Giddy Brew

Chapter 21: The Apocalypse Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder

A/N: Oh boy. This one took a lot of work. I had to reread the previous chapters, and even then I had to figure out a completely new plotline, seeing as I haven't worked with Giddy Brew in over a year. But,

damnit, I lost my list of all the story names. I remember posting them on LJ, but I can't find them anymore. If anyone knows where I put them, tell me, please!

This one's for my Fishy love- Serendipity will get her chapter soon, I promise. Thank you for the beautiful drawings. 3

All across the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, excited whispers were echoing up and down the hall, "Did you hear? Did you know!"

At least on the girls' part. The boys mostly didn't care to spread gossip in the way that boys never care to spread gossip. Well, in the way that they never care to broadcast it. Boys are terrible gossips, endless chatter boxes, really. One just has to know when to listen. Their catty words weren't spread through actual words, but rather looks and facial expressions that said it all.

It never did matter what the rumors on the street were about. From school events to minor breakups between no name first years, everyone in the school would know in a matter of hours. Usually, Reese O'Malley took pride in slathering a juicy tale or some dry tidbit with as much scandal as she could manage. However, Reese O'Malley had recently taken ill. Some said with a bad case flobberworm bite, which was pure shite. That was the age old fallback alibi when you couldn't think up something better for your whereabouts.

The truth was that Reese O'Malley had, in her third year at Hogwarts, found a Mr. Somebody who entertained her many a day and night. She didn't fancy he'd stick around forever. After all, he was a sixth year who would soon be graduating and she was only a fickle thirteen year old. Still, it was always fun to play, she gathered. So Reese had not released the recent issue of Hogwash. Of course Tea Aquila and Reilly hadn't attempted an issue by their lonesome; it just wouldn't have the same flare.

Hogwash was at the foundation of the rumor mill in most cases; somebody had to hunt down the no name first years' names. So this rumor had to spread like wildfire all on its own, a thing rarely seen in the school's halls when not concerning a school event.

"Did you hear, did you know?" Atlanta Zanzlyope giggled inanely at Deianeira Britton. It ticked her off. So did the way Kiddy was hanging off the shorter girl's arm, being so friendly. Since when did Kiddy Bolton gain the right to take her friends?

Shaking her mane of long brown hair, Deianeira, usually so sweet and soft spoken asked irately, "Do I care?"

"Dei, you seem down in the dumps," Dana Wingate, who'd been admiring the ruby highlights in her own dark hair, observed kindly.

Twisting a finger through her hair, Deianeira sighed, "I…things with Perseus aren't going so well. I was so surprised when he got up the guts to ask me out after that big falling out we had, and then…well. It didn't work the first time, I shouldn't have thought it might work the second one. You know how things go."

"No, actually I don't. Do tell," Kiddy put in, "After all, Dante's such a doll."

"Porcelain," Dana drawled.

"You're so sassy, Kid," Atlanta chided, eyes all a light. She adored Kiddy and Dante, the model relationship. They were her dream couple, a real Barbie and Ken type thing.

"Just because Dante's been with you since first year doesn't mean you have to be so snotty," Deianeira replied vehemently, face flushed, "Maybe he doesn't like you as much as you think."

"Bull shit," Kiddy answered calmly, "Dante loves me."

"No he doesn't!" Deianeira protested, voice growing louder.

Yawning, Kiddy turned to examining her fingernails, charmed gold, "What would you know?"

"I know that he loves me!" Deianeira shrieked back, and then clamped a hand over he mouth.

Rolling her eyes, Dana murmured sarcastically, "Oops. Looks like the cat's out of the bag. Really, Dei, what's honestly wrong?"

"I'm serious! I've been going with Dante for four months now, and I'm sick of lying about it!"

Kiddy laughed. And laughed. And laughed, "Good joke."

"No!" Deianeira was close to tears, her voice growing weaker, "I'm being honest with you, which is more than he'll do. Don't you see?"

