This story doesn't seem to be going so well, what with only two reviews... Oh well, I'm going to keep on trucking to see if it picks up any momentum - and besides, I really like this. So, I shall continue to write and post as long as my creative streak runs its course. Maybe others will jump on the bandwagon.

Disclaimer: Don't own any bands or these characters (aside from Chloe and Jason), and this is not for financial gain. Don't sue or something... Remember: bad writing is not a crime.

Warnings: Same warnings apply, more to be added later. This is going to get really angsty, ladies and gentlemen... It's promising to be one of the darker fics I've written.

Chapter 2 - Battling the Ferret

Harry walked down the halls of Arthur H. Evans High School with Ron at his side. Hermione had rushed off to the library, saying the new edition of Ancient Runes and What They Mean Weekly or something of the like, and Ginny had gone to meet with her friends before class. Harry absolutely hated this high school. His great-great-great-great-great-great-great maternal grandfather had founded it way back when, and it seemed like he was supposed to be the "Golden Boy" because of it. The entire maternal side of his family had attended and he was expected to uphold their shinning reputations.Not only that, but it seemed like all of the students - his present company, Hermione, the rest of the Weasleys, and a few others excluded - were complete moronic jerks. And speaking of which... Draco Malfoy was strutting straight for them.

Malfoy was not only the son of a successful business man, Lucius Malfoy, but also a jock to boot. He was captain of the rugby team, and quite muscular. He was coming at Harry, a dangerous glint in his pale grey eyes, his blonde hair slicked away from his face. Harry barely had time to react before Malfoy had him pinned up against the lockers. The taller boy's letterman jacket-clad forearm kept Harry held in place, resting against his throat. Oh, did he look pissed... His usually handsome face was pulled into a snarl, and Harry was strongly reminded of a ferret.

"Can I help you, Malfoy," he said, yet he already knew what had Draco's knickers in a knot today.

"You think you're so clever, don't you, Potter... You thought I wouldn't know it was you and your little friends that put those ferrets in my locker... Just watch yourself, Potter..."

He shoved Harry again for extra measure, then began to stalk off. Harry knew he should keep him mouth closed. He knew he should just let the whole thing go. But he just couldn't stop himself. He had to say it...

"We just thought we'd give you a nice family reunion, Malfoy. You know, the family resemblence is strong!"

Draco stopped in mid-step. Slowly, he turned around to face Harry. His face was slowly turning a furious red. Why had he opened his big mouth? Now he really was going to get it. Beside him, Ron was trying to stifle his snickers. Of course it'd be funny to Ron... They weren't about to call the undertaker for him... Malfoy came at him again and his fist caught Harry in the stomach, knocking the air out of him. He was doubled over. Malfoy smirked smugly over him.

"That'll teach you..."

"Oy, you great bloody ferret!"

Malfoy turned in time to see Ron's fist connecting with his eye. Malfoy swung back and pummled into Ron's jaw. Harry lunged at Malfoy. The brawl had started.

"FIGHT!" someone yelled, and it seemed like the entire student body was trying to cram into that one hallway. They all wanted to see who would kill whom. This was all terrible interesting to them.

Vice-principal McGonagall was shoving her way through the crowd. By the time she got to the source of the uproar, all three boys and Malfoy's lackies - Crabbe and Goyle - were nearly out of breath but still ready to be one another senseless. She sighed. There was no accounting for the levels of testostorone young men these days had. In her opinion, kids shouldn't be allowed to have hormones until they had the brain capacity to handle them. For some, that would mean never...

"ALL RIGHT, BREAK IT UP!"

With a strength surprising for her age, she managed to pry Harry and Draco apart. Ron was pummling on Crabbe while Goyle was trying to get him off. Taking the whistle around her neck between her lips, she blew hard. The shrill sound caused everyone within a mile radius to cover their ears and wince. The fight was stopped most effectively.

"Detention! Four weeks of it, and all five of you will be cleaning the front lawn every afternoon for the rest of the month!"

