I hadn’t talked to Draco in over four days. I’m sure he’s wondering what’s going on. I haven’t told him that Snape and I had a little chat, and I was thinking it was probably for the best. I know that I was going to have to explain myself eventually seeing that Snape made good on his word and had Binns switch us partners. I had been placed with Seamus Finnegan. What luck, eh? I wasn’t looking forward to our meeting, which I was headed to that Saturday. The Saturday of my detention with Snape. It was rumored that Pansy had detention with me that night. I just hoped that it wasn’t true. Since she started the rumor, I’ve become a totally different person to everyone. The rumors just kept on morphing as time went on. I was a slut who liked to beat the occasional ugly bitch and liked to distance herself from everyone afterwards. Yeah, I was pretty much considered a freak among my peers. Go figure.

“Hey there,” Seamus greeted me as I approached him in the library. “Fancy meeting you here.”

I rolled my eyes and sat down across from him. “Let’s just get started. There’s plenty of other things that I need to get finished today.”

“Isn’t this kind of ironic?” he asked as he watched me open my History of Magic book. “I mean, I was just joking with you about helping me with my History project, and it turns out that you are actually my partner.”

“Yeah, it’s bloody hilarious,” I was getting very irritated. “Now, let’s get to work.”

“So,” he said after a few moments of silence that I was very much appreciating. “Shagged any other guys lately or do you just save that for your history partners? If so, then I’m a very lucky guy,” his hand was then on my knee.

I looked up and realized he had gotten so much closer. The hand that was on my knee sent tingles all the way up my knee. I pushed his hand off of my knee and put my nose back into my book, but it wasn’t long until his hand had found his way back and that time was braver as he traveled up to my thigh. I started getting nervous. What the heck was it with Seamus? I never thought he would be that kind of guy. You know a guy that didn’t know what the word ‘no’ meant.

“Get your hand off of my leg, Seamus, or so help me God, I will cut it off,” I said through clenched teeth but that just made him smirk.

“I’m only joking with you,” he then slid his hand off my leg but slowly. “God, when did you turn into such a prude?”

“Not every rumor is true, Seamus.”

“Every rumor is based off a truth though. It may get distorted along the way, but it still started with a truth. So, tell me,” his eyes glistened with every word, “Did you really sleep with Draco Malfoy?”

I sighed. “That’s none of your business, Seamus.”

“Okay then. Did you really beat a guy up because he slapped you on the ass?”

I nodded. “And if you so much as even try to, I’ll cut of your unmentionables and toss them in the Black Lake so the Giant Squid has a snack. You understand?”

“Jeez, Courtney. What’s got your panties in a knot?”

I rolled my eyes once more. “You do, Seamus.”

“That’s kind of kink-“

“Alright, that’s it,” I started packing my things up. “I’m out of here. If you’re going to be a little prick about this rubbish that’s going around the school, then I’m not going to stick around because if I do, I will make good on my threat, Seamus. That was not a joke. I meant every word I said about your unmentionables. Okay?”

“Fine then, be that way, bitch,” he mumbled as I walked away.

I didn’t turn around or I would’ve hit him. I just know I would’ve. He was being such a dick that I wasn’t sure that I could trust myself around him, meaning that I was definitely capable of murder in Seamus’ presence. I never thought that I would hate him, but he has managed to pull it off.

“Hey,” called someone from behind the last bookshelf.

I smiled because I knew exactly who it was. I wanted to talk to him, but we couldn’t be seen together. That didn’t seem to matter as he pulled me by the arm all the way to the end of the aisle and looked all around to make sure that we were alone. I swallowed hard because I wanted to just kiss him so badly. It was too risky though.

“Hey, you,” I whispered to him.

He sighed. “Is there any reason that we’re not History partners anymore, Court? Because I can’t stand not seeing you on a regular basis. I miss the bloody hell out of you, you know that?”

I tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear and looked him in the eyes. “I just felt that it was the right thing to do was all. It’s better for both of us if we’re not seen at all together, Draco. I know how you feel though. I miss you just as much, possibly more.”

“I’m sorry about all of this. You don’t deserve any of this. I saw what Seamus was doing to you, and it took every ounce of my being not to go over there and put your threat to good use. If it would’ve went on anymore, I probably would’ve. I couldn’t possibly live with myself knowing that something terrible is happening to you, Court. I’ve talked to Pansy. She won’t do anything like that ever again. I made sure of it,” he smirked.

I nodded. “Thank you. I really must be going though. I have to finish up some homework before my detention.”

“I heard how badass you were. I guess I understand though. I was just as angry myself with the whole situation,” he shrugged, looking at my lips.

I understood his longing, but it would have to wait. We may have to wait until after You-Know-Who is killed. It was that bad. I didn’t know how much longer I could last, but as long as Draco was still alive, I’m pretty sure that I could survive knowing that one day we will be together again.

“Bye, Draco,” I whispered, turning around and walking away as fast as I could.

