A/N: Thank you Because-I-Got-High for your review! I appreciate it, as always. :-)

Disclaimer: I still don't own it. I'm still not claiming to own it. I'm still only borrowing.

Days seemed to drag by, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, class by class. The weather grew steadily colder, the sky more gray, the wind a bit more harsh. Classes became harder, more homework was loaded down on us, and we had less time in which to have for ourselves.

I passed up a Hogsmeade weekend so I could be alone. I told Harry and Ron that I had homework to do. Ron gave me a worried look, but Harry just grunted. He's still upset about our small argument and I honestly don't care. I'm glad he is. He doesn't talk to me, and since Ron takes his side, I don't have to talk to him much, either.

Over this time, I've come up with a plan. I know I need to get away from everything for more than a few hours, and I know the perfect way to do it. I only need to wait until Christmas break.

Until that comes, though, I need to continue as I have been, however much I don't want to.

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"Five points from Gryffindor, Granger, for your inability to properly pay attention during class."

I didn't reply, or even look at Snape. Points don't matter to me anymore. They're only points. It's not as if they're going to do anything for us. The winning house will get a trophy the students can't even touch and our house's colors decorating the great hall at the leaving feast. Big deal. What purpose could it possibly serve in the great scheme of things?

He stared at me for a few more seconds, his gaze burning into the back of my skull, before moving on to another student. My shoulders sagged very slightly as he walked away. I hated it when he stared at me. When anyone stared at me, really. It made me feel so uncomfortable that my palms would start sweating and the familiar hunk of metal would pop into existence within my stomach, threatening to push everything else out through my mouth.

At the end of class, my potion was definitely not up to my usual standards. The color was slightly off, and it was too thick. Nevertheless, I set my sample on Snape's desk, just like everyone else, cleaned up, and put my things away. I could feel him staring at me as I left, could picture his cold black eyes following me as I was caught up in the swarm of students anxious to get out of the room.

I broke away from everyone else and slipped down a deserted corridor. I hid behind a suit of armor, pressing my forehead against the cool metal and forcing myself to calm down. I couldn't keep losing my cool because someone questioned me or stared at me. You're losing it, Granger. Get a grip on yourself and everything will be all right.

Mentally picturing a skeleton putting it's bones back together, like they would sometimes do in the cartoons I had watched as a child (it seemed like centuries ago...was it really only ten or so years?), I made my way back into the throng, heading towards the entrance hall to go outside to the greenhouses for Herbology.

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Harry won't stand at the same table as me. Ron gives me an apologetic look and follows Harry. I get stuck with Neville, who always gets excited during this class. Probably because it's the only one he's good at. I know that's harsh, but it's the truth and the truth hurts so everyone should suck it up and stop complaining.

I realize that by thinking that I turn myself into a hypocrite. The thought flits through my mind that I could be off worse, that I could be dead, or tortured until I died, or any number of things.

I crush that thought as easily as I crush the seed in my shaking fist that I was supposed to be planting.

A/N: Constructive criticism is still welcome! I love to know what you all think about this, and you think I can improve the story!