"Professor, do we have to do this?" Patrick asked with the nervous raise of his hand.

Professor Howell stood on a long platform in one of the unused classrooms on the same floor as his usual classroom. The stage was set for the fourth years to duel one another. Slytherins and Ravenclaws stood on one side, while Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors stood on the other.

"I'm not sure that we'll get to everyone, Patrick." Professor Howell said as he pointed to the nervous Hufflepuff, "This is pretty bloody dangerous and, yet, somehow surprisingly on the curriculum! Just try not to kill each other? The school nurse is a miracle worker, but even she's not that good." The professor clapped his hands together, "Who'd like to go first?"

Hands shot up almost immediately from each side. The Professor had a quick look of shock before his eyes rolled and he picked students out of the crowd. Gerard stood off to the side with Patrick, Pete, Melanie, Max, and Steven. Steven was pouting just slightly after being looked over for the first duel. Instead, the professor had chosen a petite Gryffindor girl named Sara and Kenny from Ravenclaw.

"Professor, can I forfeit?" Kenny asked with a predetermined look of defeat, "She's going to kick my ass."

"Language." Professor Howell sighed as snickering could be heard making its way through the students, "Just give it a go. Have a bit of faith in yourself."

Kenny looked unsure, but turned to face Sara. They walked up to each other and bowed.

"Why do you think I'll kick your butt?" She asked, curiously, as they straightened their posture.

"Because I saw the way you kicked Urie's ass last semester." Kenny said with a laugh.

Both students turned and took ten paces away from each other. On the step of their last pace, each began raising their wands in preparation for their spin towards one another.

"Petrificus totalus!"

"Incarcerous!"

Both spells flew from the dueler's wand tips only seconds apart. Kenny dove to the side, just barely avoiding the body bind spell and falling off the stage. Sara somehow ducked down in enough time to miss Kenny's binding spell.

"Excellent! Five points to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor!" Professor Howell exclaimed, "Winner gets an extra ten!"

"F-flipendo!" Kenny exclaimed as he almost lost his footing trying to steady himself. He aimed low, successfully hitting Sara and knocking her backwards. He hurried over to her as the students became abuzz with noise. It wasn't audible, but Kenny apologized profusely while Sara simply laughed and gave him a playful punch.

"Ten points to Ravenclaw, well done!" Professor Howell clapped, "Who's next?"

Pete jumped with the raise of his hand, waving it frantically. Patrick was holding onto his other hand, probably being the only thing that kept Pete from waving them both.

"Alright, Wentz and... Joseph, how about you?"

"Get him, Tyler!" Josh yelled from the crowd with a wide grin on his face. Pete flipped Josh off while Tyler took to the dueling platform with nervousness.

The two boys wordlessly bowed to each other before beginning the ten paces. Tyler was biting his lip a bit harder with every step, beginning to draw blood.

"Oh gosh, this is intense." Melanie spoke up, softly, grabbing hold of Gerard's arm. "Tyler has really good wand work, but Pete has the reflexes of a beater..."

On the boy's last pace, feet slid and wants were raised.

"Avis!" Tyler was the first one to shout a spell, sending birds flying from the tip of his wand. They made a beeline for Pete, causing him to duck instead of speaking his own spell.

"Stupefy!" Tyler used the distraction to hit Pete with a red beam of light, knocking him over and sending him into unconsciousness.

"Well done, Tyler. Ten points to Slytherin!" Professor Howell stepped up onto the stage, bringing out his wand. He pointed it at Pete before looking around the room. "Can anyone give me a spell for curing unconsciousness?"

A hand shot up on the Ravenclaw and Slytherin side of the room. "Rennervate, sir." Ray called out.

"Five points to Ravenclaw!" The professor nodded before looking down at Pete, "Rennervate!"

Pete's eyes snapped open. He looked around with uncertainty before pushing himself up into a sitting up position. Tyler was already back with the other Slytherins, getting a high five from Spencer.

"Welcome back, Pete." The professor said, extending his hand to help the Gryffindor up. "Go on with your group."

