What's going on, team? I'm praying you aren't losing interest because I'm taking so long to update. I should have realized it'd be awhile with this crazy busy time of year. Hope everyone enjoyed the Hols, mine was pretty great, I got the digital camera I had been hoping for, among other things. Seeing family was nice enough, and my dear sweetheart even visited me! I was thrilled! (grins stupidly) That's right, this is my first chapter of fanfiction as a TAKEN lady! (laughs evily).

Anyways, after realizing that I was so incredibly behind, I decided to put out this HALF CHAPTER. I can only hope that by doing this, I won't feel as overwhelmed and whatnot. Chapter 4.5 should be twice as long, and out shortly. Not like you really care, or anything, lol. I'm sure you want to rip my head off. Here's what you REALLY came for. Sortof.

THE APPLE OF MY EYE: CHP 4

I've always really loved snow. I don't know why everyone else doesn't. I mean, really, most of them are adults too. I figure it must be sort of a muggle thing especially, to hate snow, because they have to operate those cars and whatnot. But really, most wizards that I know of don't like snow either. It's like it is always deemed messy and unnecessary. It was like one of those bad things that you automatically acquire with age; a distaste for snow.

I don't see how all these people could possibly hate something so beautiful. There's nothing as pretty as a heavy snowfall. The ground looks like one big soft marshmallow that you can bounce on, and all the trees are dusted with flakes, making them look crystalline. When you walk outside, falling snow gets in your hair and you feel like you're part of the scenery. Everything just seems so pure and tranquil. It's like nature's magic.

So you can imagine how utterly thrilled I was when it started snowing as I waited in the Hospital Wing that evening. Madame Pomfrey was up to her neck with students that had caught some form of the flu that had been going around the castle, and apparently the remedy was in short supply, so many of the students had to simply rest in beds with wash clothes on their foreheads and throat lozenges in their mouths. To say the least, the wing smelled like regurgitated cough syrup.

I was positioned on one of the end beds, waiting calmly for my ankle to show some sign of improvement. As I watched the snow fall from behind the frosted glass window, my mind began to wander in rather obscure, random directions. I found myself contemplating the fact that as distasteful as the Hospital Wing was, it offered a lovely view of the back grounds of Hogwarts, and that if I had a sufficient amount of time, a superb sled run could easily be made on the gentle slopes. I kept replaying the words Ron had screamed at me about playing into Malfoy's hands over and over. And most randomly of all, I found myself horridly aware of just how comforting those hands had been. I sincerely hoped that all of that was due to an overdose of the medication Madame Pomfrey had administered to me, especially that last bit.

I left the Hospital Wing the next morning feeling exuberant and free. I never really had an issue with entertaining myself, but after spending 12 hours with only my pointless (and lately rather disturbing) thoughts as a form of companionship, even I started to feel a little loopy.

Approximately 2 minutes after leaving the wing, I was closing in on the Great Hall in anticipation of some breakfast. Not overly caring if I sat near anyone on this particular morning due to the large amount of looks I was receiving for yesterday's events, I sat down on the bench with a fair amount of difficulty. Apparently my coordination wasn't yet cooperating.

Not being much of a breakfast person to begin with, I opted for a bowl of cereal, and quickly began ingesting large spoonfuls. I used the solitary breakfast to wonder just what exactly McGonagall was going to inflict on me. She wasn't usually one for originality when it came to punishments. I should know. I had heard more than my fair share of stories from the unusually large amount of predecessors before me. This, of course, was not including Percy.

With that in mind, I really wasn't all that worried about the labor. If anything, who I was serving detention with was the problem, and that all depended on how you looked at the situation. Pun intended.

Simply put, the more I thought about it, the more I managed to convince myself that today really wouldn't be too overly horrible. I'd serve a couple of hours of detention, and be on my merry way outside to frolic in the freshly fallen snow. Perhaps frolic wasn't really the best word…but who knows? With my current state of mind, maybe I would frolic.

Finishing my cereal, I let the spoon fall into the bowl with a clank. I glanced at the old wrist watch with the worn leather strap that I always wore on my wrist. I don't know why I was so attached to the thing, but I loved it to death. Even if the strap did look like it only had a few more weeks of life in it at best, as Ron always insisted. The twit.

Perfect. It was 10 AM. I would be outside in those glorious flakes after lunch. Now if only my not so lovely partner would be as optimistic about getting an early start.

END CHAPTER 4

4 1/2Will be out soon! I swear to god! Again, my most sincere apologies. Please review, even if you are pissed as hell…