"I cannot believe this," I said incredulously. Both Donna and Ginny, as usual, were seated beside me at the Great Hall. Unfortunately for us, the usual plain walls accentuated by its golden sheen from the flickering candles were now stripped off itself to be replaced by lurid pink flowers. Heart shaped confetti fell from the pale blue ceiling, making the hall seem like a ridiculous play room for young kids.

Donna grimaced. "Ugh, and look at Lockhart." I swept my appalled gaze over to the teacher, instantly regretting it. Before seeing his dress choice, I had thought the hall itself was agony to look at; but maybe not. Lockhart was dressed in equally lurid pink robes, his arms waving wildly for attention.

"Happy Valentine's day!" Lockhart beamed at the differentiated faces of students: there were some with excitement matching Lockhart's, some looking bored, and others who were disgusted. And I can tell you, Draco was one of them. As if he sensed me staring over at him, he turned sharply and shot a glare at me. I tried to stifle a laugh as Pansy sidled right next to him, cooing and sighing all over him, making Draco's frown deepen.

"—And lastly, please do welcome my friendly, card-carrying cupids! They'll be sending an assortment of cards during lessons today. And the fun doesn't stop here! Why don't you ask one of our fellow teachers to make you a love potion—" he glanced at Snape "—or some lovely love charms you could learn from our own Professor Flitwick!" Both teachers held similar expressions of distaste.

Ginny looked over at both Donna and I. She looked around nervously before saying, "Please don't make fun of me." She gulped. "I may or may not have written a card to someone."

"What?" I yelled in shock.

Ginny stepped on my foot (quite hardly as well), and shot a menacing look at me. "Keep quiet, Briar! It's a secret!" she hissed.

Donna stared at Ginny, amused. "Never thought you'd have been brave enough, Ginny. Finally got the guts to admit your oh-so-undying love towards our very own black haired boy!" She teased, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

Ginny gave us both one last glare before getting up. "Both of you better not tell anyone about this!" She clutched her books for her first lesson nervously. "Wish me luck!"

Donna and I gave her some quick "Good luck's" before we too ventured off towards our first lesson: Potions.

***

It was just after lunch now, and both Ginny and I were walking down the corridor to head towards our dreaded DADA lesson with the overly cheerful Professor Lockhart. Though we were mildly grateful for his unintended help in our ploy to catch Percy, it had quickly vanished upon the morning that had greeted us. And I thought he couldn't get any stranger.

Just as we reached the classroom, I felt Ginny start to quiver beside me. Looking down at her, I noticed a fearful expression creeping up onto her face. "Oh gosh! Please say that's not what I think it is!" she whispered with terror.

"Oy! You, 'Arry Potter!" one of Lockhart's cupids danced its way towards him, through the thick queue of our class, and other first years as well. I watched as Harry stumbled over towards us, trying in vain to get free from the cupid. Unfortunately for him, it didn't go as planned.

"I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person!"

Oh dear. This wasn't going to end well, with Harry's furious attempts at running free from the cupid's grasp. I glanced nervously down at Ginny. "Let's go!" I whispered urgently, knowing what was yet to happen. I grasped hold of her arm and began pulling her through the suffocating tube of students. But she wouldn't budge. It seemed as if she was frozen in fear, her stare transfixed on Harry.

Suddenly, partially due to the cupid's strong hold of Harry's bag and partially due to Harry's own struggle, his bag split into two. I watched in horror as the equipment fell out of his bag, one by one: his wand, books, parchment and quill spilled onto the floor, his ink bottle smashing in the process.

Ginny stiffend beside me, but my continous attempts to make her move weren't working. I sighed as I loosend my grip. "What's going on here?" drawled a familiar cold voice, that I was all too accustomed to.

I breathed rapidly, as another figure emerged right behind Draco, and realised that it was Percy.

It seemed as if the next few events had all blurred into one huge mess: the blasted cupid singing out Ginny's song, Malfoy tauntingly holding up Ginny's diary, Percy trying to stop the whole disaster and finally, the worst of them all, Ginny's defeated face. Her terrified expression lingered on the diary, before Harry hastily packed it into his bag alongside his other fallen equipment. Fortunately for him, and Ginny, the roars of laughter also died away as the students began heading into their classrooms. I nudged Ginny slightly. "Come on, let's get to class."

