Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

I should point out the chocolate that makes a person have boils was also in DoctorWhovian18's story. I know I didn't ask her ahead of time, something that I wasn't sure about, to use it because I forgot, and didn't think on it. I spoke to DoctorWhovian18, and she said it was fine. I used the chocolate in this instance, maybe because Lotho's nickname is "Pimple"; so it does make sense here.

Frodo awoke that Friday morning feeling a little more like himself, but changed. He couldn't forgive Lotho for bullying him, almost for no reason. Frodo knew though there was a reason for everything. And there was Sam. He at least stood up for him the other day. But…

Letting his thoughts trail off on their own, Frodo got out of bed, changed into one of his blue Hobbit school uniforms and left the Ravenclaw Boys' Dormitory. Entering the Ravenclaw Common Room – Frodo couldn't get enough of the wide airy room – Frodo approached the notice board and took a look at the schedule. It still said that all Ravenclaw boys – hobbits and Men – would be attending the same classes as the other first years, which meant he had double Potions after breakfast.

Frodo was looking on the Hobbits' timetable, which was a second sheet and now had a complete schedule for the Ravenclaw Hobbits and, Frodo assumed, the other Hobbits in the other three houses. What was different on Fridays for all Hobbit first years was they had the same introductory class in the afternoon. As expected, this introduction course was for twelve weeks. Convinced with the new schedule for all Hobbit first years – they were the only Hobbits attending Hogwarts this year; yet, they were a small group altogether – Frodo exited the Ravenclaw Tower.

o-o-o

In the Great Hall, Frodo searched for the Hufflepuff table. As he made his way to the front of the four tables, Frodo found Sam, sitting by himself and reading a newspaper with the title The Daily Prophet on the front. Now was his chance to speak to Sam over yesterday's events. Frodo approached Sam, who stared shyly up at him. Sam's feet shuffled under the table at Frodo's approach.

"Sam," said Frodo. It was his turn to be confident, but he couldn't understand what made Sam so shy this morning. Maybe he knew all along. "Thanks for saving me yesterday, even though you were last minute. Not that I don't mind. It's just you weren't the sort I expected to save my life from Lotho."

"You're welcome, but… I've known Lotho from growing up in Hobbiton. He's always picked on me," said Sam, his voice shaking with nervousness. He was back to his shy self.

"You're not normally confident. Are you, Sam?" asked Frodo.

"Uh," said Sam, finding it difficult to say anything. "I have… difficulties talking with strangers."

This hurt Frodo.

Sam apologized right then and there, "I'm sorry, Mr. Frodo." He wanted this tense conversation to end.

Frodo knew the conversation was dead. All he could tell Sam, at the end of it, was, "Well, good luck. You're in a good house."

Sam nodded his approval, returning his gaze to the article he was reading. Hearing Frodo's footsteps walk away made Sam regret shooing the hobbit boy. Nervousness crept over Sam, making him shuffle his feet more under the table. Did Mister Frodo mean everything he said? He seemed so kind, and yet Sam knew he was a troublemaker. But the day before was different. Frodo needed help. The last thing Sam wanted to do was leave Frodo to Lotho's bullying. It was the least he could do. Sam didn't understand the interaction between him and Frodo. They were mere acquaintances. Besides, Mister Frodo was in Ravenclaw and him in Hufflepuff. Weren't the two houses rivals? Sam returned to his newspaper, not wanting to know the answer to that question.

Frodo looked over his shoulder. Sam was ignoring him, but had a quizzical look on his face. As soon as Sam glanced at him, Frodo snapped his head back to the Ravenclaw table. Finding an empty spot, Frodo sat down. He was still surprised at how his breakfast showed up on the gold plate and his gold goblet was filled with pumpkin juice. He ate his food in a way to calm his nerves. However, his thoughts returned to Sam, causing him to look back at the hobbit boy. Frodo didn't know it yet, but maybe he could find a friendship, comes to terms with this hobbit. At least Sam was as shy as he… maybe that wasn't a good enough reason. Frodo returned to his food and ate as much as he wanted. Once again, no one paid much attention to him. He was used to it by now, even though some part of him wanted the company.

Merry and Pippin, feeling determined to help Frodo in spite of his avoidance, and especially after Lotho's bullying on Frodo, decided it was time that Lotho got a taste of his own medicine. Becoming fast friends with Fred and George Weasley, Merry and Pippin had a package of chocolate that Fred had given to Merry. They were now ready to spring their trap. Merry and Pippin approached the Slytherin table, right in Lotho's face, who was sitting by himself.

"Lotho, where's your posse?" asked Pippin, curious.

"Not up and about. Why do you ask?" asked Lotho, not in the mood to have a conversation with him.

Merry chimed in, livening up Lotho with a really good story. "Well, you see, we know you mean well. I mean, after all, Frodo is nothing compared to your greatness."

