Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its wonderful characters belong to J. K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and its associates. It does not belong to me, okay.

Flashback, thoughts, and emphasized words --italics.

Chapter 7: Painful Lessons Part II

"I can't take this anymore. Death is much more comforting than this." A small, but quiet, moan was heard coming from the classroom. Just because I couldn't control myself, this whole affair began; and now I cannot tell anyone. Even if try saying what is happening with me, then they will all hate me.

Humans are right in their assumption, when they say 'be careful what you wish for,' because you may just get the wish; however, you may not like the catch that could come along with the wish. My only fault was that I had never realized that my simple crush could come to destroy my life, take away all of my life's peace and happiness, and leaving me with nothing, but sadness and suffering.

Harry continued sobbing silently; tears falling from his eyes like river torrents, never ceasing, not even for a single minute. The walls, the chairs and benches, and all the non-living objects in the classroom were the only spectators as to what transpired in the room.

It had taken sometime for Harry to get a hold of his emotions and feelings; when he finally tried to hoist himself up, using the walls as a prop, he couldn't. His legs wouldn't support his body weight, nor it could keep itself steady for long. Harry's legs swayed, became wobbly and precarious as he tried to walk. Abruptly, a crashing resonance came from the vacant classroom

WHAM. THUD.

"Aah!" Harry's anguished voice cried. "Oh, God! ... It just hurts so much!" He slipped on the classroom parterre, just in front of the door. His entire body was aching and throbbing from the beatings and abuse he recieved from Michael. Harry whimpered as he tried to get up and sit onto the cold concrete floor.

How am I supposed to get to my class, Harry thought.I feel so weak. "I don't think I can be present at Professor Flitwick's Charms class." Today, their instructor, Flitwick was going to teach them how perform Specialis Revelio charm. Professor Flitwick was also going to teach them the basics of Unbreakable Vow. Harry couldn't miss today's lesson, even if wanted to.

He had missed three days in Charms class, and often fallen asleep on the desk, last few due to his 'sickness.' Professor Flitwick apprised him (Harry) if he either missed class once more, or slept on the desk, then not only he would deduct some points of the Gryffindor House and give him detention, but his grades will be in serious trouble. Harry recalled the scene very well.

"Welcome to class, my students." Flitwick said in a buoyant and cheerful tone. "Hopefully you all did the homework I gave you last week on the Obliteration Charm." The entire class slowly started to pass the homework scrolls towards Professor Flitwick, who looked quite pleased that everyone had done their homework.

"I also hope no one has forgotten to do it." He said that while looking directly at Harry. who had taken out his roll of parchment as well as passed it Hermione, who was sitting in front of him. Hermione passed it Draco, and so on before the parchment finally rested on Flitwick's short hands. Harry had forgotten to do the previous Charm's homework, and Professor Flitwick very leniently gave him two extra days to finish his assignment and submit it to him, which he did.

"Before we start today's lesson and begin practicing the Oblitieration charm, I have an announcement to give to you all. We're going to have a small exam in four weeks."

The entire class groaned.

"Professor Flitwick..." said Hermione, with strident, yet knowledgeable timbre, "... How many points is the test worth?"

"There is going to two parts to the exam: the practical part and the theory part. You need to get 'excellent' or better to pass the practical part of the test; for the theory part, there is going to be fifty questions. You need to get eighty or better to pass the theory portion."

"What will the exam consist of?" Tom's inquired in a smooth and silky voice?

"Theory will include lessons till the Unbreakable Vow. The examination will consists of short answers, true or false, and fill in the blanks type questions" Flitwick answered.

Slowly, the questions died down, Flitwick commenced the practicing of Obliteration charm, and began ask several questions regarding it, most of which were answered by Tom and Hermione. Soon it was twelve, and it was time to go Professor Snape's potion class.

"Don't forget you homework on Specialis Revelio Charm. Moreover, do read on the Unbreakable Charm for the next class." Gradually, the class started to filter out of the class. Before Harry could leave the room, Flitwick called him out quietly.

