Harry stayed up all night waiting for Ron to return that night. And when he did, Harry definitely knew because of the strong smell of cigarette smoke. Harry kept his eyes shut while he heard Ron change into his pajamas.

"You smoked again," Harry said quietly.

Ron ignored him as he climbed into his bed. Harry sat up and stared at him.

"You need to stop smoking," Harry said.

"I didn't smoke, okay?" Ron snapped, "It was Draco. I just smell like it."

"Right," Harry said.

"I told him it was a one time thing. If you don't believe me, ask him. I didn't smoke, okay?"

Harry didn't believe him. And he sure as hell wasn't going to talk to Malfoy!

The next day Ron was already down at breakfast by the time Harry got up.

"He left about…15 minutes ago?" Seamus said to Harry, but turned to Dean, who shrugged.

"Dunno," he said.

Harry walked down to the Great Hall and found Ron, just not where he wanted to see him. At the Slytherin table. People were leaning in close to him, as though he was telling them something truly interesting.

Harry knew deep down that whatever Ron was telling them was probably not good.

His anger got the best of him, yet again, and he stalked over to the table. Not knowing that Hermione and Ginny were at his heels. The minute Harry had started for the table, the Slytherins that were leaning towards Ron snapped back; Ron looked over his shoulder at Harry, then got up from the table.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle stood up and stood behind him, as thought Malfoy had been reduced down to "body guard" as well as Crabbe and Goyle.

"What do you want?" Ron asked casually.

"What are you doing over here?" Harry hissed, "With the Slytherins?"

"No one ever said that houses couldn't intermingle during meal hours, did they? It's not a rule," Ron said, "Even if you tell me I can't."

Harry's anger level rose to the top. He hit him.

Hard. Ron staggered backwards, but then hit hard back. As if it were a replay of what had happened down on the quidditch pitch, they were soon down on the floor. Malfoy looked on as if he were watching a wizards chess game, waiting to see who would win.

It took both McGonagall and Snape to pull Ron off his soon to be ex-best friend. Ron yanked his arms away from the professors and wiped blood off his mouth. Harry glared at him.

"What is going on?" McGonagall asked, "Potter, Weasley, explain yourselves this instant."

"If I may, Minerva," Snape interrupted, "I saw Potter walk over and he seemed quite angry about Weasley sitting over here…and he hit him."

Ron smirked at Professor McGonagall.

"Be that as it may," Professor McGonagall said shrilly, "It takes two to fight. Ten points from Gryffindor and ten points from Slythe-I mean Gryffindor. Twenty points from Gryffindor!"

Harry knew she had thought Ron was a Slytherin. So he was mad at her, Ron, and Snape. And Malfoy. Oh, was he mad at Malfoy.

Madame Pompfrey hurried down and ushered them to the Hospital Wing.

"Teenage boys," she hissed as she cleaned them both up, "Always fighting…always fighting."

All the while, Ron and Harry shot glares at eachother.

"Now hurry off," Madame Pompfrey said, "Hurry. Class starts in 3 minutes."

"Yes, Madame Pompfrey," Ron said, smiling at her.

'Suck up,' Harry thought bitterly, rushing out of the Hospital Wing and heading for the dungeons.

"Potter, you're late," Snape sneered pleasantly, "Ten more points from Gryffindor."

Harry almost ignored him as he sat down by Hermione. The door opened a minute later. Ron slipped in.

"Weasley," Snape said, "Explain yourself."

'Why that dirty, rotten prat,' Harry thought.

"Sorry, Professor Snape," Ron said, slinking over to a table that held Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson, "I was late getting out of the Hospital Wing."

"Fine," Snape said, then continued the lesson.

"Just ignore it, Harry," Hermione said, "Ron will be our friend again."

"Hermione," Harry said, "I just realized…Ron can kick me off the quidditch team."

"If he has any sense left in him he won't, even if it meant letting his sister on the team. Even when it comes down to it, quidditch is still one of his top priorities."

"I hope," Harry sighed, glancing over at Ron, who had Blaise and Pansy laughing.