Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she walked quickly to the nearest bathroom. When she finally reached her destination, she flung the door open and slammed it shut behind her. Immediately she sank to the floor and began crying into her arms.
Why can't he ever just leave me alone? She thought to herself in anger. He can't do anything by himself…he just doesn't get it!
"Excuse me…are you planning on actually using the toilet or are you just going to keep crying?" Hermione looked up in surprise thinking that she had been alone. Moaning Myrtle stared back at her curiously.
Quickly, Hermione looked around her and frowned. She had walked into the same bathroom that she, Ron, and Harry had used in their second year to make the Polyjuice Potion. Hermione turned her gaze back to Moaning Myrtle and said, "Sorry, I didn't see you there."
The effect was immediate. "OH! OF COURSE IT'S SOOO EASY TO NOT SEE ME! I AM DEAD, AREN'T I?" the ghost screeched at her.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," Hermione said trying to calm her. "I just came here to be alone, okay? Is that really so much to ask?" she asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Myrtle looked at her intently. "What's the matter? Little Miss Perfect not so perfect right now?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked her indignantly.
"Well, no one is that smart and that calm all the time," Myrtle explained as if stating the obvious. "So…what's wrong?"
Hermione stared at her in confusion. Myrtle seemed genuinely concerned about her. Even though she and Myrtle had never been the best of friends, Hermione felt she could trust the misunderstood ghost.
She sighed and then said, "I can't take it anymore. Everyone expects me to be this always reliable, genius little pep machine, but I just can't do it anymore. I get almost no sleep because of school, I yell at everyone. I feel like I'm standing in the middle of the Great Hall screaming for help to every one around me, but they just smile and nod as if I'm joking.
"Nobody understands and I can't tell them. When I try they just look at me oddly and tell me I can do it! Well, you know what Myrtle, I CAN'T!"
Myrtle floated above the ground staring intently at Hermione. Hermione had begun crying again as she thought of how everything had been going wrong as her years at Hogwarts progressed. She was amazed though at how much better she felt after venting to Myrtle.
They looked at each other in silence for nearly ten minutes. Finally, Myrtle broke the silence and turned her back from Hermione. "I understand," she said quietly. With that, Myrtle flew off and flung herself down the nearest toilet, leaving a bewildered Hermione behind her.