Sam was dressed in a black suit and bow tie, his brown hair combed backwards. He was holding a white rose and was leaning against the wall, just outside of the Great Hall. Music was playing as other students, dressed in different kinds of gowns and robes. The Great Hall had fake snow falling from the ceiling, much like it had done for the Tri Wizard Tournament. Samuel stood watching the stairs and then every so often, would peer into the hall at the array of crystallized punch bowls and winter themed foods. It looked mouth watering. However, he was determined to wait for Jess to join him before he could dive into the food.

"Are you sure it looks ok?" Jess asked, making sure there were no small bits of debris on her dress. Molly was putting her hair into a bun and slid a few diamond clips into it. When she stepped back from her friend, she made a small cry of joy.

"It's beautiful. I'm just glad you're actually going. And hey, it will be fine. I'm sure you can explain everything to him."

Jess sighed and replied "I hope so." Then they headed for the door.

Samuel was standing silently, waiting for Jess to walk down the steps. He had images of what she would look like in the dress he had given her. He turned to look down the corridor, and as he looked back, he saw a sight that made his heart skip a beat. Jessica was standing on the steps, the gown flowing gently to the floor. She looked as though she was waiting for someone, and so Sam gladly began to walk up to her. Unfortunately, before he could reach the first step, Neil Windsor appeared from behind the right hand pillar and stopped Sam dead in his tracks. He watched as Neil walked up to Jess, passed her an Orchid, and put out his arm for her to hold onto. She smiled, though she looked not as happy as she should have been. Samuel quickly ran to hide behind some students and watched as Neil lead her into the Great Hall, Molly and Katie followed and then Natalie with her date.

"Oh, I'll be right there, I just need to go and grab my shawl, I left it in my room."

Neil smiled and nodded his head, then continued into the hall with the other girls. Jess started to walk to the stairs but Samuel managed to stop her. She turned in surprise and almost shrieked from the sudden hand that grabbed her arm.

"Sam! What are you doing?" She cried, breathing quickly.

"What the hell are you doing here with him? I thought I was taking you."

Sam's eyes were full of upset and hurt but he was good at hiding it from her. Jess pulled her hand away and breathed in. I'm going to have to tell him she thought, feeling her eyes water the tiniest amount. Sam was just waiting for an answer, gripping the rose tightly in his hand.

"I didn't want to go with you. I changed my mind. I realized that I don't really like you all that much." Her voice was as serious as she could make it, though her eyes became wetter and blurrier. She panicked that he would see her cry, but blinking a few times rapidly seemed to do the trick, and her tears were held back.

"But I thought… I thought we…" Sam began, but he couldn't finish. His voice was beginning to break."

"I lost track of myself. I forgot that I don't like you. You aren't my type I shouldn't be yours. Its better we aren't friends. Now leave me alone, I don't want to talk to you anymore. You're going to ruin my evening with…"

"Neil? What the hell is going on?"

"Nothing, I just don't like you. But I do like Neil. And we are going to try to see how it works out. Goodbye Samuel. I'll see you tomorrow evening to finish the potion."

Then Jess walked up the stairs and disappeared in a flurry of dresses, through the crowds of students. Samuel stood for a moment before throwing the rose to the floor and walking off down the corridor in rage, upset and pure confusion. Tom then appeared from behind one of the doors of the Great Hall and smiled sickly to himself. It worked he thought.

The rest of the evening was a bore to Jessica and she eventually found herself saying goodnight rather early. When she arrived in her bedroom, she burst into a river of tears and fell onto the floor. She then fell asleep and was later found by Molly, Natalie and Katie who placed her in her bed.

"Poor thing, she must be so tired from the dancing." Katie said, slightly tipsy from too much punch.

"It's not that Kat. She is upset." Molly said, looking down at her friend, worried sick about how she was going to handle what she had been pressured into doing. The other two girls went to bed, in absolute quiet.

Sunday, Jess stayed in bed for most of the day. Molly sat in their bedroom also, reading her books, checking now and then if her friend needed anything. She didn't. What she needed was to tell Sam the truth. Explain to him that what she had said the night previous was all a complete and utter lie.

"I'm going to go and get some dinner, do you want anything?" Molly asked, placing her book onto the bedside table and pulling on a jumper. Jess just sat in silence until she quietly said "Just some roast chicken…" It was surprising Molly could hear her voice, considering it sounded like a baby mouse. Molly simply nodded, smiled and then walked out of the bedroom. Turning her head slowly, Jessica peered out of the window and sighed. Her eyes were red and her nose too where she had been blowing it constantly all day. Jess decided to get out of bed and head outside for some fresh air. Her mother had always said that fresh air does the mind and body a whole lot of good, whether you're a wizard or a muggle. Slipping on her trainers, she headed out the door and down the stairs. There were only a few people out and about, most likely the first to finish their dinners. Luckily she passed Molly on the way to the courtyard and told her what she was doing. Molly was fine with it and told her she would leave her dinner in the common room if she wanted it.

Snow was falling heavy still, coming down from the dark blue grey sky like ashes from some kind of forest fire. Smoke from Hagrid's hut could be smelt and it calmed Jess's nerves. She enjoyed the smell of burning wood, it reminded her of home. She spent almost half an hour outside and only decided to come in because she noticed her fingers becoming numb and her lips becoming chapped. As she headed back into the castle, she realized the potion still wasn't finished. Even though she knew Sam was going to be in the potions room, she had to finish it. It was still schoolwork after all, and potions class was a good class to get a high grade in. Arriving at the wooden door into the potion room, Jess hesitated. If Sam was to be inside, what would she say? How would she say it? He definitely wouldn't want to talk to her after what she had said to him. At least she thought I have managed to break his heart… at least it worked…

Opening the door, Jess walked in with caution. Indeed, Samuel was inside fiddling around with different ingredients. He stared up at her and then back down at his work, not saying a word. Jess looked around the room for something to do, but Sam was doing the only job available. After that, the Amortentia would be finished and they would never speak to each other again.

