"Hey" I greeted as I walked into the hospital wing. Harry was lying on his bed looking over at a bowl of fruit annoyed. He turned quickly when he heard my voice, stunned that it was me. I sat in one of the chairs next to his bed.

"Hi…" he sat up. Harry looked at me carefully as if expecting me to do something malicious. I smiled and his eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?"

"Just wanted to see how you were doing" I shrugged. I looked around, something was bothering me. There was something missing here… or someone. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"They went down to the Great Hall for some food. Shouldn't you be there too with the rest of Slytherin?"

"I'm not that hungry" I smiled not at all affected by his words.

"Ron told me you came earlier, when I was first brought in… Why?" Harry looked over at me distrustful.

"I came for Hermione" I answered truthfully. There were many different kinds of people and Harry looked like the kind who appreciated honesty. I could've most likely convinced him that I was worried about him but I didn't see a reason why I should

"Just for Hermione?"

"We," I said motioning my finger between me and Harry, "aren't exactly friends. We never really talk but it's not like I wanted you to die either. But Hermione and I are friends and she was really worried about you. I thought she might need someone to talk to. So, to sum up, yeah I only came for Hermione."

"Oh" he said. He didn't look like my words upset him but more like he hadn't expected for me to be so frank with him.

"Were you expecting another answer?"

"Did Malfoy send you?" He was serious, I could tell, but I couldn't stop myself from laughing anyway. I shook my head at his frowning face

"No, Draco didn't send me. I didn't even tell him I was coming, actually. If I did he would most likely complain. He doesn't like you and doesn't like that I spend time with anyone not in Slytherin…" I added the latter more for myself than for Harry. It was more information than he needed to know. I was just thinking out loud and he happen to be here

"Then why do you?" I tilted my head not understanding. "Why do you spend time with people outside of Slytherin? Are you planning something?"

"Yes Harry I actually have a sinister plan that requires me to talk to people outside my own house. It was a challenge for me but for the good of the plan I sucked it up and spoke to a Gryffindor. It's been years in the making but soon I will take action" Harry didn't appreciate my sarcasm.

"Why?" he repeated

"Because," I said with a sigh, "I want to. I happen to like Hermione. And Fred and George as I'm sure you meant them too. They're good people and I enjoy their company"

"Why should I believe you?" he frowned

"Frankly I don't care if you don't believe me. They're my friends"

"So is Malfoy" he hissed a little at his name. I still didn't get why they hated each other so much but I shrugged

"Yes he is my friend too. He's actually not as bad as you may think. He has his moments. Draco can actually be rather sweet he just has to deem you worthy of it"

"And you're worthy?" he raised an eyebrow

"I'm special" I grinned and he rolled his eyes. "Look Harry I know you and Ron don't like me, and I'm okay with that. But could we at least try to tolerate each other for Hermione?"

"For Hermione" he repeated. I took that as a yes and stood up

"Well I am glad to see you're feeling better. And don't take the Dementor thing so hard. You're strong for having to put up with them so much; a lot of people are scared of them not just you. You just happen to show it a bit more"

"So I should be proud that they've made me faint twice?" he said sarcastically and it was my turn to roll my eyes

"You need to learn how to take a compliment" I said walking towards the door

"You need to learn how to give one" he grumbled. I laughed and I could see him fighting a smile behind me. "You're not so bad, for a Slytherin"

"Actually I might be worse" I smiled and headed for the stairs.

The next day Harry was let out of the hospital wing by Madam Pomfrey and he was able to join us in Potions. Draco had decided to ditch the bandages probably because those who still believed he was hurt were starting to doubt his injury. And, since he could use both arms now, he went into more elaborate skits about Harry, imitating him falling off his broom. During class Harry gave me a look and I smiled. He was right about Draco, but so was I.

