Gerard layed across the carpet in the Hufflepuff common room near the fireplace. Mitch, the miniature badger, ran in circles near him before running forward and booping his nose against Gerard's crossed arms.

Gerard felt sad. That was the simplest way to sum up his emotions, sadness. Not every emotion needed a deep explanation or poetic description. This was simply sadness.

"Gerard?" Max sat down on the floor beside Gerard, pulling a Gryffindor scarf from around his neck. "Are you okay?"

"I'm not." Gerard sighed. He pushed himself upright and leaned against the side of the fireplace. "I'm just... Sad."

"Wanna talk?" Max asked, folding the scarf in his hands, neatly, and setting it down on the ground. He looked back at Gerard as Mitch burrowed into the scarf. "I'll listen. I don't know if I'll be able to help, but I'm here to vent to."

Gerard was silent. He didn't want to bother Max with his problem, but he knew it was better to let it out rather than let it eat him away.

"It's Frank." Gerard finally said as he sat upright. "Ever since we came back from the holiday, he's different. Before, he'd always smile or at least acknowledge me... We had something that's just suddenly gone."

"What the heck?" Max questioned, "That's strange... Did he stay over the break?"

Gerard nodded. "Yea, but other people that have stayed over Christmas didn't go through a drastic change like not wanting to be around the person you kissed just before they left..." Gerard trailed off, looking down.

"I'm sorry, Gerard." Max placed his hand on his friend's back, "Maybe he's just going through some stuff?"

"I know for a fact he is." Gerard said, remembering that conversation on the quidditch field. "It's just that... Usually he'd let me help him..." Gerard looked up, blinking away a sudden moisture from his eyes.

Max looked sympathetic. He scooted himself closer to Gerard to give him a hug. "Hey, it's okay to be upset." Max assured as Gerard held him tightly in response, "I couldn't imagine coming home to a completely different Steven than the one I left."

After a short period of comfort, Gerard pulled away from the hug. He wiped his wet eyes to try and keep tears from flowing as he smiled at Max. "How did you and Steven spend the holiday? Didn't your families get together?"

Max laughed with a nod. "Chinese food and movies."

"Nothing special for Christmas?" Gerard asked.

Max let out a soft chuckle. "Nah, we're Jewish, we don't celebrate that."

"Oh! I'm sorry for assuming." Gerard felt his cheeks heat up with embarrassment, but Max just waved away his worry.

"It's okay, Gerard. It's not something that comes up in usual conversation." Max shrugged, "I honestly don't think I've ever made it very public, anyway." He reached over to grab the scarf he had folded by his side, but cried out as Mitch shot out of the folds like a rocket.

Gerard laughed as Mitch bounded over to nuzzle against Gerard's leg. Max let himself fall backwards onto the soft carpet before bursting into his own laughter.

Gerard put his hand down, allowing Mitch to jump onto it. He did feel a bit better after talking to Max, but he was left with so many questions. Why was Frank suddenly acting like this? What had changed?.. He lifted Mitch to his eye level, examining the creature.

"I wonder if he even ever opened my gift..." Gerard whispered as Mitch nibbled his thumb. In response, the badger only looked at him before going back to his nibbling.

---

"What a game, Ravenclaw verses Gryffindor!" The student announcer's voice boomed across the quidditch field, "This is Jaime Preciado, filling in for the usually charismatic Vic Fuentes who is currently off in his own match against a Gryffindor if you know what I mean."

"Mr. Preciado!"

"Sorry, headmistress, just giving the facts."

Gerard, Patrick, and Max had seats in the front row of the Hufflepuff stands. Max and Patrick were both watching for their boyfriends on the Gryffindor team, while Gerard was there to support his brother. Originally, Gerard was thinking about skipping the game, but Mikey was having no part of that.

"It's my first match after the bludger incident!" Mikey had argued when Gerard had proposed the idea over breakfast a few days earlier, "I need my big brother's support! You can't leave me as the only Way out there."