"I lost?" Pete questioned as he made his way off the dueling stage.

Melanie giggled as Patrick hurried over to Pete. "Guess the reflexes weren't quite on point." She said, releasing Gerard's arm.

"Guess he used it during the match the other day." Gerard added with a small laugh.

"Alright, I know you're the soft and cuddly bunch, but I need a Hufflepuff up here." The professor said, looking over at the right side of the dueling stage. "Way, what about you?"

Gerard's eyes grew wide when he was called upon. "Me, sir?"

"Yes, c'mon." The professor encouraged as he made his own way off the stage.

"Good luck, Gerard!" Melanie said, patting his back as she spoke.

"Whoever it is, take 'em out." Steven grinned.

Gerard gave a thumbs up before nervously moving away from the group. He quickly went over different spells he knew. He didn't necessarily want to use them on someone, but it seemed like he was being put in the unfortunate situation. He climbed onto the stage at the same time as his dark haired opponent, unable to catch a full glance until they were both upright and facing each other.

Frank looked emotionlessly at Gerard. Gerard froze at the sight of it. He remembered how Frank had kissed him before the break; the emotion in his eyes before Gerard had turned away. Looking at Frank now, it was almost as if those moments had never happened.

"Are you still choosing to ignore me?" Gerard whispered as he lowered his torso in a bow.

Frank rolled his eyes as he lowered into his bow. "Just forget about me." He said, locking his gaze with Gerard's.

Gerard shook his head, "But... What if I can't forget you?"

As the two boys stood upright, something strange passed over Frank's eye. Gerard's brow furrowed, but he was unable to comment on the occurrence due to the ten paces they needed to take.

They turned away from each other and began their steps. Gerard let out a breath of air, trying to push thoughts of Frank out of his mind while also trying to determine what spell to use. Even if he hurt, he didn't want to hurt Frank.

A reflection spell set in his mind as he reached his final step. He held out his wand as he spun around to face Frank, feeling his heart tear at the lack of recognition still on Frank's face.

"Levicorpus!" Frank yelled with the whip of his wand.

"Protego!" Gerard yelled in enough time that he was able to deflect Frank's spell.

Frank cried out as his legs were swiped from underneath him. He was flung, almost as if he was leaning against an invisible board, one hundred and eighty degrees. He hung upside down with his finger tips barely grazing the floor.

"Very good use of a protection charm, Gerard! Ten points to Huff-"

The professor was cut off by Frank, who didn't seem ready to give up. "Obscuro!" Frank yelled, angrily.

Gerard didn't have time to react before he was violently thrown back by the force of the blindfold hitting him. He cried out before pushing himself up and tugging at the eye covering.

"Iero! That's enough!" The professor boomed, sending the loudness of the students around the stage into a hushed whisper. "Move that wand again and I'll take points."

Gerard finally managed to pull his blindfold off. His eyes immediately sought out Frank's position, where he was still hanging upside down. His brow was furrowed in determination and his arm was extended with his wand pointed directly at Gerard.

Gerard didn't know what to do. It was over, but that wasn't Frank who was pointing the wand at him. It wasn't the Frank he had known for four years, at least.

Frank suddenly dropped to the floor. He let out a groan as his wand rolled across the stage, towards Gerard. The Hufflepuff looked down at it, still unsure of how to feel or what to do.

"Mobiliarbus."

Franks wand suddenly shot back towards it's owner. The professor's wand seemed to direct it as Frank sat up, rubbing his head. "Class dismissed. Iero, a word before you go."

Gerard slid himself off the dueling stage. He could see his friends waiting for him with worry on their faces, but he didn't go to them. He instead hurried out of the classroom and down a hall, he wasn't even entirely sure which one. He just needed to sort things out...

Meanwhile,

On the other side of the dueling stage, Hayley was glaring at Jamia. The kind of glare that, if super powered, could bare a hole through the most solid of objects. The girl knew Hayley was her friend, but even their friendship couldn't save her from the talking to she was about to get.

