Disclaimer: Everything you see belongs to J. K. Rowling except the original plot and characters.

James was having a brilliant week.

Here are the reasons:

Cordelia Bode laughed with him.

Cordelia Bode kissed him.

Cordelia Bode is going on a date with him.

Wow.

James had always had a soft spot for the particular prefect, but he had never really thought about it until this year. He was aways trying to get her attention but they were all stupid attempts at making himself look better and she did not like that at all.

But this year he had seen her as soon as he entered Kings Cross Station and she had looked different, more mature. And he wasn't meaning that in a physical way (although that was a nice surprise), but she seemed older as if she was alone and no little girl anymore. It was quite transfixing.

So, there she was, simply standing there, staring up at the barrier as though it was the most interesting pile of bricks she had ever seen, and he was just standing there, watching her, realising that this year was going to be very different than the last; because, for the first time since he had noticed she was a girl, James had had the startling realisation that he needed her to be in his life. He would not last two more years without having her close.

And that brings us to where we are now.

"So where next? I think we have about an hour before we have to meet the others," questioned Cordelia. She was looking around curiously at the other shops. James wondered why she was so fascinated.

Having grown up in the magical world meant places like this didn't have the same effect but still, it wasn't that amazing.

"What?" said James, remembering she had asked him something. "Er ... we could go to the Shrieking Shack, even if my Dad completely ruined it for me."

Cordelia laughed; she walked a few paces in front of him then turned back, "Race you."

She took off, dodging the other inhabitants on the street. James stood still for a moment, wondering what had just happened and then took off after her.

They arrived on the top of the little hill, out of breath. James sat down on a fallen tree log and laughed when he saw that Cordelia had just fallen to the ground and was lying there, arms and legs spread out and looking as though she had just run a marathon.

"You probably need to do some more exercise if that's your reaction to a short run," said James. He instantly cursed himself, what sort of idiot told the girl he fancied that she was unfit?

Cordelia groaned and rolled onto her side so that she was facing him and to his surprise she said, "You're right ... but ... exercise requires more ... running ... and this is just way too painful to even contemplate ... trying again."

"Ah, well," said James, sliding off the log and lying beside her. He felt her tense but didn't move away because if he initiated nothing, he would never get what he wanted. "At least, I tried."

James and Cordelia lay there in a peaceful silence, staring up at the trees. If they turned their heads to the left they could see the Shrieking Shack and over the trees to the right was the tops of the little buildings of Hogsmeade.

"You know what we should do?" started James.

"What?" said Cordelia suspiciously. Her eyebrows were raised and she was biting her lip as though she was curious yet sceptical. James was very familiar with this expression.

He got up on one elbow, "We should continue to get to know each other."

"Oh, come on," said Cordelia, exasperated. "You already know more than I'm comfortable with."

"Yeah, but I don't know you nearly as well as I do Fred or Henry or Jasper or even any of your friends. You are very private.

"Fine."

James looked at his watch and estimated how much time they had left. "Okay, how about three questions each."

"Sounds good," said Cordelia, she sat up and crossed her legs, leaning her back against the log. "I shall go first because ... I don't know."

James smirked, "Perfectly acceptable reason. I do many things where I don't know why. Continue."

"Okay," Cordelia looked up into the sky and James started to feel apprehensive. Just because he fancied her didn't mean he didn't realise she was crazy. "If you could throw any teacher, which do you think would be the most aerodynamic?"

James stared at her, "Sorry- what?"

"You heard me," said Cordelia, fiddling with the edge of her skirt absentmindedly.

"Er ... McGonagall. But, why the bloody hell did that come into your mind?"

Cordelia looked at him at smiled, "Well, we're getting to know one another and I thought you should know that when I'm not around people my brain stops and I become a little insane."

"That's good to know."

"Isn't it?"

"Do you have an example?"

Cordelia thought for a minute, "Well after you confronted me in the common room on our second day back-"

"I didn't confront-"

"Shh. After that, I dreamed up an entire life for the giant squid."

"Okay," said James, still a little confused.

"This included names, backgrounds and personalities of the family, extended family and friends."

