Chapter 4:
After Charms, Ancient Ruins, and Transfiguration, Draco returned to his dormitory without eating dinner. He had been skipping a lot of meals lately, and had lost too much weight for his own good.
To get his mind off the day that hadn't gotten better since potions, he took out a book that he was in middle of reading ("Fishbine's Guide To Quiditch" by Arnold Fishbine, a world famous seeker of the U.S. During the 1950s and 60s). With all of the stress Malfoy didn't even dream about beating Potter. At this point he could barely keep his ass on the team. His mind completely focused on his book, Malfoy didn't even notice Pansy Parkinson sneak into his dorm.
"Hey Drakey," she purred scaring the hell out of Draco.
"Oh my god! Pansy, what the hell are you doing sneaking up on me like that?" Malfoy yelled as he pinned his "girlfriend" to the wall.
"Drakey, I'm sorry, please let go. You're hurting me!" quivered Pansy sounding very much like their first Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Quirrell.
"Get out!"
"But Drakey-"
"I said leave! I'm not in a good mood right now and I'd really like to be left alone!"
"You're no fun anymore. You're always upset, or busy, and you never have any time for me!" Pansy cried as her boyfriend pushed her out the door.
"Firstly, don't complain about time because you manage to take up every free second I will live to see. Secondly, this is the boys' dormitory and your not supposed to be in here in the first place. Thirdly, don't call me Drakey!" Draco gave Pansy one last shove before slamming the door in her face. He had to get rid of her. Soon.
As much as Draco wanted to sort out his life, at that point it seemed impossible. Though he hated ti admit it, he was in over his head, and he had nobody to help him get out.
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Hermione returned to the Gryffindor tower after Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and dinner, all of which turned out just as badly as potions with Malfoy.
To calm her nerves, Hermione took out her Herbology homework, and started to look it over. When the "second shift" of people started returning from dinner, Hermione went down to the common room to meet Harry and Ron. She was hoping they would be able to comfort her after her bad day.
When they came back, they were head deep in another one of their Quiditch conversations (what else is new?). Seeing Hermione in her favorite chair by the fire, they approached her.
"How was your day Mione?" asked Ron who was more interested in the homework his friend was in middle of.
"Okay, but it could have gone better. You guys?" she said hoping their days had gone better than hers.
"Fine, but you see-" Ron started.
"How much homework do you have Ronald?" interrupted Hermione smiling but slightly irritated.
"Well..." He started with his Divination Charts, and continued for about an hour after that. Though she usually didn't mind helping her friends with their homework, after seeing that they would be of no comfort to her, she wanted no more than to tell them to fuck off and do their own work. After an hour of working with them, Hermione wished she had backed out in the beginning. Eventually they were going to have to learn how to fend for themselves. After Hogwarts she wasn't going to be with them 24/7 to guide their every move.
As much as Hermione wanted her life to go smoothly, she couldn't help but think how badly her friends would do without her help. She needed help figuring out her life, but she didn't know anyone that could help her.
