It was bitterly cold and walking every day to the next bus stop was a real chore but Hiccup kept his word that he would keep his lodging with the Hoffersons a secret. Thanksgiving had been far better than he had thought, leaving the message for his Mom...which he had watched her pick up...and sharing a meal with Astrid's family. And they had been welcoming and kind and he had eaten himself almost unconscious. It had been the most amazing meal.

But even more interesting, they had given him gifts. He had been thoroughly embarrassed as Astrid had presented him with a beautifully wrapped parcel containing gloves, a woollen hat, a winter coat, a new top, thick jumper and new black jeans. And he had been speechless, wordlessly turning the gloves over in his hands and blinking.

"Are they okay?" Ingrid asked. He stared at them.

"Um...this is too much," he mumbled. "I-I should pay you for them..."

"These are a gift," Martin told him firmly. "And while you stay here, I won't have you freezing to death!" Hiccup swallowed.

"I must owe you something..." he murmured warily. Martin sipped his wine thoughtfully.

"Help out where you can," he said. "That will be more than enough."

School though was worse than ever. The tests had finished and results came through...and while Astrid was relieved that she had scored highly, Hiccup's astonishingly good results were a source of embarrassment and he found himself targeted by Dagur and his crew-as well as the entire Football Team. He was jostled and slammed aside between each class and used to a blizzard of taunts and abuse. Astrid watched with dismay because he had done what she had hoped-put his head down and worked hard...but she had her own issues. Not a lot of people had been impressed that she had stepped up on Hiccup's behalf.

"I mean-what were you thinking?" Heather asked her over lunch. "Using Student Council pull for Hiccup Haddock?"

"Why waste your effort on that pest?" Cami asked him as Ruff, Anna, Olaf and Damien sat down at her table. Lilah was avoiding Astrid, though she and her gang had settled into a role of sending constant bitchy comments at Astrid and her friends.

"You wanted me to just let Mr Mildew rip up a student's test paper because he doesn't like the student?" Astrid asked her pointedly, opening her can and taking a sip.

"Well, it's only Hiccup Haddock..." Ruff grumbled but Astrid sighed and poked at her salad.

"So if Mr Mildew...or another teacher...doesn't like you?" she asked. "Do you want to let teachers destroy your work just because they don't like you? It doesn't matter whether it's me or Hiccup...it has to be fair and they have to treat all the students fairly!"

"I...supposed you're right," Heather conceded reluctantly. "But why did you step in straight away?"

"Because I saw it happening!" she retorted. And he didn't deserve it.

"Why weren't you the first out of the door anyway?" Ruff asked, munching on a candy bar. "I'd be...and it was a Mildew test..."

"Oooh...do you like him?" Anna asked brightly. Astrid's blue eyes widened. Did she? Sure, he was a good guy and he tended to protect her if there was a problem...and she enjoyed spending time with him...and she couldn't deny her excellent results were down to his help. But did that mean she liked him? She sighed. Of course she did. He was funny and sarcastic and he didn't chase her and annoy her...but there was something about his sparkling emerald eyes and messy auburn hair and his lopsided smile.

"Of course not!" she snapped. "I mean-he's Hiccup Haddock and I'm Astrid Hofferson! Are you crazy?"

"Of course not!" Cami snapped, casting Anna a sharp look. The girl's cheeks warmed in embarrassment but Astrid saw the tall, skinny shape with the tousled auburn hair walk past in earshot and saw the faintest flinch at her bold pronouncement. She kicked herself and tried to cast him an apologetic look but he had turned away shoulders hunched as he walked smack into Thuggory. The larger boy immediately threw him back, his foot skidding and slamming him backwards into a table. The audible crack had everyone turning to see Hiccup collapse to the floor, a hand clasped to the back of his head. He curled up, a hand hard on the bump at the point of impact.

"Look out, fishbone!" Thuggory sneered. "Clumsy loser!"

There was a pause.

