Beginners: book 1, Goblet of Fire

Night meetings

We have more time in the common room that night. Fred and George make a mess with exploding snaps. Hermione tries to get us to do more work, but the room is too loud and she eventually gives up. We chat, Crookshanks on her lap then slowly trickle up to bed. I drop into my four-poster, exhausted. Even though my bones feel like lead, I toss and turn for what must be hours before giving up. I grab my essay and a book, put on my robe and tiptoe back down the stairs. The common room is dark and empty, just the embers left in the fire. This isn't new, not being able to sleep. Ever since we moved to the states, no matter what I did, some nights I just wouldn't be able to get my brain calm enough to sleep. After a couple of months, I learned to use this extra time, finish essays, or read up on the next day's lessons. This night, I grab a blanket and set myself up at the coffee table in front of the coals. I read through both essays, add some changes, then I curl up on the couch and doze off. When I wake up there's a pale light outside, the sun just about to creep over the horizon. I gather my things and try my best not to wake myself up as I head back to bed. Thankfully, I can finally fall asleep. Only to be woken up by Hermione a couple of hours later.

"Wake up, c'mon we should get going." I groan, this morning has started off the same as too many in the past months. I haven't been able to sleep well for two nights in a row in weeks, and it's starting to take its toll.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom," I grumble, grabbing my toiletries and heading down the stairs. It takes a good couple of splashes of cold water to wake myself up. I heave myself up onto the counter so I can put on some makeup.

Hermione walks in just as I'm rifling through my bag for concealer, trying to cover the bags under my eyes. "Come on we're going to miss breakfast," She says, running into a cubicle to pee.

"Yeah just give me a second," Her eyes meet mine in the mirror.

"Are you okay? You look dreadful," She says, concern all over her face.

"Oh, yeah, just didn't sleep well," I say, my voice distorted as I put on mascara.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah, I got my essay done, wanna trade? I can give you notes." I hop off the counter and stuff all my things away.

"Sure," she says, but I can tell it wasn't enough. We head back upstairs to grab our bags. The boys wait for us at the portrait hole.

"What took you so long?" Ron asks as we head down a moving staircase.

"Sorry, late start," I grab my transfiguration essay out of my bag and hand it to Hermione. Harry shoots me a concerned look, but I ignore it.

"Oh, right, here you go," she hands me hers back. Ron watches the exchange, a hurt look on his face.

"I'll do yours too, come on," I extend my hand and he smiles, placing his essay in it. Thankfully, everything else about Hogwarts is going great. My marks are surprisingly good, most shocking to dad, who sent me a box full of goodies a week ago as a gift. It had some of my favourite treats from home and a letter from Ben.

"Who's that from?" Fred had asked when I unpacked it at the breakfast table.

"Just an old friend," I smiled, tucking it away again.

I was settled well, knew all my teachers and could finally get around the castle. But I can't sleep. We sit at the table with Fred, George and Ginny. I pour myself a cup of tea, toss it back and grab some toast.

"You all missed it, Neville got another howler," Fred says around a mouthful of porridge.

"What this time?" Says Harry.

"Something about potions, he bolted the second it landed," George says, also downing porridge.

The bell tolls, signalling five minutes to class. I grab another piece of toast and shove it in my mouth as we get up and head to class. Hermione's fast ended just as quickly as it began, now she's going around recruiting people for S.P.E.W., which we've all chosen to ignore. We have history of magic, to keep myself awake I read over Hermione's essay and mark it up. The day goes by quickly, and in what feels like mere hours we're sitting under a tree by the lake. I walk Ron through the edits I've made to his essay, while Hermione reads mine and after we agree to help her with S.P.E.W., Harry's.