Nothing stays secret in this tiny little world. Or rather, nothing stays secret for long. It's a constant contradiction; everyone knows how ridiculous the rumour mill is and yet, they still shamelessly participate in it.

That's how everybody who is anybody seems to be crammed into the creepy dungeon of the Shrieking Shack. Gossip. Word gets around. And boy, did it get around this time. I mean, I heard it off Luna for gods sake!

The bodies around me were jostling and pushing, half drunk out of their minds. Someone rammed into my back and I shot forwards, right into the back of the person in front of me. Lavender gave me a dirty look. Dressed like every other girl here, she was in killer heels and something sparkly. I could hear the chanting as people bet on names, rattling their galleons and screaming over the noise. I wish I hadn't come. I wouldn't be able to find the door now anyway.

Another shove. Chanting. I felt someone grip my hand and jerked my head up. It was Ivy. She smiled at me and I very nearly flung myself into her arms. Finally a rescue! But her eyes were clouded and she was more wobbly than me. And considering I'm so clumsy I'm virtually disabled, that is saying something.

I gripped her hand, waiting for Merlin only knows what, trying to keep both of us steady against the constant wave of crashing people. Suddenly my jeans and converse seemed like a really good idea.

Then a shriek went through the air. A scream. I ducked my head. Ivy laughed. I realised it was just Theo, Ivy's boyfriend, shooting sparks from his wand, standing on a chair or something. I couldn't see.

"Listen up folks!" The gleam in his eye was scary. "We all know why we're here, so I'll keep it short. Once the fighters enter, bets are closed. No swapping sides and no touching the fighters. Break these rules and we'll break your legs. And that goes for you too, girls!" I winced.

"Our competitor, ladies and gentlemen, is none other than our very own Gryffindor; Seamus Finnigan!" A fierce cheer went up.

"Our next guy doesn't need an introduction but fuck it, I'll give him one anyway! Shake in your boots lads and drop those panties girls! I give you DRACO MALFOY!" My eyes went wide. I could see the top of a platinum blonde head as the cheering reached a feverish pitch. Curiosity got the better of me. I dropped Ivy's hand and weaved my way to the front of the circle. I got elbowed in the ribs a lot and swore at even more, but eventually I could see enough to the boys hand over their wands. And holy fuck, Malfoy was shirtless!

I watched, a little astounded, as Theo pocketed the wands and took a step back. No one shoved him. My eyes moved back to the fighters just in time to see Seamus charge. Malfoy stepped out of the way and threw his elbow up into his face. I heard the crunch. After that they moved almost too quick for me to keep up. When they moved to the far side, I couldn't see anything, but I shoved my way forward until I was up front, watching Malfoy lay into Seamus' ribs. One more lightening punch to the jaw, blood spaying all over my white blouse and Seamus fell to the floor.

Shocked and bemused, I looked down at the blood over my chest. Urgh. I saw a pair of dull boots come into my vision and I followed them up strong legs, to a well defined chest, heaving with effort or excitement – I couldn't tell – and into the grey eyes of Draco Malfoy. He smirked. I don't know what I was going to say, but I'm pretty sure it would have been brilliantly witty and sarcastic. But I was suddenly yanked backwards by a strong hand. Blaise. He had his other hand around Ivy's. "What the hell are you doing, Gin?" I don't reply. I just turn my head back to the circle. But Malfoy was gone, swallowed up by his fan club, eaten alive by the raucous crowd that was now starting to disperse. I wondered whether Seamus would be okay.

Before I had a chance to even ask, Blaise was yanking us both from the Whomping Willow and across the school grounds. "Were you tryin' to get yourself killed? Huh?" I looked at my best friend. Yep, she's finally lucid.

"I just wanted a better look. Chill." I told her. But it sounded weak even for me. I really did just want to see what all the fuss was about. And see I did.

Theo came around the corner, laughing with Malfoy, both of them with jingling pockets. I frowned. Blaise had the same idea. He was charging before I could blink. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, leaving them out there alone?!" He pushed Theo and then punched him straight in the jaw. "She could have been killed!" He was talking about Ivy. His sister. My best friend. Blaise didn't like me all that much.

