Somewhere I Belong

And I want a moment to be real,
Wanna touch things I don't feel,
Wanna hold on and feel I belong.
And how can the world want me to change,
They're the ones that stay the same.
They don't know me,
'Cause I'm not here.
-"I'm Still Here" by John Rzeznik

She woke the next morning remembering everything from the night before. She got out of bed and began getting ready. She hadn't slept much last night, having been outside and all, so her grogginess was evident. She combed through her long chestnut hair. When she was finished, she proceeded to the hall for breakfast. She ate very little, listening to conversations around her about the first Hogsmeade visit of the year. She got her permission slip signed every year, and from fourth year till then, she'd only gone there once. She decided she wasn't in the mood to eat so she left for class a bit earlier than usual.

Draco, unlike Alexandra had forgotten about the girl he'd met the night before. He was busy flinging his breakfast at some Gryffindor first years that walked by the Slytherin table and fighting off the usually clingy Pansy Parkinson. His cronies were seated rather close to him, and were as usual, eating more than what Draco thought to be humanly possible. He shrugged it off though, and stood from his seat. He wanted to get a good seat in Potions, knowing that Potter and his little gang were going to be there. He left the Great Hall and walked down the hallway. Some more first years were scurrying past him down the hallway in large numbers. Out of the disorder, he spotted a familiar face. It was that girl he had seen the night before. She looked at him plainly, and then her eyes traveled to the floor. Then everything slowed down, and began to spin. Draco saw himself at a younger age. Crabbe and Goyle were at his side, and he was tormenting some girl that he didn't recognize.

"Poor little Mudblood hasn't got any friends," his younger self said. The girl burst into tears and ran from him, and he laughed after her. It was Alexandra.

"Draco? Draco?" A girl's voice echoed in his ears, bringing him back to reality. It was Pansy. She wrapped her arm around him and asked, "Are you ok? You were spacing out or something." Draco didn't answer. He looked up and down the hallway for Alex. He had just enough time to see her turn the corner before Pansy pulled him toward his class.

"Oh no," Ron started as they walked from the Great Hall to their next class.

"What's the matter Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Potions, with the Slytherins...right now," he said groaning.

"Are you serious? Again? I personally think Snape is involved in putting us in there with his house every year. He gets a kick out of tormenting us," Harry said infuriated.

"I'm sure he doesn't. It just sort of ends up that way," Hermione said, not sounding very confident.

After what he thought to be the best Potions class he'd ever had the pleasure to witness, Draco made his way to Arithmancy. Neville had spilled yet another potion and made a huge mess, and what was better, it was a gluing potion. Most of the Gryffindor side of the room was covered in it. Draco laughed to himself remembering the enraged look on Potter's face when Snape began deducting points right and left. He entered the room and took his usual seat in the very back. He noted that Hermione Granger was sitting in the front of the room chatting excitedly with Professor Vector. He rolled his eyes, and watched some of the other students enter the class. Blaise Zabini sat next to Draco and began laughing and talking about the class they'd come from. Draco's attention was diverted to where Alexandra entered and took a seat across the room. He stared at her while Blaise went on and on.

"Draco? Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" Blaise asked.

"Hmm...oh yeah. Potions or something, right?" Draco asked, still staring at her.

Blaise looked to where Draco was looking and asked, "Are you staring at that Mudblood?"

Draco's eyes shot to Blaise and he said, "No, of course not. Are you crazy?" Blaise laughed and Professor Vector began the lesson. Draco couldn't explain why he was looking at her, he just was. He paid very little attention to what Vector was saying because he was trying to figure out why he'd never really noticed this girl before.

At last, classes that day were over. Alexandra wasn't very hungry, so she decided to get in some study time at the library before it filled to maximum capacity with students rushing to get last minute assignments done. Snape had given her house and the Hufflepuffs an essay to write about gluing potions after recounting the horrid events of the Slytherin and Gryffindor class. He probably didn't want to chance another disaster. She opened her book and began looking for information. She was disrupted by a voice.

"Hello Madam Pince, I was wondering if you find me a book for an essay," came the voice of a boy.

"Sure, what's it called?" Madam Pince's voice asked from the front desk. Alexandra shrugged and continued her work. Madam Pince and the student walked to the section of potions books and browsed the selection.

"I'm sorry, that book is out at the moment, but the girl that I just lent it to is sitting right back there. I'm sure that she would let you use it when she's finished. If you two are working on the same project, you can share," Madam Pince said cheerfully, pointing at Alexandra. Alexandra hadn't heard Madam Pince, so she was unaware of the situation.

"Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt you, but when you're finished with that book, may I use it?" The boy said startling her out of her work. Alexandra looked up casually and her cheeks tinged pink. It took her a few minutes to find her voice, but when she did she answered.

"Yes, I'm almost finished," she said timidly.

"Thanks. Are you doing that gluing potion essay too?" Harry asked her, noting her pink cheeks. He was beginning to think he was making her feel uncomfortable.

"Yeah, there's not much in here about them. It would have been easier to make them," Alexandra said, trying to look interested in her essay.

"Trust me, it wouldn't have. My class had a little trouble with it, that's why we got an essay," Harry said.

"So I've heard," Alexandra said handing Harry the book who was now sitting opposite her at the table.

"So, I don't think I've ever seen you before. Are you a transfer student?" Harry asked opening the book to the page Alexandra had been using.

She smiled as politely as she could and said, "No, this is my sixth year here actually."

Harry looked up from the page surprised. "What house are you in?" He asked, not trying to be offensive.

Alexandra tried to act casual. She took her Arithmancy homework out of her bag and said, "Ravenclaw. I've been going here for six years now."

Harry stared at her a few moments and said, "I'm not trying to be rude, but I've honestly never seen you before."

Alexandra laughed slightly and said, "That's ok, I get that a lot." Just then, Hermione and Ron entered the library.

"Hey Harry, we missed you at dinner," Ron said coming over to where Harry and Alex were sitting. Ron stopped and stared at Alex questioningly. Hermione joined them a few minutes later.

"Oh hi Harry. I didn't know you were coming...," she stopped and stared at Alex, and then stared at Harry. Alex started to pack up her books and she stood.

"You can sit with us, if you want," Harry offered, feeling bad that this girl was probably feeling put out.

"No thanks, I was just leaving," Alex said exiting quickly, her face a bright red color.

Hermione sat down at the table and said, "How nice of you Harry, helping the new students."

"I thought she was new too, but she's been going just as long as us," Harry said.

"Well who is she then?" Ron asked.

Harry looked in the direction Alex had just left and answered, "I don't know."