Don't own it…

FSl - Thanks, but hey, BV isn't in Hogwarts yet, but some stuff that's mentioned in her story applies here!

It had been a week since the incident with me asking Marcus and getting sent to the Hospital Wing. I was released that morning, the head wrap gone, and went to all of my classes with stitches in my head, and a massive headache, worst one in ages I swear. Ruby is serving her detention this week, she's pissed, had to make potions with Snape on Monday, and help McGonagall with preparing the lesson Tuesday night. I guess she'll work with Flitwick tonight, or maybe Sprout.

Now we're in Transfiguration and my head is pounding. I'm effectively ducking behind Marcus, trying to get some sleep. McGonagall's lecturing us about the Animagus charm.

I'm fading fast again, but I feel this urge to get up, and run. This primal energy within me commanding me to just move. My head jerks up when McGonagall says that she wants a two foot long essay on our Animagus and how we found ours, due tomorrow. Us Slytherins groan, it's a bullshit assignment, and half of us have no clue if we even want to become Animagi. My head dips again.

"Ms. Ross, are you with me?" McGonagall asks.

I lift my head and open my mouth to respond with a witty remark but I'm beaten to it.

"She's fine, just a bump on the head Professor, she'll be good again in a few days," Marcus said stretching back and patting me on the back.

I almost purr with giddiness, while Ruby glares ahead, unmoving.

"I believe Ms. Ross can answer for herself Mr. Flint," McGonagall said with a stern face, and I can almost imagine the look that Marcus is giving her. "Class dismissed, Mr. Flint I need to speak with you," McGonagall said gathering her assignments for the next class.

Marcus hurries to talk to McGonagall, because he's hungry, I know this because his stomach was growling all class.

I'm taking my jolly good time, mostly in fear that I might pass out. Kelly went ahead to save our seats like she always does, and I'm still placing my books in my satchel.

"Mr. Flint, you are nearly failing my class for the second time, either you get yourself a tutor or no more Quidditch," McGonagall threatened.

"I know I need a tutor Professor," Marcus said lowly, like he was embarrassed that I had heard, it's not like I didn't know that he was held back last year.

"Well then, perhaps I shall assign one to you," McGonagall said shifting through her grades. "Ah, Penelope Clearwater would be-"

"No, not a Ravenclaw," Marcus said quickly.

"You would prefer a Hufflepuff?" McGonagall almost laughed, and so did I.

"Can't you find me a Slytherin?" Was Marcus whining?

"Hhmm," McGonagall thought shifting through her grades. I really thought that it was time for me to skedaddle, so I started to shuffle out of the room, shouldering my bag and walking as fast as I could without falling over.

"Ah, Ms. Ross, could you come here please?" McGonagall asked, I stopped and closed my eyes. Oh no. I knew that she was giving her look, so I turned slowly and walked back up to the front of the classroom.

"Ms. Ross, you have the highest grades from Slytherin in my class, I need to know if you could tutor Mr. Flint, seeing as how dismal he is doing in my class," McGonagall shook her head.

Do I have a choice? Like I'd want one...

"You could tutor him in replacement for you detention," McGonagall bribed. She really didn't need to; she had me signed on at 'Mr. Flint and tutor' which equals time alone with Marcus! I almost squealed with delight, but refrained. Hey getting off the detention couldn't be bad either.

"Sure," I grinned looking from a satisfied McGonagall to a relieved Marcus.

"Good, you two are dismissed," McGonagall said waving us off.

Marcus and I headed out the door and down to the Great Hall in silence. I wasn't going to say anything; I was concentrating on each individual step that I took.

"When can you start tutoring me?" Marcus asked me eagerly and suddenly.

I looked up surprised; he really must've been desperate. "Umm, how about tonight?"

Marcus smiled and so did I, which reminded me, since it was the reason that I couldn't sleep last night. "Hey Marcus, you know if you want to go to the Yule Ball with someone else, then that's cool with me, okay? I wouldn't want you going with somebody you didn't want to," I explained sheepishly smiling.

Marcus looked at me and grinned. "Okay," was his replied and he walked away.

Whoa, wait, what? Is he still going with me or not? … I'm so confused; my brows were furrowed when I walked into the Great Hall. "Food," I moaned when I sat down next to Gwen and Kelly.

"Oomph!" Kelly exclaimed because I sat on her leg and started eating off of her plate, but I knew she really didn't mind.

"So, you going to Potions today?" Renée asked pointedly.

I looked around sucking some pasta through my lips and nodded my head, "yeah," I mumbled. Considering that I've only been going to that class half the time, I can understand why Renée's so pushy about me going, and besides, Snape is always giving us house points for right answers. That gives me a chance to redeem myself after last weeks' fiasco.

"So, how is our lovely couple," Kelly asked finally shoving me off her leg and onto the bench.

I was my turn to "Oomph!" and then grunt, seeing as how I was so confused on the situation that I had no clue what was even going on. This weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend though, so regardless I should find myself some dress robes.

"Well?" Gwen pushed pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Huh? Wha…" I looked down and twirled some pasta on my fork, "I don't know," I said taking a bite.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Renée asked. "Either you're going together or you're not!"

"And you did ask him," Kelly said.

"Yeah, but I kinda said that if he was interested in going with another girl he could," I said cautiously after swallowing.

"What!" Gwen exploded first. "You mean you let him off the hook!"

I nodded trying to shy from their gazes and glares.

"I – ah," Kelly was stuttering in disbelief.

"I can't believe that you would do something that stupid Bailey, nice going!" Renée scolded. "I'm not so sure that that bump on your head didn't come with severe brain damage!"

"Or a tumor even!" Gwen exclaimed.

I gave Gwen a weird look than smirked, "Guys, it's still all good, even if I'm not going to the Ball with Marcus, who needs a tutor for Transfiguration, guess what I get to do instead of detention," I smirked teasingly.

Confusion fell on all of their faces. They looked at each other trying to figure it out, and then, cue the lights, their faces brightened and they all looked at me in surprise and admiration.