Draco spent time doing Dementor imitations across the dungeon. He was starting to get pretty good but Ron was so fed up with it he threw a crocodile heart at Draco's face. It was a perfect hit too. Draco whined to Professor Snape who promptly took fifty points from Gryffindor

Some time later Hermione and I made our way out of Study of Ancient Runes. We were dismissed early by Professor Babbling and I took the time to talk to her on our way down the stairs. I pulled up my copy of Spellman's Syllabary so that it wouldn't fall; it was a heavy book. The main topic of conversation so far was the Defense Against the Dark Arts assignment. I had finished mine but was considering asking for an extension to make sure it was the best it could be. Professor Snape said we could ask after all

"He gave us two rolls of parchment! And didn't let us ask for an extension" Hermione grumbled, though I doubted she needed one.

"He does favor his house" I commented as we turned onto the fourth floor. We passed two Slytherin second-years on their way to class who each gave us a sickened look. They took our place on the stairs as we continued to walk

"Mudblood" one of them mumbled before completely vanishing from sight.

"Ignore them" I told Hermione noticing her face. She tried to put up a front but I could tell the word hurt her. She stopped suddenly making me stop too

"It's people like them that give Slytherin a bad name" she informed me looking down at her shoes

"They were raised to think that way. It's not their fault" I defended. I didn't know why I was defending them since I didn't know nor cared for them. Maybe it was due to the fact they were in my House

"But you don't think like that" she insisted. I sighed. Why did people always try to use me as an example of how a Slytherin should be? As far as I knew I was like them, just maybe without the complete hatred for Muggles...

"I'm different" I smiled and she looked up

"Why?"

"The truth is I was raised to think the way they do too. Being a pureblood is seen as special and wanting to stay special we are given the idea that anyone not special is beneath us…" I mumbled. It sounded confusing but I hoped she understood.

"So why did you change your mind?" Her voice was filled with curiosity and I sighed again. She deserved an answer I just didn't expect to be telling her this now or at all really

"When I was younger I… met a Muggle. She was… okay… and I realized that they weren't that bad." It was true my brother's Muggle had allowed me to see that Muggles really weren't that bad. And if she made my brother happy then she was okay, right?

"Okay…" I could see the interest in Hermione's face but she didn't ask for more information. She knew that I didn't want to go on. I gave her a small smile and we started down the corridor again.

"George?" I called when I saw the face of a familiar Weasley turn the corner

"Oh hey" he said a little out of breath. He ran over towards us, his face smudged with something that looked like charcoal. Hermione noticed it too

"What are you doing here?" she asked looking at his face suspiciously.

"Nothing we were just out for a stroll" he said and gave me a cheeky smile. I giggled

"We?" As if on cue Fred turned the corner and made his way over to us too. He had glowing orange paint on his hands which he promptly hid under his sleeves when he noticed our stares.

"I don't even want to know" Hermione said and shook her head. The bell rang signaling the end of class and she started walking. "I'll see you in Arithmancy"

"Bye" I called after her before turning back to the twins. "So do I want to know?"

"Probably best you didn't" Fred answered wearing the same smile as his brother.

"Hey, so do you have any plans for the next Hogsmeade trip?" George asked wiping his face clean

"No not really"

"Aren't you going with that Malfoy boy again?" Fred asked as George frowned at his sleeve

"Nope" I told them. He was going with someone else this time

"We'll meet you at the Clock Tower entrance then" Fred said not even bothering to ask

"Alright" I smiled at their boldness. "Well when –" Before I could finish an explosion sounded down the corridor, followed by an angry scream from what sounded like Filch. The twins gave each other a look and started towards the stairs

"We'll see you later" George called as they ran away. I was left standing confused as they disappeared from sight

"You!" Filch screamed from behind me making me turn around. I stifled a laugh as I saw what the twins had done. "What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to the Study Area" I lied barely managing to keep a straight face. His thin grey hair had turned pink, was smoking, and tossed around in all angles. His clothes had several holes in them and the bottom of his coat had a spark of fire going. His face, along with the rest of him, was covered in a combination of glowing paint, glitter and the charcoal that I had seen on Georges face.

"A likely story!" he grunted. A sound came from behind him and second explosion erupted. There was an uproar as students filed into the corridor all looking like Filch, although not as severe. In the confusion I slid into the group of very unhappy students and escaped before Filch accused me of anything. As soon as I was out of earshot I burst into laughter