Lool. Welcome to chapter two! Sorry, I thought it would take me longer to type, but apparently not xD. And I will like to clear up some things. This takes place during their fifth year, but Umbridge did not have Harry's quidditch canceled. You'll see how I use that later on ;)

HARRY

It's like a breath of fresh air, Hogwarts is.

The dining hall is crowded as usual. The Weasley twins are throwing around new novelties. Before my eyes, heaps of hot dishes pepper the elongated tables. Ron and Hermione had already taken their seats, and are now motioning me forward.

"Hey Harry," murmurs Ron. I know his greeting isn't that whole-hearted, seeing that he was so focused in piling his plate with food. Hermione nods at my coming to the table. "Unusually quiet, you guys are." I say, seeing this behavior as odd. "Well," said Hermione as I take my seat next to Ron. "Umbridge was being ghastly as usual. Those hard earned points just seem to disappear…" Ron snorted. "Are you kidding, Hermione? After DADA, you earn more points faster than she took them away."

Hermione nods and smiles, but her smile isn't whole-hearted either. Was it me, or was the toad woman bringing deflation to my friends? I take some food to my plate, trying to find something cheerful to talk about. It was sort of sad because when I came into the hall, I was feeling rejuvenated and happy. And the remembrance of Umbridge comes to kill it off. Now that I look around, the Weasley twin's novelties have been snatched away by Flinch. Heck, even the food seemed gloomily eaten.

I settle for some mash potatoes, because that's how my 'emotion intestines' feel today. But there's a sudden glimmer of happiness that echoes in my head. Dumbledore's Army.

It was a group we started a little while ago, and it's been a big success so far. Bringing it up will hopefully stop the sullen moods that was swarming in their heads. As casually as I could, I said "So, Ron, how's that Patronus going?" Ron seemed to swallow quicker then he should. After throaty coughs, Ron said. "It's coming along faster than I thought it would be." He grinned. Hermione's depression about her points being eradicated billowed away. "The class is a big hit, Harry!" She pursed her lips, and waited for Snape to trudge past, "Soon, I think we'll be able to beat Umbridge!"

Our conversation became more active as we discussed what we should do next for DA. But the exchanging to words slowly peeled off as a certain Ravenclaw strolled by.

"Hi Harry," said Cho quietly. To be perfectly honest, she was a person I didn't want to see, and yet had the lust to see at the same time. Women are so confusing to be around.

"Hey Cho," I answered; I feel her delicate fingers clasp my shoulder. She offers me a smile. Her hand slips off of my arm and she turns around, walking smoothly to the Ravenclaw table. Ron glances at me, and punches my shoulder playfully. Perhaps this is an opening to being a true 'man'? Hermione though, rolls her eyes. "I think she's apologizing about the whole Hogsmeade accident, days before." Ron winked, shooting another strike at my shoulder.

Hermione says, "But Harry, you were too oblivious on the fact that she was trying to make you jealous. Do you think you should still carry on with Cho?" I laughed and said, "Hey!" But it was quite true, after Hermione explained the symptoms of female jealousy, I began to feel like an idiot of how I didn't realize. "I don't think so; she's better off with another person." I say honestly. "Besides, DA is in place. I've got more things I have to focus on, rather than silly romance." I say.

I'm already guilty in talking, because Ron and Hermione are starting an uprising between themselves. I can hear them yelling at each other, it's not a we're-fighting-like-Vikings, more like Harry's-my-friend-and-my-choice-is-better-for-him.

I drift away, knowing for a fact I'd probably decide on my own later on anyway. A chicken leg disappears from my plate, which is probably the reason why I not that hungry anymore. But it doesn't bother me that much when I realize that I am distracted with something else.

Malfoy is by the door. He is staring angrily at the Ravenclaw table. It doesn't take me a minute to figure whose he's staring at. Cho seems like a threat to Malfoy. Seconds later, he realizes that I'm looking at him. Instead of responding with the usual finger, Malfoy reddens and becomes weirdly interested with the arrangement of his robes. He hurries to the Slytherin table.

What strikes me as weird is that he wasn't just there for a few seconds; he was probably there for a few minutes.

'Whatever,' I decide, only confused by the sudden scene. I devour the rest of the food and glance at Hermione and Ron. "- Cho seems a little fishy to me," says Hermione, but Ron counters with, "But he's the first girl Harry's ever met!" Hermione, astounded, says. "Then why am I here, Ronald Weasley?" Ron blurts out, "Your Harry's friend, not love interest!"

'Their arguing about my dating preferences.' But for me, whether it's Cho or not, isn't it my choice to decide who I date? Hermione reads my mind. "It's Harry's choice, Ron." She takes an angry sip of pumpkin juice and leaves the table. Ron shakes his head and says, "Women, eh?"

As we being Transfurigation, McGonagall dismissed us to practice spells while she was grading papers. To Ron's realization, his Animagus essay was due today. So he uses the time to study to write a messy document because Hermione is reluctant to help him. The hour ends and Professor pulls me over. "Potter, the Quidditch math against the Slytherin house will start in the end of winter solstice. Train well against Malfoy." She says

I laugh, "Eager, Professor."

The rest of the class hours drift on and end. It's time to have a last meal of the day. But before I continue to the dining hall, I catch Wood before he walks in. "Hey Wood, do we have the field today?" I ask. His expression was grim, "The Slytherins reserved it today." Wood cuts me off and left to hallway and into the dining hall.

I didn't eat much dinner; Ron was fast enough to inhale everything, so we can be the first to go to the common room. After toying around with a chip, I looked over to the Slytherin table, out of curiosity. Some of the Slytherins were looking slightly worried. Which was quite a sight, since Slytherins were tough students, a couple of them passed by the table and I heard murmurs, "..Malfoy…injury…whisper….Potter."

It surprised me a little; I didn't think it was the truth at first. But then I realized how some Slytherins looked at me, it sort of was fury or hate. I shook my head, pushing my plate away from me. 'It's not it; they usually look at me like that, don't they?' Dinner ended with a hollow feeling. Ron and I went up to play wizard chess. We were stopped by Hermione who frantically said, "Harry, Malfoy just plummeted from his broom during practice," Ron snorted again. "Great, that'll teach him." Hermione bit her lip, "That's not the point Ron, the point is that Malfoy has been saying 'Potter' for the last few minutes since he fell."

As strange as it was, a 'bud' of emotion hurtled in my stomach.