As Harry was the first to enter the area of which they normally have their Care of Magical Creatures class, he was the first one questioned about the awkward situation by Hagrid. Even Hagrid could tell something was going on by the way Hermione and Ron were acting around each other, and how the group as a whole was acting. Oddly though, the trio hadn't visited Hagrid since the first couple of days of their sixth year.

Apparently, they had all been so busy with what was going on, that they simply didn't have the time, or were too caught up with their current situations.

"Hey 'arry!" Hagrid called out. "How are yeh? Haven't seen yeh 'round lately."

"Erm," Harry began awkwardly, feeling guilty for not talking to Hagrid in such a long time. "Sorry about that, Hagrid, I just got, erm, I mean..."

"Ahh," Hagrid began in a forgiving tone, "s'alright, Harry, I understand, what with yer studies an' all. All that matters is that yeh're here now, righ'?" Hagrid beamed, then looked behind Harry to view the great amount of distance between Ron and Hermione as they walked to class.

"What's with 'em two? Sompthin' I should know 'bout?"

Harry chuckled nervously. "Erm, yeah, about that... they kinda had a - um..."

"Don't tell me they 'ad another fight did they, 'arry?" Hagrid asked, smiling. "Those two..."

"No," Harry said interrupting him. "It was, uh, something else."

Hagrid responded with a confused expression, and a bushy eyebrow raised in question.

"I'll tell you after class," he told Hagrid. He paused and turned towards his two best friends, and then back towards Hagrid. "And you aren't going to get it out of them either, by the way," he informed him.

Hagrid huffed impatiently. "Al'right then, after class 'arry... I have some Pumpkin Pastries I could give yerh to eat anyway - made'm myself from some of the pumpkins I grew fer Dumbledore this year!" he added in proudly.

"Great," Harry replied beaming, trying to be nice to Hagrid. Yet, if the pastries were like the rest of his cooking, it truly wouldn't be so 'great.'

Harry continued to walk into the Care of Magical Creatures grounds and join his fellow Gryffindors. Then, it hit him; Halloween was a week away. Normally, this would be an exciting occasion for Harry; it usually meant Hogsmeade and a humongous feast in the Great Hall. This year, though, it would only produce more awkwardness between Ron and Hermione, and Harry even, for not being able to take sides in this argument, especially when neither one was talking to anyone. Hermione wasn't even raising her hand to answer questions their Professors would ask, and Harry knew she knew the answer. Even the teachers were beginning to wonder what happened.

"Miss Granger, are you feeling well? Usually you would've earned Gryffindor a good amount of points by now," Prof. McGonagall asked out of concern.

"Sore throat," Harry responded to cover for Hermione. Hermione nodded to back up Harry's comment.

Professor McGonagall looked from Hermione to Harry and responded: "You should best go to Madame Pomfrey then, Hermione," and continued to teach class.

So, the way Harry figured it, he'd be alone this Halloween. The new girl, Mandy, had mysteriously fallen into a coma on only her first day of arrival, and it was doubtful she'd stir awake by Halloween. Then, there was Luna, but she was, well, Luna, and quite strange. There was also the possibility of Neville, but Neville wasn't much of a person to talk to, and always seemed to be misplacing and forgetting things, and considering it was Halloween, a lot of Neville's things would most likely be misplaced. If the Weasley twins were still here, he could have at least talked to them, but they dropped out of school last year to pursue their dream of a joke shop. Wait, that was it; Weasley. There was still one Weasley left in this school besides Ron, and Harry knew he could talk to her, Ginny.

Harry continued to be absorbed in his own thoughts as he, like in the class before, was sitting in-between Ron and Hermione. From what Harry could tell, Hagrid was teaching the class about Acromantula. He wished that they could've learned about them in second year so that they could've been prepared with how to handle one of Hagrid's 'harmless' pets. But, knowing Hagrid, Harry knew that there was no way Hagrid could've possibly predicted the outcome they had endured.

As Harry was remembering all of what happened during their second year, he couldn't help but wonder what Ron was thinking about this lesson. He then looked towards Ron who happened to be as wan as the last time they had come across Acromantula. Harry could also tell that Ron was very tense because he was gripping his quill so tightly that Harry personally was afraid the quill would snap in two.

"Scared, Weasley?" Malfoy asked smugly, taunting Ron from behind. "Well then, I wouldn't stand too close to that forest behind you, you know, in case one of them decides to come out for a stroll. Perhaps, by my influence," he smirked mischievously.

"I doubt that," Harry replied, "considering you are too afraid to go into the Forbidden Forest yourself."

"Am not," Malfoy replied curtly.

"That's not what I remember from first year, unless perhaps Little Malfoy has conquered his fear of the dark by now," Harry said with a smile, "I mean, can you handle it without the assistance of Fang this time?" he continued mockingly.

