Frank sat on the edge of the lake, watching the giant squid trail a tentacle along the surface of the water. It had been a week since the incident in the forest. The school year was continuing on, but exams had been canceled and parents had been permitted to pull their children out early.

Frank had declined the offer when he received the question from his parents.

He needed time to process all that had happened to him. From the love potion, to the blank space in his memory between standing in the forest after Jamia told him to wait and waking up on the forest floor near her lifeless body...

Frank brought his knees close to his chest. The enchantment was easily lifted from the castle by Professor Howell, but he had taken a leave once things had began to calm. It seemed that he had been under the imperious curse for awhile, and it had taken a toll.

Not that Jamia's mother had cared.

The woman had been taken to Azkaban for the murder of her child, as well as, several accounts of unforgivable curses. She didn't care though. She had just wanted back in the forest once she had woke up.

"I dropped it!" She had exclaimed, "I lost it! He spoke to me, I need it back!"

Frank shut his eyes, tightly. He had heard one of the older wizards call her rambles something along the lines of "devotion of a death eater he hasn't seen since the war."

The way Jamia had made it sound, the woman was still stuck in the war. She had killed her daughter. She may have killed her son for being a squib in a pure blood family, but Frank never received full confirmation from Jamia before...

"Frank?"

The voice that called out to him was so tender and soft, matching the touch that was placed on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and turned his head.

Melanie stood there, offering a sad smile. The blond half of her hair was a faded blue, boarder lining gray. Spencer stood a few feet away, looking down at the dirt that he was kicking with the tip of his shoe.

"Are you okay?" Melanie asked, kneeling down next to him.

Frank just looked at her. He wasn't sure. He was feeling so many things that lead him off to conflicting thoughts that he just wasn't sure. How should he feel after being out of his mind for so long through love potions and a short time under the imperious curse? There were reasons why they'd happened, but he had never asked to be in the middle of it all.

Melanie looked down with a nod. "Do you want to come inside, at least?" She offered, bringing her head back up to look at him. "It's nearly lunch time."

Frank didn't respond again. He wasn't hungry. Every time he looked at food, he felt his stomach churn.

"C'mon, mate." Spencer had walked over. He didn't offer a smile, but there was simpathy in his eyes. "The weather's turning out here anyway."

Spencer was right. Dark clouds had been creeping into the skyline for ages, and the distant drum of thunder was growing louder with each beat. The sky would soon break, letting the rain loose in all its fury.

Frank nodded, letting Melanie hook his arm in hers and guide him to his feet. She kept their arms hooked as they walked towards the castle while her other hand rested in Spencer's. They walked in silence, which Frank was thankful for. He didn't want to fill the air with meaningless conversation or attempted breakthroughs right now.

As they crossed the threshold into the castle, rain drops began to fall behind them. Frank turned in just enough time to watch a bolt of lightning crackle across the sky.

"Just in time." Spencer mumbled as he and Melanie turned to observe the sky as well.

"Some tea would be lovely in weather like this." Melanie smiled, nudging Frank and Spencer's side, one after the other. "My treat."

Frank let himself be lead towards the great hall again. He actually wanted this direction, unlike the direction he had been forced into for months. It sucked to act without realizing who you were hurting... It sucked to not be himself.

When they reached the great hall, it was surprisingly empty. So many students had been pulled out after the incident, it shouldn't be surprising. The few students that were left sat scattered alone or huddled in groups. Much like at Christmas, house tables didn't seem to be a restriction. Melanie and Spencer lead Frank to a group consisting of Brendon, Ryan, Patrick, and Pete. He believed the group was sat at the Ravenclaw table, just because of how many small groups with blue crests on their robes sat there, but he didn't put in the full effort to care.

"Hey, guys." Melanie spoke with cheer, as she did, guiding Frank to a seat. "We brought Frank."

Frank sat down, looking around the table as Melanie slid into a seat by Spencer. Brendon and Ryan sat next to each other. There was a space between them, but Ryan allowed Brendon's hand to rest on top of his. Patrick and Pete, on the other hand, were very close. Patrick was leaning against Pete as he poked at a piece of toast that sat on the plate in front of him.

"Haven't seen you long enough to ask how you've been." Brendon nodded towards Frank.

Frank nodded.

"You're still breathing." Patrick offered, "You and Gerard and Mikey..." Patrick bit his lip.

Gerard and Mikey. Both boys had been transferred to St. Mungo's after the incident. No other word had been given about their condition...

Thinking about it made Frank force his emotions back to keep from showing them to the group around him.

"Be honest, Frank." Brendon spoke up again with determination in his expression, "She tricked me too. I should have fought stronger against it, but it was so easy to fall under the spell..."

"Were you stuck like glue thanks to a love potion?" Frank asked, turning his attention to his fellow Slytherin.

Brendon hesitated before shaking his head. "She made me think it was right to use it on someone else..." His hand pulled away from Ryan's with the quiet admittance. "I eventually saw through it..." His eyes flickered towards Ryan before they were cast down to his lap, "but, by then, the damage was done."

Ryan turned to look down the table, drawing Frank's gaze in the same direction. Three Ravenclaws sat together. It took a moment for Frank to register their names: Dallon, Breezy, and Kenny. The three seemed to be deep in discussion, but not in a sad way. They would break into grins and short breaks of soft laughter.

"You know what I mean."

Frank turned to see that Brendon had been addressing Ryan with apologetic eyes.

The Gryffindor shrugged. "I know."

"Heard McGonagall is set to come back today." Pete chimed in, "Possibly some students as well."

Frank looked down. What did it matter? So the headmistress would be back. The students would probably end up getting shipped home, rather than here. He still wouldn't get to explain himself to Gerard...

