Lys pulled me aside as soon as we were out of earshot of the potions room; dragging me down a deserted corridor. She tugged on my arm urgently, demanding I keep pace with her furious march.

"WHAT in the name of merlin was that?" She exclaimed dramatically; her oval eyes round with incredulity as she finally reached a standstill; apparently unable to contain herself any longer. A few portraits looked up in shock at her outburst; grumbling incoherently as they returned to their snoozing

I shrugged out of her grip; my cheeks flushing for what seemed like the millionth time this week. What had gotten into me?

"Nothing okay? I just… got carried away with the potion- you know how excited I get-"

She waved an impatient hand; the two of us falling silent guiltily as three second years walked by; eyeing our abrupt end in conversation suspiciously.

Little toe-rags.

"No dawdling after hours- go back to your common room. Hurry up!" I barked brusquely. Recognising the prefect badge gleaming on my chest; and probably (now that they were close enough) the formidable glare of the infamous Slytherin prefect it belonged to; they scampered off quickly.

Lys cracked an appreciative smile; watching their hurried exit with satisfaction before turning serious eyes on me, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "I wasn't talking about your playtime with Greenwood. Embarrassing though it was; I know how much of a nerd you can be about potions. I was referring to the fact that Lupin clearly fancies the pants off you- and you-"

I scoffed derisively; my entire face crimson at the notion. A ridiculous concept. "Lupin does not! I don't see where you're pulling this crap from! And as for me-" My angry hiss was interrupted by a delirious snort of her own.

"Of course he does! Are you fucking blind? Why else would he saunter over to your table? Specifically ask for your help? Make such an effort with your friend?"

Open-mouthed I spluttered incoherently at her. "Maybe it was you? He came over to your table too! Made an actual effort with you?!"

She eyed me sceptically. "I'm not dim Victoire. I can tell when someone likes me. Teddy Lupin; does not."

I glared furiously at her; our muted argument making dim echoes down the empty corridor, the nearby portraits snoring louder and more determinedly than ever. "And I am?"

She shook her head in frustration. "I'm not saying you're dim. I'm just saying in this instance; you may be slightly blinded." Floundering slightly, she quickly composed herself; pursing her lips and considering me thoughtfully. "Alright - you're so sure it's me he fancies?"

I nodded; breathless. But suddenly I felt slightly ill at ease. I supressed the sensation as best I could. I had nothing to feel uncomfortable about. What… what was she going to propose? I couldn't put my finger on why; but I felt nerves flittering around my stomach. She was going to call my bluff.

Why would that make me nervous? I am not fucking bluffing! I AM NOT!

"Fine. Riddle me this then. If he is so into me; why would he sulk for two hours watching you play potions with his friend instead of chatting me up? And why would he spend all that time asking about you?"

I fell silent in shock.

"He… He asked about me?"

She nodded mutely; her face an unreadable mask, watching my reaction.

"Fuck. Well..." I breathed.

She nodded again, more business-like this time. "Tell me everything. And Vic- I mean everything this time."

By the time I had reached the Quidditch stands, finally free of Lys's interrogations- dusk had fallen; the skies empty of that familiar green and silver. Shit. Cass was going to freak that I'd missed this. Swallowing uncomfortably, I shuffled over to the locker rooms; leaning against them in an effort to shield myself from the wind. Winter had truly arrived; a bitter chill in the air that nestled deep into my bones, impossible to dislodge. My breath swirled in puffs of steam around me as I rubbed my stiff hands together; trying to create some warmth. Cass had better hurry up and get the fuck out of the changing rooms.

Sure enough; people soon began to file out of the locker rooms; their conversations ending as they saw me standing by the wall. A few nodded roughly; but most just ignored me. Recognising a few faces, I offered apologetic smiles. Nott once told me that they could always tell whenever Cass and I were having an argument; just like they could always tell whenever I had stayed in Cass's dorm the night before. Apparently; their trainings were extra gruelling, Cass overly critical- or they played Games for the entire evening, Cass hugely encouraging and complimentary. I was guessing that after this latest training; I wasn't going to be winning awards amongst this group for a while.

