How? How did everything I ever do always turn out so horribly? I didn't expect the plan to work with flying colors or anything, but now Albus was mad at me again and I'd taken two very large steps back in getting him to like me. Did an evil hag curse me as a child or did I accidently drink a bad luck potion? Some may say I was being dramatic, but I thought I was being very logical to the source of my misfortune. I know that life is unfair, but this was getting to be bloody ridiculous.

As I trudged through the halls back to my dorm, I unconsciously started to fix my appearance to something I felt comfortable with. I pulled my skirt down and buttoned my shirt and sweater. I grabbed elastic from my wrist and tied my hair into a ponytail. As I cut through the trophy room I caught sight of my reflection and instantly felt calmer. So what if I wasn't the "hot and sexy type"? I was Lilah Parker, comfy causal exterior and all, and if that wasn't mature enough for Albus then I guess it's time for me to move on.

"Lilah? Where are you, my sweet cherry blossom?" echoed a voice from behind me. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. The voice had definitely said my name, and I was the only Lilah at Hogwarts so they weren't talking about someone else. But who would ever call me their sweet cherry blossom and not expect to get jinxed? And why was the voice so familiar?

"Sugarplum? Where are you?" the voice asked again, getting closer. It sounded deep, like a boy's. The shouting stopped for a few moments, and then-

"LILAH, I'VE FOUND YOU!"

I spun around to see none other than Ryan Macafee galloping towards me from the end of the trophy room.

"Erm, hullo- OOF!" I gasped as he ran into me, pulling my waist into a giant hug and spinning me around. "What-the-hell-are-"

"I was so worried about you, but it's okay, we're together now!" he smiled as he loosened his embrace, allowing me to breathe.

"I-I'm sorry?"

"I've written you a song in my head while I was searching for you, want to hear?" he asked excitedly.

"Erm, actually-"

"OH LILAH, YOU ARE AS MUSICAL AS A XYLA...PHONE, AND YOU MAKE ME SMI...LAH, ALL DAY LONG! OH LILAH-"

"Would you keep it down?" I snapped as I covered his mouth with my hand. "And what is the matter with you anyways?"

"I missed you so much over the holidays, you're all I ever thought about!"

"Are you serious?" I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Why the heck was he acting this way?

"Well, no, I'm lying, I'm so sorry!" he looked as guilty as if he had cheated on all of his N.E.W.T's. "I didn't think about you at all, I don't know why, all I thought about was that Kate girl-"

"Oh yeah, because it's so weird to be thinking about YOUR GIRLFRIEND!"

"How could you every say that?" he gasped. "You're the only one for me, pookie bear!"

And then I burst out laughing. "I get it, this is your idea as some sort of a prank! Admit it Ryan, this is all a practical joke!"

"Oh, I love it when you say my name," he sighed and looked at me as if I were some sort of beautiful celebrity. "And when you crinkle your nose in disgust. And when you self-consciously touch it. And when you blush at my observations. Actually, I love everything about you! I love you, Lilah!"

And then he did the unimaginable; the bloke leaned in to kiss me! He had barely made contact when I pushed him off and pulled out my wand.

"Stupefy!" I spluttered and he collapsed, out cold on the floor. I kneeled over warily, afraid he might wake up and start to propose or something. When I was sure he was completely unconscious, I grabbed him by his wrists and started dragging him down the corridor, cursing myself for never learning the charm that conjures a stretcher. After ten minutes of back pains and grunts, I'd finally made it to the hospital wing.

"Good Merlin!" Madam Abbott gasped as I pulled Macafee into the infirmary. "What happened to this boy?"

"He was playing a trick on me and took it a little too far so I kind of stupefied him," I admitted with a sheepish smile. Madam Abbott gave me a stern look.

"Well it's not like this hasn't happened before. But normally it's Potter your drag in, not Mr. Macafee." She levitated Ryan unto a nearby bed before inspecting him. "Now what was this prank he pulled that made you hex him?"

"Well, he came skipping up to- scratch that, he sprinted into me and started acting as if he were obsessed with me."

