The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Quidditch pitch as you watched the Gryffindor team run drills, their movements a familiar blur of red and gold. It had been three months since Barty Crouch Jr. had inexplicably ended things, leaving a gaping hole in your shared Hogwarts universe and a bewildered student body in its wake. You two were the couple, the one everyone shipped, the one everyone teased. The breakup had devastated everyone, the whole of Hogwarts, truly. For weeks, people thought you'd get back together, "in like two days," they'd said. But two days turned into two weeks, and two weeks into three months.

A rumor had just recently gone around that Barty was talking to another girl. And honestly? You didn't really mind. You were mature about it, or at least you tried to be. So you decided to move on too, and that meant flirting with other guys. The funny thing was, whenever you did flirt, Barty always seemed to be nearby. It wasn't like you were trying to make him jealous, but his presence was undeniable.

You were just about to lose yourself in the rhythmic thud of Bludgers when a shadow fell over you. You didn't need to look up to know who it was. The familiar scent of broom polish and Barty's own subtly spicy cologne preceded him.

"Hey," he began, his voice surprisingly close, making you jump slightly. "I saw you talking to the Slytherin team captain. Why? I mean, do you need help for Quidditch 'cause you know I could help."