By the end of her exams, Beth was exhausted beyond belief. She felt like she'd dredged every tiny piece of information from her memory and that her brain ached from the constant strain she was putting on it. To release stress she would often sit with Leecie or Jessi, talking about random things.

"Have you heard the frog song?" she asked, just before her last exam.

"Frog song?"

"Yeah. The one that goes 'da glumph when the little green frog one day…"

Jessi burst into giggles. "I know it! But we all know frogs go…"

Beth clapped loudly. "La di da di da!"

Leecie shook her head. "Sad. Beth, I think these exams have gone to your head."

"Where were they before?"

"I'd rather not go into that."

"Good idea," Jessi said.

Since that one moment, Beth would randomly burst out with 'la di da di da' when things became a little too quiet for her liking. Each time Jessi or Leecie would struggle to remain straight faced, but failed miserably when Beth, after not receiving an immediate reaction, would continue the entire repertoire, including the clapping and hand waving. She would often have the two girls laughing madly and, after each time, her stress would fade away slightly, lost in the laughter of her best friends.

Finally, her exams were over. She emerged from the last one and mopped up to the common room. In one corner of the very quiet room she found Marc, Joe, Jessi and Leecie chatting away. They turned and looked at her as she sat down next to Marcus, his arm automatically sliding around her waist. "I'm so glad that's over," she sighed, closing her eyes. Joe reached over and squeezed her hand.

"I'll bet you did an awesome job."

"Hope so." Beth yawned widely. "I'm so tired…"

"Go to bed."

"Alone." Leecie had to add.

Beth just shook her head. "I won't sleep. We need to have some fun-."

The common room entrance burst open and a flock of seventh years streamed in. "Party! Exams are over!"

"Well, Beth," Jessi grinned. "Here's your fun."

Half an hour later the common room was pumping music, empty Butterbeer bottles were scattered everywhere and the room was loud with people talking and laughing, unwinding after a horrible few weeks. Beth watched as people whirled in the middle of the room to the music. Marcus grinned, stood, and held out his hand.

"May I have this dance?"

Beth blinked. "But you don't dance!"

"I'm only going to ask once…"

"Ok, ok, yes you may!"

She laughed as he whisked her onto the floor. All her worries, the panic that her NEWTs may not get her into the college, the trouble with Tom, everything just evaporated. All that was left was the room filled with laughter. Marcus twirled her under his arm. And Beth threw back her head and laughed.

"You really aren't that bad at dancing!" she shouted over the noise.

"I know, but I wasn't going to show off just what a talented and purely amazing person I am, was I?"

Beth pulled a face. "Keep dreaming…" A hand tapped her on the shoulder. She didn't even have to look to know who it was, the look on Marc's face told her everything.

"Beth, can we talk?"

She bit her lip. "Marcus, I'll be back soon, alright? Dance with Jessi…" She pushed him towards the small girl, sitting in a corner chatting with Joe.

"You're not going anywhere with him," he argued quietly.

"Marc! I can look after myself, really! Go!" She turned and walked away out of the common room and into the cold corridor outside. She shivered then turned.

"What do you want, Tom?"

He looked at her then looked away. "Look, I know I don't deserve your friendship anymore-."

"Too damn right, you don't."

"But I just wanted to say I was sorry. I've been a… well, an idiot lately."

"You mean a self-centred asshole, jerk, wanker and bastard?"

"You could say that."

"I just did."

He sighed and looked at her. Beth took a closer look. He was exhausted, there were bags under his eyes and he was covered in cuts and bruises. She sighed.

"You're forgiven. But don't get me wrong, I will never forget this. I'm never going to even try to be good mates with you again, but I'll still talk to you. When I can be bothered. Clear?"

"Crystal," he said softly, a half disappointed half relieved look on his face.

"Shake." She held out her hand. The exhausted, wrung out look had lifted from her face. Suddenly she smiled. He smiled back furtively, as if not sure about whether he should or not. His cold hand gripped her warm one and they shook.

"Any more threats, insults, or violence to any of my friends, you'll regret it more than you can imagine."

"Alright, it's a deal."

They grinned at each other and Marcus appeared in the entrance to the common room.

"Beth? Everything ok?"

She nodded, not looking away from Tom. "Yeah. Yes, everything is brilliant. Come on," she giggled and whirled around, taking Marc's hand and pulling him back into the common room. "We didn't finish that dance."

And she pulled him into the common room, leaving Tom alone to mull over just how lucky he was.