"Obsessed? Really?"

"Hopelessly infatuated, the git," I rolled my eyes. Normally I wouldn't have used such language around a teacher, but I was too frustrated to care. I sat down at the end of the bed before continuing. "I figured it was for some sort of dare from his friends, but then he, he-"

"He what, dear?"

"Erm, he told me he loved me and tried to kiss me," I shuddered at the memory and the embarrassment of telling an adult such personal matters. "The weirdest part is that he's dating one of my best friends! Why would he do that to her?"

"Aha!" Abbott cried triumphantly as she stared in Ryan's agape mouth. "A love potion, I knew it!"

"What? How can you tell?"

"His tongue's spotted purple, it's a side-effect from the love potions sold at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," she explained and scurried over to a cabinet, rifling through the countless bottles and ointments. "But they're absolutely banned, every student knows that!"

Truthfully I had no idea that love potions weren't allowed at school, but I had never thought to use one anyways. I wonder if Albus could recognize them easily…

Stop it Lilah! You have to get over him!

"So Macafee's not in love with me?" I asked hesitantly.

"Oh no, somebody must have put something with your DNA in the potion, which is a bit dodgy though, don't you think? Could you think of anyone who would want to do this?"

"No idea, I don't have any enemies in Ravenclaw," I shrugged. "At least none who I'm aware of."

"Well then this is a mystery now, isn't it? When Mr. Macafee wakes up he'll be back to his old self and I'll ask him what he knows. You may run along now dear, I'll notify you if anything happens." Madam Abbott started to tip a milky liquid down the Ryan's throat and I knew he'd be okay. I could of sworn I even heard him mumble "Lilahhh, Lilatee, Kilaaate, Kaaaate, Kaaaaaaaate" in his sleep.

"Thank you, Madam Abbott."

"Oh, and dear?" I spun back around.

"Yes?"

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I thought you looked perfectly beautiful with a minimum amount of makeup."

I blushed and remembered the black and orange caked on my face. "Thanks."

"Any time, dear."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The common room was almost empty when I walked back in, and to my intense relief Albus's friends were nowhere in sight. I climbed the stairs slowly, not wanting to face the intense pity that Kate and Mia were about to bestow upon me. But as I reached the door to our room, I heard muffled sobs. I kicked open the door to see Mia across the room, leaning against the laboratory door and looking solemn.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Mia sighed mournfully. "You were still wearing the earrings when Macafee came up to you."

A sob broke through the bathroom door and I covered my mouth in horror. Oh no, Kate.

"How much did she here?"

"She ran in here after he said he loved you," she mumbled and a wave of guilt hit me. I strode to the door and knocked gently.

"Kate? It's Lilah. You know I didn't know what was-"

"Yes, I know, but he sure as hell did!" Kate's voice was muffled but loud enough so I could here it crack.

"I don't think he did Kate, see I took him to Madam Abbott and-"

"I don't want to hear it, just leave me alone!" Kate sobbed.

"But-"

"Let her be, I already tried to tell her," Mia shrugged and rubbed her tired eyes.

"Why won't she listen?" I asked and pulled on my softest pair of pajamas.

"Weasley Wizard Wheezes love potions don't work on someone who's already in love."

"So that means he doesn't love her? But that doesn't mean he doesn't care for her a lot-"

"I know, I know. I think that she really loved him, and thought he felt the same way." Mia sighed and crawled into her own bed. I dimmed the lamps before getting in as well. "Oh, and I'm sorry about Albus."

"It's okay, I've decided it's time for me to get over him." Even in the darkness I saw Mia's outline sit up in bed.

"WHAT?"

"If he doesn't like me for me I'm not going to change just to fit his standards. I like who I am, and if he doesn't then it's a damn shame."

"I'm proud of you Li."

"Yeah, me too."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The next day I sat in the common room trying to concentrate on my homework but too many negative thoughts were engulfing my brain. Madam Abbott still hadn't contacted me about Macafee, and I was starting to worry that the tonic she had given him hadn't worked and he was still infatuated with me. Kate would be even more hearbroken than she already is, if that's even possible!

