Chapter 2

But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts

She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers

Dreaming bout the day when you wake up and find

That what you're lookin for has been here the whole time

You Belong With Me- Taylor Swift

Transfiguration has to be my worst subject. If it weren't for the fact that I wanted to be a healer, I would drop it faster than you can say Quidditch.

When would I want to transform a rat into a goblet? Do you know how many diseases rats carry? And now you're expecting me to drink out of said rat glass? I don't think so. Maybe that's my problem; I don't see a need for it in everyday life, so I don't invest myself in it. Thank God I passed my O.W.L.

"Hey McCarthy, fancy seeing you here," A deep voice said as they pulled out the chair next to me.

I froze instantly. I knew that voice. I picked my head up slowly.

Please Merlin, let it be anyone but him.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and looked over at the person sitting next to me.

Fuck.

Of course it would be MacLean. Last year, I was forced to be partners with him. You see both of our last names start with M and Professor Hoffman got extremely creative and partnered us in alphabetical order. Not just in Defense, but Transfiguration too! At first things went pretty well. I blew a couple of things up, you know the usual, but then he just got creepy. Always commenting on how good my arse looked or something of that nature.

Anyway, he started asking me out, since I'm not attracted to arrogant pricks, I turned him down. I guess he doesn't take no for an answer, and we ended the term with me kicking him in the balls by "accident". I thought he would have taken the hint but I guess not.

"I thought I would do us a favor and sit by you because you know that Hoffman is just going to partner us like he did last year." He shot me a cheeky grin, and I swear he almost blinded me with his magically whitened teeth.

I grimaced at him

"Can't wait to start," I mumbled

He just blinded me with his smile again. Apparently he just doesn't pick up on sarcasm.

He continued to talk about himself and how his summer was amazing and how he spent it hooking up with different girls. Every now and then he would take a break in talking about himself and instead hit on me or make some comment on my appearance.

As if hearing the details about how many birds he shagged would suddenly make me attracted to him.

"Enough about me" Oh My God was he actually going to take a break from talking about himself

"How was your summer? Did you hook up with any fit blokes?"

"No." I said not looking up from my doodle that I had been working on while he talked.

"Oh, couldn't get me out of your head?" He asked cockily "You know McCarthy all you have to do is ask, and I can help you live out all of your sexual fantasies."

Ugh. I can't believe this guy. He's such a jerk; I don't know how I'm going to survive another year with this tool.

Please Merlin, let there be a way for me to be free of him.

Almost as soon as I finished this thought there was a loud noise in the back of the room.

I whipped around in my chair, grateful that MacLean had shut his trap for a moment.

Al and his mate Liam were both clutching their sides in laughter. It was at this moment that Professor Hoffman moseyed into the classroom. I swear to god he doesn't move faster than a turtle.

"Good afternoon class, I see that many of you have partnered with the same people as last year. For many of you these will remain the same." I frowned. Damn it, I was going to be stuck with MacLean again. "However, there are some changes I wish to make."

My head instantly lifted. Could it be? I had a chance, a small one at that, to have a new partner.

"First Miss. Quinn I would like you to switch with Mr. Jordan and partner with Mr. Harris. Mr. Smith you will now be partners with Mr. Jordan. Next, Miss. Ross your now partners with Miss. Kelly. Mr. Lewis your now partners with Miss. Wilde."

Hoffman was quiet for a moment as he reviewed his notes.

"Well, that's all the changes I'll be making for the moment." Professor Hoffman said with a clap of his hands for emphasis. Three seconds after he had finished speaking. See moves like a turtle I tell you.

I felt my stomach plummet. Fuck, this class is going to suck even more than normal.

"Now I would like all of you to get out you books and turn to page ten."

Above the noise of everyone pulling out their books, quills, and paper, there was the distinct noise of laughter from the back of the room.

"Ah" Hoffman began again. "I have one more change I wish to make. Mr. Owen, you and Mr. Potter are not longer partners."

"But Professor!" both Al and Liam began at the same time.

"No buts gentlemen, I've given you plenty of warnings. Now Mr. Owen, switch with Mrs. McCarthy."

"What?" I asked stupidly. Oh bugger did I just say that out loud?

"Miss McCarthy, I would like you and Mr. Owen to switch places. Your new partner will be Mr. Potter."

I could hear Liam gathering up his things. I nodded quickly and began to do the same. I jammed everything in my bag quickly, ready to be away from MacLean and his wandering hands.

"Don't worry love; I'll just be a few rows away," MacLean whispered to me as I stood to leave.

