Author's Note: A longer, more angsty one than usual but there's a treat at the end if yous plough through the rest. ;) See you on the other side! :) Also, I'm thinking as I gave Teddy 7 chapters and have now reached seven with Vic- I might start alternating between them? Fair is Fair.

I scanned the room quickly; my eyes confirming in an instant what an uneasy gut had been telling me the entire walk here from the dungeons. My seat was already taken. I would be sitting alone for this class. Working my way through the desks and chattering students, I picked an empty one at the back; keeping my head down and acting unbothered. I chanced a glance at my old desk, to see who Beatrice had replaced me with. An unfamiliar mess of red hair was my only answer. I didn't know her. She was nobody.

Sighing quietly; I made to open my book and take out my quills, only to find the seat beside me was shadowed by a tall boy with dark black hair and angular features.

"Weasley." He nodded; slipping easily into the seat beside me.

I glared at him. "What do you think you are doing?"

He looked up in confusion. "Transfiguration? It's not one of my best skills; I'll grant you, but really-"

"Christ Aelius, I am fuuuucked for this test. Why didn't you make me study for this? Hey Weasley- wanna teach me something about Animagi?"

I shot this newcomer a withering glare as he sank easily into the seat in front of us. I knew his face from somewhere… Probably yet another of Teddy's cronies.

"No. I can teach you how to fuck off if you'd like?"

He raised eyebrows at Aelius; taken aback. "Okaaay. Remind me why we agreed to this?" He muttered quietly.

I turned on Aelius in an instant. "Agreed to what, Greenwood?"

He shrugged innocently; now thoroughly preoccupied with reading over our notes.

"Greenwood. Now."

Turning accusing eyes on his friend, he eventually met my gaze. "Well… Teddy worried that you might-"

I placed a calming hand against my forehead. "Teddy put you up to this?"

He nodded remorsefully.

"Well next time you see Teddy- tell him I don't need his help. Or his pity."

Slamming my books shut, I shoved them in my bag; swinging my satchel over my shoulder just as Professor Heldon walked into the room. I ignored his protests as they followed me down the corridor, marching ever more furiously out of the hall and down the front steps of the school.

Breathing in the fresh air deeply, I attempted to calm myself. Who did he think he was? Did he have any idea how embarrassing that was? How humiliating? Being a fucking pity project for the Gryffindors? Was he dim enough to imagine it did anything to help my standings within my own house? I was being shunned and avoided because I had helped him. Being pally with him wasn't going to fix it. It would only make it worse. God, did he have to be so oblivious? It just made me sound like even more of a bitch for stating out loud the way things were.

He was in Gryffindor and I was in Slytherin and that was not about to change. Sure, maybe loads of people between the houses were friends; but not my friends and not his.

"Vic- did you actually storm out of Transfiguration? What is up with you these days? You can't keep this up- you already have enough detentions to last a lifetime. What are you playing at?"

"I know Lys, but he made Greenwood sit with me. Like I was his fucking pet project or something."

"Why weren't you sitting with Beatrice?"

"You know why."

"I mean- why didn't you kick that stupid tart out of your seat?"

"Because… I don't know. I don't have the energy for all this Lys. Not right now okay?"

"Okay. But… Vic? You might want to summon the energy. Slug Club Christmas party is coming up. You… well, since you and Cass… You need a date, Vic."

Oh, Christ.

"Hey Vic! Hey, wait up- are you coming to the game tomorrow?"

I stopped slowly and reluctantly faced Teddy. He grinned down at me expectantly.

"No. I'm not."

His grin faltered. "Why not? It'll be good- pretty close I'd imagine."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Because I don't like Quidditch. And I'm not dating Zabini anymore so... I have no obligation to go."

The response came out curter than I'd intended. Wincing; I made to apologise. "Look… I- Good luck, I suppose."

He nodded uncertainly. "You sure… You sure you're okay?"

