Slytherin VS Gryffindor, this was a big competition between the two. The players came onto the pitches, flying up as the balls were released.

"Let the match begin." Erica smiled as she looked super at the players.

About halfway through the match, Ron was doing amazing. He was defending most of the quaffles so Gryffindor was in the lead by a long shot.

"I still can't believe you." Hermione sighed.

"I didn't do anything." Erica crossed her arms.

"You cheated."

"I didn't."

"You poured the Liquid Luck into his cup."

"I didn't." Erica shook her head.

"Me and Parker saw you, Parker?" Hermione nodded.

"Hm?" Parker blinked, looking away from the match.

"Tell 'Mione I didn't put the Liquid Luck in Ron's cup." Erica tugged on her arm.

"Mhm, whatever she said." Parker agreed with Erica, turning back to the match.

"Thanks Parker, love you." Erica sighed.

"Love you too." Parker hummed.

Erica looked back up at the match, although less interested than before. At the end of the match, Gryffindor had won and the crowd cheered.

"I still can't believe you." Hermione sighed.

"Y'know what? You want to know what I did?" Erica took out the vial, still full,"Now will you stop?"

Hermione looked at Erica,"You didn't use it?"

"No... I didn't use it." Erica shook her head.

Hermione sighed,"Well I'm-"

"We're going back to the common room to celebrate, come on!" Seamus clapped

"A party sounds nice." Erica nodded slowly.

"Let's go." Hermione shook her head and walked off.

When they arrived, the party was already underway and Erica couldn't see Ron. That was... Until he saw Lavender kissing Ron in the middle of the room.

Erica rolled her eyes and turned, only to see Hermione running off Parker quickly ran after Hermione, finding her at the bottom of the stairs crying. Some butterflies were flying around her head as Parker hugged her side.

"Ignore him, he's an idiot." Erica shook her head, following the pair.

"Why- Why would he do that?" Hermione whispered.

"Because he's stupid." Erica pointed,"And I'm going to have some choice words with him later."

"The butterflies are cute." Parker smiled softly.

"I've been practicing." Hermione rubbed her eyes.

"He's a stupid boy, you don't need to worry."

"Do you want me to hit him for you?" Erica asked.

"No, no violence." Hermione waved them off.

"I'll speak as nicely as I can to him." Erica sighed.

"Thank you." Hermione nodded.

Erica smiled softly at Hermione before heading back towards Gryffindor Common Room. Ron and Lavender had split, Ron walking over to Erica.

"Gonna explain what that was?"

"What? I was kissing my girlfriend.' Ron shrugged.

"Girlfriend?' Erica blinked,"You're official? With Lavender Brown?"

"Yeah, just there." Ron nodded.

"Why?"

"Because I like her."

"You can't be serious."

"What's not to like about her?"

"Well, she's not nice to me so that's a start." Erica crossed her arm,"She's obsessive and she has a staring problem."

"Well, I'm sorry Erica." Ron sighed,"But I like her."

"I just don't understand it."

"I like Lavender and she likes me... Why can't you be happy for me?"

"Ron, I'm trying my best. How am I supposed to be happy for you when you're making bad decisions?" Erica asked him.

"Now Lavender's a bad decision?" Ron scoffed.

"Yes, yes she's a bad decision."

"I can't believe you."

"What? What's so unbelievable?"

"The one time I actually like a girl and you don't like her."

"There are so many other girls that are better for you, ones that everyone likes." Erica shook her head,"I've warned you about her."

"She's fine. Don't worry." Ron sighed.

"Ron, I know my instincts."

Ron shook his head and walked off. Erica sighed and walked in the other direction.

*********************************

It was later on during the evening, Neville hadn't picked his plus one so he was on route to find Erica. Erica was stood leaning against the wall, her arms crossed.

"Erica?" Neville walked up to her.

"Hm?" Erica looked up at him.

"You look angry."

"Just Ron." Erica sighed,"We had a disagreement."

"I'm sorry... But can I ask you a question?" He looked around.

"Of course."

"Do you want to come to Slughorn's party with me?"

"Oh- That would be nice." Erica smiled softly.

"It starts in about an hour so you can get changed if you'd like."

"I'll meet you there, alright?"

"Okay." Neville smiled.

Erica happily skipped off to change, her mood significantly improved. Meanwhile, Parker was on her way to find Draco, he had sent her a letter.

"Parker." Blaise called after her.

"Oh- Yes?" Parker quickly turned to him.

"I've got an important question to ask you, darling." Blaise hummed.

"Mhm?" Parker gave a small smile.