I sighed resignedly. Great. Now the whole team is annoyed at me on Cass's behalf. Did anyone ever stop to consider the fact that whenever Cass and I hung out recently; it was because I spent fucking hours standing in the freezing cold- alone, pretending to be interested in the prospects of a team that quite frankly; could fly off a cliff for all the fucks I gave. No. Of course not. Because that would mean putting my feelings above Cass's feelings. A feat no Slytherin bar me seemed capable of. But I guess I just had to add it to the long list of things I excelled in that seemed to elude their capabilities.

Bursnell sauntered out moments after the last of her team, interrupting my mental rant as she rooted in her gear bag. Spotting me by the wall, she paused in surprise, smirking smugly over. "Trouble in paradise, Victoire? I wouldn't worry. If he can forgive the fact that you're a blood-traitor and a Gryffindor groupie; then I'm sure your latest insult to our house will be nothing."

Rolling my eyes, I straightened up quickly. She had picked the wrong day for a confrontation.

"Oh Clemence; your concern is touching. It means so much more coming from you too, you know? I mean- you understand. You know, seeing as Daniels has seen fit to forgive the fact that you're a power-hungry, cheating whore who fucked her boss despite being in a committed relationship for three years." I watched in satisfaction as her smirk turned cold; sliding off her face like she'd been confounded.

Taking a step forward; I twisted the knife a little deeper, my voice adopting a faux singsong quality as I smiled sweetly at her; saccharine dripping from every syllable.

"Oh wait- he doesn't know does he? No one does. Gosh; how awkward that might have been if someone had heard me. You know how utterly careless I can be. It would be such a shame."

Hoisting her bag up higher on her shoulder; she took a menacing step forward too. "Cut it Victoire. I don't know how you know- but no one is going to believe you- least of all Daniels. It may be difficult for you to comprehend; being the malicious bitch that you are- but he loves me."

Tilting my head; I considered her thoughtfully. "You're probably right. But I think you'd be surprised at how persuasive I can be."

She scoffed bitterly. "It will take more than pouting and flirting with my boyfriend to get him to believe you. He's not as stupid as the rest of the boys at this school."

I smirked, raising an ironic brow. "Clearly."

Making to push past her and into the locker rooms, I paused at her shoulder, speaking lowly into her ear. "Doubt my persuasion all you want Bursnell. But don't doubt my intelligence. I never make a claim without proof. You taught me that- remember?"

She shot me a sidelong glance and I knew instantly that we were both remembering the same thing. She dropped her gaze after a beat; once more hoisting her bag higher as she stormed away. I watched her go for a minute; the satisfaction of our encounter dimming by the second. I still had to face a hormonal Cass behind that door.

Turning with a sigh, I slumped over to the door, dragging heavy feet as I tentatively pushed it open; a sliver of light from within illuminating my face.

"Cass? You in here?" My voice sounded small; much softer than usual.

There was no answer save the sound of a locker door slamming.

Swallowing; I etched inside further, revelling in the warmth of the room. Still, my stomach felt like it was made of lead. God, I just wanted to get this over with.

"Cass- come on. I know you're here. I'm sorry that I missed practise alright? Can you at least talk to me?"

More slamming.

What was he- five years old? Slinking around the first wall of lockers; I found him at the centre, sitting on a bench, fuming silently as he pulled on his shirt. I bit my lip. "Cass…"

"Don't. Don't bother."

I sat down on the bench slowly; keeping a careful distance from him. Casting my gaze around for something to say; I flinched as another locker door slammed closed. Now fully dressed and upright; he wheeled around to face me; his dark gaze accusing.

"Just tell me where you were? What was so important that you had to miss this? And don't give me that Prefect crap."

Running a distressed hand through my hair; I gazed mutely up at him. Where was this going?

"I was talking with Lys- I just… lost track of time."

Another slam.

