"Mr. Boyle, would you kindly care to explain to me how exactly to transfigure this animal into a perfectly crafted goblet?" McGonagall asked sternly. Aly sighed and turned around in her seat. Damien looked around the room and turned red. In transfiguration, they were learning the spell Vera Verto and how to transfigure animals into goblets. Damien was too busy drawing pictures of trolls on his parchment.

"I-I'm not sure I can, professor," Damien stuttered nervously. Aly looked at Amanda and rolled her eyes. McGonagall tapped her raven impatiently.

"Not sure? But I'm sure you were paying attention, weren't you Mr. Boyle?" McGonagall asked frowning at him. Damien looked up at the ceiling. McGonagall sighed. "Next time, pay attention! You will more than likely be receiving a pop quiz, and it would be in your best interest to study!" McGonagall eyed him. Damien gulped. McGonagall looked at the clock. "Dismissed. Mr. Boyle, see me after class," she said briskly. Aly gathered her things and walked outside with Amanda. It was a cold, snowy, January morning.

"That boy will never learn," Amanda sighed.

"I know. It's second year and he still hasn't grasped it."

"Grasped what, Gem?" Michael asked coming up from behind them.

"Damien," Amanda answered. "He still hasn't understood the fact that he has to pay attention in class."

"I still haven't grasped that either, and I'm in my fourth year," Michael shrugged. Aly frowned at him and they left him as they walked to the Great Hall.

"Hey, did you hear?" Amanda asked suddenly. "Michael is going to transfer."

"You mean your cousin? It's about time!"

"No. Michael, the Michael on the Gryffindor Quidditch-"

"What?" Aly exclaimed, stopping in her tracks. "Why?"

"His parents. They decided that they don't want him to go here anymore. They're sending him to Durmstrang."

"Which is...?"

"Another wizarding school. I don't know exactly where it is, but I know it's really cold up there." Aly frowned.

"Well, who's going to replace him as Chaser?"

"I don't know. I bet Oliver Wood's going to call a meeting soon." Aly scowled and kept walking.

"Why? Hogwarts is just as good! No, it's probably ten times better than Durmstrang," she said making it sound like a dirty word.

"I know. He told me this morning. He seemed really depressed, you know."

"Understandably so," Aly agreed. She sighed and sat down in the Great Hall. She opened up her Transfiguration book and proceeded to start on her homework.

"Hey," a voice said next to her. Aly looked up and saw Michael. He smiled sadly.

"Michael!" she exclaimed, standing up. "I heard about Durmstrang," she added sadly.

"Yeah. My parents felt that I 'wasn't reaching my true potential' at Hogwarts," he said rolling his eyes.

"Reaching your potential?" Aly repeated in disbelief. "How can you not? They've got plenty of opportunities here!"

"I know. But they won't hear anything else. They said that they're sending me home this afternoon and they'll take me to Durmstrang tomorrow morning."

"Oh." Aly sighed. "I wish you weren't going. Who else is going to do that amazing move in Quidditch? Have you told Oliver?"

"Not...exactly," he said hesitantly.

"What? Oliver's going to explode! Just tell him now," Aly said.

"Actually, I was hoping that you could do it," he said sheepishly. Aly gaped at him. "But, he's in class, and by the time he gets out, I'll be gone!" he added hastily.

"How am I supposed to tell our Quidditch captain that one of our Chasers is running off to Durmstrang?!" she exploded.

"I'm sure you'll find some way. Please Aly?"

She sighed. "Fine. I expect some sort of payment, though."

"Like what?"

She held out her hand. "One galleon." He frowned. "Pay up, I don't work for free."