I'm gonna be going to Washington D.C. with my class so… we're leaving on Feb. 20 and coming back on the 26th. Sorry, I won't be updating! I'm sooooo excited…! I've been pretty boy-deprived since I go to an all-girls school. So I'mma get me one of them D.C. boys. Just kidding. I'll get kicked out of my school if I play naughty with the boys…

Anyway, I'll say "HI" to Uncle Bush for you all!

So on with the story…


"Eat something Harry…" Hermione pleaded.

"Not hungry," Harry replied sullenly.

"That's crap, mate," Ron snorted as he pushed a plate of bacon towards his friend, "You haven't had anything. Take a bite… come on…"

"I said no," Harry snapped at them. "I'm fine! I'm not hungry."

"And your cranky temper really proves it," Ron muttered, pulling back the plate.

"Honestly Harry," Hermione said softly. "You've been different ever since you came out of that Room."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "You're a bit distant. Depressed, too."

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Hermione gave Harry an exasperated look, "You know exactly what we're talking about."

"No—"

"Yes, you do! You space off— muttering to yourself."

"That's—"

"You disappear all of a sudden and you tell us that you've been at the library when in fact I've been there practically the whole day."

"Well—"

"And you've been flinching every time Malfoy passes by us—"

That was it. Harry had enough of Hermione's interrogation. She was too curious for her own good and she was nearly crossing the line. Harry felt that if she didn't stop questioning him, he would've been inclined to throw something at her.

"Will you SHUT UP!" Harry shouted. "Didn't you even pause to think that maybe I don't like to share every little detail with you!"

Hermione gasped and moved backwards, hitting into Ron who held on to her shoulders and gawked at Harry. The Hall was in a sudden hush as they turned to look towards the commotion. Everyone was aghast at the fact that Harry Potter was shouting angrily at Hermione Granger.

"H-Harry… I was… just trying to help," Hermione shot a pleading look at Ron who just stood there, pale-faced.

"Then stop helping!" Harry whispered dangerously. Then he stood up and swept out of the Hall.

Hermione's mouth dropped open as she glanced around nervously. She looked at Ron and hissed, "I told you we shouldn't have done that!"

"You didn't tell me anything!" he said.

"What do you think happened in there?" Hermione asked in a thoughtful tone. "Maybe they got into a horrible fight that affected them—"

"Hermione," Ron said firmly. "We should just steer clear out of Harry's way. Let him ride this one out on his own."

Hermione shifted around in her seat, wrinkling her nose and pursing her lips in deep thought. She rested her chin on the palm of her hand and let out a sigh. Then she turned to Ron and gave him a wide-eyed look as she said in a soft sweet tone.

"Ronnie…"

Oh no. Not that look. Not that voice. It was something Ron found strangely irresistible. Now he wouldn't be able to oppose to anything Hermione says.

"Ronnie," she repeated in the same honey-tone. "Would you like to help me?"

Ron sighed in defeat as he nodded, "Yeah."


Harry felt his muscles twitch with anger. He never felt so much confusion in his life. His insides were wriggling and his skin was prickling with goosebumps. This wasn't natural, Harry thought. Not natural at all…

"We got into a lot of fights, of course," Harry heard Draco's voice from across the hallway. "Fist fights, you know; since we had no wands. I always emerged the victor. It was inevitable. I am the stronger one after all…"

Harry's head began to race with terrible thoughts and curses. How could Draco be so ignorant?

"He fought like a baby. I went easy on him most of the time— oh, hello Potter. Didn't see you there," Draco smirked. He craned his neck to look over Harry's shoulder, "Your usual posse isn't trailing after you, I see. Miss Mudblood and Weasel went to go snog behind some books again?"

"Malfoy…" Harry said warningly.

"What's the tough guy gonna do?" Draco raised his hands as if daring Harry to come forward. "Gonna come after me, Potter? Gonna try and defend your friends. Your pathetic, stupid, worthless—"

Something inside of Harry snapped, "YOU COWARD! YOU SENSELESS IGNORANT COWARD! YOU THINK YOU'RE SO STRONG AND SUPREME, STRUTTING AROUND LIKE AN ARROGANT ASS! STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR STUPID FAÇADE! STOP ACTING LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED IN THAT ROOM! BECAUSE YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THAT SOMETHING DID HAPPEN—"

Everything happened in a blur. Harry felt a sharp blow to his face as he was suddenly knocked down to the floor and Draco was standing over him with his fist tightly clenched.

"You— shut— UP!" Draco shouted; his fist still raised high. His face was red and contorted with anger and his eyes were gleaming violently. "You— you don't know what you're talking about—"

Ron and Hermione suddenly leapt into the crowd. Hermione knelt down next to Harry and tried to tend to his bruised cheek. Ron on the other hand quickly whipped out his wand and pointed it threateningly at Draco.

"Your ass is mine, Malfoy," Ron growled.

At that moment, Professor McGonagall swept into the scene. Her eyes widened at the sight of Ron and Draco pointing their wands at each other's faces and Harry on the floor with a swollen cheek.

"Well, I— never," Professor McGonagall seemed to be at a loss for words.

Harry sat motionless on the floor, drowning out Professor McGonagall's shouts and scolding. Apparently, it had something to do with subtracting ten points each and detention. Whatever it was, Harry didn't care the least bit… not the least bit…

Before he knew it, Harry staggered to his feet and took off running.


Harry didn't know how long he had been sitting in the isolated hallway. He just felt relieved to get away from the fuss and commotion. But his chest still continued to feel heavy and burdened. Why must this happen to him? Of all the things that could happen, why this? To top things off, his swollen cheek began to throb. He pulled his knees closer to his chest and let out a long shuddering sigh. He felt a lump form in the middle of his throat… he didn't want to cry…

"Potter," a voice came suddenly. Harry looked up to see Draco Malfoy standing directly above him.

"Go away," Harry muttered hoarsely.

"I warned you," Draco said. His voice wasn't angry. Instead, it sounded rather pained. "I warned you and told you not to pull any more stupid stunts. I warned you…"

"Yeah, Malfoy. I think I'm fully capable of comprehending your useless words of advice…"

"Don't give me that crap—"

"I'll give you all the crap I like. But for now, leave me the hell alone."

Draco's face grew a little pale, "Fine." He reached into his robes and pulled something out, dropping it into Harry's lap. With that, he turned on his heel and walked off.

Harry watched Draco's retreating back. He felt his face heat him in frustration as he looked down to see what Draco had given him. Harry blinked. It was an icepack.

He looked up quickly and refrained himself from calling out Draco's name as he rounded a corner and disappeared from sight…