I nodded bitterly. "Yeah. Fine."

My whole life is going up in flames, but I'm just dandy Ted. Cheers.

He stared at me for a beat. "I know you're lying. Are you mad at me for… transfiguration?"

"No."

Yes.

"Okay. Well… there's this party tomorrow night. Mostly it's all of the houses but I know Slytherin hold their own separate one sometimes. I thought maybe-"

"Maybe since my whole house despises me, I'd run along and frolic with yours?"

His face fell at my tone; already visibly backtracking. I didn't allow him correct himself.

"Do- Do you think this is a game Teddy?"

"Wha- No-"

"I really don't think you get it. In fact; I know you don't. Because everyone fucking loves you in that stupid house of yours. Because you belong there. I don't belong here- or at least- I didn't. Not at first. It took years to get them to accept me. You have no idea what it took- and in the space of a few weeks- it's all totally undone!"

"Victoire- if they can't accept you for you, then they're not really-"

"Oh for fuck's sake please don't say that they're not really my friends. Of course they aren't! But at least before; I didn't fall asleep listening to what a slut I am. Before; I didn't walk into my common room and have people get up and leave. Before; I could walk into a classroom and choose who to sit beside and now I'm lucky if I just get to sit alone and unnoticed."

He looked stricken. "Vic, I…"

"I know you think you're helping me. Showing me solidarity and friendship by sitting with me in classes and inviting me to parties and that's all fucking great Teddy; but when it's over- I still have to go back to my common room, and my dorm, and you get to go back to yours. And it generally tends to be that little bit easier for me to go back if I haven't spent Transfiguration giggling with fucking Greenwood."

He swallowed; ashen face on the floor. "I… had no idea. I didn't mean to make anything hard for you. I'm sorry."

I nodded; already regretting my outburst. I just could not get it right with anyone!

"Yeah. Me too. And you know what just kills?"

He looked up at me; wary, waiting.

"I was going to get out. Next year. I would have been Head Girl and had my own fucking dorms and my own fucking Common Room and I wouldn't have had to deal with this. But… I lost the badge. I haven't a chance in hell."

He reached out, placing his hand comfortingly on my arm. "You don't know that. Sometimes they bend the rules a bit."

I shrugged out of his grip; hitching the satchel higher.

"Yeah. See you around, Lupin."

"Okay- what is up with you?"

I looked up in surprise as my baby sister plonked onto the grass beside me. I frowned at her, closing my book and looking at her directly.

"What do you mean?"

She picked up my book, glancing over the title. "Advanced Potions. Interesting that you should be reading this. I was under the impression that you were done with Potions."

I bit my lip; stalling for time. "Why would you think that?"

She pursed her lips. "You haven't gone in a week. Vic, even Slughorn is going to have to give you detention if you keep this up. We're worried. Mum writes to me like, every day now, wondering why you won't reply to her. Dad wants to come to the castle to speak with Zabini."

My head shot up. "No. Please say he won't."

Dom stretched lazily back on the grass. "Probably not. Mum would kill him. Besides, I doubt all of this is about breaking up with Zabini."

I narrowed my eyes; plucking my book back from her. "What is that supposed to mean?"

She smiled sweetly over at me. "Come on. You're finished now. You can admit he was a git. Had all the personality of a worms ridden toad."

My mouth fell open. Could toads even get worms? "Dom. That's unfair."

Sniggering, she rolled her eyes. "Doesn't make it any less true."

Anger flared within me. She was just as bad as the Slytherins. She never even really knew Cass; and never really wanted to. All of them seemed to think it was just some silly phase I had to go through- never dreaming I would actually end up with a Slytherin. The horror. The notion that I was a Slytherin once again eluded my family. Whatever he was to her and her friends- the Slytherin Captain- an asshole- an idiot- didn't matter. He was completely different to me. He meant something completely different to me.

And apart from all the crap I had to deal with as a fallout of our break-up; I missed him. How could I not? I had loved him.

