Chapter eight

Insulted vanity

/

At breakfast the next day, everyone was already planning how to make the most of the first weekend that was just around the corner. After examining his timetable, Harry was pleased to find that he only had a two-hour-lesson of Charms class that day and was free in the afternoon. Hermione had Ancient Runes instead, but Ron also had some time off.

"So, what are we gonna do?" Ron winked at Harry realizing at this enjoyable finding.

His friend just shrugged.

"You could attend to your school works," Hermione remarked significantly.

Ron just flashed a 'to be expected' look in her direction and preferred not to answer. Harry, on the other hand, was still peering inconspicuously toward the Slytherin table. He kept thinking about his meeting with Angela late into the night.

"Harry!" Ron requested his attention. "Are you still sleeping or what?"

"What is it?" Harry asked disinterestedly.

"For Merlin's pants, he's completely off," Ron rolled his eyes.

"You've got some letter, Harry," Hermione informed him.

Harry almost choked on the apple juice he was sipping, since he really did not notice anything out of the ordinary.

"Man, don't take it so hard," Ron marvelled as he punched him in the back. "It's just a bird."

Harry finally focused his gaze on a black owl with large eyes sitting motionless in front of him. It had a small letter attached to its foot. Staring at him, it almost seemed to him as if it had a mocking look.

He untied the note from its leg and the owl gracefully soared away without further delay.

"This definitely wasn't any school owl," Hermione muttered to herself.

Harry read his name on the note, written in rather neat, tall letters. He quickly realized from whom it would be.

"You're not going to open it?" Ron asked as Harry continued to stare at the envelope.

"Not here," he retorted and slipped the note into his pocket.

Hermione and Ron looked at each other in surprise, but didn´t poke in the matter further.

/

After a rather interesting lesson of Charms, he was already in a much worse mood than in the morning.

Harry clenched his fists helplessly to steady himself and not make things worse. He angrily watched Snape's disappearing robes at the end of the corridor.

And he said it could not get any worse!

He wanted to strangle Ron for that comment right now. A whole week of school punishment! And for nothing! What a bitter bighead Snape was! However, Harry did not show any of his thoughts and kept them inside.

Then he spotted a figure out of the corner of his eye. Not far away, Malfoy was leaning against the wall, smirking. That gave Harry the final boost.

"What are you grinning as an idiot!" he blurted out loudly, even though he knew he should rather turn and walk away.

The smile disappeared from Malfoy's face, but he remained silent.

"I guess you don't have many reasons to laugh now, do you? Am I the only one left for you?" Harry continued scathingly, his long-suppressed feelings shooting out of him like bullets. "How's Dad doing in jail?"

Malfoy froze and Harry stopped. This was pointless… He turned and was about to leave when Malfoy finally spoke in response.

"At least my father is smart enough not to get killed for nothing."

Harry stood on the spot as if the words had hit him.

"Missing him, Potter?" Malfoy continued just as scathingly as Harry had a moment ago. "Your beloved godfather? Such a stupid death, wasn´t it?" he drawled, pretending regret.

Harry's rational thinking was obscured by anger at hearing insults to Sirius's memory. He turned around in a flash and was instantly aiming his wand at Malfoy.

However, he was not alone. Malfoy had expected this, and now they both stood there with their wands ready and hatred in their eyes. They both took a breath to curse each other in the worst way they knew, when unexpectedly, a girlish figure appeared between the tips of their wands.

They stalled at the last moment.

"Stop this!" Angela scolded them both. "McGonagall is coming! You´ll just get yourselves in trouble!"

Harry watched her dumbfounded and Malfoy stared at her angrily.

"What do you care?" Malfoy snapped. "This has nothing to do with you!"

"I can get involved in whatever I want!" Angela snapped back. "And hide those wands, for Merlin´s sake!"

Finally, both wands were lowered and Malfoy stepped closer to Angela.

"You're getting pretty cheeky, Rosier. That might not pay off for you."

"Are you threatening me?" Angela asked coldly.

"Just warning you," her classmate sneered, his face close to hers.

Hearing the professor´s footsteps approaching, Harry hid his wand and walked to them.

"Leave her alone," he warned that haughty bastard.

Malfoy shot him a look of disdain, but McGonagall was already in sight.

"I'll deal with you later, Potter boy," he hissed in Harry's direction and quickly left.

McGonagall eyed them suspiciously.

"Good afternoon, Professor!" Angela greeted loudly with a fake smile.

"Good afternoon," McGonagall replied thoughtfully, slowly walking away in her original direction.

Angela turned to Harry.

"You shouldn't have interrupted us," Harry blurted out without thinking. "I would…"

"Would do what?" Angela interrupted him with a frown. "Something reckless you mean?"

Harry's pride awoke and he could feel the swelling of anger inside him.

"And why do you care anyway?" he snapped at her grumpily.

Angela's face took on a cold expression and Harry immediately regretted his words. She watched him inscrutably for a moment.

"Well, as you wish," she said softly, walked around him and turned into the hallway leading to Ancient Runes classroom.

Something rustled in Harry's pocket. He pulled out an unopened note.

Damn… He would have liked to slap himself at that moment, but it was too late.

In a rather gloomy mood, Harry dragged himself into the almost empty common room and settled into a chair in the corner. He turned the letter in his hand for a moment, wondering if it was even worth opening it.

Finally, with shaky fingers, he tore the envelope open and unfolded the small parchment.

If you have not changed your mind, I will be waiting for you Saturday night at nine in History of Magic classroom. We will have plenty of peace and space there... Looking forward to it.

Angela

With a sigh, Harry folded the note and put it in his pocket. His conscience began to sting him even more because of the way he lashed out at her. She might even change her mind and not come at all…

Ron appeared on the bedroom stairs and made his way toward a scowling Harry.

"So, have you come up with something?"

"What?" Harry tore himself out of his thoughts.

"Well, you don't really want to write assignments like our sweet Hermione suggested, do you?"

"Of course not," Harry recovered.

"So, what?"

"We could go see Hagrid," a helpful thought flashed through Harry's mind.

"Great idea, if we can crawl to him through this sickening heat," Ron commented, slowly getting to his feet.

"Though I don´t know if he doesn't lead some class," Harry wondered.

Ron walked away to the wide-open window.

"I'd say he doesn´t," he announced on his return. "He was just coming back with Fang from the lake."

"Fine, let´s go then," Harry stood up as well and the two lazily made their way through the guarding portrait into the school corridors.