A/N:

Written as an assignment and for the February Event (Teamwork) over on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)

Task: Write about someone who uses their external beauty to take advantage of others.

Extra Prompts: (Word) Worship, (Word) Danger

Teamwork: (Object) Ribbon, (Word) Lovesick

1000 Word Challenge: Smile

Gringotts: Nouns – Life, Guy, Puppy, Attention, Money, Library, Ribbon, Skin, Putty, Perfume, Newspaper, Advertisement, Market, Hug, Owl, Order, Midnight; Adjectives – Lovesick, Desperate, Bland, Broad, Radiant, Open, Poor, Handsome, Fair; Verbs – Provide, Buy, Jump, Scoot, Loan; Compound Words – Newspaper, Lovesick, Trademark; Colour – Yellow, Scarlet, Brown; Said words – Asserted, Gushed, Commented, Inquired, Affirmed

Word Count: 866

To Get What He Wants

Zacharias Smith could safely say that he absolutely loved his life.

Not that he had a big head or anything but he was by far the best looking guy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All he had to do was walk down the corridor and every girl within sight would be staring after him like a lovesick puppy, hoping that today would be the day that he paid them some attention. It was impossible for them to not worship him like the God he knew he was.

However Zacharias was no fool and he saved his attention for those who could provide him with the most advantages.

For example, if ever he was running low on money, he would seek out Daphne Greengrass, and on days when he couldn't find her and he was desperate, such as with today, he would go to Eloise Midgen.

That spotty freak would give him anything he asked for and all he had to do was flash the simpering girl a smile.

He found her in the library wearing her trademark yellow ribbon in her greasy, bland brown hair.

He fixed a broad toothy grin on his face and prepared to flirt with the unappealing girl. It was the very last thing he wanted to do, but if he wanted to buy the latest and very expensive Broomstick Servicing Kit that had been advertised in the Daily Prophet, then he had to do what was necessary.

"Eloise," he whispered, making the girl jump out of her skin. "You look positively radiant today."

The Gryffindor giggled and fluttered her eyelashes at him. She was already putty in his hands, and he knew it wouldn't take very long at all to get what he desired out of her.

"Do you mind if I sit here gorgeous?" he asked, indicating to the solid oak, cushioned chair next to her.

"No of course not," she gushed, twirling a strand of hair around her index finger. "I'd love for you to join me Zacharias."

"Great," he said pulling out the chair and sitting down next her, inching it closer to her and getting a whiff of her potent perfume.

The scent of it knocked the Hufflepuff sick and he had to fight the urge to scoot his seat away from her. If he was going to get what he came for then he would have to grin and bear it.

Zacharias pulled the newspaper clipping out of his pocket and unfolded it, smoothing out the creases on the table.

"Hey El, have you seen this?" he commented pointing to the advertisement in an effort to direct the conversation towards his true purpose for seeking her out.

Eloise closed the book she was reading and pulled the clipping closer to her.

"Hasn't this only just been released on the open market?" she inquired as she passed it back to him. "Are you going to purchase one?"

"Yes," Zacharias told her, thrilled that she was giving him an opening. "Well, that is to say I would but – you see - my dad – he won't give me the money, and I really need this."

Zacharias squeezed his eyes closed as he forced the tears to spill out of his eyes.

"Oh my poor baby," Eloise cooed, scooting over and embracing him. "Please don't cry. You're too handsome to do that."

She let go and took his face in the palms of her hands and swiped away the tears.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked sweetly, giving him a smile.

The edges of Zacharias' lips twitched as he fought the urge to let his glee show. "Well you could – no I couldn't – it wouldn't be fair."

"Nothing you could ask of me would be too much Zacharias, surely you must know that by now," she asserted. "Tell me what it is I can do for you."

"Only if you insist," Zacharias said, trying to make it clear in his tone that she could say no.

Just as Zacharias had suspected, Eloise nodded her head vigorously. He was never in danger of her saying no.

"Well could you – maybe – loan me the money? I'll pay you back as soon as possible, but it may take some time."

"Of course Zach," Eloise replied. "And don't worry about paying me back; think of it as my gift to you."

"Really?"

"Really," she affirmed, reaching into her pocket and withdrawing a small bag of galleons and handing it to him.

Zacharias jumped up from his seat and gave Eloise a brief hug. "You're the best El," he exclaimed gleefully. "I'd love to stay and chat, but if I'm going to get my order in before midnight, I have to send my owl now. Catch you later beautiful."

The Hufflepuff hung back long enough to watch the pimply Gryffindor blush a scarlet red, before rushing off.

Now that Zacharias had secured the galleons from Eloise, he needed to find someone who would be willing to do his dastardly Potions essay. Fortunately, he knew just the gullible fool, and with her recent heartache Cho Chang would lap up any attention he gave her and be easy enough for him to manipulate.

A/N:

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