Lotho grinned. Was he really better than Frodo Baggins? Intriguing thoughts passed his mind. "I'm glad a Brandybuck, such as you, is turning around. Mother will be so pleased to hear this news." He pointed to Pippin, hoping he would agree, "What about you, Peregrin Took?"

"Oh, I agree," said Pippin, continued Merry's story. "No one could ever compare to you. You're the best Baggins there is. And to prove our gracious loyalty, Merry and I are giving you this limited edition box of chocolates. They're a specialty from my parents. My mother made them to commemorate your great success." Merry pass the box of chocolates to him first, before Pippin passed the box to Lotho, who snatched it greedily.

Lotho eyed Merry and Pippin with a suspicious gaze. "Wait. This isn't a trick?"

Merry shook his head. "Oh no, Lotho. Frodo's been put in his place for sure, after the pranking he pulled. He won't do it again anytime soon." He wasn't sure how correct these statements were. He really had expected Frodo would be pranking someone by now, not taking it as hard as he was. He cracked a grin, keeping his thoughts buried so Lotho wasn't suspicious of him and Pippin.

"Good. Someone's set that Baggins in the right place," said Lotho, pleased with his handiwork. He shooed them away, as if he was ruler of this school. "Now, off you get. Leave a proper hobbit to his box of chocolates."

"Oh yes Lotho. We…"

"Pippin, come on," said Merry, dragging Pippin away from the Slytherin table, before he gave away too much. Merry whispered when they were out of ear-shot and back to the Gryffindor table, "You still need to work on your stories."

"I'm willing to learn," said Pippin, relieved to be away from Lotho.

"I know, Pippin," said Merry, taking a seat at the same time as Pippin.

"I hope he likes his chocolate," said Pippin. He whispered to Merry, "And I hope this gets back at him for what he did to Frodo."

"Yea, what's up with him? He hasn't pranked anyone since Wednesday," said Merry.

"He was caught. We escaped," said Pippin.

"I know that, Pippin," said Merry, looking at a newspaper. He peered over at the Ravenclaw table, where Frodo acted so shy and unwilling to talk to anyone. He worried for him. He did not know why, but there was something about Frodo that made him feel like they had met before. Maybe it was a passing thought.

o-o-o

After the incident yesterday, followed by what happened with Professor Snape, Frodo certainly did not want to be late for Potions class. In fact, he may have been too early as he was the first to arrive.

Snape gave him a sharp look when Frodo came into his class. "Trying to prove you're goody-two shoes, Baggins. You're early."

"Yes Professor," said Frodo.

"Take a seat," was the last thing Snape said, before searching through his potion bottles.

Frodo did as he was told. Finding a spot to sit at one of the tables, Frodo set his cauldron down in front of him. Snape gave him a cunning sneer, just as the rest of the class filed in. Unexpectedly, and much to Frodo's disdain, Snape pointed him out:

"See here, class. It seems there's already a studious hobbit in class. Did you expect me to reward you with house points for early attendance, Baggins?" asked Snape, his voice cold and unwelcome.

Snickers floated around the Slytherins. Just then, Lotho appeared with boils on his face. Merry and Pippin did their best not to laugh, but showed smirks on their faces that they couldn't hide. Fredegar shook his head in sheer annoyance, even when everyone laughed at Lotho. Frodo stared at Lotho in confusion, wondering who put boils on his face. However, Lotho knew right away who to point out.

"I'm sorry for being late, professor. It was all their fault!" He pointed out Merry and Pippin, but then sneered at Frodo. "They were convinced by Frodo Baggins to give me chocolates. This is all their doing."

Snape didn't do anything to Lotho, much to everyone's surprise. As Lotho sat down, Snape glared at Frodo, avoiding Merry and Pippin's gazes. "So Baggins, you've proven to be a mischief maker yet again. Two points from Ravenclaw."

Frodo was wide-eyed. He didn't do this prank. "But I didn't…"

"And another point taken for your cheek," said Snape. "Don't deny it, Baggins, or risk losing another point for Ravenclaws." He gave the roll call when the class had finally arrived.

Frodo avoided Snape's gaze. Only the class became worse afterwards, mostly targeted at the Gryffindors; Frodo was the only one for the Ravenclaws being called out by Snape. While Frodo felt a small relief for not being the only one Snape picked on, Frodo felt pity towards Harry but only a little. While he had been called out, Frodo watched the scene: Harry was being called out more than he, while Frodo was being ignored by Snape throughout the entire class. Snape didn't even come over to his table as the class progressed to check and see how they were doing.

