By early May, a couple of months after the poison scare, Jacob and Ron were back to good health. It took them a while to get back to a normal routine, the first few weeks after being released from the hospital wing were a bit foggy and slow for them, the recovery process being slow and frustrating for them.

During breakfast, Jacob still found himself getting nervous to drink the cup of juice that was in front of him.

Violet picked up his cup and handed it to him. "It's alright, Jake," she assured him.

He gave her a small smile and took a sip, feeling relieved that he wasn't in danger of being poisoned anymore. "Thanks," he muttered, taking her hand.

"Did they ever figure out who did it?" Oliver asked.

Eliza shook her head. "As far as we know, not yet."

Andrew let out a scoff. "I mean, we already have our guesses as to who it was."

Oliver knew this would come up again. It was something that Andrew went on about for the last couple of months, while Oliver tended to keep quiet about the subject. Whenever it was brought up, all he could think about was Mary, and while the urge to ask her about it was strong, he couldn't bring himself to do it, not wanting to cross another line with her.

The last thing he wanted to do was add fuel to the fire.

"Until we have proof, there's not much we can say or do about it," Violet stated. "But honestly, it's been two months already. Surely, Dumbledore would've found out who it was by now."

"Maybe he's still working on it," Eliza said.

"Really, Liza? It takes two months to find out who tried to kill him?" Andrew said in an annoying tone. "The mead was for him, after all, so you'd think he'd be on the case."

"Guys, let's just not talk about it anymore, okay?" Jacob snapped, then groaned while rubbing his forehead. "I'm sorry. I still think about that night and it gives me nightmares at times."

The others shot him with apologetic looks. "Sorry, mate," Andrew said first.

"We know it's been a tough couple of months," Oliver spoke up. "Maybe it's time we just drop it and let the teachers handle it. Talking about the many theories of who did it is not helping anyone or anything regarding the incident."

"Ollie, it's obvious that Malfoy and the American are behind this again," Andrew replied harshly. "Why are you deflecting the subject entirely?"

"I've hardly said anything about the whole thing," he protested.

"Which is just as bad as not saying anything at all," Andrew retorted. "Please don't tell me you actually like the American."

"We're friends, Andy," Oliver stated. "Kind of."

Andrew rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Yeah, you've had how many conversations with her, exactly?"

"Okay, that's enough, you two," Eliza said firmly. "Arguing with each other isn't going to solve anything."

Andrew huffed a sigh, eyeing Oliver. "I still wouldn't trust her if my life depended on it."

So the five went back to eating, their chatting coming down to silence again. While things were a little tense, no one said another word, not wanting to risk any more bickering amongst each other.

To Oliver, maybe it was good that everyone was quiet now.

Just as he was about to fill his plate with some more food, he spotted the familiar face of Katie Bell walking down the aisle of tables almost in a sluggish way. He didn't blame her for it, though, given her circumstances. What made him become confused was Harry making his way towards her. With their short conversation, it didn't take much for Draco Malfoy behind them to get worried, rushing out of the Great Hall, with Harry going after him.

It seemed like Oliver wasn't the only one staring at them, because Andrew was the first to shoot up from his seat.

"Andrew!" Oliver called out to him, getting up as well.

"This is not going to end well," Eliza stated, sighing as she got up as well, followed by Jacob and Violet.

"Can't we just have a peaceful breakfast?" Jacob complained.

"I guess not," Violet mumbled.

With that, the five headed out of the Great Hall, unprepared with what they might discover.

*******

Mary was walking with Blaise when she saw Draco running out of the Great Hall.

Her smile faded, knowing that something was obviously wrong with him, judging by his pace and worried expression.

"You okay?" Blaise asked.

She looked at him and let go of his hand. "I, um...I better go check on him."

"Draco is a big boy. He doesn't need you to see if he's okay," Blaise said.

You have no idea, Blaise. "No, seriously, I should. I'll come back for breakfast." She scurried off before Blaise could protest any more about it.

She made it behind Draco, already having the feeling that someone was following her. Mary resisted the urge to spin around and hex whoever it was. Her focus was on Draco at the moment, growing concerned.

"Draco?" she called out, but he ignored her, not even glancing behind him. "Draco!"

"Go away, Mary!" he retorted.

"No, talk to me!" she shouted, quickening her pace. "Draco!"

She stayed on his tail until they reached the bathroom, where he took off his sweater vest and turned on the sink in front of him, splashing water in his face. Mary treaded slowly behind him, seeing the bags under his eyes and the distressed expression all over him.

He began to weep. "I-I just...seeing her there...it makes me wonder if she--"

"The girl with the necklace?" Mary questioned.

He nodded. "I feel terrible, Mary," he whispered. "I feel terrible for all I've done."

