"You need to calm down," he insisted, holding my eyes and speaking slowly like he was trying to make me see sense. Like I was the one acting irrationally. "You've eaten nothing for days and the potion was just enough to make sure you kept strength and-" "Don't pretend you care about me!"

"Please, please," my desperation had me actually whispering under my breath. Distantly my phone rang, letting me know that my time was up. Drawing in a deep breath, I held it even as my lungs burned. Slowly, at a snail's pace, I removed my thumb to get a good look at the result. Gasping, I sighed heavily and dropped my head once more. Positive.

"I think we could be friends, Miss Hitchens." Dubiously, I repeated, "Friends?" "I believe you and I are remarkably similar." "We are not."

I watched his face from close by, hoping to see James in his features, if only to give some sort of explanation to my crush on the younger Potter brother. But I didn't see it. All I could see was Albus. Albus who was cradling my hand like he was scared to hurt me as he murmured disinfectant spells and continued to recite spells until the cut was healed and wrapped in a plaster.

"Enough talk about Ron?" I repeated incredulously, having to remind him, "You came all the way here to discuss your brother." "And we did and you told me that it wasn't anything too bad, so I think we're done now. I'll tell him not to get caught next time." "Bill -" He spoke over my protests with a charming smile, "So, what've you been up to Griffith?"

"We dated for 5 years, and you ended it all with a letter. You let me come home from an Auror mission to a bloody letter." His words quickened, finally pouring out of him as he confessed what he felt. "You didn't have it in you to at least wait until I came home, to even tell me to my face that you were leaving me. Or even why you were leaving me."

"Vell, wot answer vold you give?" No answer was better than that question. When I didn't answer him right away, he lifted his head and regarded me closely, "If the reporters asked vot relationship we shared, vot answer vold you give?"

"So, did you make a move on Teddy last night?" "You keep your damned mouth shut. You're lucky I didn't hex you for bringing him over whilst I was dressed like that." "More like undressed," he snorted, cutting up his sausages. "Oh don't look at me like that Forester, I'm sure Teddy appreciated getting flashes of your thigh beneath your bathrobe."

In my head, I could hear the question even before he asked it. I had some inkling of what it was, what he wanted to ask and why he was preparing himself for getting an answer that he didn't want. Except, when he spoke next, it was a question that I certainly didn't expect. "Do you believe in soulmates?"

"It was working – It was working until only recently so why everything is falling apart now?" "Because we used to be a team," I said simply. "It would work because we were a team and we actively tried to make sure that work didn't interfere with our family but … that's not true anymore. Not for both of us."

"I know." Dennis started in his chair, shifting to sit up straight and looking like he wanted to say something. But, before he could, I said simply, "I knew you had a crush on me. You weren't exactly subtle about it, Creevey. You were certainly far less subtle than Colin was."

Continuing to eat my breakfast, I made it halfway through my first slice of toast when Kevin decided that because I'd been given a clean bill of health, he could annoy me like he'd planning on doing. I was reaching for my orange juice when finally spoke again, "So, rumour has it, a certain ex-boyfriend was hovering at your bedside."

"I don't wish to see you again, sir," I said shorty. "If I happen to see you once more around my Kneazle, or around the children, then I will call the Aurors without asking what business you have around here."

"What a strange boy." "But he was nice," Lucia insisted. "And handsome." "He was," I agreed in a heartbeat. "Just because he was handsome doesn't mean he wasn't strange."

"Sirius also mentioned something about little feet?" "He somehow got it into his head that when he got out of Azkaban he'd come back to nieces and nephews." "Well," he started slowly, not looking as shocked or even as repulsed as I'd initially thought he would. "Do you think he would have? Had nieces and nephews by now, if we hadn't split?"

"You're blunter than you used to be." I said slowly, marvelling at how much he'd changed in the five years since he'd left Hogwarts. "A lot more blunt." "Is that a bad thing?" "No," I said after another moment's thought.

"Of course," Riddle obliged, watching as the matron moved on to visit someone one. Once we were alone again, Riddle demanded, "How did you create a shield that keeps certain people out? Unless it's just me? You didn't use your wand or recite a spell of any sort." I held my tongue and Riddle sighed. "Despite how tight-lipped you are Miss Lovegood, you're a rather fascinating witch."

"What time did you get back to our dorm?" Lainey probed. Barely a whisper, I admitted, "This morning." I peeked up at my friends from under my lashes, watching the slow smirk that slid over Eien's face and to my horror, Lainey teasingly oohed and nudged my shoe with hers. "Don't," I hissed. "I can't remember what happened last night – at all."

"I had an interview," I confessed. "I met up with one of the wandmakers I want to train under and we were discussing abroad placements." For a moment, he walked funny as if he'd missed a step in surprise. I caught his eyes, raising an eyebrow as he continued to watch me in silence. Finally shaking his head, he said, "You're going to leave?"

"So, what will you do?" I asked aloud, the sound of my voice bringing him to a halt. "What will Theseus Scamander, war hero and pride of the Auror department do when the traitor he's been searching so hard for is his wife?"