Disclaimer: sigh ...

A/N: OMG RAPID-FIRE SUCCESSION CHAPTERS:D:D:D:D en't you proud? This is a short one though. Enjoy!

SNAPSHOTS – THIRD YEAR

"I don't GET IT."

Harry sighed in frustration and threw his quill down. The ink had dried on the tip of it, because he hadn't written anything yet. "How am I supposed to think about what goes into some stupid potion when my mind's on Sirius Black!"

Hermione glanced up briefly from her Charms assignment. "Just try to concentrate, I'm not letting you copy mine."

"Oh come on, he's right," Ron protested with a moan. "It's too stressful. We can't do it. We're not built like you, Hermione, we're just not as smart as you. I suppose you like rubbing that in."

She flushed a bit. "Stop it, I didn't say that and you know it. Keep writing, you'll be done eventually."

"But look at what day it is!" pleaded Ron, attempting to put on a puppy-dog face. "It's Valentine's Day, for Merlin's sake. Do us a favour this one time?"

The other two both laughed. "One time, Ron?" Hermione chortled. "Good one. And I realize that it's Valentine's Day. That does not change my answer in the slightest."

"Aw, Hermione!" he whined as she turned back to her own work and ignored him. "It's not the bloody end of the world ... just help us with it then? Not copying, just help."

Harry and Ron both made puppy faces at her this time. With an exasperated sigh and a roll of her eyes, Hermione shook her head again. "I'm doing my own stuff, I've already finished the Potions essay. Do your own work."

"Fine." Ron threw down his quill as well and slumped back in his chair, a dejected look on his face. "We'll just fail, then. How would it feel to have that on your conscience!"

He stood up, left his work strewn across the table, and stomped out through the portrait hole. Harry glanced at Hermione, who was looking after Ron and debating with herself whether to go after him or not. "Uh ..." Harry said gallantly, after trying to think of something to say. Her gaze remained on the door to the hall outside. "You, uh, okay?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm fine. I think I'll go after him and calm him down a bit," she decided, and rose to her feet. "I'll be right back."

"Okay. Don't kill each other," Harry said, waving her on. He turned back to his Potions assignment and sighed heavily as Hermione hurried out after their ruffled friend. "Oh well," he said to no one in particular. "Happy Valentine's Day to me."