(Co-written:

"You worthless scum! How in tarnation did you manage to lose five points from Slytherin? How?" Malfoy was screaming. "I hate you, you know that? You're so stupid sometimes!"

I turned away and started running, crying while I did. Malfoy had stood there and humiliated me in front of everyone while they laughed. I ducked my head down and ran into the first bathroom I saw. I sat on the ground, hugging my knees and crying. Luckily, there was no one around since classes had started again.

I heard footsteps, but I didn't look up. I didn't want to see some girl to see me crying, especially as a second year. Even though I'd already been here a year, I didn't want rumors to spread that some little second year was a crybaby.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and recognized the voice when it spoke. "What's wrong?"

I looked up and saw Fred, my life-long crush. I sniffed and wiped my nose with my sleeve. He sat down next to me.

"It's nothing, really," I said, sniffing again.

"Well, obviously something is wrong or else you wouldn't be crying," he said gently, hugging me awkwardly since I was still hugging my knees. My stomach flipped happily. Fred was hugging me.

"Malfoy yelled at me for losing five house points because I forgot to turn in McGonagalls assignment," I said, sniffing. I hated that I was a nervous wreck in front of him.

"Hey, that's okay. Malfoy's an arse anyway. It'll be alright. I've lost a bunch of house points and Percy's yelled at me a bunch, okay? It'll be alright," he said, comforting me. I smiled.

"You know, I've always liked you," I said. I must've been so emotionally wrecked that confessing to him felt like nothing. Fred smiled.

"I've always liked you too since the day you were sorted into Slytherin."