Gerard didn't want to let his brother down. "Besides," Max had offered with a soft smile as Mikey got pulled away and into a quidditch related conversation, "it'll help take your mind off certain things for a bit."

At least that statement was proving to be accurate. Gerard cheered loudly as his brother's team marched onto the field to mount their brooms. The day was bright and clear, allowing Mikey's grin to be visible even from as far away as Gerard was.

"And Ravenclaw takes the field! Let's check who we got." Jaime went through a list of names and positions until he got to the chasers. "Flying as chasers we have: fourth year Ashley Frangipane, second year Mikey Way, and sixth year Nick Martin! Ayye Nicky, s'up?"

One of the Ravenclaw's on the field gave a quick salute to the announcer box. Mikey was beaming with pride as he got onto his broom; it made Gerard smile with a soft laugh.

"Ravenclaw's take to the sky and we have Gryffindor on the field!" Jaime announced, pausing to give the crowd time to cheer. Once it began to die down, he was right back on the mic, "We've got an exciting line up today, folks! Even after that nasty bludger hit last game, fourth year Steven Markowitz is back at it as seeker for your local lion team!"

"How hard was he hit last game?" Gerard asked, turning to his two very invested friends.

Max shook his head, "That thing had a hard on for him that day. It actually broke his leg! Madame Pomfrey nearly had a conniption."

"-Fourth year Pete Wentz rounds out the Gryffindor beaters right behind fellow fourth year, Andy Hurley!"

"Go, Pete!" Patrick exclaimed as he frantically waved a small Gryffindor flag. His cheeks reddened immediately when he caught Max and Gerard's gaze on him. "I-ah-yay, sports?" He shrugged timidly as Max wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Raise a flag to sports!" Max cheered, holding up his own Gryffindor flag.

"I feel so outnumbered here." Gerard laughed as he held up his Ravenclaw flag, "To sports!"

"The balls are being released!" Jaime declared, excitedly. "Professor Wood has released all but the golden snitch! He's getting ready and... THE GAME IS SET!"

Brooms began zipping in every which direction on the field as the crowd roared. The quaffle was immediately in Gryffindor possession but, somehow, Mikey had managed to steal it. Ashley tailed him, carefully, while Nick blocked the other team's chasers.

Gerard jumped up and down as his little brother got closer to the Gryffindor goals. He could barely hear Jaime's commentary as Ashley shot underneath Mikey, allowing him to drop the quaffle into her hands for her to make an unblocked goal.

"Incredible effort by Ravenclaw, gaining the first point!" Jaime boomed over the crowd, "They have a brilliant strategy worked out! Not just bird brains, ladies and gentlemen, but tactical bird brains."

"Mr. Preciado!" The headmistress scolded, earning a sheepish grin from the boy holding onto the enchanted microphone.

"Yes, Mikey!" Gerard threw his hands up as his brother zipped by. He could barely make out the quick thumbs up from Mikey before he was sucked back into the game.

"Ball is in Ravenclaw possession-OH MIERDA! Frangipane was tail spun by a well placed bludger from Gryffindor beater, Pete Wentz!"

"Do I cheer for Pete or feel bad for Ashley?" Patrick asked with an uncertain expression on his face as he waved his flag.

"Gryffindor has possession, but it looks like Mikey Way is working to change that!"

Mikey narrowed his eyes as he willed his broom to go faster. The Gryffindor chaser, who happened to be Josh Dun, was getting closer and closer to the Ravenclaw goal. Mikey outstretched his hand as he came up along side Josh, but the Gryffindor must of seen him coming; Josh's broom dove to the side and down, leaving Mikey to grasp empty air.

"A nice keep away by Josh Dun! You know, there are a few puns I could make in this moment, but I'm attempting to keep my fill in announcer privileges."

"Unlikely, Mr. Preciado." The headmistress said with an eye roll, but a sly smile on her lips.

The game went back and fourth for what could have been hours, or even just minutes. Points stacked up on either side as the seekers continuously fought for, and lost, the snitch.

