"I don't see why Nell should be all pissed at me over something that I have absolutely no control over!" I paced around the dorm bathroom the next morning, empty of everyone except for Imoen and I. Frustratedly, I threw a strand of blonde hair behind my ear and slumped down onto the toilet. "I told her and told her that nothing was between me and Jimmy but she wouldn't listen. How can she be so goddamed stubborn sometimes?"

Imoen glanced toward the closed door for a moment, perhaps wishing that my voice was a bit quieter so not to be heard by Nell. "I don't know, Tor. Jimmy kissed you like that so suddenly...he must have wanted to. He certainly looked like he wanted to."

I groaned and slumped back against the wall. "Thanks, Imoen. Really. That's all I needed to hear right now."

She didn't say anything. She just leaned closer to the mirror and resumed applying her mascara.

Closing my eyes, I re-visioned the entire scene in the hallway. Jimmy's stupid remark, then his warm hands on my arms, pulling me toward him...he had the gentlest touch I had ever felt...then his kiss, soft and tender, his tongue in my mouth...

I opened one eye and looked at Imoen. "You really think he likes me?"

"I think..." Imoen murmured, as not to disturb her newly-applied makeup. "I think Jimmy is not the kind of guy to kiss someone he doesn't fancy."

"Yeah. I suppose you're right. But he's treated me so badly all these years."

"My grandmother always used to tell me and Marina that boys only teased girls they liked. Of course, I never believed her...but maybe she was right."

I bit my lip. "Do you think Jimmy is cute?"

Imoen thought for a moment. "I think Jimmy is very good-looking. I mean, he's not really the type I find extremely good-looking, but he does have a certain thing going on."

"Why isn't he your type?"

"Well, what I mean to say is that Jimmy is quite exotic-looking. His black hair and dark eyes and everything--"

"He's Italian on his mum's side. Like fully Italian."

"Yeah, I thought it might be something like that," Imoen continued. "Well he's very good-looking in that way but I prefer boys who are...I suppose more fair-looking."

"What do you mean, you like them not very good-looking?" I asked. This surprised me.

"No, no. Not at all. I meant that I like them rather sweet-looking, more handsome than exotic." Imoen squirted some lotion onto her hands and rubbed it throughout her skin. She looked up, smiling a bit as she thought a moment. "Someone like...like Oliver."

"Imoen, you like Oliver?!" I exclaimed.

She laughed, shushing me. "No, of course I don't like Oliver. Oliver is much more like a brother to me than anything. I mean, we've listened to his girl problems for four years and that just kind of puts me off a bit to her a boy's inner thoughts. Not as a friend but definitely as a love interest. Besides, I haven't even liked anyone since Devon."

"But you have to admit that Ollie is extremely adorable," I persisted.
"All the girls know it."

She laughed. "I know it too. But that doesn't make him any more appealing toward me. This is hard enough as it is."

I cringed sympathetically. "You're still really not over Devon, huh?"

She quietly put her things in their place under the counter before replying, "It's just a process. I mean, our relationship was serious, everyone thought so. His parents even thought we were going to get married. So to be put back on the market all the sudden...it's just very strange." She smiled. "At least he's in Ravenclaw so I hardly have to see him."

I laughed. "You find something good in everything."

She shrugged. "You have to if you want to live a somewhat-pleasant life." Imoen crouched beside where I sat. "So you have to find the best in the whole Jimmy-situation. Even if it turns into nothing, you'll still have gotten a brilliant snog."

I burst out laughing. And that was when Nell came into the bathroom.
I quickly stopped laughing and avoided looking at her. Imoen straighened up, smoothed her skirt, and said pleasantly, "Morning, Nell."

But Nell barely looked at her. She just got her things from under the counter and left the room, nearly slamming the door after her.

"Nell fancies Jimmy!" Imoen exclaimed immediately after the door shut. She looked at me excitedly. "That's why she was so mad when you told her he kissed you! I'll bet you she wouldn't have been nearly as mad if you had said you kissed him, but you didn't! You said he kissed you which she thinks is worse because it means he probably likes you!"

