A/N: Hello everybody! I am so sorry that it took me so long to get back to this story, I almost forgot about it! But I'm back and now into full swing writing this story! I sadly do not own Harry Potter, or any part of the brilliant world of JK Rowling. Please let me know what you think!

The next day was arguably worse than the day before. It started out much like the one before because I was woke up, once again, at the crack of dawn against my will. Katie insisted that if I made myself more "pretty" today that it would make me feel better in general and result in a better day. Even though I hated her for it, I got out of bed and let her doll me up to her consent. When time came for breakfast I was already in a bad mood. But the marauders were not at breakfast much to my relief.

The first class of the day was Transfiguration and I had been dreading this all summer. Last year had been insanely difficult for me to keep up in this class and now the course work was going to be 10 times harder. McGonagall almost didn't let me into the NEWT level class after I got an A on my OWLS, but she took pity on me due to the melt down that I had during the OWL test itself. I promised her that I wouldn't disappoint and I never went back on my word. Which is why I was now terrified; I had no idea if I could actually keep up this year when last year nearly killed me.

Another very large down side to this class was that Potter excelled at Transfiguration. It was his Charms: he never had to try hard to be good at it. This was constantly irking to me because I could not stand him being better than me at something academic. It just seemed so wrong. Black and Remus also were in Transfigurations, along with Brad and Michael. (Katie was even worse at Transfiguration than I; she had only gotten a P on her OWL)

I entered the classroom, tense and anxious like I was walking onto a battlefield. I became even more on edge when I realized that Brad and Michael weren't there yet, but the three marauders' were. I decided right off to attempt to ignore them, heading for the front of the classroom in hopes that they wouldn't notice me. Of all the ridiculous vain hopes in the world….

"Hey there Evans, sorry about our absence this…" Black suddenly stopped, so I wheeled around to face him and see what had caught his tongue. Black never had a problem with lack of words.

Remus caught my eye first; he was looking at his fellow marauders, looking confused. But then I couldn't not notice the way Black and Potter were looking at me. It was an open mouthed look of shock, admiration and confusion.

"What?" I snapped, not liking how Black was looking at me.

"Evans, what happened to you?!" Black demanded.

"Uh…." I replied, trying to understand what he was talking about. Ask and ye shall receive. "What in the name of Merlin's beard are you talking about Black?"

And then I saw Remus roll his eyes and Black look me up and down and I understood.

I glared narrowly at the two of them, hating Katie for more reasons than depriving me of sleep. "Katie happened," I snapped, turning again and heading for the front.

"Well whatever happened, I'm thinking it should happen more often!"Black called after me.

"Are you hitting on her?!" Potter yelled, suddenly not focusing on me.

"Oh never Prongs!" Black said, quickly trying to retrace the steps that lead him to the edge of a cliff. Stupid nicknames, at least the focus was off me now, sorta.

I sat in the front, far away from them and as close to new material as I could get. I needed to focus 110% during this class and being anywhere near dumb and dumber would not help that effort.

While I waited for Brad and Michael, I continued to run ideas of revenge through my head. I had thought about it non-stop sense yesterday and knew that there was a brilliant idea just around the corner. I wanted to do a prank that only affected Potter and Black since Remus was nice and Peter seemed pleasant enough. It had to be something that hurt their pride more than anything. That was the only place I could think of that I could leave a mark on. If I hit their egos at full force, it would do enough damage to be worth what it would cost me. I didn't want to think about what that would be yet.

I didn't have a good plan yet. I tried to seek out my inner marauder and find an evil prank that would be suitable. I wasn't coming up with anything though! Obviously I would not make a good marauder.

"What are you plotting?" Brad asked, sitting next to me.

"Plotting? Who said anything about plotting?" I mumbled, looking at the desk.

"Uh you did, yesterday," Michael chimed in, taking the seat on the other side of me. "And right now you have that evil, concentrated look on your face that you get when you are scheming."

They knew me too well. "Just planning how I'm going to survive this class." I was horrid at lying.

Brad rolled him eyes and Michael sighed; they both knew I was lying but also knew I was too stubborn to admit to anything.

"Whatever you say Lils," Brad said, almost laughing.

I stuck my tongue out at him, always the perfect picture of maturity.

"So what's with all this?" Brad asked, referring to me I could only assume.

"Katie is trying to ruin my life," I said simply.

"Right, cause that is her number one goal… Seriously though, why are you all beautified?"

