Draco and company, as well as Potter and Weasley, had just spent the past twenty minutes sitting in the office with Dumbledore while he explained about a letter Professor Snape had sent.

Draco was a little annoyed that the two Gryffindors were getting in on the big secret but he supposed it was because they could probably help them out. He hated to admit it, but they usually did miraculous things like… foil Voldemorts plans and slay basilisks and open secret chambers, you know generally save the world now and then. The usual really, a potion would be nothing to them. Draco promised to himself he would not let that happen though, he had to beat Potter at something.

"So you're telling me, Malfoy has this 'Soul Expression' cast on him that can't be removed and while it was being cast it could have reflected and hit someone else. And you have no idea how many people it has affected?" Ron asked, looking surprised.

"I hadn't even noticed Malfoy had anything wrong with him, no offence, Malfoy." Harry said turning to Draco as an afterthought.

"Well, no offence Potter, but if you hadn't noticed I've been singing my heart out all this week! Are you deaf or just plain ignorant?" Draco shot back.

"Now you see here, Malfoy," Ron growled starting to stand up, Blaise who was sat by him pushed him back down staring daggers at him. No-one would hurt a friend in front of him. No-one.

"Boys, boys, calm down, I need you co-operate. Have any of you noticed any strange behaviour amongst your fellow pupils? Draco was affected first on Thursday and it's now Saturday, so in that timescale have you witnessed anything strange?" Dumbledore questioned.

Harry and Ron who had been sitting at opposite ends of the office ignoring each other exchanged a glance but said nothing.

"Well then, in that case I need you seven to keep a close eye on your house mates and even students from other houses. No-one can know about this, especially since Mr. Malfoy has already been a target. We can't be putting more students in danger. Do you understand? And I don't want any of you fighting." He looked at them all individually take time to look into their eyes one by one. "You all need to co-operate. Do I have your word?" Everyone nodded, all very stubbornly, but they still nodded all the same.

As the seven left the office, they all split off in different directions, Draco and Blaise went back to the dormitories, and Pansy went to the library while Crabbe and Goyle strolled down to the great Hall. This left Harry and Ron looking at anything but each other.

"Look I," They both said at the same time. Ron smiled at Harry, waiting for him to continue.

"Do you want to go down to the kitchens? I think we have a lot to talk about." They both walked down in the direction of the floor the kitchen was on. When they got to the portrait they completed the usual ritual of ticking the pear, they sat down in front of the fire like Harry had done the other day.

Harry leaned back on his hands with his legs out straight in front of him crossed. Ron was sat crossed legged picking at the rug they were sat on. With a 'pop' Dobby appeared in front of Harry.

"Is there anything I can be getting you Mr. Harry Potter, sir? Some hot chocolate again, maybe?" Dobby asked, bowing to Harry.

"Erm, yeah, that would be nice thank you, Dobby."

"Anything you wish Mr. Harry Potter, Dobby would also like to apologise for not being able to talk to you the other day, it is just that Dobby is saving up to get Winky a new uniform he is." Dobby said to him looking very sorry, his huge eyes kind of gave him the effect of 'puppy dog eyes'.

"It's fine, Dobby, do thank Chester, though."

"Oh, Chester was honoured he was, you cried on his shirt, he is saying he is never to wash it, being blessed with your tears on him." Okay, Harry thought that was kind of creepy but never the less, he had helped him, and he was a house elf after all, they all were a bit creepy…

"Oh, right. Erm, Ron do you want anything?" Harry said turning to Ron, but before he could answer Dobby had 'popped' away with his nose up in the air. "DOBBY YOU WILL GET RON SOME TOO!" Dobby who was in the cupboard muttered something indistinguishable, but Harry knew he wouldn't dare disobey him anyway.

A second later Dobby appeared with two mugs of hot chocolate and gave Harry his and put Ron's on the floor then disappeared again. Harry cast him a look to say sorry. There was a silence for a while they both sipped there drinks.

"So…" Ron said staring into the fire. They were both awkward.

"I came here when we fell out you know," Harry said smiling to himself, still staring into the fire. "I made a vow never to speak to you both ever again."

"Look about that, I'm sorry, Harry…"

"Ron, just hear me out. I, when I came down here, by the time I'd cried everything out and sat and thought about it, I was so sure you were right; I still think you are." Harry avoided looking at his friend.

"Harry, are you telling me it was you that cast the spell?" No matter how much Ron stared at Harry he didn't turn and look but stared into the fire still.