"Mr. Potter, is there any time you would be available today or tomorrow? I have some things to discuss with you?"

"Well, I've some free time at four-thirty, today."

"Well, Mr. Potter, come to my office then, where we can talk without any disruption." Professor Flitwick replied somberly.

At four thirty...

A knock was heard in a large glossy mahogany embroderied door, which opened after Harry mumbled the password (Gemini Pulsar) and then requested "May I come in, Professor?"

"Yes, come in, Mr. Potter" Professor Flitwick's usually cheery overtones were laced with misgiving and concern. "Please., have a sit."

After Harry took a sit, and looked at Professor Flitwick questioningly.

"Mr. Potter," Professor Fliwick said gravely, "I'm concerned about your grades. I don't think you're living up to your potential. Frankly, I'm quite perturbed if you can even pass this year."

Harry's eyes widened at the professor's dire statement. "But , professor, I'm trying my best, like always."

"I'm going to be frank with you, Mr. Potter," Professor Flitwick declared, "are you experiencing any stress or tension in your life. I want you to understand that prodding into your personal life isn't my intent here. But still I need to ask you. Is there something going on that has been preoccupying your mind." He looked at Harry seriously.

"No, Professor," Harry said, trying to look as frank as possible. "There's nothing. I think the its coming exams. Studying so much have frazzled my nerves." (It wasn't exactly a lie though; there had been times when he studied at night, especially, since the slumber wouldn't consume him due to the nightmares).

Professor Flitwick sighed, before responding. "Harry, please take some rest and relaxation. If you're over-expanding yourself due to studies, please take a break. Constantly studying is not good for your health or your mind. Even you yourself need a break from studying. Your grades says as much."

"But , Professor, I'm taking breaks," Harry interjected. "I'm trying my hardest, and I don't know why my grades are slipping in this class."

"Mr. Potter, there might be one or two ways to salvage your grades even now. What I need to know if you can follow some of the rules till the end of the year." Professor Flitwick declared, and looked at Harry expectantly before. progressing, "if you come to class on time participate in class discussions, I think it might help you in terms of grade. Don't take anymore absences because it will only harm your grade. More importantly, don't take a nap in the class as well, otherwise I'll have to give detention along with taking house points. So tell me , can you do these. "

"I will try to follow these, then," Harry replied. With saying a pleasant 'good evening' Harry stood up from sanguine velvety chair, and prepared to leave the office room.

End flashback.

"But still…" when Harry abruptly put his hands into the left pocket of his shirt under his black cape and took out a small brown coloured bottle; the phial had some clear liquid within it, which Harry drank it in a single gulp. "… This might help me a bit."

After saying that, he tediously gathered himself up and using the classroom wall as a crutch, he tried walking towards the entrance and towards the Charms class.

X X X X

Wraith-like flashback scene of Harry and Draco in the Great Hall was envisioned in the background of the silhouette's mind. "I will slaughter him! Annihilate him from this world!" He screamed with such fury and passion as if someone has raped and defiled his lover's body before brutally killing her.

"How dare he touch what belongs to me!?" McNight yelled. "He should be taught a nice lesson about not to touch others property."

The boots clashed against green granite creating deep resounding clic-clack-thuds as the figure paced around in the darkness. The room was completely hot and humid. No breeze passed through the room due to the closed windows and heavy coal black portiere. A milieu of malfeasance and diablerie filled the mysterious large room. Any sane person (or wizard) would have thought evil and debauched dwelled within the abode.

"He is just like the other Malfoys." McNight commented to himself. "Believes that the entire world belongs to them. Well, Malfoy, it seems I will have to teach you a lesson, don't I?" He walked slowly, steadily, his chestnut-brown eyes showing nothing but pure malevolence.

"I won't spare you today, Malfoy! I won't! I don't care how much influence you father has over the ministry," McNight uttered with unfeeling cold tones. "No one touches Harry, but me! After all, he is mine. Mine to touch! Mine to feel! Mine alone!!!"