"You know Katie! She's an unstoppable force of nature! She has it in her mind that I would be happier if I looked like this every day for some unknown, absurd reason known only to her."

"Just trying to help?"

"How?" I demanded.

"Beats me! I don't understand girl world."

"Well that makes two of us."

"If it makes you feel any better, you do look amazing," Michael said looking guilty, as if thinking that made him in league with the enemy.

I laughed and rolled my eyes. Boys were so bizarre.

"So where's Professor McGonagall?" Michael asked eager to change the subject. "We thought we were going to be late for class and yet she still isn't here."

Good question. I had been so busy scheming over Potters demise that I hadn't noticed class was unusually late. Not unusually, class was never late. It just didn't happen in McGonagall's class, I could not think of one instance. It seemed like the whole class began to notice at that point, either that or I just noticed them noticing. Murmured questions went unanswered and the minutes ticked one. I was starting to get a little worried. What if she was sick? What if something really wrong had happened?

"Well as you've all noticed, our dear Professor seems to be absent today," Black said, suddenly standing behind McGonagall's large desk. "I thought that I would take the liberty to instruct you on the noble art of getting in and more importantly, getting out of trouble."

Most of the students were laughing, happy to have a break from normal classes. I ground my teeth together, weighing my options. As head girl surely I should do something, but I didn't want to just release the class. I didn't feel I had the power to do that.

"It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission, don't forget that!" Black was saying.

I had to do something to stop him, Professor McGonagall would be furious if she saw this. While I was still deciding how to stop Black, Potter was suddenly in front of the class room as well. I glared darkly at him; no doubt he would only make the situation worse. They began talking under their breath, arguing quietly about something. Black sighed and left the front of the room to sit with Remus again in the back.

I looked around the room, most of the students were still smiling, assuming Potter would only continue the nonsense. Some, like Michael, were glaring at Potter like I was.

"Hello my fellow students," he said smiling. "I feel that as head boy, it is my responsibility to take over this class in our Professors absence."

Ugh. He was just like Black. What was he going to teach us? The fine art of throwing a red soccer ball through the air? Lovely.

"I thought we could review something we worked on last year since I'm not exactly sure where Professor McGonagall was planning on starting out this year. I know most of you are just as qualified as I am, so if any of you want to come up here please, feel free."

What, wait?! Hold the phone! What in the world was going on in the universe? Potter was actually going to teach the class? He was not only being responsible, but taking it upon himself to stop people from messing around? Even is those people were his best friend? This was too much to process.

"I thought we could review switching people into animals. This is potentially dangerous, so if you were not able to manage this before the summer, I do not recommend that you try it now. If this is you, I suggest trying to change your desk into an animal instead…." He hesitated, looking around the room to gage our reactions. It was shocking what a natural Potter was at teaching. "Is that ok with you guys?"

There was general consensus from around the room. I was obviously not the only one shocked by Potters sudden urge to be responsible. This was a side of him that none of us were familiar with. I looked to Black and Remus to see their reaction. Remus looked…bored and Black rolled his eyes when I caught his gaze. He was probably just annoyed that Potter had ruined his fun.

"So break off into pairs and practice. I can switch you back if your partner doesn't know how, and hopefully no one will become half animal," he said with a smile. "I don't know how to fix that so you'd just be screwed."

The class quickly split up, Brad and Michael quickly claiming each other before they could get stuck with me. I sighed and almost felt sorry for the poor desk, it had never done anything in its long life to deserve the type of abuse I was about to put it through. The air was suddenly full of spells, and I was more than annoyed when Black effortlessly flicked his ward and turned Remus into a cow on his first try. My table was still made of wood and looked nothing like the pig I was attempting to produce. This was maddening, especially since I couldn't ask the teacher for help seeing as it was Potter. My level of annoyance peaked when Brad turned Michael into a dog on his third try.

I growled at the desk and tried again, focusing completely and trying to remember to do everything I had learned last year. The legs of the desks became pig legs, but the main structure remained wooden.

"Need some help their Evans?" Potter asked no mocking or joking in his eyes.

"Nah," I replied looking at my pitiful desk that had shrunk two feet. "I like it this way, it's specially designed for short people." No response. I looked up to see where his rude remark was but he was just smiling at me. It was a kind smile too, not of mocking but of…affection?

"Well, although your model does have its advantages, I think Professor McGonagall would like her desks normal when she gets back." Without any comment on my idiocy, he flicked his wand and the desk was normal again. "Ok now try again, but this time be careful with the wand movements. It is much more subtle than what you have been doing, just a slight flick. Also, concentrate on what the desk is becoming, not what it is currently."

