New chapter! Sorry for the wait. I've been so busy with end of the year events like my graduation! Officially a college person now! Also, I've been working on a rewrite for Never Say Never as I mentioned earlier, which is coming along great. This chapter is extra long and I hope it makes up for the wait! :)

Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven: Valentine's Day Disaster

Harry was still thinking about the diary the next day so we went to the trophy room during our break to check out T. M. Riddle's award. It was a polished gold shield, except there was no indication of why he had received it. However, we did find his name on an old Medal for Magical Merit as well as on a list of old Head Boys, which, Klaus thought was particularly interesting and made a note in his commonplace book.

The days passed and things were a lot more cheerful now, especially since the attacks came to a stop—according to Harry, Lockhart believed he had single-handedly put a stop to them, making Harry, Ron, Klaus, and I laugh uncontrollably while Hermione frowned at us. To put us in an even better mood, the Mandrakes had just passed their childhood and would be ready in just a few more months.

Despite the sudden peace in the school, I couldn't exactly enjoy it while Malfoy still had my bracelet, though he hadn't made any moves to expel me. He probably chickened out as he always does.

While I worried over Malfoy, Klaus was far too distracted to even notice the bracelet was still missing. Almost every night, he would sit in the library and then, in the Ravenclaw common room when it got too late, reading up on the Chamber of Secrets. Now that Hermione's cat features had all disappeared, she was working right alongside him, which I figured might get them farther, except none of the books they went through held any information on anything to do with the Chamber. I would go with them usually and sometimes Mel would come along to secretly redescribe her visions in detail over and over to Klaus. Researching often left Klaus little time to talk and explain exactly what he was looking for in these stacks of books. I tried to contribute in other ways, looking through a book with records on previous Hogwarts students and a book about dangerous magical creatures. Nothing I read, however, seemed to be of any value.

In a couple weeks, Klaus' birthday came with all its confusion. I got him a book, of course; this one was about legends, since the Chamber of Secrets legend was all he could think about and a book holder so he didn't have to hunch over his books anymore. Klaus and Hermione still went to the library to research on his birthday and seemed intent on exploring a new theory. As usual, I went with them, letting them work and trying not to ask too many questions. I focused on my schoolwork, instead, and took the opportunity to deal with all the Jacques Snicket stuff on my own. I was still distraught over it, as I probably always will be, though I was able to cope with the trauma better than last year.

My meeting with Dumbledore went well. He didn't ask me to relive the memory for once. I only talked about how I was currently feeling about it. The past was always a tricky subject; one that I had grown tired of focusing on and even tried to pretend that our series of unfortunate events was just a long, vivid nightmare. The illusion slowly faded when I had an actual nightmare later that evening.

Valentine's Day came which was usually unnoticed by the school and only the most dedicated couples got in the mood for it. Surprisingly, this year was an exception for when I went to breakfast that morning, the hall was covered in decorations. Large, vivid pink flowers covered the walls and heart-shaped confetti fell delicately from the pale blue ceiling. Ron was staring at everything, looking sick, and Harry, who came in late, was quick to give him company. Hermione and I were giggling at everything, though I think her thoughts were set mostly on Lockhart, her dream Valentine. Apart of me wanted to pretend to be sick from all the pink, but after the stress from the attacks and my bracelet falling into the wrong hands, it was actually kind of nice to be able to relax a bit and enjoy the holiday. Besides, I had a Valentine of my own. I had prepared a Valentine's Day gift for Klaus.

"Happy Valentine's Day," I said with a laugh as Klaus came over, still gazing in bewilderment at the décor.

"Happy Valentine's Day," Klaus replied, looking from me to Harry and Ron and then, at a pink cheeked Hermione. "What's with all the decorations?"

"I was asking the same question," Ron muttered. "Whoever was responsible for this is mental."

"It's definitely a little extreme," I agreed as Klaus sat down beside me. "But it's a nice…distraction."

Hermione nodded excitedly while Ron gave me a sour expression. "Don't encourage her," he said.

