"Ms Weasley - if you would follow me please."

Startled from my work, I looked up into the stern face of Professor McGonagall. She waited patiently for me to gather my things from my desk; seemingly oblivious to the curious gazes of my fellow library users around me. Following her meekly through the maze of books, I couldn't bring myself to even ask her what this was about. We both knew.

Teddy had been called out of potions earlier today. Lys had informed me that Cass was removed from class in Charms just 10 minutes before. It was only a matter of time before my name cropped up.

We walked in silence up the stone staircases and past curious portraits, until we reached the statue that concealed her office, at which point she finally turned to face me. "I trust you know why we are here."

I nodded silently.

She appraised me warily. "Well then I trust that you appreciate the severity of what has happened. Understand that I speak to you not only as a witness, but as your house prefect Ms Weasley."

With a slowly mounting sense of unease, I nodded again.

When she swung open the door; I didn't know what I was expecting to see. But definitely not the sight that greeted me. Two boys sat facing her desk at the opposite side of the room; backs turned away from us and resolutely avoiding each other's gazes. One was dark haired, curly tufts grazing the back of a tanned neck. The other had a more golden complexion; sandy hair that was tousled and unkempt. I swallowed noisily.

Shit.

And the sound of motion both of them turned abruptly, mouths open to protest, only to fall silent in confusion at the sight of me. Cass recovered first.

"She has nothing to do with what happened. She wasn't even there."

Teddy scowled suddenly in annoyance; staring angrily at the floor as McGonagall quirked a brow, taking her seat opposite all three of us and motioning for me to occupy the seat directly across from her; between both Teddy and Cass.

"So we're in agreement that something happened then Mr Zabini? That makes progress from our earlier discussions."

Cass flushed; realising his mistake as Teddy shot him an irritated look. McGonagall surveyed us all from above the rims of her spectacles, piercing each of us individually with the solemnity of her gaze.

"Ms Weasley, why don't you enlighten us with your version of events."

I stared at her blankly.

"My version of… what events?"

She shot me an impatient glance before rustling papers on her desk and scanning one briefly. "Ms Weasley, we have accounts from over fifty different eye-witnesses caught leaving the dungeons, who have attested to the fact that Mr Zabini, and Mr Lupin here, blocked an entire corridor with a very public brawl. Every single one of those testimonies makes some reference to you and your involvement."

Silence lingered again. McGonagall sighed.

"I am going to make this very easy for all of you. As of now; both of you are banned from competing in this week's match and pending a disciplinary hearing; possibly the rest of the season. I am thoroughly disgusted with both of you. You are supposed to be an example to your house and the school. I will be writing to both of your parents and will see you in detention for the foreseeable future. You both may leave. I need to speak to Ms Weasley. Alone."

"During this whole ordeal; it didn't occur to you to dock points?"

I looked up in surprise; trying how best to phrase my answer. There was no need to protect them anymore. She already knew the truth.

"No. I guess… I got caught up in it all. I tried to diffuse it but it all happened so fast…"

She nodded curtly. "If you had to dock points now?"

I gazed at her in blank confusion.

"If now you had to attribute blame; who would you dock the points from?"

Cass.

The answer was so blindingly clear. He was the only one who had actively sought that fight. Yes Teddy didn't back down; but was he to be blamed for that? No. There was only one person responsible.

And yet I couldn't make myself say it. He would lose his Quidditch season for sure. And I would most probably lose him. Fear gripped me. I willed myself to say it. It would absolve Teddy; give him back his team. After all he had done for me recently I owed him that.

But I couldn't do it. I wouldn't just be losing Cass- I'd be losing everyone. I was a Slytherin. We didn't sell out our own; and especially not Cass. Especially not when you were his girlfriend. This was a no brainer. Teddy.

Say it. Say it. Teddy started it. Say it!

Not only would it give Cass back his season; but it would rob Gryffindor of theirs.

So simple.

So brilliant.

"Ms Weasley?"

"VIC!"

I kept walking; ignoring the calls that haunted my footsteps. "Vic wait! I just want to- I want to talk!"