As I made my way to detention that night, all I could think about was how I wanted to be with Draco. His sad face made me depressed all through dinner. I was still a little depressed as I walked the corridors down to the dungeons. How could I leave him when he needed me so? At least he was all smiles through the time that we were actually together. That cheered me up a little.

“Ah, Miss Flint, right on time,” Snape greeted me as I stepped through the door to his office. “I was hoping that you would show earlier than your partner in crime.”

I looked at him oddly. “Partner in crime?” I asked, not getting what he meant.

“Miss Parkinson, of course, my dear,” he wickedly smirked. “She’s going to be starting her rest of the term detentions starting tonight. She will be pulling bezors out of the goats of stomachs for tonight’s task.”

I smirked. It was a punishment worthy to be inflicted upon pug-face. “What am I going to be doing?”

“You, my dear, are to head up to the headmaster’s office. He has requested an audience with you tonight, so your detention is canceled. Feel lucky that you don’t have to help Miss Parkinson with her chore.”

“Thanks, Professor. Should I head up now?”

He nodded. “Best of luck to you, Miss Flint, and don’t forget that acid pops are Professor Dumbledore’s favorite,” he winked at me before I headed out the door to find Pansy coming in at the same time. “You’re late, Miss Parkinson. You must stay an extra fifteen minutes tonight.”

I couldn’t help but laugh to myself when I heard Snape being nasty to Pug-Face. It was actually kind of refreshing to know that the professors hated some of the same students that us, the students, hated or at least the majority.

“Acid pops,” I told the gargoyle, who jumped out of my way so I could hurry up the steps to Dumbledore’s office.

I knocked on the door to find it opening at the second knock. Professor McGonagall motioned me into the room and dragged me in front of Dumbledore’s desk. He was sitting behind the desk with a smile that was so genuine it made me miss how things were before the whole mess had even started.

“Miss Flint, it has been a while since we had last spoken. I believe the last incident was because you had gotten caught in the midst of a Weasley Twins prank, am I correct?” he smiled as if it was only yesterday. “That must’ve been quite some time ago.”

I nodded. “A little over a year.”

“Well, I would love to say that this little meeting was under good circumstances, but alas, we cannot be so lucky. Minerva has brought a certain problem to me that involve you. She’s afraid of what this could do to you or anyone else that was involved,” he paused, “I’m sure you’re aware of the rumors that are circulating. What we want to know is how you’re coping with this.”

“I’m doing fine I would say,” I nodded.

He grinned. “I happen to know that you have it two people because of your frustration. I know that you know that it was wrong and foolish to stoop down to these other students’ level, Miss Flint. I’m sure you have learned you’re lesson though. Am I right?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Good, good,” he then focused on McGonagall. “Minerva, you make leave now. I would like to have a private word with Miss Flint, if you please.”

She nodded after patting my shoulder. With her out of the room, Dumbledore just stayed where he was and was silent for what seemed like ages. I waited patiently for him to say something, but I was surprised when he finally spoke up.

“Love is a peculiar thing, Miss Flint,” he looked up at me, his eyes meeting mine. “It pounces on you and corners you when you least expect it and more often than not at the wrong time. You cannot control it, no matter how much you want to. You cannot tame it, no matter how much it needs to be. I’m sure you know this of course. I’m sure you are aware of the many flaws that love has, but you can’t help but succumb to it because it’s that manipulative.”

I nodded. “Yeah, love’s a bitch,” I then blushed and covered my mouth. I didn’t mean to swear in front of him. It just kind of happened. “Sorry.”

He just simply smiled at me. “No need to be sorry for love surely is a bitch, Miss Flint. It tricked you into falling for one Mr. Malfoy, did it not?”

My eyes widened. How did he know?

“I know. How do I know? Well, I had a hunch earlier in the year, but I wasn’t sure. The rumors these past few days have made me realize that it is true because all rumors start with a truth,” he smirked. “Ah, the truth, a beautiful and terrible thing that must be treated with care. We saw the affects of the distorted truth, which as you know, is not good at all.”

I gulped. “Is it wrong that I’m in love with Draco?”

He shook his head. “Not at all, my dear, but on the contrary. All that boy needs is someone to believe in him and love him. He’ll do the right thing eventually, but at a great cost. Courtney, you are more important than you realize, especially to Draco. I hope that you do not forget that.”

I nodded. “I won’t forget, sir. I promise.”

“I’ll see to that,” his eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles. “You may go, Miss Flint.”

You are more important than you realize. That sentence was all I was able to think about on my way to the Gryffindor tower. It sounded like there was more to it than what he had made it sound. How could I be more important than I realized? Sometimes Dumbledore made no sense at all.

A/N: boy is it hard work building up for the sequel. Do you know how much work it is to lead up to a completlely different plotline? Well, it's exhausting. Well, there is definately 10 chapters left. There will be fifty chapters in this story, they might be a bit longer than the rest of them, but i'm sure you don't mind. :D The song is by Pixie Lott and it makes alot of since because she is the one that is putting the distance in while Draco still wants to be partners. D: its so sad. she can't make this over. it has to be...</3