Immediately after exciting the class, Hayley grabbed Jamia by the collar of her robes and pulled her into another room. She pulled Jamia in front of her before releasing the collar.

"What in the bloody hell was that?" Hayley questioned.

"I didn't do nothin'." Jamia shot back, "What he did was his own choice."

"His own choice under the influence of a spell you put him under!" Hayley yelled, fists balling at her sides. "I get that you just wanted to feel something in return, Jam, but you're changing him! He actually cared about that Hufflepuff he was dueling; he wouldn't of kept going!"

"You don't know anything!" Jamia shrieked back, feeling tears wield in her eyes. "You're assuming, and you're assuming wrong!"

"You're hurting people with this, Jam. I thought you were going to stop?"

"I am, I just need time-"

"For what?" Hayley cut her off. Her cheeks were flushed from anger and her balled fists shook at her side. "What is so important that you're okay with hurting people?"

"You wouldn't understand." Jamia shook her head, "It's not just about love potion."

"Why can't you tell me!?" Hayley exclaimed, throwing her hands up into the air. "We're friends, Jam. Since first year! I don't always agree with you, but I've stayed your friend. We talked, we laughed, we cried... Why wouldn't I understand; at least let me try." She looked lost in her questions as she looked at Jamia.

Jamia felt horrible. She wanted her friend to understand, but she herself hardly understood. She just wanted to get it done with.

"I'm sorry, Hay." Jamia whispered. Before anything else could be said or done, Jamia whipped her wand out of her sleeve and pointed it at Hayley. "Stupefy!" The red beam hit Hayley, sending her to the floor. Tears flowed from Jamia's eyes as she lowered her wand and reached into her robes.

She still had a vial of the forgetfulness potion she had used on Dallon. She pulled it from the inner pockets of her robes as she lowered herself next to Hayley. She lifted the other girl's torso so that she was sitting up against Jamia. She uncorked the vial and brought it up to Hayley's mouth with a sniffle.

"I just need more time..." She whispered as she tipped it forward, allowing the potion to slide past the red head's lips. "I'm sorry..."

Jamia dropped the vial, letting more tears flow from her eyes as she held her friend tightly. This wasn't what she wanted. This wasn't what she wanted at all.

As Jamia cried silent tears, Brendon sat in the hall with Dallon. They had been amungst the last to leave the classroom where their lesson had just taken place, and they saw it as a perfect opportunity to make out uninterrupted in the hall. The plan had worked fine, until Brendon heard the girl's yelling.

He now sat on the floor of the hall, looking into Dallon's eyes with question. "Am I hurting you?.." Brendon whispered, trying to distinguish Dallon's blank gaze. "You... You love me..."

Dallon nodded, eagerly. "Forever..." He reached out to brush his fingertips down Brendon's cheek, but the Slytherin lightly pushed his hand back down.

"You love me once I gave you a muffin..." Brendon mumbled, furrowing his brow. "I... I can't remember... I felt weird..."

"I love you." Dallon said, leaning forward and connecting lips with Brendon.

Brendon accepted at first, but slowly pushed the Ravenclaw away. "I don't think you do..." He whispered, meeting his blue eyes, sadly. "I always give you something, don't I?"

Dallon tilted his head with a nod. "You give me a muffin every morning." He replied, "Or a piece of toast, or some pumpkin juice, or-"

"I always have a weird feeling before hand." Brendon said, cutting Dallon off with a soft voice. He shut his eyes, trying to picture his thought process before he saw Dallon each day. He couldn't, though. It would never arise where he needed it to. "I don't love you?" His eyes opened with the question.

"Yea, you do." A goofy smile spread to Dallon's face, "You're just yanking my chain to mess with me."

Brendon turned away from Dallon. Was he hurting people with this; the two of them? His mind drifted to Ryan. The heartbreak, the emotion, the feeling.

Feeling.

Brendon looked back at Dallon. There was no feeling visible behind Dallon's vast, blue eyes. When he was with Ryan: every emotion, every laugh, and every single tear popped behind his eyes. His eyes always revealed more than the actual boy ever would. Dallon had nothing there.

