I rushed after Tristan, mentally cursing Wood the entire way. It's not like I was begging him to snog me or anything, and yet there we were. I was disgusted with myself and resolved that it would be quite unwise to mention it to anyone.

"Tristan," I called. He finally slowed to a stop before he rounded on me.

"What was all that about then, Rue? Thought you'd have a bit of fun with me just to get to Oliver? C'mon, he's my best mate! I can't believe you would sink so low," he snapped.

I stood there, affronted, before approaching him hesitantly. "Look, Tristan, that's not it at all. He just kind of... snog attacked me. I," I paused, studying him for a reaction. "I don't fancy him at all."

He was quiet for some time before he sighed, "I don't know."

"What?"

"I just don't know, Rue. I thought I maybe fancied you, but-"

"Wait, wait. You thought you did?"

"Yeah," he didn't look at me, instead finding his shoes incredibly interesting.

"Tristan, please, give me another chance."

He looked up at me finally, his lips parted to say something else. If he did say something, I wasn't aware of it. In that instant that our eyes met, I decided I was going to snog Tristan Gwinnett senseless. Not only did I need to alleviate the obvious sexual tension between us, but I needed to clear my mind of Wood's blasted snog.

I grabbed him by the front of his robes, pulling him to me. I pressed my lips against his fiercely before I drew back hesitantly to gauge his reaction. When his eyes remained closed and he started leaning closer to my face, I decided to just go with it. No point messing with destiny, you know?

I don't really know how long we stood there snogging, but it seemed like an awful long time. We were, however, eventually interrupted by someone's throat clearing.

I pulled away from Tristan and turned to see none other than Percy Weasley. I inwardly groaned, but turned my attention to straightening the front of Tristan's robes.

"It's almost curfew," Percy said in that pompous, Head Boy tone he liked to use. "I suggest you each head back to your Houses."

I rolled my eyes and looked up at Tristan, who planted a quick peck on my lips.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," he breathed.

I smiled and nodded, having completely forgotten the evening's earlier encounters with Wood.

The following Monday, I sat with Klaus and Anna, who had decided to sit at our table. I poked at my toast, having lost my appetite after hearing the rumours about that little Gryffindor first year, Colin Creevey I think, being petrified.

"Oi, Rue, what's wrong?" Klaus finally asked.

"This whole Heir of Slytherin thing is just bothering me."

"Aw, Rue-Rue grew a heart?" Klaus teased and started laughing. Anna gave him a look and his laughter quickly ceased.

"It's alright, Rue," she started, "The staff are doing all they can, I mean, that's what Flitwick told us last night."

"Yeah, I suppose."

"Rue, c'mon. You aren't going to be petrified. We're purebloods. The Heir, whoever he or she may be, is going after halfbloods and muggleborns and the like. Not us."

I shrugged.

"Well, one thing's for certain, at least."

"Yeah, what's that?"

Klaus smiled, "Your 'Harry Potter is the Heir' theory isn't true, since he was in hospital regrowing bones when Creevey was attacked."

I rolled my eyes. Only my brother would be so excited about such a thing.

Anna nudged him, "You should tell her about the other thing."

Klaus furrowed his eyebrows. Anna leaned over and whispered something in his ear, and another smile spread itself across his face.

"Right!"

Anna turned her attention back to her breakfast, feigning disinterest.

"Now, Rue, I've got a very serious matter to discuss with you." Klaus attempted to make his expression more solemn, but failed miserably.

"Yes," I said slowly, sipping my pumpkin juice.

He leaned over the table. "Did you or did you not snog Oliver Wood and then not ten minutes later snog Tristan Gwinnett?"

I sputtered into my juice and began choking.

"Oh dear," Anna said.

I gasped for air after coughing up pumpkin juice for two minutes. "Thanks for helping," I managed.

"I'll take your near-death brush with pumpkin juice as a 'yes', then." Klaus smirked.

I stood and threw my bag over my shoulder. "I've got to get to class," I said harshly and stalked away.

The next two weeks passed in a flurry in activity. Students were still trying to decide who the Heir was, though I had given up all efforts to affirm my Harry Potter theory, and professors were busy trying to keep us all calm and simultaneously teach us.

Lockhart, of all my professors, did the worst job of actually teaching. Thankfully, I wasn't the only one to notice this. Rose and I frequently discussed our disillusionment with the man, much to Carrie and Fiona's chagrin.