I ignored him and focused my attention on Klaus.

"I'm glad to see you without a book in your hands," I said, jokingly and passed the plate of toast and jar of marmalade over to him. "I nearly forgot what you looked like without one."

Klaus uttered a small laugh. "I know, I've been researching so much lately," he said, "But it will all pay off soon. I'm really getting somewhere."

"Maybe sometime you'll get a chance to fill me in," I said, chewing on one of the ham and Swiss croissants set out along with other delicious looking breakfast pastries decorated for the occasion. "So I can at least help in some way."

"You have been helping," Klaus said, spreading marmalade on a piece of toast and pausing to take a bite. "I would probably be failing all my classes if you weren't helping me with my homework lately. I'd say it's more of a team effort."

"Do you think you could lend me a hand on our latest Transfiguration assignment?" Ron butted in, leaning forward across the table. "I forgot to practice turning my textbook into a rug."

I rolled my eyes. "If I'm doing your work all the time then, what are you doing?"

"Helping Harry stay on his game for the next Quidditch match," the red head replied matter-of-factly, taking a swig of pumpkin juice. Some of it dribbled down his chin. "We need to win this year so I don't have to watch Malfoy walking around with that smirk on his face."

"I think Harry is managing just fine right now," I said, "the next match isn't for another month."

"No one is doing anyone else's work," Hermione said, nodding firmly and snuck me a stern look. I knew she secretly disapproved of me helping Klaus with his work. I had offered to do the same for her, but she had looked at me like I had just told her she was going to fail a class.

"Are you coming to the library with us again tonight?" Klaus asked. "I actually could use some help with Transfiguration."

"I'm on board with that," Ron said, "Shall we make it a Valentine's Day study session?"

"Maybe another night," I said, giving Ron a look to say stay out. I secretly wanted a night where it could just be Klaus and I, without the boys, Ron especially, to make faces whenever I held his hand or something. Fortunately, Hermione had a higher IQ than Harry and Ron, and had my back.

"Actually, I wanted to revisit the diary again tonight," she said, quickly, "And maybe look for some clues again. We can do that while Jamie and Klaus are in the library researching."

"I bet that's what they'll be doing," Fred popped in, sliding in beside me to give me a nudge.

"Having a nice snog in between books," George added, sitting next to Klaus.

"Yeah," Mel agreed, chuckling despite the glare I was shooting at her. She pushed us aside so she could plop down in between us. "You probably have a secret corner in the back of the library." She picked up her textbook and pretended to makeout with it. I felt my face flush red, not daring to look at Klaus right now, knowing he was probably just as embarrassed.

"Stop it," I said, grimacing. "We are not going to snog."

"Of course you aren't," Mel teased. "And Lockhart isn't going to make the rest of this day painful for us."

As she spoke, the professor in question stepped up to the podium and shouted, "Happy Valentine's Day!" Behind him, all of the teachers looked completely miserable. "And may I thank the forty-six people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all – and it doesn't end here!"

With a clap of his hands, a dozen surly-looking dwarfs entered. The dwarves had golden wings on and carried harps.

"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" Lockhart beamed. "They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines! And the fun doesn't stop here! I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion! Why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up a Love Potion! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about Entrancing Enchantments than any wizard I've ever met, the sly old dog!"

Professor Flitwick put his face in his hands while Snape looked like he'd prefer to give students poison instead. The students took that as their cue to head for classes, each with mixed feelings about the day's corny festivities.

"I'll see you tonight, then," Klaus said, quietly to me as we made our way out of the hall, "in the entrance hall at seven. I'll try to make it better than our usual nights in the library. Maybe you could wear your bracelet."

"Oh, right, yes," I replied quickly, forcing a smile. I gave his hand a squeeze before hurrying to catch up with Ron, Harry, and Hermione. Malfoy was just up ahead, snickering at one of the winged dwarfs with Crabbe and Goyle. Maybe I could slip him a little Love Potion to get my bracelet back. It would be the best payback to see him following me around like a lovesick fool.

