Chapter Two: Conflicts Arise

The classes were much harder than last years and Hermione was insisting that the key to getting good grades was making them color code and label all of their notes, something that was driving Ron crazy. Mrs. Trewlaney in Divination class had already predicted Harry's death 12 times and besides waking up a couple of times in the middle of the night things were pretty good. Even Potions class was bearable.

One day in late September Harry and Ron were on their way to the Great Hall when they stumbled across Malfoy and his gang pestering a 4th year student named Kate. Ron was about to barge in but for some reason Harry told him that they should just get to the Great Hall "nothing we could ever do or say could ever change Malfoy. It's just not worth it." "Well I think otherwise and I'm not about to let that pasty face bastard get away with that, and frankly I don't see how you could either." Suddenly getting very angry, but by the time they were finished arguing Malfoy had already had his fun and was on his way to the Great Hall. Ron sat down next to Harry crossing his arms to show his distaste. "Oh, now what's happened?" asked Hermione with a boys will be boys tone. "Harry here, just let Malfoy get away with bullying a student. "I just didn't feel like a confrontation right now. They all end the same way anyway. Malfoy calls you insulting names, you call him insulting names and just before it gets ugly I have to step in and..." "Oh so now you're my hero." said Ron offensively. "Well, I see his point," Hermione said. "Don't tell me your taking his side!" "I'm not taking sides" rising her voice a little higher "but it just seems that every time Malfoy's around, You have to pick a fight with him." "So, he deserves it the slimy git." Ron exclaimed. "Yes, he might deserve it but you don't always end up with the upper hand in your fights with him." Stated Harry. Ron was so mad his cheeks were actually turning red and the words that he was muttering were incomprehensible as he got up and moved to the lower end of the table. Addition

The next few days were pretty uneventful. Ron was still refusing to talk with Harry as they sat in the Gryfinndor Common room doing their Charms homework.

"Come on Ron, you know I didn't mean it. Can't we just put this behind us?" Harry said as he snapped his book shut and climbed out of his chair. "Hermione would you please tell Harry that he's going to have to do better than that." Ron replied, not taking his eyes off his parchment and quill.

" Harry, Ron says you'll…"

"I heard what he said. I'm standing two feet away from him! You can tell Ron that if he wants a better apology he'll have to listen really hard, in his dreams!"

"Oh, you two are being ridiculous! Why don't you just kiss and make up, it seems every year you two get into arguments over the stupidest things…"

"Oh shut it you, miss-know-it-all with your stupid charts and color coding." Snapped Harry.

"Don't try to take you anger out on me." Hermione said rising from her chair.
"I don't have to try, I'm sick of your stupid study schedules, and your color coding, and both of you!" As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them and tried to apologize but Hermione had already left crying. "I said I was sorry and if you two don't believe me than you're not real friends, are you?!" Harry shouted through the throbbing pain in his forehead.

Harry had about an hour before his next class so he decided a nice walk to Hagrid's hut would give him time to cool off. He knocked on the huge door.

"Hey, dar Harry. Yeh ok? Yeh look a litta down." Hagrid said, immediately starting to make a pot of tea. "Hi Hagrid."

"Well…"

"I'm sorry Harry but ya can't stay long" Hagrid said as he poured Harry a cup of tea. "I've gotta class to teach in abot 5 minutes." He turned around so quickly that his large elbow knocked the cup of tea right into Harry's lap. "O, I'm sorry there Harry I'm jus alittle…" "Clumsy!" He yelled. Harry knew it had been an accident but he had been having such a bad day he didn't care anymore and immediately got up and slammed the door as best he could, due to it's large size, leaving Hagrid stunned.

Harry said to himself that he would apologize to him later, but right now, he just wanted to be alone. But to make a bad day worse he ran into Malfoy,

"Hey, look who couldn't find a toilet."

"Not today Malfoy." And something in his voice stopped Malfoy from making any further comments. He got to his room without meeting anybody else, changed his clothes and ignored the headache. The rest of the day didn't get any better. Snape took 50 pts. from Gryffindor for catching him trying to apologize to Hermione and neither Ron nor Hermione were speaking to him . The night wasn't any better, waking up several times from a light sleep feeling stupid for trying to apologize for forgiveness.

After breakfast the next morning Hermione and Ron found Harry in the library thankful that it was a Saturday.

"I'm sorry Harry, I know you didn't mean those things." Hermione said.

"And I just couldn't believe you let that bastard Malfoy get away with that, so…what ya reading?"

Harry was about to forgive everything but the headache he'd felt the night before returned and it took him a moment to steady himself from a bout of dizziness.

"Are you all right?" It was Hermione's voice "You seem a bit under the weather."

"Of course I'm not all right, the two of you always give me a headache. I don't know why I continued to put up with you to prats for so long, well not anymore. I hate the both of you!"

"That's not true." Hermione cried.

"I think we've each said enough things to regret for one day, we'll just forget you said that Harry." Ron said.

"I don't want you to forget it, I mean it! I hate the both of you and I don't ever want you prats to talk to me again!" He stormed out of the library and immediately felt better. In the days that followed Harry didn't have any second thoughts about ending his friendship with those "leeches" and began to understand why Snape took so many points away from Gryffindor.