Somewhere I Belong

But I'm on the outside
And I'm looking in
I can see through you
See your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly
You're ugly like me
I can see through you
See to the real you

- "Outside" by Staind

Alex felt so embarrassed. She'd made a fool of herself in front of Harry and his friends. She was surprised he had even talked to her. She hadn't been paying much attention to where she was going when she hurried out of the library. She hit someone and dropped her bag, startled.

"What's this, the second time?" Draco asked smirking at her.

"Sorry I didn't mean to I was just...," she stopped to see that he was picking up the things that had fallen from her bag. She joined him in picking up her things. He stopped holding her potions essay in his hand. He looked at it for a few seconds before speaking.

"We never got an essay," he said handing it to her.

She took it carefully and said, "Well the other houses did. We never got to make the gluing potion because of something that happened in an earlier class."

Draco smirked again, and changed the subject saying, "So what are you running from?"

Alexandra stared at him wondering if she'd heard him right before saying, "Nothing."

"Well it doesn't seem like nothing. You ran right into me. I almost fell this time," he said.

"Well I was just in a hurry to get to my dorm. I better be going," she said rushing off. Draco stared after her squinting his silver eyes in thought. She was certainly a curious girl.

The next day was the Hogsmeade visit, and practically the whole school was going. Alexandra decided against it. She decided she would get a head start on her Herbology homework instead. She waited until everyone who was going had left already, and then she went to the library. She liked the table that was in the very back. She liked it because it was hidden by shelves. The library was virtually empty, with the exception of some first years who weren't permitted to go. She was browsing through some books, but her mind was elsewhere. She looked out the window, and forgot about her homework.

"Why aren't you going to Hogsmeade?" Draco asked disturbing her from her daydreaming. She stared at him astonished and confused before answering.

"I could ask you the same question," she said, feeling uncomfortable at his curiosity.

"Yes you could, but I asked you first," Draco said smirking.

"Hogsmeade isn't really my thing. Besides, I have lots of homework. Your turn," she said, trying to smile.

"I just didn't feel like it, and I have Quidditch practice," he said.

"Well then what are you doing here?" she asked.

"You know, I could ask you the same question," he said grinning almost playfully.

"Yes, but I asked you first," she said succeeding in the smile she'd been fighting to put on.

"I'm doing some homework," he said sitting across from her at the table. They were silent for a few minutes until Alexandra broke the silence.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked quietly.

"What?" Draco asked, curious as to what she would ask.

"Why are you talking to me? I mean, you've never talked to me before, why now?" Draco sat completely still thinking. It was an excellent question actually. He didn't know how to answer.

"Why? Am I bothering you or something?" He asked, trying to think of an explanation for his complete change in character.

"Well no, but I've been going here for six long years, and the only time you ever spoke to me was when you were insulting me. It doesn't make sense. I don't even know you, but I can tell by the way you act that this whole thing is opposite of who you are," she said, letting her anger of past years of his torment get the best of her.

"How do you know what I'm like, or who I am? You just said you didn't know me," Draco said wondering where she was going with this.

"Well, personally I thought you were a bit of a snob. Seriously though, if you coming over here, and being civil towards me is some big Slytherin joke, then please end it. It's not that funny," she said. Draco stared at her puzzled for a few moments. He didn't know what she meant, but he spoke.

"Well first, this isn't a joke. I don't know where you would get something like that. Second, you're blaming me for having some big conspiracy against you, when I was indeed, just being civil. Are you like this toward everyone who talks to you, or is it just a coincidence that you throw around the term snob?" He stood and left directly, wondering what the hell had just happened and what was the matter with him. Draco's words stung Alex, mostly because she knew he was right. She had been rude, but she just never thought it possible. He was a mean, stuck up, spoiled Slytherin, and a Malfoy no less. He had to have been just patronizing her. Or was he?