As the words grew louder I upped my pace; trying hard not to break into a run. I was Victoire Weasley. I did not run from anyone. Especially not stupid, brainless, arrogant boys.

A rough hand on my elbow spun me around.

"Vic- please!"

I stared unforgivingly into the face of my boyfriend. His appearance; usually so clean and groomed; looked decidedly dishevelled. Like he wasn't sleeping properly.

"What?" I responded brusquely.

"I… I, uh… What did McGonagall want? I'll tell her it wasn't you- it was all us- I promise you won't have to-"
"She wanted me to tell her who started the fight."

He fell silent in surprise. The courtyard was pretty much empty apart from us. In the absence of our voices; you could hear the wind whistling trough the columns, carrying distant yells from the Quidditch pitch.

"Seriously? She's just going to accept your word? What… what happens if…"

Narrowing my eyes; I caught his drift perfectly. "If I said Teddy? He'll lose his Quidditch season. You'll get yours back."

His face froze. "No way. That's… That's fucking…"
"Perfect?"

He paused. "Well… yeah."

I shot him a withering glare, my hair blowing in every direction, occasionally cutting across my face. "He didn't start that fight. We both know it."

His eyes dilated in shock. "You- you can't be serious." His grip on my elbow tightened painfully. "You didn't actually say it was me? Jesus Christ Vic- since when did you become such a sadistic bitch! I'm supposed to be your boyfriend!"

I wrenched my arm out of his grip. "Yeah- you are supposed to be, Cass! You're supposed to love me! Not pressure me, and guilt me and punch me?" I gestured emphatically to my lip; still swollen and cut. He winced.

"That was an accident! I would never deliberately hurt you like that- at all! Lately it seems like you just keep going out of your way to hurt me. Why are you doing this!? God- Vic- I love you, okay?! Stop making me regret it!"

"Excuse me? Excuse me? I make you regret loving me? If anyone here regrets anything it's me! Don't delude yourself into believing otherwise."

"No- I didn't mean- What I meant is- I love you- I just want things to go back to the way they-"

"The way they were, I know. But I don't really think they can Cass."

He stood stock still for a beat. "What do you mean? Of course they can. We just need to-"

I laughed humourlessly. "We don't need to do anything Cass. When you say "we" you mean "you". You mean- "you just have to stop being friends with Teddy while I'll continue being friends with Bursnell". You mean "You just have to agree with the things that are important to me while I'll remain blissfully oblivious to all the things that are important to you." It's a joke, Cass. Not a relationship."

"You're not friends Vic! How can't you see that? He only wants to sleep with you! And what's more he only wants to sleep with you to get to me!"

"ENOUGH, Cass. We're going around in loops. I'm so sick of arguing with you and frankly, I don't want to do it anymore."

His expression became stonier; steeling himself for what he already knew was coming; but didn't want to hear.

"What are you saying?"

I hated myself.

"I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to be with you."

He stared at me in silence for a beat; evaluating the weight of my words- testing if I meant them. Then he focused his gaze slightly beyond my shoulder; addressing me, but seemingly unable to look at me.

"You know when we first started dating; I read up on Veela women. How nerdy is that? I researched all about you, so I'd be able to understand you and I wouldn't… offend you, or whatever. There were all these books about how Veelas couldn't help being vengeful and bitter- and I completely disregarded them. You made me happy and I thought I made you happy- and that was it for me. I just can't believe that after two years of making me so indescribably happy; you can just turn around and rip my life to pieces. Did it really mean nothing to you? Do I really mean nothing to you; that you could take away the two most important things in the world to me in a day and act like nothing had happened?"

I swallowed. "I didn't take anything from you. Whatever you've lost Cass? You threw away all on your own."

"Thought I'd find you here."

I didn't look up, still gazing across the lake. The last time we'd met here, the stars had been out, twinkling mischievously like little fireflies over the lake. Now it was cloudy and dark and the water's surface seemed to be draped in some black blanket. Fitting.

