"I don't understand, it was just a fight." Juliet spoke as her and Ron sat side by side, "I didn't mean what I said."

Ron hesitated, "It really hurt my feelings."

Juliet felt guilty as she leaned her head on his shoulder, "I love you though, i'm sorry."

"What you said made me realize something." he said back softly as he leaned his head on top of hers, "Maybe we need a break."

Juliet went silent for a moment, "Maybe so."

"I still love you, Jules." he reassured her quickly as he turned his head to kiss her forehead, "But I don't know how to help you if you keep pushing me away."

Juliet didn't say anything as she sat up straighter and stared over at him, "I know."

"I know you hate that part of you." Ron said, referring to the banshee within her as he placed a hand on her heart, "But what you're doing is dangerous, I don't want to loose you and you're hiding everything from me."

Juliet hesitated, "I'm not taking the potions anymore."

"You're not?" he asked her with hopefully eyes, "Thats bloody amazing, i'm glad."

"Yeah, it was stupid of me." Juliet said as she stood up, Ron following, "So... what now?"

"I don't know." Ron said honestly, "Are you ready to talk?"

"No." Juliet said quickly as his face fell.

"Oh." Ron spoke as he looked down at his feet, "Well, I guess now i'll... see you around?"

Juliet didn't like it. Ron was to be hers, her boyfriend, not a friend. He was her world, just as she was his. Right now, in this very moment, it didn't feel right. All it felt like was nothing, like the universe torn itself apart somehow. When Juliet didn't say anything, Ron gave her a sad smile, turning and walking away.

Juliet waited until she heard the door shut completely to pull the potion from her pockets, taking a large gulp of it as she felt it start to bubble and burn her from within. Juliet cracked her head to the side, feeling the banshee in her wish to scream in pain.

Juliet didn't like to cry, she rarely did either unless it was something serious. She had one boyfriend before, Zacharias Smith, a hufflepuff boy that she dated for a few months before she even met Ron. She hadn't even cried over him when they broke up, but now was different. Ron was the first person she loved in this way, their break up is what got to her. Juliet cried on the hogwarts stairs after hours, holding her tie in her hands as she sobbed.

"Juliet?" a new voice spoke up. Juliet looked up quickly, turning around and seeing Pansy walking down the steps. Juliet scoffed and went to stand, "Don't go."

"I'd rather die then be here with you." Juliet spoke, more so the potion doing the talking for her, "What do you want?"

"I heard you crying." Pansy said as she hesitated before sitting down next to her, "Whats the matter?"

Juliet ignored her a moment as she looked away, holding in a sob, "Ron and I split up."

"Weasley?" Pansy asked, Juliet could tell she was holding herself back from saying something cruel and vial her way, "I'm sorry."

Juliet let herself cry as she looked into her lap, "He said it was just a break, but it doesn't feel like that."

"Did he tell you why?" Pansy asked. Juliet hated that she was confining in the enemy, in a girl she didn't even like, one that was horrible and vial.

"Because i'm too scared to tell him things, because I can't do it." Juliet said as she held her face in her hands, "Because i've been a horrible girlfriend to him."

Pansy put a hand on Juliets shoulder as she let the girl cry, rubbing her back slightly, "I think I know what you need."

Juliet sniffled as she looked at her in questioning, rubbing her face as Pansy gave a small smile.

When Juliet walked into the Great Hall that morning, she knew she wouldn't be sitting with Gryffindor like she usually did. That didn't bother her so much, she had plenty of friends in Hufflepuff or she'd even slide in with Luna at Ravenclaw. But what she hadn't expect so soon on was to see Lavender Brown clinging to Ron's side.

Her face fell slightly as she stared, watching the Weasley boy stare at the Brown girl with a grin, speaking to each other softly before being connected at the mouth. Juliet opened her mouth a moment before shutting it again, turning on her heels and hurrying as far away from the Great Hall as she could.

"Did you see it?" Theo asked Blaise as they stood with Pansy on the stairs.

"There's a entrance at the top, if we can get to it, we can get into the party." Blaise informed him. The three went on with their plan of sneaking into Slughorns Christmas Party, mapping out the place and how to get in, "It's right through the vents."

"Okay so, Pansy if you-" Theo began before his eyes set on a figure walking their way, "You decided to join us then?"

The remaining pair turned to find Juliet walking their way, her red dress on her body as the sound of potions clicked in her pockets.

"A party could be good for me." Juliet said honestly as she walked toward the three, "Is that still okay?"

"Yes." Pansy grinned as Juliet looked to Blaise.

"Hello, Cousin." he greeted her with a smirk, holding his hand out as the pair shook hands.

"Right, now we have a more even number. Juliet, how are you in tight spaces?" Theo asked as his eyes set on the Knightly girl. He tried not to take notice of how out of it she looked, like she hadn't slept in weeks and barely was eating anything. She looked dead, yet in a pretty way.

"Fine, I think." Juliet nodded her head as Pansy grinned.

"Good, you can go with Pansy. Once the two of you sneak inside, one of you will need to distract Filch so we can get in through the door." Theo nodded as he looked between the pair, "Be quick."

"Yes, boss." Juliet mocked as she gave a salute, following close behind Pansy as the pair headed up toward the vents.

•

kylie speaks

i knew hbp was
gonna be sad but
did i know id cry
during their break
up? no, i did not.

but i think juliet
getting in touch with
her "rebellious" side
is a great aspect to
portray, especially with
the annoying stereotype
that hufflepuffs need to
be a curtain way.