The great hall was echoing with the voices of a thousand students feasting on their lunch. A clear blue sky. Emily picked up a roll and threw it across the table at Beth. She ducked just in time and laughed.

"Pathetic shot!" Another one landed in her lap.

"I take that back."

Emily giggled. "Hey, Beth... I need some help with my Transfiguration. Marcus says you're really good at it..."

Marcus, sitting next to Emily, choked ok his soup. "Are you trying to make me look bad? I'm better than her!"

Bec snorted. "Sure, when she transfigures a cat into a dog it doesn't still bark."

"That wasn't my fault, my wand was-"

"Chipped..." The three girls finished for him. Beth glanced down the table. At the very end Tom was sitting with Kirsty, Kristy, Sway and a short, skinny, dark haired girl with bright green eyes. Tom looked up at Beth and his eyes met with hers. She had the distinct feeling that Tom had been eavesdropping.

"Beth! Hello!"

She shook her head and smiled at Emily. "What are you staring at? Oh, so you've met Tom?" Marcus' head snapped up and he looked hard at Beth.

"Yes. Apparently, I'm the most selfish, shallow being on this earth."

"He said that?!" Marcus shot a look of pure hate along the table.

"And more." Emily looked from Marcus to Beth, a calculating expression on her face. But Beth and Marcus were concentrating on each other, and neither noticed.

"I'll kick his..."

"Marcus, I don't need you protecting me! He's a jerk, forget him."

A boy slipped onto the bench beside Beth. Marc's face turned a deep red. "Got a problem, Gryffindor?" All the girls glared at him.

"Marcus!"

"What?"

Beth shook her head in disbelief. "Marc, this is Joe, my brother!"

"Oh... oops."

"Yeah, oops is right." Joe and Marcus glared at each other. Jessi, seated between Beth and Kirsty, looked up at Joe and did a comical double take. Beth couldn't help but smile at the look on her face.

Joe chose that moment to completely ignore Marc. "Bethy, Mum wants you to write back. Tonight. She said if she doesn't get a reply then she'll send you a howler."

She groaned. "Typical. Yeah, ok, I'll do it this afternoon."

He gave a crooked grin. "Thought you were sweet and innocent."

Marcus gave a loud cough, almost disguising his outburst of "angel!" Joe completely ignored him and Beth sighed. It seemed Joe wasn't happy with her choice of friends.

Emily and Bec suddenly stopped laughing as a shadow fell over Beth.

"Well, Flint, surrounded by girls again. You even seem to look like one, now."

Marcus stood abruptly, Emily standing right away and holding onto his arm. Tom sneered as Beth turned to face him.

"Why don't you run back to the hole you crawled out from, Thomas?"

He looked down at her but, to her surprise, he said nothing. He frowned, turned and walked away. Beth turned back to look at Bec, Emily and Marc, all who had their mouths wide open in shock.

Emily spoke in a hushed, stunned voice. "He didn't even take out his wand..." All three of them stared at Beth.

"He likes you."

Marcus shook his head and swore. "He's with Razzy."

"I think that will change soon." Bec whispered.