He slipped down against the tree beside me; his warmth radiating slightly through my thin shirt. I spared him a glance. "What do you want?"

He shrugged. "I wanted to thank you. McGonagall found me earlier. She said you cleared up what had happened and that I was free to start training again." He nudged me. "I know that mustn't have been easy."

I nodded minimally, flicking grass off my skirt. "It was pretty shit as it happens."

Frowning, he turned his focus to the lake in front of us. "I also wanted to apologise."

I quirked a brow; only half listening. "Oh yeah? What for?"

"Aelius heard- that McGonagall was letting you say who started it. And… I guess I just-"

"Thought I'd say you? Seeing as I'm such a dirty Slytherin and all."

He nodded; cracking a grin. "Yeah, something like that. I'm glad I was wrong though. If only to avoid Harriet trying to offer condolences every two seconds."

I chuckled half-heartedly, and he shot me a hesitant glance. "I saw… I saw Zabini earlier. When McGonagall gave him the news."

Closing my eyes wearily, I sighed. "How did he react?"

Teddy's voice dropped lower. For some reason I expected more of a jubilant reaction from him. Maybe a chuckle or a smirk. But he didn't seem to be revelling in Cass's loss. Maybe he was putting himself in his shoes. Maybe he knew how very close he's come to losing everything himself. Or maybe he was trying to be tactful in front of me.

"I don't think he saw it coming. He looked really, really shocked."

I smiled wanly. Good. Then the stupid ass knew exactly how wrong he'd been.

"I almost felt sorry for him. He… He looked ill, Vic. I- Shit sorry. This probably isn't what you want to hear. He is your boyfriend and all-"

I shook my head softly. "No. He's not."

Teddy's mouth fell open in surprise. "What- since- since when?"

I shrugged. "This afternoon."

He sat back against the tree slowly. "Is that… is that why you said he started it?"

I sighed again; my voice breaking slightly. "I didn't."

He shot me a sidelong glance in confusion. "What?"

Burying my head in my knees as I clutched them to my chest; I answered in the most monotonous voice I could muster.

"I didn't say he started it."

Teddy shifted his position on the grass beside me; angling his body towards me. I could feel his warmth just inches from my skin. I refused to look at him though. It would all be too real when I saw his reaction.

"But… McGonagall said I could play again- she said I wasn't to blame? How can we both not be to blame?"

I blinked away tears; lifting my gaze finally to meet his perplexed one. Something finally seemed to click within his eyes as we looked at each other.

"I said it was me. That it was my fault. I started it. She had no other confession so she had to go with it. I don't think she really believed it though."

Teddy looked around flabbergasted. "But… why would you do that? If… If you couldn't say Cass- why didn't you say me? I was more to blame than you were. And if you thought he started it- why didn't you just say Cass? I just… what were you thinking?"

I pulled myself upright leaning back against the bark; jutting uncomfortably into my back and neck. The cool night breeze sent shivers up my body; but I was too preoccupied to care. "I couldn't blame you. It wasn't your fault and I wouldn't do that. But I couldn't turn my back on Cass. He's an idiot but… I loved him. Shit. I really loved him."

I was crying through my words; wracking with sobs before I'd even finished my sentence. Strong warm arms wrapped around me and I sunk into them gratefully; shaking with tears and from the cold. It took a while for me to calm down and when I finally did; I was reluctant to leave the warmth and safety of Teddy's arms.

"What did she say? McGonagall. When you told her."

I breathed in deeply; trying not to cry again. "She took my badge Teddy. She's going to give it to someone else."

He gripped him arms tighter around me. "When I got into that fight- I never dreamed anyone else would have to pay for it but us. I can tell her if you want? Tell her it was me?"

I shook my head. "I just dumped Cassius Zabini and took the fall for the Gryffindor Captain. Every Slytherin in the school is going to despise me. Why have the Gryffindors hate me as well."

He chuckled. "I don't hate you. Aelius doesn't. Craig… will come around. If it would help- you could come sit with us from now on."

I frowned. "Who's Craig?"