"Well, yes, no. I don't know! That's the thing, I was talking to Chester and Winky and was just… bitching I guess, and when I was explaining what had happened to Hermione, my scar tingled. It was HIM Ron, and after that I've been convinced he's been like possessing me or something. It's too much of a coincidence that right at that moment, right after me and you guys fought, my scar hurt. And I don't know what's happening to me!" Harry said, obviously stressed biting on his bottom lip, his fringe was long and covered his eyes, so Ron couldn't tell whether he was crying or not.

"Wow wow wow Harry mate, calm down. Just think about what you're saying for a bit. Just because you scar hurt don't mean you've been poisoning people." Ron said in a rush to reassure his friend.

"Poison? I didn't say anything about poison." Harry whispered.

"I meant the lust potion Malfoy got put on him, it just doesn't add up. You were with me when someone did that to him, we were walking 'Mione to the dorm remember and when Malfoy first started singing you were sat next to me, you didn't even have your wand with you!" Ron tried to convince Harry; he put down his hot chocolate for a second.

"I… I didn't, did I?" Harry sniffled.

"No, mate," Ron grinned.

"Yeah, but I'm sure I had something to do with it! I just… my scar… He was happy, he'd accomplished something, I know it." Harry hadn't moved his eyes from the fire.

"Well, what did Dumbledore say?" Harry winced and looked down guiltily. "You did tell him didn't you, Harry?" Harrys new found interest of his trouser belt confirmed Ron's suspicions. "Harry, you're a fool. Why didn't you tell him?"

"I don't know? What if it was me who'd done this? Then I'd be expelled!" Harry argued back, getting all emotional over it. He hated to think he's been messing with people's minds.

"Harry, you're a twat sometimes! Don't you remember second year? My sister went around helping dear old Voldy and didn't get expelled, because it wasn't willingly she did it, and even if it is you, you're not doing it on purpose! So it's okay. Dumbledore wouldn't do that to you!" Ron said, emphasising each point that had said.

Harry pushed his glasses back up his nose and turned to Ron smiling slightly. "Thanks mate, I guess I needed to hear that. Now let's just forget what's happened, we need to help Hermione out." Harry said sipping some more of his chocolate.

"Yeah, def." Ron replied staring into the fire, he found it strangely peaceful; maybe that's why Harry had bought him here.

"So, she definitely has a Soul Expression I'm sure of it. I mean all those poems and all that writing. Hermione loves writing so that's got to be her expression hasn't it. But how are we going to tell her? She avoided us all last night and this morning she wasn't at the Quidditch match. At least, I didn't see her." Harry thought for a moment. "Who do you think she's been hanging around with?"

"Harry, this is 'Mione were on about, she doesn't have friends." Harry shrugged sipping his drink again.

"Yeah and neither do we, it's always just been the three of us really hasn't it, right since first year."

"Suppose so."

"We need to help her Ron, you heard what Dumbledore said, it's dangerous just to have the just spell on her."

"It's dangerous to have it on you anyway." Ron pointed out. Harry nodded, guilt rising in his stomach. "It wasn't you Harry it wasn't okay. Trust me. Just trust me."

Ron was right in saying Hermione was not hanging around with anyone else. She had stayed in the library all day researching but she hadn't found anything. So she just sat and read a few books shed been meaning to check out for a while, still in the same space she had been earlier she'd read and stared out the window. She could easily see the Quidditch pitch from here, the match was short, she had noticed earlier. She knew it had been cancelled halfway through because a bunch of Hufflepuffs were complaining about something Malfoy had done but she really didn't have much interest in anything he did. She had more important things to deal with.

She hadn't felt anything so far today, she hadn't written anything random or disturbing. And she hadn't felt that weird swirl in her stomach either, which was one thing to be thankful of.

Maybe she had just imagined it all? No, there wasn't a chance of that. She'd written a list of all the changes she was feeling. That included: intense feeling (but she's blamed that on hormones) nausea, (well she was ill the other night), exhaustion (Harry and Ron had warned her working so hard would catch up with her). Everything she came up with had another explanation. That's why she had given up so easy. She couldn't be bothered with it. That's what she was telling herself anyway, ignoring the voice in her head saying that was part of it too.

When it got to ten minutes to four, she stood up and moved over to the bookcase she had sat against yesterday. She knew she was being silly thinking Mystery Boy would turn up. But she didn't have anyone else to talk too and she'd really enjoyed his company last night. She just wished she knew who he was.

It got to quarter past four and she still hadn't heard anyone sit at the other side and it wasn't until around half past that she heard or rather felt someone sit down. Her mystery boy had fell backward and hit a few book causing them to fall out the shelf her side.

"Shit!" he cursed under his breath. Hermione turned around looking through the gap where the books had been, all she could see was his cloak. She sighed, they were too low down and he was leaning against it anyway.

"Are you okay, mystery boy?" She whispered.

