Mrs. Smith did not talk about anything actually important, as it happened, and the class let out with Harry and Jennifer the last ones to leave. The class would spend the whole day together, as they were all advanced students, and Harry felt there were worse fates than spending all day with the frosty Miss Nywell. Well, perhaps there were. After an hour with her, Harry wasn't actually sure.

The second class, taught by a Mrs. Archer, was both history and utterly boring. Again, Harry sat next to Jennifer and, again, forced himself to pay attention so that he might not fall behind her. Harry had not known that he was this competitive. After the second class of the day, came the government mandated ten minute break and everyone filed out of the rooms, into the somewhat crisp mid-morning air.

Harry began taking a look out for Dudley, and maybe the others, but did not see them. He walked to the middle of the walkway separating the two classroom buildings and sat at a bench. He pulled out the manual Jennifer had given him and flipped to where the green highlighting started. He read through a few rules and felt a begrudging thankfulness to Jennifer. Before too long, however, a shadow loomed over the page he was reading. He looked up.

"Enjoying yourself?" Jennifer's voice was colder than the air.

Harry frowned. "Um, not really. It's dry."

Jennifer rolled her eyes and sat down on the opposite bench from Harry. "Of course it is. It's a school manual."

Harry grinned. "Oh, is that what it is? You know, I never would have guessed."

Jennifer raised an eyebrow. "Was that wit? I'm impressed, Mister Potter."

"Well, well, well, what have we here?"

Harry looked over his shoulder at the newcomer. The boy was at least two years older, and fifty pounds heavier, than Harry and had cropped copper hair. His face was set in a sneer and his hands were in his back pockets.

"I said," the boy said, moving closer, "What. Have. We. Here?"

Harry frowned, as though he did not understand the question. "Are you blind? It's pretty clear that we're two new students."

The boy blinked in shock. "Cor, he's got a mouth on him, hasn't he?" He stepped ever closer to Harry, who thought it was a good time to stand. "Don't you know who I am?"

Harry took a deep theatrical sigh. "You know, I am reading the school's manual. But I don't think I've reached the section that lists all the gorillas at the school just yet." Harry heard Jennifer giggle. It was an odd sound, but Harry felt a strange sense of comfort when he heard it.

The cropped gorilla stepped around Harry and approached Jennifer. "Hey you, what's so bloody funny?"

Harry interjected before Jennifer could incriminate herself. After all, he was planning to take over the school. She was just a classmate. "I think she's laughing at you, mate. See, you might have missed it, but I called you a gorilla." The large boy turned and glared what was, no doubt, his fiercest glare at Harry. Harry might have been a little worried had he not just spent two classes with Jennifer and her looks. "She probably thought that was funny, given your visual likeness to said animal."

The larger boy took another step forward and was almost touching Harry's forehead with his own. Harry, to his credit didn't back down. "Listen, you cunt. I'm head of the Wolves. We run this fucking joint, you hear?" He stepped back. "We run this shit." He began yelling. "WE RUN THS WHOLE FUCKING SCHOOL." He moved back in, whispering. "So you better stay the fuck away from us. At least, if you know what's good for you."

Harry, making a quick strategic decision, whispered back, "The Wolves? Those little shits who get off on beating up five year olds? Yeah, I mighta heard of you." The larger boys face hit magenta and kept right on going. "Listen, I think I should tell you. My gang's gonna be running the shit here now. And you. Better. Stay the fuck away. From me." Harry glanced pointedly over at the suddenly pale Jennifer. "And mine."

Rage seemed to be choking the larger boy and two of his friends quickly stepped forward and pulled him away from Harry, muttering to him. The larger boy calmed considerably and patted his friends' shoulders before walking back up to Harry.

"Listen, you little shit. We're settling this right here, during lunch." While the red had left the boy's skin, the fury was still very prevalent in his eyes.

"Oh man, I already have an engagement during lunch." Harry's voice was the epitome of remorse. "Do you think it could be after school?"

The larger boy swelled for a second before letting out a deep breath and nodding. "Fine." He walked away and began talking with his own friends, presumably telling them the plans.

Harry took a deep breath and sat back down at the table, ignoring Jennifer's look. He began reading the manual again, but before a minute was up, he could still feel Jennifer's eyes boring into him so he looked up. "What?"

Jennifer's look was an odd combination of concern and incredulity. "What are you thinking? Starting a fight on your first day?"

Harry shrugged. "It was going to happen this week anyway. Give the masses longer than that and they'll hate you for taking out an established group. Do it right away and they're all the more impressed." He picked up the manual again. "Why do you care, anyway?"

Jennifer, in Harry's periphery, frowned, but quickly schooled her features into ambivalence. "I don't." She smiled. "But that was fun to listen to. Maybe I underestimated you, Mister Potter."

Harry looked up again. "Harry. Please." He looked back down at the manual. "So, why are sitting with me? I thought I was beneath you."

"Well I was going to tell you not to harm my manual. But after that, it seems you need someone to show you the ropes socially."

Harry looked up at her completely serious face. "What do you mean?"

"Well." She adjusted slightly. "You obviously have balls, but you just as obviously lack subtlety." She waved a hand at the space the Wolves' leader had just vacated. "That's probably good enough for types like him, but you'll need real grace to deal with anyone smarter. Girls, for instance."

Harry frowned and leaned forward. "Why do you want to help me?"

Jennifer shrugged. "You seem interesting, Harry. I want to see more of who you are."

Harry caught her eyes in his and held them there awhile. She did not seem to be lying. Apparently, Harry had simply passed some sort of test. The bell rang shortly after this and Harry and Jennifer quickly rose and quipped at each other while walking to the next class.