Social Ambitions
Romilda Vane sat quietly in front of the small dressing table placed beside her bed in the 4th year Gryffindor girls' dorm. Her eyes were unfocussed and she wasn't so much staring at her reflection as through it.
Romilda knew that she wasn't a clever girl, and that if she was going to make anything of her life, then she was going to have to use her looks to get by.
She picked up the ivory brush that her parents had sent her, and absentmindedly started the long process involved in detangling her long, curly black hair. Her parents were rich enough to secure her a good match, but Romilda wanted more than mere money, she wanted fame.
Her plan to trap Harry Potter had failed, and it seemed like she was going to have to settle for the wrong kind of fame, but nevertheless it was still fame.
Romilda was, young, she was beautiful and she used these advantages to the best of her ability. Everyone assumed that because of these, and her unfortunate lack of academic ability, she was the epitome of all that was sweet and innocent and so, she played it up. She stayed quiet and demure on the outside, but what she lacked academically she more than made up for in cunning and manipulability. It was surprising the amount of skill she possessed in the art for a girl of 15.
No, she needed to turn her ambitions in a different direction.
She carefully placed the ivory brush down on the table, and looked at herself properly in the mirror. She smiled her best, and noted how it made her eyes shine. She was ready to fight for her position.
X
The next day Romilda started slow, she sauntered into the great hall, skirt dangerously short and 2 buttons undone on her shirt. She laughed loudly and made sure to draw plenty of attention when she passed by the Slytherin table.
As she did so she turned her head, fixed one Draco Malfoy with a sultry gaze and flashed him the most beautiful, and a somewhat suggestive, smile.
The blonde cocked a curious eyebrow in response to the sudden attention, but made no reply. That didn't matter however, he had taken notice and the seed of possibility was wedged in his mind.
X
A few days later she made her way down into the dungeons, pretending to get lost and wandering back and forth past the entrance to the Slytherin common room. She waited for nearly an hour until Draco Malfoy came wandering back, and Romilda hurried down the corridor. She pretended to be looking down whilst he wasn't paying attention and bashed straight into him.
"Oh!" she cried, delicately stumbling backwards and dropping all the books that she was carrying. "I'm so, so sorry, I wasn't paying attention." She mumbled, dropping to her knees to collect her things all the while batting thick eyelashes up at him.
Draco regarded her curiously, stooping to pick up the last book, and tossing it back into her arms.
"Stupid little Gryffindor."
X
Romilda had not suffered any setbacks because of his cold attitude. If anything his outward disregard made her only more determined. She regrouped and plotted and decided to do the next best thing.
"Professor Slughorn?" she asked one day after a potions lesson.
"Yes Miss Vane?" the fat professor asked, not looking up from his papers.
"I was wondering, we both know that potions isn't my best subject." This caused a chuckle.
"That is somewhat of an understatement."
Romilda frowned slightly, but brushed aside the sting that the criticism brought. "I thought that perhaps a tutor would be beneficial, someone older. And it could mean extra credit for them." Slughorn raised his head and one thick eyebrow.
"Did you have someone in mind, Miss Vane?"
"Draco Malfoy."
X
Two months into their study sessions, Romilda became aware of the fact that Slughorn was hosting a party for his group of elites, and that Draco had manage to procure an invitation.
During their time together, three times a week, Draco had grown slowly more and more open with her, they were even on a first name basis. It was true that he had grown more and more drained, and he looked stressed and exhausted but Romilda had come to enjoy their lessons and she was actually improving in potions. Small miracle that that was.
That didn't make it any less of a shock when, for once, she didn't have to push or pander to get exactly what she had wanted all along.
"Romilda?" Draco started, almost shyly. "Would you like to come to Slughorn's party with me?"
The young girl looked at him, and smiled the first real smile of her teenage life.