"Sorry I'm late Mystery girl, busy day you know, I bought you some tea, turn around." Hermione moved and saw a sealed beaker hovering in the gap, she smiled. She tried to look for anything that might give him away. Nothing, he was pale, had slender hands, and was wearing a silver ring on his middle finger of his right hand. Where had she seen that ring?

"I haven't poisoned it you know. I don't tend to go around killing strangers." he whispered. Hermione smiled and took the tea off him and turned back around.

"Thank you, for the tea." she muttered taking a sip.

"It's alright, I thought maybe would could stay a bit longer today?" he whispered back.

"Oh."

"Well, that's if you've got nothing to do, I mean you don't-" Draco rambled on.

"I'd love too." She answered knowing of his embarrassment.

Silence.

"So?" he whispered again.

"'So' what?" she asked.

"Dunno, just so."

"Just so, ey? "

"Yes."

Silence.

"Mystery boy?"

"Yes?" he whispered back.

"Can I ask you something personal?" She said, she didn't want to pry to much.

"Depends what it is… but then, I can tell you anything right?" He sounded a little unsure.

"Yeah, I suppose. I mean, I don't even know who you are."

"I suppose." Draco muttered. What possibly was she going to ask him?

"Well, I was wondering about your ring. Is it what I think it is? You must be in a very high in the social hierarchy." She whispered. She felt… weird, someone extremely upper class and pureblood; she now knew, was talking to her, a muggle born. That's if she was correct about the ring.

"Oh, my ring?" Draco fingered the ring on his middle finger; it had been there since his thirteenth birthday. "Yeah, it is, no sex before marriage." He whispered.

"Well then, who's the lucky lady, I'm presuming it's all arranged?" Hermione felt strangely disappointed. He had sounded a little sad at the mention of the ring.

"I don't know, I've never met her. I won't see her until the wedding day, then I get to take this ring off on my wedding night, when I have to.. You know?"

Silence.

"That's so sad." Hermione whispered quietly cupping her hands around the warm beaker.

Draco shrugged but then realised she couldn't see him. "I didn't use to think so, but these past few days, I've doubted everything I've ever been taught. Is that bad?"

"Not at all, we all have doubts sometimes. Even me…"

Silence.

"Have you made up with your friends yet?"

"No. I haven't seen them all day; they were probably at the Quidditch match."

Draco stiffened.

"Were you there, mystery girl?" Draco whispered, wishing the answer would be no.

"No."

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"I've been at the library all day." She continued.

"Oh, do you like it here?" he questioned. Draco had finished his coffee; he placed the beaker on the floor and reached into his pocket pulling out a chocolate bar he had also got from the kitchens. He hoped Madam Pince didn't come down this isle; she'd have his guts for garters.

"I suppose." She whispered, taking time to answer, thinking. "It's peaceful, not many people come here."

"Well, it is good for privacy. I mean, I hardly ever get any privacy, people are always watching me and I just hate I have to always keep up appearances you know? There's always someone I've got to impress, and I haven't been caring these past few days it been… interesting, but I feel happier than I have in ages."

"Sounds like your pressured mystery boy; you shouldn't care what other people think, as long as you're happy with yourself that's all that should matter really."

"Hmm." He wasn't sure whether he agreed or not, but it did make sense in a weird way. He looked down at the chocolate bar he'd been breaking into squares, and then ripped the paper in half so the separate pieces were in two different halves. "Do you like chocolate mystery girl?"

"If I didn't I wouldn't be a real girl would I? All girls love chocolate." She answered instantly turning around. This boy, whoever he was, was so sweet. On the shelf behind her, half a bar of chocolate was laying. She picked it up and turned back around.

"I take it you visited the kitchens?"

"Oh, so you're not a goody-goody then, if you know how to get into the kitchens."

"I didn't say that, mystery boy."

"No goody-goody would know how to get into the kitchens, maybe you're naughtier than you know, mystery girl." Draco joked

She giggled. Draco sat up straight. That sounded so familiar.

"Maybe I am then."

Silence… it was comfortable, both were munching on their chocolate.

"I.. I feel like I've known you forever, you're making me… dunno, I just really trust you and I hardly know you." Draco said starting to get all sentimental. Stupid expression, he thought silently.

Hermione smiled.

"Yeah I feel the same." She replied. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure." Draco said shocked that he was so trusted. His throat started to tingle slowly. "Not now!" He cursed under his breath.

"What? I beg your pardon!" Hermione said quietly quite offended.

"Not you, I," Draco apologised.

Silence.

Then what Hermione heard next made her heart melt, it was undeniable that her mystery boy was singing.

