That night, when Bhavya finally arrived into the Ravenclaw house Sixth year girls dormitory, she broke into tears.

She had been fighting back her tears all the way, but now she just couldn't hold them any longer. She was alone in the room, and even the sound of the wind whistling around the windows, which she usually found relaxing, couldn't soothe her pain tonight.

Bh: (sobs) Again I lost you, Rudra..(weeps uncontrollably) I couldn't make you love me forever..Even with the help of the love potion.

Just then her best friend Susan Brooks entered the room, and she heard what Bhavya said.

Su: You very well knew, it was not a permanent solution, Bhavya..

Bhavya had run away from the Ravenclaw table, since she couldn't see Rudra and Catherine together again. Susan had also left the dinner halfway like her, and followed Bhavya, from the Great Hall.

Susan went and sat on Bhavya's four-poster bed, and placed her arm around her shoulders. Bhavya placed her head on Susan's shoulder and sobbed softly.

Bh: You are right, Susan..it was not a permanent solution..And I think that using it on Rudra was a great mistake..He and I have been together for only two days, but I am already missing him like hell..I can't bear this pain of separation now that I have experienced the power of love, the beauty of togetherness..Before, it was so easy, to watch him from a distance and admire him..it had been such a pleasure..But after entering into a brief relationship with him, and the fear of losing him forever is gnawing my heart away..(weeps terribly)

Susan realized that it had been all her mistake, she shouldn't have supplied her with the Love potion, in the first place. Bhavya had asked for it, but still she should have refused, like a true friend.

Su: I am sorry, Bhavya..I am sorry..

But Bhavya was not in a state to ask why Susan was apologizing to her.

******************

Monday morning dawned and students were back into their school uniforms. Omkara and Gauri went down together into the Great Hall for breakfast, before going to their respective classes. The fact that Omkara being a seventh year student and Gauri only a sixth year, meant that they were going to miss each other during the lessons. Now they could meet each other only during break times till the next weekend.

Rudra was seated at the Slytherin table as usual with Catherine, when Bhavya entered the Great Hall with Susan. But today, Bhavya didn't try look at them, even once. She was not ready to take more pain and so she determinedly chose to avoid any.

But when Rudra noticed her sitting down at the Ravenclaw table, his eyes noticed the pain in her eyes, even though her face was devoid of any expressions.

After breakfast, Catherine left Rudra and went off with her fifth year classmates to attend their classes. Rudra joined his classmates (seventh years) as they all proceeded towards their 'Defence Against the Dark Arts' classroom.

******************

After the class ended, they were now walking along the corridors leading downstairs. Next they were having their Potions class, which was down in the dungeons.

When they reached the second floor corridor, Rudra heard some noise from a classroom, which no one used. He stopped and peeped inside and he was surprised to see Bhavya, surrounded by a few Seventh Year Ravenclaw boys.

Ru:(to his classmates) You guys go to the class..I will come in a few minutes..

He had understood that she was being teased by those boys, and they were not allowing her to walk away.

Bh: (close to tears) What do you want..Please allow me to go..I will be late for my next class..

One boy:(laughs) Class, Bhavya..!! I though you were more interseted in feeding Love Potions to Slytherin boys..

2nd boy: (wolf whistles) Why a Slytherin boy, while there are handsome hunks like us in your own house..We are all ready to date you, even without a love potion..(laughs sarcastically)

3rd boy:(gives him a hi-fi) Hmm..That is right, Bhavya..Come on..have a look and choose any of us..We will be ok with your decision..

All of them laughed and Bhavya began to feel tensed. One of the boys snatched her school bag, when she tried to escape.

Rudra couldn't see more of this, and he was feeling really bad seeing those boys teasing her. He walked inside.

Ru:(shouts) Hey guys..Leave her alone..!!

Bhavya was so relieved when she saw him.

Bh:(shivering) Rudra..!

The boys turned around and saw him.

First Boy : (sarcastically)Oh..! Well, well..here comes, your loverboy, Rudra..!

Ru: (looks at Bhavya) You go to your class, Bhavya..

One of the boys raised his magic wand and pointed it at Rudra. But Rudra raised his wand at him, and reacted instantaneously.

Ru: (aloud) Expelliarmus

The boy's wand flew off from his hand and fell down. Before the other three boys could attack him, Rudra pointed his wand at them and shouted the incantation, "Petrificus Totalus" at them both.

Their bodies froze like statues and they fell down with a thud.

The remaining boy, who had lost his wand, charged towards Rudra to hit him. But Rudra pushed him off and punched him hard on his face. He fell on the floor, clutching his face painfully.