As he raged on, sputtering hateful, cursing words for Malfoy, and possessive words (for his Harry) from his thick almost carmine venomous lips, the ambience around him grew more dark and foreboding. The conflagration in the hearth began to sear with great intensity and raised several meters high in the room. The windows burst open with split ear-screeching sounds, the lambrequins rippled around spryly. The objects in the room vibrated with great dynamism, before it all came to a stop. But the atmosphere of dread and terror was still there.

"You're mine, Harry. Mine alone!"

XXXX

"Today, we're going to make Felix Felicis potion." Snape, wearing traditional black robes with cape billowing around, ordered. "But before we get started, who tell me what is purpose of this potion?"

Two hands rose up. Severus inwardly groaned. Why does it always have to be those to?

"Anyone other than those two?" Snape queried. The entire class was silent. The sounds of bird chirping, insects buzzing could be heard clearly. Professor Snape looked all around his classroom only to find some students looking over their study notes, whilst others tried to make themselves as miniscule as possible. And Harry was one of those that fell in the latter.

Dear Mr. Potter is trying to hide, isn't he? Severus Snape mused somewhat gleefully. Maybe I could have some enjoyment at the expense of Potter. An barely baneful derisive grin delineated on the face of the austere Potions master.

"Mr. Potter..." Snape asserted, "... perhaps, you could tell me what is the use of Felix Felicis?"

Everyone held his or her breath; after all, they all knew that Harry wasn't that bright when it came to Potions. And Professor Snape had a personal grudge against Harry.

"It makes its user lucky..." Harry spoke, almost inaudibly.

"I see, you've done your homework, Mr. Potter..." Professor Snape added derisively.

"Why shouldn't Felix Felicis be used frequently?" Snape questioned. "Mr. Potter?"

"Umm..." was all that Harry replied. Harry cursed himself; he hadn't read that far into the Felix Felicis potion. All he knew was that the concotion made its drinker lucky and prosperous.

"It seems I was wrong..." Professor Snape drawled out his speech. "... Potter, don't you know why the potions is not used much?"

The entire room was silent.

"Excessive quantites can cause foolhardiness, and dangerous overconfidence. Furthermore, it also affects the user's ability to know what is physically done by them and what was not." Harry surmised

Severus seethed silently. That Potter brat intends to show me off in my class. I'll teach him a lesson that he'll never forget. With that thought in mind began to scribble the igredients needed to brew the Felix Felicis (which the students began to mimic effectively).

"You'll be brewing the potion in pairs," Professor Snape dictated, "and I will see around as who makes mistakes and who don't." Snape took several points off from several students. As he came around the corner where Harry Neville were, Professor Snape stood for sometime; he critically scrutinized the potion for the slightest error. Harry was on the table cutting the monkswood roots. Unfortunately for them, he found a small error.

"Are you trying to make a bad luck potion, Longbottom!" Professor Snape snarled.

Neville involuntarily trembled. "No! Professor." He answered timidly.

"Then why is the potion red color. Longbottom" Snape berated the already terrified boy.

"Mmm." whispered Neville, and looked at the floor, instead of the cold beady black eyes.

"Mr. Potter," Snape's in his hate-laced voice continued, "Are you trying to show off? Thinking that you don't have to help someone less brilliant than you."

Harry just stared at him. Replying to him or not replying to him wouldn't help -- in either way. Harry thought wretchedly.

"Mr. Potter," Snape spitefully continued, "Did you intentionally wanted to make an inferior potion? Or did you believe that Longbottom would make the potion perfectly without any help?"

By now everyone was looking at the pair. Some felt sorry and regret, whilst few others were busy correcting their own concoction.

"Hundred points from Gryffindor," Snape spoke scathingly. "Detention for five days for both Mr. Potter and Longbottom." With that said, Snape went back to looking other students Potions and rebuking if he found the slightest errors.

Harry wanted to die. Didn't his life was complicated enough, now that he had to go to even more point losses and detentions. But what he didn't realize that worst was yet to come...

XXXXX