"That is such bullshit, Victoire. Nott said he saw you in potions. That you and fucking Greenwood were getting all pally over some potion? And I said- that doesn't make sense. Why would Vic blow me off to make a potion she could do in her sleep with fucking Greenwood?!"

I opened my mouth to explain- to reason; but all that came out was shocked silence. Was I… being accused of something here? His voice became more strangled, his anger more heightened.

"And do you know what Nott said to me? Fucking NOTT, Vic? Greenwood is Lupin's partner. You were late here- no, fuck that- you missed the entire thing- to get Lupin an Exceeds Expectations? And I'm supposed to- what? Be happy and understanding that you've fucked me over to help that asshole get yet another thing he does not deserve!"

His outburst left an uncomfortable and heavy silence in the room. Chest heaving, he turned away from me; back to pretending I didn't exist and slamming lockers. I sat still in the wake of his shouting; mute and stunned. I had no idea where that had come from. I didn't deserve it. I didn't fucking deserve it. I was here every fucking evening in an effort to spend five minutes with him. When did he come walk my patrols with me? When did he come observe Duelling Club? And so fucking what if I helped Lupin? It wasn't him I'd helped anyways- not really- but even if it had been? I wasn't allowed have friends Cass didn't approve of? Did I approve Bursnell- the snarky, vindictive bitch? Did I approve Nott- the leering wonder-creep? And I'm sorry- but I failed to see how I had "fucked him over"? It's not like he needed me here. He barely throws me a glance when I am here.

A million angry thoughts sprang to mind and I found myself entirely incapable of voicing any of them. What was wrong with me? My eyes smarted suddenly; and I blinked back tears. Finally finding my voice; I choked out a muffled apology. "I… I'm sorry."

WHAT!? What for?

But in that moment; I just felt so tired. I was sick of fighting; sick of apologising for things that were outside of my control; sick of trying to make him see how unreasonable he was being. It certainly didn't help that he had all of fucking Slytherin House breathing in his ear; fuelling his ridiculous ego.

He slammed another locker; storming out before me. "Yeah. Me too."

The door to the changing rooms swung closed behind him; a loud clang reverberating through the room. I stared at the spot where he had walked out, waiting for him to rematerialize.

He didn't.

I took another sip; my face crunching into a scowl as the liquid burned down my throat. I wasn't going back. Not yet. Let him stew- let him worry. See how he likes it. How dare he not come back?

That asshole.

Who they hell did he think he was? He wasn't worth my time or effort. The little prick. If he appeared in front of me right now- right now- this very second-

"Victoire?"

.

.

.

Holy shit. How did he do that?

.

.

.

Swivelling around quickly; I jumped in shock as I recognised this new comer.

"You're not Cass." I accused, pointing a wobbly finger at him.

He grinned slowly in response. "Much to my everlasting credit."

I nodded once in response; taking another glug from my bottle. He raised his eyebrows; his grin spreading.

"What this? Miss Weasley out of bed past hours- and drinking no less. Why, if I were a prefect- wait- aren't you supposed to be a prefect?"

"I am a prefect Lupin. Which is how I know that this area right here, just beyond the trees- is entirely invisible from everywhere but the top window of the astronomy tower- which happens to fall under McKinley's patrol tonight, and he won't go up to the top because he's afraid of heights. Furthermore- I'm allowed out of bed past hours. It's the point of being a Prefect- I get to catch the ruffians and the such."

He lowered himself onto the ground beside me; smiling indulgently at my slurred explanation. "And who exactly were you hoping to catch this far into the grounds? The giant squid?"

I grinned coyly at him. "Well I've caught you haven't I? What are you even doing here? Besides stalking me; of course."

He laughed openly at that; his eyes crinkling slightly. Beatrice was right, he did have a lovely smile. From a purely objective standpoint obviously. Readjusting himself against the tree roots, he looked over at me pleadingly; motioning for me to pass the bottle. Hesitating momentarily, I obliged.

"Christ Weasley- what the fuck is this?" He winced; wiping his mouth and coughing slightly.