"But, Vice-principal--"

"Mr. Weasley, refrain from speaking or you will get further punishment! Now, everyone, to class! Anyone lingering will be handed detentions!"

The crowd dispersed, leaving Malfoy and his cronies glaring omiously at Harry and Ron. Any further exchange was halted with the stern clearing of McGonagall's throat. The boys gathered their things, heading to class.

Harry gingerly touched his bloody bottom lip. He could already pinpoint each and every spot on his body which would be nice and bruised come the next morning. At least he had gotten a few good hits in on Malfoy. Hermione, despite her lecture Ron and Harry knew was coming, would be proud and jealous. They all knew she wanted to give Malfoy what he had coming to him. He wasn't looking foward to going home this afternoon, wasn't looking foward to having his mum worrying over him. She'd always told him to avoid fights, but James had always told him to never let anyone walk all over him. Besides, it had been a sweet victory to land at least one blow to Malfoy's smug ferret face.

"Well, that was fun, eh?"

Ron was a smiling fool. Harry examined the huge red place on Ron's jaw. He knew it must be throbbing in pain, but he also knew that Ron was as estatic about having beat on Malfoy like had as he was. They may have been hurt, they might be in for an earful when their mothers heard about it, but for a little while, they were heros.

It seemed like an eternity that first period chemistry drug on. Harry and Ron hated the teacher, Professor Snape, and they were just horrible at the class in general. Snape was often fond of saying that chemistry was a delicate art, one that required paitence and skill to master, and it was apparent neither of them possed either of these traits. Of course brainy Hermione was passing the class, but only with a "B", much to her dismay.

As Snape prowled the class, looking for a mistake someone had made so he could jump on it, Harry let his mind wander to the nightmares he had been having. They had to mean something... Hadn't Hermione ranted to them about a book she had read that discussed the meaning of dreams or something like that? 'Well' Harry pondered, 'what do dreams of magic and me dying mean?'

"Means either you're finally wonky from this class, mate, or you should write a book. That could be a best-seller series, it could." Ron nodded and smiled beside him. Harry hadn't known he'd said that outloud. Though, it did feel good to finally say something to someone about the crazy dreams. He knew Ron wouldn't think the was crazy, even if he was.

"Yeah? You think?"

"Yeah. Maybe you should start keeping a diary about those dreams, you know? They could be important or something."

"You know, Ron, that kind of sounds like something Hermione would say."

Ron thought on this a minute, then made a face. "You're right. I think she's rubbing off on me. If I start spending my weekends in the library, be a chum and smack me. I actually wanted to pick up a book this morning. This can't be good..."

"Much like your assignment, Weasley," Snape sneered, suddenly behind them as if by magic. "Hmmm... There's another 'F' to add to your generous supplies. I think I can safely say you two will not be passing my class. Pity..."

Ron and Harry groaned. Their day seemed to just keep getting worse, though Snape was a terror to them every day. He didn't really have a reason to dislike Ron, aside from the fact he was a failure at chemistry and chums with Harry, but Harry he absolutely loathed. James had been in school with Snape, and, with some aid from Harry's godfather, Sirius Black, had done something - the doys weren't sure what, since no one discussed it - to Snape, thus earning the chemistry professor's eternal hatred. So, Harry, being James's son and his almost-complete double, had also earned said hatred. There seemed to be nothing anyone, Harry included, could do about it, so he had stopped trying. It just wasn't worth the effort.

Finally, their salvation from Snape the Horrid was at hand - the bell rang to dismiss from first period. Snape glared at them all as they practically flew out of the classroom. No one ever lingered in his class to discuss something with him, aside from the few favorites he had. That suited Snape just fine. He counted the seconds to the bell just the same as the students. 'Soon,' he remined himself. 'Soon you'll be rid of Potter and his fanclub for good. Just a few months until summer.' Summer couldn't come soon enough for any of them.