She nodded feebly, allowing me to drag her slowly across the looming classroom. Just as we reached the door, Malfoy came over to us. "I don't think Potter liked your Valentine much!"

I leaned over to snide a remark back at him, but he was too speedy for me. He quickly side stepped out of the way and rushed along the corridor, his blonde hair swaying with every step. I gritted my teeth with frustration. It seemed that every time I had an encounter with him, it always ended with him winning in some way. Sighing, I turned back to meet Ginny, but she was no longer there. I jolted, looking around for her until I saw a red tendril of hair shift into the classroom. I could just about make out her holding her head in her hands before she drifted off towards the back of the class. Feeling regrettful that I hadn't helped her, and becoming too integrated in my own thoughts, I pushed open the door to the classroom.

***

"Why didn't you tell me any of this?" I asked astonishingly. Right now, everyone in our dorm were having a "group meeting" organised by Donna, surprisingly. She was the one who suggested it, after the proceedings of what had happened with Ginny. And I had been shocked at how much I had missed out on, not believing their feeble excuse of "forgetting."

"So now you know, Briar. Reyna and Rebecca were planning to throw the diary out on Christmas," both girls shifted uncomfortably under my scrutiny, "and so when I told Ginny, that gave her the inspiration to actually do it. Hence the disaster right now." Donna looked at me, seemingly pleased with herself. "Oh! And Hermione's got a tail! Ginny told me!"

I glanced at Ginny, who was seated at the far corner on the floor, with a bunch of cushions by her side. Her face was dipped firmly down to the floor.

"But why did it take you so long to tell me? I mean, I understand why those two wouldnt—" I pointed at the twins "—but I'd have thought either you or Ginny would have told me." I tried not to sound too whiny, but the copious amount of information had suddenly drowned me of all rational thoughts, leaving only bitter feelings behind.

"I told you, we forgot! We're sorry, okay?" Donna said.

I stood up. "I'm going to go outside. Ginny? Do you want to come with me?" I asked.

Ginny covered her face with a curtain of red. She mumbled something incoherent, which I deciphered as a 'no.' With that, I glanced around at all of them before heading down. I tried not to regret leaving them all there, with their mixed emotions, especially Ginny, but I needed some air in which to breathe, without their drama.

***

"You know Gryffindor's next match is coming up, right?" Donna whispered from behind me, her finger continously poking my shoulder.

"Yes!" I said exasperatedly. My hand flew to bat her finger away, but she was too quick. "I don't think I'd ever forget with you constantly talking about it every time the teacher turns around!" I turned my head back around to look at Flitwick, who was standing atop of a pile of books. To be honest, I still hadn't quite forgiven all of them from what had happened at the "meeting" a few days ago. Unfortunately, Donna didn't understand that. All she yappered on about was how she was going to become a chaser next year, or how Gryffindor was totally going to beat Hufflepuff. I mean, the latter I agreed on, but that wasn't the point.

Donna huffed, kicking her legs up. "Fine then. You go say 'Wingardium Leviosa' then." She brandished her wand, and with a quick flick and swish, levitated the feather. She looked up in shock.

"Wonderful, Miss Gushers! Wonderful. In fact, why don't you go and show the class what you did just there," Professor Flitwick squeaked out from behind us. I gritted my teeth. This lesson wasn't going anywhere. I needn't to get away from Donna for a while.

***

"Ginny, you what?"

Ginny looked down sheepishly. "I had to, though. You know what that diary is capable of, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially Harry."

"Or you don't want your secret to be let out," Donna chimed in.

I grabbed my hat and gloves quickly, pulling them on and heading towards the open door. "It doesn't matter now anyway, we should be getting ready to go to the match."

"Yes!" Donna said excitedly, shifting in excitement.

I glanced one last time around the room. "Well then, let's get going!"

