I was up and back on my feet within a day or two - I wasn't injured particularly badly - well, it wasn't something that had Madam Pomfrey worried. I just had to practically inhale a disgusting liquid that she must have concocted years ago. Alfred was pleased by my quick recovery and the Gryffindor Tower exploded; everybody wanted the gossip and details. I couldn't care about what they wanted to know. I was just the measley first year who'd pulled a Hermione Granger and wowed the school with academic skill. The oddball Kirkland with red around his neck instead of the shade of green that ran in his family. The kid that had managed to get himself beaten up by a group of anonymous Slytherins looking for a twisted sort of vengence.

Hermione, Harry and Ron where somewhat supportive of me, but they had their own worries. I didn't hold it against them, but they sure were helpful to have around. I became a victim of bullying and I was about to find out that there were people out there who were willing to walk all over the few people I called my friends to get to me.

"Now you're back, dude, you can watch me fly on a broom! I'm better now! I've been training like crazy and the last time you watched me play was too long ago..." Alfred's words rushed out of his mouth as I walked with him through one of the corridors of the school. His mood had brightened a little and he was smiling a lot more when compared to the hollow wreck he was in the hospital wing. His hair was perfectly positioned, not a hair out of place, his glasses still weren't straight, a little askew but almost iconically so and his eyes were as endlessly blue as ever. They reminded me of the sky once more as I nodded distantly to his chatter.

He stretched his arms above his head.

"Merlin!" He groaned as he extended his hands and wiggled his fingers. "So glad you're okay... we all thought you'd been seriously hurt!"

I scoffed and smirked cockily.

"Not quite," I fiddled with my tie slightly, fingering the crimson silk. "I'm not as fragile as I appear to be, you idiot. I'm perfectly capable of taking a beating."

"Yeah, so, it wasn't right. Just glad you're alright and back to your study-boy self." He grinned and ruffled my hair, using his height to his advantage. I briefy contemplated whisking out my beautiful albeit neglected wand.

"G-Get off!" I pouted childishly and swiped at his arm, encouraging his obnoxious, confident laughter.

"Back to normal, Artie, aren't 'cha?" He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back.

Everything was back to the way it was; Alfred and I started rushing to and through lessons again. He lit my cloak on fire when a charm went wrong (to the amusement of Professor Flitwick), he messed up one of my potions, he almost snapped his wand in Herbology and I almost killed myself during a Qudditch lesson. Alfred managed to earn himself detention after detention, some of which I ended up roped into. We made a few other friends too.

I bumped into a Ravenclaw in the library who promptly introduced herself as Elizabeta, before drawling on about all sorts of things. She babbled about her homeland, Hungary, and her Austrian boyfriend and she even cursed her year group under her breath, complaining about the other third years. I made a mental note to point her out to Harry. As she rambled, Alfred popped up behind me and clamped his hands over my eyes. Strangely enough, Elizabeta squealed, scribbled something into a notebook she randomly produced from her pocket, asked of our names and scampered off.

Alfred was training for Quidditch when he met the Ravenclaw seeker, Honda Kiku, a Japanese student in his fourth year, I created a shaky friendship of sorts with a boy in Hufflepuff from Portugal and we met a few of Ron's siblings in the common room - Fred, George and Ginny Weasley - they certainly made an amazing family.

Another meeting of mine involved a Frenchman, clad in green, with a face all too familiar and a chin with too much stubble for his age. Alfred had been teasing me. He'd snatched one of my books away from me, laughed and waved it above my head, poking fun at the name and the front cover. I'd tripped and fallen straight into the open arms of the Slytherin and I can safely say that conflict did not go avoided.

"Kirkland," McGonagall called one Transfiguration lesson. "I'd like to speak with you after class."

I nodded politely.

"Another thing," she muttered, scowling. "Help out Jones before he manages to transfigure himself into that sorry piece of string."

Alfred had frowned and raised his wand. "I can do this!" He yelled confidently, before swinging his wand and slamming it onto the desk, next to the string. "The string just needs more awesome. I can't use my awesome magic on things that aren't awesome."

I sighed and held my hazel wand firmly. "Sure, Al."

I swished my wand and my piece of string transformed into a spindle of crimson thread.

"Show off." Alfred pouted. "What do ya' think McGonagall wants?"

