Hamlet's POV

I watched Ophelia apply a final coat of makeup. She made a face at me. "How do I look?"

"Perfect," I said, even though she looked the exact same as she always did. I tried not to think about where she was going and who is she was going with.

She smiled. "Thanks, Hamlet."

"Where are you guys meeting?" I asked as casually as possible. What was I doing?

"By the lake. Walk with me?"

"Of course, my Lady" I agreed, taking her arm elbows, "I shall take you to your prince." ignoring my mind screaming angry disapproval and threatening warnings.

We walked in silence down Ravenclaw Tower towards the castle grounds. I tried to ignore the raging argument going on in my head.

This is such a bad idea!

Don't be ridiculous… I'm just walking with my friend who happens to be going to a date.

Really? Cause it seems like you're trying to torture yourself with jealousy.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Or who I'm talking about?

We're just friends.

Yeah right.

"Hamlet? Hamlet? Helloooo… Is anyone home in there?" A familiar voice jerked me back to reality.

"Horatio!" I gasped. My mind went into overdrive. All I could see was his face, his eyes, his lips. I could see the gap between his front teeth as they peered out of his lips which curved into a perfect crescent. And his eyes… his eyes melted into mine like chocolate fondue. I felt myself deflating like an unwhisked souffle.

"I should go," I stammered, and half-walked, half-ran away on stumbling legs.

I managed to make it to the dormitories, where I stood with my back to the door breathing heavily. What was wrong with me? I took a deep breath. This was ridiculous. I was probably just tired from staying up to research uses of the Draught of Living Death. Speaking of, I really needed to work on that Potions essay. I relaxed. This was just what I needed. A few hours boring myself to death with the properties of moonstone to distract myself from these crazy thoughts. I grabbed my bag and headed to the library.

Miss Escrue gave me a severe look as I sat down, dumping pens, parchment, textbooks all over the desk. I pulled out a blank sheet of parchment and titled it "Moonstone: Properties and Uses" and began leafing through my Potions textbook. Okay, moonstones. Apparently they are a key ingredient in the Draught of Peace. I wrote down "Draught of Peace". Look at that. I was being so productive. I read some more. "Moonstones are also useful in the manufacture of love potions." Well. That was interesting. I idly wondered about the limitations of love potions. Like, do they work on anyone? What if loving someone was completely against that person's nature? Like could I make the headmistress fall in love with me? Or I don't know… Horatio? I stood up abruptly. This was useless. I was never going to get anything done in this state. I needed a break. Just a quick walk around the castle grounds and I would be good to go. After this walk, I was going to be super productive and never think about kissing Horatio again.

Feeling invigorated, I set off. The sun was just starting to set and the air felt cool on my face. I was feeling much better… until I realized where I was going. Apparently involuntarily, my feet were taking me towards the lake... The lake where Ophelia and Horatio were probably having the time of their lives right now.

What are you doing!? my brain screamed. I slowed down but I couldn't seem to stop. My feet continued their purposeful journey towards that fateful place. I sat down suddenly under a huge oak tree in an effort to stop. My entire body was shaking. I leaned against the tree breathing heavily. What was wrong with me?

In the distance I could see a couple sitting by the lake. I wondered if it was Horatio and Ophelia. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his perfectly shaped lips, his intoxicating eyes… But they weren't mine. Those lips were meant to brush over someone else's skin, those eyes to burn holes into someone else's face. Horatio belonged to someone else. Not just someone else. My best friend. I stood up abruptly and started back towards the castle, running as fast and far as I could.