"Dei," Dana started worriedly now," It's okay. We…uh…believe you. Don't we guys?"

"Oh yeah," Atlanta managed between giggles.

"Definitely," Kiddy frowned, "I believe that my boyfriend's been fooling around with this broad."

"Argh!" Deianeira practically screamed, causing all three girls to jump.

"Changing the subject," not so subtly, Atlanta interjected, "Who here already heard about Prue and Casey?"

"Old news," Kiddy waved it away, "They've been broken up for practically two weeks now."

"No, not that," Atlanta scowled, "Do you think I'd repeat something so worn already? No, rumor is that Casey broke up with Prue because she'd been cheating on him."

"Prue? No, Casey was cheating on her with Steffie Devereaux," Dana laughed, "Prue would never cheat on anybody."

"Not what I heard," in a singsong voice, Atlanta continued, "Apparently our dear Miss Gelliston has been keeping some naughty secrets. JJ Hyde saw her going into the room of requirement with none other than…you'll never guess."

"Who? Dirk Drake?" Kiddy muttered, not so enchanted by this gossip thing.

"Hey!" Dana protested, "Unlike your boyfriend, mine doesn't cheat on me," she shot a guilty look at Deaianeira, who was still fuming silently, "If that's even true."

Shrugging, Kiddy suggested, "Cerulean Hargrove then."

"As if, she's so over him," Atlanta grinned, "Better."

"What could be better than Cerulean Hargrove?" Deianeira finally said in a sulky tone.

Leaning her head in close, Atlanta whispered the name.

With a sharp inhale, all three girls said, "No way!"

Leaning against her desk, Elanore sighed. Advanced Arithmancy had to be one of the most boring classes in existence. Mummy and Papa insisted that all this vector sign calculation stuff had its use, and was absolutely essential if she were to be the next Minister of Magic, which of course, she did with a burning passion. Still, Elanore couldn't help but think that Professor Vector was older than the dinosaurs themselves, and therefore the poor old man should just be put to rest.

"Psst, Kingston! Wake up!" At her ear, a swish of warm breath, a familiar voice.

"Sod off, Rufus," she responded noncommittally.

"Just trying to save your fine arse," he grinned, that same old flash of teeth that used to make her heart hammer hard enough that she was positive it would beat its way right out of her chest. But this time, nothing. Joshua was really doing her some good.

"Uh hunh," yawning, Elanore turned back to the board, where the good old professor was attempting to straighten up a few misplaced lines.

Rufus flashed her a winning grin, and her heart didn't even thump. For several seconds she thought it had stopped dead in her chest, but that wouldn't have been a good sign. In fact, the whole time, it was steadily beating its way through life, not giving a care about Mr. Rufus Orlando.

"Ellie," Perseus called softly from the seat on her left. While Rufus sat behind her, "Ellie. Psst."

Elanore swatted him away like an obnoxious fly, "Shush. Professor Vector's so interesting," she gushed.

"Miss Kingston," the old professor snapped sharply.

"Sorry Professor," she straightened, primping and trying to suppress a scowl. Old sodding fogey, that's what he was.

"Kingston!"

"What," Elanore hissed, "Don't get me in trouble again."

"No, no, I was just curious if we're all still on for the Dark Symphony concert…you remember, me and Deianeira, you and Joshua, Kiddy and Dante, Rufus and Seldom?"

"Yes. But it's not until February, Perseus. Why in the world are you bringing it up now?"

"Well, I was thinking of surprising Deianeira, you know? It's going to be our one month anniversary you know."

"So?" Elanore asked bluntly, "You actually want to celebrate that?"

"Well…yeah."

"That's so sweet I might just gag."

"So, anyway, I was wondering, we still have one Hogsmeade weekend before that one, and I was really just wondering if you'd go shopping with me, so that we could find Deianeira a nice gift? I'm no good with girls, Kingston."

