They did not seem to be able to catch a break. The article about Harry and Ron being a couple led to both of them dreading breakfast. Besides the Daily Prophet, the post owls brought them loads of hate mail. Especially Ron. They had stopped opening them, but some of them were howlers and could not be prevented from yelling their hateful messages all through the Great Hall.

The essence was that Ron should leave Harry alone. Apparently everyone seemed to think Ron had hexed Harry into being with him or some crap. Harry sometimes looked over at Malfoy who had a carefully passive look on his face most of the times. On occasion, he laughed with his friends like he was making fun of his and Ron's humiliation. But Harry had watched Malfoy often and he could detect a flash of guilt passing his features whenever he caught Harry's eyes.

"Wow, this is a big letter." Ron picked up a brown envelope the size of a small pillow. The mail had just arrived and left a small pile of letters in front of the trio. "And kinda heavy. I wonder-"

"No, Ron!" Hermione said. "Don't open-"

"Ow." It was too late. Ron had opened the envelope and a green yellowish viscous liquid flowed out of it, some on Ron's hand. Hastily, he tried to rub the stinking substance off with napkins, but the skin on his hands was already erupting with large yellow boils.

"Undiluted Bubotuber pus." Hermione looked appalled. "To the hospital wing, quick." Ron nodded, but said nothing. Harry could see tears running down his face, but Ron kept his eyes down and his hair in front of his face as he hurried out of the Great Hall. "Unbelievable." Hermione said. "Can't people mind their own business? What horrible person would do something like this?"

"What is that stuff?" Harry said, staring at the green substance that was spilled on the table over the other letters. "What does it do?"

"Undiluted Bubotuber pus." Hermione said. "It's in the leaves of the Bubotuber plant. It is part of many healing potions, but the raw pus can cause nasty skin boils. Madam Pomfrey will be able to prevent long term damage, but it's still extremely painful."

"We have to stop this." Harry said. This was going to far. Not only were they verbally attacked, now they had caused physical damage. Who knew what else could be sent to harm Ron.

"And how?" Hermione asked.

Harry shrugged. "You're the  genius."

Hermione snorted. "Well thanks." She looked at her plate, then at the green vicious liquid and sighed. "I've lost my appetite. Let's go." Harry nodded and stood up.

Together, they wandered out of the Great Hall and the castle. The first lesson was Care of Magical Creatures and the trio liked to catch Hagrid a bit earlier than the rest of the class. It was a beautiful morning, no rain in sight. Spring was turning to summer and the birds seemed to celebrate that.

"Hey, Potter!"

Harry felt a tingle of excitement in his stomach as he turned to a certain Slytherin group. As usual, a few Beauxbatons boys stood with them, but who cared about them. Not Harry.

Harry ignored Hermione's groan and her mumble of, "Why are they outside already?"

"Malfoy." Harry crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head. He had grown to like his run-ins with the boy somehow. It made him feel... a lot of not spelled out things. Malfoy stepped in front of the group casually. He still stood a few meters away.

"Why was your little Weasel friend crying? Did you break his poor little heart?" Malfoy grinned teasingly.

Harry went to answer that he should be more careful because Harry and Ron were doing this for him, but Hermione was faster.

"Yes." Harry threw her a questioning look. "They will stop bothering you." She whispered so no one else could hear. By "you" she meant especially Ron, Harry was sure.

"You broke up?" The guy who always seemed to cling to Malfoy's side since the Beauxbatons arrived, asked. He did not seem happy at all. "Why?"

"Well," Harry said. "Maybe there's someone else I want." He threw a wink at Malfoy, whose eyes widened and his cheeks turned a pretty pink. Harry grinned. He loved this reaction. It suited Malfoy incredibly well. The blonde looked down to the ground. "See ya around."

He turned to go. Then, he caught the eyes of this stupid Beauxbatons, who glared at him. For a second, Harry glared back, although he was not sure what he was being glared at for. But his mood was too good to care, so he just followed Hermione, still grinning widely.

#

"That was a really good idea." Ron said while piling potatoes on his lunch plate. His hands were heavily bandaged, but not bandaged enough for Ron to not get food. "Thanks, Hermione."

She had just finished telling Ron about what happened after he left to the hospital wing. Ron had returned to Care of Magical Creatures five minutes before it ended. He had been still a bit out of it, but physically, he was okay.

"So, I heard our dream couple broke up." Seamus showed up behind Harry, joining them. Dean sat down next to him.

They knew that Ron and Harry had never really been a couple. All of their roommates had been afraid that they would do unspeakable things in their dorm now, and Harry and Ron had been too embarrassed to keep the act up after they broached that subject.

"Yeah, finally." Ron snorted.

"Hey." Harry said indignantly.

"Sorry, mate." Ron said. "But I'm so not into you like that."

"Fair enough." Harry laughed.

"It's nice to see you so carefree for once, Harry." They all turned around. There stood Luna with a lizard on her shoulder. Harry wondered where she got that from. Then again, creatures and animals seemed to love the dreamy Ravenclaw. She smiled at Harry before she left to the Ravenclaw table.

"A bit strange, that Luna." Seamus said.

"What'd she mean by that?" Harry said. "I'm not different now than at other times."

"Well, there's been a lot going on." Hermione said. "Beside the usual rumours about You Know Who or Death Eaters, there's the Triwizard Tournament, the hate you got for being the fourth Champion, the rumours about us..."

"So, do you already know anything about the Third Task?" Seamus asked. "Ow." He glared at Dean, who had obviously kicked him under the table.

"They were just talking about less stress." Dean hissed. "Why would you ask about the Tournament now?"

"Well, it's only a month away." Seamus said.

"Maybe you should focus on the exams then." Dean said. "They're directly before that. You feel stressed now?"

"It's okay, Dean." Harry said. "I don't know anything about the task though." To be honest, Harry hoped the day of the Third Task would never come. It would mean there was only one week left and then he had to go back to the Dursleys. Besides, he got through the last two tasks almost purely by luck. Who knew if he would be so lucky this time?

"We're going." Dean said, throwing Seamus a stern look. Sighing heavily, Seamus shovelled his last potatoes into his mouth before following Dean. Harry heard Dean hiss, "Great job. Have you seen him? He's worrying again-"

Harry frowned. He had not known that his friends had been so worried about him.

As he watched his dorm mates walk out of the Great Hall, his eyes could not help but fall on Malfoy. Even from the distance, Harry could see that he did not look happy as him and this Beauxbatons walked into the Hall. For a short moment, Malfoy looked into his direction. It was like he wanted to make sure of something. Harry wondered if Malfoy was hurt or angry, but maybe he was just imagining things and all that was there was the usual cold glare.

Harry watched Malfoy strolling after his Beauxbatons friend, his stance more tense than usual. There was a pull in the pit of Harry's stomach. Was he... worried?

"I don't like this guy." Harry said.

Ron stopped concentrating on his food looked to where Harry was looking. "Who, Malfoy?"

"No." Harry said. "That Beauxbatons that's always with him."

"I wonder why." Hermione mumbled but Harry heard it.

"I don't know. He just gives off bad vibes, don't you think?" Harry answered.

"Harry," Ron said. "She was being sarcastic."

"Oh," Harry said.