AN: I'm always open to constructive criticism. Thanks for reading!

Apologies

The next few weeks go by much the same, nightmares, friends, brother, classes, repeat. Days blur together due to my constant exhaustion. Hermione helps me keep up my schoolwork, but I know that the Professors are going to notice soon. Hermione and I don't exactly have the same work style, hers tending to be more methodical than my erratic tendencies. The days without sleep are finally catching up on me; I'm lucky I haven't blown myself up in potions yet. Hermione is getting increasingly stressed out from end of term exams coming up combined with my lack of self-preservation.

"You are going to sleep at a reasonable time tonight, even if I have to follow you into the dorms!" Hermione snaps at dinner one night.

"No!" I immediately respond – only Blaise and Theo know of my issue getting into the girls' dorm. Her eyes narrow at my quick response, "I mean, if you try to follow us into Slytherin, you'll be eaten alive."

"Well, that's unfortunate because if you don't sleep, then I'm going to fail my exams." I would've been scared by the look on her face if I hadn't been dealing with nightmares every night. Theo sighs at hearing the same argument for what must be the hundredth time.

"Maybe you should focus on your exams rather than me." I say harshly, immediately regretting it when a hurt look crosses her face.

"I'm sorry for caring about you." Hermione says before getting up from the table.

"Wait, Hermione-" She's already out the door before I can say anything else.

"Go." Susan says when I glance at the rest of them.

"We'll cover for you if it takes too long," Blaise adds.

"Thanks," I throw over my shoulder as I race out of the Great Hall. She's already out of sight but she'll most likely be in the library, so that's where I go. I enter the library as quietly as possible to avoid Madam Pince's ire. I glance across the vast room as I recall where she was the last time I had to find her: in the nook by the elemental magic section.

"Hermione?" I ask cautiously as I round the corner of the nook.

"I thought you didn't want me involved in your life." She sniffs from her chair, her bushy hair covering her face. I'm sure her face would be flushed if she didn't have such a dark complexion.

"You know that's not true." I step closer. "I was just frustrated, not with you, but with myself. I'm always tired lately and I'm even falling behind in Transfiguration. I'm sorry I snapped at you, you know I lo- care about you."

"Were you going to say love?" Geez, she has no sense of when's the right time. Her wide eyes stare at me and I can't help but tell the truth.

"Y-yes. But not like, I mean, I just mean it in a familial way. I would say the same to the rest of our group." I rush to explain.

"Why did you correct yourself?"

"I just- I mean- My parents never really say 'I love you', at least not to me." I mutter the last part of my sentence in the hopes she won't hear. Judging by the look on her face, I failed. When did this turn into a confessional? "Anyway, I'm sorry for being rude to you. It's too late to go back to dinner, but can I walk you to Gryffindor Tower?"

"Sure," For once, she doesn't push the issue. We walk in silence until we get to the Fat Lady's portrait. "Thanks. For apologizing and for walking me here."

"If I didn't apologize, I would've been a massive git." I smile at her giggle. "Have a nice night, Hermione."

"You too," She hesitates before adding, "Please try to sleep."

"I'll do my best." I respond before walking back to the dungeons. Blaise and Theo are waiting for me in the common room when I get back.

"I take it you apologized then?" Theo asks without looking up from his book.

"Yes, I apologized." I sigh while plopping down in between him and Blaise. "We had a little chat and then I escorted her back to Gryffindor Tower."

"How chivalrous," Theo remarks dryly.

"Hush you." Blaise defends me for once, "It's not her fault she's a secret Gryffindor." There it is.

"Excuse you," I interject. "I'm more of a Slytherin than the two of you combined."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Theo laughs.

"I hate the both of you." I scowl at their laughter.

"No, you don't." Blaise says with a smile.

"No, I don't." I sigh. "Now I have to get to bed otherwise Hermione might actually murder me."

"Goodnight." Blaise laughs at my statement.

"Don't stay up too late." I go into my private dorm hoping that the nightmares won't bother me tonight. The nightmares came anyway.

Classes the next day are just the same as always, until Herbology with the Gryffindors. I'm working with Hermione when the whispers start from the Slytherins. I ignore it, they are always whispering about something or other. Then they start looking my way; fine, I'm the only muggleborn in Slytherin, I'm used to it. But then they start throwing their clippings at us. I wouldn't have cared if one hadn't hit Hermione in the forehead, causing laughter to erupt from the Slytherins.

"Hey!" I hiss at my housemates. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Nothing," Pansy smirks. "We're just watching the dykes in action."

"What did you just say?" My blood runs cold. Someone heard us last night. They must have.

"What?" Pansy smiles innocently. "Dykes?"

"That's the one," I growl taking out my wand. "Wanna repeat it?"

"Ha! The mudblooded dyke thinks she can take me on," Pansy laughs taking out her own wand.

"Oh, I don't think I can." I step closer. "I know it." I see Blaise and Theo stop their work in my peripheral and I can feel Hermione's magic just waiting to burst from behind me.

"We'll see about that, freak." Pansy sneers before slashing her wand at me, "Tarantallegra!"

"Nice try," I side-step her spell without throwing one back. Sprout has finally caught on to something happening the back of the greenhouse. "I'll give you another shot."

"Shut up!" Pansy shouts at me. "I'll put you in your place, mudblood! Immobulus!"

"Miss Parkinson!" Professor Sprout easily deflects Pansy's spell away from me. "What on earth do you think you are doing?"

"N-nothing!" Pansy tries to put her wand away discreetly, to no avail.

"Don't try to lie to me!" Sprout seems quite offended now. "15 points from Slytherin for fighting! And detention with me for a week!"

"What?" Pansy shrieks. "That's not fair!"

"What's not fair is you sending spells at someone who doesn't even have their wand out," Sprout admonishes her. "Now come on, we're going to see your Head of House."

"But- but-" Pansy protests uselessly as I give her a smile and wave from behind Sprout.

"That," Blaise begins once Sprout is gone. "Was brilliant!"

"Yeah, how'd you put your wand away before Sprout got over here?" Theo adds.

"I saw her coming over, so I just made sure Pansy was sending a spell just as she arrived." I smirk at their amazement.

"Thanks for defending me," Hermione says quietly from her place behind me.

"I would've done it for anyone in our group," We really gotta come up with a name instead of saying 'our group' all the time. "But you're welcome anyway." I feel a wave of dizziness come over me; it's been happening more since I stopped sleeping to avoid the nightmares.

"Are you okay?" Hermione looks too concerned for me again.

"Yeah," I pause to take a breath. "I'm fine." My vision proceeded to go dark as I feel myself falling forwards.