December afternoon when Diana finds herself in a rare situation in which she wasn't accompanied by James Potter. She had no more classes for the rest of the day and all her homework had already been finished. She pulls out a muggle novel from her book bag and runs her palm over it, feeling the rough paperback cover. Her lips part as she reads the title, The Great Gatsby. A soft smile graces Diana's face as she absorbs the familiar atmosphere of the Hogwarts library; the murmurs from studying students, the soft scrapes of wooden chairs across the floor, the smell of old books, the sounds of turning pages and quills against parchment. She settles in her seat and opens the novel to where she had finished reading.

However, she doesn't even gets past a full paragraph when she feels a presence in front of her. Diana's eyes flick upward to a familiar tuft of blonde hair, freckled skin, and a lopsided grin that made her sick to her stomach. Her eyes dart back to the words on her novel, but she found herself unable to focus.

"Hey, Diana." The man seated in front of her spoke. Diana paid him no response, not even a nod in acknowledgement. Her eyes fly through the words on the pages, though they seemed to have lost all meaning.

"I know you can hear me." His voice was calm, but it held a tinge of annoyance. Eyebrows furrowed, he loosens the blue tie around his neck, feeling as though it was suffocating him. He inhales deeply before continuing to speak. "Look, I'm sorry that things ended terribly between us but can you at least try to be mature and listen to what I have to say."

Diana rolled her eyes at the man and continued to read; however, she had only been reading the same paragraph over and over again. Her fingers tighten at the book's edges, heart racing at the man who sat in front of her. The one who broke her heart. Carson Peters. He crosses his arms over his chest and leans back against his seat, annoyed at Diana's refusal to even look at him.

"Merlin, I don't even know why you're so angry."

Diana slams her book shut, startling Carson. She stares him down, eyes steely and unblinking, and he begins to fidget in his seat. "You broke up with me because you thought I was too boring. You didn't even have the courage to do it person. So forgive me for being a little angry."

Carson sighs, "I know, I probably should have broke up with you in person. But, come on, don't you think you're overreacting?"

"Do you even know what you did to me? You made me cut off the few friends I actually had, telling me that you were the only one that I needed. You constantly put me down. Every ounce of self esteem I had was obliterated because of you. I get it, I know I'm not the most exciting person out there, but-" Diana's words get caught in her throat, she didn't even notice the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She blinks them away as her face hardens, sending Carson a look that almost sent chills down his spine. "Just leave. And don't come near me again."

"Oh my." He said, composing himself, a smirk present on his face. "You've changed, Diana."

"Why? You liked me better when I was boring?" She snapped, an eyebrow raised at him.

"You've been hanging out with the Gryffindors way too much."

"What about it? Is it so wrong that I have people around who actually value me?"

"Your only value to them is that you're dating the infamous James Potter."

Diana's breath hitches, Carson knew he'd struck a nerve.

"Answer me this, Diana. How long do you think you and Potter will last? You're not actually one of them. They've been friends ever since they stepped into Hogwarts. How long have you been in the picture? Far less than that. When you two break up, they'll just pretend you never existed."

"And then what? I'll come running back to you?"

"He's just going to break your heart, Di."

"Like you broke mine?"

Carson rolls his eyes. "Wasn't he in love with that Evans girl for years? You really think he'd move on that quickly?"

"James is different from you. He wouldn't do that to me." Diana says, attempting to sound confident. But the falter in her voice gives her away, Carson notices and sends her a sickeningly sweet smile.

"I'm only looking out for you, Diana." He said, his voice soft and menacing as he reached out his hand to touch hers.

A switch had flipped inside her head, having heard that statement leave Carson's lips multiple times during the course of their relationship. She knew that staying there longer would only make things worse for herself. Without another word, Diana stands, harshly pushing her chair back. With trembling hands, she gathers her things and places them inside her bag. She dashes out the door as Carson sits back with a smile. Tears stream down Diana's face as she pushes past various other students. She bumps into Arabella Arroway. Diana mutters a quick apology before continuing to move further down the castle's halls.

"Diana?" Ara asks, calling after her; however, Diana was already gone from her sight. Arabella was about to run after her when she feels a hand grab onto hers.

"Ara, I need to talk to you."

Arabella was about to open her mouth to reply, when Lily Evans tugs on her coat's sleeve, leading her to their dorm room. As her friends shuts the door, Lily plops down on her bed and runs her hands through her red hair in frustration. "I may be losing my mind."

"Come on, why do you say that?" Arabella asks, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I have to tell James I like him." Lily suddenly sits up, her hair falling in front of her face in the process. "Maybe this is the only way I can live my life in peace."

Arabella sighs. "You know why you can't do that. Think of how Diana will feel."

"I don't expect anything from him, Ara. I just need him to know how-"

"Don't" Arabella cuts her off. "Lils, you are intelligent woman. This is not like you to go crazy over a boy. Maybe, this is just a phase you'll soon get over. "

"You're right. I won't tell him." Lily said after a few seconds of silence.

Arabella smiles at her friend, but she couldn't help the sinking feeling that made its way to the pit of her stomach.