"I guess you don't need me then…" She said softly, rubbing her hands together from nerves and the chill that lingered in the air.

"I guess not…" He replied, still working on the potion. Jess slapped her hands down at her sides and turned to leave but not before she noticed a small present laying on one of the chairs. It was wrapped in purple paper with a sliver bow, better looking than the parcel she received from Sam.

"What's that?" She asked in curiosity and also to try and make conversation.

"What does it look like, it's a bloody present." His voice was harsh like the first time they met. She didn't appreciate it but what could Jess do, she knew he would act like this.

"Ok. Who is it from? Who is it for?"

Sam looked up at her and shook his head, looking back at his work. "Well" he began "it's from me." Jessica was still standing at the door, waiting for the next answer. "And it was for you."

For me? She thought, feeling the most guilt she had ever felt since she first knew what the feeling felt like.

"Is it too late to open it then?" She asked, scuffing her shoe at the floor.

Sam stood upright and stretched. "I guess not…" He said, the same tone was still in his voice.

Jess walked over to the gift, feeling slightly awkward but at the same time excited and guiltier. Pulling at one of the pieces of the bow, the wrapping came undone in a matter of seconds. It was like silk.

"Oh… a box…"

The brown box was heavy but it had no lid to it.

"It's inside, stupid." He said, almost laughing to himself but still as serious as ever.

Jess just stared. "There isn't a lid…"

Sam rolled his eyes and brought out his wand and said "an enchantment, duh". He then flicked his wand and the box revealed its contents rather rapidly. Jess gave a breath of astonishment when she saw what was inside. The beautiful diamond necklace was just as gorgeous as the dress he had gotten her. It looked as though it matched too.

"I was going to give it to you when you arrived at the ball. But seeing as you chose somebody else, I figured you didn't need it."

Once he had said that, she couldn't keep it in any longer. "I was made to say all that crap!" She shouted, still having her back turned and holding the necklace. Sam looked up in complete amazement. He wasn't sure whether to trust her or tell her he didn't believe her.

"What?"

"Do you actually think I would've said all of that on my own accord?"

"Who the hell made you say it then?"

"Who the hell do you think?" She said, crying a little but it felt good to get it out of her system.

"Tom." Sam said, suddenly realizing who would have such a grudge against them both that he would make them be apart. Jess sighed as Sam ran over to her and grasped her in his arms. She turned and kissed him on the lips, crying whilst doing so.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I love you." She cried, grabbing onto his shirt. Sam just smiled and held her tightly.

"What are we going to do" She asked, still holding onto him.

"I think we should just confront him again. I've sent that letter to my mum. She can't take me out of Hogwarts if I really don't want to go. I mean, what other really good wizarding schools can there be? My dad went to Hogwarts, it's a family tradition. She'll understand. I'll get her to understand."

"And what about Tommy?" Jess asked, looking at Tom, her tears slowly coming to a stop. Sam looked at her and then took her hand. He pulled her out of the room and down to the corridor. They came to a stop as they spotted Tom, alone. Sam walked straight up to him. Tom didn't flinch, but looked like he could have done quite easily.

"Tom please, just let us be together. If you love me, then you'll let me go. Im pretty sure there are other fish in the sea."

Tom just stared, a blank page, no emotion.

"You're not going to give up the rat are you…" He said, crossing his arms and glanced quickly at Jess, who was standing next to Sam with pride.

"Never." He replied, squeezing Jessica's hand in comfort.

"Alright. But don't think we can be friends because of this. I still hate her, I'm still angry at you. And I can easily tell Dumbledore of what you did…"

Sam interrupted him with "and I can just as easily tell everyone what side you're batting for, if you catch my drift…"

Tom sniffed in anger and turned in a rage. "Fine. No one tells anyone anything." He shouted back to them and then he was gone. Jess turned to Sam and smiled. At last she thought I'm happy.

Sam and Jess walked to potions class together the next day. They sat together, and waited for Slughorn to finally arrive. When he did, each pair of students handed in their Amortentia and then it was Jess and Sam's turn. They walked up to the professor and handed him the vial of the love potion. He then tested it, just as he had done with everyone elses, and smiled quite contently.

"My, my you two. It seems as though, without fail, you have perfected this potion in a matter of days. Bravo." He then applauded their hard work and everyone else in the class joined. Except for Tom. He sat glaring at the two. Sam laughed to himself. Jess didn't see a snake… she saw an angry mouse.

That evening, Samuel had invited Jess up to the owlery to sit and watch the sunset. It was cheesy romantic but it was nice. Nice to not be arguing with someone for once Jess thought.

"Are you happy?" She asked amid the silence.

"Of course I am." Sam replied, putting one arm around her shoulders. He then started to read his newspaper that he had bought with him, just in case the sun got boring. As Jess stood smiling to herself, Sam's face stopped being happy and turned into a scared sort of expression. Before Jessica could ask him what was wrong, she too noticed what was printed in massive letters across the paper. The words. Those two small words gave her chills down her spine she had never felt before. Those two words would change their life forever.

"Oh my god…" She said, standing upright and almost backing away from the paper, as if it was poisonous. Sam stared at her with a frightened face. He too stood up and held the paper out, just to make sure they were reading it right. They were.

Jess shook her head before saying quickly, her voice sounding drained and cracked.

"He's back."