A/N: I had a time trying to name this chapter...but if there's one phrase that sums it up, it's awkward moments. Ah, to be a teenager again and make stupid decisions! Hope you enjoy!

Fun fact: "gal-sneaker" is a Victorian term meaning exactly what you think it means. :)

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I managed to avoid Garreth all day Sunday, and on Monday, I chose to skip breakfast entirely. Ominis was already in his usual spot in Alchemy, looking rather uncomfortable.

"I'm surprised you're already here. Doesn't Sebastian usually keep you in the mornings?" I asked as I sat beside him.

Ominis shifted. "He does, but he is quite cross with me at the moment, so I did not want to wait for him."

I eyed him. "Cross with you?" What could he have possibly done?

"We...may have had a small...misunderstanding regarding Anne," he spoke haltingly. Very unlike him, I thought.

"What kind of misunderstanding?"

The Slytherin tensed, his eyes going wide for a moment. I swore he stopped breathing. Looking behind us, I saw Sebastian sit down, eyes ripe with anger as they bored into the back of his friend's head. Ominis sighed, lowering his voice. "Thankfully, Sebastian walked in before we...got too carried away." He blushed.

"Carried away?" I blinked stupidly, but it only took seconds before I realized what he must mean. Heat crept up my cheeks. "Oh."

He covered his face in embarrassment as his cheeks and ears turned pink, but Professor Nott entered the classroom before he could say anything more. I knew better than to try and continue our conversation.

I spent most of the class wondering if Sebastian had banned him from seeing Anne anymore. Had he demanded they marry? I had heard many whispers in the Muggle world of stolen moments in dark rooms and alleys, many of which were never found out. Though it sounded like Sebastian had prevented it from going that far, I had known girls who'd been forced to marry for merely being caught alone in the same room with a man. What was the normal protocol in the magical world for situations like this?

Class couldn't end fast enough. When it did, I grabbed the sleeve of Ominis' robe. "What happens now?" I whispered, almost in his ear.

He straightened as Sebastian approached us.

"Gaunt, may I have a word?" The other wizard's voice was casual, but his eyes were still angry.

"Of course." Ominis' voice was meek and unsure. I grabbed his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He returned it before he walked away with his oldest friend.

When Sebastian caught my eye, my heart sank. Was he actually glaring at me?

I rolled my eyes and left the room, choosing to leave them be, and almost immediately regretted it. Garreth was waiting for me just down the corridor. "You've been avoiding me."

I sighed. "What makes you think that?" I kept my eyes fixed forward as he fell into step beside me.

"You've skipped every meal since Saturday night, you've barely been in the common room, and Natty told me you were."

"That doesn't sound like Natty."

He blew out a frustrated breath. "She didn't say you were, but I'm not daft."

"Honestly, Garreth," I exclaimed as I took some stairs two at a time, hoping to leave him in my wake, "why do you think I might be avoiding you?"

Garreth grabbed my arm, effectively stopping me at the bottom of the stairs. He used his other hand to grab my shoulder and pressed me gently into the wall, his own body blocking me from moving. His green eyes stared into mine intently. "Please talk to me, Eleanor."

My heartbeat quickened. What did he want from me? An admission? "Listen, I understand. You added me to your list, or whatever it is you'd like to call all the witches you've kissed in this entire school. Are you happy now?"

Shock spread across his face as he made a sound of surprise. One hand combed through his hair, which had fallen forward as he leaned down to speak with me. "Is that what you think you are to me?" He looked away as several students walked past with curious glances. "When I told you I care about you, I meant that. You're a great friend, but I want to be more."

He may as well have hit me with a Stunning Spell. More? Garreth Weasley, the biggest gal-sneaker in probably the entire school, wanted more? "What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious? I want to court you," he said matter-of-factly, though his face reddened slightly. "If you'll have me, that is."

My brow furrowed slightly as his words sunk in, but then I smiled as a light-hearted feeling made a home in my chest. I placed a hand on his cheek, and though I certainly felt uncertain, I nodded. "I'd like that."

Those summery green eyes went from uncertainty to happiness almost immediately as a smile spread across his face. He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine sweetly before pulling me into a hug. He still smelled of caramel and vanilla and I took a moment to enjoy it.

"Merlin, Garreth, do you have to—" We jumped at the voice, which was cutoff as its owner caught sight of me.

Sebastian. My eyes met his and I knew my face was redder than perhaps it had ever been. His chocolate brown eyes held none of the warmth I was used to seeing. The hurt in his eyes reminded me too much of the end of last school year—and the beginning of this one. I opened my mouth to say something, but before I could, the emotion was replaced by a coldness I had only ever seen when he was under the Imperius Curse.

"I'll see you in class," he growled before walking past us.

I stared at his retreating form, wanting nothing more than to go after him. I felt tears in my eyes and had to concentrate on my breathing to keep them from falling. My heart seemed to think it would be crushed with the weight of this sadness. It sent a wave of it through my entire body, and I was grateful that Garreth pulled me close. His warmth helped me relax every muscle I hadn't even known I'd tensed and allowed me to breathe.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

He pulled back, hand on my shoulder as he caught my eye. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

He held my gaze. I nodded.

