Skyler was mentally, physically, and emotionally drained, and her day wasn't even over yet. There had been so much going on that the brunette had failed to realize just how much schoolwork she had neglected and that had piled up on her. The Hogwarts professors were no joke when it came to assignments and she had no less than six essays of various lengths (though she noted none were exactly short) and various subjects.

She had never really understood the reasoning behind homework, especially essays. They were just repetitive and sure, she supposed it could help certain people retain information, but it did get old after a while for those who retained information perfectly fine without the aide of writing twelve feet on what they learned in class that week. At this point, the teen had no idea how she was going to plow through all the work she needed to complete, plus deal with everything else. Her life used to be fun. Now it was a nightmare.

It seemed that day Skyler was especially depressed-like, with everything mounting higher and higher. She wished things were much less complicated, but at the same time didn't, since complicating things is what had brought her there in the first place. Who knew where she would be if anything had happened different. It was a bittersweet truth, but it did nothing to perk up her melancholy mood as she trudged her way through the library, piling books into her arms.

The brunette looked as tired as ever, as she searched with dark ringed eyes for a place to dump all her stuff and get to work. There were no empty tables that she could just scatter her various books across, but she did spot a familiar head of red hair sitting alone at a corner table near a window, and Skyler sagged in a sort of relief as she made a beeline towards Ginny, who seemed to be immersed in work as well.

Sky unceremoniously dropped all her things onto the table, probably startling her friend in the process, and sank into the nearest chair at the table. Her head fell forward onto the table with a single THUMP, and she stayed in that position, hunched over with her forehead on the surface of the table, eyes closed, and she groaned pitifully. "Is it just me or do you feel as crappy as I do?"

Who knew fifth year was going to be so damned difficult? Well, most people, honestly. But it still felt a lot harder than Ginny had imagined it would be. Sure, she knew she was going to have to put in a lot of work with OWLs and such, but there was also quidditch, guys, friends, oh, and that whole saving the world thing that she was involved in. That really did add to the difficulty of the year.

She’d finally made it to the library and plopped down at an empty table, throwing her battered bag into the chair next to her only to have it finally give way and rip at the seam so that her books and parchment went sprawling under the table. With a groan, she crawled under the table and gathered all her stuff together, only to bash her head against the underside of said table with a yelp of pain.

The redhead sat back down with a huff, mending her bag and putting half the stuff back in while laying half of it out on the table where she might be able to get a bit of work done. Her homework was seriously piling up on her, and soon she’d be drowning in it if she didn’t get a good chunk done. It seemed like everyone wanted them to do extra writing along with extra practical studies, and it was really starting to bring her down.

”Oh, Merlin’s bollocks!” she yelled as her quill managed to tear the Transfiguration essay she’d already been half done with. The outburst earned her a hiss of ‘be quiet!’ from the librarian along with many glares from fellow students, but she didn’t much care. Now she had another full essay to rewrite and it was all just becoming too much.

Thankfully, another person showed up before she could rip her hair out and her eyes went wide with appreciation as they fell on her Slytherin friend. ”You have no idea…” she muttered, motioning for the girl to join her and hoping they might tackle their load together. Maybe a bit of teen girl problems could even out the drama of school. It sure would take her mind off of how much she felt like she was failing, and that would be a welcome side effect. ”Tell me you have some kind of news that might make this day a bit better?”

Skyler racked her brain for some form of good news that her friend might appreciate, but all that was in her head was a ton of problems. She was about to answer the Gryffindor in the negative when from amidst the circling issues in her mind came the one piece of news Skyler had to be excited about, and she knew Ginny would be too. The brunette turned her head so that the other girl could see her triumphantly smirking face. "Guess who's playing seeker for Slytherin this year?"

The teen was sure she would never hear the end of how she got the position because of who she dated, or would be not dating, but she didn't care. Skyler knew she had earned the spot fair and square, and she knew she had a given talent in it. Besides, it wasn't like Draco to give up anything he truly desired. Especially not to someone who would do a lousier job than he did. The blonde wouldn't sabotage his chances of winning that way.

