Disclaimer: Not mine.

She started avoiding me again soon after that, as if the idea were just completely absurd when it wasn't. . . .

Okay, maybe it was a little bit but that wasn't the point.

"So say I let you 'make me visible'," she said, two days later when it was just the two of us standing in an alcove near her House. "What does that even mean?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I'm sure we can figure something out."

Simone shook her head before walking away, heading to her the portrait. There was a new picture there, some kind little old lady. She smiled at Simone. "Password dear?"

"Peace," Simone said.

The portrait swung open and Simone clambered in. I followed hesitantly. I don't think I've ever been in the Slytherin House before.

There were a group of girls sitting in the middle of the common room. They looked up as Simone moved to go down the stairs to her dorm. One girl, a snotty looking blond smirked before looking to her friend. "So I hear the resident cuckoo has gotten even cuckier."

"How so?" asked one of the girls, already trying not to laugh.

"I hear she's been talking to herself a lot lately," the blond said.

"Oh, dear," another girl said. She looked up at Simone. "Is it true then? Does Simone have an ickle imaginary friend?"

"Pathetic really," the blond replied, shaking her head. "To be so lonely and weird that you have to create someone to talk to. It's sad."

I wished more than anything that I could do something to really spook these girls. The look on Simone's face was heartbreaking really. She was trying really hard not to cry and, just before she was about to regain her composure, a boy came rushing past, knocking her and her things to the ground.

The common room roared with laughter. Simone quickly grabbed up her things, running down the steps to her dorm.

I followed after her. When I entered the seventh year girls' dorm, I could hear her sobbing, the green drapes pulled tight around her bed.

"Simone?" I said, quietly. I gently floated through the curtains to find her laying with her face buried in the pillow. I sat down next to her, putting my hand on her back.

"I shouldn't have come back here," she said, her voice breaking. "I want to go home."

She sat up, tears streaking her face. "You can touch me. And you aren't transparent. Are you really real?"

I smiled, shrugging. "As real as a ghost can be."

Deciding that was enough, Simone threw her arms around my neck, crying against my shoulder. Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around her waist, not really sure what else I could o. She just really needed a friend right now.

She fell asleep like that, in my arms, in her uniform. By then, her dorm mates had entered the room, but they didn't check on her, didn't hear her crying. I laid her back on her bed, brushing my hand across her cheek to move her hair away from her face. She made a soft sound, curling up into a ball.

I had only known this girl four, almost five days but it was very clear that she was hurting badly and she was very lonely.

I wanted to help her get people to notice her, but in a good way. She seemed like a pretty nice girl, just shy.

I'd Figure out something, come morning. I had to.

"I am so late!" I heard Simone murmur from the bathroom.

So far the morning had been very eventful. After Simone woke and got over the initial shock of me still being here, she realized breakfast was nearly over and she made a frantic rush for the bathroom. Nearly forgetting I was here, again, she almost walked out in her knickers, giving a cute shriek before slamming the door shut.

Mind you, I hadn't meant to peek. . . .

She was seventeen after all, though sometimes I thought her younger.

All I'll say is well, well, well Miss Zabini!

I wonder why she hid like she did.

A moment later, she came out in her uniform brushing her hair into its normal style in her face.

"Wait," I said grabbing her wrist.

"What?" she asked startled.

"Brush it back. You know, into a ponytail or something. Away from your face."

"Why?"

"It's part of project Visible. You're pretty Simone. Show it off."

Simone's eyes widened and she looked away from me but she did what I said, pulling a headband from her draw and sliding it on.

"Better?" Simone asked sarcastically.

I had to admit that it was. With her hair pulled back from her face, I could now clearly see her bright brown eyes and the heart-shape of her face.

Simone Zabini was very pretty.

I grinned. "Much. Let's go."

Shaking her head, Simone threw her robes around her shoulders, grabbing her bag. I followed her up and out of the dungeon of a house, realizing how lucky the other house were to be able to see the sky.

As soon as we joined the crowd, it was obvious to see that Simone's subtle changes were noticeable. People glanced and did double takes, as if she were a new student. Simone noticed too and she kept her head down like she usually did, as if she were embarrassed.

"Chin up, yeah?" I said, tugging gently on the end of her hair.

She gave a slight shake of her head, her gaze intent on the ground. Eventually, people stopped looking at her again.

I sighed. Well there was something else we'd have to work on.

We' get it eventually.

A/N: So I hope you liked it. Simone's trying but give her a minute. See you next time.