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Note: I am on a roll tonight, I owe it mostly to SiobhanPhelps who eagerly awaits a chapter and to anyone else reading. Please comment, I love comments.

Friends, *Friends* and "Friends"

It was night time when I got my first visitor; I didn't know why I was so surprised to see Melinda. She adjusted her skirt as she sat down, shaking her head a bit as she did so. "Fred tried to come up but he got himself another day of detention and five points taken from Gryffindor." I slumped back in the bed.

"Was he in Potions?" I asked; Melinda nodded. Of course he was in Potions; every other Professor would've let him leave, except Professor Snape.

"How come I reacted so badly?" I asked, my memory of the morning slowly filling my mind. "I'm not the first to have one of those."

"We don't think it was the same thing, we think someone keeps switching his or something" Melinda suggested.

"But they guard those bag with their lives, no one can get them" I replied.

"And yet someone has, your boyfriend thinks it's Matt" she said.

"Not judging by how quick he was to rat the twins out and how annoyed he looked about me taking one" I told her.

"I know, Draco likes Matt, he likes the 'concern' Matt shows" she said rolling her eyes. I was careful not to say anything

"Who did hear all this from anyway?" I asked

"Matt; I left class because I forgot my favorite quill in Transfiguration and I didn't want to leave it there for anyone else to pick up. Anyway, Matt was coming back down and he looked really distraught so I jokingly asked if he got an E on his assignment, but then he told me what happened. I wanted to come up during lessons but…" she trailed off, looking apologetic.

"I understand, it's not like I was dying, though, I do sincerely hope if I was dying you'd be more willing to skip a lesson" I teased.

"During lunch I came to check on you but you were still sleep. George came with me and then Fred came a few minutes later. He stayed through dinner and I came back for a moment and Madame Pomfrey told me you'd be awake soon so I said I'd be back as soon as I could. Draco just left…" I looked at her, not sure if she meant before or at this moment. But when I listened closely I could hear the sound of footsteps moving away. "He's been up a few times, but he never stays, doesn't want to be caught around the Weasley, or me" she said, looking down at her hands.

"That's not true, why do you keep thinking that? He obviously felt the way he did all summer for a reason, that doesn't just disappear" I explained, though I knew my words meant nothing.

"The Slytherins already had their tryouts, Courtney made the team, she's a Beater, Draco's on the team too. We just got our list posted yesterday, I'm a Seeker. The Ravenclaw captain told me we're playing against them in the first match" she explained dryly. I looked over at Melinda, her sigh was louder than I expected and her face seemed to drain of color. I could only imagine what she was thinking, though I was thinking we hadn't had tryouts yet.

"You guys will still win though, your strategies are awesome" I said with a smile. It was true, the Ravenclaws always played well, they knew what they were doing and how to communicate with each other. They knew how to win.

"I hope so, I love beating Slytherin" she said with a smile. I nodded in agreement. "But, they play you next—assuming you ever get a team together—you should make sure everyone is on the same page by then" I looked at her curiously but didn't have time to answer because Fred had swung back the curtain, nearly tearing it off.

"Oh, right, sorry, I meant to say she's alive and well, not dying, my mistake" George said from behind him, his grin clear.

"I'm so sorry" Fred said walking over and hugging me, tighter than I would've liked. "I didn't think to take a second look, I didn't think the same thing could happen twice" he said still tightening his grip.

"It's alright, please let go, I can't breathe" I told him as I felt my lungs burn. He finally let go, allowing me to take a deep breath.

"Sorry" he mumbled again, this time sitting on the side of the bed.

"I know, just promise me one thing—" I started but he held his hand up.

"It's done, I made an announcement that the other students could watch George and I but there weren't to even ask about the products" he said.

"Yeah, and then some little git blurted that it didn't matter what happened, you were just some stupid fifth year taking some candy that you knew could kill you" George said shaking his head. I laughed, it had to be Charity.

"I told her the stupid fifth year was my girlfriend and she ever insulted you again I'd shove all the tongue tied toffees in her mouth myself" Fred said with a smile. "She looked terrified…" he sighed, still smiling. "It was wonderful, wasn't it George?" he asked looking over at his brother.

"It was indeed Fred. Don't think I've seen you act so passionately before though," George said, still smiling but Fred ignored it as he turned back to me, his ears red. "Anyway, Melinda and I are going to go frolic in a corner, see you later" George said, pulling Melinda from the seat and out of the room. I laughed as I caught a glimpse of her mixed expression of confusion and excitement.

"Honestly, those two…" Fred joked loudly making sure his brother heard.

"Leave them alone" I joked back leaning forward to kiss him.

"Hmm…this is private isn't it?" he asked kissing me again as I nodded.

"Tammie, I just—" we pulled away as Draco walked in. I couldn't tell if he wanted to vomit or yell. He breathed out and looked from me to Fred, trying to think of what he should be saying.

"Oh, er, Draco, thank you for bringing me up here, it was nice of you" I said as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and sat up.

"Sorry, I just thought I saw Melinda and Fred leave, I assumed you were up here by yourself" Draco said still looking at Fred.

"No, that was Melinda and George" I said.

"Of course, no, that makes sense; poor people like the Weasleys seem to gravitate to the rich people." I wanted to smack him but Fred's hand was tight around my wrist and my wand was out of reach.

"I'd like to continue making out with my boyfriend so I'd greatly appreciate it if you would leave" I told him in a matter-of-fact tone. It was hard to keep from laughing as his face contorted from disgust to anger to expressionless in under five seconds. Fred stood up and shooed him out, pulling the curtains shut to make it more dramatic.

"Where were we?" he asked loudly, knowing Draco was still standing outside. When we were sure Draco had moved away we gathered ourselves together, preparing to leave.

