"You're not really going to try again, are you? The year is almost over, Butter," frowned Kandra. "Yeah," Butter said, "I'm running out of time, but I've got it now. Just drop this into a drink of his in the Common room and back off. I was overthinking things before." Ivory arched an eyebrow. "No, really," Butter insisted. They were heading back to the Common room from dinner. Butter showed them her latest purchase, this one proclaimed itself Skin-is-In, for those troublesome spots. Once in the Common room, they found Ethan parked in a squashy armchair, reading his DADA textbook and taking some notes. Happily, Butter saw that he had a mug of pumpkin juice sitting next to him on a small table. She uncorked the bottle, waved her wand and whispered "Locomotor potion," and the bottle sailed behind Ethan's head. The three girls watched breathlessly. Would he notice? The bottle tipped, poured...and it was done. Ethan's pumpkin juice had been spiked and he apparently had no idea. "I still say you should have just waited two weeks, and then gotten a seat in his compartment on the Hogwarts Express," whispered Kandra. "Shh," Butter said, "He's drinking it." 

The next five minutes crawled by slowly. Ethan then closed his book with a slap, looked around the room and spotted Butter. He marched over, his blue eyes burning with intensity. "Butter, hey, I need to talk to you. In private," he added, nodding at Kandra and Ivory. Wordlessly, Butter nodded. Ethan took her hand and drew her out of the Common room. He said nothing until they got into a classroom and took seats. Her knees were bumping his, their chairs were so close together. "Butter, my darling, I don't know how to say this," Ethan began. "I...I can't live without you." "Oh, Ethan," Butter said, her eyes wide. Ethan continued, "In fact, I love you. I think maybe I always have, even though we didn't see much of each other, what with being in different years, but I'd see you in the Great Hall, and there in the Common room, and..." He sighed, his eyes soft. Butter felt warm all over. "We need to do something," Ethan said, "Something to declare our love for one another." "Yes," Butter breathed. Ethan nodded. "Here, I know what to do," he said, his grip tightening on her hand and his other hand bringing up his wand. "We're going to make an Unbreakable Vow, you and me, that we'll be together for the rest of our lives!" "Our...our lives?" Butter echoed. "Yeah, it'll be great! We can get married! You'll have to get your parents' permission, of course, because of your age, but I'm really good at the Confundus charm, so that won't be a problem!" Butter tried to pull her hand back. Ethan, relentlessly, held firm. "Okay, Unbreakable Vow, here we go!" "No!" Butter shouted, horrified, "We can't do this! Just, oh, I'm so sorry, just ah, sleep on it, and we'll see if you still want to tomorrow! Okay?"

"Tomorrow," Ethan said coldly. "After the love potion wears off, you mean." "Um," was all Butter could think to say. "Yeah, I know," Ethan said. "I had Weasley's send me an antidote after I saw what happened at the Ravenclaw-Slytherin Quidditch match way back in January. Just three drops a day, and in one week, full immunity to every love potion they sell. Just three drops every day thereafter for maintenance." "I'm sorry," Butter said, hanging her head. "Look," Ethan said gently, "You're a pretty girl, and mostly nice. You don't need love potions. Honestly." Butter looked up at him, hopefully. "Then, Ethan, would you like to sit with me at the Year End Feast and ride back together on the Hogwarts Express?" Ethan shook his head. "Me? No. I could never trust you, sorry. I mean, come back next year and have a go at one of the other boys. Just be yourself this time."

Butter felt the prick of unshed tears in her eyes, but they rose and went back to the Common room together.