"I had no idea," Elanore drawled softly, but she still agreed.

With all the rumors flying about Hogwarts concerning Prue Gelliston, any normal person might have desired to sink into a hole and die. However, Prue was a much simpler kind of gal.

"What the bloody hell do you mean, they think I cheated on Casey?"

"Look, I didn't say it. Dana told me," Serendipity held up her hands, "Atlanta told Dana that Tisiphone told her that JJ told her she saw you sneaking into a broom closet with…well, I'm not actually sure who it was with."

Elanore entered the room and set down her bag, "It was Bobby, of course. Shame, shame, Prue. I thought I told you how naughty it is to lead the boys on."

"Bobby?" Prue has a strange look in her eyes, "That's silly. I never went into a broom closet, of all places, with Bobby Stone."

"Are you sure?" Serendipity asked worriedly.

"Of course I'm sure," Prue snapped, "I would remember going into a broom closet with Bobby. What in the world would I do in a broom closet with him anyway?"

"The same thing you'd do in a broom closet with any other boy, I suppose," Elanore said thoughtfully, "I bet it would be more intense with Bobby than it would with any other boy though. After all, he's fancied you just about as long as Casey has."

"Wait, if Casey thought I'd cheated on him with Bobby, then why exactly is he still talking to him, and not me? I don't understand."

"Actually, I'm not sure if Casey knows that you supposedly snuck in with Bobby. I think JJ just told him that you were cheating."

As it turned out, JJ hadn't told Casey anything. She'd been locked in her dorm room for ages, trying to charm her implants into blooming. They knew this because the three stormed into the seventh year dorms and demanded to know what she told Casey.

"Gosh Prue, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was a secret. But you've got to believe me, I didn't tell Casey. I only told Rhea Braxter, and that's because she's my roommate.

Rhea squeaked and dove beneath her covers. Once Elanore finally, threateningly coaxed her out, Rhea pleaded innocent, "I swear, I swear, I only told Steffie. Only Steffie! She's my best friend!"

Rhea soon realized this wasn't the right thing to say, and ducked back beneath the covers. The infamous Saints could be scary when angry.

"That boyfriend stealing wench," Serendipity growled, "You don't reckon she told Casey you cheated on him so she could have him, do you? I oughta kill her."

"One thing I don't understand, JJ. Prue says she never went in the broom closet with Bobby. Could you tell me exactly what you saw?" Elanore asked quietly.

"I saw Bobby leading Prue into the broom closet on the fourth floor. You know, the one by the statue of the princess? The one with the sword and the big jugs? I mean, I was sitting on the top stair, and they walked right past me, practically pushed me aside," JJ gave Prue an accusing glance, "You didn't have to be quite so mean, you know. Then Bobby tapped on the closet, I suppose to make sure it was empty, and started going inside. Prue hung back for a moment, but Bobby lifted her hand and kissed it, and she followed him in."

"You're lying," Prue yelled angrily, "I never did that."

"I saw you," JJ whined, "Don't try to cover it up."

"But…I really never did that," Prue sniffled.

Serendipity and Elanore exchanged worried glances.

Serendipity crept into the boys dormitory at a time when she knew no one else would be there. Casey was out attempting to smoke again, even though he knew the muggle cigarettes he scored from that third year would never light. The boy was persistent. Sylvester was in the shower, and the rest were in the Great Hall. Only Bobby sat alone on his bed, reading his muggle studies book.

"Hey, Sere," he flashed a trademark grin, "What's good?"

"Excuse me?"

"Sorry, it's a rap expression."

"Wrap?"

"Rap- oh never mind. What can I help you with?"

Taking a deep breath, the redhead said, "Actually, I've something to ask you. About Prue."

"Oh, is she okay?" Bobby practically snapped to attention, "I can't believe the way Casey up and dumped her. Without even an explanation."

