Apollo smirked as he descended down the Hogwarts steps along with Cassius Hughes, falling along beside Daphne Greengrass who gave the boy a quizzical glance.

“I heard about your huge fight with Thomas Miller, I'm surprised you didn't get a detention.” Apollo frowned slightly before realizing that she must have been referring to that snooty Slytherin he had given a good beating to.

“I found a way out of it,” Apollo simply replied as the trio made their way down towards Hogsmeade, all three bundled up in winter gear as it had been snowing quite heavily the past few days; the snow crunching underneath their feet as they walked.

Cassius rolled his eyes at his housemate, not even caring about how he had weaseled his way out of detention, more focused on all the books Apollo had promised to buy him from Tomes and Scrolls if he agreed to go on their outing. Meanwhile, Daphne regarded Apollo suspiciously yet didn't question the boy any more. Later she would figure out what he had done but for the day, she just wanted to enjoy the beautiful Hogsmeade Village along with her friend and his acquaintance.

Hogsmeade Village was a small little place and the only purely wizarding village in Britain. They had many shops ranging from candy shops, to pubs, all the way to even a post office. At the moment, it looked like a fairy tale with all the buildings and houses being completely covered in snow, the sun glaring off of it, almost blinding those around. Apollo didn't care much for the village but as he had a lot of money to spend, he didn't mind going every now and then to buy an excessive amount of things - mostly useless, trivial things - for himself and his friends.

“Where do you want to go first?” Daphne asked the two quiet boys once they reached the entrance to the village. Apollo shrugged in disinterest as he pointedly ignored all of the Sirius Black Wanted posters that were hung up everywhere. Cassius, on the other hand, offered them to go to The Three Broomsticks first, so they could fill up their stomachs before shopping.

“I think that's a great idea, Cassius. What do you think, Nathaniel?” Daphne asked, spitting out the name Apollo went by in distaste yet she knew Cassius wasn't aware of his true identity, therefore she kept it a secret for her friend.

Apollo simply shrugged once more, his hands tucked into his pockets to escape the frigid Scottish air as he nodded his head which was bare - something that Daphne had reprimanded him for as it was far too cold not to wear a knitted cap. However, Apollo was fine enough with his hufflepuff scarf and plain black gloves.

Daphne rolled her eyes and huffed in annoyance at Apollo's lack of speech, yet led them along to The Three Broomsticks anyway. Even if the Petrou boy didn't want to go, it was two against one after all. It didn't take long for the trio to arrive at the pub, ordering a butterbeer each. The place was crowded as it usually ways but luckily for them, Daphne spotted an empty table and quickly lead the way there.

“So Cassius, have you finished all the homework that Professor Lupin gave out?” Daphne asked the other Hufflepuff, making conversation as the two became immersed in school related things. In the meanwhile, Apollo looked around the smokey room, nothing how warm and cozy it was, immediately relaxing him as opposed to how tense he usually was. The third year was simply minding his own business when he overheard a few students talking about him at the table next to theirs.

“Did you hear about what that Petrou boy did?” A male voice was heard as he gossiped to his friends. “Totally beat up that poor Slytherin, not to mention he punched Blaise Zabini in the face. I don't know how he got placed into Hufflepuff - actually, I'm surprised that Hogwarts hasn't kicked him out yet at this rate!”

Apollo's eyes narrowed as he looked around for the source of that annoying voice, a glare making its way onto his face once he reached the culprit. Zacharias Smith was sat with two other Hufflepuffs, sitting up straight in his seat attempting to act all high and mighty. He was a tall and skinny boy with blond hair and an upturned nose, yet no matter how he looked, Apollo would've been disgusted by him anyway.

The Petrou boy got up from his seat, ignoring the curious glances Daphne shot his way, as he walked over to where the fellow Hufflepuff was sitting. Zacharias hadn't noticed that Apollo was stood directly behind him until he spoke, Smith nearly jumping out of his seat in surprise before turning around and looking at the other boy. “So you think I'm not a real Hufflepuff, is that right?”

Zacharias blushed slightly yet didn't back down as he nodded his head in agreement with his statement. “We all know that the Sorting Hat made a mistake by putting you in Hufflepuff and you would've been much better off in Slytherin.”

Apollo growled low in his throat, angered by the words coming out of the other boy's mouth. While he may not have agreed with his sorting back in first year, he had grown to love the house and he couldn't see himself in any other. Especially Slytherin as most students he knew from there were complete prats excluding Daphne - well at least on most days.

“Oh, come on, Smith.” Apollo scoffed while rolling his eyes, shifting his weight on his left foot as he crossed his arms in annoyance. “I think it's more accurate that we all know that no other house wanted you, therefore you were placed in Hufflepuff as they're too kind and take in the unwanted. Not to mention, I come from a long line of Ravenclaws so if I wasn't placed in Hufflepuff, I would've been placed there - not in the bloody house of the snake.”

Zacharias was prepared to retaliate, and Apollo was prepared to punch him after whatever he said, yet luckily for them, Daphne Greengrass swooped in, sensing the tension and not wanting to cause a scene. With simply a nod towards Zacharias, she ushered Apollo away from the situation, muttering an excuse to the confused and riled up boy. Cassius was waiting for the duo outside of The Three Broomsticks, not seeming too amused at the fact that Apollo had nearly gotten into a fight in public.

“What?” Apollo snarled, snatching his arm out of Daphne's grasp, having known that the excuse she had given him was completely false.

