bed, Roger Davies had pulled Cedric aside knowing how close he and Vicki had become. Roger had informed Cedric about what Montague had done to Vicki so that Cedric could offer support. After a sleepless night worrying about his best friend, Cedric saw Montague at breakfast and immediately saw red. He decided to take the opportunity. After all, he had faced a dragon the previous month. A creepy Slytherin was nothing in comparison.

Montague's grin was wiped off his face upon Cedric's words as the truth sank in. Moments later it re-appeared as Montague decided to fake confidence.

"Let's see what you've got in you then." Montague mocked as he strode back off to the dungeons.

Cedric just glared at the back of Montague as he turned around and scurried back to the Great Hall. He was hoping to find Cho and spend some time with her. She was smart, she would know the best way to handle this situation.


As soon as Fred woke up on Boxing Day he hurriedly put on his robes and was out the door to make his way up to the Hospital Wing.

He took Vicki there the previous night as Roger suggested Madam Pomfrey may carry the antidote to a love potion.

Unfortunately when Fred bought up the lovesick girl he was informed by the school matron that due to a high number of love potions being used in the lead up to the ball ('It doesn't make sense! A boy or girl may have said yes under the spell but as soon as it wore off I'm sure they would have taken back their ball acceptances!' Madam Pomfrey ranted for a good ten minutes) she was all out of antidote. She also informed Fred that she herself got her reserves from Snape, who would be too busy to brew up more tonight.

Madam Pomfrey instead decided the best course of action was to let Vicki stay in the Hospital Wing rather than send her back to Ravenclaw Tower, as it was too risky to leave Vicki alone in case she went searching for Montague in her loved-up state. Fred had insisted on staying by her side all night but Madam Pomfrey snapped at him that Vicki was in very safe hands with her and that she didn't appreciate his lack of confidence. Madam Pomfrey gave Vicki a sleeping draught to put her into a deep slumber for the love potion to wear off and shooed Fred away.

"How is she?" Fred asked Madam Pomfrey as he skidded into the Hospital Wing.

"She's awake. You can go see her if you want. She's not very talkative." Madam Pomfrey informed him as she was wrapping a smaller student head to toe in a bandage.

Fred ignored questioning the mystery student's illness as he was more interested in Vicki's wellbeing.

"What do you mean she's not very talkative?" Fred asked Madam Pomfrey.

"I've spent quite a bit of time with the girl, especially when she did volunteering work in here last year. She's always responsive if not a little sarcastic at times. This morning I could only get a few words out of her. Very understandable due to what's happened, but still concerning none-the-less." Madam Pomfrey responded, before quickly excusing herself to rush over to two second-years who had wandered in.

Fred was careful as he approached the bed that Vicki was in the previous night. The curtains around the bed were closed so he quietly ducked in through the curtains.

His heart broke at the sight of her. Vicki was a fairly strong girl who always seemed so calm and collected. But lying in the hospital bed she looked so defeated. Her hair was dishevelled rather than styled in a neat-way that she usually wore it. She also laid flat on her side, one hand under her pillow as she stared into space without focusing on anything.

"Hey Vicki. How's it going?" Fred asked quietly as he approached her bedside.

Vicki shot up and sat up at the sound of his voice as she stared at him for a few moments. She was surprised to see him.

Fred now understood what Madam Pomfrey was saying. Vicki certainly wasn't her normal self and she didn't seem to be in the mood for chit-chat.

However moments later Vicki jumped up onto her knees as she threw her arms around Fred in a panic.

"Oh Fred! I'm so sorry. You must hate me so much. I hate me so much. I swear I had no idea I was under the love spell." Vicki gushed as she held onto him tightly and buried her head in his neck.

"Shhh, it's okay. I know. You're not the one that should be apologising." Fred cooed as he wrapped his arms around her to comfort her.

Fred never thought he'd be in a position that he was holding and comforting a girl he had fallen in love with. It seemed so out of character for him. But he took on his protector role like it was second nature to him. He seemed to know exactly what to do to silence Vicki and get her breathing back to normal.

"Y-you're not mad?" Vicki stuttered as she stared at him wide eyed once she let him go.

"Not at you. You didn't do anything wrong, I don't blame you one bit for what happened last night. Montague on the other hand. Well, that kid better sleep with one eye open from now on. He's now the new official target for George and I to test our products on." Fred smirked in an attempt to remain light hearted.

Vicki appreciated this as she lightly smiled his way. She was absolutely mad and disgusted at Montague and knew what he had done to her was unforgiveable. But she didn't feel strong enough yet to even think about him, even to be angry with him. She hated the memories of the previous night. She couldn't bear to remember his body pressed against hers, his lips attacking hers hungrily.

Therefore she did appreciate that Fred was dancing around the subject rather than diving straight in.

Vicki saw a figure approach her bed over Fred's shoulder. She cocked her head as she wasn't expecting to see this person in the Hospital Wing.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt. I've just bought your school robes so you don't need to make the walk back to Ravenclaw Tower still wearing last night's dress robes." Cedric stated awkwardly as he nervously approached Vicki's hospital bed to place her robes at the end and then immediately sprang back.

"Thanks Cedric. Appreciate it." Vicki said with a forced smile.