"Please, Hermione," Ron was saying, "tell me you weren't one of the forty-six who sent Lockhart a Valentine."

Hermione buried her face in her schedule.

"Looks like I'm not the only one with a Valentine today," I said as Ron turned to Harry and I, his revolted expression returned.

For the rest of the day, dwarves came bursting into our classes to deliver valentines and I soon grew just as annoyed as the teachers. I didn't mind Valentine's Day, but the dwarves were taking things too far, especially when Harry received one on our way to Charms. A group of first years were watching, with Ginny Weasley among them, as Harry tried to escape the dwarf, but it grabbed his bag.

"Let me go!" Harry cried, tugging the bag away. With a loud rip, the seams of the bag split in half, letting its contents spill out onto the floor. Harry's inkbottle splashed everything with black ink.

Hastily, Harry scrambled to gather up his books and parchment before the dwarf could begin to sing.

"What's going on here?" came Draco Malfoy's drawling voice, as he pushed himself through the crowd. Harry moved faster, stuffing his things back in his bag before he could be humiliated in front of his enemy.

"What's all this commotion?" Percy Weasley had arrived on the scene now, standing up straight to make him seem more important.

Moving to his side, I helped Harry stick the rest of the loose parchment back in his bag and performed Reparo on the bag to mend it before he took off. It was much too late, though. The dwarf was ready, diving at his knees and causing him to fall backwards so it could sit on his ankles.

"Right," the dwarf said. "Here is your singing valentine:

"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,

His hair is as dark as a blackboard.

I wish he was mine,

he's really divine,

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."

Harry looked completely humiliated, his face turning red as the crowd laughed at him. Trying to laugh it off, he got to his feet as Percy told the students to leave.

"Off you go, off you go, the bell rang five minutes ago, off to class, now," he said, shooing away some first years. "And you, Malfoy—"

Malfoy had stooped to pick up Riddle's diary.

"Give that back," Harry said quietly.

"Wonder what Potter's written in this?" the blond Slytherin said, causing everyone to quiet down.

Ginny looked terrified as she gazed from Harry to the diary.

"It's none of your business," I said, wondering if I could make a move to get my bracelet now. Maybe it was in one of his robe pockets and I could use a summoning charm on it, well, once I learned it.

"Hand it over, Malfoy," Percy said sternly.

"When I've had a look," Malfoy said, waving the diary at Harry, tauntingly.

"As a school prefect—" Percy started, but before he could finish, Harry shouted, "Expelliarmus!" The diary flew out of his hands and Ron caught it with a grin.

"Harry!" said Percy loudly. "No magic in the corridors. I'll have to report this, you know!"

Malfoy was furious and when Ginny passed by him to go to class, he stepped forward and yelled spitefully, "I don't think Potter liked your valentine much!"

Ginny covered her face with her hands as she ran into class. I gave Malfoy a heavy glare and Ron tried to raise his wand at him, but Harry and I pulled him away before he made himself belch slugs again. We carried on to class, Harry keeping his head down in embarrassment throughout Charms class.

Lockhart's decorations remained in the Great Hall for lunch and later dinner, each time the pinks and light blues seeming to grow in vibrancy. After being humiliated in front of everyone, Harry was a bit sulky. We tried to cheer him up by saying that it wasn't that bad, especially after he got the diary back from Malfoy's prying hands, but nothing could stop the Slytherins from making cat calls at him.

"I have another surprise!" Lockhart announced at dinner and we all sighed. "A kind student informed me that one of you had a love song to sing, but was too shy to come forward. So Miss Murray, why don't you come forward now and sing your love song…I believe it's for Mr. Baudelaire?"

My mouth fell open, my cheeks flooded red, and everyone stared at me.

"Did you put him up to this?" I asked Hermione. She shook her head, looking just as confused.

Harry gave me an apologetic look and Ron was glaring at Lockhart.

