The following morning, the Ravenclaws were spreading the word. They had all seen Matt and Vaila leave separately for breakfast, and now that they were seated at opposite ends of the table in the Great hall, tongues were beginning to wag. By the end of breakfast, the entire school was talking about the split of Hogwarts' most perfect couple.

Vaila left the Great hall before the bell rang so she wouldn't get caught up in the crowds of people, all of whom, no doubt, would be asking her what happened. She really couldn't face talking about it – even the mention of Matt's name brought tears to her eyes. Matt. Gone. Out of her life.

She didn't have to think about him though. Didn't have to let him invade her every thought. She had class now, that would take her mind off things.

Damn. No it wouldn't. Vaila's first class of the day was Defence Against the Dark Arts taught by Professor Indreve – Matt's mum. Damn damn damn.

Vaila simply could not focus her mind in class. She knew she had her OWLs coming up, knew she had to concentrate, but there was only one subject her mind could focus on. If only she could take an OWL in the life of Matthew Indreve, she'd surely get an O no problem. But that would mean thinking about him.

Why did Matt have to look so much like his mother? For goodness sake, that could be Matt up there teaching. Just slightly more feminine. She laughed to herself. Matt was so funny when he acted camp, putting on his funny voice and making himself out to be more feminine than his mother. But then there was his true voice. His genuine, deep, husky voice that he usually reserved exclusively for her. That sexy, powerful voice he had used when he told her he loved her. That he'd never leave her. That things would be the same forever…

"Vaila!" hissed Genevieve from next to her, nudging her slightly. The whole class was looking at her, including Professor Indreve.

"Did you catch the question Vaila?" asked Professor Indreve, looking slightly concerned. Vaila was suddenly aware of a small tear sliding down the side of her face. She brushed it away angrily.

"No Professor, I'm sorry, I didn't," said Vaila, sounding slightly ashamed.

Professor Indreve turned away, and proceeded to give the class a five minute lecture on the importance of alertness and reading the question in the exam. Vaila slumped down in her seat, her face burning trying desperately not to break down in front of the whole class.

*

Both Vaila and Matt were in the common room that night, but sat at opposite sides of the room, leaving their usual space on the sofa empty again. Roberto Faunter and Mayva Nichols were about to sit in it when Luna Lovegood shooed them away, apparently under the impression that, by keeping the sofa space empty, Matt and Vaila would be more likely to get back together.  Matt snorted at this idea. He couldn't see anything that would bring them back together now.

Roberto and Mayva came over to sit with Matt instead. Matt glanced over at Vaila, who quickly turned her head away from him, and focused on his two friends.

"How're you doing Matt?" asked Mayva sympathetically. "I'm sorry this has happened, I really am, you're such a great couple."

Roberto shook his head. "I hate to say it mate, but I saw it coming," he said, causing Matt to look highly puzzled.

"You did?"

"Yeah, Roberto continued, "it was obvious. You're both so stressed; it was inevitable this would happen eventually."

Matt raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Well, I'm glad someone knew it was going to happen," he snapped slightly. "Maybe next time you ought to warn me first?"

Mayva shot Roberto a 'stop talking now if you like being male' look, and turned back to Matt. "Ignore him. We just wanted you to know we're here for you, that's all," she said with a smile. "You need good friends at a time like this, and that's what we're here for."

"What about Vaila?" asked Roberto. "We're her friends too, shouldn't we be there for her too?"

"Well, you have to admit, it was mainly her fault," said Mayva, shooting Vaila a dirty look. "She dumped him."

"Well from what I've heard, Matt lost it with her, and it's no wonder she ran off," snapped Roberto back, raising his voice. "You've just got a thing against her because she used to fancy me."

"Probably still does," Matt muttered.

"Shut up Indreve," Roberto growled, whipping his head back round to face Mayva again. "You obviously haven't got a clue what she's going through over there Mayva, so why don't you just stay in your little fantasy world where everything is as you see it."

Matt turned away. He didn't think he could bear to watch the demise of another relationship. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Roberto get to his feet.

"If Matt's so blameless in all of this," he yelled at Mayva, "maybe you should look after him. Spend all your time with him. Cause you won't be spending it with me any time soon!"

Roberto stormed out of the common room. Turning, Matt saw Vaila running after him.

"Wow, talk about over-reacting!" said Mayva brightly, although Matt could see tears forming in her eyes. He stood up and headed towards the common room exit without saying goodbye to Mayva and headed outside into the corridor, unable to get images of Vaila and Roberto together out of his mind. He wasn't jealous or anything. After all, they'd split up. They were finished, over. So why did he want to run after her, to get to her before she found Roberto?

"Because you know what'll happen if she does," said a voice inside his head.