A/N: Okay, so this chapter was really therapeutic to write. I have recently come to the conclusion, with the help of my friends, brownies, and corny movies, that just because my ex was an ass, all men aren't. And James, who may act like one on occasion, isn't either.

So, I really think you'll enjoy this chapter ;)

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I chewed nervously on a hangnail as I heard my parents greet people at the door. I was currently hiding out on the top of our stairs, conveniently out of sight. I sighed and rested my head against the bannister, thinking of James Potter. Again.

I thought back to when I had first arrived at Hogwarts. James had been an idiot, cruel and mean to me for snapping at him, and not throwing myself at his feet, singing praises of Hogwarts and England. James Potter had had a reputation as something of a womanizer. I had seen evidence of this first hand for the first semester I had spent in the old castle.

But then he had grown kinder after the fiasco that was my relationship with Kyle Richardson. We had managed to spend most of this past semester as friends, though we still bickered, and it had been nice. I didn't bother trying to deny that I had even begun to care for him in a more serious way. But it seemed to me that after the Halloween Party, James Potter had had a change of heart, and was now content to just be friends.

And then last night had happened. After managing to escape Victoire's nightmare of planning, he had teased me more than usual, with an unreadable expression in his eyes. It made my stomach do flips anytime our eyes had met.

I sighed once more, looking at the clock in my snitch necklace. I had to get down there. No doubt the party was already in full swing, regardless if I was there or not.

I had straightened when the doorbell rang again. I peered cautiously over the railing.

"Ah, Henry! Fiona! Jane and, oh my gosh, Jasper and Jackie, you're so big now! I'm so glad you could make it! Please, come in!" My mom's enthusiastic voice rang throughout the hallway. "Ah, Jane, would you mind grabbing Lin? She's upstairs getting ready. God knows what's taking her so long."

I shuffled my feet, looking at my reflection in the hall mirror. My skin was flushed, but I was pleased with the make-up job I had managed on my own while Ary and Carly had insisted on setting up the basement. They had picked out my dress though, which was a knee length halter top dress in a deep blue.

As for my other friends, Georgie had been right on time, not being able to help out because of a date with Louis. Jane also had an excuse. She had owled me that her younger brother, Jasper, and his twin, Jacob, had been really ill that morning.

Jane rushed up the stairs to find me staring at my reflection. "You look fine, Lin. You always do," she said with a hug. "C'mon!"

She tugged me downstairs and into a throng of people, all of whom greeted me enthusiastically. Because of this, it took me quite a while to make my way to the DJ table, where Carly was shoving Jack playfully.

"Come off it, McGowan," she giggled.

He smiled and tugged a piece of her hair. "I'll be serious now, I promise. Show me how it works, Car, please?"

She shook her head and started gesturing to several switches, animatedly describing their functions. I smiled and turned around to view the party.

There were even more people than there had been last year. Scorpius and Lily were laughing as they attempted to swing dance, and Rose was chatting animatedly with a boy I didn't recognize. Georgie and Louis were slow dancing, even though it was a fast paced song. I smiled as my eyes flitted over to Jane and Marcus, who were dancing gracefully in a vaguely Latin way. I shook my head. Professor McGonagall probably would disapprove.

Mary approached me with two shots of firewhiskey. "Linny!"

I pretended to look scandalized. "You know there are people underage here, right?"

"Lighten up and have some. It's a party!" She laughed and gave me a shot. "The bottle's been charmed so only of age people can touch it. And besides, we might as well live it up."

"Can't find Davies, can you?"

"Nope." She winked as toasted me. "But not for lack of trying. But that's not the point. To the only single girls in seventh year!"

I paled. "Are we really?"

She laughed again. "Probably not, but my two roommates have ditched me in favor of the male species, and it seems like it's happened to you, too."

I grimaced as I downed my drink. "We're pathetic."

"Not pathetic!" She shimmied. "Single!"

I laughed in spite of myself. "Let's go do shots!"

"I fully support this decision." She led us over to the drinks table and filled our glasses with the drink. We downed them quickly. The semi-familiar burn in the back of my throat was comforting. "Besides," she continued, "from the way I hear it, you may not be single for long."

I blushed and took my third shot. "Says who?"

"Most of our year says Potter's got a thing for you, and has for quite some time." She winked. "He's quite the stud."

I choked on my next shot. Thankfully, I was saved from answering as Albus threw his arms around me. "Hello, you two. Getting drunk are you?" Mary nodded enthusiastically as he laughed. "Hey, Lin, care to dance?"

I placed my hand in his. "Gladly!"

I glanced at Mary. She waved me off with a smile. "Have fun, love!"

Albus and I twirled and stepped in time to the newest Weird Sister's album. I tripped a couple of times, and Albus teased me for all it was worth. "Watch it! I'll have to have my foot amputated if you keep this up."

I scowled. "Enough with the flattery. My head is swelling." He laughed and led me back to the drinks table. Mary, who had by this time found Robert Davies, and was chatting him up flirtatiously. I sighed and rolled my eyes at Albus. "And I'm alone agan."