No, he was wrong: when Snape came over to his and his partner's table – Frodo's partner was Fredegar Bolger, who, like Snape, didn't approve of troublemakers and kept eyeing him suspiciously to make sure he didn't do anything wrong – Snape called Frodo out on his and his partner's potion, even when Frodo had the right ingredients. Frodo hated the class, and more so Snape and Lotho for their actions towards him. Frodo's conclusion over his first day of Potions class: he and Harry were fairly even, but who had the worst draw that morning? Frodo couldn't tell for sure. The odds were fairly close for either.

o-o-o

Once again Terry, Michael and Anthony were avoiding him. Frodo had lost eight points for Ravenclaw in the first week. He wasn't having very good luck. After Potions ended, Frodo climbed up the dungeon stairs by himself. Fredegar sped past him, hoping to reach the Great Hall before the food had gone, not that the food ever really vanished. Next was the introduction class, specifically for hobbits and hobbits only. Unlike Frodo's other classes, which were packed, this introduction class would likely be a small group. Good, Frodo didn't approve being around crowds; so maybe this class would be better for him.

Coming out of the spiral staircase, back inside Building F, Frodo spotted Merry and Pippin chatting in a corner, towards the enormous double doors. Although he could have congratulated them for their efforts for getting back at Lotho, but thanks to Lotho, Frodo was doubly mad at the two hobbit boys. He said nothing to them as he made his way upstairs to the Tapestry Corridor. He'd rather eat lunch than talk to anyone. It was thanks to Snape that he was in this foul mood.

o-o-o

As soon as he had finished eating lunch, Frodo made his way to the first floor. From there, Frodo journeyed down the corridor until he came to Classroom 1A, where all the hobbit first years were gathering. He wasn't late, as a few more hobbit students entered the classroom after him. Frodo found a seat in the middle of the class. His teacher was a portly hobbit witch with graying hair and wearing an earthy brown dress. When she was ready to start, beginning without the stragglers, which included Lotho and a few Slytherins, the hobbit witch spoke to the class:

"Welcome to the Hobbits' Introduction to Magic! I am a Professor Cherryhill. For the next twelve weeks, we will be studying magic and how hobbits use it in their everyday lives. As you know, underage hobbits aren't allowed to use magic outside of school until they are seventeen and outside their homes until they are thirty-three. This should give you all plenty of time to practice until you've come of age…" She was interrupted by Lotho, who burst into class, "Mr. Sackville-Baggins, you're late. Five points from Slytherin House for your tardiness."

Lotho, dim-witted in those first couple of seconds, picked on Frodo, "But it was Baggins who made me late."

"Mr. Baggins has been sitting here this whole time," corrected Professor Cherryhill, stopping Lotho's excuses right then and there. "Not another word. There is no excuse for tardiness. Now sit down before you fall down."

Lotho sat on a chair in the back of the class, crossing his arms and pouting. Frodo cocked his head towards Lotho and chuckled to himself. Finally, Lotho was being punished and he had no excuse this time. Frodo shook his head as he slowly turned his attention back to the class.

Professor Cherryhill continued the lesson: she explained the different levels of sorcery. She also explained quite clearly that this introduction class would have an exam to see which level each hobbit student was at in their sorcery and where they would be placed for future reference. She informed her class that in O.W.L. year, they would take another exam on their progress and also whether they should move onto the advanced class, or to just not use magic so heavily later on in life.

After her lecture, she gave everyone a different stuffed bear to practice on. Frodo was unfamiliar what the inanimate toy was. It looked so lifelike and yet… cute? Frodo asked about the stuffed toy, as those not from Middle-earth laughed at him. Professor Cherryhill silenced the class, and then explained what she wanted her students to do: use any spells they learned so far on the stuffed bear on their desk. And no, it didn't have to involve using wands.

While the rest of the class was alarmed by this – using no wands sounded forbidden to most of the class – Frodo grew frustrated. Why wasn't his class doing anything? Determined, Frodo used his hand magic to turn his stuffed bear into a live toad. The toad hopped around from desk to desk, scaring hobbit girls and some hobbit boys that did not like toads; those that screamed and yelped clearly did not live in Frogmorton, so named for the frogs and toads that lived in the swamp nearby. Frodo used his hand magic again to make the toad stop at Lotho's desk, hopping up and down on top of it to scare the hobbit boy. Professor Cherryhill used her wand to levitate the toad back to Frodo's desk.

"Please turn your toad back into a stuffed bear, Mr. Baggins," said Professor Cherryhill. She was being positively serious and firm. "Or risk losing House points for Ravenclaw."

Frodo, not wanting to risk losing more house points, used his hand magic to transform the toad back into a stuffed bear. Cherryhill dropped the stuffed bear back on Frodo's desk. Due to Frodo's mischief, Cherryhill called him out, but also gave him some credit:

"As you can see, class, Mr. Baggins is well adept at hand magic. Now, before class ends, I want the rest of you to practice, by whatever means necessary, using magic on your stuffed bears." Cherryhill moved about the class, assisting whoever needed help.

Frodo smirked. It felt good getting back at Lotho. Maybe he still had some mischief in him after all.

o-o-o

When the hour was up and class ended, Frodo felt relieved. Now he had the weekend off. Only one thing remained, that he reminded himself immediately he needed to do on Saturday: attend Professor Flitwick's detention. Great.