I couldn't help but turn my eyes to the blonde, expecting him to be gunning for another fight. But he was staring right at me, his shirt back on, straining against his muscled arms. I could hear the fight just two feet away – the dulcet tones of tearing skin and abused ribs. But his stare held me even through my blush, even when my mind was telling me to turn away, to run, to grab Ivy and get back to the tower. Whilst I was having an argument with myself, Blaise and Theo had stopped fighting. Ivy had sorted that out. Her and her high pitched wail. I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling distinctly out of place and out on display with Malfoy's staring, watching Ivy haul her brother and boyfriend off the floor. I couldn't hear anything. For all I knew Ivy was screeching about tea and Theo was upset about the improbability of moon ducks. I couldn't really process anything whilse staring into those grey eyes. I couldn't have said anything intelligent if my life depended on it. Lucky for me, the trance was broken when I felt someone grabbing at my folded arms; Ivy had remembered I existed before flouncing off in a massive strop.

Walking away, leaving the boys behind, leaving those grey eyes in the darkness of night. I couldn't help but look back.

Back in the tower, climbing into bed, I mulled over everything I had seen tonight. The thing I was most shocked about, besides the fact that Hogwarts played host to an illegal muggle-fighting ring, was the fact Seamus Finnigan was in the circle. The Slytherins I could imagine there. This was their style. You know, if muggle-fighting could be a style. But Gryffindors? I wouldn't have guessed that. But then, I guess it wasn't so much Gryffindors I wouldn't expect it from – Ivy and I had been there after all, as well as Lavender – it was my brother. And Harry. I couldn't imagine that they nor Hermione would condone something like this. They would have put a stop to it. Immediately.

I guessed that explained why I didn't see any of them there.

"You should stay away from Malfoy, you know." I jumped. I thought Ivy had fallen asleep hours ago, whilst I stared at the canopy of my bed, trying to decide whether was I exhilarated or traumatised.

"What?" I was whispering. I didn't want to wake anyone else in the dorm.

"Malfoy. Stay away. You think I didn't see the way you were looking at him?" She laughed. "Honey, it was plain as day." Drunken ramblings. That's what I'm going to put this conversation down to.

I sigh. "You don't even know him Ivy." There was no point addressing the 'looks' thing. Because I was definitely looking. And he was looking back. And Ivy always liked to imagine things that weren't really there.

"'Course I do." If you say so... I couldn't get those grey eyes out of my mind. But then I remembered the senseless fighting, the blood, the look in his eye in the ring. "He shares a dorm with Theo you know. I've seen that look before. He wants you." Oh. "Different girl every week I hear. He's bad news, Gin." Right. Like I didn't work that one out for myself.

"Ivy, you're starting to sound like Ron." I only said it to shut her up. I didn't really mean it. She sniffed, annoyed, and I heard her covers rustle as she rolled over. No doubt away from my bed. I didn't really mind. She needed to sleep off the drink anyway. And I needed to shake my imagination.

Next morning; back to classes, back to the rest of the school, back to the Gryffindor table for breakfast. In the commotion of breakfast, in the wake of people falling asleep in their pancakes and the hustle and bustle of busy-bees like Hermione, that hadn't actually been to sleep yet, it was hard to imagine that what I'd seen yesterday was actually real.

My head on my hand, staring blankly into space, with my other hand wrapped around my mug of tea, I didn't really care one way or another. Ivy was still pissed off from last night, so much so that Theo had already given up on her and gone back to the Slytherin table. I don't really know why she was so angry at him – whether he'd said something else to annoy her or whether he'd hit her brother a little too hard – but I didn't really care. Her chattering was going straight over my head. The occasional "hmm" and "is that right?" seemed to satisfy her.

Mornings were not my thing. Ginny Weasely did not do mornings. I saw Harry walk past. Ron not far behind. I got a "hey, Gin" in passing. I weakly raised my hand in a half-hearted kind of wave, eyes still staring off into the distance. I bet to everyone else I looked fucking miserable. And considering it was still only half eight in the morning, they'd be correct.

I was far too busy not listening to Ivy to bother paying attention to whatever else was going on. As such, when the bell rang signalling the start of class, I jump and nearly threw my tea into the lap of a third year sitting opposite me. Blushing and mumbling apologies, I let Ivy drag me from my seat, out the hall and down to the dungeons.

Potions. First thing on a Monday morning. Kill. Me. Now.

Potions on a Monday also meant Theo on a Monday. I guessed he had a free or something because he was invariably follow us down here and he and Ivy would then proceed to suck face and grope each other until Snape opened the door. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes, wishing that the day would just get done already.

When I heard the unmistakable sucking noises coming from my left, I groaned, leaning my head against the wall and opening my eyes. To see Draco sodding Malfoy stood straight in front of me, signature smirk in place and amusement lighting his eyes. Crap.

