Classes that followed for the next two days seemed to be a smack across the cheek to say, "you're two years from Graduation. Wake up." And by Merlin's grace, I wasn't ready for it. Though I was grateful Professor Moody hasn't started to give us work for after class (even though it's inevitable), the others weren't exactly holding back.

Transfiguration was no different. Professor McGonagall was heavily piling on the review from the last term; we have to prove we remember at least three spells for the test on Monday morn, and I already know that Destiny will not be very pleased with the notion.

I figured I'd have time to butter him up during the span of this weekend, and, since this was the last class of the day, I really hadn't given much mind to paying attention to things I already knew. Merideth and I were scribbling small drawings on a piece of scratch parchment. I was struggling to keep the dragon she had drawn quiet.

"Now, before you go on to do... Whatever you might do; classwork, I would hope." I pushed the paper back to Merideth after drawing a pillow, hoping the dragon would go to sleep for the moment. Professor McGonagall didn't see it from the front of the classroom; we were near the back. "The Headmaster has asked me to give the message that we need tutors for the students from the foreign schools. The tutoring times would be after classes, and you would be expected to be there on time."

Merideth nudged my arm, pushing the paper between us. Her dragon, which had gained whiskers and black claws, was asleep on the pillow I had drawn in. Merideth mouthed the word, 'Really?' I stuck my tongue out at her. She elbowed me. I lightly kicked her ankle. The wave of pain that shot up from my shin through my entire leg made me yell and jump up from my seat when she kicked me back.

"Good! We have a volunteer." The Professor's words snapped my attention from kicking Merideth back; my face got warm.

"What? No, Professor, I--" The bell toll rang before I could even start an argument, papers and books began shuffling with my classmates' feet. Merideth flashed me an innocent look before running out with the rest of the students. I shot daggers at her before gathering up my own books.

"Remember! We will have a review tomorrow! The test is on Monday!" Getting to the Professor was a complete challenge, trying to hold all of my things while squeezing through people. "Professor, I... I actually don't want to sign up."

"How come, dear?" Professor McGonagall pushed her glasses up onto her nose as she spoke. "You'd be a wonderful tutor. One of my best in this class, I don't see the problem."

"Language tutoring? I don't know the first thing about French or Bulgarian, Professor. I just don't think I'd be a very good fit."

"Don't sell yourself short, dear." I watched her write my name on the sign-up sheet. "How about you give it a week? If you don't want to continue after that, we'll assign your student to someone else."

"I-I don't know, Professor." The idea of spending my free time tutoring another student, let alone one who might not speak the same language as me very well, seemed a bit frustrating, if that could be the appropriate word to use. The idea that, if I can't teach them properly, I'll be responsible for their failure, made it worse.

"Should I mention that, if your student makes an Exceeds Expectations or higher in their classes, the tutor is in for extra credit for the same class as well?" 

Well, that doesn't sound too bad. "Alright." I gave a heavy sigh. "I guess I should give it a try."

The Professor gave me a smile. "Wonderful. You'll start tomorrow after classes, I'll give you a schedule before the end of the day." She then waved me off. "Now run along, I'm sure you have some studying to do."

I do, but I don't exactly plan on studying anything until the weekend comes around. But, to keep that rare smile on her face, I told her I'd get right on it before making my way out of the classroom towards the Gryffindor common room. As soon as I made it past the Fat Lady in The Painting, and up to the girls' side of the dormitories, I dropped my things, grabbed my pillow off of my bed and whacked Merideth upside the head, waking her from her nap. "That was revenge," I said with a glare.

"Fer what?" She rubbed her hazel eyes as she sat up. "Did McGonagall drop points from Gryff'n'dor er somethin'?"

"No, but I couldn't talk her out of putting me on the sign-up sheet, so now I have to tutor a Durmstrang boy or a Beaubatons girl." The thought the amount of perfume those girls must wear, or how the boys must smell like fish from sleeping on the boat at night made me scrunch my nose. "She thinks I was so eager to tutor when in reality you went and kicked me in the leg."

"Then just tell 'er oi kicked ya."

"She'll drop points if I do that."

"Den it looks loike yer gonna be tut'rin for 'is term." Merideth yawned, huffing when she brushed a hand through her hair and her hand got stuck in her locks. "'and me me pick, will ya?"

I grabbed her hair pick off the trunk and tossed it to her. She caught it without missing. "'anks. Ya know 'oo yer tu'trin?"

"No, I find out tomorrow." I contemplated between jeans or just keeping my uniform skirt on as I rummaged through my trunk; I went with the jeans. "You're going to get payback for this one day."

"'eltin' me wit' yer pillow ain't 'nuff fer ya?"

"Right now, not really."

She only laughed. But I wasn't laughing. I just watched my free time to do my own classwork for the next week go down the drain pipe. And I have every intention of getting the rest of the Term back.