After Transfiguration class, Leanne walked up to Professor McGonagall to ask her usual question. She fully expected to be shut down again, like she was every day. But today, McGonagall said:

"Tonight."

"What?"

Her professor looked up at her through her glasses. "Katie Bell will be returning tonight."

"R-Really?"

"Yes, really. In fact, she specifically requested to speak with you before anyone else."

Leanne blushed. "Oh… Uh… I…"

"She will be arriving via portkey at 7:23 pm. The headmaster has been kind enough to offer his office. The password is lollipop."

"O-Okay."

That was not at all what she expected.

"Off you go then."

On shaking legs, Leanne left the classroom.

Needless to say, she didn't eat much that night.

At 7 pm, she went to the headmaster's office. She had never been there. But she knew the stairs were behind the gargoyle. The cold stone gargoyle.

"Uh, lollipop?" Leanne said.

The gargoyle came to life and jumped aside, revealing a spiraling staircase behind him. Luckily, the staircase spiraled her up on its own, because Leanne didn't trust her legs much right now.

At the top, there was a door with a brass knocker. With shaking hands, she grabbed the knocker and knocked twice.

"Come in," a familiar voice said.

Somewhere deep down, she still thought this was a cruel joke. Why the hell would she go up to Dumbledore's office?

But McGonagall didn't have much of a sense of humor. And she certainly wouldn't give anyone the password to Dumbledore's office. So this had to be real.

Leanne opened the door.

"Ah," Dumbledore smiled. "You must be Leanne."

"Y-Yes, Sir."

"Come in, come in. Katie Bell should be here soon."

"O-Okay."

"Just out of curiosity," Dumbledore asked. "And please tell me if I'm overstepping my boundaries, but I was wondering what kind of relationship you two have?"

Leanne felt her cheeks burn. "Oh, uh…"

"Forgive me," Dumbledore said. "I'm just curious. She specifically requested to see you. And you've been asking about her every day. So I just wondered if…"

"I… I haven't told her yet," Leanne said.

"Ah," Dumbledore said. "I see."

"I'm scared," Leanne admitted. She wasn't sure why she was saying this to the headmaster.

"I understand," Dumbledore said.

"You do?"

"Oh yes. It may be hard to imagine, but I was young too at one point. A long time ago."

"That is indeed hard to imagine," Leanne said. She smiled weakly.

He smiled back. "Yes. But if you will indulge me for a moment longer. I never regretted telling anyone that I loved them. I only regret not telling someone that I loved them."

"It's different," Leanne said. "I don't even know if she… if she's like that. What if it makes everything weird?"

"In my humble opinion, it is much weirder to deny your feelings. Be honest, Leanne. It will feel much better, trust me. Maybe you will feel the sting of heartbreak. But it is better than forever living with a cloud of doubt in your heart. It is better to face the truth, even if the truth might be painful at times."

"I'll think about it," Leanne said. "Thank you."

"No problem. Well, I will leave you two to it then. Good luck."

He winked at her. Then, he left the office, closing the door behind him.

Leanne took a deep breath. There wasn't much time left.

To pass the remaining minutes, she began to study the silver devices in the office. She wondered what their purpose was.

Then, there was a popping sound behind her. Leanne spun around.

Katie Bell stood behind her. She tossed an old boot aside. Had to be the portkey.

"Hey Leanne," Katie said, smiling.

"W-What the hell is that?" Leanne asked.

"Oh you mean this?" Katie asked, holding up the brown-paper bag. "It's a necklace."

"That's not funny."

"It's not a joke," Katie said. "I said it had nothing to do with you back then. But I was wrong. You're my best friend. Everything I do has to do with you. Sorry I pushed you away."

"You were cursed," Leanne argued.

"Even so, I'm sorry. Here. This is for you."

She held out the bag.

"It's not cursed, is it?" Leanne asked.

"I don't know," Katie said. "It might curse our friendship. But I've thought about it long and hard, and… I can't lie to myself anymore."

