Ivan had started avoiding me after the Yule Ball. I even tried to approach him twice, asking if he was feeling better. But each time, he just looked around in horror and then without answering me, he paced away from me quickly. So I decided not to push the matter any further.

Fred, George, Lee and I were sitting in the Great Hall on the day that the new term had started, talking our way through lunch time.

     "Don't get me wrong, I think Hagrid's amazing," Lee started, "but he can't teach to save a life."

     "I think he's awesome," said George. "I mean, who else would breed Blast-Ended Skrewts in their own garden?"

     "Can you imagine some of them getting loose at Hogwarts?" Fred said with a mischievous grin. "It would be bloody brilliant!"

     "What did he teach you today, anyway?" I asked, taking a sip of my drink.

     "Thestrals," Lee answered. "They were pretty cool actually; mainly because we couldn't see them. They can only be seen by people who've seen someone die."

     "Oh! Which reminds me; I've been dying to ask someone this for ages!" I started excitedly, putting my goblet down and turning to face them. "Can the Thestrals see each other?"

      The boys were quiet for a few seconds before George said, "I... wow... I really don't know, Lexi."

     "I mean... they have to be able to see each other though." I said.

     "Why do they have to?" Lee questioned.

      "Well, because how on earth would they be able to make babies if they can't really see each other!" I exclaimed.

     The boys sniggered at that. "Honestly, Lexi. What's going on in that brain of yours?" Fred asked, helping himself to a few chocolate chip cookies like he always did.

     "You really don't wanna know." I said honestly.

     There was a minute of complete silence that Fred put down his fork, dazed, before saying, "Merlin's beard! Can they see each other!?"

     "I know, right!?" I huffed in frustration, chuckling afterwards.

     "By the way, speaking of Hagrid," Lee started. "Did you read what that Rita Skeeter wrote about Hagrid!? It was brutal! I mean, we knew he was probably half giant, but to write it out for everyone..." his voice trailed off in annoyance.

     "How is she doing it, though?" George mused. "How could she have heard such a private conversation?"

     Lee and Fred shrugged, meanwhile I said nothing, sipping on my drink in silence.

***

By the time February had come, people were looking forward to the second task, but before that, there was a flood of excitement at Hogwarts because of the upcoming Valentine's Day which was in two days.

I was sitting in the Gryffindor common room with Fred and George in our usual corner. That was when Lee Jordan entered the room and approached us with a smug face.

When he reached us, he took the empty armchair next to George with a proud grin on on his face.

"What?" said Fred and George together.

Lee rubbed his hands together in glee before saying, "Just asked Alicia Spinnet out."

"Oi! You promised you'd help us with making the love potions!" George exclaimed.

"Traitor!" Fred narrowed his eyes at him.

"I call jealous." said Lee, crossing his arms.

Fred and George gasped dramatically.

"We're not jealous! It's a matter of marketing!" George retorted. "And you were supposed to help!"

"Well, Lexi can replace him." Fred said thoughtfully.

"Oh, yeah!" George nodded happily. "I almost forgot that Lexi is just as pathetic as us!"

"Once again Lexi would like to remind you that I'm still sitting here." I crossed my arms. "And excuse you, but what do you mean pathetic?"

"Well, you don't have a date either, do you?" George inquired.

"No. But there's nothing pathetic about being single, thank you very much." I said tightly, glaring at him.

"Whatever you say, Professor Snappy." George grinned knowingly. "Which reminds me. You're good at potions, right?"

"Yeah, she is." Fred said, but when he caught us giving him a look he quickly added, "Ron told me."

"Great!" George clapped his hands together. "Then she can help us make the love potions!"

"What makes you think I've got nothing better to do?" I frowned.

"Well... do you?" He asked.

There was a few seconds of silence before I huffed in annoyance, "No."

***

"We're in luck," I said, reading through the recipe of the love potion, "all the ingredients that is said here can be found in the student's storage."

     "Then there's no need to break into Snape's storage." Fred stated.

     "But where's the fun in that?" George mused.

     "Yeah," Fred mumbled sadly.

     By that, we made our way over potion's storage room and I took Ashwinder eggs and pearl dust, along with everything else that was needed.

     With the help of Fred and George, we walked through a deserted part of the castle and found an empty chamber to brew the potion there.

     After adding the powdered moonstone to my cauldron, I suddenly stopped, thinking about something.

     "What?" George asked.

     "I was wondering what would happen if we fed some of this to Peeves." I said thoughtfully.

     The boys chuckled. "He would drool after us," said Fred.

     "I have an idea!" I suddenly said brightly. "What if we somehow managed to give the love potion to peeves from Filch?"

     "You're a whole other level of evil, Hooper." George sniggered and I bowed my head at him triumphantly.

     "Alright, this is the last bit," I said, adding a few rose petals. The moment the petals touched the potion, it burnt and melted and quickly the potion turned into a beautiful shade of pink.

     Quite immediately, the most amazing scent filled the room. By the looks of it, Fred and George could smell it too, though I was positive that we weren't sensing the same scents.

      "What can you two smell?" I asked. "I'm smelling new books and rain and... Chocolate chip cookies?" I added that last bit hesitantly, taken aback.

      "Hang on," George frowned in confusion. "So you're not smelling vanilla and pumpkin pies?"

     "No," I shook my head. "That's the magic of love potions; you smell the scent which you love the most."

     "I can smell pumpkin pies, too." said Fred. "Mum always makes them."

     "Oh, yeah," George nodded, then turning to Fred, he asked, "What else do you smell?"

     Fred thought for a bit. "Pumpkin pie, wet wood, and..." his voice trailed off and then after a few seconds he muttered in a low whisper, "and cherries."