"Hurley making a nice save before that bludger could hit Dun in the back of the head." Jaime commented as a row of spectators had to duck from the oncoming bludger, "Nearly took out a few civilians, but does that boy have an arm."

Max suddenly squealed, jumping up and pointing down. "Steven's on it! Steven's on the snitch!"

The three boys became squished against the wooden railing of the stands as everyone pushed forward to catch a glimpse of the action. Steven was shooting down towards the ground with the Ravenclaw seeker, Mike Fuentes, just on his tail. He was reaching out with narrowed eyes, focused on something the crowd couldn't see.

Jaime had caught the action as well, but his excitement translated into a rushed Spanish coverage. The headmistress tried to get his attention, but ended up simply pointing her wand at the microphone in his hands.

"-MARKOWITZ CONTINUES HIS DIVE, BRINGING US CLOSER TO MY WINNING OF A VERY LUCRATIVE WAGER-"

"Mr. Preciado!"

"He's going to hit the ground!" Max cried out, worriedly.

"Another point for Ravenclaw, scored by Mikey Way as the snitch chase continues!"

"Did he get it!?"

"How long can they really dive like that for?"

Rushed conversation buzzed as all eyes were on the seekers. Jaime had to run between commenting on that and the rest of the game, growing jumbled in names and positions. Ravenclaw continued to score as the seekers leveled out their brooms. They zigzagged across the field before shooting back up into the air.

"Ravenclaw is dominating the field, but Markowitz is just centimeters away from catching the-HE GOT IT! MARKOWITZ CATCHES THE SNITCH, EARNING GRYFFINDOR AN EXTRA ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY POINTS!"

"Did they win?" Gerard questioned, feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation. He wanted Gryffindor to win for Max and Patrick, but he also had hopes of seeing Mikey's triumphant face for a Ravenclaw win.

"The final score is... Oh man! You guys won't believe this!" Jaime began to laugh as he looked at the results. "Gryffindor ends the game with one hundred and eighty points, but Ravenclaw had one hundred and eighty five! That extra goal by Way made the difference, RAVENCLAW WINS! Unfortunately, this means I lose my bet. Son of a-"

"Mr. Preciado, I will not hesitate to revoke your announcer privileges!" The head of his house, Professor Slunghorn, spoke now, making Jaime pause.

"No bueno."

---

The usually tame Ravenclaw common room was bursting with pride after the game. Mikey was being carried around on his house mate's shoulders as they cheered, making the second year absolutely beam with pride. He was given wizard crackers, left over from Christmas, to pop over the crowd, occasionally earning quick screams when live white mice scurried from the novelty.

Gerard stood near the common room entrance where a food table was. He and a few other Hufflepuff's had brought up snacks from the kitchens for celebration of the victory.

"Next step, the house cup!" Ashley shouted, earning a loud 'wooing' of approval.

As that crowd continued to dance and pass Mikey from shoulder to shoulder, Breezy snuck through the crowd. Gerard waved to her, knowing her through Dallon and their shared classes. She smiled in response before hurrying over to him.

"Your brother is like the house hero tonight." She laughed as she found a place to stand next to Gerard, "It had to be an exciting game."

"It was!" Gerard grinned, "Didn't you go?"

Breezy shook her head. "Sports aren't exactly my forte." She reached over to the snack table and pulled a cookie from it, "Thank you for these, you really didn't have to bring them."

"No big deal." Gerard said with the wave of his hand, "We're right down by the kitchens anyway. It was the least I could do to celebrate my brother's team." As he spoke, he looked back out at the crowd to see Mikey getting held tightly while his hair was ruffled from one of his team mates. He felt his heart swell with pride for his little brother. His first year on the team and he was already making a name for himself.

"Three cheers!" One of the Ravenclaw's yelled, holding a liquorice wand up in the air. "To the chance at the cup!"

"We haven't had it since Gaskarth was team captain." Breezy commented as the rest of the room broke into cheers, "That was, what, our first and second year? He didn't play our third year because he was on his last year."