Normally Fred would be overjoyed that Vicki seemed to be favouring him over Cedric, and would love the fact she preferred to speak to him over Cedric. However this certainly wasn't the time to be celebrating this.

"Don't worry, it's not public knowledge what happened. Davies only told Stephanie Fawcett as well as myself, as we're your biggest support network. Steph grabbed these from your dorm and gave them to me to give to you." Cedric stated awkwardly after clearing his throat.

"Great. Well uh, I guess I better give Madam Pomfrey this bed back. I'm going to get changed and go. I'll catch up with you later." Vicki said to Cedric.

Cedric sent her a weak smile and headed off, not before sending a head nod to Fred who returned it. It was the most civil the two had ever been. Cedric had no problem with Fred but he knew the two Weasley twins weren't big fans of his and were always very icy towards him. Therefore he usually didn't go out of his way to interact with them.

Once Cedric had headed off Fred turned around to also leave, assuming Vicki wanted to be left alone. Before he could leave she shot out her arm and held onto his wrist to force him to stay by her side.

"I er, do really want to get out of this dress. But wait for me outside the curtain, okay?" Vicki smiled to Fred, sending her first genuine smile since the previous night's events.

"Certainly. See you on the other side." Fred lightly joked, as he stepped outside of the curtain to let Vicki get changed.

Ten minutes later Fred and Vicki were both making their way back to the fifth floor so Fred could walk Vicki back to Ravenclaw Tower. Vicki had her stunning red dress tucked under her arm as she was back to wearing her plain old Ravenclaw robes. Madam Pomfrey had given Vicki the all-clear to leave, as Vicki wasn't ill and it was very clear the love potion had worn off overnight.

"So um…I wanted to talk about last night. About what happened before all of that Montague stuff of course." Vicki nervously mentioned which caused Fred to stop in his spot immediately.

Sensing a serious conversation approaching Fred led Vicki away out of the corridor by her shoulders and into a little alcove to the side. This meant that although they weren't completely hidden away in privacy it meant that they would be out of the way of students using the corridor.

"What did you want to say?" Fred cockily smiled, once again finding himself unable to lead the conversation and instead was once again trying to off Vicki's cues.

"The moments between us. They were nice." Vicki responded in a goofy manner.

"I concur." Fred responded smartly.

"Are you sure you're not mad at me? If not for my actions, but that I was stupid enough to accept spiked punch off Montague?" Vicki asked fearfully as she bit her lip anxiously.

Fred's eyes went wide as a mixture of emotions ran through him. Firstly he felt sympathy for the girl in front of him – that she felt guilty and responsible for what the creep had done for her. His sadness quickly turned to anger and resent. He hated Montague for what he had done to Vicki and for making her feel this way. The blind hatred and anger made him want to hit something, but he knew hitting the stone castle would be painful and futile.

"Of course not! Don't doubt it for a second, the only person a hundred per cent wrong is that slimy Slytherin. I still hold nothing but the highest adoration for you." Fred stated as he put a hand on each of Vicki's shoulders and looked deep into her eyes to show sincerity.

"You adore me?" Vicki quickly asked him.

"I adore you quite a bit, yes. Can I ask how you feel about me?" Fred shot back. As of last night he realised he was in love with her, but he knew it wasn't the appropriate time to share it. He also didn't want to scare her off and knew it was too early to tell her.

"I like you. A lot. I also really want things to progress between us two, if that's what you want-" Vicki began but was quickly cut off by Fred.

"-I do. I really do." Fred quickly spoke up.

"Me too. I'd hate to think that Slytherin loser ruined things between us. But rather than dive straight in, can we take it really slow to begin with? Even just for a short while?" Vicki finished.

Fred beamed. It was really happening – there was now something almost official between Vicki and himself. He thought of sappy responses he wanted to say but held his tongue. He wanted to keep things light hearted to keep Vicki cheerful – and besides, mushy responses were not his thing.

"Fine by me. It means we can stretch out the fluffy honeymoon phase for longer." Fred responded.

"So you see us as potentially long term?" Vicki asked as the corners of her mouth twitched into a smile.

"Well, yeah. Don't you?" Fred quickly asked as small panic began to rise through him. He was fearful Vicki potentially was not on the same page as him.

"Well. When you begin a relationship with someone, it can only ever lead to two things. Either you eventually break up, or you eventually get married. Or for the folks who don't believe in marriage, you end up being defactos or whatever." Vicki explained.

"I've never really thought about it before. But I believe in marriage." Fred stated to Vicki after thinking about it for a second.

"Me too. So let's see where our story eventually takes us." Vicki beamed.


This chapter is a tad shorter than I usually make them - apologies. I just wanted to leave it where it was - it was in a good place. I feel like this story is finally beginning - yay!

In response to the reviews...

ForeverTeamEdward13 - perhaps you now don't dislike me at all? haha :)

Paulies1994- I didn't want to say anything before when it was mentioned about Fred and George throwing Montague into the cabinet in OotP but I can now reveal that yes - it will be related :) It's a while off but I can't wait to write about it hehe.

Raven Woods 2003 - Thanks for the support! Montague can certainly be disposed of!