"Yeah, well. I'm surprised you aren't looking for a way in. You know, we all know you've liked her forever. Even Prue knows."

"Ah. Well, I'm sort of…involved with someone else right now. Give Prue my apologies," Bobby lowered his eyes to the book.

"What? I didn't know that," Serendipity exclaimed.

"Yeah, well, keeping it under wraps, you know."

"Who is she?"

"I'd rather not say. It's a tad embarrassing."

"Wow. I'm kind of relieved, actually. And by the way, I'm not here on behalf of Prue to ask why you're not with her. You seem to have the idea I am."

"Why are you here, Sere?"

Shaking her head, Serendipity frowned, "Actually, it's a bit confusing. We think the reason Casey broke up with Prue was-"

"Because she was cheating. Yeah, I tried to tell him she'd never do that, but he doesn't seem to believe me. That Steffie girl's got a real hold on him. Personally, I think she told him that lie, just to be with him. She's wily, that one."

"So I've heard. But see, Bobby, the reason Steffie says Prue was cheating is because JJ…Juliana, you know the seventh year? She saw you and Prue going into a broom closet together."

Bobby didn't even blink. Instead, he broke out laughing, "That's absolutely ridiculous."

"Well, JJ swears she saw you guys. The thing is, Prue doesn't remember it. Neither do you, obviously."

"That's because it never happened!" Bobby chuckled, "I don't even know what gave her the idea."

Serendipity sighed, "She swears it was you and Prue. Bobby, are you sure."

"Positive. Look, let me talk to Casey and tell him this entire thing is a mix up."

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

"He's my best friend, Sere. He'll believe me."

When Serendipity reached their room, she found Prue, sobbing against her bed. She'd ripped out the magical extensions, and her hair was shorter than ever. Her scalp looked shiny red. She'd even tried to charm the pink out of her hair. The result was a sort of tye dye of pink and platinum blonde.

"Oh, honey, what's wrong?"

"Casey was snogging Steffie in the great hall," Prue replied bitterly, with hard eyes, "He loves her, Sere."

"Don't be silly. It takes more than a week of dating to love somebody." Serendipity frowned. This had gone on long enough. For the past two weeks, Casey had been magnificently nasty to Prue. He ignored her every chance he could, and when that wasn't possible, he generally made her miserable. Casey didn't have the capability to be purposely cruel, but his silence was enough to shatter any girl.

"He does," she sobbed, "I can tell. And he told me he despises me. He despises me!"

Serendipity smiled serenely, "The love you and Casey have is so pure. Why are you two spoiling it with petty jealousy? Love isn't meant to be possessive or territorial. Its something universal. If you truly love Casey, then you should want to share the parts of him you love. Knowing him, he's so bloody fierce and loyal that he'd never let any dripping wet sod like Steffie take him away from you. Hell, I doubt he'd let a real gem of a girl take him away from you. He loves you, Prudence."

"…don't call me that. When did you get so wise? Scratch that, when the bloody hell did you get so darned corny? Love so pure? Geez."

"Around the time I told Orpheus to bugger off."

"Oh. Maybe I should try that."

"Don't you dare."

"Still carrying the torch, are we?"

"No. But in Frank's absence, Noah's giving all his attention to Vaughn and leaving Polaris alone."

"Why you sneaky little vixen."

Serendipity shrugged, "I learned from the best."

"Who, me? I'm flattered."

"Elanore."

"Witch."

"Thank you, that is why I'm a Hogwarts."

Prue gave her friend a grateful smile.

Casey looked at Bobby skeptically, "So what is this astounding information you have for me that's going to make me jump up and date Prudence again."

"Don't call her that," Bobby chuckled, "Not when she's not here to defend herself."

"You always did have a soft spot for her, Bobby."

"So did you, Casey."

"What's your point. Prue cheated on me."

"Says who? Steffie? Steffie Devereaux?" Bobby demanded, "What is she to you."