"Will you be my date to Slughorn's Party?"

"You got invited?"

"I'm just amazing, aren't I?" Blaise smirked,"Well? Will you come?"

"I guess so." Parker nodded,"It's soon, right?"

"About an hour."

"I can meet you in an hour." Parker smiled.

"I look forward to it." Blaise nodded to her.

"Bye Blaise." Parker ran off.

*********************************

Draco was stood awaiting Parker, looking at a wardrobe that was previously covered by a cloth.

"Sorry I'm late, I was talking... Forgot the time." Parker sighed as she walked in.

"It's fine." Draco shook his head.

Parker looked at the wardrobe,"This is it?"

"This is the wardrobe." Draco nodded.

Parker grabbed the apple she had brought as she slowly opened the doors of the wardrobe.

After she sat it inside, Draco closed the doors after it,"Now, we wait."

"I hate this." Parker tapped her foot.

"I do too.."

"If we went against them, they'd kill us." Parker sighed.

"Without hesitation." Draco agreed.

Parker leaned her head against Draco,"We'll get through this."

"Together." Draco nodded as he opened the doors.

The apple was gone.

"Now we wait." Parker sighed as the doors closed.

"The waiting is the worst part."

"What if they come through now?'

"They won't, it's too risky." Draco shook his head.

Parker nodded slowly as they heard a knock, opening the wardrobe to find that the apple was back and a bite had been taken out of it.

"Seems like it works on inanimate objects then." Draco sighed.

"So how well would it work on a human?"

"Well, we'll just have to see." Draco shut the wardrobe.

Parker shook her head as she put the cloth over it.

"We'd better hurry, don't want people getting suspicious." Draco shook his head.

"I'll see you later, I'm going to a party." Parker hummed as she walked backwards.

"As am I." Draco sighed, turning around.

"Who's your date?"

"Astoria."

"Cute... Wanna know who mines is?" Parker smirked.

"Oh, let me guess... Is it my best friend, Blaise?" Draco raised a brow.

"Yep!" Parker chuckled,"I need to go get ready."

"Off you go then."

Parker hummed before she ran off.

*********************************

Erica was stood, fiddling with the sleeves of her dress. She was just glad Ron and Lavender weren't here.

"Erica." Parker smiled.

"Parker." Erica turned to her.

"You got invited?"

"By Neville." She nodded.

"I got asked by Blaise." Parker hummed.

"Very nice."

"You look so pretty." Parker leaned against the wall.

"I always look pretty, as do you." Erica hummed.

"Thanks Erica." Parker looked around,"They should be here soon."

"Hang on- I see Nev." Erica squinted.

"And there's Blaise too." Parker pointed.

"Well, I'll see you later then?"

"I'll see you later." Parker smiled.

Erica smiled at her before skipping over to Neville.

"I like your dress." Neville hummed.

"Thanks, you look nice too." Erica told him.

"This was my suit I wore to the Yule Ball." Neville nodded slowly.

"I know, it's nice." Erica hugged him.

Neville hugged back,"Ready to go inside?"

"Ready." Erica nodded.

Neville gently held her arm as they walked in

"It's quite pretty." Erica looked around.

"Do you think the other teachers know about this?"

"It's Christmas, I don't think they mind what happens." Erica shook her head.

"Are you doing anything nice over Christmas?" Neville raised a brow.

"Probably just the usual."

"I'll be seeing mum and dad. Doctors said they've saw some improvements." Neville nodded.

"That's wonderful." Erica smiled.

Neville gave a small smile, looking over at Ginny who was at a table upset.

"Hey, can you wait here for a second?" Erica asked him.

"Yeah, don't worry." Neville nodded.

Erica headed straight over to Ginny, sitting beside her,"Right, what's happened?"

"Nothing." Ginny shook her head.

"Ginny, don't lie to me."

Ginny sighed,"It's... It's Dean."

"What did he do?" Erica placed her hand on Ginny's shoulder.

"He broke it off with me." Ginny looked down.

"Oh- Oh, I see." Erica nodded slowly,"I'm sorry, hun."

"But it's... It's okay." Ginny shook her head.

"You don't need him." Erica hugged her side.

"He explained his reasons, we're gonna stay friends."

"Well, what are they?"

"I don't think I should tell you unless he's okay with it." Ginny sighed.

"Oh- That sounds important." Erica shook her head,"If it's some secret, don't tell me."

"I... All I'm saying is he likes someone else."

"Well, at least I could set you up with Harry in the future now that you're single." Erica shrugged.

