A/N: Thank you everyone who reviewed; it made me all happy and glowy inside :3 I'm not going to ask for a certain number of reviews again, but it does motivate me to write faster if you choose to review anyways!

Chapter Eight - The Heart Breaker... Or Rather the Nose Breaker

Hot water poured over his stiff body as he stood in the shower, a vacant expression on his face. His eyes were glazed over, as if he were deep in thought. The steam rose from the shower in waves, filling the empty and dark locker room.

There was one thing - well, person - on his mind that just wouldn't bugger off. They lingered, and everything James did reminded him of that person.

Rosalie Flint.

There was no doubt in his mind that at one point in his life, he hated her. Not just her, but everything about her: her ideas, her hobbies, her beliefs... Everything she did got under his skin. Up until this summer, she had been his arch nemesis, his enemy, his rival.

But (and he could barely believe that there even was a 'but'), now he wasn't sure. It wasn't like BAM! All of a sudden everything was clear to him. No, he'd been thinking so hard, pondering the girl named Rosalie Flint.

He decided that she was just lost.

Lost and alone: two words that were under her name in the dictionary. All of her life, she'd been alone. Of course, he hadn't noticed until the beginning of this year, but she was often walking alone, eating alone, practicing alone... And when she wasn't alone, she was with those cows Georgiana and Veronique, or her git of a boyfriend.

He shuddered at the thought of the oaf. Tall, dark, and robust, Matthias Avery was one heck of a dude.

It had always been obvious to James that their relationship was unhealthy - Matthias and Rosalie's. But not until last week did he realize just how sick and perverted it was. And it finally dawned on him that maybe Rosalie wasn't just the enemy.

Maybe she was a victim.

It was weird, to think of her in that light. Rosalie was seriously head-strong, proud, and determined. She was a powerful girl. And to think of her as the weak, abused partner in a relationship was just strange. Though it was immensely clear to him now: she needed help.

Sometimes, he felt sick about actually helping her. And it wasn't like she wanted his help, which made every decision worse. But she was a misguided, misunderstood girl and he understood that now.

It wasn't even entirely her fault. She was just obeying her parents. She was just doing what she was supposed to do.

James turned off the hot water, letting icy water wash over him before turning off the shower completely and wrapping a towel around his waist.

He was going to help Rosalie, his enemy, whether she liked it or not. And he was pretty sure she was starting to warm up to him.

Sort of.

"Matthias, I think we should break up."

Six little words. Alone, they meant nothing, but together, they were cogent.

You have no idea how long it took me to build the courage just to utter those words. And as I stared into Matthias' irate features, regret was already starting to seep in.

"No," he said lucidly, refusing.

Biting the bottom of my lip anxiously, I tried to take a deep breath. "Yes, Matthias. I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore."

He stood from his seat in the common room, towering over me, chiseled jaw tight with frustration. Why did I feel like whimpering? Its not like he could do anything to me with everyone watching.

"I said no," he repeated, eyes flashing. "How dare you-"

"How dare I?" I whispered. "I am half of this relationship and I'm unhappy. I say we're over."

"I always make the final calls. No."

It was like arguing with a thick-headed five year old. I felt like exploding. I thought my very head was going to combust. My fists balled up and my knuckles cracked as I gripped them tightly. "Matthias. We're breaking up. I don't care what you have to say. You can't just tell me "no". That's nonsensical."

He grabbed my forearm forcibly and I winced. "You're mine, Rosalie," he hissed, his voice dangerously low.

I gritted my teeth. "Let go of me. I'm not afraid anymore."

"Matthias," Blake, from the corner of the common room, muttered lowly. "Back off."

He laughed, though his voice betrayed no humor, ignoring Blake. "You'll always be terrified of me."

And it was probably true. I was starting to panic now; so many scenarios had played out in my head, and this was the wrong one.

"Let go of her, Avery." A familiar voice spoke up, and Albus Potter shoved him away from me.

"Albus, don't-"

"Get your filthy hand off of me!" Matthias snarled.

"Don't touch her," Albus snapped. "She's breaking up with you; take it like a man and walk away."

Matthias' arm sprung forward, and there was a sickening crack as it collided with Albus' nose. He hurled towards the ground, blood streaming from his nostrils.

"You beast!" I yelled, bending over

"Aw, come on Rosie. Let him "take it like a man"," Matthias laughed, mocking Albus in a whiny voice. Some other boys from the couches joined in, making fun of Albus, who was trying to make his nose stop bleeding.

In a heart beat, without much thought, I whipped out my wand and screamed, "Flipendo!", sending Matthias flying backwards and into a wall. "Here, press this against your nose. Let's go to Madam Pomfrey."

I handed Albus my hankerchief and he pressed it against his awkwardly bent nose, wincing. I knew it was probably broken.

Matthias was shouting profanities on the top of his lungs as Georgiana went to go help him up. I ushered Albus out of the common room quickly before Matthias could catch up to us.

"You didn't have to do that," Albus muttered painfully. "He's going to be furious with you."

I shrugged, supporting half of his weight. I strained under him, but just barely; I would make it. "You didn't have to intervene. He's already furious with you."

He sighed. "Thanks for helping me."

"Yeah. I'm sorry he's such a git."

Albus paused for a moment, his tongue running along the inside of his lip. "Was he always so... rough with you? The way he grabbed your arm..."

"No, not really," I lied easily. "He was just really mad, I guess."

"You're fibbing," he accused, looking at me with his emerald eyes slanted.

"Let's focus on getting you to Madam Pomfrey right now, okay?" I said through clenched teeth, not really in the mood to have a heart to heart with small Potter.

"Did you do this?"

A boisterous voice echoed through the infirmary and I brought my hand to my forehead in frustration.

"Mr. Potter! Lower your voice immediately!" Madam Pomfrey ordered sternly.

He didn't even look at her. "Did you break his nose? You did! You little-"

"James!" Albus said, annoyance laced in his voice. "It wasn't Rosalie. It was Avery."

Potter paused for a tick, mouth opened like he was going to say something. Then, just like that, his anger flickered to Matthias. "That git! I swear, I'm going to tear him apart! First Rosalie, now my brother! My Albus! I-"

He was cut off again by Albus as I watched helplessly. "What do you mean "first Rosalie"? I knew something was up!"

I gave Potter a glare that could murder baby puppies. "You arse!"

"Please!" Madam Pomfrey commanded austerely. "There are sick children trying to sleep in here! Take your little banter outside if you cannot control your voices!"

"Sorry, Madam," Potter muttered, pointedly whispering.

She rolled her eyes and walked over to another bed where someone laid, asleep, with several bruises on his face.

"He was hurting you, wasn't he?" Albus demanded, green eyes burning.

"Its none of your business!" I told him. "Now that Pot- James is here, I'll be going. I hope your nose gets better."

Great. Fucking great! Now, not only was James Potter in on my secret, but his brother Albus was suspicious. I gave Potter a dirty look before exiting the infirmary.