"I- I don't know. Why do you care, Bobby?" Casey snarled, "I thought you liked Prue. Why don't you go date her. She's nothing to me. She's a lying, cheating…"

"She did not cheat on you Casey. Steffie only told you she did because she heard through Juliana Hyde. Juliana thought she saw Prue going into the broom closet, but it must have been someone else."

"How do you figure?" Casey asked.

"Because she thought I was there. She thought it was Prue and I."

Casey's eyes narrowed into slits, "You?"

"Yes. But that's ridiculous. I never went into any broom closet with Prue, and Prue swears she didn't go into a broom closet with anyone, especially not me."

The redhead's face didn't change.

"Casey, come on. You believe me, don't you?"

He took a deep breath, "I can't believe you. First Prue, and now you…my two best friends."

"Excuse me? What? Casey, I-"

"I didn't break up with Prue because Steffie told me she was cheating. I broke up with her because I saw her in the back of the owlery snogging some blonde guy, which was apparently you."

"What? Casey, I didn't-"

"Get out."

"This is my room too."

"Get out! I never want to see you again."

Aghast, Bobby said, "Fine, be an ignorant git. You know neither Prue nor I would ever do that to you. You don't deserve either of us."

He left the room. Casey put his head in his hands. No matter what Bobby said, the image of his pink haired lover and his best friend practically devouring each other was ingrained upon his brain.

"So? How'd it go," Serendipity asked Bobby when she saw him at Quidditch practice.

"Not good," the blonde sighed, "Look, Steffie didn't tell Casey that Prue cheated on him. I mean, she might have, but that's not why he broke up with her."

"What? Then why did he?"

"He…he says he saw Prue snogging a blonde guy in the owlery, but he couldn't see his face. Now he thinks it was me. He's not talking to me."

"Was it you?"

"Of course not. I mean, it's Prue. I love Prue. And you, and Ellie. But like I said, I'm involved right now."

"With who. Spill, right now!" Prue chirped, coming up from behind them.

"Whoa. What happened to your hair?"

Prue had been able to tease the pink out of her hair with some help from the nurse, who'd apparently worked in hair design before signing on at Hogwarts. Now she had her normal short hair back in a color of platinum blonde.

"You like?"

"Prue, you go through more hair changes in a year than most people do in their life time," Whitney Vedder drawled, "Why aren't you three on the field?"

"Right there, Whitney," Bobby grinned charmingly.

"Don't try it, Stone. I'm with Apollo."

"We know!" the three chorused. Ever since Whitney and Apollo got together, she'd been bragging nonstop.

Nonplussed, Whitney stomped away.

"So, who's the lucky girl?" Prue asked cheerily. She obviously hadn't heard the rest of their conversation.

"Gods, this is embarrassing. R…" Bobby mumbled.

"Who?" Both girls demanded.

"R…"

"Speak up!"

"Reese O'Malley, okay?"

Exchanging looks, Serendipity and Prue burst into laughter.

"You've got to be kidding," Prue giggled, "Reese?"

"She's so…so…curly," Serendipity put in.

"And loud!" Prue exclaimed.

"She nice," Bobby said defensively, "And she likes me. She likes talking to me, okay? Most nice girls don't like me for my conversational skills, you know?"

"Wow…only liked for your body…I'm soooo sorry," Serendipity replied sarcastically, smiling to show she didn't mean it to be cruel.

"Reese, hunh," Prue had a speculative look in her eyes.

"WHY ARE YOU NOT ON THE FIELD?" Whitney demanded angrily.

Brooms in hand, they ran onto the pitch, and soared into the air.

"Casey," Steffie cooed in her thick, throaty accent, "You look down. Why?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing," he waved the brunette away angrily, avoiding her dark eyes.

"It is not that girl? That Prudence?"

"Don't call her that," Casey said despondently.