Mary felt her heart ache as she placed a hand on top of his. "I know. I do, too."

Their moment didn't last long when another voice chimed in from behind them. "I know what you two did," Harry stated. "You hexed Katie Bell and also poisoned Ron and William Scamander, didn't you?"

Draco and Mary shot up and spun around, eyeing Harry for a brief moment until Draco pulled out his wand and shot a spell his way.

"Draco!" Mary yelled as he moved her out of the way once Harry retaliated.

"Mary, get out of here!" he told her.

She looked at the blond before taking out her own wand. "Yeah, not happening." She began to aim towards the Gryffindor boy as he ran for cover himself. "This is not how I wanted to spend my morning."

So the three went back and forth, destroying the bathroom in the process. Their uniforms were wet, the fabric sticking to their bodies. Strands of Mary's hair were damp from the water spraying everywhere. Her heart was beating fast, adrenaline pumping through her body.

Draco got down on his hands and knees, peeking under the stalls. He quickly threw a spell under, then shooting back up on his feet. Mary went after him, but not fast enough to get beside him and help out.

"Sectumsempra!"

The blond boy fell backwards and let out a grunt, falling to the ground with a splash! It was then Mary knew something happened, judging by the blood that stained his white shirt and became a pool of red around him.

"Draco!" she shouted, gasping as she got to the ground beside him.

He cried in pain. "It hurts, Mary."

"I know, I know." She had a firm grip on her wand, but she was still unsure of what to do. Her mind began to go into a panic state, breathing fast and heavily at the injuries covering her friend's body.

"Malfoy..." Harry said.

She turned around and stood up. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"I didn't know what that spell did!" he protested.

"So why use it?!" she retorted. It then triggered in her head that she had heard this spell before.

"Hello?" the voice of Andrew called out. "Anyone in the bathroom?"

Andrew. He used this spell the night of our duel.

"Hello? Any--" Andrew stopped in his tracks at the sight of the blood, followed by his four friends. "What the--"

"Andrew, go get help," Harry told him.

Suddenly, Professor Snape appeared, staring at all of the students before observing Draco. "Go, all of you."

"But, Professor--" Mary began to say.

"Go," he repeated with a firm voice.

So the students obliged, heading out of the bathroom. Mary was the first to speak up, her angry expression coming across her face. "Nice job, Potter. You almost killed my friend."

"You've got some horrible friends, in my opinion," Andrew retorted.

"How about you stay out of this?" she snapped at Andrew. "Why are all of you here, anyway? This doesn't concern you."

"And this doesn't concern Harry, either, yet here he is," Eliza pointed out.

"You know why I followed you here. I know that you and Malfoy were behind the necklace and the mead," he said.

"That was you?" Jacob asked in shock. "I should've known, especially after our conversation at Slughorn's dinner party. I must've known too much."

"No, I didn't--"

Jacob didn't give her the chance to finish as he stormed off from the group, followed by Violet.

Harry scoffed. "You're turning into your brother, that's for sure."

"What are you talking about?" Mary scoffed.

"He was at the Burrow on Christmas Eve, along with the other Death Eaters. He ambushed us and destroyed my best friend's home."

Mary's heart dropped. "What?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, he was the one to start the fire."

The girl took a deep breath, shaking her head. "No, you're lying."

"How do you know it was him?" Oliver asked.

"Because he told me about her," Harry replied, pointing at Mary. "He also told me about his plans for Christmas night."

Her eyes widened. "Potter, don't you--"

"Andrew, he was one of the Death Eaters that murdered your family."

The tension became thicker than ever before when Andrew just about fell to the floor with the new information that was spilled. His friends gathered around him, with sad faces and comforting arms.

"You okay, Andy?" Eliza asked.

He inhaled and exhaled numerous times. "I need a moment." With that, he slowly turned around and walked off.

Eliza sighed. "I'll go with him, just so he has someone if he needs it." She was the next to leave, with only the final three standing.

Oliver could barely look at Mary in the eye. "Is Harry right? About you and Malfoy and your brother."

Mary huffed a sigh in defeat. "Yes, but it's more complicated than that--"

"How is attempted murder and actual murder complicated, Mary?" he retorted. "I really thought you were better than that, but maybe my friends were right about you."

Mary held her breath for a moment. "Oliver--"

"I've gotta go. I...I can't be around you right now." He spun on his heel and stormed off, feelings of confusion and anger taking control of him.

Betrayal. Hurt. Shocked.

He felt it all.

As he made his way down the corridor, all he could think about was Mary, and he really wished that she would just get out of his bloody head.

~~~~~~~

A/N: Well, there ya go.

Song above is The Hate Inside by Tommee Proffitt feat. Sam Tinnesz.

Comment, vote, not too much of part one left!

-A