The following morning, tension couldn't have been higher for Juliet. She had felt like pulling her hair out and screaming in someone's face. She tried to be as kind-natured as possible but when people couldn't help but act irritating and aggressive, she upped her game and acted the same way.

She was sitting at the Slytherin table on Sunday morning with bags under eyes and a paranoid look about her. She wasn't speaking to Martha, or anyone for that matter. Her eyes were transfixed on a spot so that she wouldn't have to look at her secret lover and burst into tears or look at her best friend who would do anything for her and have a nervous breakdown.

Last night had been one of the worst nights of Juliet's life.

"You disgust me Juliet White."

"Rita Skeeter? Why are you here? I thought you were asleep. I-I just had to speak to someone about something. It was homework." Juliet lied.

Rita raised an eyebrow. "Oh, honey, you have so much to learn about lying. You see, I can very well tell that you are lying and that you were in fact talking to Sirius Black, the Gryffindor."

"No, I wasn't."

"So you're just going to stick by the same, flimsy lie even though I've just told you that you were wrong? Pathetic."

"Excuse me?!" Juliet whispered.

"I'm only stating a fact. You think you're so perfect, being part of the famous White family whereas your family are just a bunch of cowards. You can flounce around Hogwarts all you like but know this, I know something they don't."

"And what is that?" Juliet said uneasily.

"You and Mr Black are involved. Don't even try to deny it, I saw the way you looked at him. You're completely lovestruck with that idiot." Rita smirked.

Juliet cried out and put her face in her hands, falling to her knees. "P-please don't tell anyone...I'm begging you..."

"And now you're begging for mercy, a futile attempt at best. Get up, you git!" She shrieked and pulled her up roughly by the collar.

"R-Rita...p-please..." She said, tears flooding freely down her face.

"Alright, fine. I won't tell anyone about your secret relationship but you have to cut off all ties you have with Black. If you feel like your of higher authority than me and decide to meet up more with him in secret, I will send an owl directly to your parents."

Juliet froze.

"Imagine what your parents would do if they found out about your secret relationships. What about poor Paris Lockhart?" Rita smiled maliciously.

"Fine. If that's what you want Rita, I'll never speak to Sirius again but know this, I also know your secret." Juliet retaliated.

"And that would be?"

"You're a slimy little shit who rifles through everyone's personal information and tries to find a new scoop for when you become a reporter for the Daily Prophet. Do you

think some high profile newspaper would want you to lie in every article published about some innocent people?"

"If that's what it takes." Rita said.

"You know what, you're a horrid person who sucks all the joy out of life. You make people miserable, I'm surprised your not miserable yourself."

"An intelligent girl is never bored, unlike you."

Juliet was fuming.

"I'll never speak to Sirius Black again. Is that enough proof for you?" Juliet cried out into the night.

"Perfect."

Now Juliet sat in the Great Hall torn between running over to the Ravenclaw house table and knocking Rita out and going over to Sirius and having a breakdown. Or she could just sit there and do as Rita said.

You have to cut off all ties you have with Black, she recited over and over in her head until it would make sense to her.

But it never did.

Rita was a vile piece of work and Juliet was powerless. She couldn't tell any of her friends otherwise they might tell her parents and she couldn't speak to Lily anymore because of what her idiot cousins had her call Lily. Afterwards, Juliet had regretted it and couldn't bear to face her again.

She was to cowardly. That was why.

"Juliet?" A distant voice said.

No reply.

"Juliet? Juliet, can you hear me?" Martha tried again.

"Of course I can hear you Martha, I just chose to ignore you the first time." Juliet said, eyes watery.

"Juliet, what's wrong? I know somethings up, I can tell."

"I can't tell you Martha, I can tell anyone because of my idiot of a conscience!" Juliet

cried out and ran out of the Great Hall.

Sirius Black was in a serious Quidditch debate along with James Potter and didn't realise Juliet running out of the Hall crying. Remus had his head buried in a book and Peter was too absorbed in his breakfast but someone noticed.

"You can't be thinking about going to help her!" Marlene exclaimed.

"She's upset, Mar. I saw her before with bags under her eyes and look really upset over something, I'm worried about her."

"But she-"

"Yes, I know. I know she called me that awful name but I also know that she was influenced by her friends unlike Sev who did it out of spite." Lily said.

"Well I'm not coming with you but if you feel like you need to do this then go ahead, you have my blessing." Marlene said.

"Fine." Lily sighed.

She stood up from the table and ran through the corridor to find Juliet on her own, clearly distraught. She wasn't crying but instead she was thinking about all the bad things that could happen if word got out that Juliet White was involved with Sirius Black.

"Juliet?"

She looked at her for a moment with a completely blank face then lunged at Lily to pull her into a tight hug.

"I-I'm so sorry, Lily! They made me-"

"I know, just calm down first. Need any help?"

"I need so much help, Lily, you have no idea...but first I need you to deliver a message to Sirius."

"Why do I have to do it?" Lily frowned.

"Because I mentally and physically can't."