My smile is tight as Melissa and I continue to stare at one another in greeting. I feel overwhelmed with jealousy, hating this woman with a passion despite not even having exchanged a single word.

And we still don't get to do that, for I am shoved aside by Tom's publicist, Barbara.

"Move along, Tom," the too-tidy-bob woman barks. "OK magazine want to do a quick interview. I've given them exclusive rights to talk to both you and Melanie-"

"It's Melissa, Barb." Tom interrupts sternly.

"Potato, potataho," Barbara snips, dragging them away, "she's a hot piece of ass and that's all they'll care about."

Barbara's words make me feel uncomfortable. It's true, Melissa is beautiful. She's model-like in her features, and of course so is Tom. He could have any girl he dreams. And sadly that will never be me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely down on my looks. I know I'm attractive, but I'm the kind of pretty where old ladies pinch my cheek and ask me if I'm available to date their grandsons.

Keeping a fixed smile on my face, I endure the rest of the premier, hiding a broken heart.

*****

I don't get a chance to meet Melissa again that evening. And I'm glad.

However, I do see Tom, and almost forget about the existence of his girlfriend when we are told to pose together for some photos.

"Hey Toots," he murmurs in my ear, all the while smiling for the cameras. I try not to faint as his beautiful scent invades me, the closeness of him causing my head to spin with pure giddiness. "How are you handling all of this?"

I blink, confused. At first I think he's referring to his girlfriend, but then quickly realise he's talking about the public attention.

"Oh, you know," I say through my smile as we are continually blinded by flashes. "You get used to it."

"Spoken like a true film star," Tom chuckles. I then try not to die as he presses a hand to my back, my backless dress meaning that I can feel the warmth of his touch against my skin. This intimate gesture makes me want to sink against him and let him protect me from the onslaught of the paparazzi.

We are joined by Dan and Rupert, ruining the moment. I feel Tom's hand leave my back as he is ordered out of the way, the public demanding just the Golden Trio in shot. I watch as he slinks back towards Melissa, biting back the bitter tears that threaten to consume me as he wraps his arm around her tiny waist and presses a kiss to the top of her head.

I feel as though he has been stolen from me.

******

"Question for Emma: who, out of the HP cast, do you have a crush on?"

My heart immediately sinks as I squint into the audience, trying to see the face of the annoying person who has asked such a deep and personal question.

My mind races as I fight for an answer that will neither embarrass me nor my colleagues.

"The thing about the cast," I reply, smiling with all my teeth, "is that they are like one big family, so the answer to your question would be no one."

"Come on!" The presenter interjects. "Not even working so closely with the handsome Dan and charismatic Rupert?"

I bulk at the idea. "Jesus no," I laugh. "They are like two very annoying brothers to me. I'd sooner kiss my hairy great aunt, thank you."

Laughter ripples amongst the audience whilst Rupert jabs me hard in the side with his elbow.

Point made.

I dare throw a glance to the end of the panel where Tom sits, looking bored as hell as he sinks low in his chair, baseball cap hiding most of his face which has acquired an alarming amount of acne since the last movie.

I wonder if Melissa is here, proudly watching her boyfriend in the audience. It has been six months since Tom introduced me to her at the premiere, and I can't help but wonder if they are still together.

I'm not going to lie, I spent the last six months frantically googling anything I could find on them. But sadly (or fortunately) there wasn't much on them as a couple. I was pleased to note that they didn't look very loved up in the rare photo I could find of them. In fact, I thought, a tad too smugly, he only looked happy and radiant in the photos shot with me. But I was probably looking too much into it, knowing he was simply posing with another cast member for the public.

I do not realize I am starting until piercing blue eyes meet mine and I quickly look away, blushing furiously. Oh hell, I hope that wasn't caught on camera.

The studio feels uncomfortably hot, and I cannot wait for this 'meet the cast' event to be over. I am becoming thoroughly fed up with being in the spotlight, constantly stared at wherever I go. I have found the tough way that fame quickly loses it's shine when you can't even walk down the street without getting acosted. As a result, I have to take my minder, Bob, with me wherever I go. He's perfectly nice, but doesn't say much, and therefore most outings are full of awkwardness.

Finally it is time to leave, and as I stand, I self consciously tug at my skirt, wishing it wasn't so short.

"Nice swerve there, Em," Dan smirks, his eyes glittering in amusement as he towers over me.

I blow out a puff of air, hoping to appear nonchalant. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Dan."

"Please!" He scoffs, folding his arms arrogantly across his chest. "Everyone knows you're madly in love with Felton. It's written all over your face every time he walks onto the set! And just now, I caught you drooling over at him."

"I was not drooling!" I sat indignantly, quickly throwing a look towards Tom in the hope he wasn't close enough to hear this. "Am I not allowed to look at anyone without it meaning that I want their babies?!"

"Blimey!" Ron breathes behind me, making me jump. "I knew you had a crush on the poor bloke, but I didn't know it was that bad."

Dan sniggers and I punch him very hard in the arm, quickly shutting him up.

"Ow!" He pouts, rubbing it furiously. "What was that for?!"

"You two are worse than the paps," I glare at my co stars. "You know that, don't you?"