"It will be okay," Klaus said, giving me a small push forward. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about. You have a great voice. I'm sure whoever it was, was trying to—"

"Humiliate me," I finished. "And I suppose you too."

Klaus looked like he didn't know what else to say. He gave me an encouraging smile and I sighed, walking up to the front.

Professor Lockhart handed me a special pink guitar that looked like it had been dipped in a cotton candy paint. I could see Malfoy and his cronies snickering. He winked at me and I knew all too well what that meant. Of course, he was the one who set me up.

"First off," I said, before I began, looking straight at him now as I continued acidly, "I'd like to thank whoever recommended me for this."

Strumming the lavender colored strings, I began:

"It's a little bit funny
This feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money
But boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where
We both could live

So excuse me forgetting
But these things I do
See I've forgotten if
They're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is
What I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

And you can tell everybody,
This is your song
It may be quite simple but
Now that it's done
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world

If I was a sculptor
But then again no
Or a girl who makes potions in a traveling show
I know it's not much but
It's the best I can do
My gift is my song and
This one's for you

Oh

[x8]

And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple but
Now that it's done
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world."

Everyone applauded as I hurried back to my seat before Lockhart could make me do another one.

I was just about to leave to the common room to meet up with Klaus when Harry came rushing in from the boys' dorm. He beckoned Ron, Hermione, and I to a desk where he explained in a low voice that the diary had taken him back in time to fifty years ago. T. M. Riddle, who Harry learned was named Tom Marvolo Riddle, had stopped the attacks by turning in the person responsible. They were keeping a large spider as a pet, which seemed all too familiar.

"It was Hagrid," Harry said, making me gasp. "Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago."

"Harry that's ridiculous," I said immediately. Hagrid did have a strange affection for dangerous creatures, but he also cared about the students enough not to let them run loose. "Hagrid wouldn't hurt anyone like that."

"Well, he does have a history of caring for dangerous magical creatures," Harry reminded me. "I'm sure you remember the giant, three-headed dog named "Fluffy" and Norbert, his pet dragon."

Hermione and Ron were just as reluctant to believe it. As Harry began to try to explain his theory again, I took that moment to leave the common room and hurry down the stairs to meet up with Klaus.

Making our way to the library, I caught Klaus up on what Harry discovered in the diary.

"Hagrid?" Klaus said. "That doesn't sound right."

"Well, maybe he was trying to protect the spider," I said, trying to consider the other side of it. "But still, it's hard to believe."

"It's hard to believe the spider is the monster to begin with," Klaus muttered more to himself. "It doesn't explain why those other spiders were fleeing the castle. I still don't know much about the monster, but I do know that those spiders must be running from a predator. Maybe this…what was his name again?"

"Tom Marvolo Riddle," I said.

"Right," Klaus said, "well, maybe Tom Marvolo Riddle jumped to conclusions about this spider."

"That's a possibility," I agreed, "Riddle wanted the attacks to end so he wouldn't have to go back to his Muggle orphanage. I can't say I blame him. Harry said a girl died because of it. It would make sense to find someone to blame quickly—to frame Hagrid. We both know how easy it is to frame someone."

"But then, how would the attacks have stopped?" Klaus wondered aloud.

"I don't know…"

We had reached the library now and I was actually glad we weren't wasting precious time on Valentine's Day stuff. I wanted this mystery solved. We were both still thinking hard and went straight to work, this time I grabbed a book on notable former Hogwarts students again. It should be easier to look this time, knowing his full name. It felt like old times when we curled up in two cushioned chairs, side-by-side, in a small alcove of the library where we could research in peace. At least this time we weren't racing against a clock run by Count Olaf. Instead, an unknown beast and its equally anonymous heir dominated our time. Any day now, there could be another victim. It could be me. I shivered at the thought of being petrified, unable to move, and do anything about my situation.

I found a page where the last name Riddle should be located and his name was there as predicted. A brief summary listed his achievements and in the same area, his house, Slytherin. That took me a bit by surprise. Of all people, I hardly expected a Slytherin to be responsible for putting a stop to the attacks. Maybe there was something more to this than T. M. Riddle's memory let on. After all, he seemed to be able to control the diary so he could easily control what Harry saw. Who knows if any of that even happened? I pointed this out to Klaus.

