Disclaimer: I own nothing, just my own characters.

Note: I wrote this whole story a long long time ago so I'm basically posting it now but with major changes. This was one of the 'big' changes. I like it more this way. Matt vs Fred Round 1. ) to SiobhanPhelps.

Checkmate

The rest of the week was pretty much the same, mainly listening to the Professors tell us what to expect for our O. . Professor Snape seemed to particularly enjoying telling Neville how much work this year was going to be while Professor Flitwick had me worried about the countless charms I was going to have to remember. I wished I read more Charm books over the summer instead of Potions or spending time with Draco. Divinations promised no real excitement nor did Astronomy so I wasn't sure how I felt about taking those lessons. Everyone in total seemed worried about Care of Magical Creatures more so because of the sudden realization we had that nothing on the exam was going to be what we knew, Hagrid only exposed us to the creatures he liked, which seemed to be only the dangerous ones.

That Saturday late afternoon I returned to the common room and noticed there was more commotion than usual. "Hey, what's up?" I asked squeezing between two fourth years to see the bulletin board.

"Quidditch tryouts" someone said excitedly.

"Oh yeah" I said instantly thinking of Matt who hadn't seen—or really spoken to since the first day.

"Tammie" I turned around to see Abby squeezing her way through to get to me. "Hey, are you going to join?" she asked happily.

"Are our house colors red and gold?" I teased as she smiled brightly.

"I have to watch, my sister was never really a fan of Quidditch so I'm excited to finally see some action" she said, her voice sounding it.

"Why, it's not like you can play" a snotty voice replied. At first I thought somehow Draco got into our common room but then I realized it was a female voice so I thought maybe Pansy was here but when I turned around I saw an average looking dirty blonde hair girl with her arms folded over her chest looking sort of sour and put out.

"Er, hi?" I said trying not to let my annoyance show.

"Aren't you that girl who almost died, like, twice?" she asked as I narrowed my eyes at her. Aren't you that bitch who stepped in dragon dung last year? I asked myself as I tried to smile at her.

"Tammie" I told her sticking my hand out but she merely looked at it.

"Yeah, I know" she said in the same snotty tone.

"I'm Charity Barnes" she said as if I should've already known that. I blinked at her a few times, since the dragon thing I had taken to calling her dung girl or that girl who needs to watch where she's walking. I thought to myself. There was also something else about her I didn't like. What was it?

"Alright, come on, clear the room, make space, let's not all huddle together" I heard Fred saying as he entered the common room. Of course the crowd didn't part at his words but people did seem to spread out a little, making more room for those coming in. Fred came over to where I was standing and nodded at the board. "Quidditch?" he asked as I nodded.

"Fred Weasley?" Charity said, her face still looking sour but her tone a little happier, excited. "I heard you were in the works of a shop. I'm sorry I missed the testing day. It really sucks some girls just can't take a joke" she paused to shot me a look as I narrowed my eyes at her again. "If you ever need a personal assistant I'm here, always willing" she said with a wide flirtatious grin. Oh right, she was one of the few who did not approve of a Malfoy dating a Weasley. Or a Malfoy in Gryffindor. More importantly she was one of the apparently many who openly flirted with Fred.

"Yeah, well, we'll see" Fred replied with a shrug as I looked at him. I knew he knew her tone, he caught her flirtation but I wasn't sure how I felt as his own response. Sure he made it seem like he didn't care but, he didn't act like it was something she should've been saying.

"I know you're trying out as a Beater. Personally I think you should be a Keeper" she paused again to look at me. "You do prefer those, right?" she asked though not meaning for it to be a question.

"Tammie, Fred" we turned to see Matt coming toward us. "Hey guys, I see the flyer is up. I hope you try out as a Beater again, you know how well they use their clubs, always defending what's theirs" he said as if he hadn't heard—or cared—what Charity said. "Tammie" he said nodding at me and then turned, as if just noticing Charity. "Hi, I'm Matthew" he said, sticking out his hand. "You know my friends?" he asked with a tilt of the head. I looked from Fred, to Abby to Charity to Matt to back to Fred, he had both his eyebrows raised high, probably wondering the same thing I was. How could Matt act so, shy and clueless one minute and then like—this—the next?

"Y-yea—well, kinda, I mean, I've seen her play, she's good" Charity said, her words rushed and forced. "But, I think my friends are waiting for me in the hallway" she quickly added as Matt nodded.

"Better go join them" he said; I wasn't sure if anyone else heard it, but there was a certain 'coldness' to his voice. Like he hated everything about Charity in the short time he knew her.

"Bye Fred" she said quickly, looking at him as if he'd somehow say something to what Matt said or something that would make her not look like the bad guy but Fred merely nodded and moved closer to me.

"See you" I said for all of us as she shot me one last glare and then headed out. I laughed as soon I was certain she wasn't coming back.

"That was about the whole confrontation thing now and no revenge later, right?" Fred asked, his tone changing as he sort of glared at Matt.

"Yeah, what else would it be?" Matt asked looking unfazed by Fred's look. I looked from one boy to the other, but neither of them seemed to remember I was there, only continued giving each other looks.