"Wow."

"Okay," James joined Cordelia against the log. "This is kind of personal-"

"Oh great."

James put on a disapproving expression. "Hypocrite. Alright, er ... have you ever had a boyfriend before now?"

"Wha-" started Cordelia.

"Wait! I know how that sounded, I- er ... didn't mean- I think ... I don't mean I'm your boyfriend, sorry about that."

Cordelia blushed, "Are you sorry for confusing me or not being my boyfriend?"

"Er ... both?" said James with a sideways grin.

"Right."

They sat in an uncomfortable silence and listened to the sounds of the students in the distance, both wishing that one of those students would be up there with them to make it less unbearable.

"No."

James jumped at the sudden word, "No?"

"No," continued Cordelia. "I haven't had a boyfriend before."

"Oh, okay," said James, trying to keep his happiness hidden. 'What was wrong with him?' he thought to himself, 'She was just a girl ... a single girl ... a beautiful girl who was sitting right next to him.'

Cordelia's eyes danced in the sun, and she smirked, "You are my fourth date, though."

"What," said James, taken aback. "Oh come on!"

"Oh hush. They were just one-offs," Cordelia laughed. "If you could have seen your face. Priceless!" she said, holding her stomach as she calmed down to soft chuckles.

James crossed his arms and playfully ignored her delight.

When she had recovered James checked his watch; standing up to help Cordelia like the chivalrous man his mother had given up on.

"We'd better hurry," Cordelia said, still breathless. "I think our so-called friends may jump to conclusions if we arrive late."

"Agreed."

Cordelia felt happy.

Yes, it was a weird feeling but something about James just made her laugh. Of course, it wasn't completely comfortable; when he tried to get closer Cordelia did not appreciate it. It was out of her comfort zone where she dare not tread.

Cordelia Bode liked everything to be in order in her life. At the moment, it was in shambles and it was messing with her head which had always been unstable. James may want to start a relationship but Cordelia just wasn't ready for that.

The time-turner had made sure of it.

This had come to light many times during the past weeks but she couldn't really identify it. Cordelia was afraid that someone she trusted would betray her because of her secret; this now meant that she was constantly questioning all her decisions and trying to make sense of others actions. This did not help one's mental state.

So in short, Cordelia did not want to forge another trust in her life that could be broken. And, running deeper, could James know about the time-turner? Because, if so, it was pretty great timing, it was only at the start of this year he had noticed her.

But, James made her feel lighter.

"So ..." started James casually. "What guys have you been stepping out with."

Cordelia looked at him unbelievingly, "Stepping out with! What is this, 1943?"

"Fine, call it whatever you uncultured peasants call it. Just know that I don't approve!" said James.

"Merlin," Cordelia shook her head incredulously. "You would think I was standing next to some sort of soap opera actor. You are that bad."

James grinned, "And I won't pretend to understand that reference, so we're all good."

They had reached the Three Broomsticks and walked in, looking around to find their friends. Cordelia would always look around for Ella since she was almost always the most brightly coloured. The same went for today. Her eyes were drawn to a person coloured in some sort of bright yellow, matching yet standing out from the particular season.

"Hello, lovebirds!" she sang at the top of her voice.

Cordelia looked around her as though saying, 'Who, us?'

Henry laughed, "So have you two had a good time so far?"

"Yeah," said James, taking a chair from a third year and putting it at their table. "We didn't do much, just wandered around."

Hazel raised her eyebrows questioningly at Cordelia.

That's about right," finished Cordelia, forcibly removing James out of the chair and handing it back to the boy.

The group of Gryffindors continued chatting over lunch. The thing was, however, there seemed to be someone missing.

"Where's Bea?" she said, twisting around as though she expected Beatrice to pop out from under one of the tables.

Everyone shrugged.

Cordelia looked at them disbelievingly, "You mean none of you noticed she was gone."

"Well she is one of those quiet ones," said Hazel, unconcerned.

"Ella!" said Cordelia, and when she didn't respond she continued, "How did you not realise your best friend wasn't here?"