Feeling a little more like she could bare the weight on her shoulders now that she had Ginny around, the brunette forced herself into a sitting position and pulled the ink and quill and parchment she would need out of her bag, preparing to start on her least favorite subject by far. Herbology. She supposed it had some merit to it, but it just wasn't Skyler's thing. She got by well enough, but she definitely did not possess what most referred to as a green thumb, and she definitely couldn't figure out why plants needed teeth or tentacles and why anyone would want to take of those that did.

Dipping her quill in ink, she headed her essay and peered over at Ginny. While Skyler was over the moon about having found her friend here, she really needed to get some actual work done or she would be flunking out of Hogwarts. But she supposed a little multitasking couldn't hurt, and really, talking and writing weren't so hard to do together. "So I heard Gryffindor had their try outs already..." She trailed off suggestively, leaving the statement open for her friend to comment on.

The redhead nearly squealed at her friend’s news, but one look at the already angry librarian told her to be quiet in her glee or most likely get kicked out for being a distraction. She grinned like a loon at her friend and her eyes acquired a mischievous glow. ”How did the rest of Slytherin take the addition of a girl to the team? I’m sure Mal- Draco’s had to answer for that choice quite a few times.” It was odd using his first name, but Ginny figured that if her friend was dating the guy she should probably stop calling him a ferret.

The glow fell from her eyes as soon as Sky asked about the Gryffindor try outs. Sure, she’d most likely made the team, but that didn’t make things much better. ”Well, I don’t know if Harry or Ron are ever going to speak to me aside from at practices, and that’s assuming Harry doesn’t hate me so much he’d give my spot away.”

Misery was clear in Ginny’s tone as she played with her quill, not so sure what to even write for any of the many essays she needed to complete. ”I’m a total wanker of a sister and apparently I was getting so bad about being assistant captain that Harry felt the need to lie to me about the time so I was late for try outs.”

Ginny peered through her red locks at her friend, hoping she wasn’t in for some kind of lecture, as she knew that was what she’d get from Hermione in this situation. She already knew she’d messed up. What she really needed was reassurance that her brother and their mutual best mate wouldn’t hate her forever. She just wanted a way to fix things with the people she loved.

Ginny's reaction to her news made Skyler's answering grin widen until it reached from ear to ear, though the brunette looked extremely pleased with herself as she answered her friend's question quite proudly. "Oh they were all in an uproar over it, especially since it's his spot I took. Bunch of idiots if you ask me. You would think they knew him a bit better than that. I mean, I've only been here a few weeks and even I know Draco wouldn't give up his seeker's position to someone who couldn't perform in it better than him. Not that the arrogant punk would admit I'm better than him."

Though she called her boyfriend a punk, it was said in a cheery and find tone, so there was no real heat behind it as she snorted and rolled her eyes in regards to that, and was happy the red head seemed alright with her relationship with the blonde snake. Or atleast ok enough with it to give him a chance. She would need to fill Ginny in on the new developments so the Gryffindor wouldn't be so shocked in the abrupt changes that would soon happen. But when the sudden brightening of her friend's eyes dimmed at her mention of the Gryffindor try outs, Sky out her own life to the side to try and make sense of what was going on with her friend.

Though she originally looked at her friend in concern as she described the try outs and her causes for concern, when Ginny called herself a wanker Skyler couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up out of her, quickly slapping a hand over her mouth to muffle the sound before the glaring librarian decided to kick her out. The teen managed to give her friend an apologetic look though, even as she grinned. "Sorry Gin. I don't mean to laugh at you. It's just, the word wanker. I've always found it amusing. I've always wanted to call someone a bloody wanker." The Slytherin yank advised, nodding to her friend with a grin.