I smiled sweetly down at him. "Slughorn's finest. You still didn't say what you were doing here."

He raised impressed eyes to mine. "Slughorn. Hmmn. Never even thought of swiping it there. And you haven't exactly explained yourself either. I'm assuming you don't always sit against a tree and get pissed on rounds." Turning his body slightly towards mine; he offered a friendly smile.

I fell quiet for a beat. "Cass and I fought."

He nodded, playing absently with the grass. "I heard."

Leaning back against the tree with a muffled thump I groaned loudly. "God. Even you heard? Don't people have anything better in their lives?"

He chuckled softly. "Well it wasn't hard to guess really. First the team filed in bitching loudly about the session; then Zabini stormed in, pulled your friend Alyssa outside; and the two of them had a pretty confrontational discussion in the Great Hall."

I cracked open an eye; looking over at him sceptically. "Really?"

"Really. It was all very exciting. People were taking bets on what actually happened."

I guffawed. "I bet. What were the favourites?"

He hesitated. "Bare in mind- it's the Gryffindor table. None of them are going to be kind."

I almost told him just how off he really was. Almost. It was the Slytherin suspicions that would cut the most. His house's rumours were probably the tip of the ice berg.

"Well there's the obvious ones first- you're pregnant?"

I shook my head; laughing.

"You're leaving him for a player on Puddlemore United?"

I laughed again.

"He dumped you to concentrate on Quidditch?"

My laugh subdued slightly. That was closer. We hadn't broken up though.

Had we?

Sensing the change in the atmosphere; Lupin let it drop, watching my face carefully. I felt gratitude swell in me. Lord knows I'd been a bitch to him; this would have been the perfect opportunity to get me back. Christ I was pathetic; drunk and alone and crying over some boy. Of course it would have to be him that found me.

An awful thought occurred to me.

Could he tell I'd been crying?

"You still didn't say why you were here Lupin. Without a valid reason- I'm going to have to dock points."

He looked suddenly embarrassed, angling slightly away from me; fiddling with some paper in his pocket and seeming nervous.

"Lupin? You're kind of freaking me out."

He looked at me from behind thick eyelashes. His hair and eyes had returned to their familiar warm, honey colour; the black of earlier vanished completely. It was a measure of how close we were sitting that I could still make out how long his lashes really were. I hiccoughed loudly, pulling away a bit.

"Honestly? Promise you won't laugh."

I quirked up a corner of my lips. "My word as a Slytherin."

He nodded to himself. "I'm kind of here… to escape… someone."

I bit my lip uncertainly. "Someone?"

He nodded again, looking worried. "Yeah… here; stop hogging the bottle. If you want to know, you're going to have to lend some courage."

Giggling softly, I rolled the bottle across the grass to him, both of us now slumped against the tree; mere feet between us. He accepted gratefully, talking a loud glug as we both stared across at the lake; its smooth black surface twinkling innocently in the starlight, the lights of the castle just failing to reach it's bank. In the quiet of the grounds we could just make out the gentle lapping of the water against the banks.

"It's Carlisle."

His admission broke the silence; and I burst into laughter. The idea of Teddy Lupin; playboy extraordinaire and fearless Quidditch Captain; hiding from the wrath of Harriet; a small, bubbly, blonde- was just too much.

"You said you wouldn't laugh- you don't know her. She's fucking crazy!" He was laughing a bit himself though by the time I had straightened up and calmed down.

I eyed him seriously. "Come on Lupin- whatever shit she's pulling; just be grateful she isn't me. I'd have had your head on a spike in the Slytherin Dungeons by now."

He gave me a curious look. "Really? Not hiding down by the Lake with a bottle of firewhisky?"

I opened my mouth to retort, but found I had none. He was right. I was all talk. I had a million things to say to Zabini earlier and I just let him steamroll over me. I took another sip, my eyes downcast.

"I guess that's fair."

