The sound of skin on leather echoed down the halls of the dungeons. Beth crept along the damp, cold passage and, peeking into a room, found Tom, shirtless, belting a huge, magically conjured punching bag. With each punch he grunted out a word. Beth leant against the doorway, a rush of anger changing her mildly surprised expression to calm resignation.

"Get… you… hunt… you… down… he… says…" Tom panted, kicking the bag until his foot turned red.

"No you won't." Beth said calmly. He knew who Tom was talking about and she was disgusted. She felt someone standing behind her. Leecie.

"Do you make a habit of talking to punching bags, Tom?"

He whirled around and whipped out his wand, shoving it back out of sight at the sight of the two girls, both leaning against one side of the doorway, both with arms folded. Only Leecie had an amused look on her face.

"Don't you think I have a right to?" He answered Beth first. "I mean yesterday and before that…" He sniffed, swiping his hand roughly across his forehead, wiping away the beads of sweat, and turned to Alicia. "And no, I'm just finding another way to take this out on something… or someone."

"Shut up, Tom!" she said harshly, before she could stop herself. She dropped her eyes to the floor, suddenly feeling guilty. "Sorry, I'm just a bit… yeah." She wouldn't make excuses for herself.

Tom shook his head angrily. "Let's make it the official put-tom-in-pain year, shall we? Because that's what it damn well feels like, and it isn't helping when you're standing by him when you know damn well he's done wrong!" He stopped suddenly, panting, his face ashen and furious. Beth took a deep breath, struggling to keep her calm.

"I know what he's done. But he's human, Tom, we all make mistakes. You don't know how I feel, you probably don't even care."

"I do care, but you're blind to see it. All you see is him. The perfect human being." He proceeded to bash the punching bag. Both had forgotten Leecie was there, standing with her mouth open. "Probably… still… with… him… too…"

Beth's resolve broke. "Shut UP!" Her entire body was trembling with fury. "He did it before we got together, ok? I don't know why he did it but you did the same! While we were together!" She reached up and brushed a tear away. Why did she always chose the guys that managed to hurt her? Every time!

"It's just too hard…"

"Why don't you go and discuss this with a non-Death Eater, or better, a Death Eater hater."

"The whole idea is to go to a friend. You are my friend, aren't you?"

"Yes, I thought I was. But after this week I'm not sure that is up to you."

Leecie cleared her throat and Beth and Tom turned in surprise. They'd completely forgotten her. "Maybe I should go, you two look like you've got things to sort out."

Beth leant back against the wall. What was happening to her, lately she was acting like such a wuss. No more, no more tears, no more heartache. Just become who she used to be before these strange, unpredictable people tore her ordered, calm life apart.

"Eww, I'm not touching that thing!"

Leecie was pointing disgustedly at Tom's rapidly swelling foot. Beth sighed. "Sit down, Tom."

She forced him to sit down, ignoring his swearing and gasps of pain. She lifted his foot and gently moved the toes. "You've sprained it."

"Sprained..? Great."

Leecie batted her eyelashes innocently. "Aww, does it hurt?"

Tom picked up his wand, standing on his uninjured foot, and pointed it at Ali, who blinked back calmly. "Keep talking and I'll give you a…" He looked down at Beth then threw his wand on the floor. A subtle smile appeared on Alicia's face. Beth, however, was not amused and, reaching up, grabbed Tom's hand and pulled him roughly down, making him sit.

"Tom, sit down and shut up. Now…" She waved her wand and Tom's foot and ankle was magically bandaged. She sat back and admired her handiwork. Tom raised an eyebrow.

"I could just go to the hospital wing, you know."

"You are not dragging this thing all the way up there, now here," she helped him to his feet.

"Thanks," he muttered. "Hey, now I have an excuse for not being in class."

Leecie snorted. "Like you needed one."

Beth nodded then, after a curt exchange of farewells, they separated.