Tori and Fred hadn't spoken a word to each other ever since the Yule Ball. There was a tension in the friend group that you could cut with a butter knife. No one wanted to or knew how to take sides. Tori decided to relieve the tension by spending her time elsewhere. She didn't want her friends to take sides. She didn't want to be in this whole mess in the first place, She spent a lot of time either hiding in the library with Hermione or hanging out with Cedric.

She'd even spend some time with Ginny, who was certainly not thrilled to hear about what had happened. "I'll hex him into next week!" She'd say. Luckily, Tori was much bigger than Ginny, and was able to stop her from doing anything,

Unlike Hermione and Ron, who seemed to put everything that happened at the ball behind them, that wasn't the case for Tori and Fred. Instead, the two avoided each other like oil and water.

Snape stood in front of his students with his usual sour look on his face on a cold January morning once classes were back. But today it seemed that he had sucked on an extra sour lemon instead.

"Today we will be learning about Amortentia." He said, a grave look upon his face. "Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world. It is distinctive for its mother-of-pearl sheen, and steam rises from the potion in spirals. Amortentia smells different to each person, according to what attracts them." His voice was slow, and bored.

Tori glanced around at Angelina and the two Slytherin girls at her table. They were all staring at the pot, wondering what they would smell.

"You all will give me two parchments of the effects and the usage of this potion. None of you will take. any. of. it. Amortentia is not something to be taken lightly. And it's not to be used to make your pathetic school crushes fall in love with you."

"He's probably just bitter he's never got a girlfriend in his entire life," Angelina whispered to Tori once Snape had let them go to work. Tori stifled a laugh, covering her mouth with the tips of her fingers.

Tori didn't blame Angelina for going with Fred. She had just gone with her friend.

Angelina stepped forward, taking a sniff of the potion first. She seemed eager too, anyway. "It's old... musty... parchment... the Quidditch field grass..."

"That has a smell?" Tori whispered. Angelina rolled her eyes, taking one more whiff. "Cinnamon buns... I think that's... smoke?"

"Smoke? Like explosive smoke? Maybe you're in love with that fourth-year who's constantly blowing stuff up."

"Shut up, Tori. You go then."

Tori came to the pot slowly, sniffing the fumes a few times to get all the scent in. "I smell... cauldron cakes, a campfire, powder, and..." She trailed off as the fourth smell came to light. Tori backed away completely in shock.

"What? What's left?" Angelina asked her, looking at the potion herself. Tori shook her head. "Nothing." She said, still shaking her head. "That's it."

But she was lying. She smelled on more thing.

She smelled Fred.

✧ ✦ ✧

"No offense, Lee, but you're the last person I want to talk about my relationships with." Tori was placing her library books back, watching them float up into place. Lee had decided to come visit her on her trip. And by visit, he decided to pester her the entire time.

"What do you mean? I'm great at relationships!"

"Having a fake one with me doesn't count."

"Ouch. Fine. Maybe I'm not the relationship expert. But I was thinking—"

"Careful," Tori teased. "You might hurt yourself."

"Wow. Your jokes so funny I forgot to laugh. But in all seriousness. Something happened at that ball, okay? And Fred's miserable about it. Can you please just talk to him?"

Tori paused before letting one more book go. Fred was miserable?

She felt bad that a tiny voice in her head said good.

"It's like the fourth year all over again... except you're both choosing not to speak to each other," Lee muttered loud enough for Tori to hear. She scowled at him, placing the last of her books away.

"He was a massive git, Lee." She sighed, rummaging through her bag to make sure she had gotten everything she needed. "I'm not going to apologize when I did nothing wrong."

"Merlin's beard. You are the most stubborn person I've ever met. And I know Alicia." This time he went through his bag and pulled out a large crim colored envelope. He handed to Tori, who eyed him confused.

"Ah — don't open it here, okay? Open it later, but before tonight."

"That doesn't make any sense—"

"Open it before the day ends, Tori. Sometimes I worry I'm the smart one. And I'm holding three fake wands in my pocket. They turn into rubber frogs. Rubber frogs, Tori."

"Okay, Okay. Don't ever worry about being the smart one. And I'll open... whatever this is, later. Can you leave me alone now?"

It wasn't until later that night that Tori had remembered the envelope tucked away in her bag. Alicia and Angelina were hitting a sock back and forth for some unknown reason while Tori was seated crisscrossed on her bed. Katie was leaning against the bed, reading over her ancient runes assignment while sharing some treacle tart that Tori's Nana had sent her for Christmas.

Tori stared at it for a good minute, debating whenever she should open it. She decided she would since there was no harm in doing it. And Lee had looked pretty serious about it. The worst thing that could happen is they turn her hair pink. The envelope contained only seven more. Was this Lee's idea of a joke? Tori rolled her eyes, opening the first envelope and skimming over the first line.

"Dear Victoria,

Hi. My name is Fred Weasley.
You don't know me. I wouldn't expect you too. Out father's work together in the Ministry. I know all about your family, which I have to say, I was a bit surprised that you had been sorted into Gryffindor."

Tori couldn't believe what she was reading. This was from their first year? She skimmed the rest of the letter, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"It's weird to watch someone cry, I know. But I didn't want to say anything... that'd be creepy. You're not how'd I'd expect most people like you to act. You seemed nice at the platform, and you actually apologized..."

Tori finished the letter only to open others. They were all from Fred and Tori read every single one. It seemed, over the years Fred had written a letter on the same day. September first.

We're staring out second year...

Fourth-year...

Fifth-year, isn't that odd?

Reckon one day I'll send you these, that'd be a funny sight...

The Quidditch World Cup... O.W.L.S.... Flying dad's car.

It was like a jump back into time. Tori couldn't help but feel a smile on her face as she read and reread certain parts. After reading this year's letter, Tori eventually opened the final letter. It looked like it had been just written since some of the ink was still smearing.

You're probably wondering what the bloody hell these are.
I guess it became a habit. You know? I had something to do. Someone to write too. Sometimes I look back at them, wonder about how times were easier. Tori, I don't expect you to forgive me, I wouldn't. I've been a massive arse lately, but it's because I've had a hard time trying to tell you something. Something I've had on my mind for a long time. It's hard enough to tell you in person. So I'll write it out. And before you think this is George, it's not.

She knew that. George curled his "y" while Fred didn't. They also wrote their "e" different.

So, if miraculously, you feel the same way, please meet me in the astronomy tower by midnight. You know the way.

So here it is. The reason why I'm such a jealous prat all the time?

Tori held her breath as she read the last line.

Victoria Beatrice Silvers, I'm in love with you.

i have to go into school tomorrow
gross