"What do you mean?" Where was this going?

"Open it."

Leanne tore the paper. It was a necklace. Well, a pendant. A delicate silver chain with…

She gasped.

With a little red heart at the end.

"Leanne," Katie said. "The truth is I… I like you. And not just as a friend, I mean… like something more. And I know you probably don't swing that way but-"

"I do."

"What?"

"I do swing that way," Leanne said. "And… And I do like you. Like that."

"Oh. So… Wait, why didn't you tell me?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Leanne shot back.

"Because I was scared," Katie said.

"So was I."

"But I overcame that and told you."

"Well that was my plan too," Leanne said. "But you beat me to it."

"So I win?"

"No way."

"No, I clearly won," Katie insisted.

Leanne leaned forward and kissed her. Katie was surprised at first, but then she returned the kiss. After a long time, Leanne pulled back.

"Looks like I won," she said.

"What? I was going to kiss you too," Katie insisted.

"But I beat you to it. So I win."

"Let's just call it a tie," Katie proposed.

"Fine."

"Here, let me help you put that on."

Leanne turned around so Katie could put on the little heart pendant. She pulled her hair out of the way.

"You know," Katie said. "I was worried this necklace was cursed too. That it would ruin everything between us."

"But instead it brought us closer," Leanne said. "The exact opposite."

"I guess it's an uncursed necklace then?"

"I guess so."

"Okay, done."

Leanne turned back around.

"It looks good on you," Katie said.

"Thanks."

A tense silence fell.

"We shouldn't stay here," Leanne said. "You said what you needed to say."

"I know."

"Come on." Leanne held out her hand.

Together, they walked to the spiral staircase, which took them down into the school.

Dumbledore was standing outside. He was talking to McGonagall.

When he saw them, he smiled.

"I take it everything went well?" he asked.

"It did," Katie said. "Thank you, Sir."

"Oh no problem," he said. "And if there is anything else you need."

"I'm fine," Katie said. "I already have everything I need."

She looked at Leanne.

Leanne blushed in response.

"L-Let's go."

Leanne pulled her onwards towards Gryffindor Tower. The halls were pretty much deserted at this time.

"So what did I miss?" Katie asked.

"Oh ye. Where to start?"

"You know exactly where to start."

Leanne chuckled. "Okay, so we lost badly against Hufflepuff."

"What!?"

"Well you weren't here," Leanne explained. "So they had to replace you with Dean Thomas."

"He's not that bad," Katie argued.

"Well there was also McLaggen," Leanne added.

"Why did he play? What happened to Ron?"

"Well he thought you were getting a lot of attention, so he got himself poisoned."

"That does sound like him," Katie admitted.

They both chuckled.

"It's going to be fine," Leanne said. "I'm sure you'll win the next match."

"It's okay," Katie said. "There are more important things than Quidditch."

"Wow. That curse must have hit you pretty hard."

"Leanne," Katie said. "The real curse was that I couldn't see you for so long."

"I'm glad you're back," Leanne said.

"Me too."

Another silence.

"Shall we?" Katie asked.

"Does anyone know when you'll be back?" Leanne asked.

"No. Well, you. And McGonagall and Dumbledore of course. Why?"

"Do you want to take a little detour?" Leanne asked. "I'm sure they can miss you for a little bit longer. Maybe we could find an empty classroom somewhere and… uh… be together for a little longer."

Katie inhaled sharply.

"Sorry," Leanne said. "Forget I said anything. I just…"

"No. I… Yes," Katie said.

"Yes?"

"Let's go take a detour." She smiled.

Leanne smiled back. "Okay."

"Come on. I know a great place."

Katie pulled Leanne along.

"Where are we going?" Leanne asked.

"Seventh floor. To the tapestry with the dancing trolls."

"What's over there?"

Katie smiled. "Whatever we desire."

"I don't understand."

"Well, technically it's whatever we require."