Trying to obtain clear skin is very much like fighting a war. The pimples are an invasion; they are taking over the territory of… my face. Pimples are smarter than I thought. Every time I truly believe that I have zapped them to oblivion for good, they reappear in greater numbers.

Oh sure,” Peter snapped, sounding pretty annoyed. “I’m not allowed to have Sirius’ back when he’s being a jerk but you are able to be head over heels in love with him when he is being oh yes, you guessed it, a jerk!” My jaw dropped. I sidestepped the truth in his words and decided to focus on the aspect that he even knew about my crush.

“Cripe!” I yelled, standing up. “How do you even know about that?”

“Nothing is going on between you two?” James asked, apparently needing more confirmation.

“No James,” I answered, patting his shoulder. “And you need to learn the difference between rumors and facts. If you really wanted to know what happened you should have just asked me or Peter.”

Now James looked really confused.

“I did,” he said in a slightly raised voice. “I talked to Peter last night.”

“And?”

“And that’s not what he said,” James finished.

“Sorry, we didn’t want to be over there right now,” James answered, jerking his head over to the Gryffindor table.

“Because?” I asked, flooding my mashed potato mountain with gravy.

“Because Peter is just about to tell Valarie that he wants to break it off,” Sirius said. “Prepare for all out war.”

“Remus is a werewolf.”

“Peter, what are you doing?” I hissed as he raised the glass to his lips. “Your father might see.” I tried to scare him out of it.

“He hasn’t noticed me for seventeen years,” Peter answered darkly. “I don’t see why he would start now.”

“Just go!” I ordered, pointing at the door. I stood up and started to shove him to the door. He grabbed both of my hands and started speaking in a steady voice,

“Katie, if you had caught me kissing someone else why would I completely deny it? It doesn’t make sense. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I swear.”

It hurt to talk. It hurt to think. It hurt just to be. This was really happening.

Graduation day! I woke up for the last time in my Hogwarts bed with a wild mix of feelings coursing through my body.

“Katie,” Peter said, coming up behind me and leading me closer to the blonde man, who had risen to his feet. “This is Gallgrin Nott.” I shook Nott’s hand gently. Somehow his hand was warm and cold at the same time.

“Everyone thought Black was the Potter’s secret keeper,” Nott shrugged. “Hopefully everyone will be more focused on finding him.”

“And putting him where he belongs,” Peter added darkly.

I couldn’t bear to listen to anymore. I slipped away from the door and backed myself into the kitchen, wondering what the hell I was supposed to do next.