We exit the house after doing a quick run through with Mrs. Scower’s Magical Mess Remover to remove all of our fingerprints. It’s not like they can trace us anyway, or that they’ll have reason to - we’re not in the Muggle database, and anyway, it doesn’t look like they were murdered. It merely appears that they all died of natural causes at the same time.

I look at the ground as we walk, not really talking.

“You still held up about the boy?” Draco asks, taking a swig of the firewhisky.
I shrug.

“Here, take this,” Draco instructs, handing over the Draught of Peace. “I’ll make you calm down some.”

I do as he says, and instantly a warm feeling sweeps from my head to my toes. I feel very, very laid-back and relaxed, and when we reach a private part of the woods so we can Disapparate, I completely forget why I was upset in the first place.

We get back to the school at twelve, an hour before our time limit is up. That gives us time to take a shower and race down to the Great Hall for lunch. Draco’s breath still reeks of firewhisky, so he hurriedly eats some bread to soften the aroma. As he and Crabbe stuff their faces, I chew on a chicken leg and search the room, quickly coming to the conclusion that Janie isn’t present. I can’t help but to wonder where she is, and I really hope that she’s not upset with me for missing our meeting at ten.

After a while, I stand up and leave, not really paying attention to Draco’s questions. I hurriedly go towards my common room and suddenly bump into something very solid. Whatever it is, it falls back and I quickly realize that it’s Janie. I race to where she’s fallen on the floor.

“Oh my God, I am so sorry!” I say, pulling her up. “I didn’t see you at all!”

“That’s a little obvious,” she grinned, massaging the back of her head tenderly. “Where were you today?”

“I sent you a note,” I reply. “Didn’t you get it?”

“I did, and it said you’d be staying after in Charms for extra credit. I went it there today, during your class period, to deliver a note from McGonagall. You, Crabbe, and Malfoy weren’t there. Were you skipping?”

I freeze, then finally choke out a, “No.”

She raises her eyebrows, and her nice demeanor has changed to upset. “You’re lying to me.”

“I - I’m not!” I protest.

“Then where were you?”

I reach into my bag and pull a wrapped gift out. “I didn’t want to give it to you until tonight ... when we could spend more time together. Draco and Crabbe went with me to pick it out.”

Her jaw dropped open. “You got me something? But ... I didn’t get you anything.”

I laughed and wrapped her in a hug. “It’s okay. I did this to surprise you. Would you like to open it now, or later?”

“Later,” she grinned, squeezing me tightly. “I’ll meet you tonight, in the Room of Requirement, okay?”

We arrange a time to meet and as she walks away, a huge wave of relief sweeps over me. She has no idea where I really was, and it is still better that way.