Fred probably thought she hated him.

Rook had been so alarmed at the sight of Fred's attack that she had intervened without considering what reason Fred might have for suspecting Stefan. Now, as Madame Pomfrey fussed over Stefan in the Hospital Wing, Rook couldn't help wondering about it.

"You're lucky this is an easy fix," said Madame Pomfrey, applying a mysterious paste to the fresh, purplish bruise that marred Stefan's otherwise flawless visage. "How on Earth did this happen?"

Stefan hesitated, casting a glance over at Rook. Madame Pomfrey looked over at Rook expectantly.

"Uh, there was—," said Rook.

"A mishap while practicing the Descendo charm," said Stefan quickly. "I was helping Rosemary practice, but one of the books we were practicing with fell right on my face. We really should've been more careful."

"You might try practicing with something lighter than a textbook, at the very least!" said Madame Pomfrey. "All right, you're free to go. I expect you'll be back to normal in a few minutes."

Stefan and Rook thanked her and left the Hospital Wing together. Once they reached the corridor, Stefan addressed Rook seriously.

"Rosemary, could you walk with me for a little while?"

"Of course!"

They set off together. Rook waited for Stefan to say something, assuming he wanted to talk about something in particular, but he walked beside her in silence.

"Um… Can I ask… Why didn't you tell Madame Pomfrey what happened?"

Stefan seemed to consider her question for a moment before replying. "It's not hard to understand why Weasley is so angry. Besides, I don't fancy being the one to ruin Gryffindor's chances against Slytherin. Even the Ravenclaws aren't keen on seeing Slytherin win the Cup again this year."

"Oh…"

"So I supposed you got my message earlier, about wanting to talk?"

"I did," said Rook. She had received Stefan's message from one of their Arithmancy classmates shortly after she had heard the rumor herself. Rook was sure Stefan wanted to meet to assure her that he had nothing to do with it. She'd be lying if she said she hadn't suspected him at all. Stefan had always been weird about Fred and George, and she was hoping that talking to him in person would help reveal his true intentions, whatever they may be. She hadn't expected Fred to beat her to the punch. She hadn't expected there to be a literal punch.

"I wanted to see you, after I heard the awful things people were saying," said Stefan. "I didn't want you to think I was going around telling people that."

"So… you don't know how it got started?"

"I first heard about it earlier today, through some of the other Ravenclaws. They told me they had heard it from the Slytherins. No surprise there. Tell me honestly… did you think it was me?"

"I figured the Slytherins made it up, since they were the ones who told me about it, but… I did wonder if maybe you said something to them," Rook admitted guiltily. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize. If any part of you thought I might be capable of something like that, that's my fault. I should have done more to show you what you mean to me when we were together."

"N-no, that's—It's my fault, really! I shouldn't have suspected you."

"Rosey…" Stefan continued, "I'm not upset that Weasley hit me, but I have to admit, I'm concerned."

"Concerned?"

"Concerned about you being friends with someone so volatile. Who's to say he would never lash out at you like that?"

As Stefan said this, Rook's mind involuntarily flashed back to Stefan throwing a chair across a room because she was breaking up with him. His words came off as hypocritical in this light, but Rook made a conscious effort to curb her judgment of him. He was being so understanding, all things considered, and he was speaking from a place of caring.

"I appreciate your concern," said Rook, "but you don't have to worry about that. Fred wouldn't hurt me."

"How are you so sure?"

"He just… He's not that kind of person."

"He's a violent person; I think we can agree on that."

Rook came to a stop, fidgeting nervously. It didn't feel right, arguing on Fred's behalf after what had happened, but agreeing with Stefan felt outright wrong. Fred was not a "violent person," not in the way Stefan was implying. Unsure what to say in response, Rook let a long pause stretch between them.

Stefan sighed. "I'm not trying to put you on the spot here, Rosemary," he said. "But I think you should know that just because we broke up, that doesn't mean I've stopped caring about you."

"I care about you too."

"Rosemary, I… I know I made mistakes when we were together, but I hope you understand it was because I love you. I still love you, so please think about what I said."

"What you…?"

"About Weasley," Stefan clarified. "You probably just think I'm jealous, but I've known them longer than you have. Those two have always been temperamental. I didn't say anything before because you know I prefer not to meddle in other people's business, but after today… I really think you'd be better off distancing yourself from them."

"Stefan, they're not—"

"Just think about it. That's all I'm asking."

"All right…" Rook acquiesced, he inner turmoil fast approaching critical mass. Before she knew what was happening, Stefan had pulled her into a hug. She returned his embrace, albeit awkwardly, then broke away just as awkwardly.

"I should go," said Stefan. "Just… be safe, all right?"

He left in a hurry, and Rook stood motionless as she watched him go.

What had just happened? Stefan had confessed he still had feelings for her, for one thing, but she was more preoccupied with the other thing he'd said. He had made her promise to consider distancing herself from her best friends at Hogwarts. He was so serious about it… Rook had a very hard time believing that Fred and George were a danger to her, but if Stefan had known them longer, maybe he did know something she didn't? She thought about Fred's face as he hit Stefan, and it occurred to her that she had never seen him like that. What else had she never seen…?