What do you say in this situation? 'Hi, saw you beat the crap out of my house-mate and I think you're really hot'? No. How about 'Ivy told me to stay away from you, so don't you think you'd better back the fuck up'? Not the real classy approach I was looking for to be honest.

He was just standing there, school uniform and all. Slytherin tie done up loosely, shirt untucked, hair messy, his thumbs hooked into the belt rings of his trousers. It literally looked as though he'd just rolled out of bed. And he didn't say anything. And obviously, because I'm an idiot, I didn't say anything either.

After a few seconds, he inclined his head to our best friends, dry humping against the wall like animals and raised an eyebrow. I laughed. I really couldn't help it. Something about his expression just completely cracked me up. His lips tilted up into a smile as I brought my hands up to cover my lips, to hide my own grin. A loud sucking sound shredded the air as Theo came up for breath. "You still coming over babe?"

"Yeah," she sounded a little breathless. Well, you would be too if you'd had someone's tongue in your mouth for the last ten minutes. "I'll bring Ginny."

I turned, forgetting Malfoy, forgetting Theo, forgetting everyone else stood in this cursed corridor. I looked at my best friend in barely contained horror. "What?!" Shouldn't I get a say? And if I did, that say would defiantly be no. In whatever language you fancy. No. No. No. I did not want to go down to Slytherin. Under any circumstances.

I was ignored. "Alright." Theo nuzzled her neck in the most sickening way. I grimaced and went back to leaning against my bit of wall, telling myself that I'd punish Ivy for this later.

It wasn't until he'd leaned in to play with a strand of my hair that I remembered Draco Malfoy even existed. "Later, Red." My mouth hit the floor as he walked away with Theo. Red?! Well, it wasn't difficult to see where he'd come up with it. I'm a redhead. My whole family has got red hair. But still. Original, much? For some reason, the nickname annoyed me.

As soon as Snape opened the door, I was through it and huffily sitting in my seat. Hell, I'd even take Snape going bat-shit-crazy at a Gryffindor over the usual boringness of Potions. I really didn't want any time to dwell on tonight.

You know, for someone who has a reputation for being observant, Ivy honestly didn't even seem to notice that Malfoy had been hanging around earlier. And I hoped to Merlin and Morgana that no one told her. Otherwise I'd never hear the end of it. I'm so tired of the name 'Malfoy'.

I made it to lunch. Just. After listening to a complete litany on Theo's most dashing attributes, I couldn't help but flick my eyes in his direction. You would too if that's all you'd been hearing about for the last two hours. My eyes didn't stay on their target. Sat next to him was a drop dead gorgeous blonde. My eyes traced from her head, to her over-done face, down to the arm, attached to the perfectly manicured hand that was sitting on a bicep. Malfoy's bicep. I was staring. Sue me. There was another girl perched on his knee, feeding him chips. Both girls looked pretty much the same – killer figures, faces done up like they had something on today other than school, with tiny tiny skirts. My mum would have called them 'scarlet women'. I went back to my sandwhich.

After lunch Ivy fucked off to Care of Magical Creatures and I got to bound my way to Transfiguration. Transfig was definitely my favourite subject. Want to know why? It was tricky, which meant I couldn't dwell on my sorry excuse for a life, and I was good at it – which is really unusual for school stuff. I'm not the best academically. But most of all, it's the only class that I have, that Ivy doesn't. Don't get me wrong, I love my best friend, but sometimes she was just a little much, you know?

I left the classroom with a huge smile on my face. McGonagall could do with a couple of Calming Draughts, especially when Colin transfigured Mike into a badger, but the subject was decent. My bag slapped against my leg as I skipped my way up to Gryffindor tower to ditch my uniform and bag. I hated being in that stuff longer than necessary.

I pulled on a pair of jeans and a blue Harpies Tee, tucking my wand into the back pocket. I grabbed my Transfig book and launched myself into the common room, determined to grab my favourite chair. It really was my spot. It had all the light, but not too much. It was close enough to the fireplace to be warm, but not enough to burn. It was also directly across from the window so it got the best breeze. I had commandeered this chair since my first year.

The paragraphs on human transfiguration disappeared. "Guess whooo?" I rolled my eyes behind her hands. "Ivy." I sighed. When she removed her hands I noticed that she was pouting... and wearing a ridiculously short red dress and heels.

I raised an eyebrow. "Going somewhere?" Ivy really did make me laugh sometimes. It was a Monday evening for Merlin's sake.