"He could very well have manipulated the memory," Klaus agreed. "I don't like to be biased, but I can't imagine a Slytherin doing something so noble. And most Slytherins discriminate against Muggleborns, why would he want to protect them?"

Our minds still spinning with questions, we carried on with our work. Klaus was still reading avidly, but I was too frustrated to carry on, deciding to take a break to do homework and look up a summoning charm, called Accio, which I practice, finding it harder than I expected. I guess I would have to find another way to get the bracelet back.

Klaus' head was buried deep in his book and it took me by surprise when he finally looked up with wide eyes.

"What did you find?" I asked, scooting over on the chair to peer at the book.

"Nothing right now," he said, "but I've been thinking about Mel's visions and I've noticed a pattern. Every vision has someone seeing the monster's eyes before they're petrified. Whichever monster it is, it attacks people with its stare like…"

"Medusa," I finished, wondering why I hadn't thought of it before. "But she's just a myth. I mean, I don't think Medusa's been going around and turning everyone to stone."

"I don't either," he agreed, "But think about it, in the legend, Medusa was able to turn people into stone, not unlike the monster. I read a book about legends from my parents' library. There was this creature called a cockatrice, a two-legged dragon with a rooster's head. It is hatched by a chicken's egg incubated by a serpent and has magical abilities, including turning people to stone or killing them by looking at them. One of the ways to kill it is just like Medusa, have it look at its reflection in a mirror."

"So do you think that's the monster?" I asked. "The cocka…?"

"Cockatrice," he corrected, putting his book down. "It's the one that makes the most sense, although I can't figure out how those students were only petrified. Also, the cockatrice has wings and looks a lot like a chicken with a snake's tail."

"I couldn't imagine something like that flying around the school unnoticed," I said, "In any case, it must have some way of moving around without being seen."

"I'm still stumped on that too," he admitted, looking a bit frustrated. "And for once, we're in a very resourceful library. Not like Lucky Smells Lumbermill with only three books to choose from."

"Maybe we just need to take a break," I said, "We've been focusing on it so much lately that I think stepping back from it for a bit might help us see it better. At least, maybe we could figure out where it's coming from, if it is a cockatrice."

Klaus nodded and picked up the book he had been reading. The golden letters of the title read Most Macabre Monstrosities and he stuck a slick red bookmark in the page he had left off, page 723.

"Why don't we exchange gifts?" he suggested, walking over to the table nearest to us where we had left our bags and the books we had already gone through. I went to grab my bag, digging through to make sure I hadn't forgotten it. Klaus was already pulling out his gift, some chocolate frogs and a card with two owls on it, with one saying 'Whooo loves you?' and when I opened it the owls were hooting, 'I dooo, I dooo, I dooo!'

I laughed at the ridiculously cheesy card.

"Thanks, it's great," I said, "And very cute."

"I didn't want to embarrass you with one of those singing dwarves," he said, "I figured a card would be safe."

"I'm glad I have a boyfriend with a brain," I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Though I feel bad for Ginny. She seems to like Harry so much and of course, he doesn't get it at all. Well, I suppose it was very clear today."

"We weren't exactly the best at figuring that out," Klaus pointed out with a grin.

"I know, what the heck was up with us?" I said, slipping my hand in his, loving how simple it was to be with him. "It's all good now though. Really good. Despite the cockatrice running around, I'm very happy with how things are. I feel like I'm getting back on track and well, the nightmares have begun to fade."

My fingers intertwined with his.

"Things have been going uphill for me as well," Klaus said, "You definitely seem better. Happier, I mean. I know it was hard to be sorted into different houses, but I think we've made it work. It's better for us to have a chance to do our own thing too. You have your friends and I have mine."

"You mean Fiona?" I said with a sigh.

