Marcus, of course, was furious that Beth had taken Tom back, but bit his lip at the look on Beth's face. She knew, deep down, that if he'd said one comment, said just one little word, she would have let fly all her rage at him, maybe even hit him. She had gone against everything she stood for, every piece of advice she'd ever given her friends, and, although she didn't want to admit it, she could tell this would never turn out well. Once a cheater…

Joe had just sighed and shaken his head.

"You know, I thought you liked Marcus."

"Huh? Oh, because every other girl does? No, Joey."

"Just a hunch."

She sighed and flicked her hair out of her eyes. It was a week until Christmas. She and Joe had been at Hogwarts for four months, it had all gone so quick! And so much had happened… Emily getting hurt, Tom and her had been back together for three weeks, Marcus and Emily… She shook her head. Just one week ago, exactly, Marcus had smiled wanly at Beth.

"Emily and I broke up. For good, this time."

"What?!"

He shrugged. "She kept dumping me and then apologising… I gave up."

Beth had just nodded. Emily had been making the poor boy jump through hoops for the past month or so. Beth cared about both him and Gem too much to give any bias advice, so she had hung back. But… poor Marcus. He looked so dejected sitting at her feet Beth had reached down and wrapped her arms around his chest, resting her cheek on the top of his head. Compared to her he had always been the strong, warm, steady presence. Seeing him so let down and deflated hurt her.

A girl walked up behind Beth and cleared her throat. Whirling around, Beth was stunned to see Jessi behind her.

"Hi… you're Joe's sister right? And Tom's girlfriend. We met at the beginning of the year, I'm Jessi."

"I know."

Jessi looked away, uncomfortable. "I didn't mean for her to get hurt, honestly, it was stupid, a mistake, Marcus loves… loved her, please, can't we be friends?"

Beth looked at her, searching the younger girls' face. "Why?"

Jessi shrugged. "I just… thought it would be good for Tom, I'm his sister… half sister, like you and Joe."

"Joe told you that he and I were half brother and sister?"

She nodded. Beth blinked. Joe would never say something like that to someone he didn't trust. She smiled gently. "Alright. Umm, does Marcus know about this?"

"He forgave me last week."

Beth grinned. That made sense. "Ok, then. Just, don't pull any pranks on me, a coma isn't really appealing…"

Jessi laughed nervously. The poor girl, Beth thought. What it must have cost her to come up to me and say that…"

Both Tom and Joe were overwhelmed that Beth and Jessi had forged such a deep friendship within days. Beth, however, wasn't happy with Tom. She had to convince herself that she wanted to be with him, but everyday something or other happened to make a little seed of doubt in her mind grow a tiny bit bigger. Watching Tom hassle kids in the halls, accidentally spotting him flirting with various girls, the strange looks in his eyes, his little disappearing acts where he was gone for days at a time… she was nervous and jumpy again. But while Tom was away, leaving her lonely and at a loss, Beth became closer and closer with Marcus.

She sensed the danger but it was already too late. When he walked past and smiled at her, her heart would give a painful thump. She forced the little thoughts out of her head. In love with Marcus? No. Not possible. She wasn't like every other hormone driven girl in the seventh year. She loved Tom… didn't she?

Emily had become increasingly more agitated at the close friendship Beth and Marcus now had, not to mention Beth being friends with Jessi. Beth had begun to avoid Emily for the sake of peace for just one day. While this was happening, Beth made another friend. Someone she was surprised to meet and someone she would become extremely close to.

"Beth," Marcus said, smiling gently. "This is my sister, Alicia."

Leecie was… well, stunning. Beth felt a stab of jealousy at the sight of her. Obviously Joe thought the same thing, because, as he walked into the common room he froze at the sight of her. She smiled at Beth.

"Heya, Bethy. I've heard heaps about you… when are you and Marcus going to get together?"

"Well, Marc, at least she's direct!" Beth said, with a laugh. "Alicia, this is my lobotomised brother, Joe." She gestured to the stunned boy standing at the foot of the stairs to the boys dorm.

"Well, first, call me Leecie. And hi, Joe!"

Joe gave a weak wave then pushed his way past them. Beth grinned. She had to set those two up.