"Dom. I dated him for two years. You could at least try and pretend to care."

She squinted over at me. "Sorry. What are you going to do about the game tomorrow?"

Shrugging I opened my book again. "I'm not going."

Sitting up abruptly she frowned at me. "But you have to go. I got you a little Gryffindor flag too- we could sit together- he'll be devastated if you don't go. "

I scoffed. "Dom- he'll be fine. Have you seen the size of him? He's more than capable."

Smirking knowingly over at me, she flipped her red hair out of her eyes. "I was talking about Louis. Who were you talking about?"

Realising my mistake, I could feel my cheeks heat. "Louis, of course. He's gotten very… tall."

Her smirk grew. "Really? I hadn't noticed. Couldn't have been Lupin you meant?"

I coughed suddenly. "No."

Giggling, she shoved me lightly. "It's okay Vic. I know you fancy him. It's alright to fancy him- half the population of Hogwarts already does."

I put on my firm face. "I don't fancy him. He's good-looking sure; and he's… not as horrible as I thought but… It'll never happen."

Cocking her head, she eyes me curiously. "Why? I think you'd be great together."

Spluttering in shock at her bluntness, I tried to avoid her gaze. "What? Why would you- wait- how do you know whether or not we'd be good together? You don't even know Teddy."

Silence lingered. I looked up; piercing her gaze as suspicions began to form seamlessly in my head. "Who told you I wasn't attending Potions?"

She remained uncharacteristically quiet. "It just came up in conversation."

I nodded; eyes narrowed. "Yeah, I'm sure. And why on earth would you be having a casual conversation with Teddy Lupin? Hard to imagine your paths cross frequently."

She shrugged. "We actually do chat a fair bit. James and I are quite good friends and most of the Weasley's stick together."

Awkward quietness settled between us.

"Most of the Weasleys." I echoed numbly. Was that an accusation? Confusion flickered across her pixie-like face until suddenly her mouth fell open with realisation.

"God Vic I wasn't saying you-"

"Yeah, I know. I guess it's just weird. Thinking that you guys are all together in your common room. I forget that you're friends with them."

She arched a thin brow. "Them? Vic, they are your family. Whatever you think of them- they do care about you."

Was I being paranoid in detecting slight venom in her words? I couldn't tell.

"Who says I think anything of them? They seem perfectly… nice."

Her gaze cooled fractionally, the atmosphere decidedly tenser. "Well… you wouldn't really know whether they're "nice" or not. You never give them a chance. Much like you wouldn't know whether you and Teddy would work together, because you've never really given him a chance either."

Gobsmacked; I glared right back at her. "Why am I suddenly the villain? Molly practically wets herself in panic every time I pass her. James acts like he doesn't even know me. Rose actively avoids me. What about the fact that they haven't given me a chance?"

"Have you ever indicated you want a chance? Have you ever asked for one?"

"Should I have to?"

She surveyed me coolly. "All I'm saying is; if you're going to pretend that people don't exist; don't be surprised when they return the favour. I understand why you did it. You wanted your Slytherin friends. But it seems to me that no matter what you do; they aren't going to accept you. So fuck them."

I repeated her. "Fuck them?"

She nodded. "Who gives a shit what they think? What Cass thinks; or Bursnell? You won't be getting those friends back- why not make some new ones? Teddy wants to be your friend- so does James and Rose- just let us."

My blood ran cold as I absorbed what she was saying; staring at her numbly and incapable of forming sentences for a few seconds.

"Who… Why would you bring up Bursnell? How do you even know her name?"

She frowned slowly. "I dunno…"

I gritted my teeth; trying to calm myself. "Teddy said something, didn't he?"

She shook her head quickly, dark red hair spilling over her eyes; but her face gave her away. For someone who was so quick to spot a lie, she was rubbish at covering one.

