Conflict

Out of the week, Transfiguration on Wednesday is the most interesting class. When we enter the classroom, we don't see the teacher. Instead, a gray cat is lounging on the desk. Shrugging it off, everyone takes their seats.

Seeing as the teacher isn't there yet, most of the class sits around talking to each other. Me though, I'm staring at the cat with narrowed eyes. I don't know why, but it looks familiar…

"Is anyone else curious why that cat is wearing glasses?" After ten minutes, I voice my observation to the room. Suddenly quiet, everyone looks at the cat more closely and sees that it is in fact wearing glasses.

"Maybe the teacher is just eccentric?" Asks one of the Ravenclaws.

I look at them like they're an idiot. Then the cat jumps off the desk and transforms into Professor McGonagall. Our Transfiguration teacher. "Five points to Slytherin for Miss Potter's astute observation."

She looks at the hunched forms of the rest of the class imperiously. "One never knows when one thing is actually another. That is what this class revolves around."

My eyes sparkle at seeing her transform. 'An Animagus! I didn't know that there were any in the school.'

The class proceeds without any problems, with Professor McGonagall teaching us how to transfigure a matchstick to a needle. I manage to do it without any problem, muttering random nonsense under my breath instead of the actual spell. Who knows what would happen if I did it properly! For all I know, it could turn into a knife!

… Maybe I should do it properly?

Anyways, being the first one to do the magic gets me another five points to my House, eliciting glares from the Ravenclaws and looks of praise from my House-mates.

By the end of the class most of the students have managed to do the spell, though the quality of the needle varies wildly. I am now the proud owner of a sharp and shiny silver needle, much to my friend's dismay.

The rest of the week goes by without any issues: Familiarizing myself with the castle layout, hanging out with my friends, taunting the other Houses with our lead, and hunting down Harry.

Normally that last one isn't an issue, but between the busy class schedules and Ron seemingly against inter-House interactions, I haven't been able to talk with him much. But now that it's Friday and we're done with our double dose of Potions, he has nowhere to run!

I manage to jump him as he's leaving the front doors of the castle. Too bad he isn't strong enough to support both of our weights and we both crash to the ground.

"Misha!"

"Harry!"

"Ron!" The third wheel snarks. We exchange glares as Harry sighs.

"I don't get why the two of you don't get along. You've barely even talked to each other!"

Ron scowls. "She's a Slytherin! You can't trust a Slytherin. You-Know-Who came from that House!"

I glare. "He thinks that what House you're in decides whether or not you're good or evil!"

"Slytherin has Malfoy!"

Harry sighs. "I just wanted to visit Hagrid and relax. Is that so much to ask?"

I roll my eyes. "Maybe. Why don't you ask this guy?" I get up and help Harry to his feet. "I've been trying to talk to you all week, but this guy keeps dragging you off."

"Our classes are almost all back to back, so of course we need to rush to find them. Especially since the castle is so big!"

Before I can retort, a familiar voice interjects. "Well what do we have here? A Weasley acting above his station?"

We turn and see Draco with his minions staring at Ron haughtily. I wonder why they always vanish whenever Draco hangs out with Tracy, Daphne, and I? Are they intimidated or something?

The two of them trade insults for a bit. Draco basically calls Ron's family poor in different ways while praising the pedigree of his own, while Ron calls him and his family evil, snobbish, and arrogant.

I'm content to watch the petty insults, it amuses me to see what they come up with. Too bad Harry seems to dislike his friend being insulted. Even if neither of us know what Draco means by him being more of a pest than pixies.

"Quit it Malfoy! You're nothing but a petty bully who uses his family name to get what they want!"

He winces, obviously reminded of my own words regarding using his family's influence. So I decide that it's time to step in. Petty insults? Perfectly fine. But genuinely hurtful things? That's going a bit too far considering Harry and I have only known these two for a week. Well, the person from our respective Houses. Neither of us really know each other's friend since we haven't spent time together.

I hold back a scowl as I look at Ron, knowing that it's his fault. But with the weekend coming up, everyone should be free to work out any problems.

I clap my hands to draw everyone's attention to me. "That's enough of that from both sides. Creative and petty insults are approved for use, but trying to actually hurt each other's feelings is a no go."

Harry frowns at me. "How are Malfoy's insults not hurting Ron's feelings? He's obviously trying to make him feel bad!"

I roll my eyes. "If he really wanted to hurt his feelings, I'm sure that he could get much more personal. Especially since everyone apparently knows his family and their influence. But I'd classify their insults as falling in the 'taunting the competition' class."

I smirk at the scowling ginger. "Basically, Ron is mainly just irritated that Slytherin is in the lead for the House Cup when it's only been a week."

"You see Harry! Slytherins are vile and malicious snakes! Let's go before they try to curse us or something." Saying so he grabs my brother by the arm and starts to drag him away.

Harry lets himself get dragged away with a complicated look on his face, not saying anything.

Seeing this, I roll my eyes. He can't really be buying into Ron's petty grudge. Why does he even have a grudge against Slytherin!?

Is it really just because some evil guy was in the House once?

"I'm sorry you got dragged into our conflict, Misha." Draco says apologetically. "I hope this doesn't cause you to have problems with your brother."

I wave off his concern. "Don't worry about it. A little thing like this isn't going to drive a wedge between us. Not after all the stuff we've been through."