Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore was a complete prick.

He didn't learn that when Patrick would advise him not to talk to him when he was in front of his 'cool' friends, or when Patrick stole his poetry when they were 12.

(He still cringes, knowing that the ravenclaw kept it, still using it against him. He was 12! How was he supposed to know that 'verthough' wasn't a word? Or that his grammar was off? At least he did accomplish his dream of becoming a knight, even if it wasn't for the right reasons back then.)

Nicholas learned that when he was 13 years old, when he overheard his "dear friend" talking about him.

He was early for class one day, and as he usually walked with Patrick, waiting for his best friend to arrive.

Back then, he had only looked at his friend with absolute adoration - like a complete ninny.

It peaked his interest when Patrick wasn't showing up.

So, he went looking, because he wanted to walk with his best (and only) friend.

Patrick, indeed, was just a little way down the hall, with a girl Nicholas knew distantly as somebody who'd laugh loudly whenever he tripped.

"Why do you hang out with him?" A girl - 4th year gryffindor - he recognized her as Ferris Lane - asked.

"I dunno," Patrick shrugged. "We've known each other since childhood. He's so damn clingy, I don't know what he'd do without me."

She giggled, "does it annoy you? He sounds like a burden, always carrying around that dead weight."

"Yeah, sometimes," Patrick then paused, as if remembering something. "He's always been a scrawny tyke. I reckon if it weren't for me, he would've ended up picking fights he couldn't handle. We've known each other since we were kids, but I wish we didn't - honestly, he deserves the stuff you all do to him."

"Ha!" Ferris shook her head, laughing, "then why don't you ditch him already, Patrick?!"

"Ugh, he'll probably tell his mummy on me." Patrick mocked, before smirking, taking Ferris' hand. "Can we stop talking about him already? I have to meet him in about thirty minutes, else he'll have a fit."

And, at that moment, is when Nicholas' entire world broke.

The one person he could always stand by at Hogwarts didn't even like him.

Burden, he remembered he was called.

He grinded his teeth, blinking rapidly, because he would not cry. He may scream, and snarl, but he would never be seen crying.

Well, if that was how Patrick felt, then he guessed they wouldn't be friends anymore!

He turned his heel, and left to go to the hospital wing.

He suddenly felt sick.

Later on, Patrick checked up on him.

"You weren't there when I waited for you," said his former best friend rather stiffly, looking so very worried.

Nicholas bit his tongue, before finally speaking. "I don't think we should talk as much anymore."

Patrick looked stunned for a moment, before laughing gently. His voice was humorous, as if expecting this to be one big joke. "Nicksy, if I left, who would you talk to?"

"I'll figure it out." He said dryly, "and since we'll be parting our ways, don't call me that."

Patrick blinked, dumbfounded, before scowling. "Fine! If we're not friends, then I guess I have no reason to keep any of your secrets."

"What?" He choked out, "but-"

"Nicholas, I don't have a clue what you're playing at," Patrick said, his eyes narrowed.

"I could say the same to you."

Nicholas still didn't know what happened back there, but a part of him wishes he just stood his ground.

He sighed, picking up his ghostly quill and starting to engrave an invitation to a Miss Yasmine Dalops, a ghost he had quite the infatuation with.

(He hoped to possibly befriend her at his party, perhaps even ask her out.)

Truthfully, he thinks the third proudest moment of his life is when he punched Patrick right in the jaw.