Sky hoped that would cheer her friend up a bit atleast, because it was true either way, but Ginny's miserable tone had the brunette rolling her eyes. Clearly the red head was one of those dramatic females who made things bigger than they really had any reason to be. "You know damned well Harry could never hate you. I doubt he could truly hate anyone actually." She ended in a thoughtful tone, honestly considering that fact. The boy really did seem the golden hero. Shaking her head, Sky rolled her eyes again at her friend.

"Anyways, you know he's most likely probably off somewhere trying to figure out what he did wrong to piss you off. As for your brother, well, you're family. I'm sure it's in the job descriptions of brothers and sisters to fight and argue or something." Skyler spoke in a humorous tone, hoping to perk her friend up. "I doubt either is anything an apology couldn't fix. Besides, it serves them right for doing whatever they did do. Even if you did overreact." The teen gave her friend a knowing grin.

Ginny secretly thought that Malfoy would probably admit that his girlfriend was a better Seeker than he was, at least if his recent actions were anything to go by. The changes were subtle for those observing, but the redhead was a very keen observer. The usually rigid boy seemed to have softened slightly since befriending the Slytherin before her, and he’d even stopped using the term ‘mudblood’. It was strange to notice how little the blonde prat picked on his normal Gryffindor prey, but it was a happy change.

The Gryffindor was shaken from her thoughts by her friend’s laughter at her story, and she glared at the brunette. ”Oh, yes, it’s bloody brilliant,” she growled, rolling her eyes. Sure, the term she chose for herself was amusing, but she still found it rather irritating that her American friend found such amusement in her despair.

Letting out a big sigh, Ginny held her tongue since she couldn’t really disagree with Sky’s idea that Harry was incapable of hate. ”I’m pretty sure he at least hates a couple people, Sky. The number one being whoever got his bloody parents killed.” She was snapping at the girl for no real reason and she felt bad for it, but hopefully the Slytherin would understand. After all, it wasn’t every day that a girl felt like she was losing her best friend and brother.

”You’re probably right. But you know that means I have to apologize, right? I don’t do apologies. I’m too hard headed for my own good and it’s a personality flaw that I’m not quite ready to give up, if I’m being quite honest.” Yes, Ginny had some character flaws, but she was well aware of most of them. It was probably a bigger flaw that she wished to keep them so strongly established. ”See any way out of this where I can still be as bullheaded as usual?”

A bit taken aback as the red head snapped at her, the girl's obvious bad temper coming out to bite at Skyler. Unfortunately, the brunette wasn't such good friends with the red head to know that her anger was misplaced at the moment, and since the teen had about a two second rebound rate, it was only a moment before she was firing back. "I hardly think it's my fault you decided to call yourself a wanker." Her tone was uncaring, making it seem as if she hardly cared whether this angered the other girl or not.

If truth be told, Skyker didn't. After all, she had tried to make Ginny feel better about the situation, and to reason with the obviously fiery tempered girl. And it wasn't like the brunette was going to sit back and let the other take out her bad temper on her. Knowing it would the other even more annoyed, Sky rolled her eyes and deadpanned. "Well since you know him so well why bother asking me for help?" She delivered the words cooly, her normally bright purple eyes growing icy as she did so.

It wasn't often Sky acted so, but Merlin her friend was being unreasonable! But the brunette couldn't hold a grudge for very long, especially against the girl who had literally been her very first friend here at Hogwarts, and who was obviously just really worried that she may lose her brother and best friend. Skyler wished she had these kinds of problems. At any rate, the teen dropped the cold front, opting to instead smirk at the red head, the old warmth seeping back into her eyes. "Maybe it's time you learned the art of apologizing without actually apologizing."

It was an art that really did come in handy, especially for those who had too much pride that wouldn't allow for a simple, 'I'm sorry' to flow past their lips. Like herself, in some situations. Sky could be just as stubborn as her Gryffindor friend, and she was demonstrating just how well this particular art of apologizing without apologizing worked at that very moment. Skyler was apologizing by offering her assistance, but the very word sorry would never pass her lips. A small smirk graced her lips as she arched a dark brow at Ginny, wondering if the other girl would catch on.

