Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is rather short. The next is longer, so I hope it makes up for how rushed these past two have been.

Chapter Three
Inconditus
(Confused)

Throughout the next week Rhian was not herself. She was confused and a little jumpy. To make matters worse, Jacob Clayworth wouldn't leave her alone. Apparently he had been looking at her when everything had frozen (though she hadn't spoken to anyone about what had happened) so he was a bit confused about how she had suddenly appeared by the classroom door. At first he thought she had apparated, but when she assured him that it was impossible to apparate on Hogwarts grounds, he was even more amazed.

"How did you do it then?" he asked for the millionth time, as they made their way out onto the Hogwarts grounds for Herbology.

"I don't know what you are talking about Mr. Clayworth," Rhian sighed, shaking her head at his persistence.

"How did you—"

"Honestly, if you cannot talk about anything but what you think you saw in a History of Magic class, where you could have just woken up and not been thinking straight, then I think I would like to end this pointless conversation." Said Rhian, quickening her pace so as to loose him, but she was not so lucky.

"I know what I saw," said Jacob proudly.

"Well good for you Mr. Clayworth," Said Rhian. "Now I believe this conversation is very much through." That said, she joined Sophia and the rest (where she knew the Jacob would not follow).

"So Rhian," Stephanie asked with a small smile as they walked to the greenhouse. "What is going on with you and Jacob Clayworth?" Rhian couldn't help but laugh outright and look over at Jacob, who looked back at her, confused.

"Jacob Clayworth?" Rhian asked, "You have to be joking. He makes me sick."

"Oh…still stuck on Hollingberry are we?" Sophia asked. Morgan gasped; Jean froze in mid-step, Denise's eyes grew the size of galleons, and even Stephanie looked surprised. Rhian glared.

"You do not know anything about it, Sophia Flann McQuillen, so do not act as if you do," Rhian said, her voice icy cold. Sophia took a step back, surprised by Rhian's reaction.

"No, apparently I do not," She said at last. "And why is that Rhian? How come you haven't told anyone what happened? You must have been incredibly foolish. Anyone can see that David Hollingberry is taken with you and only you. I can't see why. You obviously broke his heart,"

"Sophia," Morgan warned but Rhian cut her off. Rhian took a step toward Sophia, head held high.

"You are right Sophia, I never told anyone because it was never anyone's business." Rhian took a breath before continuing. "But sometimes you have to realize that if you truly love someone you have to do what is best for them, not what you want or even what they want. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices. I wish people would stop judging me for my sacrifices. It would make my life so much easier. I never meant to hurt David…but I wonder, did anyone ever stop to think that I am hurt too?"

There was silence as none of the s met Rhian's eyes.

"No…I did not think so. To talk without thinking is to shoot without aiming. So think before you open you mouth, if not for my sake but for your own."

Turning on her heal, Rhian walked the rest of the way to the greenhouse alone.

-&-

"Good afternoon Miss Lleynwell," said the voice of the Grey Lady as Rhian entered the Ravenclaw common room. Rhian turned to see where the voice had come from, her eyes finally resting on a small desk by the fire where the Grey Lady was writing.

"Is it?" Rhian said at last. "I wish someone had informed me." The Grey lady turned to look at Rhian.

"Not having the best of days, are we?" said the lady.

"I'm afraid not," Rhian sighed as she sat down in front of the fire. The lady looked sympathetically at Rhian.

"It never seems to end," Rhian sighed. "It just gets worse."

"Things must get worse before they get better my dear," said the lady wisely. "Patience. Every trial we are given is meant to help us learn."

"I don't seem to be learning quick enough," Rhian sighed. "Some Ravenclaw I am."

"Patience Rhian," The Lady said with a sad smile. "Sometimes we must take things at a slower pace. You can't take everything upon your shoulders. Atlas tried. But if you hold the whole world, how will you be able to see it? Take a step back."

"It is so hard to be optimistic," said Rhian. The Lady laughed mirthlessly.

"But not impossible. You can do what you need to if you set your mind to it."

"I suppose."

"You are a Ravenclaw Miss Lleynwell. You are a Ravenclaw for a reason," Picking up her paper, the Grey Lady waved slightly and drifted away, leaving Rhian to the silence of the Ravenclaw common room.

-&-

Rhian sighed heavily as she struggled to carry the weight of her book bag. Slowly she made her way to the Great Hall, eager to sit down and rest for a while. Her head hurt from her previous class: Mostly because it was Arithmacy. Rhian had never been the best at mathematics. Taking a seat at the Ravenclaw table, ignoring the chattering s on the other side of the table, she let out a long breath.

"Tired?" asked Henry Hollingberry as he took a seat beside her.

"A little," Rhian responded, slightly startled.

"Me too," Henry said, setting his book bag down with a thud. "Transfiguration is !"

"I suppose," Rhian laughed. "It's always come rather easy to me."

"Great!" Henry cried. "Perhaps you can help me to understand it sometime." Rhian laughed outright now.

"Of course Henry," she said.

"Thank you!" he cried, hugging her quickly. She smiled down at him, still laughing. Henry was such a sweet boy. They had gotten to know each other over the past few weeks and Henry appeared to look up to Rhian as a mentor of sorts.

"Have you seen David?" Henry asked. Rhian blinked. She wasn't quite used to David being mentioned so lightly, but she supposed she would have to get over it. Soon.

"No, we didn't have any classes together today," Rhian said, opening her Charms book. "Why?"

"Oh," Henry sighed. "He promised to have lunch with me today but he seems to be running late."

"I'm sure he'll show up," Rhian reassured. "I believe Hufflepuff had Potions with Ravenclaw today so that might explain his absence."

"I potions," Henry sighed.

"Most of us do, Henry," Rhian laughed. "Most of us do."

"Most of us do what?" David asked as he took a seat beside his brother. Rhian blushed slightly, her heart racing. It had been a while since she had sat at the same table with David Hollingberry and she wasn't quite used to it.

"Hate Potions," she answered simply. David groaned.

"Oh, don't remind me!" Rhian smiled slightly and tried to hide a blush that was creeping up her neck, slowly making its way to her cheeks. She and David had seen very little of each other since the middle of their sixth year, and every meeting was an awkward one. David seemed to be taking it rather well though, as he placed various pieces of food on his plate and continued conversing with his younger brother about the trials and tribulations involved with the art of potion making.

"Excited for the Tournament then, David?" Rhian asked quietly when there was a brief pause in the conversation. She looked down at her ham as David looked at her before answering.

"Quite," he said, still looking at her. "Are you going to put your name in the cup again?" Daring a look up at him, Rhian shook her head.

"I do not think so. Not this time. But what about you? You'd have a definite chance of being Hogwarts champion." There was no mistaking David's blush.

"Really? I was under the impression that you felt I was incompetent." David seemed to be struggling, embarrassed even. "But yes, I will be trying for Hogwarts champion," he added more calmly.

"I will too!" Henry exclaimed, lightening the mood. Rhian smiled.

"I'm sure you stand a fair chance as well, Henry." Henry smiled at that.

"I doubt it. I can hardly handle a levitating charm, let alone giants and dragons and all that."

"Then why put your name in?" David asked, confused at his brother's antics.

"So that the boys in my year won't make fun of me, of course."

"It is not the boys you need to worry about, Henry." David began, standing up and collecting his books. "It is the females that will get you in the end." Face set, he bid good bye to his brother, and walked off, not looking back. Rhian was left feeling guilty. Had she said something wrong? Things had seemed like they were going fine, like they could finally be friends again. But no, it was better this way. Safer. For David.

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