"Aha, so it is her," Steffie clapped her hands, "Then look, I have stolen some firewhisky from Hogsmeade. Will you not drink it?"

"My kind of girl," Casey remarked, snatching the bottle from her hands. He popped the cork and took a gulp, "Man, you'd think they could make this stuff without the burn."

"Au contraire, I think it is the burn that makes it so attractive. Nobody likes their life without a little bit of drama."

"Frankly, my dear, I could use a little less drama and a little more whisky."

"Cheers," Steffie smiled sweetly.

"Professor Esquiline?"

"Yes Mr. Stone?"

"Would it be possible to do something without actually remembering doing it?"

"Boy, what are you talking about," the Professor whipped her long hair around, and said, "Take a seat."

"It's a long story. But the summary is, a friend of mine-"

"Oh, don't make this an 'a friend of mine' story. Just admit it's yourself, Stone," Professor Esquiline said in an analytical voice.

"I was getting there. A friend of mine AND myself have been accused of being in several places together that neither of us remember being in."

"Well, that sounds like nothing. Perhaps you've both just forgotten the mundane everyday places you've visited."

"No, this is different. These people are accusing us…they're saying something very significant happened."

"And neither of you were intoxicated at the time," the Professor said with slitted eyes, "You know I don't condone that kind of behavior."

"Of course not Professor. Both times were in the middle of the day, anyway."

"Look Stone, tell me exactly what happened."

"Okay. A girl said she saw Prue Gelliston and myself walk into a broom closet with obviously amorous intentions about a week ago. Neither Prue nor myself remember ever having done such. Then Casey Hargrove claims he saw Prue, and a blonde boy which he now assumes to be me kissing in the owlery. I certainly don't remember that, and Prue claims not to."

"Is it possible that Miss Gelliston is lying?"

"No."

"Is it possible that Mr Hargrove or this other girl are lying?"

"I'm not sure…but…I doubt it."

"Hmm," Professor Esquiline said, "There are spells and potions that can make you forget certain events, but…tell me this, Stone. Would Miss Gelliston and yourself ever pursue amorous interests, as you stated, willingly?"

"In the past, possibly. But at the time, Prue was involved with Casey, and would doubtfully ever have cheated on him. And I was…also involved. Although not quite so deeply."

"Interesting. Can you tell me, have you or Miss Gelliston suffered any memory blanks? By that, I mean can either of you recall what you think you did during that portion of time? Are there large gaps in your memory?"

"Er…actually I'm not sure. I haven't asked what the exact periods of time were. I just know they were in the last few weeks."

"Is there anyway you can ask?"

"I might be able to get the girl to tell me, but she's a bit ditzy. I'm not sure if she'll remember correctly. Casey would be a reliable source, but we're currently not on speaking terms," Bobby scowled, "He can be such an arrogant bastard."

"Language Mr. Stone."

"Sorry Professor. Anyway, have you any ideas on why this has been happening?"

"Has it only been the two instances?"

"Yes, that I know of."

"And you're both positive you'd taken no intoxicants at the time?"

"I am, I can't speak for Prue."

Keenly, Professor Esquiline asked, "Do either of you have any enemies?"

"Ah…no. At least, I don't think so. I mean, Steffie, the girl who's currently dating Casey, did go and tell him that Prue had been seen cheating. However, I can't say whether or not she did that just to get Casey to herself."

"I doubt a school girl could…"

"Could what, Professor?"

"Nothing, don't worry Stone. In the meanwhile, I want you to keep an ear out for anyone else who claims to have seen these happenings."

"Will do, Professor."

For a minute, Bobby thought of the hags of the forest. He instantly waved away the thought. What would a bunch of thousand year old, supposedly dead wizards want to do with two muggle born students with very little talent?