"Wish we could celebrate with a butterbeer." Pete added with a pout.

"Maybe we can get a house elf to make us some." Patrick suggested, "Bitsy is always helpful in times of food need."

"Oh! I'm sure Bitsy would love a visit!" Melanie exclaimed, "Give her a hello for me, Patrick."

"She'll only ask for you if you don't come." Patrick smiled with a soft laugh, "You and Spencer might as well join us."

Frank put his head in his hands. How could they be so casual after all that happened? How could they act so normal?

"Frank?"

Frank ignored the concerned voice and pushed himself up from the table. He needed space. He needed quiet away from the normality the others were trying to put around the conversation.

He left before anyone else could get up.

It felt easier to breathe outside of the great hall. It wasn't okay; he wasn't okay. Making it overly normal was too much to handle on top of everything else.

Frank leaned against the cool, stone wall outside of the great hall. Maybe he should as to go home. The quidditch season had passed, so his father would be home. They could be a family... They could cope together over what had happened...

"Mr. Iero."

Frank turned towards the school's entrance, seeing McGonagall walking towards him with the aid of a cane in her hand.

"Holding up, I hope?"

Frank nodded. "Yes, headmistress." He had never actually directly spoken to the headmistress. Even with his current state, he found her rather intimidating.

"Keep it up." She told him, "There are many ears available if you need someone to listen." With that, she continued on to the great hall.

Frank considered her words as she disappeared, turning away from the great hall. Perhaps talking to a teacher would help. It was probably better than his current, silent method of dealing with it all. He considered it, letting his foot tap against the ground until he heard a soft voice call out his name. He frozeas footsteps moved across the stone floor, coming closer to him.

"Frank?" The pale skin of a warm hand moved into his vision before resting against his cheek.

Frank inhaled a sharp breath, unable to hold back the tears that began to wield in his eyes.

"Frank, don't cry."

Frank turned his head, meeting Gerard's concerned, hazel eyes. His hair back to its original short style and white color. His cheeks were rounded and a bit rosey, presumably from being out in the rain. Water droplets ran down his nose and cheeks while his robes looked completely soaked.

The tears overflowed in Frank's own eyes. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around Gerard. He didn't care that the wetness from Gerard's robes were soaking into his own. He didn't care. He was just so happy to have the Hufflepuff here to hold, even if he had so much to explain.

"Frank!" Gerard exclaimed, wrapping his arms around the Slytherin. "Hey... I missed you."

Frank buried his face in Gerard's chest. Somehow, the scent of old flowers still clung to his robes. It almost made Frank want to cry out with laughter, but he instead just lingered in Gerard's hold. His tears mixed with the rain that had already soaked the Hufflepuff.

"It's okay, Frank."

"No, it's not!" Frank was finally able to find words to speak, "I was under the influence of a love potion for months which hurt you in ways that I can't possibly begin to apologize for. I was there as one of my classmates died. I can't even remember it. She was there one second and gone the next." He sucked in a shaky breath. "I don't know what or how to feel when she manipulated me for so long. She was still a kid. We had our problems in the past, but no one deserves..." The words caught in Frank's throat as the tears took over. He held Gerard tighter, and the Hufflepuff complied.

Gerard soothed Frank, softly. Frank could feel his hand rubbing small circles on his back while soothing words entered his ears. It felt like ages, but it couldn't have been more than a few minutes. Eventually, Frank had calmed enough that the tears ran in a faint trickle down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Gerard." He whispered, "I'm so sorry for what happened..."

"It's not your fault." Gerard replied, "They told us what happened. It wasn't too hard to put together some of the missing pieces when Mikey and I compared your behavior to Dallon's." He let out a laugh. "Mikey's a smart kid when he puts his mind to it..."

"I was still an idiot for falling for a love potion." Frank argued, pulling away from Gerard and straightening himself. "I should have figured there was something suspicious about an unmarked box of liquorice wands."

Gerard stepped towards Frank, reaching out to rest his hand against the Slytherin's cheek again. "It's okay, Frank." He insisted, "I get it. Please, stop beating yourself up about a situation that grew out of your control."

"But you got hurt!" Frank exclaimed, "It was my fault!" He shut his eyes tightly. He didn't want to cry anymore. He wanted to burn every emotion that bubbled inside of him.

"Frank..." Gerard's soft voice calmed him. He let his eyes open, taking in Gerard's features. He opened his mouth to speak, but shut it again. He didn't know what else to say. Gerard grew closer, looking over Frank's face. "I've really missed you..." He whispered.

Frank nodded. "Me too..." He whispered back just before Gerard connected their lips.

Frank melted into it. It had been so long. It felt so right. How had he ever fallen under a spell that kept him from this?..

When they pulled apart, Frank gasped as Gerard pressed their foreheads together.

"Are you okay?" Gerard asked through his own heavy breaths.

"I'm not." Frank laughed, feeling the emotions beginning to bubble again. "I don't know..."

Gerard pressed a kiss to Frank's nose. "I'll be there for you until you figure it out, and long after." He paused, "If you'll have me."

Frank nodded, furiously. "Of course I will." He wrapped his arms around Gerard and pressed his ear against Gerard's chest. The Hufflepuff's steady heartbeat brought a smile to his lips. "If you'll have me..."

Frank was met by Gerard's arms wrapping around him. "Of course I will."

So maybe, things weren't okay. Things didn't make full sense... They would get better, though. Or, at least, easier to deal with.

Frank was okay with that. He still had plenty of time at Hogwarts to learn how to cope and fall back into himself. He had that, his friends, and Gerard to look forward to... And that was okay.