Ella withdrew defensively, "I wasn't with them until a few minutes ago, thank you very much. I was off with ... well, you know."

Cordelia felt her chest tighten. No, no no no no. She had warned her, over and over and OVER again, what would happen. Ella just didn't want something to go bad for her, and that was how it had always been.

Cordelia looked around the table helplessly at blank faces until she met Jasper's eyes which were widened in realisation. They both understood.

Jasper stood up abruptly; everyone's gaze changed to him as he walked briskly past the table and, not even turning back, grabbed Cordelia's arm and said, "Come on."

Cordelia jumped up at once and ran after him out of the pub. The last thing she heard as the door swung shut was, "He talks! Blimey."

Cordelia and Jasper marched down the laneway to Hogwarts, not speaking a word since they each knew exactly what they were doing.

Cordelia kept shaking her head, surprised, and absolutely disgusted with her friends. How could they not have realised what happened? How could they not realise Bea's absence?

Suddenly, Cordelia understood how Beatrice must have always felt. It would not have felt nice always being the quiet one and just staying put in that category because all of your friends wouldn't care any other way. Bea had changed, and Cordelia vowed to stop this ever happening again.

Once in view of the castle they broke out into an all-out run, urgently needing to see if Bea was alright.

"Ahh, Miss Bode. How lovely to see you," said a voice coming out of the great hall. "And Mr Heckleburn as well."

Cordelia stopped in her tracks, she had not anticipated this, she swung around and plastered what she hoped was a winning smile onto her face. "Madam Eliot! Did, er ... did you have a nice lunch?"

"Yes, thank you. I need a moment of your time," she said. When Jasper tried to keep walking she held out a hand. "You too, Mr Heckleburn. I think we should all participate in this conversation."

Jasper stopped very reluctantly and turned to face the teacher.

"Yes."

Madam Eliot's changed to a business-like expression and carried on, "Well, as you have a strong working memory, Miss Bode, I think you will remember a short trip to the hospital wing you took a few weeks ago."

Cordelia nodded, knowing exactly what was coming.

"Well, on that occasion I confiscated an object you had on your person which I believed to be causing you harm. Many tests were performed on the necklace in question and I had it down to at least four possibilities as to what it might be. Just over a week ago it was taken from the spot where it was hidden." Madam Eliot stopped and took a breath, looking Cordelia straight in the eye. Cordelia adopted the best innocent face she could and continued to listen. "Now, a responsible student like you wouldn't know who might have taken it, would you?"

Cordelia felt the truth being drawn out of her. That was new, Cordelia was quite good at lying and this skill would have come in handy at this moment.

Swallowing nervously she replied, "No, I- I don't ...," she stood up straighter. "I wouldn't know anything about that."

Madam Eliot frowned, "Are you sure, Miss Bode?"

"Yes."

Madam Eliot shot her one last suspicious look and resumed her path.

As soon as she was gone Cordelia turned to Jasper, "Oh Merlin!"

"Have you been breaking rules, Bode?" said Jasper, sounding quite curious.

"Wha-? No, no, of course not," said Cordelia who sounded very flustered. "It is a strange situation, though."

Jasper nodded, looking a little confused as to why Cordelia was just standing in the same spot, "Bode," Cordelia snapped out of her thoughts. "Beatrice."

"Oh right, sorry ... a bit distracted."

Cordelia and Jasper resumed their march with renewed desperation. She, however, knew just where to go.

Cordelia grabbed Jasper's arm and headed down a side-passage next to the marble staircase. They stopped at a picture of a bowl of fruit.

"You know where the kitchens are?"

Cordelia chuckled, "Did you really have such a low opinion of me that you thought after five and a bit years I wouldn't have figured out where you get your extra food for the heinous parties you throw."

Jasper shrugged but appeared a little impressed.

Cordelia reached out a hand and tickled the pear. It let out a loud giggle and she pulled the portrait open to reveal the kitchens.

"Bea," she cried, running into the huge room. She looked around everywhere but in a little corner at the back, she spotted a small figure. "Bea! Oh, darling."

Cordelia walked forward and wrapped the shaking girl in her arms, she felt very helpless.