"Yeah, and you are too. C'mon, go get changed."

Groaning, I dragged myself back up the stairs and lay on my bed. Ivy would pick my clothes. And sure enough, she picked a dress that showed more ass than my underwear. I shook my head. I was not wearing that in public. I'm pretty sure the monstrosity she was holding out wasn't even mine.

"Aww, go on Gin. Malfoy won't be able to keep his hands off you." She pouted.

Woah, where did that come from? First I should stay away from him, he's ''bad news'', and the next I've gotta dress to impress. No, I don't think so. My mind shuffled back to those girls all over him at lunch. It looked like a pretty regular thing. He looked pretty comfortable. I don't want to be another girl throwing themselves at him. I don't even like him like that. As far as I'm concerned, he's still the ferret that has taken the piss out of my brother since his first year.

Carrying on the vein of thought, I dug in my trunk for something to wear. I didn't show Ivy, just promised her it would be good as I went into the bathroom to change. I emerged wearing my favourite grey trackies, that were so soft from over-washing, and had a little hole in the waistband at the back where Ron kept tugging on it last summer. I kept my Harpies Tee on. Malfoy didn't deserve my effort.

I threw my converses on, ignoring the horrified looks Ivy was shooting me. "You are not going in that!"

I looked over, appraising her from her black high heels all the way to her black hair clip. "I'm not there to impress anyone. I'm only going because you're making me. Drop it."

Grumbling and bitching, we made it through the corridor. My hands were in my pockets and I was feeling pretty proud of my wardrobe choice and subsequent little victory. Well, I was feeling proud until the dungeons approached. And Ivy was still bitching.

"Ive?"

"Yeah?"

"Do I really have to do this? Do I have to come with you?" I know I sounded pathetic. Shut up.

"Would you really make me go on my own? I don't know how many times I've held your hair whilst you chuck up, Weasely, and you want me to go on my own?"

I sighed. She had me there. I wouldn't let anyone enter the Slytherin Common Room. Not even Ron and I hated him the most. They just weren't nice people.

I ducked my head and started twirling a long piece of hair around my index finger - the same piece he'd played with. I'd put the rest up in a messy bun to complete my 'i'm-not-here-for-you-to-stare-at' look.

All the guilt she'd put me through to get me to come down here, and she breezed through their common room like she owned the place. Which I guess she probably did, being the sister of the Blaise Zabini and all. And she did look stunning. Especially for a Monday evening. And I trailed behind her like a stray cat or a kicked puppy or something as equally pathetic, still playing with my hair and trying not to make eye contact.

We hit a staircase. I imagine it was to the dorms. Not being funny, but I did not want to be in a room with Ivy and Theo whilst they're making out. I didn't want to be a part of this. I mean, can you define 'third wheel'?

I probably should have looked around the common room, just to see which seventh year boys were floating around. I felt Ivy take my hand and tug me through the door as she opened it. Yeah, my life sucks. As it happens, all of them were there. Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini, Malfoy and Nott. Brilliant. Just what I wanted.

As soon as Ivy walked in, all eyes were on us – on her more like. Blaise growled. Like, really growled. "Fucks sake!" He threw his magazine on the bed, glared at Ivy and brushed past us. Shit. Not my brother, not my problem. Ivy would probably have to deal with the fallout later though. Which meant I'd have to listen to it.

Ivy didn't seem concerned. She swiftly moved over the Theo and flopped herself onto his bed. His arms wrapped around her. Feeling decidedly uncomfortable standing in the middle of the room on my own, I wrapped an arm around my waist and continued playing with my hair. This was just wonderful, wasn't it?

"You can sit with me, Red." My head snapped to my left. Malfoy. Of course.

"No, thankyou." Clipped. Self-assured. Perfect. I sounded a lot more confident than I felt. I walked over to Zabini's bed. The safest, considering he wasn't on it. I led on my stomach, my conversed feet in the air, and started flicking through the discarded Quidditch magazine. "Don't know what I'd catch off those sheets." Said without even looking up. I'm good.

Theo laughed. "What's with her?"

I could practically hear Ivy rolling her eyes. "She's being unimpressive." The scorn was evident in her voice. Although, I had a feeling that was more for my chosen attire than it was for my jab at Malfoy.