"Who the fuck does he think he is? Why- Why are you having discussions about me? God Dom- isn't it enough that the whole school is gossiping about me- but you- and fucking Lupin? Get your own life and stay out of mine!"

I scrambled for my books; shoving them in my bag and furiously avoiding her dumbstruck gaze, deaf to her pleas. Storming back to the school over the green, past groups of teens and the odd couple, I kept my gaze peeled for one person in particular. I found him just before the steps in the Entrance Hall.

"Lupin! LUPIN! A word please?"

He turned to face me with his signature crooked grin. One of his friends clapped his back, the group collectively laughing and teasing as he jogged over to me. His grin faltered slightly as he neared me and took in my expression.

"Shit. Am I in trouble again?"

"Whatever you've been saying to my siblings- stop."

His smile slid off in an instant. "What?"

"Don't play dumb. Whatever you said about… about potions or Bursnell- just stop. It has nothing to do with you. We're not friends. We're not even "loose acquaintances". We're nothing."

I made to storm off. He gripped my arm tightly and pulled me into a side-room, ignoring my protests. He closed the door firmly behind us before facing me.

"What exactly did Dom say?"

I rolled my eyes, spitting my words. "Like I would tell you. You're just going to find a way to twist the truth."

He took a step forward, holding his ground. "The truth? Which is what? That I was concerned about you? That I wanted to help you?"

I ran a frazzled hand through my hair, laughing humourlessly. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing Lupin. If you're trying to humiliate me- mission accomplished. If you wanted to hurt me- you've hit the bull's-eye. Now just leave me alone, okay?"

He shook his head; baffled and frustrated. "I don't even know what I've done- but I promise I didn't want any of those things- I just-"

"How can you not know? Do you think I want my little sister to know about Bursnell? Do you imagine it's a nice feeling having her know how she bullied me for three years? To have her know what a pathetic little loser I used to be? She's supposed to look up to me! It's beyond embarrassing! It's… God! Just why!?"

He turned serious eyes on me; his whole countenance darkened with his mood. "I… didn't know about that. I swear. All I said was that she was a bitch to you that day."

Awkwardness festered.

"I don't believe you. Everyone knows."

He sighed. "Victoire, I didn't even know your name when we first met, never mind your history with Bursnell. If anyone does know; then they don't associate the girl you used to be with the girl you've become. I promise you."

My eyes started to sting. "Of course they do. They just used to be too afraid to mention it. But not anymore, I guess." I chucked hollowly again.

He took another step forward; raising his hand, then letting it fall again, flopping back to his side.

"Was it… was it really that bad?" He winced, already regretting asking.

I sighed; moving to sit with him against some empty desk. "Yeah."

He waited silently; patiently.

"At first… she was actually my friend. My only friend really; even Lys didn't want much to do with me. They all thought I was stuck up because I didn't want Slytherin… You can imagine. Anyways… she would insist that we hang around with the usual group- Beatrice and Nessa and all of those. She acted like she didn't know they were dicks to me. Pretended not to see it. And I believed her. They used to do shitty things like put itching powder in my clothes, or balding potions in my shampoo; and she knew. But she never stopped them and I never confronted her because she was my only friend, you know?"

He nodded. "So when did you stop being friends?"

I smiled wanly. "Haven't you been listening? We never were. You mean; when did I realise that we weren't friends. Third year. Before third year… I was meek, really quiet and kind of… invisible. I deliberately dressed as conservatively as possible and did everything I could to fit in. But in third year I guess the Veela genes kicked in for real. There was this boy- he's in seventh year now- you probably know him. Colin Borge?"

He shot me an incredulous look. "Seriously? Tell me you didn't..?"

I smacked him, giggling despite myself. "No. But don't give me that look. He was quite the catch back in the day."

He raised eyebrows, allowing the comment pass but obviously not agreeing.