Klaus rolled his eyes, but didn't look too annoyed. "I have other friends too," he said, "Terry Boot and Padma Patil. The others are well, not so interested in being friends. They're all very competitive, not as friendly as the Gryffindors."

"Let me give you your present now," I said, as I noticed the library starting to empty, meaning we would have to head back to our dorms soon. Klaus sat down at the table while I dug through my bag to find the present, wrapped in red tissue paper.

"I didn't realize you were still a fan of Valentine's Day," Klaus said, putting his commonplace book back in his pocket. "Especially after today."

"I'm not usually this excited about it," I said and placed the present in his hands. "But something changed my mind about it. I'll explain once you open the present."

Klaus eagerly unwrapped the present, and then, opened the white box underneath. I leaned against the table, watching his eyes soften as he took out the large can of soup, turning it in his hands.

"Alphabet soup?" he said while his lips curled into a smile.

I nodded, my toes scrunching up in excitement. "But there's more inside. Open it, open it!"

Klaus opened the can, which I had filled with candy hearts, each with a single letter.

"It's the entire alphabet, of course," I explained. "No carrots instead of 'e's or anything like that. But hand it to me for a second." I took the can from his hands and spilled the candy hearts onto the desk. I had filled it with just the right letters to spell BE MINE and then, I used the rest to spell our first names. There were more letters to spell more endearing Valentine phrases too.

"It's great Jamie," Klaus said, beaming at me. "More than great. But why did you think of that night?"

"Well, I just realized that it was only a few days after your birthday," I explained as I pulled my chair around to sit next to him, "which means…it was Valentine's Day. Also, I don't know if this has ever occurred to you, but the letters J and K are right next to each other in the alphabet. It's probably the cheesiest thing ever but…it's Valentine's Day so I'm free to be as cheesy and romantic as I want."

"That's right," Klaus said with a chuckle and his eyes softened as he recalled the bittersweet moment we had shared. It seemed even the happiest moments of our lives had been touched by a deep sadness. That wasn't the part I wanted to focus on tonight, though. "I remember that evening clearly. It was one of the few times we were together without Count Olaf to come and snatch you away. And I did know that about our initials…"

I nodded and reached over to take his hands in mine. "I used to wonder what made that evening so important to me that I still remember it," I said, softly "…but…now I think it's because it was the first time in a long time that I felt…safe…especially after Jacques…And I know I had a crush on you before that, but I think that was the moment when it all became…real…I knew I needed you—I couldn't survive without you. I—"

"I love you, Jamie."

I froze, my mouth falling open and my stomach did a somersault. "You—you what?" I gasped, not really believing what I heard.

Klaus had paused when I had, and his eyes widened behind his glasses as he realized what he'd just said. "Oh," he said.

I stared at him, unable to speak. I pulled my hands away from his, feeling fear seeping into my heart. Finally, I managed to speak. "Y-you…sh-shouldn't have said that…Klaus," I stammered, feeling my face flush pink. I stood up, wondering if I should make a run for it.

"I'm sorry about that…it just slipped out…I didn't mean to startle you or freak you out." Klaus looked almost as bewildered as I was. Now, he had risen to his feet. "But I do believe I've said it once before."

"But not like…like that," I said, breathlessly, "We were in an argument last time. So it didn't count. Now, that was different. You sounded like you truly meant it. Or at least I never really believed you meant it. Until just now."

"Well…I did," he said. "More than I did before."

"Damn it Klaus," I stood up and my hands were shaking. "What were you thinking? I-I mean…y-you c-can't be…not for real…It's too soon...we're too young…to say that…"

Klaus moved towards me, taking both my hands in his.

"Stop talking," he said, "Just…listen." He waited until I relaxed before he continued, "I know it's a bit sudden…maybe I shouldn't have said it…I don't think I even understand it—my feelings for you. But they're there. It's the truth. And I know we're young but…I think it's different for us. With what we went through, it makes sense that we formed a connection even at such a young age. We met each other at a dark time in our lives and despite everything that darkness still brought us closer together, in the end. You said it yourself, we needed each other, we survived together—we endured and…I think that's…that's what…love is…you love the person you know you can survive with and can't survive without. As long as we're together, I think we will always survive. That's why I feel this way so soon. I'm…in love with you."

