Song: Everybody Talks by Neon Trees

I'm currently sitting in Herbology, waiting for Justin to come in. He has yet to speak to me. He practically fled the table at breakfast this morning when I sat down. Hannah wasn't able to speak with him yesterday as she was studying with Neville in the library until curfew.

Finally, I see him walk in; watching as he hesitates whether or not he should sit down. The thing is, the seats you take on the first day in Herbology become your seats for the remainder of the semester.

He avoids my gaze as he sits next to me, shifting his seat slightly away from mine, which is completely opposite of what he did the last time we were in Herbology.

I cut straight to the point as I ask, "What is up with you, Justin? Why have you been ignoring me?" He looks at me, hurt present on his face.

"How's Malfoy been?" he asks snappily, causing me to frown.

"I'm not quite sure what Draco has anything to do with this? Care to enlighten me?" I cross my arms, waiting for an answer as to why he asked me that random question.

"Oh, don't act so oblivious. I heard about your little moment with Malfoy in the hall yesterday." My face drops at his statement.

"I'm not catching on...where did you hear that?"

He looks everywhere but my face as he says, "Megan saw you and Draco in the hallway yesterday. She said you and him were awfully close."

Of course someone was in the hallway during that! I mentally curse. The thing is, nothing happened, but at the angle she was probably at, I'm sure it looked a lot worse.

"Far from." I state, and he raises his eyebrows. "He actually got done yelling at me for sticking up for Neville. He was picking on a younger year when Neville stepped in, and then he said some vile things to him to which then I called him a prick. He was just getting up all in my face to intimidate me."

Justin looks ashamed as I finish explaining the moment in the hallway. I, of course, leave out a few minor details like how I enjoyed the moment with Draco and how my whole body was on fire from having his so close to mine.

"Oh," is all he says before turning and looking at me, "I'm sorry, Lily."

I can't stay mad at him. Especially with the puppy dog eyes he's giving me. "I forgive you, Justin. Just next time, ask me first before believing a rumour. I'm just glad you didn't spread it around." He scratches his head awkwardly at that.

"Y-yeah about that. I may have told Hannah earlier today as she asked me about why I was ignoring you..."

"What! Are you serious?!" I groan, covering my face with both my hands. Once Hannah gets ahold of any information, the whole school is bound to know by the end of the day. That means Draco will hear wind of it, and that's the last person who needs to hear this rumour.

I glance to the back of the classroom where he's sitting. He's talking to Goyle with his usual bored expression.

I bring my attention back to Justin who's now bearing a frown.

"I'm sorry. You know how persistent she is." His voice is incredibly apologetic, as it should be.

"It is what it is... I guess." I sigh, hoping that Hannah doesn't tell anyone else. Maybe, since the rumour is about me, she'll keep her mouth shut for once.

But knowing her, she probably won't.

...

After the remainder of my classes, I head outside, fully dressed in my quidditch gear for tryouts. I spot Heidi Macavoy, a sixth year chaser and the new captain of our team, bringing over the Quidditch equipment. Her dark curls bounce as she happily strides towards us. She was usually Cedric's second in command, but after his death, she had to take over his captain position completely.

I also spot Herbert Fleet, our keeper, and Anthony Rickett, one of our chasers. Both are sixth years as well. They smile as I approach them.

"Lily! How've you been?" Herbert asks, pushing up his square-framed spectacles further up on his nose. He's a taller and bigger lad, with an incredibly sweet disposition. He's usually the one staying positive whenever we are losing a game, which happens quite often.

"Hi Herb! I'm doing well, how are you?" His smile brightens, but before he can respond, Anthony speaks up with a smirk.

"So, you and Malfoy, hmm?" I look into Anthony's dreamy, chocolate brown eyes, not missing the glint of playfulness within them. His eyes are what usually attract the attention of many girls, but he never seems to be interested. Anthony is also one of the nicest guys alongside Herbert, but he's definitely more of a jokester whereas Herb isn't.

The sixth years already know about the rumour?!

I shake my head. "Um nope! Just a rumour Megan decided to start." My tone is flat as I respond causing Anthony to chuckle for some reason.

"I figured as much. He doesn't seem to be your type," he states as I shrug.

I wish he were my type, I say to myself, but only respond with, "yeah."

Heidi thankfully walks forward, giving my shoulder a pat. "So, Seeker, ya ready for a great season?"

My eyes nearly pop out of my sockets. I've been a reserve seeker for the past two years, so hearing that I'll actually get some playing time makes me feel incredibly excited.

"I-I didn't think I would get the spot so easily!" I admit excitedly tucking a couple loose strands of hair behind my ear.

"Nobody else so far signed up for the position. Plus, I've watched you practice with Cedric, and you're brilliant!" Heidi says, a sad smile forms on her plump lips as she mentions Cedric's name.