There was a huge ruckus in the Great Hall when Bobby went down for lunch. He strode toward the front of the Ravenclaw table, where the rest of the Saints and the Icemen sat. They didn't have much choice in the matter. Ever since a prank involving some nifty wandwork and a bit of a flood in the Great Hall, the teachers liked to keep an eye on them. It turned out Casey was making all the noise, standing tall atop the table, despite Professors Berkeley and Snips trying to coax him down.

Prue, Serendipity, and Elanore were staring up at him with ghost white faces, and Sylvester had actually ducked under the table to avoid projectiles of food and drink. Quant and Frank had exasperated looks on their faces, but were doing little to help. Only Cerulean and Cherridy were on their feet, screaming obscenities at their brother as they tried to get him off the table. Bobby spotted Steffie leaning against the faculty wall with a satisfied look on her face.

"Bloody 'ell. Look at you. The whole sodding lot of you," Casey was saying, then he spotted Bobby, "And ah, there's the traitor now."

"Casey," Bobby acknowledged, trying to look as stoic as possible.

"Casey, please, just get down. You're drunk," Prue pleaded softly.

"Shut your mouth, you stupid, cheating bint."

Prue reeled back, as though she'd been slapped.

"Who the hell do you think you are, that you can say that to her?" Serendipity demanded angrily, "She did not cheat on you!"

"S'at right? Well I don't believe you," Casey replied in a sing song voice, "The only person I believe, the only one who has been good to me at all is Steffie."

"You've only known her for two weeks," Bobby chided, "How can you trust her over us. We're your friends."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up. I thought I told you never to talk to me again, Bobby Stoooooone. I've dropped you like a stooooooone. You, my dear good ex friend, were the worst friend in the world. You knew what she meant to me," the last statement came out as a shout, and Casey turned on Prue.

"And you, you, you. After all that shite I went through to get you, after all the promises, after all the times you said you loved me, you could only keep your hands to yourself for a bloody effing three weeks."

Prue looked close to tears. She wouldn't cry though. Bobby knew she wouldn't.

"S'right. Prue Gelliston, the woman I went through hell and back to be with…s'lousy traitor. Women are worthless. 'Cept Steffie."

Steffie smiled serenely. Professor Berkeley shouted at her to help, but she shook her head and held up her hands, as though she could lift a finger. Bobby couldn't understand why two skilled, magical teachers couldn't get one teenaged boy off a wooden table.

"No one's gonna want you, Pruuuuuue. No one's going to ever want to be with you again."

Cerulean shook his head at her, as if to say Casey had no idea what he was talking about, it was the alcohol speaking.

Casey saw it, "Not even my stupid, stupid brother wants you now. He's dating a giiiiiirl."

The redhead seemed to find it amusing to draw out a sentence as best he could. His slur was only worsening.

"No one wants to be with a cheating bint. No one, no one, no one."

Prue opened her mouth, then closed it. The tears were threatening to spill, and the look on her face was beyond hurt.

"No one, no one, no one," Casey sang.

"That's not true," Bobby's voice rang out loud and clear before he knew what he was doing, "I want to be with her."

He saw Reese get up from her seat and slip quietly out of the room, but couldn't worry about her at that second. He'd known it was only a temporary relationship anyway. Prue was always, always the one he'd wanted.

"You've done enough, haven't you," Casey demanded.

"No. You've done enough Hargrove. Prue and I never cheated on you. Never that we remember. On the off chance that we did actually do it, we were under a spell or a potion of some sort."

"Nonsense."

"I've already spoken to Professor Esquiline about it, and she's figuring it out as we speak."

"Don't make excuses," Casey said hatefully.

"Look, it's not my fault you don't trust us. We've never given you reason not to. And yes, you did go through hell for Prue," Bobby said knowingly, having been reluctant witness to all Casey's plots, "But if you were willing to give her up that easily, without any word of explanation from her, then hell, she should be snatched up out of your grasp. I'm willing to do it."

Tenderly, Bobby turned to his friend, "Prue, will you go out with me?"

Casey was giving them both the most spiteful looks either had ever seen.

