"There's no way in hell that that snivelling Potter will ever be on my good side!"

"There's no way in hell that I'll ever be friends with that snobby Malfoy!"

"Harry, come on, we'll be late for our last class!" Hermione huffed, "It's three months into our fifth year and we can't have a bad record yet! I have not been late once and I've made it this far, I'll be damned if you ruin this for me!" Hermione grabbed the sleeve of a flustered Harry and pulled him to Transfiguration class which started in two minutes.

"I'm hurrying, I'm hurrying. McGonagall will have my head if I'm not there. Let go of my sleeve!" Harry said, exasperated.

Hermione throws herself into her seat and yanks Harry down next to her just as Professor McGonagall walks in.

"Whew, on time!" she breathes with relief.

"Yeah, but I think we ran over six kids on the way here..." Harry said with a smirk, and Hermione just socked him in the arm. "Ow, jeez, been working out, Hermione?" Harry rubbed his fresh bruise and glanced around the class to see what he was supposed to be doing. He saw Andrea Kegworth writing something at the table next to him and leaned over to try to see what was on her paper. She's smart, and a Ravenclaw. I guess I'll just write whatever she's writing, he thought.

"Potter, did you forget that you must take your own notes? Eyes off of Miss Kegworth's paper, please. I'm sure she would rather that you didn't copy her exquisite work and claim it as your own," Professor McGonagall speculated. Harry blushed and looked down in shame as Hermione giggled a little next to him.

"Nice job, super spy" Hermione whispered.

He blushed harder and growled, "Could you at least tell me what we are supposed to be working on."

"Just write what's on the board, dummy."

"Oh"

Harry copied the board and looked around the room to see if anyone was still looking at his embarrassment. He saw Malfoy in the back of the room staring at him. Malfoy stuck his tongue out and laughed at him. Harry turned back around and blushed harder. God, did he hate being in the spotlight. It would be fine with him if no one knew who he was or if he at least wasn't famous. Malfoy was such a pain, always bringing attention to him and the fact that he was the "Chosen One" or whatever. Harry wished that Draco would just go away.

Class went on, Harry still thoroughly embarrassed. McGonagall introduced a new project, and people would be assigned partners next class. Harry crossed his fingers and hoped for Hermione or someone really good at transfiguration. He was semi-clueless when it came to this class. Harry was great with his wand and spells, but he had iffy concentration and focus.

As he and Hermione walked out of class, she said, "Hope we get the project together, Harry. At least you will let me perfect it how I need to. Some other students can be so... touchy. I mean, just because I told Christopher Hemsley that his handwriting reminded me of the scratches of a wounded cat, or how I chewed out Melinda Bobbin that she could perform spells as well as my muggle grandmother doesn't mean that they should take it personally. Harry, Harry! Are you even listening to me?" She sighed frustration as he drifted further into his mind.

In his mental absence, he bumped straight into the back of Draco Malfoy.

"Hey, watch where you're go- Potter!" Malfoy sneered, "You're always there to make my day that much worse. Think you can do whatever you want because your parents died when you were a baby?" Malfoy knew just what buttons to press to make Harry steaming mad.

"Draco, shut up!" Harry clenched his fists and

"Harry!" Hermione begged, "Let's go! He's not worth it, McGonagall is right over there!" She tried to drag him away, but he threw his books on the floor and threw his fist right into Malfoy's face.

"No one talks about my parents like that, you asshole!" The impact made a surprising sound, and Draco gasped that Harry would go that far. Draco's eye, where Harry had squarely hit him, began to swell slightly.

Draco punched Harry right in the stomach as Hermione tried to hold Harry back. Crabbe and Goyle laughed as Harry doubled over in pain slightly. Harry punched Draco straight in the mouth and ignored the jeers.

"Potter, you'll pay for this!" Draco snarled, wiping the blood from his lip. Before he could get in another punch, McGonagall sharply intervened.

"What ARE you two doing? Malfoy, Potter, three detentions! Thirty points from each of your houses! What kind of school do you think this is? You two will act like gentlemen, not beasts! Arguments can be solved with words, not fighting! Now separate, and I don't want this kind of behavior from you two ever again, or you will have worse punishments than detentions!" McGonagall reprimanded.

"Yes, Professor. Sorry Professor," Harry and Draco said shamefully.

"Sorry's right, you two. I've had enough of your trouble, understand?"

"Yes, Professor" Harry and Draco scowled at each other, and Hermione dragged Harry away, picking up his books. McGonagall muttered in disbelief and frustration as she walked away.

"Harry, I can't believe you! You both lose when you let him get to you like that! Now you have detention, unacceptable! You're supposed to take the higher road and be above this sort of thing!" Hermione said. She liked to mother him, and she almost knew what was best for him and Ron.

"You're not my fucking mother, Hermione! You don't get it, you just don't get it!" Harry snapped. He was tired of being told what to do by everyone, he was tired of Malfoy insulting him, and he was tired of having to take the higher road. If this was being the Chosen One, then he hated it now more than ever. His mind was stirring with adrenaline and frustration. "I can't just take Draco's bullshit all the time! Get rid of him, and I'll be above whatever you want! Just, leave me alone! I'll be studying, don't look for me!" Harry stormed away as Ron walked up.

"Geez, what's up with him? Malfoy?" Ron asked.

Hermione nodded, slightly hurt by what Harry just said. "Yeah, they just got in a fight. He got three detentions, and McGonagall chewed him out pretty bad. He just snapped at me, too. I wonder what else is bothering him so badly?" Hermione frowned. Ron shrugged and walked with her. "I'm just worried, Ron. I hope he's ok. Plus we are getting a new Transfiguration project. It's a huge paper that we have to research and write. I hope that's not too stressful, and I hope we get to work together," she sighed.

Ron pouted, "I just got that project today, I'm working with Seamus. It would be fine, except both of us are clueless about everything! Lucky Harry has you, you're the smartest fifth year, and probably sixth year, too."

Hermione blushed and bumped into Ron with her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Harry tucked himself into a corner in a secluded hallway and fumed for a while. He sat and took his books out to prepare a little for his Charms quiz tomorrow, but he was too angry to focus. What is Malfoy's problem? That little ass face is such a huge jerk! Making those fucking remarks about my parents when his are death eaters... He should be ashamed! I can't believe has the fucking nerve to say that to me. If I see him again I'll kill him, I swear. Harry was shaking with rage. His parents were the one thing he wishes he could have in the entire world. He missed the thought of them, and he wishes he could have gotten to know them for at least a few years of his life. The pain began to swell in the pit of his stomach, and it didn't help that Draco punched him really hard. All his thoughts and emotions began to get to him. Everything in his life began to weigh on him and he started to cry. Tears rolled down his face as he clutched his stomach in agony. Maybe Malfoy broke one of my ribs, fuck this hurts. Harry curled up, safely away from judging eyes, and sobbed for a long, long time.