He chuckled. "Well, so am I, so you're not, really."

"But you mentioned someone on Halloween." I brightened up at the memory of his confession. "Tell me who she is, Al. Please?"

He shook my hand off with an amused expression. "Not on your life, Lin. Doesn't my brother owe you a dance?"

I blushed. "You haven't seen him, have you?"

"I'm sure he's around her somewhere." He shrugged, but regarded me with twinkling eyes. "He was excited for tonight, so I doubt he's left."

I exhaled slowly. "Yeah, well, if you see him, I'll be around."

Albus saluted me as he got swallowed up by the crowd. I prepared myself for a lonely night, but I was happy that that wasn't the case. Several more boys, all of whom were in my classes, monopolized my time with dancing and talks about what we thought life after Hogwarts would be like. Carly even claimed me for a few dances herself.

"We have to add fuel to the fire, Lin" she shouted over the blasting music. "Our relationship is deteriorating!" I laughed at that.

Soon, too soon, it was 11:45, and I still had not seen James anywhere. I fanned my face as I scanned the edges of the room, but stopped cold as I took in the sight in one of the far corners.

Sitting in James Potter's lap was a sixth year Gryffindor named Felicity Gardiner. Her lips were pressed against his with such force that I didn't have a doubt in my mind they were dating. I felt tears prick at my eyes.

You will not cry, Benedetto. You are stronger than that. Besides, he never made any promises to you, remember?

I shook my head. The movement caught James's eye. He looked horrified as he shoved Felicity off his lap. "Lin!"

I dived into the crowd, and threaded my way through the people. As soon as I was sure that I had lost him, I clambered through the window leading to my gated garden. The irony was not lost on me that this was the second year in a row that New Year's Eve that I would spend outside.

I scrubbed furiously at my cheeks, angry at myself for allowing myself to cry over a boy who had no attachment to me. That didn't stop me from cursing him silently, however.

"How is it we always end up out here, Lin?"

I turned sharply at the voice. "What are you doing out here, Potter?"

"You owe me a dance," he said simply, holding out his hand.

"I don't owe you anything," I snapped, but reluctantly took his hand anyway.

He smiled faintly as we swayed back and forth. "I'm so sorry you saw that, Linny."

I glanced up at him. "Saw what?"

"Don't play stupid, Lin," he scoffed. "I know you saw Felicity pawing at me. She jumped me. She's never quite gotten over the fact that I've been the only boy to dump her in her short life, though I've assured her I probably won't be the last."

I stared determinedly at his shoulder, secretly please with his words. "It doesn't matter to me, anyways."

He spun me suddenly and pulled me flush against him. "Doesn't it, Lin?" He stared into my gray eyes. His face was unnervingly close to mine. "I think it does."

I blushed. "You don't know me."

"Oh, but I do." His grin was crooked. "I know you so well, Caroline." He dropped his lips to my ear and whispered, "Felicity has meant nothing to me since you began dating that bastard Richardson."

I shivered at how close he was. My face must have been beet red. "Why?"

The arm around my waist held me impossibly closer to him, as he straightened and used his other hand to tip my chin up so I was looking him directly in the eyes. Their warmth made me weak in the knees. "You must have me under a spell, Caroline Benedetto, because all I do is think of you."

"I, I- I'm not special. Hell, I'm not even pretty." I felt a tear escape and cursed myself for it. In the back of my head, I heard the countdown to the New Year start.

He wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. "No," he agreed, "you are gorgeous."

And with that, he crashed his lips to mine. I gasped and froze with shock, but managed to recover quickly. Just as he was about to pull away, I threaded my fingers through his hair and kept his lips pressed firmly to mine. He groaned and tugged on my bottom lip. I flicked his own with my tongue, and

Instantly our tongues clashed together. He tasted like firewhiskey and minty chocolate. It was a fascinating combination.

His hands left my waist and tugged on my hair sharply so he could have access to my neck. I moaned and clutched at his shoulders for support. He nipped and licked his way up to my earlobe, which he caught between his teeth and tugged. I took a sharp breath and pulled his face back to mine.

A large cheer interrupted us, and we jumped apart at the sound. I faced the basement window. It seemed like the majority of the party-goers had viewed our kiss and were now applauding us. Jane and Carly scrambled through the window with Georgie and Ary close behind.

Carly punched the air and yelled through the window. "JACK MCGOWAN, YOU OWE ME 5 GALLONS!"

I placed my hand on my face as James merely chuckled and wrapped his arms around my waist once more. Jane and Georgie clutched each other. "Oh, how adorable!" the squealed together.

Ary laughed and clapped us both on the back. "I told you so! Oh, I completely saw this coming! Wait until I tell everyone!"

I buried my face into James's chest. He chuckled and, with a single finger, forced me to look up at him again. "All right, all right you lot. Now, kindly bugger off." He captured my lips again. I smiled into the kiss.

Several catcalls hit our ears. Without breaking the kiss, I raised my middle finger and shoved it in the direction of the basement.