"I wake up in the morning, and put on my face, the one that's gonna get me through another day. Doesn't really matter, how I feel inside, this life is like a game sometimes. But then you came around me, the walls just disappeared. With nothing to surround me and keep me from my fears." Draco sang under his breath, his eyes welling up with tears, he pulled his legs up and wrapped his arms them. He leaned his forehead on his knees.

On the other side of the bookcase, Hermione had turned around and was facing the books, listening intently to the quiet hum of the boy singing. She was barely catching the words, but she knew the song. This bought a thoughtful smile to her face.

"I'm unprotected, see how I've opened up? You've made me trust. I've never felt like this before, I'm naked around you. Does it show? You see right through me and I can't hide, I'm naked around you and it feels so right."

Silence.

She thought he's stopped but then she heard him again.

"I'm trying to remember, why I was afraid to be myself and let the, covers fall away. I guess I never had someone like you. To help me fit in my skin."

Silence.

…

Sob.

Hermione gasped.

"Are you okay Mystery boy, don't cry!" She said shocked at his actions.

"Yeah, I'm just a little emotional. I'm not a poof or anything I just, oh there's no point. If I tell you something you can't tell anyone. Swear on it." Draco said louder than he meant.

"I swear, please just let me help. Try calm down." Hermione said soothingly.

"I've got a Soul Expressions spell on me, if you know what that is; basically I'm just feeling everything really strong so that's probably why I'm crying. And I don't normally go around singing… just… now. I just..."

"You can't lie." Hermione whispered.

Silence.

Sob.

"Look, Mystery girl, I'm really sorry I can't help it." Draco cried on, starting to get frustrated with himself. Hermione was just overwhelmed with so many feelings she couldn't recognise them all.

She was still staring at the books, well the gap, where could see a black cloak. She shuffled closer to the shelf and moved a pile of books that were on the floor level. She could see the boys hand leant on the floor and hesitantly reached forward and placed her hand over the top.

Draco jumped, and looked down at the hand over his. A hand darker in shade than his, no rings, no bracelets or nail polish. This girl wasn't like the rest, he liked it. He opened his fingers and she laced hers inside his. He wiped his eyes on his cloak and moved his hand into the gap and turned to the side. They both leant against the shelf. Not knowing that if the shelf wasn't there, such a perfect fit would be found.

For the next half an hour, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy sat and held hands, muttering secrets and new feelings to each other; both for once in their life, feeling like they belonged.

"What if God was one of us?" Draco sang as he entered the Slytherin common room that night. Pansy was sat crossed legged on the floor in front of the coffee table and Blaise was sat with his feet tucked underneath him bum staring blankly at a book. Draco's good mood caused him to miss the tension between the two.

"Just a slob like one of us!" He was rewarded with a glare from Pansy and a questioning glance from Blaise. "Just a stranger on a bus trying to make his way home!" Draco flopped down on couch by Blaise with a huge grin on his face.

"What's a bus?"

"I have no idea, Blaise." Draco replied still smiling, Pansy tutted. Blaise went back to frantically flicking through a book angrily, with a lost sort of expression on her face, Draco's smile started to fault a little.

"What's up, guys?" he asked glancing between the two of them. They seemed to have fallen out over something or at least had a disagreement over something.

"What's up?" Pansy slammed down the volume and Blaise winced and Draco almost jumped out of his skin in surprise.

"What's wrong, Pansy?" Draco was genuinely worried now. Blaise and Pansy had their spats but they never had the tension been this bad. Draco was sure he could cut it with a knife.

"Me?" She asked mocking him, voice higher than usual. "Oh, I'm fine. It's Blaise you should be talking to!"

"Pansy, please," His friend begged the girl.

"Blaise?" Draco whispered, confidence ebbing away.

"Draco… I…"

"Zabini! TELL HIM OR I WILL!" Pansy being the overly dramatic girl she was, stormed off slamming her door as loud as humanly possible.

"What's she talking about, Blaise?" But Blaise was still staring at the book. He bit his lip, eyes rapidly filling with tears. Using his last piece of composure he closed the book placing it on the table and stood up. He put his hand out to Draco who nervously took it standing up slowly. Blaise walked in silence to the dorm and Draco sat on his bed nervously smoothing out the creases.

"Draco?" Blaise's voice wavered.

He looked up.

"We need to talk…" Blaise shut the door and turned to his best friend desperately trying to hold back his sobs.

"Naked" is from Let Go, the debut album by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne, released on June 4, 2002. "One of Us" is a song written by Eric Bazilian (of The Hooters) and originally released by Joan Osborne. Released in March 1995 on the album Relish and produced by Rick Chertoff, it became a top 40 hit in November of that year.

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