I blinked my eyes open again, and was shocked by the different surroundings. I wasn't at home. I wasn't at Kerri's house, and I definitely wasn't in the Gryffindor Common Room. I blinked again, trying to clear my head, and figure out where I was. Eventually, I remembered that I had fainted, and came to the conclusion that I was probably in the hospital wing, or somewhere like that.

My suspicions were confirmed. A scary-looking woman came bustling over. She must be Madam Pomfrey, the school 'nurse'. She looked at me quickly, and seeing that I was awake, came and checked on me.

"Feeling better now?"

"I never felt ill in the first place."

"Well, just take it easy, and I want you to take this," and before I could object, she poured some vile tasting fluid down my throat. It burnt, and I instantly felt revived, and nearly my usual hyperactive self. I was about to ask her if I could leave, when she spoke, "Oh, and some young boy wanted to talk to you. I think he was a Weasely, judging by the hair. Dint leave a message, said he'd talk to you later…"

Oops, I had forgotten about Fred.

"Well then. I'll keep you in here for the rest of the night. Back to lessons in the morning, though."

I nodded, and let my head sink deep into the pillow once more, feeling sleep wash over me, and drown my senses.

The next morning I felt much better, although still a little shaky, as I still knew not the reason for which I had fainted. I made my way down to the dining hall, but carefully avoided my friends, and extended friends, sitting at a far corner of the table, and burying myself in notes for an essay on pixies that Lupin had set. Stupid godfather.

I heard the owls come streaming in, yet took no notice, I seldom received mail, so it made no difference to me. I finished my meagre breakfast quickly, and fairly ran to my first lesson, Potions. I felt stupid, as I wasn't eager, although I didn't mind it, so long as there was no fire. For some weird reason, I had a fear of fire, and it alarmed me. I had scars from a burn on my stomach, and I felt so ashamed of it. I never had the self-confidence to show it to people, so I hid it instead.

I was the only one there by the time Professor Snape came, and was lucky to be one of the few students in Gryffindor whom he mildly tolerated, as I was neither to outspoken, or bolshy, I never forced answers to questions, and I always handed work in on time, and carried out experiments correctly, no matter what my fears.

I managed to get through the lesson successfully, and not get hurt by the happy little fire that was burning under my cauldron. I made my way outside, to Care of Magical Creatures, and was warmly greeted by the large half-giant of a teacher, Hagrid. He had yet again found some scary magical creature to nearly kill us all with, and I think the whole class was glad when the lesson finally ended, and we could have lunch.

Everyone made their way back to the main school, and most people went to he dining room, Kerkera and Ginny included. They tried to drag me with them, but I pleaded in the case of an essay on pixies, and made my way to the library, rushing in, and trying to avoid the evil glare of Madame Pince. I sat at a private booth by myself, and pulled out some parchment, a long black quill, and some ink. Writing in my thin and slanting handwriting, I began my essay, using all the notes I had made, and an hour later I had a four-foot long essay, which was a lot more than required.

I wasn't really hungry, so I decided to go outside, and enjoy a bit of the winter sunshine, although most people were staying in, complaining of the cold. I found a quiet spot under a tree by the lake, and settled under it. The ground was hard, and not at all muddy, and I sat for a while, pulling some parchment and charcoal out of my bag. I began to sketch the forest, and the clouds on the skyline, shading in areas of dark and light.

He came, and sat next to me, although I never heard his approach, so absorbed was I in my artwork. When he sat down next to me, I jumped out of my skin, and nearly died when he spoke, "That's good."

"WHAT!"

"I'm sorry. Did I disturb you?"

"Would you care if you had done?"

"Not really," his voice came out in a soft drawl, as he pushed back a length of my hair from my face. I cocked my head onto one side, to look at him, and gave him a one-sided smile.

He nearly returned it, and began to lean in towards me…