I laughed. "That's absolutely ridiculus, Imoen. Nell hasn't ever even liked a guy to my knowlege."

"To your knowlege," Imoen nodded. "But who knows, maybe she's liked Jimmy for years! It was probably unavoidable for her because he was always around her house."

I rolled my eyes. "Nell doesn't exactly need a reason to be rude to me. There have been plenty of previous circumstances of her rudeness from which there was no origin."

Imoen shrugged. "Okay..." She turned to the sink. "Do you want to borrow my face cream today until we can go into Hogsmeade to get some more for you?"

"Yeah," I replied, getting up and going to the counter. "Imoen, why are you always on my side?"

"What?"

"Whenever Nell and I have one of our stupid arguments, you're always still friends with me."

"I'm always still friends with her too."

"I know...but you're always my best friend. Thanks."

She smiled at me. "It's no problem. You're mine too. But sometimes...it is hard to be friends with Nell. But that doesn't mean we can just give up on her."

I sighed and scrubbed some cream onto my face. "I know. I know."

"Uh-oh, looks as if your parents are having marriage issues, Tori," Oliver laughed as he ran up next to me and Imoen in the hallway on our way to Potions. He thrust a copy of Witch Weekley toward me, a constant source of comedic relief for all of us.

Imoen laughed and grabbed at it, showing me the glossy cover on with there was a picture of my gruffy father and glamorous mom in the low corner, next to a subliner: Trouble in Paradise? Legendary wizarding family in midst of turmoil.

I leafed through the magazine, rolling my eyes until I came to the full story. "'The Weasley's Woes, an article by Damella Roland. Though the Weasley clan is a powerful and mighty one, their fame and fortune may not be able to save one of their many famous families. Bill Weasley, a high-end employee of Gringotts, and Fleur Delacour-Weasley, a French socialite, have been on the rocks of their marriage for the past few months, a source tells us. The couple, married soon before the Great Wizarding War began, currently have a relationship spewed with fights and disagreements. Friends say they have created a hostile living-environment for their three children: Victoire aged 15, Dominique aged 10, and Louis aged 8.'" I scoffed and folded the magazine in two. "Who writes this trash, not to mention thinks it up." I tossed it into a nearby trash can.

"Ah, don't worry about it too much," Oliver grinned. "My dad was in it too. Apparently he's leaving his Chudley coaching job to go coach in Italy."

"Is he?" Imoen asked.

"Nah, never. He's won way too many honors for bringing them their winning streak to ever leave. He's gonna die before resigning."

Imoen rolled her eyes smiling, "Funny."

"Oliver!" A call came from across the hallway. It was Jimmy Mayer, beconing for Oliver. But not for the other two of us.

"But hey, I have to go. I'll see you two in Potions?" Oliver softly cuffed Imoen along the cheek in a playful sort of way, grinned at me, and ran off to Jimmy.

"What an imbecile," I commented of Jimmy.

Imoen reached onto the top of the trash can and pulled out the Witch Weekly, tugging me over to a nearby bench to sit and look at it. "Jimmy's a prat, we've always known it. Doesn't really matter though, does it." She leafed through the shining pages.

"Ugh, why do you even look at that? It's not like you have to worry about your family being in there." I sat back in the bench, crossing my arms.

"You're right about that. But I find some of the articles kind of interesting," she admitted. "Did you know that the guy who invented the wizard cell phones is getting married? Dennis Creevey?"

"Hm," I replied, uninterested.

She glanced up from the magazine. "Oh Tor, don't look now but Teddy just turned the corner."

Ignoring her advice, I immediately looked up. And there he was.

I saw him plain as day. And he saw me. But what happened next was unimaginable.

A/N: Firstly, please review!

Yes, another chapter! (I'm on a roll!) Just a heads up: in the next chapters you'll get...

A confrontation between Teddy and Jimmy.
An Oliver confession.
A surprise *hint hint* from Imoen.
And...a Teddy/Victoire talk. Exciting!

Anyways, if you have any questions about the story, please visit my Meet the Author page! Thanks a bunch (: reviews are loved!