"Harry?" Ginny shook her head.

"Ginny, the only reason he hasn't realized you like him is because he's oblivious."

"He doesn't like me."

"I mean, he does."

"How can you be sure?"

"Ginny, sweetheart, I've been one of his best friends for six years." Erica told her,"I think I can tell when he likes someone."

Ginny sighed and looked over at Harry.

"See? Can't you picture yourself with him?"

"Are you trying to set me up with Harry?"

"Is it working?" Erica whispered.

"..Maybe." Ginny sighed.

"I'm amazing." Erica hummed,"Have fun, okay?"

Ginny hugged her before she ran off.

"A job well done for me." Erica smiled as she walked back to Neville, who had been joined by Blaise and Parker.

"I like that dress Erica." Blaise hummed.

"Thanks Blaise, I uh... Yeah, you look fine."

"Thanks." Blaise nodded.

"Was Ginny okay?" Parker raised a brow.

"Dean and her broke up." Erica told her.

"They did? Is she okay?" Neville looked at her.

"She'll be alright." Erica assured him.

"I hope so." Neville leaned back.

"I know my sister, I'll make sure she's okay."

Neville nodded,"Snack?"

"Snack." Erica smiled.

Neville got up, leaving to get some snacks.

*********************************

After the party, Erica began wandering the halls with no particular destination in mind. That's when she saw Dean at the corner of her eye walking the opposite way.

"Oh- Hey Dean." Erica smiled at him.

"Erica... I'm sorry about Ginny." He sighed

"You don't need to apologize, Dean. You don't have to force yourself to like someone." Erica shrugged.

"I do like her! Don't get me wrong, she's a great friend. But... I like someone else." He admitted.

"Well, if you want, I can set you up with them." Erica offered,"I'm very good at that."

"I doubt he likes me, I don't want to ruin our friendship."

"You'll never know until you try, Dean."

"It's... It's Seamus."

"Aw, that's so cute." Erica smiled,"Trust me, I've got this."

"Are you sure?" Dean looked at her.

"Very sure."

"Okay... Fine."

"Want to come watch me work my magic?" Erica asked.

"Yes please."

"Right, this way." Erica hummed, skipping off to find Seamus.

Dean crossed his arms and followed after Erica. Erica spotted Seamus and smiled as she walked up to him. Dean lingered back, he didn't want to face Seamus.

"Seamus, I've got something important to tell you." Erica patted his shoulder.

"Yes?" Seamus looked at Erica.

"Dean likes you." Erica turned to look at him.

"Dean?" Seamus blinked.

"Dean." Erica nodded.

"But... We're just friends."

"So... You don't like him back?"

"No! No! I- I mean yes. Yes, I like him back but I never guessed he liked me."

"Well he does. He's over there." Erica pointed.

Seamus looked over at Dean,"Really?"

"Really." Dean nodded slowly.

"For how long?" Seamus chuckled.

"Since like, second year." Dean told him.

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Well- I didn't think you liked me that way."

"You're my best friend."

"So?"

"It's not hard to see." Seamus chuckled and walked over to him

Dean smiled and hugged Seamus. Seamus looked back at Erica and mouthed,'Thank you' as he hugged Dean back.

Erica gave the pair a thumbs up before she skipped away.

*********************************

Parker came back from Slughorn's party with Blaise, the two of them sitting on the Slytherin Common Room couches.

"What a night." Blaise smiled.

"I'm actually glad it's over." Parker shrugged, turning to look at him,"What are you doing for Christmas?"

"Eh, probably just going back with my mum." Blaise shrugged,"You?"

"I think everyone's spending it at the Weasleys." Parker hummed,"Gets me out of the Manor and Harry away from the Dursleys."

"Sounds like fun." Blaise nodded.

"It usually is... Promise me something?"

"What is it?"

"Whatever happens with the Death Eaters... You'll still stay friends with me?"

"Of course." Blaise nodded quickly,"I promise, okay?"

Parker nodded and hugged his side.

"I'll always be here." Blaise assured her.

"I'm not a bad person... Am I?"

"No, Parker. You're not a bad person." Blaise cupped her cheek.

"What if they make me hurt my friends?" Parker whispered,"They already want me and Draco to hurt people."

"Your friends... They're good people. They'll understand that you don't want to, that it isn't your fault." Blaise pulled her close.

Parker looked at him, nodding before she gently rested her head on his shoulder.

"There you go." Blaise rubbed her back.

"Thank you." Parker sighed

Blaise smiled, gently kissing the top of her head. Parker closed her eyes, she felt safe with Blaise.