A week had passed and I still had no idea as to what to do with my current dilemma. I couldn't talk to Scorp because he always seemed to be wrapped around a certain Ravenclaw every minute he wasn't in class. I felt like a total loser, watching what could never be mine and wallowing in self pity. I really needed to get on with life. Or get a life.

I walked into double Potions with thoughts of France and a certain blonde wizard buzzing through my head. As I sat down next to Al, I realized with a sinking feeling that we had these lessons with the Ravenclaws. Sure enough, about five minutes later, Scorpius trotted in with Jenny hanging on his arm. They both looked so happy that it almost made me sick. Your just angry that it isn't you he's with said an extremely annoying voice in the back of my head. I chose to ignore said voice and flipped through my Potions book as if it were the most interesting thing in the world, making an effort to drown out the sound of McNally's giggles coming across the dungeon.

When Slughorn finally burst into the room, belly swinging repulsively, the class immediately went silent. He walked (more like waddled) up to the front of the dungeon, clapped his extremely pudgy hands together and declared, "Today, we will be making the antidote to Drought of Blind Love." The class, including me, groaned. I looked around at everyone's bored or agitated faces. Jenny McNally looked even more nasty than usual. What was Slughorn playing at? Love potions must be the most boring potions possible. We should be studying concoctions that will be in our exams. Weirdly, Al sat straighter up in his chair when Slughorn mentioned today's "lesson". It was if he was actually paying attention. Nah, he was probably plotting some way to humiliate a random Slytherin later.

Slughorn continued as if he hadn't heard his whole class voice their complaint. "Now, since it has been a while since we have discussed love potions, let's have a little refresher! A love potion obviously makes the drinker fall in love with the brewer as long as the brewer has put a bit of himself or herself in the potion. This is to say, that they must put something like a hair or something of that sort into the potion for it to work. It is similar to the Polyjuice Potion in that regard. Also, for the effects to last, the brewer must make the drinker drink the potion regularly. In this particular love potion, it must be drunk once every month. Furthermore, in the Drought of Blind Love, the effects of this potion only show themselves when the brewer is in the presence of the drinker. To make the antidote, refer to your textbooks, page 87. You can find all the ingredients that you don't have in the cupboard." He waved at said cupboard and went to his desk, probably to pretend to grade some papers while he was actually eating crystallized pineapple he craved to often.

The class grudgingly started their antidotes with the air of extreme boredom. I myself barely paid any attention to how I sliced my shrivelfig. I could be catching up on practicing charming my book to tell me the words itself. Flitwick had told us that that charm usually came up in O.. Yet again, Al's attitude seemed completely opposite to the class. He meticulously sliced the shrivelfig like his life depended on it. I leaned over and asked, "Why are you suddenly paying so much attention? It's not like you cared about Potions beforehand."

Al didn't bother to look at me when he answered. "Oh, I just thought that it was high time that I started focusing more on my education."

I snorted. Al would rather eat slugs than pay attention in class. (He actually told me that.) So why did he seem like he actually cared this time? I brushed the thought off and began reviewing my Charms notes inside my Potions book.

HPHPHP

While our potions were stewing, everyone took the time to catch up on their studies since exams were right around the corner as our professors repeatedly reminded us. From above my Transfiguration notes, I noticed Albus walk to the store cupboard, pocket something, and walk back nonchalantly. He sat back down and stirred his potion.

"What did you need in there? You had all the ingredients on the table," I asked curiously. He shrugged.

"You never know when some extra ingredients come in handy!" he argued.

I shrugged and chose not to pursue the subject. Instead, I lost myself in my Transfiguration notes until the period ended.

HPHPHP

I didn't have time to ponder Al's strange behavior. That night, as I poured over my DADA homework in the Common Room, Scorpius plopped himself next to me on the plushy couch. I chose to ignore him since he so kindly ignored me when I needed him earlier. He cleared his throat loudly to announce his presence. I determinedly stared down at my homework so as not to acknowledge him.

"Oi Rose! Come back to Earth will you?" Scorpius leaned down and waved his hand in front of my face to get my attention. Seeing no choice, I looked up at him with a glare that could freeze all of Africa. He sensed my hostility and inched over to the opposite end of the couch.

"What Scorpius? I have a lot of work to do without you distracting me?" My glare intensified and he shrank back, trying to make a smaller target should I decide to throw something at him. Then, summoning his inner man (as if) he sat up straight, looked me in the eye, and replied "Well, I seem to recall that you had something to tell Al and me?"

"Well that was before you decided to skip off in love-land with Jenny," I spat back. He looked abashed and slightly embarrassed from the blush I noticed creeping onto his pale cheeks. Curse him for being so damn cute!

"Well…I'm here now so….what's on your mind?"

I sighed. I suppose I couldn't stay mad at him forever. I recounted the letter from my aunt and uncle and Al's "advice". While he processed the information in his thick skull, I kept myself busy with my quill to keep from staring into his endless grey eyes.

Finally, he said, "Rose, I-I think you should go." I stared. His words didn't seem to match his expression which was unclear in the firelight. Was it confusion? I couldn't tell because my mind was busy processing the words that had just come out of his mouth.

He wants me to go? Did he seriously just say that? He wasn't going to fight to keep me here? I thought we were best friends! He was okay with just spending time with Albus and his stupid girlfriend now! I guess he didn't need ME anymore! I bit back tears and responded, "Well, if that's what you really want!" I proceeded to stand up and run out of the room to my dormitory. The second I laid on my bed, I cast a silencing charm and shoved the curtains back to obscure anyone's view of myself bawling my eyeballs out.

HPHPHP

I woke up the next morning with itchy eyes. Clearing the fogginess that was sleep from my head I recalled last night's events and sighed. I stayed curled up in my comfortable bed for a while, trying to go back to sleep.

About an hour later, I was woken up by the sound of my excited classmates. I recalled that today was the last Hogsmeade trip of the year. I rolled over onto my side. I didn't really want to go anyway. It's not like I had anyone to go with….

HPHPHP

I spent all day lying in my bed, occasionally sneaking down to the kitchens when I was hungry. My brain felt like it was going to explode, just like my heart. If Scorpius didn't want me here to interfere with his perfect girlfriend then I really didn't have much of a choice. Besides, France would be fun.

I sat up, found some parchment and a quill, and wrote my reply to my relatives.

Dear Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur,

Thank you so much for inviting me to France with you! It sounds amazing! After careful consideration, I have decided to accompany you to the French country. I will be waiting for you the day after exams with all my belongings. Once again thank you so much for this offer!

Love Always,

Rosie

I sealed the reply, and went to the Owlrey to deliver my letter. As I watched my snowy owl, Felix, disappear in the inky black sky, my only thought was.....France here I come.