He shook his head quickly with a sigh. "No, it wasn't. I don't know what's going on with you and Zabini; I shouldn't have commented. I guess I just meant… that over the past few weeks; I've gotten to know you a bit… kind of. And I know that you are not the kind of girl who would ordinarily be crying alone- especially not over a twat like Zabini. Whatever he's done- believe me when I say he's going to regret it. If I know anything about you- it's that you'll make him regret it, one way or another."

Chuckling softly; I found my eyes smarting for the second time that night- whether in humiliation (because he definitely knew I'd been crying)- or in gratitude- I didn't know. Dabbing impatiently at my eyes; I did my utmost to avoid his concerned gaze. It was doing bizzare things to my stomach.

"You never finished your story. What's Carlisle up to?" I blurted out suddenly; anything to change the conversation.

He sighed dramatically, his head thumping against the thick bark of our tree. "She put a love potion in my pumpkin juice. Aelius spotted it, but didn't think it pertinent to tell me. Thankfully Craig brought me straight up to the Hospital wing when Aelius told him; but then Carlisle threw this massive strop about how she didn't do it and these were my "true feelings" finally emerging. Aelius actually quoted her as saying- you can't cure him of true love." He made a face as I chortled in disbelief.

"Anyways I have it on good intel that she's still waiting up in the common room for me to come back; to see if it was the potion or not. And I do not have the energy to face her."

I whistled softly; my drunken stupor making everything a bit sleepier; a tad slower. "God she sounds fucking mental. Why did you ever go there in the first place?"

He shifted his weight on the grass; now lying flat out against it; despite the damp chill it was sending through my clothes. "I dunno- you know, at first I barely talked to her. It was the usual thing of thinking she was insanely hot and wanting to talk to her-"

I snorted. "Oh I bet you were just dying to talk to her- all those long, late night intellectual debates you could share- soul searching, meaningful discussions where you both share a little bit of your heart-"

He scoffed loudly; shoving me gently with a hand to the shoulder. "Fine! You've made your point. Back to the story. As you already know- she had Belfour. So I hung back. Against popular opinion; she flirted with me just as much as I flirted with her. Especially once Quidditch season started. She actually blew him off a few times just to watch our practise?"

"The horror!"

"Bit keen though? Especially when Belfour had to have known that's what she was doing."

"And you're the champion of Belfour's feelings in this tale are you?"

"I never made or broke any promises to him. We weren't exactly mates- mainly because Harriet wasn't exactly discreet about fancying me- but we'd had run-ins before that. Let's just say I didn't owe him anything. I'm not saying I slept with her because I disliked him- I'm saying he wasn't a factor in my decision at all. And it wasn't much of a "decision" per se."

I rolled my eyes. "Did she take advantage of my sweet, innocent Lupin?"

He shot me an injured look. "Fucking right she did. By this point I'd worn off her a bit- she was really intense. Remember when we lost Quidditch finals? Or I suppose, when Gryffindor did?"

I nodded. Cass had been fucking insufferable all week.

"Well I didn't take it great. I actually, uh, hid in a broom cupboard to escape the party- don't ask; I was drunk as a hippogriff- and I sat there and moped and brooded a bit with my bottle of fire-whiskey- you'd actually probably be very familiar with the scene."

I shoved him playfully; laughing at his comparison. "Go on- Harriet appeared and demanded sex?"

He shrugged. "Pretty much. I mean- there were a few minor details- but that's the scheme of it. Anyways; next morning I wake up with a killer head-ache; still ripped to bits about the final; and Alec comes in to inform us all that Harriet publicly dumped Belfour at breakfast and announced to our table that we were in love? I thought he was joking, but as it turns out, he wasn't. And the rest is history."

I nodded thoughtfully. "I see."

He grinned over at me. "As much as I enjoy Story Time at the Tree; I seem to be the only one sharing. Your turn Weasley."

I quirked a brow. "What do you want to know?"

He gazed across the lake thoughtfully. "You said you have history with Bursnell?"

My face dropped. "Not that."

"Oh come on- it can't be more embarrassing than Carlisle-"
"I said- not that."

