Clearly this was not going well. Peter glanced around the hospital wing, which was unfortunately deserted. If only there was someone else there to help him out. Well, he would just have to do the best he could. Maybe eventually someone would come. He pulled a nearby chair over to the bed--it scraped along the floor and sounded especially loud in the empty hospital wing--and sat down. 

"Sorry, that was louder than I thought it was going to be," he said. 

"I hurt," she whimpered, "and I don't like this."

Peter made a face. Great way to start off the second half of the school year. First a crushing Quidditch defeat, now almost killing a younger student; he wished himself back at home. But Miriam wasn't finished talking. 

She sighed again. "I like Potions and dances."

She looked at the floor and Peter smiled a little bit at the incongruity of the two statements. 

"Well, I can't say I really like dances, and I uh, haven't had much experience with them, but Potions--interesting choice. I thought all the first and second years (and maybe everyone else) were afraid of Professor Snape. I can't say he's my favorite teacher, but potions isn't bad. What do you like about it?" Peter felt slightly encouraged that at least she was talking to him. Maybe if he kept her talking long enough she would feel better and they wouldn't both be stuck in the hospital wing forever.