"Thank you, Heidi," I say as I notice we're both holding back tears. We all were close with Cedric, so it's still difficult to talk about him.

"Lily!" I see Susie, Ernie, Zacharias, and Justin all walking towards us, fully dressed in their quidditch gear. Susie and Justin typically are beaters, with Justin being a reserve usually, and Ernie and Zacharias are chasers like Heidi. I see a few second and third years trailing behind them.

Smiling, I say as they approach, "hey guys!"

Ernie cuts right to the chase, as he says, "Justin told me that the whole 'you and Malfoy' thing was a rumour."

Susie gives me a side-glance, and Justin coughs awkwardly. "Yep." I'm actually getting sick and tired of hearing about it.

"Alright Hufflepuffs!" Heidi shouts to get everyone's attention, cutting off the awkward silence just before. "As many of you know, I'm Heidi, and I am our team's captain this year. We will be doing a scrimmage to determine who will be placed where. Just a friendly reminder, we like to have a reserve for each position just in case someone gets hurt, which happens frequently. Every member of the team, including the reserves, is important!"

Heidi is already making out to be a wonderful captain. It's hard to replace Cedric, but, so far, I say she's doing a great job.

"Let's play some Quidditch!" She shouts as we all jump on our broomsticks and begin our scrimmage. I forgot how wonderful it is to play and have the wind whip through my hair. I'm flying all around, watching the others scrimmage with the quaffle for a long while until I spot the Golden Snitch. I lean forward on my broom and zip through the clouds, nearing it with every second.

It seems to hum as it darts around, the light hitting its shiny exterior. I find myself struggling to keep up with it, so I lean more forward on my broom, increasing my speed. I finally reach it, grabbing it with my outstretched hand. Got it! I cheer to myself, loving the rhythmic humming the Snitch gives off. I fly back down towards them, holding it up in the air! The third year, who was supposed to be the other seeker during our scrimmage, seems to be following a bird instead. I can't help but to laugh at him.

"Well done, Lily!" Heidi exclaims with a bright smile after spotting me. Everyone heads back to the ground, since our scrimmage is now over. Once everyone is all huddled together, Heidi explains how she will be posting up the positions later tonight in the Hufflepuff common room. She then dismisses everyone, but I stay back to help her clean up.

I walk with Heidi to the shack where the Quidditch equipment is usually kept, helping her place things back where they belong before heading to the locker rooms. She stays behind to take quick inventory of everything.

Upon my walk over there, someone comes up behind me, nearly scaring me.

I place a hand on my chest, as I turn around. Once I realize it's Draco I turn right back around and begin walking faster, trying my best to avoid him.

I hear him say, "hey!"

He runs up, so he's now right beside me. The setting sun hits his platinum blond hair just right where it looks like it's glowing: strands sweeping across his forehead. He looks as though he came from the stars.

"So, from what I've heard, you and I are sort of an item now?" I blink a few times, registering his words since I had been entranced by his heavenly appearance.

Shoot, the news already made it to him!

I sigh, trying my best to appear unfazed. "Someone in Hufflepuff decided to start a rumour to stir up some drama." I don't elaborate as I really just want to get as far away from him as possible.

"Funny how the only drama from Hufflepuff seems to be about you." He smirks as we continue to walk towards the locker rooms.

I look him in the eye, mirroring his smirk, as I say, "let's not forget it's about you too, Draco." I expect him to get pissy, but he doesn't. Rather, he keeps smirking.

"You love it, Tonks. Don't you?" He raises his eyebrows briefly as I hastily shake my head.

"I hate rumours and drama." I stop walking, fully looking up at him. He steps forward, and I'm overcome by his delectable scent. I finally see that he's also in his Quidditch gear holding his precious Nimbus 2001 which makes me tug my old broom closer to my side.

"But not when it's about you. Admit it, you're a little egocentric." I scoff at his statement since it's not true at all. I've always enjoyed being as far away from the spotlight as possible.

Stepping closer, I say, " This is how the rumour started. You getting up in my space."

"Right now, it's you who's getting up in my space," he states back, his eyes seemingly egging me on. I instinctively take a step back, feeling my cheeks redden a bit. "All of you Hufflepuffs are so easy to tease." With this he begins walking towards the field again where I assume the Slytherin team will begin their practice, leaving me standing there completely dumbfounded.

How dare he make me feel this way! I sigh in frustration as I storm into the Hufflepuff locker rooms. Everyone is already out as I find my locker and begin changing out of my gear. I chuck my jersey into the locker and slam it shut.

After a couple seconds, I open my locker back up and fold my jersey nicely before slamming it shut again.

It's only my third day back, and I'm already wanting to go home. The pathetic thing is, is that it's all because of one guy: Draco bloody Malfoy! I slump onto the ground as I take deep breaths.

I want to say he's wrong, but I can't help but to think that he's partially right. I am starting to like the attention.