Our footsteps padded across the poloshed brown floor of the Great Hall. The piercing sun glared down at us, smothering me with warmth and happiness. I dodged sideways as a group of older students walked briskly beside us, rapt in conversation. Speaking of conversation... "Ginny, does Harry know yet?"

"Probably," she said glumly, twirling a piece of her hair around her finger. "He's gone to get his broomstick now, so he'll find out even if he hasn't already."

I patted her shoulder encouragingly. "Cheer up. You did him a favour there. After all, we wouldn't want your crush to become possessed or—"

Donna halted ahead of us, causing me to crash into her. I grabbed her shoulders, steadying myself onto the ground. She pivoted on her heel and looked nervously at Ginny and I. "I need to go back to the dorm." She sighed. "I forgot the banner."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Honestly, it's just a banner. But we'll wait out here for you anyway."

I shook my head. "No, it'll be easier if we save you seats. Look at this crowd here—" I waved my hand to indicate the growing number of students shuffling their way past the doors of the Great Hall "we'll get squashed if we stay here."

Donna glanced back before nodding. "Alright then, I'll see you guys." She shot us a quick smile before rushing into the stream of students.

"We'd better get going then," Ginny said.

Outside, the benches were filled with swarming faces, painted with bunches of colours. It made it seem like there were bursts of colour sprouting out everywhere, from reds and golds to greens and silvers. I passed through the students already seated to get to our desired positions, mumbling a few 'excuse me's' and 'sorry's' in the process. I felt Ginny slump down beside me into the bench. I copied her, plopping my bag next to me for Donna. The cheers of the crowd greeted my ears as I squinted at the two approaching teams: Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Everything was going perfectly. Madama Hooch had released the balls, and both teams were getting ready. I turned to Ginny. "Donna needs to arrive soon. I don't think she'll—"

My sentence was interrupted by McGonagall's voice through what appeared to be a purple megaphone. I felt my heart slowly sink as she said the next few words. "The match has been cancelled." I sank lower into my chair as the boos and shouts chorused out of the crowd. Ginny glanced disbelievingly at me. I shrugged my shoulders in return. What was done was done.

I watched nervously as Professor McGonagall called over Harry and Ron. As Harry dismounted from his broom, I tugged on Ginny's sleeve. "Come on," I whispered, "let's go down to see what's going on." Ginny quickly scrambled off, and I grabbed my bag before dashing down towards McGonagall, who now seemed more nervous than before. I shot down as hastily as I could, Ginny streaming right behind until I was only an arm's reach away from McGonagall. I watched as she beckoned Harry and Ron to follow her. With a last burst of energy, I managed to reach her, panting and clutching my sides at a stitch. "Professor..."

McGonagall perched her glasses down, staring sympathetically down at Ginny and I. "Ah, girls. Maybe you should come too. Follow me."

Pondering at why Ginny and I were called, I looked questioningly at Ginny who gave me a similiar look of confusion. I followed McGonagall as we swivelled past the many disgruntled students, the sense of happiness and elatement completely dissipated from everyone. From behind me, I could hear Harry and Ron talking quietly.

"This will be a bit of a shock," Professor McGonagall said as she opened the door. Her voice turned more gentle as she glanced at us. "There has been another attack... another triple attack."

I felt my stomach writhe around with unease, my insides coiling around disturbingly. Professor McGonagall opened the door slowly, as if nervous for our reaction.

Ginny gasped. I searched around frantically, trying to look at the three beds laid side to side next to each other. Pushing past Ginny's frail form, I fixated my eyes upon the figure on the bed nearest to me. I gulped. As Harry and Ron shuffled towards Hermione, I felt Ginny grab my arm, as well as McGonagall's tear-filled gaze. I shook my head. "No," I whispered in disbelief. My eyes grew wide at the figure before me, her brown hair splayed across the starch white pillow, and the banner leaning crookedly against her post. She layed eerily still upon the bed, not even moving slightly with my growing footsteps. I tried not to let the tears overwhelm me as I glanced back. Next to Donna, there lay Hermione and Penelope. I stifled a sob as I watched all three girls helplessly. Out of everyone, they were the ones that least deserved to be petrified.