I huff away, sticking my nose in the air, hating that they are both in fact correct.

The nightmare isn't over, however, as Dan, Rupert and I are due to have dinner with the new director, Mike Newell. It is his wish to bond with the main cast before we start shooting Goblet of Fire, and I am simply dreading it.

To my surprise, as we turn up at the Ritz, it is to discover that it isn't as intimate as I had feared. Mike, who is already seated at the head of the large table, quickly stands up and motions for me, Dan and Rupert to sit at the three empty chairs nearest to him.

"My three stars!" He says in a jovial, kind voice as he keenly shakes each of our hands. "Harry, Ron and Hermione! Do sit, do sit!"

I can't help but feel a flutter in my stomach as I notice one of the empty three chairs is next to Tom. Rupert pushes me towards it, a sly smirk on his face.

Tom smiles warmly up at me as I take my seat. He is still wearing his baseball cap.

"Isn't it rude to wear a hat at the table?" I say in greeting.

He chuckles softly. "Oh, Toots, trust you to be the one to point that out." He reaches up and obligingly takes it off, his hair dark and untouched by the Draco look. "Better?"

As I take in his beautiful face, I swallow, unable to articulate any words. Even with acne, he looks so damned perfect.

He frowns, misinterpreting my silence. "I know, I know - it was better hidden beneath the cap."

"No," I quickly say. "You look perfect- I mean fine. You look perfectly fine."

My face goes hot and I look down, quickly reaching for the menu to hide my embarrassment. I see him smile in my peripheral vision.

"That's sweet, Toots. Thank you."

"So," I cough, keeping my gaze trained firmly on the menu. "Melissa not here?"

"Nah. She's probably with her new boyfriend."

My heart soars, and I try so hard not to smile.

"Oh, that's a shame!" I lie. "She seemed... nice."

Tom shrugs. "Things end. It's fine. I'd rather concentrate on my career."

I can't help but glance sideways at him, raising my eyebrows. "You know you turn into a ferret?"

His eyes sparkle as he leans in close to me. "Dont tell anyone, but I haven't yet read the book."

"What?!" I say, louder than I intended. "But you've at least read the script, surely?!"

"Sort of," he shrugs, keeping his face close to mine, "but I like to wait until rehearsals start before I can get into character. Draco's... special like that."

I raise my eyebrows even further. It seems acne isn't the only unfortunate thing Tom has acquired since the last movie.

"Well, I like to go over both the script and the book thoroughly before rehearsals." I say, hating the pompousness in my voice. "Otherwise how can I know what they are expecting of me?"

Tom says nothing, but continues to stare at me, his lips flickering up at the corners. "Don't ever change Toots," he says eventually, before turning to his own menu.

Smiling hard, I experience a warmth spreading through me, settling in for the rest of the evening.

*****

The Goblet of Fire is my worst movie yet. Tom has spent the entire time making up for being single by sticking his tongue down every new girl on set.

It is excruciating to watch. Dan and Rupert have been no better, constantly oggling all the newcomers playing the Beaxbatons girls, scoring their tits out of ten at every given opportunity.

It is like they've never been around girls before. I have become invisible to them.

"How would you like it if I started judging you on your willy size?!" I snap at them one afternoon when we are filming in the Great Hall.

Both Dan and Rupert stare at me, their mouths hanging open and their hands over their laps.

"I was only saying that the blonde chick at the front has a good bounce when she skips!" Rupert argues. "Radcliffe was the one talking about her bra size!"

Dan goes bright red and gives his glasses an awkward lift off his face. "I was just observing that they were a similar size to my mother's. A double D."

I am just about to point out how disturbing it is that Dan knows this fact about his mother when Mike yells "CUT!" and glares at the three of us.

Oh figs, I forgot we were in the middle of shooting a scene.

*****

I put off introducing myself to Stanislav Yanevski for as long as I can get away with it. Being a whole five years older than him, I am utterly petrified of the intimidating Bulgarian.

Okay, so he is only two years older than Tom, but Stan is positively terrifying the way he towers over everyone with those bulging biceps and great big hairy eyebrows.

And Tom is... Tom.

"Earth to Emma!" Rupert yodels in my ear.

I tear my eyes away from the scene across the room, watching in amusement as Tom tries his best to impress the newcomers over at the 'Slytherin' table. I chuckle quietly to myself as Stan smashes his goblet against Tom's, causing Tom to spill drink all over him.

"Poor sod," Rupert chuckles, following my gaze, "I think he's feeling a bit intimidated by the newbies."

"Not so much by the girls," I huff, wrinkling my nose, as the new girl playing Pansy Parkinson giggles uproariously at something Tom has said.

"Look, Felton is never going to look at you that way," Dan sighs, "and maybe that's a blessing. You don't want things to be awkward on set after things end badly."

I frown. "Who says I want him to look at me like that?! He's a friend, that's all. And I'm a professional. I don't date co-stars."

He and Rupert exchange a look.

"Not being funny, Em," Rupert mumbles thickly as he begins to stuff the prop food in his mouth despite the fact that we haven't started filming yet, "but you don't date anyone."

"Well, I'm only fifteen!"

And I have to dance with a twenty year old!

Holy cricket, I do not get paid enough for this.

*****