For the next few weeks, Ashena did her best to avoid James. Where he sought her out, she would duck into the nearest classroom. She would always take a seat next to someone else. One day, though, she had her nose in a library book, and so missed the fact that he was headed towards her.

"Hera!" he poked the spine of her book, causing it to hit her nose, making her look up in annoyance. Upon seeing James, she froze.

"What do you want?" she snapped, a bit more forceful than intended.

"I want to know what I did to make you avoid me so much."

"Nothing! Can't a girl just have some alone time?"

"You've had weeks of it; we don't even talk anymore!"

"Then what are we doing now?" Ashena folded her arms across her chest, holding her book by the spine.

James glared at her, no real hatred in his stare. "I saw you got another letter this morning."

"So what if I did?"

"Who was it from?"

Ashena faltered. After her mother's one letter, Draco Malfoy's kiss and then James's kiss, she'd been overanalyzing everything. Her most recent letters had all been from Draco.

But no more from her mother.

What was so important that it kept her from writing to her only daughter? Were her grandparents attempting to cut her mother off from all of her impure ties?

She had so many pure-blooded cousins. What did it matter that they lost a grandchild.

"You know who it was from." She put her book away in her bag, avoiding James's face.

"Hera…" James began, resisting the urge to step closer. He saw the haunted look in her eye. The look she only got when thinking about her mother and their family negotiations.

"Stop, James! Just stop…" Ashena took a deep breath and then looked him in the eye. "I will write to whomever I like."

"That's fine, just…just be careful, okay?"

The look on her best friend's face was so genuine, so caring, that Ashena just wanted to hug him.

"Thank you," she smiled. "I will."

Later that same day, Ashena sat on her bed with a bundle of letters she had saved from Draco Malfoy. She had been putting off another meeting with him for a month now, mainly because she was afraid that if she did meet with him that he would see her hesitation.

That she truly cared for James.

She started rereading some of the letters:

Ashena— I hope that you are doing well. I miss you terribly. The manor is so cold without your light and beauty to fill it. I wish you would consent to come and live with us when you are off on holiday. We have a guest wing, and you would be well cared for. You would want for nothing ever again. Please consider.

—Draco

Ashena— The days grow longer for every moment I do not think of you. It has been so long without word from you. What of another meeting between us? I grow anxious to see you again. —Draco

Ashena— Where are you? I have waited now for days outside of the Shack. Not all day, of course, but every twilight I am there. Yet every twilight you do not come. Have you found someone else? Please tell me, for everyday you do not come to meet me, my heart grows fonder and yearns to see you once more.

—Draco

And then there was a single letter from Draco's wife, Astoria.

Ms. Choron— My dear Draco has told me so much about you. A terrible thing about your mother. But you must understand that her family—your family—wants only the best for you. We would be happy to take you in until you reply to them on this matter. Our guest wing is always open.

—Astoria Malfoy

The formality of Mrs. Malfoy's letter had instantly put Ashena on alert. The woman knew something about Draco's attentions. And the fact that he had told his wife about Ashena's own private family matters—matters that she had shared with him in confidence—it was unbelievable!

With the evidence of his wife's letter, Ashena knew that she had to end it between herself and Draco Malfoy. She couldn't bear it if a family was torn apart because of their meetings and frequent owls.

It had to end.

She had to tell James.

"James!" Ashena ran down the steps from the dormitories to find her best friend sitting, just as he had been that fateful night, in front of the fireplace. "James, I need your help!"

"Oh, really? Last I saw, you wanted nothing to do with me, you told me to stay out of—" James was cut short as Ashena ran to him and kissed him full on the mouth.

Shock melted away as he held her close. She had chosen him!

"James!" Ashena said, breaking the kiss. "I need you to help me end it with Malfoy."

"Mmhmm," James kissed her again.

"This is important!" Ashena laughed, attempting to dodge him while he kept a hold on her waist.

"I know," James nodded. "But what'll you tell him?"