The day Winter break started, River started to worry. Chiara had been ignoring him whenever he saw her, or tried to talk to her. Thankfully, both her and Penny had decided to stay for the break, as to attend the celestial ball. River was sitting with Talbott in the owlery one day, talking about his current situation. "I just feel like it's a huge mess, and it's all my fault." Talbott sighed. "This is why I decided to stay away from the heart. It can cause to many problems." River fidgeted uncomfortably, "But either way River, you're taking this way to seriously. It's just a school crush that she had on you, and you have one on Penny." River sighed and stood up. He walked over to the large open window. He leaned against it and said, "Man, I wish I could shake it. But I can't help but feel bad for Chiara. I have somewhat of an understanding of what she's going through. These school crushes, they feel like more then that. If Penny rejects me, I'll understand. Will that stop me from crying it out in my sleep? Not one bit. I gotta talk to Chiara. I can't sleep well, knowing I didn't do zilch to try and fix our friendship. And these crushes, are they just that? We're all adults now, or close too, and maybe we need to start thinking about this." Talbott shrugged. "It's your call. It's your life, but I would be careful. Things don't always go to plan." He turned into his bird form and flew out of the window. River sighed and walked down the stairs.
As he was walking through the halls, he saw Penny. This is just what I needed, he thought to himself. "Hey Penny, how's your day going?" She scowled at him with such a venomous look, River was surprised she didn't turn into a snake, "I don't want to talk to you River." River stopped dead in his tracks and Penny walked right past him. "What?" Penny sighed and turned around. "I don't want to talk to you. Not after what you did." River thought carefully for a moment, "Does this have something to do with Chiara?" Penny rolled her eyes. "Yes. You said some mean things to her and you really hurt her. Whenever she isn't in class or at meals, she's off in some empty class crying." River sighed, "I didn't say anything mean to her." Penny looked at him suspiciously for a moment. "Then what did you say to her?" River blushed and said, "Look, this isn't the way I wanted you to find out, but it looks like it's going to be." Penny walked closer to him. "Find out what?" River scratched the back of his head. "I… I fancy you, Penny. I'm sorry it had to be this way, but I really do like you. The reason Chiara was hurt, was because I asked her for advice on how to ask you out. I never had a clue that she fancied me." Penny blinked for a moment and River started to walk away. "Where are you going?" River turned and walked backwards. "I need to go find Chiara. I need to apologize." Penny nodded. "Not a bad idea. Last I heard, she was in the Hospital wing, helping the other students." River nodded and jogged down the hall. When he arrived at the Hospital wing, she wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Madam Pomfrey, do you know where Chiara went?" Madam Pomfrey turned to him and said, "No, I'm sorry dear. She left a few minutes ago. Now shoo! I have students that need healing." River left the wing and sighed. "Where on this green earth could she be?"
Later that night, River was still looking for her. River was sitting on a bench in the halls, somewhere on the third floor. River sighed and he heard a voice beside him say, "What seems to be the problem, Mr. Knotts?" River turned wildly and saw the crooked nose and half-moon spectacles of Professor Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore, sir! Sorry, I was lost in my own thoughts." Dumbledore smiled and sat next to him. "Something I too often experience." Dumbledore started to twiddle his thumbs and they sat in silence for a little bit. "Aren't you going to ask what's wrong, sir?" Dumbledore continued to twiddle his thumbs and said, "Only if you want to tell me." River tapped his foot. "Do you know what's wrong?" Dumbledore smiled and leaned in. "I can hazard a guess." River sighed. "A week or two ago, I hurt Chiara. She fancied me, I didn't know and I asked for her advice on how to ask Penny out. Now she's avoiding me and I want to talk to her and apologize." Dumbledore chuckled. "Ah, young love. Often confusing and has more strings then a rope. When a friendship is in trouble, one will often go to the root of the friendship." River blinked, then stood up. "Yeah. Yeah, I reckon you're right. Thank you Professor!" Dumbledore nodded and River started to make his way to the courtyard.
As he came to the door, he saw Chiara sitting on the edge of the fountain, a Gobstone ball in her hand. The courtyard was covered in snow, and she wasn't wearing a coat. River started to go forward, but stopped. He turned into a dog and then walked into the courtyard. He didn't know why he did it, but he did. Chiara looked up and saw River. She didn't say anything as River walked up to her and sat next to her on the edge of the fountain. He turned back and said, "I've been trying to talk to you for a while now." She still didn't say anything, she just bounced the ball in her hand. River pulled his wand out and flicked it, conjuring a winter cloak for her. He draped it over her shoulders and she pulled it closer across her chest. "Do you remember this spot? It's where we first played Gobstones, just before the full moon." Chiara stiffened, but River continued. "You said it was the most fun you had before a full moon. The next morning, I went to give you your picture of the Hogwarts sunrise, and you said it was the first time you could call someone 'friend.'" Chiara sighed and let the ball roll out of her hand. "Chiara, you are a wonderful person, with many wonderful qualities that I wish I had. And you're a very beautiful girl, Chiara. I truly do care for you, and I'm sorry if I hurt you." Chiara looked up at River and there were tears in her eyes. River leaned forward and, without meaning to, without planning to, he kissed her. When they pulled apart, River sighed. "I never meant to hurt you, Chiara. And you've always been on the side as a friend, and I never gave you the attention you deserve. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" Chiara smiled and put her arms around his neck. "Let me check that." She kissed him again and said, "Yes. I think I can." River smirked and stood up, his hand in hers. "So. The celestial ball is coming up. Do you want to go to the dance with me?" Chiara smiled. "I thought you'd never ask." River smirked and they walked to the common room together. When they got there, Chiara said goodnight to him and went into her dorm. River was about to go to his, when he heard the door open behind him.
River turned and saw Penny come in the common room. "Hey Riv. You find Chiara yet?" River nodded. "Yeah, I did. I apologized to her and we fixed our friendship." Penny nodded. "That's good." River scratched the back of his head and said, "Listen, Penny, can I talk to you about my feelings for you?" Penny nodded. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about, too." River sighed. "It's fine if you don't fancy me. I understand if you see me as a brother-" Penny cut across him and said, "I do fancy you, River. I have for a while now, I just didn't think you would be interested in me." River blinked. "Wow. Um, okay. Can I get back to you on this? I need some time to… think." Penny nodded and went into her dorm. River sat down on the couch and sighed. "That went to plan," he said to himself sarcastically. "Now I'm in love with two girls. How the bloody hell am I supposed to choose?"