It also seemed that Wood was purposely everywhere I needed to be. I would brush past him on the way to classes. He'd end up sitting next to me in the classes we shared. He even followed me and the team to four of our Quidditch practices before I banished him from the pitch henceforth.

He was always trying to get my attention, saying my name as we passed or slipping me more notes that I didn't bother to read and would toss in the fireplace at the end of the day.

The girls found it all very amusing, especially after they had heard the rumours of my marathon snogging sessions with two Gryffindors who happened to be best mates. And they weren't the only ones. It seemed most of the school knew, which irked me to no end.

I certainly hadn't been the one talking about it, so that left it to two people: Wood and Tristan. Obviously, since Tristan's such a good bloke and all that, it had to be Wood spreading the rumours. I had yet to discover how he knew of the snog with Tristan, but I figured he had likely forced the information out of the poor bloke.

However, before I knew it, it was a Hogsmeade Saturday, and one that I would be spending in the company of my unofficial boyfriend, Mr Gwinnett. Unfortunately, we hadn't been able to spend much time together the past two weeks because he apparently was falling behind in his studies. The time we did spend together was in the library, and we didn't talk much. But it was alright, as I was convinced that our relationship didn't need all that lovey-dovey nurturing that so many others did.

We'd been to the usual places, including Honeydukes, Zonko's, and The Three Broomsticks for a nice glass of butterbeer, which Tristan had insisted on paying for. We walked hand in hand along the forest's edge towards the Shrieking Shack, slowly making our way through the light dusting of snow that was on the ground.

We stood along the fence, taking in the view for a little while. Tristan hadn't said much the entire afternoon, and I was becoming quite bored. If we weren't going to talk, we could at least do something productive, like snog.

I turned to him, giving what I hoped was a 'come hither' look. He just glanced at me and smiled slightly, before turning to look at the Shack again. I pursed my lips. The stupid boy couldn't take a hint.

I gently pulled on his arm, drawing his attention back to me, before standing on my tiptoes. I pressed my lips against his, hoping that his arms would wrap around me. However, they did not. In fact, he didn't respond to the kiss at all.

I hesitantly pulled away and looked up at him. His brows were furrowed, a look of confusion and something else that I couldn't quite place etched on his features.

"Tristan, what's wrong?" I asked slowly.

He sighed and turned away from me again. I folded my arms over my chest in an attempt to keep warm.

"I'm not blind, Rue," he said softly.

I drew closer to him. "What do you mean?"

"I've noticed how Oliver's been close to you these last few weeks. And, I've seen the way he looks at you."

"Wha-"

"I know he fancies you a great deal, Rue."

I opened my mouth to object, but he turned to me, placing his hand on my shoulder, and continued. "And I know you fancy him, too. I'm sorry, but I'd rather be friends."

He offered me a gentle smile. I stood there, completely dumbfounded, for a few moments. Once I gathered my wits, I shrugged his hand from my shoulder and pushed passed him. Was he honestly denying me?

I fumed as I marched back to High Street. Wood, the absolute wanker, must've said something to Tristan. That had to be it. He was ruining my chances with Tristan because if he couldn't have me, then why should anyone else.

I spotted him and a few of his other mates laughing as they walked out of The Three Broomsticks. I marched over, stopping right in front of him. He looked down at me, his eyebrows raised.

"Can I help you with something, Rue?"

And that is when I poked him roughly, square in the chest.

"You owe me an apology, Wood. What did you say to him, hmm? Did you threaten him?"

A small crowd had gathered around us, looking on with interest.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said slowly.

I lowered my voice, "Tristan, you arse."

"Ah," he said, a look of comprehension crossing his face. He wrapped his hand around my arm and began to pull me up the hill after him, telling his mates that he'd see them back in the common room. All the while I struggled in his grasp, knowing what had happened the last time that he had dragged me off somewhere.

"Let go of me," I cried, trying with all my might to pull my arm from him.

He didn't listen, and we continued on our way back to the castle.

And there it is! For those of you who don't know, I've just started a new fic, a RegulusOC, that would love your attention. Also, my friend thesmilingpirate is posting a next generation fic that is very entertaining! So please, go check those out. As you know, J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter Universe, I own the other stuff. Please, oh please grace me with wonderful reviews. A special treat for whoever my 110th reviewer is! And a quick shout-out to TheGirlWhoReadsWarriors, BlueRose22 for her specific dialogue when Tristan turned Rue down, and OhTex. Yours.