Before Rook could ponder it further, fast-approaching footfalls interrupted her thoughts. Fred himself was bounding along the corridor toward her, a desperate look on his face. In a panic, Rook rushed off in the other direction.

"Rook, please wait!"

"What do you want, Fred?" asked Rook, neither stopping nor turning to face him.

"Right… About what just happened; I'm really sorry, Rook!"

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to!"

"I shouldn't have done that, I know," he said. "But you didn't hear what he was saying—"

"What exactly did he say to warrant what you did?"

"Th-that is… He was talking like—like, for all he knew, someone might've s-seen something, and… I don't remember his exact words, but it was more the way he said it…"

"He's been upset about the rumor too, you know," said Rook, finally stopping to face Fred directly. "It affects him as well, this isn't all about you!"

"I know, it's just—!"

"You have always had a problem with Stefan!"

"I don't care about Spencer!" Fred said, raising his voice. "I care about you!"

"Really? You know, Stefan was nice enough not to report you, but what if he had? Do you think I'd be happy if you got kicked out of school for this?"

"Maybe you would be," said Fred. "Maybe you'd be better off."

"How could you say that?" Rook said, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "How could you say I'd want that?"

"Ah, wait! I didn't mean that you wanted—!"

"How could I be better off without you?" Rook cried, tears falling freely as she tried to hide her face in her sleeves. "You're one of my best friends!"

"Er… Rook, it's okay," said Fred. "I'll apologize to Stefan. I mean, that's what you want, so I should."

Rook wiped her face with her sleeve and kept her face hidden in her hands, embarrassed by her outburst.

"I'm sorry," she said in a muffled voice.

"No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say you'd want me gone, I just meant… I always do the wrong thing. Since the night we first met we've been at odds, haven't we?"

"I thought you didn't like me," said Rook, lowering her hands.

"I thought you didn't like me," Fred admitted. "I was really worried about it, actually. I really, really wanted you to like me."

"I did like you. I told you as much, didn't I?"

"I remember. I can be stubborn, I know it. I should have just admitted that I cared what you thought about me. And… I should probably also tell you that I—"

"Fred?"

Angelina stood a short way away from Fred and Rook. She walked toward them in long strides, a look of mild annoyance on her face.

"Hello there, Angelina," Fred greeted her in a tone noticeably more casual than it had been moments ago. "Do you need something?"

"Yes, actually. George has been looking for you all over the place!"

"Right, well… where is he? I'll go find him now."

"Try the common room. I told him I'd send you there if I saw you."

"Wait!" Rook called after Fred, who was already rushing off. "What were you going to say?"

"It's not important!" Fred shouted back.

"And where have you been all day?" Angelina asked Rook once Fred was out of earshot. "You haven't been in hiding because of this stupid gossip, have you?"

Rook shook her head.

"Good. You know none of the Gryffindors actually believe it, and we don't mind setting anyone else right."

"Thank you for that... I just can't stop feeling like this is all my fault."

"How could it be? You didn't do the things they're saying."

Rook hung her head slightly. She thought about last night, on the Quidditch pitch. No, she hadn't done the things they were saying, but she did have feelings for George when she was still with Stefan, and she did kiss George.

"I don't know what you're thinking, but I also know there's no way this is your fault," Angelina spoke firmly. "So stop looking so guilty, will you? Besides, the gossip won't last. We've got the final match of the season and exams around the corner. Everyone will forget about all this soon enough."

"Thank you, Angelina."

"Don't know why you're thanking me. I'm only saying what I think, which happens to be objective fact. But you're welcome."

Rook smiled gratefully.

"Speaking of exams, I need to go back to the common room and finish my homework. The professors always assign so much over the Easter Holidays, it's criminal that they can call it a holiday at all."

"Is it all right if I go with you?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course it is!"

Back in the Gryffindor common room, Rook quickly noticed that neither Fred nor George were present. She hoped they had found one another.

Rook hadn't seen George all day. She hadn't planned on avoiding him the entire day, at least not initially. She had just wanted to mentally prepare herself before she faced him again. Then a group of Slytherins cornered her in the Great Hall to tell her why her relationship with Stefan had ended.

She knew no amount of preparation could steel her for her next encounter with George. He had kissed her, had obviously regretted it, and now all these people were saying they were more than just friends. Would George even want to be seen with her under these circumstances?

Her answer came sooner than expected. Rook had settled in next to Angelina, and they were working on homework together when George returned to the common room less than an hour later.

"Did Fred find you?" Angelina asked. "He didn't do anything stupid, did he?"

"Nothing I wouldn't have done," said George, walking over to them but not sitting down.

"That's not saying much."

"Everything's fine, Angelina," said George. "Rook, could you come with me? I forgot my bag in the library, and Madame Pince is a lot nicer to you."