"I did not need Fang," Malfoy snarled, "Someone had to take that mangy dog. Sure as hell you couldn't be trusted to take it."

"Are you telling me that you actually cared about Fang?" Harry asked skeptically. "Isn't he Hagrid's dog?"

Harry knew how Malfoy felt about bloodlines, and although Harry greatly disagreed with him on the subject, it would still be quite interesting to see how Malfoy would respond to that. In fact, Malfoy was absolutely seething at the possibility of liking any other person than a pureblood.

"Come on Crabbe, Goyle," he grumbled, "let's go. We shouldn't be talking with these blood traitors and their mudblood anyway."

"Take that back," Ron said standing up, having seemingly gained back his courage, his wand now pointed towards Malfoy.

"Take back what?" Malfoy questioned with a smirk; fully knowing what Ron meant.

"The blood traitor part, or the part where I called that disgrace to the magical community a mudblood?" he finished off his question, putting the most emphasis on the word mudblood.

"Take it back," Harry said, repeating Ron's movements, and pointing his wand towards Malfoy.

"Or you'll what," Malfoy sneered, "hex me?" Malfoy laughed. "If your charms skills are as good as your potions, then I shouldn't really have to worry."

"And if you were smart enough, Malfoy, you'd learn to shut your mouth," Hermione interjected, joining the argument.

"'Ey 'ey, o'er there! Break it up!" Hagrid called, stumbling towards the small group, finally taking note of the fight. "Malfoy, I should've expected as much from yeh, but I though' better of you three," he said. Malfoy sneered once again in return, and walked away from Hagrid and the trio with Crabbe and Goyle. "As fer you, Harry, I'll be seein' you after class," Hagrid said as he winked, then walked away.

"He's not honestly going to punish you for our fight, is he?" Ron asked, confused.

"Of course he isn't, Ron, don't be a prat," Hermione responded, "Harry obviously told Hagrid before class that he would talk to him later."

"Well, how was I supposed to know that?" Ron asked, outraged.

"Well, how often does Hagrid punish us?" Hermione backfired.

"There's a first for everything," Ron grumbled, completely forgetting their teacher was Hagrid.

"Well, it's good to know you two are at least back on fighting terms," Harry said loudly.

Ron and Hermione both blushed, just remembering at that moment that they were giving each other the cold shoulder. This was only to be followed by each of them cursing underneath their breath: apparently their plan for giving each other the cold shoulder didn't last very long.

The rest of the Care of Magical Creatures Lesson continued on once again in silence except for the occasional chatter.

Finally, the class ended, leaving Harry to talk to Hagrid, and forcing his two friends to walk back to the castle together.

"So, 'arry, what's bin goin' on lately?" Hagrid asked as he poured Harry a cup of tea.

"I know yeh've been busy, but what's with them two," he added hurriedly.

Harry explained the fight as best he could without mentioning the kiss, (that would be Ron and Hermione's secret to tell.)

"Well, I don' see the problem then," Hagrid said gruffly, "same as their usual fights then, right?"

"Err, yeah," Harry lied uncomfortably.

"So what do you think of that new girl?" Hagrid asked.

"What?" Harry replied, caught off-guard, almost dropping the cup of tea Hagrid had handed him just moments ago.

"Comin' in here, an' after the first day, gettin' herself in a coma."

"She's in a coma?" Harry asked in fake surprise, settling the nerves that attempted to drop his teacup.

"Shouldn't 'ave said that," Hagrid muttered.

"No tell me," Harry persisted.

"Yeh interested in her or somethin'?" Hagrid asked with a small smile, which barely showed from beneath his scruffy beard.

"Err, no, it's just... Well, it's strange, that's all. Not many 6th years enter in October," Harry replied truthfully.

"Oh that reminds me," Hagrid said, "them pumpkins will be ready for the feast soon."

Harry could tell Hagrid was avoiding the subject that he himself had brought up, but why?

"Oh, err... wow, I had almost forgotten that it was coming up," Harry said realistically.

"Forgot?" Hagrid said gruffly. "How could yeh forget? They've got yeh workin' too hard, haven't they? Forgettin' about Halloween, now that's jus' horrible."

"Yeah," Harry said, "I'd imagine that Mandy person will have a lot of work to catch up on," Harry continued in what he hoped was an offhand voice. Harry was secretly trying to bring Hagrid back on topic, for he wanted to know what else Hagrid knew.

"Nawh," Hagrid said, "she's up an' ready for learnin' today, a week shouldn't be so bad."

"She's out of her coma?" Harry asked, truly shocked this time around.

Hagrid sighed. "I really oughta learn ter shut my big mouth."

Harry didn't continue to stay any longer; he darted out of Hagrid's hut to go inform Ron and Hermione about what he had just learned.

Harry ran, not really looking at where he was going, until: "Oof."