I shot him a disgusted face, as if I would ever want to be around him again, and made my way to the back of the room. I gave Liam a small smile as I passed him.

He smiled back, and I felt myself melt a little. With his dark hair, dark eyes, killer cheekbones, and rocking bod (if I do say so myself), I found a tiny portion of myself attracted to him. I mean you would be crazy not to be. However, my sources tell me that he's interested in someone. Lucky bitch.

I sat down next to Al and began to take my supplies out.

As the class settled down, and those of us who were switched grew accustomed to their new places, I quickly said a few silent thank you prayers to Merlin for getting me away from MacLean.

Hoffman slowly, as far as I know I'm not the only one who's considered shooting a rapid fire jinx at him to get his ass in gear, made his way over to the podium and began the lecture.

I fervently began taking notes. He may not move very quickly, but he talks ridiculously fast. It's my last year in school, and I need to buckle down and score some amazing marks on my N.E.W.T.'s

I was having trouble keeping up, and soon I found myself so far behind that it was a lost cause. I debated on pulling out the recorder I kept in my bag for situations like this, when I noticed that Al wasn't taking notes at all.

In fact it didn't look like he was paying attention at all. He must have felt my eyes on him for he turned to meet my gaze. I looked at him quizzically, but he just grinned and began doodling again.

Now I was interested. It's our final year and Al doesn't even seem to be bothered with the information being presented to us. Eventually my curiosity won out and I grabbed a piece of scrap parchment and scribbled

Aren't you going to take notes?

I pushed it over to him. He glanced down and wrote back.

Don't need to, I know this already.

Huh. How does he know advanced transfiguration? We hadn't even done any of this stuff before.

How? I wrote

You know Rose's Mum? He looked up at me and I nodded my head after I finished reading

Well she tutored Rose and I this summer.

Ew why? Isn't summer supposed to be our free time away from school and everything that goes along with it?

Al chuckled softly

Not if you're my aunt. She wanted us to have a jump-start on this year so we would do well on our N.E.W.T's. unfortunately Mum and Dad agreed. So twice a week Rose and I found ourselves being tutored in a different subject.

Ouch

Tell me about it.

I could tell this was the end of our conversation and didn't try to strike up a new one.

I looked over at Rose, who like Al wasn't taking notes. Instead she seemed to be examining her fingernails.

I spent the remainder of the class period wondering what I would have to do to be tutored for free by Mrs. Weasley.

When the bell rang I jumped. The lesson was done already. I looked down at my page of notes and sighed. Looks like I'm going to be taking notes from the book again.

Morgan was waiting for me when I made my way out into the hall.

"How was class with shit for brains?" Morgan asked. She knew about my great dislike for MacLean.

"Well, actually," I began. However I was cut off as someone called my name. Turning around I was shocked to discover that it was Al.

"You know, I noticed that you didn't take any notes either McCarthy. But I don't think it was because you were tutored in the subject all summer. If you ever need help let me know" Al said with a smile as he walked down the hall.

"Who you knew that you were so observant Potter? Yeah, if I need help you'll be the first to know."

Al nodded his head and then disappeared into the crowed heading in the opposite way.

"Do my ears deceive me or did Al Potter just offer to tutor you in transfiguration?" Morgan said excitedly her brown eyes locking into mine.

"Yeah, apparently his aunt tutored him all summer" I replied as we began to make our way to the great hall for dinner.

"Hot damn. This is just the in we need. Now all you have to do is chat him up about me and get him to break up with Boobs"

"Hold on, who's Boobs?" I asked

"Claire" Morgan said to me as if it was the simplest thing in the world

"I thought she was Bitty Bitch?"

"I've changed my mind, Boobs is just so fitting. I mean have you checked out her rack? It's huge!" Morgan said quite forcefully.

"Oh" was all I could manage. To be honest I never noticed Claire's chest. I guess her shirts were tighter in that department. Come to think of it she often unbuttons her blouse to a semi scandalous level.

As we walked Morgan babbled about her day, how her classes were, how much she hated Claire, and how she and Al would have such pretty children.

"You will do it won't you?" Morgan asked leaning in close.

"Do what?" I asked. Honestly confused.

"Break Al and Boobs up"

"Oh, of course. I told you I would didn't I"

Morgan smiled at me

"You're such a good friend Ry"

I smiled tightly at her. I just hope I would be able to keep my promise.

Hello Readers,

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Reviews are a wonderful thing. I love hearing your thoughts about the story. Also the song at the top is You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift. Which is fitting considering how Morgan is feeling right now.