"And yet you couldn't avoid me...what does that make you, Mister Football Star?" Hiccup snarked. Thuggory grabbed him and cocked a fist...

"ENOUGH!" Mr Grimborn shouted and Thuggory instantly backed down. "Well, well, well-Mister Haddock. Causing trouble again?" Hiccup painfully stared at him.

"Not really...though I could if you want me to," he shot back. "I've got plenty of ideas how I can..."

"SILENCE!" Mr Grimborn snarled, grabbing the boy's shoulder. "You just can't keep your mouth shut, can you?"

"If I did, you wouldn't have anything to do, would you?" Hiccup asked him, grimacing as he was dragged out of the lunchroom. Astrid watched him with dismay, realising the indirectly, she was responsible. And every time she saw him picked on, saw him unfairly targeted, she felt her inners twist a little more. How much of a coward was she? She was certain of her friends...but Lilah would leap on any weakness and use it against her...and with Christmas coming, Astrid wanted everything to run smoothly. There were a couple of big matches coming up and she didn't need dissension in the Cheer Team...as there surely would be if Lilah really used trouble. No, no matter how bad she felt, Hiccup would have to remain a secret...for now.

Astrid was pondering what to do when he appeared in Math, much to Mr Mildew's dismay. Of course, he wouldn't have come unless ordered because he loathed Mildew as much as the old man hated him. Wordlessly, the boy took the remaining seat at the front and drew out his book...as Mildew swaggered up and glared down at the boy.

"So yer back, then," he sneered.

"Seems so," Hiccup replied dully.

"I'm gonna mek yer life a living Hel, boy!" Mildew threatened.

"Oh, I shall enjoy working with you on that," Hiccup replied smoothly.

"Yer think yer mark gives yer some special treatment?" Mildew growled.

"It got me back into your class," Hiccup reminded him. "What was it? 99%?"

"Yer lucky yer paper were marked at all," Mildew hissed. "If it were up ter me, yer'd have been kicked out without it bein' marked."

"I bet Alvin told you to mark it, didn't he? He doesn't like me wandering around without a class to go to..."

"It would've been better if yer Daddy had thrashed yer when yer were younger..." Mildew sneered. Hiccup's fists clenched and he began to breathe heavily. "Oh-didn't like that, did yer?"

"You are a vicious old man," Hiccup muttered-loud enough for Astrid and everyone else to hear. Mildew leaned forward.

"What was that? Didn't Daddy teach you manners?" he scoffed.

"He taught me that words are just hot air and shouldn't stop a man doing what he must," Hiccup forced out. His shoulders were rigid, his fists clenched and head down so his emerald eyes inspected the desk.

"That's detention," Mildew said triumphantly.

"Thank you, sir. I was expecting that!" Hiccup ground out. "I mean, it really wouldn't be Math without an opportunity to lose part of my evening..."

"Why do you do this class, boy?" Mildew sneered.

"I just adore your winning personality," Hiccup told him with a lopsided smile. "I mean, what's not to love?"

"You be as smart as yer want, boy!" Mildew sneered. "Yer on me radar now! And the Principal's. So if yer step out of line again, yer gonna regret the day yer was born!"

Hiccup lifted his head, eyes blazing and he almost seemed on the verge of snapping a reply but instead, he just gave a wide smile.

"Why, thank you, sir," he grinned annoyingly. "So glad to be popular. And I relish the chance to make your life as miserable as mine!" Mildew glared at him, snorted and turned away, tripping over Damien's bag. Righting himself, he pulled himself up to his feet and kicked the bag.

"Get outta me way!" he growled. "And yer doing all of chapter forty-one fer yer punishment, 'Iccup! See how smart yer feel after that!" Astrid watched him take a heavy breath and open his book and realised that once more, despite all his efforts, he hadn't earned a chance. He was firmly on every teacher's radar. But seeing Lilah laughing at him made Astrid all the more determined to find a way to be his friend...and get him accepted.