He kissed the top of my head.

"We shouldn't be afraid to say how we truly feel," he said, when he leaned back to look into my eyes, looking at me in a way that told me he was truly serious. "We learned that lesson the hard way. But if…you need time…to make sense of how you feel…then I'm okay with that. That doesn't change how I feel about you though. I said it before and I'll say it a million times over again: I love you, Jamie Murray."

My heart swelled with joy. I leaned forward to press my forehead against his, closing my eyes, and sighing greatly. I thought back to that moment in the unfinished half of the hospital again. The moment that I had told Klaus the truth about me—about who I was and he had accepted me despite being a different person.

I moved my head up so I could brush my lips against his, feeling strength and safety…feeling like I could survive anything as long as we were together. Except, even with all of the strength and safety, there was a tugging sense of doubt in the back corners of my mind.

"I think…" I tilted my head back so I could look into his brown eyes and utter one of the hardest phrases I've ever had to say, "I…I l-love you too, Klaus Baudelaire."

A wide smile spread across his face, making butterflies fill my stomach. "Now that's the first time you've ever said it," he said with a chuckle.

I laughed too, though a bit nervously, as I was still a bit overwhelmed by everything—by what Klaus said—by what I said. My body was shaking slightly, but the fear I felt was more exhilarating. I stepped past it anyways and I could overcome it. With Klaus.

Klaus looked back down at the candy hearts. He took the letters of my name and turned it into JANE. "I remember how you used the noodles to explain to me that your name was an anagram…" he trailed off abruptly, growing very quiet and still as he gazed at the letters.

"Klaus?" I said, worriedly. "Are you all right?"

He didn't respond, still staring at the letters for a moment longer before he took off down one of the sections of the library. He returned, heading for his bag where he pulled out Most Macabre Monstrosities, opened it, and flipped hastily to the middle. Klaus jotted some notes down in his commonplace book and then, was off again, taking the book with him. I remembered it was one of Klaus' idiosyncrasies to not pay any attention to his surroundings when he was thinking hard about something.

Eventually, Klaus returned, his eyes alight with realization.

"What's going on?" I asked. "Can you talk now?"

Klaus nodded. "I just…the monster is…" he trailed off again, looking around as if he were worried someone would overhear. Madam Pince was walking over to ask us to head back to our dorms. "I can't tell you here," he muttered out of the corner of his mouth as we gathered our belongings. "I have another theory about the monster."

He slung his bag over his shoulder, doing the same with my bag. I gathered up the candy hearts, putting them back in the soup can and sealing the lid back on with my wand. I handed it to Klaus as we exited the library. It seemed that he was once again, deep in thought as we headed down the corridor so I just kept silent. He put an arm around my shoulders, more firm than usual, as we reached the end of the hall. I noticed him take a brief pause, looking at a freshly polished suit of armor, before turning down the next corridor.

"Why was it so difficult for you to tell me that?" Klaus said, picking up where we left off as we went.

"It's not that I don't…feel…that…way…I just—" I took a deep breath. "—I get scared sometimes…when I'm with you."

"Scared?" he said, a little confused.

"Of losing you," I admitted, quickly, as if I feared I would lose him if I didn't say it fast enough.

"I'm not going anywhere." As he spoke, I heard a strange noise…like a hiss. I was still gazing at his brown eyes, now tinged with what I could only register as fear.

"Klaus, what's going on?"

He didn't answer, but began to pick up the pace. He was truly frightening me now.

"It's not safe here," he said, as another hiss echoed off the walls, louder this time.

