Eros appeared to be quietly reading as they all sat together, but he was trying to subtly impress on Hermione's mind the vague beginnings of a crush. It was easier on people less resolute, and he was making little progress. At the moment, she really truly wanted nothing to do with Draco. He would have to try it when Draco was around and ticking her off.

Manipulation was always easier when people were caught up in the rush of emotion, even if it was hatred. He sighed, and continued prodding around half-heartedly, not really getting anywhere. A sudden clatter of activity down at the end of the hall drew his attention, and he peered around Mallory and Hermione to catch a glimpse of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley trotting down the isle toward them, just short of running.

From the appearance of their facial expressions, they were a little distressed.

"Hermione," Harry addressed her urgently as she pivoted in her seat toward them. "Some of the Hufflepuff third years started something of a brawl with a bunch of Gryffindors."

"James Whitelock started it by teasing Katherine Hayles," Ron said, scowling. "It's broken up, but they could use a good lecture. We thought you'd be best at it."

"And we figure you'd be fairest as far as house point deduction goes," Harry added with a shrug.

She managed to smile wryly, and shook her head. "I'll see you back in the tower, Mallory," she said apologetically, slapping her books shut and shoving them into her bag. "Brant, you can return that one to me later. I don't need it now. Alright boys, let's go."

Mallory watched them go, then turned to Aiden. "We need to talk."

"About what?" he asked distractedly, trying to clear a spot in his bag for the tome, not bothering to look up at her.

"This whole business of yours here," she stated coldly.

His brows rose in affront. "What's got you in a snazz?"

"Let's take it somewhere private."

"Like where?" he asked. "I can't exactly take you back to my room. There isn't a lot of private space here and it's freezing outside."

"There's an empty classroom. Come on," she stood, "Follow me out in a few minutes." She stood and strode out. He sat forking through some papers and counting to one hundred in frustrated boredom before shoveling everything into his messenger bag and starting after her.

He hadn't made it twenty paces down the hall when she reached out from the shadows of a corridor and nabbed him. Her presence flared around him, and after a brief flash of shock he let her envelope him, teleporting them into the abandoned room. "Could've used a bit more warning," he growled as he swatted at his rumpled robes, straightening his collar. He could feel her magic seething along his skin, like a lingering electric static, and he took a step back from her. "Now what the hell is this whole cloak and dagger shit about?"

"You need to find someone else's life to screw with," Aletheia declared, meeting his eyes firmly.

"…What?"

"This whole ridiculous Hermione / Draco thing you have in your head."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No. It's completely screwed up. They'll make each other miserable."

"She's just what he needs. She's bright and forceful and idealistic. Someone to shake up his drab world."

"He doesn't deserve her! He's nothing more then a spoiled and selfish little brat."

"He has a control and sharpness that she could sure use a hefty dose of. She's not perfect, Aletheia."

"But he's… he hates her. This relationship will shred her." Her tone fell to a steely calm. "But you don't care, do you? It's just sport."

"Aletheia, don't get all emotional on me."

"For the god of love, you sure are an unfeeling, inconsiderate bastard."

"What is wrong with you?"

"I spent the day with her and her friends. They're good people, Eros. She's smart and passionate—she has so much to give this world. I won't let you take that away from her."

"I want her to fall in love, stop acting like I'm taking her life and sanity away."

"If you're not careful, you could take away both. Do you realize how serious this is? His father would have her killed if he found out."

"Neither of them is weak, stupid, or naïve. Give them a little credit."

"They're just kids, Eros. And they hate each other. They don't even see each other as real people."

"I want to help them get over that. Is that so bad?"

"What will you do? Shoot them with your fucking arrows?"

He blinked. Aletheia rarely swore, and it was proof that, despite the fact that she wasn't yelling, she was honestly and truly furious at him. "Maybe."

"Great. Just great. They'll get into some heady rush of emotions and plunge into something that they'll both end up hating themselves for. They're too different. He's completely consumed in his family and their beliefs, with himself and his world and his own arrogance, and she's so full of her ideals and love for other people, trying to make a difference and prove herself. It won't work."

"It will," he insisted, glaring at her heatedly as he stood perfectly still.

"Why, because you can make them physically attracted to one another? They won't care for each other. They won't support each other. He's can't protect her and she can't save him." Her eyes flashed gold a moment before reverting back to auburn.

"Fine. If you're not going to help me, then you can leave," he sulked.

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm staying. Someone needs to watch out for the girl."

"You're going to try and stop me." He stared at her in surprised disbelief.

"Yes, I am."

"You care about her so much? Why? You've only known her one day. Why should it matter?"

She let a breath seep slowly into her lungs, and flood back out. "For someone who makes it his job, there seems to be a lot of things you don't understand about love."

And with that she left with a snap of her fingers and a crackle of gold. His face contorted in anger, lip curling as he clenched his teeth. So much for getting her to help him. If it was a fight she wanted, then fine.

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Yeah! Two chapters in two days. Am I amazing or what? Yeah... behold the drama.

Keep sending me ideas on couples, I'm all ears. Even Eros is up for grabs.

Eros: glare what was that? I don't think so.

Oh, he's not making it out of this story unscathed rubs hands together he's much too snarky for me just to let him off the hook.