Characters' current ages: Shiro Ueda, Michael Corner, Terry Boot, & Anthony Goldstein: 12. Luna Lovegood: 11. Caitlyn Lumbach: 13. Fred Weasley: 14.

After a remarkably uneventful day, Shiro and his three roommates headed up to their dorm. The calmness of the day led to them being quite lively despite the late time of night. As a result, they sat up discussing random topics until they came upon one all too inevitable for preteen boys: girls.

"So, Goldstein, whoever do you find intriguing?" Shiro inquired overdramatically, leaning forward with his hands on his knees and batting his eyelashes. Anthony laughed shortly.

"Psh, girls still have cooties in my book."

"Agreed," nodded Terry. "I'm sure you beg to differ, Shiro?"

Grinning, Shiro whipped his hair and sat back strikingly. "Don't tell anyone, but I do happen to fancy a certain Ms. Luna Lovegood," he stated matter-of-factly. Nevertheless, a blush swept across his cheeks, cracking his confident stance. The appearance was completely ruined when Mischief hopped onto his lap with a quick meow.

Terry's mouth was slightly agape in shock while Anthony smacked his palm against his forehead. "Loony? You fancy Loony Lovegood? Oh, Shiro, mate… You can do SO much better!" the latter groaned.

"Shut up! Luna's just misunderstood. She really is intelligent- how else could she be a Ravenclaw?- and quite sweet," Shiro snapped, irritably stroking his cat's fur.Acting as if the only other person in the room had been Shiro all along, Michael smiled with a slight tilt to his head.

"Funny how you have a crush on a blonde Ravenclaw girl one year below us, while I have my eyes on someone of the same description but a year above- us…" Smile dropping, Michael widened his eyes and covered his mouth with both hands, a sort of shriek escaping his semi-parted lips. "You idiot!" he hissed at himself.

All three of his roommates smirked mischievously and gave Michael their full attention, their faces displaying mutual interest. With his fingers linked under his chin and his fluffy feline purring contently on his lap, Shiro quite resembled a villain. "Oh? Why, my dear Michael, you just described-"

"DON'T SAY IT! Alright, just don't! I'm sure you know exactly who I'm talking about, but…" Michael cried out in frustration, falling on his back and pulling the covers over his beet red face.

"You're still in your robes," Shiro reminded him in a sing-song voice. In response, Michael invited his brown haired friend to suck something quite unmentionable.

The next morning was much unlike the previous day. Everyone was in chaos at hearing news about Salazar Slytherin's monster wreaking havoc among the students. "I sure hope Caitlyn will be okay…" Michael muttered, his breakfast untouched. Shiro, who was also hesitant to eat, turned to his roommate with an arched eyebrow.

"What? Michael, she's a pureblo-" He allowed his spoon to clatter to the table. Amusement exploded on his face. "Oh my bloody gosh. Blonde. Ravenclaw. Year ahead of us. You expected I'd know her identity. You're only concerned about her wellbeing." Shiro lowered his voice to an excited whisper. "You love Caitlyn Lumbach!"

Their other two roommates burst into laughter. "Mikey's got a girlfriend!" they sang.

Michael looked around frantically, although it was impossible that anyone but him, Anthony, and Terry could have heard Shiro. "One, she's already taken, you idiots. And two, I do not LOVE her! I-it's just a crush! A really stupid crush…" Absently, he gazed over at the Gryffindor table where the Weasley twins sat with three of their friends. Fred was blowing kisses over to Caitlyn, who was either smacking at the air to reject them or laughing before blowing some back.

"Blimey, I've seen you staring spitefully over there a few times, but you looked kind of in space so I figured it was just a coincidence you happened to be looking at the Gryffindor table…" Shiro murmured. His sympathy soon passed, though, as he felt the urge to be more playful. "Watch and learn," he whispered to Michael. He slid off of the bench, striding down the aisle and plopping himself beside Caitlyn. He leaned his elbows on the table, resting his chin atop his hands.

"Hello, Ms. Lumbach! However are you doing this morning?"

"I'm doing alright, Mr. Ueda, thank you very much for asking!" Caitlyn responded in a purposely squeaky voice, pressing her palms against her cheeks. She took away one hand to ruffle Shiro's hair as if he was a puppy, not a fellow classmate. Michael's face flushed pink with envy. Don't go over there… Don't go over there… he commanded himself.

"Well, that was a lovely chat, I'll see you around!" Shiro exclaimed, leaning sideways and climbing off the bench. Caitlyn laughed cheerfully and grinned at him.

"You're getting to be more and more like your brother every day," she remarked with a roll to her eyes. Shiro sent her a wink which she returned teasingly.

"I hate you so much…" Michael growled once Shiro returned to his side, unsuccessfully attempting to block out Anthony and Terry's new chorus of laughter. Shiro put his arm around his shoulders.

"Of course you don't, because I am going to try and get you with her." Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that Caitlyn was now seated amongst the Gryffindors, having her nose poked lovingly by Fred Weasley. "Eh, well… I'll let you continue to dream."

Obviously, that was all Michael could do. Years went by without Caitlyn and Fred so much as taking a break. Michael would admire her from afar, daydreaming about having a future with her, and sometimes sought her out in the hallway to find an opportunity to talk with her or maybe help her carry books. But, no… She was always happily with her ginger boyfriend. The lighthearted taunts of Michael's roommates died down over the course of the next year, although every once in awhile until about their sixth year Michael would be faced with the question "How's your girlfriend, Mikey?"

How could he ever know that he would one day be the father of Caitlyn's daughter?