An Ordinary Day

'Cos I've never felt like this before

I'm naked

Around you

Does it show?

Harry was left at in the Great Hall, alone. How typical. The one thing he had always been, yet always avoided. Come on Harry, move yourself. Can't sit around moping. He stood, but paused. Where can I go? Go see Hermione, see if you can't patch it up between everyone. Do a Ginny. He smiled slightly, liking his final phrase. 'Do a Ginny.' He walked fairly briskly to the Common Room, hoping that Ron would still be there.

The pale boy seemed even paler as he sat outside the Arithmancy classroom. The last thing he wanted to do was see Hermione, yet it also seemed to be the thing he wanted most. He could hear footsteps approaching, quickly. Dear god, I hope this isn't her. But who came storming around the corner gave him the biggest surprise of his day.

Hermione was numb. She was so empty of emotion. So much had happened, so quickly. She could hear a voice from inside the Common Room.

"Hermione? Ron?"

Seconds later, there was a much louder, angrier voice.

"RON? WHERE ARE YOU?"

Ginny and Harry, how perfect. She lay on her bed, hearing Ginny storm past to the boys dormitory. Seconds laster, she stormed past again, and out of the Common Room. Harry must've gone too. Maybe I'll go and get my books. I've got Arithmancy soon. She stood and wiped her eyes, plodding down each step of the staircase, only to be greeted at the bottom by someone she wanted so much, yet so little.

Where is that git? Not in his dorm...bet he's off kicking a wall or something. How typical... She stormed along the corridors, but just as she hit a corner, she stopped dead. There were voices, two she recognised. Pulling out and Extendable Ear, she notched it just around the corner, catching every word of the conversation. What she heard shocked her. Very much.

He walked for eternity, or so it seemed. After several moving staircases and annoying students, he rounded a corner and found himself face to face with his one, true enemy.

"Malfoy."

He pulled out his wand, and advanced on him.

"What-did-you-do-to-Hermione?" His words were clear, yet full of hate.

Harry looked at the red-eyed Hermione as she came down the stairs.

"Oh, Hermione."

He pulled her into a hug. He figured that she was sick of words. What she needed right now was a friend, and that he was. When she pulled back, he gave her a lop-sided grin.

"Bad day huh?"

Draco whipped out his wand also. He knew that Weasley wasn't too bad at hexing, and didn't want to take any chances.

"I did nothing to Granger."

He blinked. It was the first time he hadn't called her a Mudblood in the presence of others.

"We had a discussion, and I believe it was private. Keep your filthy nose out of it Weasley, or you'll pay."

He pointed his wand straight at his head.

She had never been more appreciative of a hug in her life. And for once, she didn't go crazy over Harry. For once, she saw him as a friend, and only that. She sighed.

"I guess I just realised that there are some things I want to start doing differently. I've just realised, you don't always get what you want."

She picked up her Arithmancy book.

"I'd better go, or I'll be late. Thanks. I mean it."

Ron didn't back off.

"If you hurt her in anyway, you will pay Malfoy. That's a promise."

"Yeah Weasley? I'd like to see you try. Now why don't you just run along and give Granger a big kiss to cheer her up. I'm sure a good snog would do her some good."

He sneered.

Ron couldn't stay calm any longer.

"You know what Malfoy, I wouldn't be able to do that. Considering I've just found out that she hates me, I guess that won't be happening."

He dropped his wand to his side. He was defeated.

"Malfoy, hex away. I daresay my day could get any worse."

"Weasley, you don't always get what you want. I guess, like some others, you've realised life isn't always fair."

He dropped his wand also. He was too tired to carry on.

Ron shook his head and walked past him, in the opposite direction. Give Hermione a snog...you have no idea...

Ginny straightened up. Unlike Ron, she had picked up on what Draco had said. She, unlike any other, knew of Draco's feelings for Hermione. She pulled the Extendable Ear back in and walked off back towards her Transfiguration classroom, in a complete and utter daze.

Hermione's words echoed through his head. To him, they couldn't have been truer.

"I'll walk with you to Arithmancy, I'm off to Divination anyway."

He strode off; her arm around his waist, taking on the role that Hermione had done for so many years. A shoulder to lean on.

Draco slumped down next to the door, unable to move it seemed. He was saved by any further misery by the arrival of the Professor, and he was able to take refuge in a seat near the window. A single one. As the class filled around him, he noticed Hermione at the door. With Potter. She gave him a hug, and walked in. His heart had a sharp pain shoot through it. It's confirmed. Potter is officially better than me at absolutely everything. He opened his book and buried himself in it, fighting back tears.

Hermione had been so glad of Harry's company. He was the best friend she had ever had, and she vowed she would never to anything to hurt him again. It's over now Hermione. The battle has been fought, and you won. All you have left to do now is clean up the debris. She didn't even bother to look for him in Arithmancy. With a final hug from Harry, she slid into a seat near the door, feeling that everything was turning back to normal.

Ron was early for Divination for once. However, he didn't want to go into the classroom yet. He wanted to wait. For who, he seemed unsure. Hermione? Ginny? Harry? His request was answered soon enough. A slight boy, with his jet-black hair and green eyes appeared; puffed, but still composed. Ron gave him one look and instantly regretted what he had done.

"I'm sorry mate."

His expression was that of a world-weary man. He had had enough.

Ginny sat through Transfiguration in utter shock, stuffing up everything she did. What she decided to do was something different. No running off to Hermione, Ron or Harry. No, tonight, she was going to see Draco.

Harry was so glad to hear those words. He shrugged his shoulder.

"It's fine. Honestly, unless you want to talk about it, I don't want to hear it. Whatever, OK?"

Ron nodded, and the boys climbed the ladder to Divination, by far the most entertaining subject they took. Harry could only wonder how he would die today.