"Did you see the look on Hermione's face when I told her that I forgot to put in the bit about the side effects of Veritaserum in my potions essay?" Ron asked Harry as they descended one of the changing staircases. They were headed for Defense Against the Dark Arts, taught by Umbridge at the time. Hermione, who was still not speaking to Ron, was far ahead of them and probably already in the classroom.

"She was so mad, she had sparks flying out of her wand!" Harry laughed with his friend.

"I thought she was gonna strangle me!" Ron's hand reached for his throat."I don't even see what the big deal is! It's just a little es-"

Malfoy, followed by Crabbe and Goyle, shoved himself between Ron and Harry. He stuck his elbow deep into Harry side, meanwhile roughly snatching the glasses from his face.

"Oof!" Harry lost his balance from the blow and toppled over. He clutched his side.

Ron looked down at him. "Harry! are you okay, mate?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm alright." He used the banister to help himself up again.

Malfoy was sprinting through the crowd, waving Harry's glasses.

"Malfoy!" Harry yelled as he began to run towards the slytherin, leaving Ron to watch. "Give those back right now!"

"What? These?" He called in response, mock confusion on his face. "No, I think I'll keep them a while." He kept moving away from Harry, pushing people out of his path.

Harry wove through the stream of students. Everything was slightly fuzzy, but he could sense that he was headed in the right direction. "Get back here, Malfoy! I mean it! When I catch you, I'll... I'll-"

"What's the matter, Potter?" Malfoy spat. "Too stupid to even come up with something threatening, or are you just that weak?"

Anger boiled up inside Harry, a hot, bubbling stew. It propelled him forward.

Malfoy jogged along until he came to a landing, then turned a corner and started descending another staircase.

Harry rushed forward. He was almost at the bottom of the staircase. He could see the blurry landing coming into view. So close, so close, so close... He kept repeating to himself. Just thirty more steps, and he would be at the next staircase.

Then, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. A grinding sound.

So close, so close... Oh no. The staircase that Malfoy was on was moving away from the landing.

A wave of adrenaline washed over him. Harry bolted down the rest of the steps. With every second he wasted, Malfoy became farther and farther away. Harry barreled down the last few steps. He reached the landing, then still running, he leapt into the air with all his strength. For a few seconds, it was as if he was flying.

He landed on his feet a few steps in on the moving staircase. Everyone turned to stare at him, even Malfoy, who immediately turned right back around and fled like his life depended on it. Harry ran at full speed down the stairs, gaining on him.

"You'll never catch me, Po- Aaaaaaaaa!"

Harry caught up to his fallen nemesis, and knelt beside him. "Looks like someone's forgotten to skip the false step." Harry smiled as he tugged his glasses from Malfoy's grip. He got up again and put them on. "See you in class!" He called over his shoulder as he strolled up the staircase. He headed back towards Ron, leaving Malfoy to stew.