The next month passed with suspension, and some difficulty for River. He has a continuous growing anxiety about the upcoming decision. He also has more and more exams and homework crushing him, as he was taking Potions, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration. He also was part of the dueling club and he also had a lot Quidditch practice. Finally, the day came when he was sitting in his dorm, reading over his essay on the Polyjuice Potion, and a knock came from his door. He stood up and opened the door. Penny was standing there, holding a tiny little bottle. "It's ready. What are you going to use it for?" River took the bottle and said, "I thought it was obvious." He put the bottle in his pocket and said, "I want you to meet me in the artifact room, please." Penny nodded and left. River sighed and said, "This is going to either end really well, or extremely badly." He made his way to the hospital wing and found Chiara helping Madam Pomfrey with a student who had broken his arm. "Brackium Emendo," Chiara waved her wand and the student's arm bent back to its proper place. "You're getting better at that spell, Chiara." Madam Pomfrey said as the student walked away. Chiara turned and said, "Oh, River! What brings you here?" River put his hands in his pockets and said, "Its time. Could you meet me in the artifact room?" Chiara turned serious and nodded. They both left and River went to the Gryffindor common room.

"Password?" The fat lady who guarded the entrance to the common room stood there impatiently. "I don't know that, I'm in Hufflepuff! I just want to see Ben; Ben Copper." She shook her head, "I can't do that." She then swung open and Charlie Weasley walked through the portrait hole. "Oh, hey River. Why are you here?" River folded his arms and said, "I need to talk to Ben." Charlie nodded and went back into the common room. The portrait closed again and River waited. Charlie came back out and said, "I don't know where he is, but he isn't here. Sorry River. What did you want to talk to him about?" River nodded. "That's fine, um, it was nothing." He turned and made his way to the owlery, where Talbott usually was. He was sitting on the window sill and turned when he saw River coming. "Why are you here?" River sighed and sat down beside him. "I'm about to take one of the hardest steps of my life, and I don't know if I am ready." Talbott sat up and said, "Tell me everything."

River filled him in on his plan. "And your using the Truth Potion, why?" River sighed. "Because I don't know myself. If I drink this, and I say who I want to date out loud, I know it's what my heart really wants." Talbott thought for a moment. "Why not try the mirror of Erised?" A dark look came over his face and River shook his head. "I turned down the opportunity to look in that thing for a reason. I don't trust it. It might show something different. Even if it didn't, I could get sucked into it or I wouldn't be able to say it out loud. No, this is the best way." Talbott sat back, "Well if you think it is, then I won't argue. You're one of the smartest and wisest people I know. I daresay more so then me." River sighed. "I have to do this." Talbott looked to the sky and said, "If you think you have to, then you should. I don't meddle with the affairs of my heart, because I don't want to hurt myself or anyone else because of it." River stood and said, "I can understand that. It's a big trouble, I know that. But it's worth it in the end." Talbott turned back to him. "How do you know that?" River shrugged. "I don't. At least, not yet. It's a leap of faith." River turned to a dog, and Talbott called him as he started to leave. "River? Something my father told me when I was younger, if you fall in love with two people, choose the second. If you truly loved the first, you wouldn't've fallen for the second." River barked and left. He made his way to the artifact room, still as a dog. He didn't want to face them as a person until he had sat down. It made it easier for him.

River pushed the door open and saw Penny and Chiara sitting on a bench against the wall. River walked in and turned back to human. He conjured a chair and sat down. "It's time we settle this. I love and care about you both, but I can only be with one of you." He pulled the bottle out and said, "You both will hear the absolute truth from me." He popped it open and drank it like a shot. He shivered and said, "Alright. How long does this thing last?" Penny thought for a moment. "About half an hour." River nodded. "Good. Now, I love both of you for various reasons. I truly do, with all my heart. I could live long and happy lives with each of you, and I would love to, but the person that I love, the girl I want to wake up to every morning, is…" And suddenly, the answer was in his head. He sighed and said, "I thought about this for a long time. I gave this more attention then I gave the cursed vaults, just not as long of time. I don't want to hurt either of you. I don't know how to say this, but I know who, so I'm just going to say it." He sighed and said, "Penny. I love Penny. She's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with." Both girls had their own reactions accordingly, and both tried to hide them. "Chiara, it's through no fault of your own. It is not you or anything you did. You are an amazing witch, a truly wonderful person. And any wizard who gets to say you're his witch, will be extremely lucky. And I'm lucky you loved me. Chiara, I know for a fact that you will find a wizard who is every bit worthy for you. I really do." Chiara nodded. "Thanks River." She was starting to cry now, and her voice was shaky. They both stood up and River hugged her. She kissed his cheek and said, "Thanks for everything. Especially for what little time we shared together." She let go of him and left the room.

As she closed the door, River rubbed his face. "That was a nightmare." Penny stood up and hugged him. "Honestly, I wasn't sure if she would hate me or not. She seemed so understanding, though." River put his arms around Penny and said, "But at least I know the truth. I love you, Penny Haywood. I truly do, and I'm sorry I didn't make a move sooner." She smiled and said, "I'm just glad that you made a move at all. I was too scared to make one myself." River smirked, "Honestly, I was pretty much forced too, but I'm glad it all turned out well. Mostly." He looked towards the door and thought of Chiara. "She'll be okay, won't she?" Penny nodded. "I think she will. She's strong, and like you said, she will find someone to love her." River sighed. "So. Now what do we do?" They started to sway and Penny said, "I don't know, but I know that we have adventures ahead of us, and we'll have fun times, as well as sad, angry and happy." River smirked. "Sounds like a tough rollercoaster. I'm in." Penny smiled and buried her head into his chest. "That's what I wanted to hear," she murmured.