"Well, whatever. The point is- he fancied me. Clemence heard it from a friend in the year above. She had never had a boyfriend and I think the idea of me having one before her is what… pissed her off more than anything. The other girls already hated me more that year now that they were suffering through teen acne and shit, and I wasn't but… Colin irked all of them."

I swallowed, kind of regretting starting this story. I really didn't want to come off as arrogant or as a victim. I glanced uncertainly at Teddy. His eyes softened as he looked at me.
"So… what happened?" He pressed gently.

I looked back at the floor; my cheeks burning at the memory. "I… was supposed to go on this date with him. But I guess they had already been talking to him because he must have agreed… I mean there was no way they could have known where we were going unless he told them."

I trailed off into silence; lost in thought. Teddy nudged me.

"And..?"

"We were walking to the Quidditch Pitch- I can't even remember what excuse he gave to go there but I just agreed. Then we bumped into a massive group of Slytherins- mostly in the year above- but Clemence was there with the rest of our group. I went over to say hello and tell them how the date was going; but… They were bitches. As per."

Maybe she just hadn't heard her. "Clemence? Are you okay?"

The black-haired girl finally turned to face her; her face contorted in an unfamiliar sneer. "Oh, hey Vic. Surprised to see you over here; slumming it with the likes of us."

Victoire frowned; her small features scrunched in confusion; and just the whisper of trepidation. She flickered big blue eyes between the cold and unforgiving gazes of her classmates; uncertain of what had happened to merit this sudden hostility.

"W-What?"

Her friend tilted her head, scanning over the smaller blonde before retrieving a small brown notebook from the depths of her bag. "We were just passing the time with some light reading while waiting for our dear friend to return to us."

Her eyes widened in shock as she recognised the notebook. Inked in a familiar loopy scrawl along the binding, her own name shone out at her in the afternoon sun. Her heart skipped. They wouldn't. She wouldn't. She glanced up at her friend in doubt. "Why- where did you get that?"

Clemence laughed; her shiny hair flowing easily down her back with the motion. "We see you scribbling away in it every night. We all know where you keep it. Why do you look so worried Vic? I'm sure it only says nice things. I mean- we're your friends right?"

Her eyes narrowed; a malicious glint shimmering in their brown depths that Victoire had never seen before. She felt ill. What- what was happening? How could she be doing this? What had they said to her that could possibly turn her against her best friend? She hadn't done anything. Clemence wouldn't read her diary. She wouldn't do that. She… she didn't even know the password.

A long, thin finger stroked the binding of her diary, as Clemence's lips curved into a smirk. The entire group had gone quiet. Some thirty or twenty students all watching this one exchange. Desperately Victoire tried to communicate silently with her friend.

Why are you doing this?

What did I do?

Please don't do this.

Please.

"See- at first- I told them it was wrong to read someone else's diary. You know how they are though, Vic. They were determined to prove to me how you hated Slytherins. How you thought they were scum of the earth. How you thought you were better then them. Better than us. And I didn't want to believe them. I actually made to leave. But they started guessing passwords."

Her heart skipped a beat. Already she knew what was coming. But it couldn't be real. It was dream.

"You'll never guess what finally got your precious diary to open."

No. Please don't do it. Her eyes were already smarting with tears she willed herself not to shed.

"Gryffindor."

A cheer ran through the crowd; a few of the older boys making the lion's roar; mocking, jeering.

"And I thought- how odd. How peculiar that our darling Vic would make that her password. Why not… Slytherin? But see- it's explained here- just a few pages in-"

She slid open the diary almost lovingly; reading aloud in her silky, sarcastic voice. Victoire stood rooted to the ground, muted in humiliation.

"-the most horrible bunch of girls I have ever met. I just don't understand them. I just know that I don't belong here. The sorting hat made a mistake- I will never fit in here- they hate me and I hate them."

She remembered writing the words. Could see her hand flying furiously over tear-stained parchment. The day they had forced her to walk bald into the hospital wing and pretend she didn't know why all her hair had fallen out, leaving angry red sores over her scalp.