He backed up a bit; eyeing me warily at the change of tone in my voice. Sighing, I looked away. Shit. I hadn't meant to be that rude. Why was I constantly such a bitch?

"Alright… Zabini. How did you two meet?"

I shot him a dubious look. "Seriously?"

He nodded, shooting me an innocent smile.

Rolling my eyes I began speaking; looking at the ground as I did.

"Not much to tell really. We met in fourth year. I'd been… kind of quiet, up till then. I was shy once, would you believe? Anyways; I was carrying on my luggage and he offered to help. I couldn't believe he was offering to help me- I actually nearly died. He'd made the team in like, third year, and every girl in our year loved him. He let me sit with him and Nott and all those; and he made some comment about what a troll Bursnell was and I just knew."

I finished simply; looking up at him. I wasn't sure why I had given such an honest answer. Sure, it was tailored slightly from actual events; but I never usually gave this response. People always asked how we met; as Slytherin's most infamous couple, people always wanted to know the details. But I never really admitted before how thrilled I was that he'd approached me. It made me sound girly and stupid. I said he was handsome- but never really acknowledged that I'd known who he was. It only served to highlight the embarrassing truth that he hadn't known me.

Silence followed as I finished up. It was odd hearing the story without the silence being followed by Cass's version- of how he saw the most beautiful blonde girl on the platform, spent ten minutes trying to psyche up the nerve to talk to her, and floated the whole way to the castle, he was so happy that she was sitting with him, laughing at his jokes.

Hearing mine alone made me realise for the first time how pathetic it really sounded.

Suddenly very tired; I offered Lupin a small smile. "Time to go face the music I'm afraid. I think I'm already going to be in enough trouble for being late; the last thing I need is to get locked out and not come back at all."

He smiled warily back; concern filling his eyes. "Yeah- Harriet's only going to be more agitated the longer I leave her. You gonna be ok?"

I nodded wearily. "God I wish I could just slip in without being seen. That whole common room is going to be waiting for me to get back."

"That bad, huh?"

I sighed. "You have no idea. No one does resentful and judgemental better than a Slytherin. And they do it best in numbers."

He paused for a moment; seemingly debating something.

"Can you keep a secret?"

I looked up at him in surprise; his eyes unusually serious. Deliberating for a second; I slowly nodded. He had proved himself a friend tonight. Or at least… something. I would keep his secret.

He reached into his bag; slowly pulling out a long velvet cloak. From the careful way he handled it- I could tell it was old. Old and expensive. I eyed it cautiously. "What is that?"

He looked at it solemnly for a moment. "It's how I was going to slip past Harriet. But I reckon you might need it more. So it's yours; only for tonight, mind. It's an Invisibility Cloak."

My breath caught in shock as I gingerly accepted it from him, my fingers stroking the soft, light fabric. "Oh my God- Lupin… You can't give this to me- it's too expensive- I'll-"

He shook his head; smiling slightly. "I'm not giving it to you. I'm lending it. In exchange for your fire-whisky. I reckon you've had about enough; and if I'm going to face Carlisle- I fucking need it. Come on, let's head back."

He offered a warm hand down to me as he straightened up; pulling me upright beside him. I grinned gratefully up at him. "I don't know what to say Lupin. You're a lifesaver."

He rolled his eyes. "You can start by not calling me Lupin. My name is Teddy."

I nodded meekly as we advanced towards the castle. "Right… Teddy."

He frowned down at me with a smirk. "See? Look at us, making progress."

I scoffed. "Take your fire-whiskey and leave me alone. This isn't progress- this is business. One favour for another."

He nodded sagely; climbing the steps beside me to the front door. "I see. But good relations promotes good business does it not?"

I grinned; pausing at the steps down to the dungeons as he halted at the steps to the second floor. "That it does… Teddy. So make sure you don't piss me off or might negate our agreement. Keep this bad boy all to myself."

He smirked. "You wouldn't dare. I'd find you and kill you."

I smirked back in response, before pulling the fabric over my head and disappearing. "How exactly were you planning on finding me?"