Jasper stood there awkwardly, he did look out of place. "Jasper, get us some warm water and a cloth," said Cordelia, deciding to make him useful for something. As he went off to locate the items she called out, "And get some custard tarts while you're at it!"

Jasper nodded and proceeded on his quest.

Cordelia pulled Bea closer and whispered words of comfort to her, knowing they probably wouldn't make a difference. She was so tiny and the way she was curled up was so sad that Cordelia just wanted to go out and punch Ella Butterdown in the face.

Beatrice started to sob uncontrollably and Cordelia really didn't know what to do. When Ella went through break ups you just kept telling her she deserved better and the heartbreak would go away, but this was two types of heartache in one and, never having experienced it, Cordelia was in the dark as to what Bea needed.

"He- they- was- ... Hogsmeade, ... she is- friends don't." Beatrice continued with the disjointed sentences until Jasper returned and Cordelia started to wash Bea's face. Jasper stayed standing until she yanked him by the leg so that he was sitting opposite them, carrying a tray of custard tarts on his lap.

"Come on Bea, deep breaths," said Cordelia, patting her on the back comfortingly. Bea seemed to take the advice and her breathing evened slightly, a sneaky little hand shot out and grabbed one of the tarts before anyone really noticed.

Cordelia smiled, "Hungry?"

"Very." Cordelia's heart wrenched at the voice that came out. The strong Beatrice Jordan they had seen a glimpse of a few weeks ago, the one where she had stood up for herself and was more confident, was gone. It had been replaced with a girl who had been utterly defeated.

"If you like," Cordelia started tentatively, "You can tell us what happened."

Jasper nodded encouragingly. Beatrice poked her head up, saw their faces then was overcome by another wave of tragic sobs.

Cordelia brushed her hair comfortingly, "You don't have to do it, honey, it was-"

"No," said Bea, she sat up, hiccoughing. "I want to talk."

"Okay." said Cordelia, slightly taken-aback.

Beatrice took a huge breath and then launched into her story.

"Well, I was in Hogsmeade with the five of us and I was- I was, feeling confident, you know, and I don't get that feeling very often so I left the group." At this point, Cordelia glared at Jasper, furious that he hadn't spotted her absence. "Anyway, I- I ... I wanted to talk to Louis because," she gave a bitter chuckle, "for the first time in my life, I felt actually comfortable with how I am. So I thought I will go find him and tell him how I feel."

"Oh, Bea."

Bea's bottom lip started to tremble again, "And I found him, didn't I?" her face hardened, "Being pushed up against the wall by my slut of a best friend!"

Cordelia wanted to hug her but was afraid that Beatrice wouldn't take it now.

Beatrice stood up, walking past Jasper and up the aisle between two tables. She turned around and shook her head, "I suppose I should have expected it, shouldn't I? I mean, when has Ella ever done something for me?" she was shouting know, running her fingers through her hair. "I guess she thought it was really funny, keeping us all in the dark, a sexy secret for a betraying bitch! I'm so stupid!"

Beatrice sank down on the ground and was overcome, yet again, by tears.

Cordelia stepped over to her, "Bea. You are not stupid, okay? I mean, everyone else was kind of just in the right place at the right time, I think."

Bea's face rose to meet Cordelia's, something flickering in the back of her eyes. Cordelia assumed it was leftover rage about Ella.

"You knew." The voice was morbidly quiet.

Cordelia gaped at her, "Uh ... Well, no, er, yes- no, I-"

Beatrice shook her head disbelievingly, "I imagined I had a lot more friends than I actually have."

"No, Bea. I just really though it was Ella's duty to tell you," said Cordelia desperately.

Beatrice smiled horribly, "But you know what she's like, you could have just told me."

"Bea," stated Cordelia carefully, "It wasn't up to me."

Beatrice just stood there, staring blankly, "I'm not even that upset about Louis, I'm just upset that Ella hasn't grown up." She looked up at Cordelia. A new Bea was forming, no naivety was left. "She has spent over five years taking me for granted. She won't anymore. None of you will ever have to worry about protecting me again."

