Sloane took her normal seat at the end of the long Slytherin table in the Great Hall, swinging her legs over the low wooden bench to join the other Slytherin outcasts and misfits. There was some sort of security and comfort in their numbers at meals, not that it kept other Slytherins from insulting them as a group rather than individuals.

Draco, of course, was sitting in the middle of everything, flocked by his gang of purist bullies and awestruck admirers. Crabbe and Goyle were there, stuffing their faces, but Sloane was much more interested in the girl sitting at Malfoy's right hand.

Pansy Parkinson, widely regarded as the cruelest girl in the entire school. She was strikingly beautiful with sharp eyes that caught every mistake or slip-up or general mocking opportunity. Equal to Draco in cruelty, wit and hatred of muggle-borns, she was also often his partner in crime. The two were close, that was certain. Pavarti even said she saw Draco lying on Pansy's lap on the train to Hogwarts this year. Of course, Pansy was also Sloane's suitemate and the bane of her existence outside of the whole Draco thing.

Pansy and Sloane shared a Slytherin dormitory with Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bulstrode and Tracey Davis. Pansy had made quick friends with the other girls right away, but reviled Sloane the moment she realized she was muggle-born. At first it was subtle. Not inviting her to sit with them at meals, little digs, judgmental glances. But this year it had elevated to a new level. All of the girls, at Pansy's direction no doubt, had taken to blatantly mocking Sloane and calling her names. When Sloane returned home and pulled back her sheets to find her mattress had been spelled into a puddle of mud, she decided she'd had enough. That was the night she dragged her remaining bedsheets into the common room and set up camp.

Sure, she could have reported Pansy, but she had no proof and the girls were bound to find some way to punish her for being a snitch. So she took to sleeping in the common room and her suitemates resorted to pranks and name calling in classrooms and hallways.

And now there she was, Pansy Parkinson, flirting with the boy who kissed Sloane last night.

When Draco made fun of her this morning, Sloane was sure he was the worst human being who had ever lived and the most undeserving wizard to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts. But now, seeing Pansy fawning all over him, Sloane felt a prick of conceit. Pansy might be the one at his side, but Sloane was the one he had kissed and maybe even the one he wished he was with now.

Sloane lifted her eyes to Draco's to find him staring back. Gone was the arrogant sneer from before, but last night's brokenness hadn't slid back in to take its place. Instead there was a kind of hollowness there, impossible to read. He didn't look away, so neither did she. They were too far to speak to each other, not that they would have, but Sloane could still feel the connection between them surging like an electrical current. She didn't know what it meant. She just knew it was there. She, Sloane Stevens, felt more connected to Draco Malfoy than she'd ever felt to another human being in her entire life.

Noticing he wasn't listening to her, Pansy nudged him. "Whatcha looking at?"

Sloane braced herself for an onslaught of verbal abuse, but Draco simple shook his head. "Nothing. Just zoned out."

When he finally broke eye contact, Sloane's heart leapt into her stomach. Why did he pass up a perfect opportunity to mock her in front of Pansy? Why was he so cruel to her this morning with Crabbe and Goyle and didn't bother with even a half-assed insult now? What happened last night? What the hell did that kiss mean? Where had Draco been going? And what exactly had he apologized for?

It was official. Draco Malfoy was a mystery Sloane had to solve. And she wouldn't stop until she had all the answers she needed.

Authors Note: Sorry chapters have been so short lately! Hope the next few will be a bit longer. Also if you get a chance, please write a quick comment & let me know what you're liking and want to see more of. Thanks for reading!