A/n: Hey, my 7 (!) readers!

Yay! This story has another follower! But it's a mystery again. So if you're that mystery follower, please review so I can figure out who you are. This is getting really exciting! Writing stories, having secret-story-followers. . .

Review Response:

Choc0 Chipz: Ugh. I hate cliffhangers too. But you know what? Cliffhangers make the perfect endings for chapters! I would never leave a book on a cliffhanger though. That's just cruel. (This chapter doesn't really have a cliffhanger.) Thank you for all the nice stuff you always say!

That's all the reviews. Please review (especially my mystery-story-follower! You should also review if you're reading this and not following the story. I can't see who's reading this story besides for the people who followed or favorited the story. I really want to know if I actually have more than 7 readers.) and enjoy!

Drum roll, please. Chapter 9!

Chapter 9

"Excuse me?" Evans asks, turning around.

I look at Sirius. No! he mouths.

"I have a question for you," I continue, turning back to Evans. "Why do you keep on looking at me?"

She looks shocked. The girls sitting around her snicker. "Just wondering how you're fitting in," she says casually. "You looked a little flustered last night."

"I was lost. I just wanted to say thanks for helping me back there. But can you please stop looking at me?"

Her face matches her hair now. "I'm sorry, what?"

Her friends are holding in their laughter.

"I said, 'Stop looking at me.'"

Her friends burst into laughter, and Evans glares at them. She turns back to me. "You said thank you, alright? Just go away."

She looks really embarrassed. I nod and walk back to Sirius. "She won't be looking at me anymore."

(LINEBREAKLINEBREAKLINEBREAK)

"Write me a twelve inch essay about the Great War of the Giants," Professor Binns announces. "Have it ready by next week. Class dismissed."

I close my book. How does he want us to write a twelve inch essay if he spent half the class lecturing us about O.W.L.s, and the other half talking to the walls while we were all sleeping? It doesn't make sense!

It's just a bump.

I get up and head to my next class.

I have Transfiguration next and— I crash into someone (I feel like this is becoming regular to me).

"Oy, watch where you're going, will you?" I ask, without looking at the person who crashed into me. I drop onto the floor and start to gather my papers that fell.

"Sorry. Here, let me help you." She gets down on the floor to help me. Evans.

"You again?" I mutter.

"I'm only trying to help you," she replies, handing me my papers. I put them in my book-bag. "You look really pathetic, by the way."

I look at Evans. "I appreciate the comment. What makes me look pathetic?"

"Look around you. Do you see anyone walking alone in the halls?"

"Er, no."

"Exactly. If you don't want to look like a loser, find a friend."

"I have friends," I shoot back.

"Like who?"

"Sirius, James, Remus, Peter. . ."

"Are they really your friends, Scott?"

"What do you mean?"

"Would they always be by your side?"

"I only just met them."

"So they're your acquaintances. Do you have any other friends?"

"Kevin Grove and May Woodbridge?" I try.

"May, I know. Who's Kevin?"

"Kevin Grove. He's in my dorm. He's a good guy. His father is brilliant at Quidditch. Aolise Grove?"

"Never heard of him. He sounds alright though. Go find him."

"And May?"

"She's fine."

She starts to walk away. Alone.

"Hey, Evans!" I call.

She turns around. "What?"

I walk up to her. "You're walking alone?"

She smiles. "I don't mind looking like a loser."

I smirk. "What happened to your friends from breakfast?"

"They weren't my friends."

"You should get some, then."

"I'm still recovering from losing one."

"Ah. Well, when you change your mind, maybe you could try talking to James Potter."

"That knucklehead? Why?"

"He's not so bad once you get to know him. He's quite funny."

"Maybe I'll keep that in mind. Go to class, Scott. You'll be late."

"And you?"

She smiles. "I have Transfiguration, too. I'll walk with you, Scott."

I only realize then that I never told her my name.

(LINEBREAKLINEBREAKLINEBREAK)

"This is going to be one of your hardest years at Hogwarts," McGonagall explains. "The only year harder than your O.W.L. year is your seventh year, N.E.W.T.s."

"Of course I had to join this year," I mutter under my breath.

McGonagall looks at me and tightens her lips. She turns back to the rest of the class and continues. "As you all know, there are six grades that you can get on your O.W.L.s. Who can tell me the highest grade?"

Most students raise their hands. She calls on one of the Hufflepuffs. "Miss Ginger?"

"The highest grade is O, for Outstanding."

"Correct, Miss Ginger. Five points to Hufflepuff. Who can tell me the second to highest grade?"

"E, for Exceeds Expectations," a Slytheryn calls out.

"Correct, but you called out Mr. Flint. Raise your hand next time."

Flint nods.

"Next?" McGonagall continues. "Miss Woodbridge?"

"Acceptable and A," May replies.

"Yes, Miss Woodbridge. Five points to Ravenclaw. Next are the failing grades. Who knows these?"

Hands shoot up in the air. "Mr. Snape?"

"P, for Poor," the Slytheryn replies.

"Correct. Five points to Slytheryn."

"Snivellus," Sirius grumbles under his breath.

"Mr. Black, would you like to go next?"

"Of course, Professor. D—Dreadful. Sounds like me."

The class laughs. I grin.

McGonagall's lips curl. "Correct, Mr. Black. Five points to Gryffindor. And the lowest grade? Miss Lowenger?"

"T, for Terrible?" she guesses.

"The T is correct but what it stands for is not. Anyone else?"

A failure term that starts with a T? I smirk and raise my hand.

"Mr. Way— Scott?"

"Troll?" I guess.

"Correct, Scott. Five points to Gryffindor."

Wow. I was right? I was saying it as a joke!

I smile to Kevin, who is sitting in the seat next to me. He has no idea what I'm smiling about, but smiles back anyways.

(LINEBREAKLINEBREAKLINEBREAK)

After class, I find Kevin in the halls. "Oh, hey," he tells me.

"Hey. I have to ask you something."

"Ask away."

"Are we. . . friends?"

He looks at me seriously. "Do you want to be?"

"I think I do."

He smiles. "I think so, too."

"Friends?"

"Yeah. Friends."

We high five. "You know, I don't think I ever had a friend. . ." Kevin says.

"What do you mean?"

"No one really wants to hang out with some deaf American."

I smile. "I do." And that was really all that matters.

A/n: :D :D :D!!! It's so cheesy :P

But see? It's not really a cliffhanger. Right?