Chapter Three- The Transfiguration teacher and other nightmares
"No, no, no!" Ginny Weasley barked.
June Lambert started shaking as Ginny pointed her wand at the pieces of broken glass that were in the floor. The pieces disappeared and Ginny glared at June.
"Ms. Lambert, this is the fifth glass you break!" Ginny roared. "You're supposed to transfigurate it into a small, shiny, clock! Is that too difficult?"
"Is she mental or what?" Chris muttered to Anne. Anne shrugged and tried hard not to look at Ginny.
Ginny had been really nice at the beginning of the class, until she had read the list. Her voice had turned cold when she mentioned Anne.
Ginny turned to look at Anne and frowned. "Potter! Keedsler! Are you done with your assignment?" Chris shook his head and Anne remained silent.
"What was the spell again?" Chris asked, pointing his wand at the glass.
"Who cares? I have a headache," Anne said, closing her eyes.
"First day back always brings a lot of pressure," Andrew said next to her. "Specially after Potions and a very boring Ancient Runes."
"Ancient Runes was cool," Marcela said. "And I can't wait for my Muggle Studies lesson."
"Parker! Barry!" Ginny snapped and Andrew returned to his glass.
"Do we have a free period?" Andrew muttered.
"Chris and I have one after Transfiguration," Anne muttered back. "But since you and Marcela are in Muggle Studies…"
"Funny that you and Chris have the same schedule," Marcela whispered angrily.
"What can I say, we're soul mates," Chris muttered.
"You don't mean that, Keedsler," Marcela retorted quietly.
"Hey, that you change your soul mate every week-" Chris started.
"Your four at the back!" Ginny yelled. "Get out of my classroom, and fifty points from Gryffindor for talking and talking!"
Marcela glared at Chris and picked her books and left stomping her feet. Anne, Andrew and Chris took their time picking up their things, and finally left.
"Goody, a hundred points less from Gryffindor thanks to us," Anne said darkly as they left the classroom. "And it's only the first day."
"Well, you know how to make it up for Gryffindor," Andrew said.
"I'm not entering the Quidditch team," Anne said as they walked down the hallway, looking for Marcela. "They will expect me to be like my father and my grandfather. What if I'm not that good?"
"Believe me, you're good," Chris said. "Where the hell did Marcela go?"
"I don't know, but she's hiding from you," Anne said.
"She started it," Chris said, sounding upset. "I hate when she does that. Remember last year? She fought all day with Vaughn Ville and ended dating him! Is she crazy or what?"
"Maybe she'll end up dating you," Andrew mocked. Chris rolled his eyes at him and remained silent.
"Let me check in the bathroom," Anne said. "You two can wait down the hallway."
Anne entered the bathroom and hear sobbing coming from a cubicle. Anne walked over to the source of the crying and saw Marcela.
"Are you okay? You've been weird all day," Anne said.
"You think?" Marcela snapped. "At least you noticed, but you have been so busy talking with Chris that…"
"Wait a second… Are you jealous because I talk to Chris?" Anne snorted. "Oh, come on! Chris has been my friend since first year! Am I supposed not to talk to him?"
Marcela sniffed and said nothing. "Wait a second… Do you like Chris?" Anne asked.
"Eww, no!" Marcela protested. "I mean, I thought about him all summer, but that doesn't mean that..."
Marcela's eyes widened in terror and she gasped. "Oh God! I like him!"
"Now, that's weird," Anne mocked. "What's wrong in liking him? I mean, it could help that you weren't such a jealous prat, but…."
"You are not supposed to fall in love with your best friend!" Marcela cried. "It's a crime!"
"No, it's not," Anne said. "My parents were best friends and they got married… okay, that was a creepy example."
"I'll try to like someone else," Marcela said. "I know! What about Ricky Larsen? He's really good-looking."
"And he just broke up with his girlfriend," Anne nodded. "A good choice. But you can't try to change your feelings that fast."
"Watch me!" Marcela said joyfully and both girls left the bathroom. "I'm in love with Ricky Larsen!"
Chris and Andrew were standing in the hallway. "So, can I ask why you're announcing your love for Ricky Larsen with no sign of embarrassment?" Chris asked.
"It's all about Ricky Larsen now," Anne said.
"Are you really in love with him?" Chris snorted.
"None of your business, Keedsler," Marcela said maliciously.
"Marcy! Marcy!" Meredith was walking over to them, her blond hair floating gracefully around her.
"Yes, Meredith?" Marcela asked crossly.
"I need some Galleons," Meredith said briskly. "I've spent all my week allowance and this weekend is a Hogsmade weekend."
"Too bad," Marcela said. "I can't believe it's the first day back and you've already spent twenty Galleons. You amaze me."
"Shouldn't you be in class?" Andrew asked.
Meredith turned to look at Andrew and frowned. "Well, yes, but I was snogging Ricky Larsen," Meredith said simply.
Marcela's mouth dropped and Chris let out a chuckle. "But he's… He's two years younger than you!" Anne said in disbelief.
"So what? He's so handsome!" Meredith said. "And it's not like we are going to date or something… So, Potter, can you lend me some Galleons?"
"I'm afraid you have mistaken me with a rich girl," Anne said, crossing her arms.
"I'll lend you five Galleons," Chris said, opening his backpack. He took out the money and handed it to Meredith. "You don't have to pay me. You just made my day."
"Oh, you're so nice, Christopher," Meredith said happily.
"You know his name?" Marcela gasped.
"Of course, he's the only cute friend you have," Meredith said. She gave Chris a long kiss in the cheek and drew away, beaming.
"When you have nothing to do, I know of a classroom that's always empty," Meredith said coquettishly.
"I'll remember that valuable piece of information," Chris said. Meredith walked away and Marcela glared after her.
"She knows your name!" Marcela yelled at Chris.
"She thinks you're the cute one," Andrew mocked. "Now, that's disturbing."
"What can I say?" Chris snorted. "By the way, Marcela, do you still fancy Ricky Larsen?"
Marcela's eyes were filled with tears and she ran to the bathroom. "Great," Anne snapped. "You're amazing, Chris."
"I should apologize, right?" Chris said, looking peaky.
"It would be a good idea," Andrew said. Chris shrugged and walked over to the bathroom.
"I had never entered a girls bathroom," Chris sighed. "Just for the record, let me tell you that this is the greatest sacrifice I've done in my life."
"I'll make a mental note about it," Anne grinned.
Chris sighed again and entered the bathroom. "Do you fancy going to the lake?" Anne asked Andrew.
"We have nothing else to do," Andrew smiled. "So why not?"
Andrew put an arm around Anne's shoulders and they walked away.