"Can anyone tell me what the charm for the transformation of a bat to a cup is?" Professor Mcgonagall said, her voice sharper than a knife.

I watched through narrowed eyes as the rest of my classmates refused to raise their hands, and with a sigh I put mine up.

Mcgonagall rolled her eyes at the class, since I was the only one willing to answer again.

"Heximona is the charm for transforming a bat to a cup," I said to our headmaster, who nodded in approval. "Exactly. Now, I want you to practice. Make sure to get all the wrist movements."

When everyone began to chatter as they started to practice, I sneaked a look at Mr. I'm-so-amazing-Potter, who was imitating Mcgonagall to his friends behind her back.

I scowled at him before turning back to my cup, forcing down my annoyance at James and his goons.

Looking around at the full classroom, where I knew everyone's names, I concluded that the first week of school at Hogwarts had gone way too fast.

After the Hogwarts Express Steph, Gwen and I all got a dorm together, and soon we had our schedules and our stuff was all packed up.Mia, my tawny owl had found her way to the Owlery, and I had finished another one of my books.

Soon I would have to borrow some from the school library, which I'll admit, isn't as amazing a muggle library. Weird right?

With a sigh I transformed the cup to a bat and back again perfectly for the fifth time, pulled out my journal and quill from my book bag, and began to write.

September 6th, Transfiguration class, 10:42 am.

I'm currently in Transfiguration, and extremely upset at James Potter. A week has passed since he asked Steph out, and all she can talk about is him. It's driving me nuts! All I want to do is study and enjoy Hogwarts, but all she and Gwen can talk about is the famous James.

I endured him for the past five years of my life, but now everyone's in love with him and I don't know what to do. So far school has gone pretty good, and I have four classes with the Ravenclaw's, three with the Hufflepuff's and two with the Slytherin's.

Unfortunately my Transfiguration and Potions classes aren't with Steph or Gwen, but with James and his crew. But now that the first week is over and everyone's settled into Hogwarts life, things have been good.

James hasn't asked Steph out again, but I still can't believe he would ask Stephanie Clark Mcartney, my best friend, out at all! Especially on the first day! He's such a player and I can't take it. It's just something about him that makes we want to-

I closed my journal hastily as Professor Mcgonagall's shadow appeared over me. "Winters, please come with me."

I got up, feeling nervous as the whole class stared at me. In the back I could hear Elliot whisper "ooo," and I glared at him.

He stuck his tongue out at me, and Mcgonagall  whipped around just as he turned back to his writing. She also beckoned, to my 'utmost excitement,' James Potter forward. "Class, continue to practice. I will be right with you."

As we stepped outside the classroom I avoided James's eyes and only stared at Mcgonagall, who was looking excited.

"Winters, Potter." She acknowledged us, and I saw Potter ruffle his hair again. "I have exciting news for you both. I know you both signed up to be team captain for the Gryfindor Quidditch team, and after much discussion among myself, I have chosen a captain."

I felt my heartbeat race faster, kicking myself for forgetting that summer day when I had gotten an owl from Hogwarts, asking me if I wanted to sign up for a chance to be quidditch captain.

I obviously had said yes. I sneaked a look at James, watching his eyes round with excitement.

Part of me hoped he got it, but the other part of me was screaming at Mcgonagall to say it was myself, and my insides filled with hope.

Mcgonagall looked at each of us before taking a deep breath and saying, "the new Gryfindor quidditch captain is Morgan."

My heart soared, and I felt a grin spread across my face. "Thank you Professor!" I exclaimed, daring to sneak a look at James's face.

His eyes were narrowed dangerously, but I couldn't read his blank expression, which somehow made my nerves all the worse.

Mcgonagall nodded to me and said "Quidditch tryouts are tonight at seven. Don't let me down Winters; I want a good team this year." She gave me a wink. "And I'll see you at HCT tomorrow."

I gave her a weak grin.

Little did she know the real truth.

And with that Professor turned around and walked back into the  classroom. I turned to James awkwardly, racking my brain for something to say to him when he turned around, bumped my shoulder, and walked right into the classroom.

Somehow this exchange made me feel worse than if he had said he would personally kill me.

...

The rest of the day went by like a funeral, which could possibly, in the future, be mine. All I could think about was James's sullen face, and I couldn't help but wonder what he could do to me if I didn't let him be on the team.

His expression was stuck in my mind on replay, so all I could see over and over was his dark green pools of eyes...

When dinner came around I could barely eat, feeling sick to my stomach. Gwen eyed me with concern, and I gave her a reassuring nod, straightening my quidditch uniform.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Steph stare dreamily at James, and my annoyance returned.

Why couldn't she just be a normal human being and say yes to James when he asked her out? Why couldn't anyone be normal?

My fear for James  disappeared, and I tied my hair up into a ponytail before grabbing my broom and walking out the Great Hall doors with my head held high. Nobody could tell me, Morgan Rose Winters, what to do.

Especially James Sirius Potter.