Why am I Doing this Again?

[Devin Baines]

Devin sighed as she looked again at her Transfiguration book. Sometimes it felt like she wasn’t learning anything, especially in this subject. Her painting was all that really mattered--the art in life, finding expression through her hands. So often, she thought there was nothing her that contributed to that. She knew her Dad had gotten a respectable job, but he didn’t use much magic either as a photographer, just the potions for development. She had learned most of those before she left home.

Looking at the clock, she saw it was almost curfew. She was ready to head off to bed, as usual, but she couldn't afford to with only a couple inches on her Transfiguration essay. It was due in two days, and she wouldn't have anything to turn in unless she worked all night tonight and tomorrow.

It was her own fault for putting the essay off for so long, but it wasn't her fault for not understanding Transfiguration. It wasn't that she hadn't tried. It was just a totally different language, and she couldn't work out the translation.

Devin kept reading and tried to write something else, but when she looked back at her parchment, she saw she had doodled on her essay. With a groan, she crumpled it up and tossed it into a corner. Nothing was going to get this essay done. Why did anyone care if a teapot could turn into a tortoise? It wasn't going to affect anything in real life. This was all so pointless, except her mother would be so disappointed in her for failing any subject, even this one. So, it would matter. But it shouldn't!

With tears in her eyes, Devin ignored her books and papers, pulled her knees up to her chin, and tried to hold back the sobs in her throat.

((Very open))

[Matilda Wentworth]

The meaning of Exams:
a) To stress the hell out of those who partake in them.
b) To force students who love to procrastinate to spend night after night cramming in study.
c) To isolate and make certain individuals rather antisocial.

Yeah, Matty had the meaning of exams down pack. And merlin, she was a classic example of each of the definitions she had decided upon. Homework was a big part in the whole exams process, hence the reasons the teenager was fatigue every second day with lack of eating and sleeping. Alright, so it wasn't a great habit, she was living with it. Come next year, the girl defiantly wouldn't be putting herself under this much stress. Sure, there were NEWTS, but being a sixth year will have given her time to mature, and ultimately get a grip of how to manage her study habits and such. Next year she would be ready, and would make sure not to leave things to the last minute. Unlike this year, that is, when although she had put aside plenty of time to get her homework done, there still hadn't been as much time as she had planned.

So, like countless other nights that the teen had stayed up to, and past curfew, Matilda was doing homework. Tonight happened to be a rather easy night, though it was a long process to get it all done. An extended essay of Literature for Muggles studies, something that the girl knew she had a great grip on, a revision of notes for Potions and some basic reading so she could be on the ball when History of magic came about tomorrow. Thankfully, the girl had concurred the first two of these things while in the Library that evening. Studying alone, or with minimal company always had that effect; being able to buckle doing and get right to the point. But as the night grew on, Matty's attention to her homework had slacked a bit, and she had strayed from her work, having read and discussion some articles in the Quidditch Weekly with one of the boys at her study table.

Looking at the time as the Librarian prowled over, declaring that it was time to get back to their dorms, the teenager had packed up shop, and scrambled out of the Library. She bid goodnight to her mate, before taking her time getting back down to Hufflepuff. After Seanna had disappeared from their sights and senses, herself and Alex had been left to attending to the prefect matter. Although she wasn't an official Prefect, and only a Quidditch Captain, Matty didn't mind helping him out where needed, so therefore, she had taken her time to sus out the corridors where student big and small were making their way back to the safety of their dorms.

Finally reaching her own, the girl opened the door with a deep sigh. She was still dressed in her school robes, those being black slip-ons, her pleated skirt, button-down white shirt with the sleeves rolled up a bit, her loosely doe up tie, and Captain Badge pinned on her chest. The girl's hair was held back by a black ribbon, it being straight, falling on her shoulder in different layers. Green eyes surveying the common room, Matty was a little surprised to see one of her younger members of the house up, remains of homework in front of her. Approaching her quietly, the teenager soon realized that there was water in Devin's eyes, and she seemed ti be rather withdrawn. Dropping her books, bag and folder on the lounge chair, Matty bent down next to the little Badger.

"Hey sweetie. Are you okay?" she asked gently, sincere concern and care ringing though her voice and eyes.