C.F.R. 3

"Ow!" Kylee said as the sixth years filed out of the Transfiguration room two hours after they went in.

"What?" Rory asked as they made their way down the main stairs and out onto the grounds for their break between second and third period. Kylee and Rory had decided that having Double Transfiguration on a Friday morning was not good for one's health.

Next for all of them was Herbology, so Kylee, Rory and the rest of the crew settled under a huge tree across from the Greenhouses. Rory dropped her bag and used it as a pillow on the ground. She looked up through the branches to the cloudy sky. It would never rain, but, as Scottish autumns always are, it would threaten to until mid-November where it could snownon-stop until February.

"My brain hurts," Kylee replied and put her hair up into a messy ponytail.

'It wasn't as bad as I thought would be," Marcus said and pushed his sunglasses from his head, over his eyes and lay down, using Rory as a pillow.

"I totally screwed up on the Practical," Rory began, "my pot had feet," she finished in exasperation, but she and Marcus laughed anyway. She scratch his had, and he made a sigh of approval.

"Well instead of handles, my pot had claws. It might've gotten full marks, since the handles were silver." O'Malley said and his eyes darted for Kylee, as if in search of her approval. She grinned foolishly and pointed her face to where Rory lay. She blushed such a deep red, Rory was sure she was going to explode. Rory bit her bottom lip to keep from bursting out into hysterical laughter. She glanced at O'Malley who was leaning on the tree, his eyes closed, and his hands clasped behind his head.

Rory thought hurriedly to Kylee, Lordie! This is the worst I've seen you blush in a good 5 years! Rory raised and eyebrow. I know I can feel it……….is he looking? She asked and turned her head slightly to look. No, Rory thought back to her. Rory sat up, pushing Marcus to her lap. As long as she continued to scratch his head, he wouldn't mind.

Rory reached behind her to her bag and pulled out her copy of 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi. She turned to a large section full of rainbow colored tabs.

"When do we have to know those plants Sprout showed us on Wednesday?" Marcus asked and sat up. He turned himself around so he and Rory were leaning against each other.

"Next week," Kylee replied and snatched Rory book away from her hands, "And it was those twenty Sprout had us re-pot," she continued flipping through the pages Rory had marked.

"Sure use my book when yours is closer to you!" Rory scoffed and grabbed it back.

"Well I wasn't bored enough to mark the pages!" Kylee retorted, pulling her own copy out of her bag, but only after making a face at Rory; who made one right back.

"Shuttup," Rory said and placed the huge book back in her lap, found her place and began to read again. You always win, Rory thought, annoyed.

"Hey Payne! O'Malley! Crane!" called a voice from behind them. Rory, Marcus and O'Malley turned their heads to see who called.

Devon McFly, a seventh year and captain of the Slytherin Quidditch Team jogged towards them. The three stood up and met him at the edge of the shade. McFly was Italian. He had flawless olive brown skin, deep brown eyes, and the sexiest mane of ebony hair. His goatee was a bit scraggly, but all in all he was really handsome. He shifted his bag from one should to the other as he approached. He nodded to his teammates and cracked his knuckles.

"OK. Practice for this season starts tomorrow at noon on the Pitch. Everyone has to be there. We're holding try-outs for a new Beater," he said in his smooth voice. He spoke Italian too and his accent was always thicker after coming back to England from the school term. Rory melted but didn't notice Marcus scowl behind her.

McFly flipped his hair, and Rory could have been a puddle right there. He had been with Chrysanthemum-Rose Jenson for the past three years. They were planning on moving in together after this year ended. Chrysanthemum-Rose told just about any girl who would listen that she and "Devian" were going to spend the rest of their lives together. The stakes were now 45-3 that they would break up first term. Rory and Kylee would owe lots of money if they didn't. And besides who named their children "Chrysanthemum-Rose"? Talk about hell for learning to write your name. Rory loved watching this Italian Boy in spite of his rather ugly and frizz-haired Girlfriend who, by the way, was not a Slytherin. Everyone on the team thought is was rather distasteful. But they all knew that McFly would pound them into the ground with Rogue Bludgers if they insulted him.

"Yes Cap'in, sir!" O'malley said and saluted.

"Righty-o" Rory said in an unnaturally high voice.

"You bet, whatever," Marcus said and stalked away from the group.

"What's with him? McFly asked and scratched his head.

"Search me," Rory muttered and shrugged. She skipped off to get her bags. The bell rang soon after and the sixth years made their way to the Greenhouses.

Marcus was in a snit the whole period. Rory tired to cheer him up by hexing one of the Hufflepuff baffons who worked in the Greenhouse with them. The kid broke out in purple hives, but Marcus barely even grinned. Kylee just shrugged and was no help at all except for the fact that she was doing most of the work. Rory gave up after being prodded in the back by Kylee hard enough that it was going to bruise.

Why are you even making an effort? Kylee thought to Rory.

I dunno; he's my friend. I would've done the same for you! Rory thought back, disgruntled. The two started cracking up when the kid with the hives started screeching like a monkey.

Yeah except for the fact I would habe fallen over laughing so hard, Kylee thought, still trying to contain her laughter. Rory nodded, grinning and began to copy the notes Kylee had taken.

Herbology ended with sighs of relief from the entire class. Everyone was hot and their hands hurt from writing, not to mention the 40-odd upset cacti from one green-house to another.

"I'm so tired! Thank Merlin we have no classes after lunch," Kylee exclaimed, almost falling over with relief as they made their way up to lunch.

"No joke!" O'Malley agreed. "Tomorrow is our first Hogsmede weekend," he was stuttering and Rory giggled. Kylee jabbed a thumb into Rory's side and she fell over. Marcus caught her. And he seemed in better spirits after doing so. "Kylee, do you wanna...like...go with me...ummm... yeah?" he asked, and his nervousness very amusing. Kylee blushed, but managed to control it.

Marcus grabbed Rory hand and pulled her away from the two. she whined about it but he offered to carry her bag and she stopped bitching. Marcus lightened up quite a bit after Rory s\focused all of her attention on him. She put and arm around his waist and he did the same to her. Kylee watched the too go off to lunch together.

"Yes I'd love too," she gushed, "anywhere you want to go in particular?" she asked and switched the side her bag was on so her free hand was next to his. Just as she had planned, he took it and they strolled up to lunch.