"Well, I don't know." I yawned. "Merlin's beard, so tired..."

"Go to sleep earlier then. Y'know, instead of studying. Religously." He commented arrogantly.

"Screw you, at least I study at all." I countered.

"Limey."

"Yank."

"Stingy Brit, go drink some tea."

"Shut up, you bloody idiot!"

"Tsundere."

"What in the name of Dumbledore is a tsundere?"

"Ask Kiku."

"Jones, transfigure that string!"

After class, McGonagall kept me behind, as she said she would.

"Mr Kirkland, it has come to the attention of the majority of the staff here that you aren't safe," she started. "Not with the Slytherin house acting so disgustingly. Their actions are out of order, Kirkland, and although it is the minority, they are being dealt with, I can assure you. We are in the process of identifying your attackers and they will be punished appropriately."

"You weren't caused any serious harm, so that is something we need to keep in mind. You were injured, yes, but not a brutally as some other students have been in the past. The reason we're investigating so deeply into this revolves around your house, Arthur. It's discrimination. Gryffindor and Slytherin have never got along, as I'm sure you are aware of, and our rivalry is the most fierce of the four houses, but this case has been taken out of hand."

"Your position has sparked a lot of... controversy, shall we say? A lot of the other students are starting to question why you were put into Gryffindor. The Slytherins want you in their house because of your more than respectable academic reputation, but for that same reason, the Ravenclaws are asking themselves and staff why you're not with them. Not only that, but students are questioning their own housings as well. Professor Dumbledore will be addressing the situation and settling the doubt students have regarding their sortings, but for now I have been given orders to advise you in keeping your distance from members of the Slytherin house. Including your brothers, Kirkland."

"Okay." I couldn't help but focus on the black leather of my shoes. "I understand." I didn't want the Head of Gryffindor to go off on another rant.

She smiled. "Of course you do, Mr Kirkland. I'll be requesting assistance from Jones, mind you. You seem to be helping him avoid complete and utter failure in his classes, so I'll be asking that he keeps a closer eye on you in return. You are dismissed, Kirkland."

"Hey Arthur!" Alfred beamed as I entered the Gryffindor common room.

"Hey guys." I nodded to his little group - the golden trio and Jake - they smiled back.

"Want to check out my wand yet?" Jake asked cheekily with a smirk too big for his tanned face.

I blanched and Hermione looked shocked.

"How vulgar, especially for someone of your age." She frowned.

"Not too many years between us, Miss Granger." He grinned toothily and Ron tensed slightly.

"Hey Arthur," the red-haired boy smiled to me. "Al said McGonagall called you. What did she want?" He asked curiously.

"Just going on about the Slytherins." I mumbled. "Not much. Apparently the other students are starting to doubt their sorting."

"Bloody idiots..." He muttered. "The Sorting Hat's never wrong!"

"He's right," chimed in Harry. "You're sorted into a particular house for a reason.

"Yup!" Alfred agreed whole-heartedly. He bounced to his feet and thrust a fist up, into the air. "Take me, for example! I'm a Gryffindor 'cause I'm a freakin' hero!"

"Yeah, yeah, mate. Save it for later." Jake rolled his eyes with a fond smile. "We've heard it all before."

Alfred weaved his way towards me and slung his arm over my shoulder.

"Artie, you're a Gryffindor because you're so obviously destined to be my awesome side-kick slash damsel-in-distress!" He cheered.

"Bloody git! I'm not a girl!" I barked.

"Didn't say you were, be proud! A hero only has one main man, you get me? You're Robin to my Batman!"

"That makes me feel a whole lot better." I sarcastically responded.

"Sure it does!" Alfred laughed, along with Hermione, Jake and Ron. Harry cracked a smile and a little chuckle and I found myself grinning too.

"Sure thing, Al. Sure thing."

I guess I owe you guys an apology. Sorry for the prolonged update, but I've finished my GCSEs for now. I'm on work experience next week and this summer I'll be going on a road-trip through main-land Europe, so I don't know when I'll be updating, just please, PLEASE stay with me! I'll update when I can! Thank you for all the support!

~Iggyloid

((Another thing, I'll be drawing a front cover for this story and all of my manga will be published on my Facebook profile, Tsukiko Rin. Check it out :) Thanks!))