"Is that the—"

It all happened at once. Klaus grabbed me, pushing my face down into his shoulder. My cheek was pressed against his chest so I could hear his heart hammering against it. I heard a gasp and then, all at once, his heart stopped. We toppled forward, Klaus on top of me, his chest rock-hard. I could hear the hissing noise again and as I realized what was happening, I desperately tried to look up to see what it was, but Klaus' frigid hand was pressing hard against my head. There was a moment, and then, the hissing stopped, fading away into a distant echo.

I knew what had just happened—should have known it. The monster…Klaus…he'd been petrified right in front of me.

Unable to move, not just because I physically couldn't, I laid like that for what felt like ages, feeling as frozen and numb as Klaus.

Eventually, I heard footsteps and voices as some teachers approached, though they sounded low and muffled to me. I think they thought I'd been petrified too, since I was so quiet and unmoving. I didn't care much for what else they were saying.

"Miss Murray, is that you?" Professor McGonagall's voice cut in.

I tried to form a response like 'yes' except all that came out was a muffled whimper.

"Let's get them both to the hospital wing," she said, perhaps to the other teachers. I stopped listening again and somehow Klaus and I were carried to the hospital wing. They placed us on a hospital bed.

I realized I was glad Klaus was covering me like he was. As long as I was in his arms and I couldn't see anything, I could pretend that this never happened. I could pretend that he had just fallen asleep or just never wanted to let me go. I didn't have to know what really happened—I didn't have to face what really happened. All I wanted was to lie in this spot until Klaus was back and then, I would never let this happen again.

"Another attack?" I heard Dumbledore say. He must have approached Klaus and I now because he fell silent.

"I believe she may be in shock," the headmaster continued, mostly to the teachers.

"I'll be able to get her out just fine with your help," Madam Pomfrey said, "I'm sure she'd be more comfortable."

I felt her hands trying to slide my head out carefully, and panic seized me.

"No," I gasped, reaching my hands up to try and stop it, though they only met air. "Stop. You can't. I can't."

"I apologize for your discomfort, Miss Murray," Dumbledore said, gently. "However, you need to be moved."

I continued to protest, but I was pulled out and set onto my feet, facing away from Klaus.

"Now, little girl," Lockhart's voice met my ears as his perfect white teeth swam into my vision, "maybe you can tell us what you witnessed. Don't be afraid. I was never afraid when I battled that banshee and I certainly will make sure that monster is slain."

"It's not fit to ask Miss Murray questions at the moment," Professor McGonagall said, a little aggravated. I looked away from their pressing stares, not liking that they were talking down to me like I couldn't understand. I knew fully well what had happened, so much so that it would probably be branded into my memory for the rest of my life along with every other miserable event. "She's in shock and does not need to be bothered."

"Thank you, Gilderoy," Dumbledore said, "and you as well Minerva. I…"

I tried to tune them out, daring to look behind me. Klaus' body was absolutely still like a statue, his eyes…his usual warm, safe, brown eyes behind his wonderfully round glasses, were wide with horror and only emanated danger. His glasses had fallen off entirely, lying on the bedside table, cracked and broken. His mouth was agape in terror. It was like he was dead…

I closed my eyes, willing Klaus to wake up and tell me he was okay. But when I reopened them, nothing had changed. Klaus' brown eyes still wide, still empty…he was still gone…

I released a shuddering gasp, sinking to my knees on the floor. No, this couldn't happen to Klaus. Not Klaus. I couldn't lose him. I needed him too much. He said as long as we were together, we could survive. I had told him I loved him believing it was safe. Years away from our perils have made me forget that expressing any affection for someone often leads to some kind of tragedy. I clutched at my chest, trying to hold myself together, as I realized what I'd done.

"It's my fault," I said like it was a confession, hanging my head. "It was me. I did this to him."

"It is most certainly not your fault," the headmaster said and gently pulled me to my feet again. "Remember what we talked about in our meetings," he added when I kept saying it. "It is not your fault."

Dumbledore gently pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me, letting me cry softly, the way he had last year when I'd told him about Jacques. And now, it was all happening again—to Klaus—only about two years later.

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The song is 'Your Song' by Elton John (Ellie Goulding's cover version)