"Take a deep breath in," he commanded, still not releasing me or taking his eyes off me.

I did as he asked.

"Now let it out."

I released the breath.

A small smile graced his lips. "There you are. Now, are you good to go to Potions?"

I nodded again. He slid his hand from my shoulder and down my arm to clasp my hand, which he held all the way to Professor Sharp's classroom. We got a few more curious glances as we walked in—with the exception of Sebastian, whose eyes remained glued to his Potions book—but blessedly, no one said anything. Garreth refused to let go of my hand until long after class began and he needed it to tie the stalks of both lavender and chamomile together for the day's potion.

We were focusing, once again, on sleeping potions and draughts—namely the Potion for a Dreamless Sleep. I knew I needed to get this one right. Being able to brew it myself meant I'd no longer have to go to Nurse Blainey for them. Happily, my final product was a beautifully deep purple, just as expected. Garreth congratulated me, as he always did when my potions were successful. When I looked over at his it was more of a periwinkle, which Professor Sharp said meant he may have heated it a bit too much, making it less effective, but still viable.

All of the students seemed to be mostly successful that day—even Ominis, who I suspected had some help from Sebastian despite their earlier row. Before Professor Sharp dismissed us, he stopped by my station to indicate he'd like to speak with me after class, so instead of following the rest of the students to the Great Hall for lunch, I approached him.

"You wished to see me, Professor?" I asked quietly. I had to admit, I'd always had somewhat of a crush on the man, though he was probably old enough to be my father. There was certainly something about him I found both intimidating and intriguing, though.

He didn't look up, simply continued to write some notes on a piece of parchment in front of him. "Miss Jerome, let me first applaud your hard work this year in my class. Advanced Potion-making is certainly not for the faint of heart, and you have clearly been working hard to keep up."

"Thank you, Professor."

He looked up then, eyebrow raised as he met my eyes. "I believe you have a book on Occlumency that you checked out from the Restricted Section with Professor Hecat's permission, of course."

That book was precisely the reason I averted my gaze to the table. Though I did not know the extent of his Legilimency ability, I didn't want to risk eye contact. "Yes, sir."

"Perfect," he said. "I was hoping you might allow Mr. Sallow to give it a read. He has expressed interest in the topic, as well, and may find it useful."

My gaze met his, unsure. "Of course, sir."

His eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly. "Are you quite well, Miss Jerome? I've heard you've had quite a time of late. Please let me know if there's anything I can do."

"Thank you, Professor." I tried to keep my emotions out of my voice. Professor Sharp had been the first to arrive upon Fig's death. He'd seen me cradling the dead wizard in my arms, screaming out in grief as soon as reality had set in. Though he'd been away during the break, I knew he was aware of Sebastian's disappearance—likely the memory loss and that he'd been Imperiused, as well. I wondered if he knew about Anne. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he did.

"I'll see you later this week, Miss Jerome. Continue studying your potions. I expect great things from you." He turned back to his parchment, signaling the conversation was done.

I nodded, gave him a quick goodbye, and hurried from the classroom. Neither Sebastian nor Ominis were in the Great Hall, so I penned a quick note to the former to meet me after Transfiguration. I only hoped he'd be willing to speak with me after finding me in Garreth's arms. He'd seemed rather upset by it, I pondered as I hurried to the Gryffindor common room to grab the Occlumency book before heading to Transfiguration.

The class was as much of a disaster for me as it had been the previous week. We were still working on our conjuring spells, and my wand continued to spark instead of cooperate, while most of the other students managed several birds. I packed up my things in frustration at the end of class, while Garreth watched, reassuring me that I'd get there in no time.

"You wanted to see me?" Sebastian's voice cut through my thoughts like a knife through butter.

I looked up, heart racing, with a smile on my face. Garreth looked between us, and standing from his position leaning against the table, rolled his eyes. "I'll see you at dinner?" he asked.

I nodded, and he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving the classroom.

Sebastian watched him go, fists clenched and mouth set in a slight frown. "Weasley, Eleanor?" It came out more as a low growl than anything else. "You're not serious."

I teased my lip with my upper teeth. As if he had a right to be jealous. Rather than fan the flames, I changed the subject, "Professor Sharp asked me to give you this since I'd already checked it out. It's from the library."

He looked down at the book I was holding out to him, eyebrows raised in curiosity.

"The Occlumency book he wanted you to read?" I clarified, slightly confused that he hadn't practically snatched it out of my arms. It was a book, after all.

He seemed to snap out of whatever thoughts he'd been lost in. "Of course. Thank you." Our hands brushed as he took the book from my hands. He froze. Our eyes met.

My breath caught in my throat, just as it always had when we touched. My mind started to wander to the memory of the two of us on the mezzanine after the Yule Ball, but I stopped it. I saw the same sadness in his eyes that I'd seen in September and as he'd lain beside Anne as she wasted away. I wondered how he was. I wished we could talk about all of it. I longed for him to let me in again. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't.

After only a few seconds, he pulled away, mumbling a sort of apology before hurrying off with the book tucked under his arm. Professor Weasley had long since left the classroom for her office, leaving me alone with my own worst enemy—my thoughts.