Cordelia nodded solemnly as Beatrice started to cry again, this time, supported by Jasper who wrapped her in his arms. He gave a sign that he could handle it so, very reluctantly, Cordelia left the kitchens.

When Cordelia reached the Gryffindor Common Rooms, all her friends were back, each wearing worried expressions, but there was only one that Cordelia cared about and that was who she headed towards.

"This is all your fault!" she shouted at Ella.

Ella still bore a confused look like in the Three Broomsticks and Cordelia felt like she was mocking her.

"Excuse me?"

"That's right," said Cordelia, stepping closer towards Ella. " I told you ... again and again, and again and again! To TELL BEATRICE ABOUT LOUIS! But. You. Didn't. I tried to warn you about this. I told you that you were going too far this time."

Ella's face lost all colour, "Is that what this is about?"

Cordelia's faced gained more colour, "You're damn right this is what it's all about. Beatrice is absolutely destroyed. Not because she liked Louis, but because you LIED to her! But ... what does Ella care? If she gets something out of it, it's completely ethical!"

"That's not fair!" said Ella, trying to regain ground. "It was my choice to make." Cordelia scoffed. "Yes, it was! Bea will get over it, it's not the first time she had gotten a little angry."

Cordelia laughed, although it held no humour, "No, but it is most definitely the last time. I don't think you understand. Bea is not going to be your puppy anymore, she's not going to be your FRIEND!"

Henry stepped forward because both girls had clenched their fists and looked about to take action.

"Stop." He cupped Cordelia's face in his hands to force her to look at him. "Shouting won't help. Go to bed, relax, but don't take it out on your friends."

"That's just the thing," said Cordelia at a normal tone. She looked straight at Ella, "Beatrice thinks we were all in on it. She's blaming me for not telling her."

Ella gasped and she attempted to wipe the tears from her face, "I am so sorry, Cordelia."

Cordelia shook off Henry's hand and headed for the girls dormitories. "You're apologies mean nothing because you can only apologise for something that you had no control over or knowledge of how it was going to work out. And you had plenty of both, Ella."

Cordelia put her foot on the first step then remembered something; she turned around and continued, "James, I really enjoyed spending the day with you." When everyone looked surprised she smiled, "I have made a promise to myself, to be honest, that way I can't be blamed for others mistakes." She finished by looking scathingly at Ella then stormed up to her bed.

Cordelia was lying on her bed when she heard the other two girls enter the dormitory, she assumed Bea was still with Jasper. She quickly picked up a book from the stack by her bed and pretended to read, ignoring Ella completely.

Cordelia was really angry. And the annoying thing about it was that if she didn't intervene, Ella would continue to think Bea would forgive her and Bea would always be waiting for the apology.

No. She would let them fight it out this time because Ella needed a wake-up call and who better to give it than Beatrice?

Merlin, Cordelia needed to think of something else. This led to remembering the strange conversation with Madam Eliot. What had that been about? Surely a teacher needed to consult with other teachers about this stuff rather than confronting a student whenever they fancied. It was almost like ... no, that was crazy.

Cordelia's head started to run away from her, why had she asked Jasper to stay? She didn't even talk to him. Maybe she needed him there so it didn't look suspicious. No, that really was crazy because the only reason she would want the pendant back so badly would be because ... oh, no.

Cordelia spent the rest of the day with this big thought preying on her mind, making her distracted and jumpy. Luckily, it seemed to be the best day for it because no one else was talking much either.

As she got into bed she wondered if her imagination was running away with her because it still seemed very unlikely, but she had compiled a list of facts:

1. Madam Eliot took the time-turner in the first place, could she have had an inkling of what it was?

2. She seemed like she needed the time-turner back but she never once mentioned the school rules or other teachers to back up her arguments.

3. Madam Eliot's sister was killed by a freak attack from some death-eaters a few years after the war. Cordelia did her homework.

But, other than that, she had no real concrete evidence and it was starting to bother her. Madam Eliot only interacted with students when they were sick, or doing detention.
Cordelia sat up immediately. At least, two hours had passed and it was now midnight but she had somewhere to be.