And then, because it was far too good a chance to do so, Skyler added on in a superior tone that was far too arrogant for even her. "But, of course, I'm sure a Gryffindork like yourself would never be able to pull off such a Slytherin move." The brunette pretended to be examining her cuticles, though her sparkling eyes gave her away. There was only one person that arrogant around this castle. And she was dating him. And she was also performing one hell of an impersonation of him to cheer up her friend. It was impossible to keep the grin off her face.

The redhead felt kind of bad for how she was treating her friend, especially when she snapped at her about asking for help. She was really being a bit mean, but at the same time that was simply Ginny’s nature. Growing up in a house full of boys and a high-strung mum led the girl to developing a tough skin. It was only natural that she would develop a short fuse of a temper and tend to take her emotions out on those around her.

As soon as her friend mentioned it, Ginny knew that this whole ‘apologizing without apologizing’ thing was exactly what she needed to learn. It was too often that she snapped at her friends and then felt awkward when she was too proud to truly apologize. As the girl leaned back and assumed a rather familiar position, Ginny couldn’t hold back the snort of laughter.

”You really don’t pull of ‘superior prat’ as well as your boyfriend, Sky,” she laughed. It was kind of disturbing how well the Slytherin managed to mimic the Snake prince. ”I must say I’m thankful for that, cause if you were any good at it I wouldn’t want to do this little apology without actually saying it thing with you.”

Ginny grinned at her friend, sliding her books and parchment aside so she could lean on the table and give all her attention to one Skyler Riddle, professor of ‘sorry without saying sorry’. ”You know, Sky, I have to say I’m offended that you would think I had so little balls as to not be a little bit of a Snake myself. I mean, you’ve seen the pranks I pull. I’m not quite the good little lion that most Gryffindorks tend to be.” Her eyes were alight with desire to prove herself and her homework was utterly forgotten. She might just fail out of her fifth year, but at least she’d know how to apologize to her mum for it, right?

Happy she had been able to pull a laugh from her friend and see the girl smile again, Skyler gave up the Draco impersonation. Not before taking a mock bow for her audience though. "If I were that arrogant, we probably wouldn't be friends. So I'm grateful I'm not good at it either." The brunette advised with a laugh, meaning her words.

She thought maybe her friend shouldn't completely forget that Skyler were a Slytherin, and for good reason. The teen could be just as arrogant and proud as any other. The only difference was she managed it better, and in a more likeable way, than the rest. Like most of her house, half the time she treated people with sarcasm, and most often than not those people assumed she were joking. Sometimes she was. A lot of times, she wasn't. Skyler didn't bother to correct them.

There were a lot of things the teen had noticed, that she had in common with her housemates. But those common grounds were also some of the biggest reasons they were also so different. Skyler didn't really agree with the house theme at Hogwarts, mostly because she felt she didn't fit into any one category, and partly because she didn't enjoy being labelled as anything. Either way, the teen knew that no matter how well they got along, there would always be enough difference in character between them to cause any number of fights between her and the red head.

But the brunette decided not to think on it for the time being. Together her and Ginny made a hell or a team, and perhaps their independent strengths could help the other's flaws and weaknesses. Sky thought they complimented each other fairly well. But she had to snort at her friend's comment. "Are you kidding me?" She questioned, half serious, half jokingly. She didn't want to start a row with the red head, who clearly was running on a very short fuse, but Sky very much doubted Ginny would last a day in the snake pit.

"Pulling off a few good pranks doesn't exactly qualify you for Slytherin Gin." The teen advised good-naturedly, though it was pretty clear she meant what she said. Skyler hoped her friend didn't take it too personally. It was easy to see that Ginny liked to think she could accomplish and be good at anything, much like Skyler did. And she would probably jump down one's throat for doubting her. Occasionally Sky did that as well. It was just that the red head seemed to be more of a play by emotions type of person, and that just wasn't how Slytherins worked at all. They trusted no one, and every word you pried from them was another riddle you had to figure out. Nothing said could be taken at face value in the snake pit, because it all had some hidden meaning, and every conversation was more of a battle to gain the upper hand in a verbal fight that somehow always meant both more and less than it should.

