A/N: Forgot my disclaimer on the last chapter… Just remember, I own nothing. Not the characters I use, the songs, or to some extent, the plot. I'd also like to thank those who fed my review monkey. Since feeding, he and the tobacco monkey seem quite pleased.

Ginny kept a close eye on Hermione, noting the subtle differences in her friend. For instance, nowadays Hermione was more involved with her breakfast than anything else, specifically her juice. She ate less, talked less, and wasn't even reading at the table anymore for the most part. Hermione just seemed… trapped to Ginny. Trapped within herself, and not willing to find a way out.

She hasn't neglected her Prefect's duties, though…. Ginny thought sardonically, remembering the three times this week her twin brothers had their butterbeer or firewhiskey confiscated. The only part that was off was that there had not been any punishments from the McGonalgall or Dumbledore. As Hermione packed up her books and went to bed, rubbing her head like she had a killer headache, a small piece of parchment fell out of her homework stack.

Ginny picked it up and headed to bed herself. Once in the confines of her dorm, alone on her bed, Ginny felt she should check it out. After all, Hermione's homework has never been this short.

No one listens as I speak

Words of drowning in myself

While in a crowd, I'm lonely

And trapped in my own hell

Hell is my own mind

My ignorance and brains

Those ghostly terrors in my heart

My emotions and my pains

My restless heart

My tireless thoughts

My sleepless nights

My tomorrows lost

And the silence that I speak

To check if anyone's listening

Ginny stared at the parchment for awhile, not noticing as the other girls entered the dorm. All she knew at this moment was she had to know, had to understand, had to help. Poor Hermione thought she was alone, and no one else had bothered to check on her. Ginny was bitterly reminded of last year, when Hermione was the only one to notice the differences in her. Another sleepless night would pass before she'd get any answers.

Hermione pulled a confiscated bottle from her trunk, surprised that Fred and George hadn't said anything about not getting detention. At the very least, she'd have thought they'd thank her in their traditional way. Which is to say, she had figured they'd give her more. The twelve pack of butterbeer had been finished fairly easily, followed with a bottle of firewhiskey. This week has been a major haul, Hermione mused, So why am I running out already?

She had never been paranoid before, but now that her supplies were low, Hermione suspected everyone around her. After all, the only person she really trusted had graduated and was out of contact for now. Ginny… well, she could trust Ginny, to an extent. Not enough to tell her of this form of stress relief, but enough so she wasn't top of the list of thieves.

She started mumbling a song to herself, walking down to a now deserted common room. Everyone else must be asleep, it is midnight… she reasoned. "If I go crazy then will you still call me Superman…" she muttered, staring into the embers of the fireplace.

Ginny heard someone moving and decided to follow. She watched as those familiar curls sat in front of the fire, slurring something.

"…Hermione?" Ginny asked tentatively.

"Shouldn you be sleep?" Hermione slurred, weary, wary, and defensive.

"Shouldn't you?" Ginny countered, taken aback by the state her friend was in. "…What are you doing to yourself, Hermione?"

"Jus a li'l stress relief, Gin. Keep my brain from 'sploding or whateva it was the twins warned me about." Hermione sighed.

"How often do you try to relieve your stress like this?" Ginny aske,d sitting next to her friend, dreading the answer.

"Not too often…. Every coupl'a days or so….." Hermione responded dully, her eyes finally leaving the fireplace to look at her friend. Ginny had no response but to gape at her friend, openmouthed. After a moment, Ginny shut her mouth and crossed her arms, having volumes to say, but not knowing how to convey the ideas swimming in her head to her lost friend. Instead she stood, walked to the stairs, and imparted one phrase on Hermione.

"If you ever need to, or just want to, talk, you know where to find me."