"Okay," said Rook nervously. She got up and followed George from the room, frantically trying to figure out what she should say.

"I didn't actually leave my bag in the library," said George, once they were alone. "Sorry. I just thought I should explain about last night."

"You don't need to explain," said Rook, mainly because she didn't know if she wanted to hear George's explanation.

"I do. First of all, I shouldn't have just done something like that without asking. I think I had it in my head that you wanted me to do it, but that's not—"

"I did," said Rook, surprising herself.

"Oh…"

They had stopped in the middle of an empty corridor. George was redder than Rook had ever seen him. They couldn't seem to maintain eye-contact, but kept stealing glances at one another.

"All the same, I shouldn't have assumed," George went on. "And about how I acted after… That was because I thought that maybe I was overwhelming you. I know there's a lot going on right now, so I didn't intend to complicate things any more. I just got carried away."

Did this mean that George did like her? Before Rook could work up the nerve to ask, George had continued.

"Fred told me what happened with Spencer," he said. "I know you're upset with him, so I feel like I should tell you I would have done the same."

"What?" asked Rook, taken off guard by the abrupt change of subject.

"If Spencer said that to me, I would have hit him myself," said George. "I just feel like I should tell you, so you can be angry with me too, if you like."

"What did Stefan say?"

"Fred didn't tell you?"

"When I asked, Fred told me he couldn't remember Stefan's exact words."

"Ah… He didn't tell you because he was worried about how you'd feel. Rook, Spencer implied that he thought the rumor might be true. That's why Fred lost his temper."

"What?" Rook thought back to Fred's words. Someone might've seen something… Had Stefan told Fred that someone might've seen it happen? Her cheating on Stefan with Fred and George? "How could he say that?"

"I doubt Spencer said it because he actually believes it. From what Fred told me, it seems as though Spencer was just trying to bait him."

Rook wasn't sure if that made it better.

"When I saw them fighting, Fred said Stefan started the rumor, but Stefan denied it," said Rook. "Did Fred tell you why he thought that?"

"He told me one of the Slytherins told him," said George. "He admitted that it wasn't the most reliable source, but he swears he wasn't trying to start a fight. He said he just happened to run into Spencer."

"Do you know which Slytherin it was?"

"He said Selwyn told him."

"Madeline Selwyn?"

"Yes. You met her on the Hogwarts Express, right?"

"I did," said Rook absently. "I'm sorry, I have to go."

Rook didn't wait for a reply before taking off along the corridor. Her mind raced as her feet led her along. If it was all true… if Madeline had heard Stefan start the rumor, and Stefan had lied to her about it… Stefan never liked Fred and George, and the feeling was mutual. There was only one impartial person in all of this, and Rook had to find her.

"I thought I might be seeing you soon," said Madeline, when Rook finally found her. "Wow, you're really sweaty."

"I was… trying to… find you," Rook panted, clutching a stitch in her side. She had been searching everywhere she could think of for Madeline, running up and down flights of stairs in her desperation. Eventually she found Madeline in one of the smaller study rooms off the library, occupied by only one other student on the far side of the room. Rook sank into the chair beside the Slytherin girl, trying to catch her breath.

"Did he tell you?" asked Madeline.

"Is it true?"

"What do you mean? Of course it's true."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I doubted you, it's just… how do you know?"

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

"The rumor. What else?"

"Er, nothing else. That's what I was talking about too. I, er… What did you want to know?"

"How do you know Stefan started it?"

"You know he and Robert are mates, right?" said Madeline soberly. "I was with Robert when Stefan told him. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Stefan was saying you confessed to him that… well, you've heard it. He said he ditched you right then. Of course, Stefan doesn't know that we're mates, so he didn't think twice about me overhearing. Me and Robert got into a row about it afterwards. He said some things about you and, I dunno… I didn't like it."

"So… we are friends?"

"I'm afraid so."

"But you and Robert! What happened?"

"We broke up."

"You broke up because of me? Oh, I'm so sorry, Maddy!"

"Excuse you?"

"Well, if we're best friends now, we need best friend nicknames. Or do you prefer Mads?"

"Do you think I won't murder you just because there's a witness? You don't know me as well as I thought you did."

"Madeline it is," said Rook quickly. "Seriously, I'm sorry."

"Don't flatter yourself, all right? Robert and I broke up because he's wanker, and I'm honestly a moron for not ending it sooner."

"Don't say that! You're not the only person who's ever been fooled by some jerk. I dated Stefan, didn't I?"

"They deserve each other, don't they? So what are you going to do?"

"Fred!" Rook exclaimed. She had told him off, but he had been right about Stefan from the beginning. He deserved to know the truth.

"Right away, hm? Well, I'm not judging."

"I need to find him!"

"Right. I mean, you won't get very far if you don't even know where he is."

"I'll see you later, Mads!" said Rook before rushing off.

"Hey, I'll kill you and this second year if I have to!" Madeline shouted after Rook, causing the Hufflepuff boy to look up from his potions book in alarm. Rook made a face at Madeline before disappearing around the doorframe.