"I hear he has a great band, though." Gerard said, "They sent Frank their debut album when they released it..." Gerard trailed off. Talking about that gave him a flashback of sitting against a tree on the outskirts of the forbidden forest with Frank. He had worked all day on enchanting a muggle music player, but ended up borrowing one from Tyler. He had leaned against Gerard as they let the music fill the empty space around them... Apparently, however, that didn't matter anymore.

"How is he?" Breezy asked as she reached for another cookie, "Frank, I mean."

"Different..." Gerard sighed, looking down.

Breezy frowned. "I know what you mean. Well, it's not nearly the same situation, but Dallon's different too."

Gerard looked up at Breezy's words. He immediately thought of the conversation he had with some of the guys just before Mikey abruptly ended it. "How weird?"

"All he talks about is Brendon." She said as her eyebrows furrowed in worry, "Any conversation, if you can get one out of him, always reverts back to Brendon... We used to be able to talk about things, muggle things that made me feel like I wasn't so alone!" She expression had transformed into one of despondence as her gaze shifted to the floor.

"Hey, you're not alone." Gerard assured her, "You're never alone. If you need someone to talk to muggle things about, my common room is always open. Max and Patrick are both muggle born. My dad's a muggle! Dallon isn't the only one you have."

Breezy nodded, but her expression didn't change. "Thank you, Gerard," she spoke lowly, "I really appreciate it, but it still hurts to be so suddenly thrown on the back burner by one of your oldest friends..."

---

Dallon was asleep in the Slytherin common room with Brendon laying on top of him. As they rested, Frank was gazing dreamily at Jamia. She seemed a bit discomforted by the affection, however.

"You know, you don't have to stare..." She muttered.

"But you're impossible not to stare at..." Frank replied with a goofy grin.

"I'm tired." She said, standing up. "Goodnight, Frank."

Frank popped to his feet. He quickly leaned in and pressed his lips against Jamia's. Jamia tried to kiss back, but there was just no feeling behind it. There was no spark, no emotion, not even a tingling sensation.

"Goodnight." Frank smiled dumbly at her as a wisp of pink haze drifted quickly over his eye.

"Goodnight." Jamia forced a smile before rushing to the girls dorm. Once there, she let out a breath of air. Was this really the right thing to do?

The thought flashed over her mind just before Hayley stepped into the dorm with a frown.

"You know, you never straight out answered my question the other day." Hayley said as she walked over to her bed.

"W-what question would that be?" Jamia asked.

Hayley pulled her sweater off, revealing a shirt for some wizarding band Jamia had never had the opportunity to listen to, before looking back at Jamia. "Why Frank Iero suddenly has all eyes on you." She said, crossing her arms. "You're my friend, Jam, but something doesn't add up. He follows you like a puppy."

"Boys will be boys..." Jamia laughed, nervously. She couldn't tell Hayley about what was going on, she might report it.

"It had to have happened while I was gone, right?" Hayley pressed as she jumped onto her bed, "So sudden, especially after a presumed break up."

"Hay, come on..."

"Jam, did you use that Weasley potion on him? Beguiling bubbles or twilight moonbeams?" Hayley questioned, "I can understand a quick joke, or even a taste of what could be, but you can't keep him under influence forever."

Part of Jamia wanted to cry out with joy. Hayley didn't realize how or what potion she had used, but she did know that it was a potion. That bit made Jamia nervous. If the game was kept up too long, Hayley would surely report her.

The red head sighed. "Jam, you realize that if you keep this up, get married and all that jazz after school with him still under that influence... If you do have kids, you're condemning them to never truly feel love."

Jamia looked down. Maybe... But my family would be happy... The bitter thought stabbed at her closed mouth. "I wouldn't take it that far..." Jamia instead let out in a soft voice, "I just wanted to know."

"Well, now you know." Hayley said, biting her lip. "I won't say anything. If you promise to end it soon, I won't tell people what I know."

A thankful smile crossed over Jamia's face. "Thank you." The hands she held behind her back slowly had their fingers cross as she spoke, "I promise."