With the new enchantment on his glasses, Nico's Potions grades shot up from somewhere in the "Poor" region, to teetering on the "Exceeds Expectations" and "Outstanding" border. The block text - now in Italian - was broken up and enlarged before his eyes. Now, he didn't have to mimic whatever Blaise added to his potion - which was never too wise. While it didn't significantly impact on his other, more practical based lessons, Nico's attitude towards them had certainly improved.

The only problem he now faced was that Ron Weasley had stolen his glasses in their first flying lesson, and he was doomed to failure if they broke.

'Scared, di Angelo?' the redhead taunted from his position on the broom, several metres above his head. When Neville had fallen on him, knocking his glasses flying, he'd assumed it was some kind of Gryffindor conspiracy. It soon became clear that it was not. It was merely the universe plotting to bring about disaster.

Nico was not especially skilled at flying. The broom had taken several angry shouts of "UP!" before flinching up into his hand. He'd managed to hover for a few moments - until Neville fell on top of him at least. Pansy had tormented the Gryffindor girls, and Draco had seized Neville's fallen remembrall, before Nico snatched it out of his hands. Merlin only knew what the blonde had been planning to do with that.

It had taken him several moments to notice that his glasses were missing, but no time at all to locate them in the greasy hands of Ronald Weasley, whose grip was causing the arms to bend too far. At that point, he considered chucking the glowing red orb in his hand at Ron's big fat head. While he was stewing, he didn't even notice Ron kick off on his broom, nor did he realise that Draco had shot off after him. Granger was fully useless on a broom, and stood worrying at the edge. Meanwhile, Potter looked half-inclined to jump back onto his.

'Catch them then, Death Eater!' the Gryffindor shouted, throwing his precious glasses in the direction of the Whomping Willow. Nico was aware that there was no chance they'd actually travel the several hundred feet between them, but felt his gut drop anyway - the fall would surely shatter them.

He finally lost his temper, and lobbed the remembrall at Ron's head.

To his surprise, two things happened then. Draco went into a nosedive for his glasses - why on earth he'd risk breaking every bone in his body for a pair of glasses, he didn't know. At the same time, Potter was on his broom and racing towards the quickly falling remembrall. The girl Pansy had mocked was squealing in horror; he suddenly saw why his classmate had started slinging insults her way.

After a tense moment, Draco swept back up through the air, holding Nico's glasses in one hand. His expression of triumph quickly morphed into one of disbelief and fear. Nico spun on his heels to see their Head of House storming towards them like a bat out of Tartarus, with Professor McGonnagall hot on his heels. Draco dismounted and handed Nico his glasses back, before he and Potter were frogmarched back inside. Nico could only wonder what was going to happen to them.

Well, until he saw Draco at lunch, at least.