"Oh!" Madame Pomfrey said as she opened the curtain, looking slightly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, it's just that one of the students came to me a few seconds ago and said I should check on you Miss. Allen" she explained. I rolled my eyes, of course Draco would tell.

"Was he about this high, blonde hair, Slytherin, rotten looking expression and a nose out to here?" Fred asked stretching his hand far away from his actual nose to indict where Draco's nose would be.

"Weasley, if I hear about another student up here due to your—"

"You won't, I promise" Fred said quickly interrupting her as he took my hand and we walked out of the hospital wing, me shouting a thanks as I went.

When we returned to the common room Charity, who was now easy to spot ran off, clearly frightened of Fred. "Aw, I supposed she doesn't want a hug now" Fred joked as he sat on the couch, pulling me close.

"Tammie, I'm honestly sorry about what happened. I know I said it before, but I mean it and…" he trailed off, looking at our entwined hands.

"You said you wanted to say something earlier?" I asked. He smiled and kissed my forehead, though he didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"I did, but, I don't think today is the right day" he said now glancing over to the window. I nodded, feeling annoyingly relieved.

"Alright, well, I'm going to ask Hermione what I missed" I said standing up and looking around for Hermione then looking back at Fred who was staring lazily as me. I gave him a nervous wave before spotting Hermione, who had just walked into the common room, Harry and Ron on either side, Matt and a few other students behind them.

"You're back!" Matt and Hermione said at the same time. I laughed but nodded as Hermione looked back Matt, I could tell she didn't want him to sound so excited, I shouldn't have wanted him too either. But he was my friend, I was allowed to make more friends, regardless how mysterious they were.

"Yeah, what did I miss?" I asked, directing my question at Hermione but Matt moved forward, my bag in his hand. I looked back at Hermione who I knew was trying to say something but I couldn't read her expression.

"Um, thanks" I told him taking the bag.

"You can copy my notes if you like" he said putting down his own bag. I smiled, I should decline, I could very well copy from Hermione. I shook my head. Matt was a new student, he didn't have any friends, he didn't fit in. I had no reason to make him feel anymore awkward than he probably already felt.

"Alright then" I said happily taking his notebook from him. I walked back over to where Fred was, he had been reading, or rather, staring at his Potions book. I knew he hadn't read even a page; he was trying to overhear the conversation. He was worried. I moved closer, leaning into him as I kicked my shoes off and bent my legs, now cuddled close to him. He pretended he didn't like the new degree of closeness but I as he slung his arm around me I could make out a smile.

The rest of the week went by quickly. The second weekend in October we finally had our Quidditch tryouts. Fred and George easily made their marks as the team beaters while Ginny made a good impression on me as another Chaser. Katie Bell, fellow Chaser grinned as I approached my broom. I forced myself to relax. The first time I ever sat on a broom was third year, Oliver Wood, former Captain and Keeper was my instructor and also former boyfriend. I shuttered as I shook him from my mind. I did not need to be reminded of him at a moment like this. This year I wasn't going to be at risk for anything, my relationship with my boyfriend was better than ever and I loved the feeling of the wind at my back.

"Make three goals and you're in" Katie told me as she threw me the Quaffle. I nodded and started to move but I heard whining from the ground.

"No fair, she can't just make the team like that, you can't promise her a position even if you are the Captain!" I had to squint to look but I was certain the girl complaining was Charity. Was that a broom in her hand? Was she trying out for Quidditch? I wondered. I laughed as I thought about it. No one in their right mind would put her on this team. She had an awful attitude, which certainly wouldn't lift the quality of the team.

After tryouts I ventured back inside, Melinda was sitting at the Ravenclaw table with a book. It seemed like ages since we last had a conversation. "How were tryouts?" she asked as I sat down beside her.

"Wonderful, I made the team, granted I'm not supposed to know until next week or whatever." Melinda smiled. "But I'll let you get back to studying, I don't want to take up too much of your time, plus I have a Potions essay that won't do itself" I said with a sigh, as I thought of the pile of homework sitting on my bed.

"Hey, um, you're going to Hogsmade, right?" she asked, setting her book down, looking up. I wanted to comment about her puffy eyes, had she been crying? Had her and George broken up? I wondered. I looked around for George but he was probably still outside with brother and the rest of the team.

"Uh-huh" I said trying to remain calm as I caught a glimpse of Draco strolling in. I only looked back at Melinda because I heard her stiffing.

"Do you think you could meet me for a butterbeer, I—I want to talk" she said, her voice shaking a bit as she tried her best to not look over at the Slytherin table. I quickly nodded.

"Course I can!" I said happily, starting to move toward her to see if I could find out what was wrong, but, as if on cue George walked in, laughing, joking, as if nothing was wrong with his girlfriend as he leaned over and kissed her. Her eyes shone a little brighter, her stiffing stopped. She managed to blink a few times before smiling at George. I hated watching them, but sometimes I felt unable to look away. George seemed to have the ability to make his relationship ten times more glorious than any other couple at school even though he secretly knew he wasn't 'the one.' "Hey Liny" he said to her, his hands on her shoulders.

"Hey George" she replied, her face had disappeared of any signs of sadness. I took the moment to look over at the Slytherin table, I couldn't help but smile as I saw Draco watching. He looked angry, he looked envious, no, he looked jealous. I wanted to walk over and yell him, tell him that's how he should've treated her all along but then Courtney waltzed in and sat herself across from Draco, completely blocking my view of him and his view of Melinda. I turned back to look at Melinda and George but had to quickly look away, they were now giggling and whispering to each other. The longer I stared the more I felt like a stranger. I didn't wait to say goodbye as I walked out.