Daphne sighed in annoyance. “You need to learn better self control, Nathaniel.” Apollo rolled his eyes at that, having gotten quite used to these talks from both Daphne and Cassius. “I'm serious this time.” Daphne snapped, causing the Hufflepuff’s eyes to widen in surprise, having rarely seen the girl get angry. “You need to learn to walk away from the situation before things escalate. And if you're unable to, you should warn the other person if you're becoming too dangerous so they don't get hurt.”

Apollo grumbled under his breath, not at all enjoying the scolding he was receiving by the girl. He rarely let people tell him what to do, however, he could see how upset his friend was therefore he reluctantly agreed. “Alright, I'll try. Try being the key word here.”

Daphne was slightly disappointed yet she knew it would take time for Apollo to adjust. “Well that's all you can do.” Apollo simply nodded his head in response and the three students continued on with their day in Hogsmeade.

Once the sun was beginning to set in the sky, that is when Apollo, Cassius and Daphne decided to retreat back to the castle. That had had a long day of shopping, Apollo being generous enough to buy Cassius anything he wanted - although he brushed it off as simply having too much money for one person to spend. Cassius had gotten piles and piles of books, all on different subjects, while Daphne had picked up a few clothing items from Gladrags Wizardwear. Apollo, on the other hand, hadn't gotten much for himself, simply a few sweets from Honeydukes, as well as a few extra large quills from Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop. All in all, the trio would say that it had been quite a successful day.

Once the group had made it back safely in the comforts of the heated castle, they made their way to the Hufflepuff common room. Daphne had planned to go with them to drop off their stuff before heading towards the Slytherin common room for Daphne to do the same. And that's it exactly what they had done, now making their way towards the Great Hall for dinner as Daphne chatted animatedly to the Hufflepuffs about anything and everything. Apollo didn't care to pay much attention.

Being bumped harshly in the shoulder brought Apollo out of his reverie, turning to find none other than Blaise Zabini standing there in all his glory, offering the Hufflepuff a smirk. “I'm glad to see you haven't been blown up either.” He commented, referring to how Sirius Black had blown up a group of muggles - that ultimately being what had sent the man to prison.

Apollo's vision clouded over with red, not an unfamiliar thing for the boy, his hands shaking in anger. It wasn't necessarily that what Blaise had said was that horrible, yet Apollo had been riled up all day and also hadn't fought anyone since that Slytherin boy as he wanted to keep a low profile. All that mixed with the smug look Blaise was directing towards him, and Apollo lost it.

“Duck,” Apollo muttered coldly, confusing Blaise as let out a confused ‘what?’ before his eyes caught sight of Apollo's arm rearing back with a clenched fist on the end of it. Blaise, not wanting to get punched once more by the Hufflepuff as he also still had the fading bruise on his jaw, quickly ducked down, his reflexes being fast enough to move him out of the way of the oncoming blow.

“Apollo!” Daphne screeched in sheer panic as she watched Blaise jump down on to his stomach, the male groaning softly at the impact. “What in Merlin's name are you doing?” Had Apollo already forgotten about their talk outside of The Three Broomsticks?

Apollo swirled around to face the blonde girl in anger as he growled out, “I told him to duck, you told me to give people a warning.” Obviously, he hadn't forgotten but it seemed he had misinterpreted it.

Daphne sighed while pinching the bridge of her nose. Dealing with Apollo was the equivalent to dealing with a small child. Actually, Daphne would've preferred the child. At least they would listen to her. “I meant to warn them when you feel your anger flaring and that they need to sod off before you punch them!” She exclaimed, Apollo simply shrugging in disinterest. He didn't care all that much yet he could see the disappointment in Daphne's blue eyes and his heart tinged at that, although he didn't know why.

“Apollo?” Blaise asked in confusion as he got up from the ground, brushing off his clothes as he did so. Daphne and Apollo looked over at Blaise in surprise, having forgotten he was there. Fear flashed in Apollo's eyes at the thought of anyone besides Daphne knowing his real name - especially when that someone was Blaise Zabini. Daphne regarded Apollo guiltily, before quickly scurrying away from the situation, heading towards the Great Hall with Cassius. “Apollo is you actual name?” Blaise snorted as he walked closer to the boy, his friends following along behind him - Apollo not having even realized that Blaise had been in the company of others before their altercation.

“It's a nickname.” Apollo spluttered out in sheer panic, praying to all the Greek Gods that Blaise would simply drop it and be on his way. Yet of course, that's not how things went.

“The God of healing, sun and poetry?” Blaise inquired, shocking Apollo with his knowledge on Greek mythology while Blaise's friends regarded him in confusion. Apollo was the exact opposite of the God whom he had been named after and to them, Hades seemed like it would've been a much better fit. Blaise continued taunting the Petrou boy cockily as he rubbed his hand softly over the yellowish bruise that the Hufflepuff had given him. “Unless you plan to heal this bruise with you whispering sweet poetry on my jaw, then I don't believe it.”

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Another chapter for bitter out! How are you guys enjoying these weekly updates? After the next chapter, updates may not be as quick as I don't have anything planned out. Special thanks to bibliophilic- for helping me out with the ' near fight' scene in the three broomsticks.

But otherwise, let me know what you guys think! About what zacharias Smith said? About his altercation with blaise - and how he now knows his real name? What do you think will happen next? Let me know!