It was a beautiful crisp autumn afternoon, the perfect to sit outside and do some studying, which was what he was meant to be doing. His books lay beside him, his bag with ink and parchment hung on a branch above his head, but he just didn't really feel like studying.
Contrary to popular believe Ravenclaws did not always study. In fact he was sure that Hermione Granger did more studying than all the Ravenclaws put together. She always had a book near by and her nose constantly pressed into one. Rumour had it she slept with a book under her pillow.
She was sitting a few feet away from him, leaning against the trunk of a tree, her book resting in her lap as she read, absentmindedly fiddling with her hair, winding it round and round her fingers as her eyes darted across the page.
"What are you reading Granger?" She looked up, obviously startled by the sudden sound of his voice. She stared at him, her eyes narrowing in thought, as though she was trying to place him. She had no real reason to recognize him, after all, he was a Ravenclaw, 7th year and she was a Gryffindor 4th year.
"Roger Davies." He held out his hand, allowing her to shack it.
"Hi. Aren't you the Ravenclaw Quidditch Caption?" He nodded, grinning slightly as he sat next to her on the soft green grass.
"You follow Quidditch?" She shock her head, cautiously meeting his gaze, as though she was trying to evaluate why he was there and how trust worthy he was to talk to.
"No. I have to listen to my friends talking about it though." He chuckled at the dull tone of her voice.
"Yeah, well, most people know that you don't like Quidditch Granger." She looked at him over the top of her book as though daring him to say more.
"How do you know my name Davies?" He grinned, leaning back against the trunk of the tree, careful to keep a few inches between them, so she wouldn't feel crowded or like he was trying anything. Her anger was well known and he wanted to keep his body intact.
"I think everyone knows who you are Granger. Potter's brilliant friend, always there to rescue his neck from what ever he's gotten you into." She raised an eyebrow at him as if asking him if he had any real purpose in sitting next to her.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." She turned her attention back to her book, her voice rather stiff as he continued to watch her, almost studying her.
"Come on. Everyone knows about your adventure with the Philosopher's stone in your first year."
She just shrugged, pushing her hair over her shoulder as she carried on reading, pointedly ignoring his gaze.
"Do you have a date to the Yule Ball?" Her book snapped shut and he leapt back as she turned to him, her face set in a cold hard stare.
"No thank you." He watched her leave, her head held high as she walked across the courtyard. He glowered at the grass between his knees.
"So close!" He muttered.
Up in the Gryffindor common room Hermione was telling Harry and Ron about what had just happened. He struck Davies from the list.