I could feel his body ripple with laughter behind me. "He came to duelling club with me? Remember?"

"No."

He laughed again. "Well you'll see. If you'd like."

I frowned at the ground. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

He shrugged. "It's an option."

Yeah.

Not a very good one.

"Vic! Is it true?"

Jumping apart from Teddy; I turned to face my best friend. "Lys- how did you-"

She waved me away impatiently. "This one told me he thought you'd be here but I had detention so I couldn't come- but I came as quickly as I could!"

I turned incredulous eyes to Teddy. "You… looked for Lys? For me?"

He nodded sheepishly. "I told you- we're friends now. You sent her to look for Aelius remember? I'd imagine you don't do that for any old loose acquaintance."

Lys jumped between us; swatting Teddy away. "Yes, yes, isn't he swell- but tell me everything! NOW!"

"Ignore them okay? Head high, just like we talked?"

I nodded affirmation; taking a deep breath as we walked into the hall. Lys gripped my hand subtly, continuing in her animated chat; acting as if we had not a care in the world. I sniffed; determined not to ruin the third layer of make-up Lys had so expertly crafted to hide my puffy eyes. One hour of crying she had allowed me by the lake. But no more.

As we settled into our seats; I noted we were not in our usual place at the top of the table but somewhere in the middle, hidden in the mass of Slytherins. But not unnoticed; I realised glumly. Most of our seating companions were already whispering quietly to each other and shooting looks when they thought no one was watching. I glanced up at Lys questioningly, wondering why we had changed our seating venue.

"I wouldn't want to sit with that twat anyways." She declared animatedly as way of explanation, between mouthfuls of pudding. It seemed we had arrived just in time for desert.

"I hope that wasn't in reference to me Booth."

Both Lys and I turned in shock as a hulking figure lowered himself into the spot beside her, reaching for a pudding. Or two.

We stared at him in silence as he began to eat his desert. He glanced up at me; seemingly unconcerned by our reactions to his presence.

"Oi Weasley- heard you and Zabini broke up. I hope it had nothing to do with our steamy and torrid love affair? I hear we were quite the scandal."

Unable to supress a grin of derision; I reached for a pudding as well. "Haven't you heard Nott? Could have been the result of any one of my numerous sexual indiscretions. Who could possibly say which was most guilty."

He smirked in response. "Who indeed."

Lys dropped her fork suddenly. "What are you doing?"

Nott turned to her in surprise. "What? Same thing you are. Trying to enjoy my desert."

She scowled, addressing him bluntly. "No; I meant what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be playing with your buddies at the other end of the table?"

Nott took a slow bite of his pudding; turning away from her. "I think I'm okay here actually Booth. The conversation at the other end was a little… dull."

He glanced up at me, firmly placing his . "Look, Weasley. I know Zabini is our captain and whatever- but yesterday; he sure as fuck didn't act like one. He almost threw away his season, and ours. There's no way we could have replaced him on that short notice. And I guess for him; it's different. He's good-looking; does reasonably well in class- there's always someone to bail him out. But for me- if our Quidditch season had gone- that'd be it. I don't have school or a good-looking bird to fall back on. I work hard at it- really hard- and it pisses me off to see him toss it aside over some bird. No offence. Which is why I appreciate what you did. Even not turning in Lupin. I wouldn't want the trophy if we hadn't earned it."

Lys and I shared a nonplussed glance.

He coughed; glancing uncomfortably around, as though concerned someone would hear him trying to air his feelings. "That's why it really grates me to listen to them prattling on about what a traitor you are. The only one who betrayed us is sitting up there playing victim. So I thought I'd try some new company. And I guess… say… thanks. I guess that prefect crap was pretty important to you, huh?"

I looked at Lys for help; unsure how to proceed. "Yeah. It kind of was."

He nodded sagely. "I could teach you how to fly if you want? It's way better."

I let out a bark of laughter. "No… that's alright."

He grinned. "Well at the very least… whoever they replace you with; I promise I'll make their entire prefect career something they look back on and weep."