She opened her mouth to explain- to defend- but Clemence was faster.

"Ouch. Aren't we supposed to be friends? I guess not… Oooh this bit is juicy. "I wonder what it will be like- kissing someone for the first time. I don't really know how I feel about Colin- I barely know him. But I am excited to do all of those couply things like you see in the movies." Is it going as you planned Weasley? Is it just as magical?"

She coughed, choking back tears that were sure to spill any second. More laughter and jeers met this new revelation. She could even see Colin laughing. Had she ever felt more humiliated? More betrayed? Would she ever? Please let it end.

Clemence took a step forward; getting in her face. "I hope you learned a lesson today Weasley. You're no better than anyone here. If anything; as the most pathetic, immature, silly, wretched little blood traitor to ever grace our halls; you're bottom of the pile. The mud we scrap of our shoes. And you're right. You'll never fit in. We hate you."

Suddenly unable to stand there a moment later; she turned and fled, tears blocking her vision as she scrambled back to the castle, laughter in her ears.

Only one person ran after her, her short brown curls bouncing in the wind as she tried to keep pace.

We were quiet for a few minutes; listening to the motion and chatter of students outside.

"Class must've rang." I mused; slightly lightheaded after my story. I had never shared that with anyone. Not even Cass. Lys was already there and witnessed it first-hand, and I had never been brave or confident enough to tell my parents or siblings. I wasn't sure why I was avoiding his gaze either. I hadn't done anything wrong.

But still. Somehow I felt… less in his eyes. With him, I had always been in control- always the stronger, cleverer, wittier person. Always the one step ahead. Egotistical as it was, I liked that. Liked that perception of myself. I had shattered that for definite now. I don't think I'd ever looked so ridiculously weak in front of someone. Obviously save for the actual event.

"Who cares. Slughorn will live without us for one more day."

I laughed quietly. "Maybe not me. The rate I'm going; he'll have to give me detention for sure this time."

"Fuck him. This is more important."

I quirked a brow; finally looking at him. "Is it? It happened a good while ago Teddy. I'm over it. I don't even really know why I told you. I'm sorry."

He turned towards me; angling himself on the desk so that he was facing me fully. "For what? I'm really glad you told me."

I laughed properly this time. "Why on earth? It's… a weird thing to be happy to hear Lupin."

He shook his head; leaning forward in earnest. "No- I don't mean I'm glad it happened- I mean- I'm glad you told me. I… want you to be able to tell me things."

He blushed slightly, grinning sheepishly at me.

My lips curved into a smile. Just fractionally.

"Why? Why… are you so nice to me? All I ever am is rude to you."

His grin grew. "That's true. But a weird part of me is kind of into what a bitch you are. And then there are the times like this- when you're more… yourself. I… You're not the worst sort."

I let out a bark of laughter. "When I'm not a hormonal, screaming mess abusing you in corridors, you mean?"

He clapped my back in sarcastic comfort. "You've had a tough week. With Zabini and everything."

I nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"How are things with him? Have you talked since he found out you didn't turn him in?" He squinted curiously at me as I turned my gaze to the floor.

"No. Not at all."

He nodded. "And… would you want to talk to him?"

I paused, biting on my lip. "I don't know. I don't know how to talk to him anymore."

He paused in response. "Vic- what you just told me- about Bursnell… does he know?"

My head shot up as I stared at him; my breathing uneven. "I don't know. Why? You- you won't tell anyone?"

Shock coloured his featured. "Merlin- NO- I would never. I just… I can't imagine hating anyone more than I hate him. How can he stand there yelling at you and defending her? I just… What did you ever see in that prat?"

I shrugged; offering him a bemused face. "It honestly gets harder and harder to remember."

He laughed softly. "Well, forget him. He didn't deserve you."

I raised an eyebrow. "No? I would have thought you would think us perfect for each other."