And then there was getting over Albus. Sure, I was mad at him, but I still liked him regardless. And that was the problem; I couldn't even stop liking him when I didn't like him! And yes, I know that doesn't even make sense. It just proves how messed up this whole situation was.

"Lilah?" said a familiar voice and smiled out of habit as I looked up. Then I remembered I was mad at him and glared. Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear.

"Hello."

"Can we talk?" Albus asked and took the seat next to me.

"I'm listening."

"I mean somewhere more private." He leaned in and I smelled the familiar peppermint scent, randomly shuddering. I looked down at my homework and felt even more distressed than I already did; I still had to finish an essay and read four chapters in Astronomy: Unlocking the Secrets of the Skies. But then again, I knew that talking to Albus would make me feel better. He might even be able to help me come up with a way to cheer up my disheartened best friend. I wasn't going to go with him because I liked him, I was going so we could make up and get back to being friends. "Lead the way."

"Want to take a walk?"

"Sure."

We walked out of the common room and down the first flight of stairs in awkward silence. I was too stressed out to force a conversation; he was the one who wanted to talk, so he can. Thankfully, that's just what he did.

"So I went to the hospital wing today-"

"Why, what's wrong?" I asked urgently and then cursed myself for caring that much.

"Care of Magical Creatures, a Jabberwocky got a hold on one of my fingers. Anyways, I saw Ryan Macafee lying on a bed and-"

I groaned. "Did Madam Abbott tell you?"

Albus nodded slowly. "But isn't he dating Kate?"

"Yes he is, or was, because she's convinced he doesn't like her anymore."

"It was a stupid love potion though. Does she not know that?"

"No she does, but love potions from your Uncle's shop don't work on people who are already in love. So that means that he's not in love with her, and for some reason that's not good enough for her."

I waited a few seconds for a response but only heard silence, so I looked to my left to see he had disappeared. I spun around and saw Al five steps back mouthing words to himself, looking as if he had just discovered something but was scared of it or something.

"Al? You okay?"

"What did you just say? About Weasley love potions?"

"Um, they don't work on people who are already in love."

Albus's eyes closed and he rubbed his forehead in what I perceived to be frustration. I looked around awkwardly, hoping that no one was witnessing this uncomfortable moment.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

His eyes snapped open and he openly stared at me. I self-consciously started to tug on my sweater. Okay, I know I was supposed to be getting over him and everything, but I felt a little lighter as he looked at him that way. His brilliant green eyes were wide and his red lips were slightly parted, like he was in awe. As if.

"Erm, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing.

Weird. "Well, alright, so do you-"

"I'm sorry for insulting you yesterday Lilah, I was just so stressed out I guess and it was wrong and I feel really bad. I don't like it when you're mad at me, actually I bloody hate it, and I know I don't deserve it, but will you forgive me?" he spluttered and I couldn't help but smile.

"Only if you work on your run on sentences," I smirked and he grinned before pulling me into a hug.

"Thank you, your forgiveness means the world to me."

I blushed a bit. He wasn't helping the "getting over" thing.

OKAY before you review, I know this chapter was awful, so please don't get mad! I have this really good idea for the next chapter and I couldn't do it right away so I had to fill something in and I couldn't think of a better idea than this SO I'm sorry you had to suffer through it. (Wow, I need to work on my run on sentences too.) It won't happen again, I promise!

How did you like the Macafee love potion thing? It ties into the next chapter, so I had to do it even if you hated it. I must admit, it was pretty funny to write :D

A lot of you have been asking me to get them together, and it'll happen I promise! Just not yet ;)

Coming up next: Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw in Qudditch :D The Ravenclaws want revenge on Lilah for scoring so much in their game last year. They'll do anything to get it…and Albus will do anything to stop it. And later, Lilah realizes something VERY IMPORTANT. Did that get you anxious for the next update or what? :)

Sorry again for the horrible chapter! The next one will be the best update you've ever read, I swear on Crookshanks.