"Look, let's forget about that. Now the trick to apologizing without apologizing is to make it clear to the other person you are trying to make amends with them. That always translates into an apology, even if not said out loud. Usually some kind of gesture or token given. Easily does the trick." She explained, trying to steer the conversation away from talk of Slytherins.

The assessment that the girls wouldn’t be friends if Sky was as arrogant as her boyfriend was pretty accurate, so Ginny had to grin and nod. ”Keep in mind that girls tend to show it off a bit more too, so I mean, you’d be worse than Ma-Draco. You’d probably turn into some Parkinson clone. Then I’d have to kill you, sorry to say.” She figured her friend would thank her for that, really, so it was all good.

Ginny rolled her eyes at the Slytherin. ”I’m just saying I’m no cookie-cutter Gryffindor,” she snapped. The youngest Weasley smacked her forehead and growled at herself. ”I’m being a jerk again. Listen. You aren’t a typical Slytherin either, you know? We’re just not capable of being defined by our houses. That’s all I’m saying.”

She listened as Skyler explained the art of apologizing without apologizing. So she needed to figure out a gesture or trinket to convince Harry and Ron that she was sincere and she cared about them… That shouldn’t be too hard, right? ”So, what should I say to them? I mean, obviously I want to make amends. But how do I let them see that?”

The redhead could most likely figure something out without too much trouble if she just put her mind to it, but she was tired and stressed and she really needed to get some damn homework done before she failed out of Hogwarts. It would probably be better if she figured it out on her own, but Ginny really hoped her friend might be able to give her some suggestions.

Skyler merely looked amused at her friend. "Doubtful." She snorted. "That you could kill me, I mean. It'd be fun to watch you try though." The brunette responded in good humor, her purple eyes sparkling with amusement. The teen wasn't trying to offend Ginny in the least, but neither would she ever agree that someone else could best her in a duel. Especially not someone of the same grade level. Sky was sure her friend would say much the same if the shoe were on the other foot. "I guess it doesn't matter either way though. Since I'm not nearly the on the same level as Parkinson." And because she couldn't end there, the brunette added on with a proud smirk, "I'm far above that."

Responding with her own eye roll and not offended by the red head's short temper, Skyler shrugged and nodded her head in agreement. "Duh." She stated, as if that were the most obvious thing in the world. "No one person can be strictly defined by any of the houses. Unless they choose to be, of course. You and I agree on that much." It was probably the one thing Skyler didn't like about Hogwarts. The houses. It wasn't right to try and restrict people to a box. It just didn't sit well with her. "And yea. You are being a jerk. I don't know how ill ever forgive you for it." Her sarcastic tone mixed with her playful grin gave her away, forgiving her friend's snappish behavior without batting an eye.

Glancing around for inspiration, and not sure what she expected to find, Skyler tried to think up things that would help Ginny in her endeavor. After a few moments of considering, a sudden incredibly risky yet awesome idea occurred to her. "I got it!! The perfect way to make amends!! A party!!" The teen looked at her friend with an excited grin and equally excited gleam in her eyes. "We can throw a party!! I'm almost positive just the fact you invite them would be apology enough. It would mean you want them around and want to hang out with them. They'd probably be relieved to bypass the whole awkward 'I'm sorry' phase of the conversation too."

The fifth year was practically bouncing in her seat, she was so excited with this idea. Skyler was sure it would work for Ginny's problem, and probably everyone else's. The brunette was sure everyone else could use a bit of fun just as much as she could. Her own life had deteriorated into a routine of trouble, problems, classes, and homework. It was enough to have anyone stressed and snapping, and she was sure her friends were in much the same boat. This would be a chance to just hang out and chill. Take a load off. That sort of thing.