"Oh my god..." Brendon reached out, letting his fingertips just barely touch Dallon's jawline before he pulled back with a jerk. "I've been hurting people." He looked down, feeling his heart ache. "Why would I ever want to hurt people?.."

The image of Ryan catching Dallon and himself in the hall briefly flashed over Brendon's mind, bringing tears to his eyes. The pain in the Gryffindor's expression haunted him in that moment, making him wonder why he hadn't caught onto it sooner. Not just that, how many other people had he unintentionally hurt through Dallon?

"Don't cry..." Dallon spoke softly, reaching out and wiping tears from Brendon's face. "I do love you, I promise. You're my world." Dallon reached out his other hand so that he was holding Brendon's face. He flashed the Slytherin a sad smile as a barely noticeable pink haze shot over his eye.

Barely noticeable, but Brendon caught sight of it.

"Oh, Dallon." He sniffled. It wasn't real affection looking back at him. The words being so lovingly spoke to him weren't real. It was all a perfect little illusion. He could see that now. "What did I do to you?.."

"You made me love you." Dallon said, leaning forward and kissind Brendon's forehead. "You opened my eyes."

Brendon shook his head. "No, I clouded them..." He scanned over Dallon's features, trying to think of what to do. He never wanted to hurt anyone. He wasn't even fully sure how this arrangement had happened. "I'm sorry."

Dallon's expression contorted into confusion as Brendon gently brought his hands up to cover Dallon's before pulling the Ravenclaw's down away from his face. He didn't understand. His thoughts were clouded by Brendon; wasn't he making him happy?

"Tell me, braniac," Brendon smiled sadly at Dallon, "How long does a love potion take to wear off?"

Dallon blinked. "Depends on the dosage."

"How about a muffin full?"

"Somewhere between thirty six and fourth eight hours." Dallon replied with the tilt of his head, "I'll never stop loving you, though, Brendon."

Brendon bit his lip, letting his thoughts whirl. He could avoid the Ravenclaw for that period; possibly even longer since the weekend was two days away. "You were never in love with me in the first place." He finally whispered before sliding himself to the side and pushing himself to his feet. Before Dallon could react, Brendon was running away down the hall. He was completely unsure of what he was doing, but he didn't want to hurt anyone anymore.

Especially not someone he actually loved.

---

Gerard had ran to the nearest boys bathroom he could find. His emotions weren't entirely in check as he ran up to one of the sinks, meeting his reflection in the graffiti covered mirror. His face was flushed of color. A feeling of indignation was rushing over his being as he looked at his pale features.

Something was definitely wrong with Frank... But was there something wrong with Gerard as well?

Old insecurities reared their ugly heads in Gerard's mind. His pale hair was so out of place here. Who even had natural hair like this? His brother had been spared the lack of color; he could blend into a crowd. Gerard stood out.

Without a second thought, Gerard hastily pulled his wand from his robes. He brought his trembling hand up and pointed his wand at his frosty hair. He didn't say anything, he could hardly focus enough to think of a spell, but his hair began to grow out like someone squeezing play doh through a tube.

I just want to stop seeing me in the mirror.

Gerard still couldn't control his shaking when his hair stopped its growth. He pulled his wand down, but his make over wasn't finished. His wand must have heard the thought that pounded against his skull, because the color of his hair was the next thing to shift. A black spread from his roots down to the ends of his hair, changing the boy that reflected back at him in the mirror.

His eyes still held a helpless questioning behind them, but the frame of his face had changed. The longer hair left shadows on his face that weren't previously there. The bags under his eyes that had stayed relatively under control were now painfully visible. He blinked at the face that stared back at him. It was so different...

"Maybe different is what I need." He sniffled, "It's what Frank needed... If that's even Frank anymore..."

Gerard knew he had seen something off in Frank's eye, but so many other possibilities drowned it out. He was so unsure due to the hurricane that was his head at the moment. He wanted to let everything out, but he held his tongue. He didn't hurt anyone if he kept quiet, and he didn't want to hurt anyone despite how he had been hurt...