"When are tryouts?" Abby asked cutting the tension.

"Next week I think" Fred said looking back at Matt.

"I have candy" I said pulling out a Chocolate Frog. I wasn't sure when I—if I even did—put the candy in my robes but I found it in there this morning. The weird part was it right after breakfast and I hadn't remembered going in my pockets before or after. And I already knew better than to take any offers from Fred.

"I'll take it, I didn't have any on the trolley" Abby said taking the little pentagon shaped box from me.

"Is that possible?" Fred asked as he raised an eyebrow doubtfully at Abby who nodded.

"My sister gave me some money but, I decided to share with my friends, I didn't realize they were going to have so many sweets" she said sounding disappointed at her lack of past judgment.

"Who did you get?" Matt asked as he nodded at the box.

"Albus Dumbledore" she said excitedly showing us the face of the card.

"Cool" Matt said smiling at her. "I'm Matthew Knacks by the way" he said giving her his winning smile as she blinked a few times still smiling.

"Abbigail Clearwater" she said, lost in trance.

"Wait, Clearwater?" Fred asked doing a double take.

"Uh-huh" she said pulling one of the frog's legs off and examining it.

"So your sister is Penelope?" he asked as Abby nodded and popped the leg into her mouth. "Huh…" Fred said, a small smile spread on his face. "I'll have to let George know" he said as I looked at him questionably.

"When's dinner?" she asked looking at the remaining half of the frog.

"Soon" Matt and I said in unison.

"Do you wanna play chess until it's time?" she asked me. I started to say no, I wasn't the chess person but Fred gave me a kiss on the forehead and headed out.

"Sure" I said as I kept my eyes on the entrance hoping he'd come back.

"I'll be back" Matt said and left to head to his room before I could say anything. I sighed, gave Abby a shrug—who smiled—and went over to an empty table and set up a game.

"Tammie, can I come watch you practice some time?" she said laying out the chess set and placing the pieces where they belonged.

"I suppose if you want to" I said sitting back in my chair.

"Alright then…c'mon, one game" she said with a small smile.

About an hour later I found my last pond being dragged off by Abby's bishop. I shook my head as she declared check mate. "Good job" I told her as I put my arms on my chair and smiled across the table at her.

"It would be better if you tried" she said with a knowing smile as she got up and headed off toward her room. "I'll be back" she added.

"She caught on" Matt said as he walked over and sat in the chair Abby had been in. I gave him a lazy smile as I put the pieces back on the chessboard and watched them fix themselves. "So, how are you liking classes? How's Courtney, I haven't seen her around much at our table anymore" I said as he pulled out his Potions book and started flipping through the pages.

"I told her not to bother you anymore. I sometimes go over to the Slytherin table; they don't really mind that I'm over there. Draco pretty much ignores me, but I think that's because of Melinda" he said commanding his knight to move.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Nevermind" he replied watching my castle clobber one of his ponds.

"Alright…" I started slowly. "What's your favorite subject so far?" I asked seeing as to how he didn't even look like he wanted to continue on the conversation.

"Probably Defense Against the Dark Arts, though, I always favored classes like Divinations, Seers always fascinate me" he said giving me a knowing smile.

"Thanks by the way" I said. "Not just for that thing with Charity but Draco too, I know Fred means well and he does defend me, I just, he knows I don't like" I said as Matt nodded.

"It's alright, besides, it was different with Charity, I can tell he doesn't see it" he said as he leaned back in the chair.

"See what?" I asked putting the chess pieces away.

"That Charity likes him," he said as I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious, you should see how he looks you, I don't think he even remembers what it's like to be crushee" he explained as I felt myself warm.

"You're just saying that" I told him though I felt like I was just saying that. Matt shook his head but didn't respond. "Do—do I look at him like that?" I asked feeling something in my gut a little hesitant to ask him.

"Of course" he said way too quickly. "I mean, you know, you care about him, he makes you happy. But I know you have other things going on" he said. I nodded and swallowed hard, trying not let myself really believe Matt. I didn't look at Fred the way he looked at me. But I felt that way about him. I cared about him. A lot. I told myself. "Hey" Matt said tapping my hand. "Ignore me, I have no clue what I'm talking about" he said but it was already too late, he had already confirmed what I had already knew.

"It's just, this Professor Madison stuff" I told him. "If she wasn't around I know I would look at Fred like he looks at me" I told Matt who nodded his head.

"What's wrong with Professor Madison?" he asked. I bit my lip, hesitant to tell him. It would mean I'd have to tell him everything.

Thankfully, just then I spotted Hermione across the room, by the entrance she was looking around, no doubt looking for Ron or Harry but once she saw me—and then Matt—she came over in quick strides.

"I know what you are" she whispered to him, her eyes both satisfied and slightly nervous. I looked at her as I wrinkled my nose and furrowed my eyebrows. I started to tell Matt to nevermind Hermione but when I saw he had a slightly amused sort of expression playing on face I suddenly felt terrified to be sitting with him.