I sighed and turned to face the desk. Although I did not like taking advice from Potter, he was right and knew what he was doing. I swallowed my pride (not an easy task) and tired again, keeping his suggestions in mind. To my great shock, the desk this time had a head and curly tail to go with the same set of pink legs! Its body was still wooden, but that was still more than I had managed before. I couldn't help it, a genuine smile spread quickly across my face. I turned to Potter to see his reaction and saw him run his hand through his hair. That one little action brought me back to reality like a slap in the face.

He smiled, unaware of my abrupt return to real life, "That was much better, I'm sure if you tired it again you would…"

"I think I've got it," I said coldly, turning to my 'desk' "Thanks for your help." I didn't look up to see his reaction but I was sure that he was confused. He shouldn't be through, we certainly were not friends. I had just been trying to plan his social demise for goodness sake! I looked around the room again and my mood got worse when I saw everyone but me managing the spell. Even April, the only other person working with a desk besides me, had successfully turned her desk into a sheep. I looked back at my 'desk' with anger, somehow blaming the inanimate object for my failure.

Suddenly the classroom door opened and Professor Dumbledore walked in. He clearly was surprised at first, but then after sizing up the room he laughed to himself merrily and came to stand by my deformation.

"Having some trouble Miss Evans?" He asked quietly, waving his wand and returning my desk to its proper form.

"Just the usual," I said, not being able to stop myself from glancing at Potter.
"Ah, well I'm sure you'll find the solution." He smiled at me knowingly from underneath his spectacles, "You are a very bright witch after all."

"Thank you Professor," I mumbled, eyeing the stubborn wood again. He chuckled and headed for the McGonagall's desk, quickly attaining the attention of the room.

"Well I came here to make sure that this class was being conducted properly, but it would seem you're all doing splendid!"

I scoffed quietly.

"In Professor McGonagall's absence it would seem Mr. Potter stepped up and saved the day," he said with fondness. I rolled my eyes; of course Potter used this chance to look better to the Professors. Surprisingly, he didn't look smug or proud of himself but kind of embarrassed. "Well since you are in good hands I'll leave you to it!"

As he left the room, Brad and Michael took pity on me and came to help. Under their direction I progressed more than I would have alone and the class mercifully came to an end.

"Well, that was weird," Michael said as we left the class.

"Potter randomly becoming responsible? What is he trying to pull?" I asked.

"Maybe he's not such an immature child anymore?" Brad suggested. Michael and I both looked at him like he had grown horns. "Or maybe not?"

"I'm going with not," I said without hesitation. "He's a child, end of story."

Our next class was DADA with everyone. I was beginning to get excited about graduation; it would be the only time I would actually be able to get away from the marauders.

I grabbed Katie as we entered the class and demanded, "Why did you insist upon making me look like this today? Not the best plan seeing as it only made Potter more annoying."

"I was thinking of your other prospects," she said with a sly smile, looking towards Michael.

"That ship has sailed and we both know it, let it go please." She didn't reply and I sighed, I knew she wouldn't give up until I was with some guy. "Why don't you get a boy friend instead of worrying about my love life?"

She glared at my in response and I laughed, she was such a hypocrite.

DADA went by without drama; I was actually able to focus on the material. Finally Herbology came, and I could not have been more relived to make it to the last class of the day.

On the way to the greenhouses I ran into three second year Slytherins picking on two first year Gryffindors and immediately went in to head girl mode. After I had yelled at them sufficiently and taken away 15 house points each I was officially late for class. I rushed to the greenhouses, distressed to find the class in greenhouse three. I was fine at Herbology but I wasn't eager to work with deadly plants. The class was already busy working with tall, twisting vines thick as Michael's thigh. I shuddered as I watched the vines move slowly, and looked around the room for Professor Avery. He was nowhere to be seen though. I didn't see Katie either but Potter and Remus were nearby, hovering above a particularly aggressive vine.

"Oi, Potter!" I shouted, hoping he would turn. He did of course.

"Evans! How nice to see you! I see that you're late again, that's twice in two days my dear!"

"Where is the professor Potter?"

"Absent like McGonagall it seems. There was instructions here waiting for us and so we press on!"

"How nice, aren't you at least a little worried? That's two missing Professors in one day."

"Evans I'm sure their fine! Probably just in a long meeting or running errands for Dumbledore somewhere!"

I felt less than assured. Something was really wrong here and I was going to find out what.