He shook his head confidently. "Nope. I know you better than that."

This drew a real laugh; echoing shakily throughout our empty classroom. The dim lighting cast shadows across his face; making his grin appear somewhat devilish.

"You don't know me at all Lupin."

He shrugged; still grinning. "You keep saying that- but you just admitted yourself- I know things about you that only Lys knows. I think you'd be surprised."

"Oh? Well surprise me then. Tell me something about myself that I haven't told you."

"Fine. You fancy me."

My smile vanished in an instant, as my blood began to pound in my ears. "What?"

His grin grew. "Aha! You're blushing! I knew it!"

"I do not."

"Do too."

"Don't flatter yourself."
"It is flattering Weasley- but that doesn't make it any less true. I've suspected for quite a while now, actually."

"Oh really? Amuse me."

"Since the first day of term, actually. I grinned across at you in the Great Hall?"

"I remember."

"You smirked back."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes you did."

"Liar."

"Delusionist."

"Shut up."

He grinned cheekily. "You know there's only one way to prove who's right?"

I cocked my head in consideration; enjoying the banter more than I cared to admit. Unless I was completely remedial- he was flirting with me. And I… was allowing it? I didn't know. I was caught up in the feeling of being fancied by a good-looking bloke and… mildly fancying him back.

"How?"

"We'll have to kiss. If there's nothing- then fine; you don't fancy me. No harm; no foul." He smirked over; testing me; challenging.

It made absolutely no sense. If anything; it would only prove that I liked him enough to pretend to buy into this ridiculous excuse just to kiss him. But… it was tempting. Just one kiss. No one would have to know. See once and for all if there was anything to everyone's ramblings. My life was basically in free fall anyways. Kissing Teddy Lupin would only be the nail in the coffin.

"Makes sense." I finally found my voice.

"Only logical." He inched closer and my breath hitched. I watched his gaze shift for the briefest, most uncertain of seconds to my lips. Holding his liquid honey eyes, I allowed my gaze to drop deliberately to his lips and linger. Smirking as I raised my gaze, I waited for him to close the distance.

"Last chance to back out Weasley, you little prude." His voice was lower now; a hoarse whisper.

"Do you see me stalling?" I questioned lightly; my own voice fainter than I'd care to admit.

His smirk grew, and –Merlin, he was good-looking- why had I ever denied that fact? Who was I really fooling? He was all smirks; and warm eyes; and ruffled hair; and strong jaw lines that jutted just right; and lips that looked just soft enough- but not too soft; and-

He closed the distance.

And it was just my lips and his.

Gently pressed against each other; moving just slightly- enough that we both wanted more; but refused to be the first to show it. The classroom, the outside world; the drama- all melted away. He was warm and right in front of me and amazing and I wanted him and it couldn't possibly be wrong to just reach out and curl my hands through his hair- so soft and so impossibly messy- and just mess it up that little bit more so that when I saw him later I would know that his dishevelled hair was all my doing.

And I wouldn't object if he pulled me closer; pressing his hands at the small of my back that pushed us together and held us against each other in a way that could only be fantastic.

But instead he pulled away, the warmth of his fingers leaving the spot on my jaw where he'd pulled me towards him. He looked down at me; still much closer than was strictly necessary. His breathing was unsteady. Probably steadier than mine though.

"You were right. Nothing." He grinned cheekily; his eyes glinting brightly.

I glanced up at his hair curiously. It had shot through the colour range to a very strong blonde; only a few shades warmer than my own.

"I generally am." I smirked; pulling away, still dizzy.

He stood up, straightening slowly and offering a hand to help me off the desk. I accepted, sliding off quietly. We walked to the door in silence.

As we closed the door behind us; we turned to face each other. He grinned, leaning lazily against the door. "See you at the match?"

I hesitated. "I guess. Dom of emotionally blackmailed me into going."

He guffawed. "Tell yourself what you need to Weasley."