The tears vanished. Stone faced, Prue looked at Casey, then said in a choked voice, "Yes."

Casey leaped into the air, as though he'd been stung. Then he crumpled into the table, no more substantial than a rag doll.

"Casey," Prue cried.

The teachers rushed forward to retrieve him. At the same time, Professor Esquiline rushed into the hall and shrieked, "Malcolm, hold that girl."

She was pointing directly to Steffie.

"It was a potion," the Nurse said knowingly, "in the firewhisky she gave him. Created a shielding charm while raising a whirlwind of rage within him."

"I spoke to the representative from Beauxbatons. Apparently the girl has been seen associating with several well known anti muggle groups. Her father runs one," Professor Esquiline said, "I'm theorizing that he taught her all the Unforgivable curses."

"So that means…the Imperius curse?"

"It would explain why both of you can't remember doing things you've been seen doing."

"But that hasn't been used in…oh, ages. And why use it on Prue and I?" Bobby asked. Prue was holding Casey's limp hand. He was comatose on the hospital bed.

"I can only think it's because you're both muggle born. Perhaps Steffie had an obsession with Mr. Hargrove's celebrity and did not feel a muggle born girl should associate with him."

Bobby wondered if that could be true, "Then why hurt Casey."

"Oh," the nurse interjected, "I can take that. I don't think the girl meant to. I think the spell was supposed to send him into a rage against you two, of course. To make him hate you. It would have ended in a few minutes time from when he collapsed, actually. But something made our Casey fight. That was why he jumped into the air. The spell turned against him."

Tiredly, Prue asked, "Will he be all right?"

"Oh yes. He should wake up any time now dear."

Cerulean, leaning against the wall and listening to the conversation said, "I still don't think this makes any sense. Are you sure something darker isn't occurring?"

"You mean like when the Dark Lord was around?" the nurse demanded, eyes hardening, "No. Of course not. Just a silly, anti-muggle girl with a school age crush."

Bobby's mind again flashed to the hags of the forest. Still, he couldn't think of where they would fit in. They probably weren't even still alive.

"We found the rest of the potion," Professor Berkeley entered the hospital wing, hauling a large gold cauldron with intricate carvings, "It's very strange though. There's a big chip missing from it."

He turned the cauldron to the side to reveal a large, pointed slab of gold missing. Alarm bells went off in Bobby's head. Where had he seen something so similar?

"Anyway, can you dispose of this?" Professor Berkeley asked the nurse. She nodded consent.

Ignoring the heavy feeling in his stomach, Bobby walked over to Prue, "Hey, about what I said before…what I asked you. When he wakes up and has this all explained to him, he's going to be real sorry. I reckon he'll want you back. You're not obligated, you know…"

The heavy feeling inside him had turned into butterflies. Even if it was only for half an hour, he'd been Prue Gelliston's boyfriend. Still, he knew that she was meant to be with Casey.

Prue saw Casey's eyelids fluttering. The things he said still flashed in her mind, "Nurse."

"Yes dear?"

"He was only acting under the spell when he was on the table, correct?"

"Well, I can only assume so dear."

"Okay," steeling herself, Prue looked Bobby straight in the eye, "I want to be with you."

"What?" Bobby couldn't help his surprise.

"I know. I know Casey fought to be with me. For six years. But…he was only under the spell for half an hour. He didn't trust me. He didn't believe me. Although he was never as blatantly nasty to me as he was under that spell, he was no longer the friend I needed him to be."

"Prue…"

"If your asking me out was just for the purpose of getting back at Casey, I understand. If it was in any way genuine, however, I was wondering if we could try it out. Going out, I mean," Prue looked up at him with those lovely green eyes.

"Prue…"

"Oh, I forgot…Reese!"

"No! No, Reese and I are over," Bobby took a deep breath, "If you really mean it, I'd like to go out with you as well."

Chapter 21 fin.