Ru: Lets go, Bhavya..

He caught hold of her hand and strated to walk from there. Bhavya watched him thankfully.

Bh: Thank you for saving me...If you would not have come, I don't know..

He turned towards her with a smile, and it was then that Rudra realized that he was holding her hand.

Ru: Oops..Sorry (leaves her hand) Its ok Bhavya..Thank God, I could save you from those bullies..

Bhavya smiled with relief and nodded at him.

Ru: Come now..I will accompany you till your class..Which classroom, Bhavya..?

Bh: 'Charms' class..But no Rudra..I will manage..You will be late for your class..

Ru: Its ok Bhavya..I will manage..But I just want to be sure that you are safe..

Bh: (smiles) Ok..

Rudra couldn't understand why he was feeling so protective of her. But still he felt like teasing her a bit.

Ru: Bhavya..actually I wanted something from you..That is why I am helping you..

Bh:(surprised) Err..What..?

Ru: (turns to face her ) Gulab Jamun..(raises an eyebrow) Remember that day you fed me before the Quidditch match..(smiles naughtily)

Bh: (looks away in tension)Errr..Rudra..But..I haven't got anymore..

Ru:(wants to laugh but he suppresses the urge) Oh..Is it..? Then its ok..No problem..! I loved them so much..did you add something else in it..?

Bh:(looks at him wide eyed with shock) What..?? Nooo..!! Not at all, Rudra..

Rudra felt something in his heart, when he saw the innocent expressions on her pretty face.

Ru: (laughs slightly) I meant that they were so tasty..! But why are you in so much shock..(raises his eyebrow)

Bh: (felt foolish) Oh nothing..Thank you..! (tries to smile)

And they had reached in front of the 'Charms' classroom.

Ru: Ok..Bye..Take care Bhavya..!

Bh: Bye..Rudra..thank you so much..!

Rudra walked off with a smile on his face towards his 'Potions' classroom.

****************

Later when he met up with Catherine at lunch hour in the Great Hall,

Ru: How was your day, Cathy..?

Ca: (smiles) It was good, Rudy..? How was yours..??

Ru: Oh..Pretty boring without you, sweety..(winks)

Ca:(blushes) Rudyyy..!

He gazed along the length of the Ravenclaw table and Bhavya was nowhere to be seen. He began to feel a sense of panic, he was afraid that those boys might try and harm her again.

Catherine noticed him staring at the Ravenclaw table.

Ca:(frowns) Whom are you looking for, Rudy..?

Ru: Huh..(shakes his head) Nothing..No one at all..I was just looking around the hall.

But just then he noticed Bhavya coming into the hall. Rudra smiled a little bit and heaved a sigh of relief. Bhavya's eyes darted towards the Slytherin table and saw him looking at her. He waved his hand at her and she waved back, blushing, with a sweet smile. She then walked off and sat down at the Ravenclaw table.

Catherine saw them and her blood boiled with rage, she was afraid that Bhavya was again trying to snatch Rudy away from her. But Bhavya didn't look at them again, as she knew that he was sitting with Catherine.

Ca: What is all this, Rudy..?

Ru:(shrugs) what..?!

Ca: Why was she waving at you..?

Ru: Because I waved at her..!!

Ca: (grits her teeth) Yes..but why..? What was the need..?

Rudra didn't like the way she was questioning him. He always knew that she was a bossy type girl. But still, he kept disregarding this fact, because he knew she was the most popular girl among Slytherins, and he was happy that she was going out with him.

Ru: (frowns angrily) What do you mean by what was the need..?! We became friends in the morning..! She was in a ...

But Catherine didn't let him complete his sentence.

Ca: (hysterically) WHAT..?! Friends...!! With her..??? You forgot what she did to you, Rudra..? She...She had fed you love potion..!! And she took you away from me..!!

Ru: (rolls his eyes) So what..?!!

Ca: (shakes her head with rage) "So what"..!!! This is unbelievable..!! (rolls her eyes, angrily) You are not going to be friends with "that" girl..! I am warning you, Rudy..!! (points her finger at him)

Ru: (grabs her pointed finger and folds it down harshly) Well, if you have a problem..you are free to leave me, Catherine..(glares at her angrily) You cannot just order me around..!

Catherine couldn't believe her ears. Tears were threatening to spill from her eyes.

Ca: Fine then..!! (nods her head hysterically) I am breaking up our relationship..!

Ru: (shrugs indifferently) As you wish..!(looks away)

*********************

End of PART 7

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Love,
Naina