I could hear Theo and Ivy talking and I could feel him staring at me. It was like a prickling sensation all over my body. Like how you know you're being watched. Some scary sixth sense thing. I kept looking at the little figures of the Tornadoes zooming throughout the centre spread, the accompanying article blathering about how they were sure to make a come back this season. Yeah, right. And then the magazine was being snatched out of my hands. I jerked my head up, to see Malfoy holding the rag above my head. I glared. "Fancy getting out of here?"

"No." I tried to reach the magazine without getting up and failed miserably. I was flopping around like a fish out of water. He smirked. I felt his hand on the waistband of my trackies, playing with the hole there. I blushed and smacked his hand away. It was then I heard the giggle and a moan. My face transformed into a mask of horror. What the fuck? I didn't have to look in their direction to know who it was. I shuddered. I did not need to hear that.

"C'mon, just a walk, I'm not going to bite." Said with a devilish smirk on his face, as though he'd like nothing better than to bite me.

But, as any girl will tell you, even a creepy Malfoy is preferable to listening to your best friend shag. Looking around, I noticed that Crabbe and Goyle had already done a disappearing act. Thinking about that, I nodded my head vigorously and without even waiting for him I legged it out of that dorm room. I cringed. Just before Malfoy shut the door I heard "Oooo, baby!" I didn't need the mental images.

Now I find myself on a walk with Malfoy. The exact snake I wanted to avoid. I was wringing my hands as we made our way out of the common room and out of the doors to the school. Meandering around the grounds and neither of us had said anything. It was becoming too much.

I blurted out the first thing that came into my head. "I'm not going to sleep with you."

He laughed. Actually laughed. I hadn't expected that and my expression probably said as much. "I didn't ask you to."

"Yeah, well, as long as we're clear." I'm not sure whether I felt relieved or insulted by his easy reply. Was I not 'sleep-with' material? Did I not meet his standards? Of course you don't, idiot! Look what you're wearing. My subconscious was a bitch. But I hardly looked like I'd stepped off the catwalk. Besides, you don't want him to like you, remember? Right.

It was a little cold out. Winter in Scotland. Go figure. I wrapped my arms around myself, as we kept walking. Every now and then one of us would fire out a question. I don't even know how it started and none of it was that deep shit people always feel the need to ask. I guess, knowing that he didn't want to get into my knickers loosened me up a bit. And after a while I was actually laughing. It was over something stupid as well. When asked who his favourite Quidditch team was, Malfoy replied the Cannons. The Cannons. I laughed so hard I thought my sides would split. I couldn't stop thinking about Ron and that easy save the keeper had missed last week – again. The Cannons were bottom of the league and always would be.

I looked back at him, to find that he'd stopped walking and was mock glaring at me. I smiled. "Move it, I'm freezing." Which was true. "It's not my fault your taste sucks." Also true.

He actually smiled a little, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Well, what's yours?" His voice was deep and made me shiver a little.

"Harpies." I said, slowly, tracing my finger across the 'HARPIES' insignia emblazoned over the chest of my T-shirt. I mean, d'uh. At this point I was starting to think Malfoy wasn't all that bright.

Taking me by surprise, Malfoy poked my in the side. "Glory-supporter."

I spluttered in indignation. How dare he? And simply to prove that I wasn't, I spent the rest of our walk rattling off Harpies facts and figures, wins and losses. It didn't take me long to realise I was rambling. But I just couldn't stop. It just kept pouring from my mouth like acid. Whilst my mouth was otherwise engaged, I wasn't thinking about how casual we were being, or how nice his hand felt against my hip. You know, all that shit you're not supposed to think about the schools resident playboy.

We did a full circle around the castle and true to his word, Malfoy didn't try to sleep with me. He didn't kiss me. He didn't even touch me except to ruffle my hair or to poke me in the side. When we reached the Grand Staircase there was no declaration of love, no battle of wills, no asking me to stay and spend more time kicking his arse at Qudditch trivia. Nothing.

In fact, all I got by way of a farewell was, "later, Red." Then he was gone, down to the dungeons, no doubt to deal with a satisfied Theo and an angry Zabini.

I walked up the staircases to the seventh floor and climbed into bed. Ivy was already asleep in hers. I decided right there and then that I didn't want to be another notch on Malfoy's bedpost. In fact I didn't want anything to do with him in that way at all. But he wasn't quite the monster my brother painted him to be. I guess he could be a friend, or at the very least, an acquaintance. To be honest, I believe Ivy, if I was to go down the road of wanting Malfoy, I'd only get my heart broken. Thus, Malfoy was firmly placed in the 'friend zone'.

Updates will be sporadic.