Hello, sorry it's been a while! I was faced with writer's block for how to pitch this scene. However, I was motivated back into action by a lovely review from GASPLudwig (and of course every other review I received that said complimentary things.) You are all a very charming lot aren't you, I hope that you will take this chapter with my thanks (and apologise for another slow update)!

Chapter Twenty

I was surprised to find myself feeling well, a little….suspenseful, as I waited for the prophesised Greengrass to make his appearance. Not nervous though, most definitely not nervous. Not in the slightest.

Well, at least I don't look nervous, I thought, no sign of flushed cheeks and sweaty palms when they're covered in purple bruising. And it's not like he can expect me to look nice. I've been brought to the point of death; practically no one in their right mind would worry about how they looked at a time like this. And Wood has said my nose was looking less bulbous today.

Get a grip I chastised myself. You're only getting nervous over this because you're bored. I was bored, horribly bored, and I'd only been here for two days. With the aid of Madame Pomfrey, and some fairly hefty pain medication, I'd been moulded into an almost upright sitting position. It wasn't much, but at least I could see the chair at the end of the bed.

A few minutes later Greengrass entered. He gave a broad smile as he spotted me, and headed over to the chair.

"Hi" he said, cheerily.

"Erm, Hi" I returned.

"So, I was told that you didn't like roses, but I felt I should still probably give you some flowers, so I brought you…" he produced a bouquet.

"Peonies" I said, trying and failing to stop my voice sounding so snarky "very funny."

"Huh?"

"Ah, never mind." There was an awkward pause. "So" I continued "Thanks for"

"Saving your life?"

"If you want to put it like that."

"I like putting it that way, makes me sound rather heroic. Rescuing damsels in distress from dragons, or in this case, bludgers."

"I am not a damsel in distress."

"You wouldn't classify this as distress?"

"Nope. This is an unfortunate circumstance. I may be in pain, and bored out of my mind, but I am not distressed."

"Right….How is the pain?"

"Bearable, I have pain medication."

"I thought that stuff was for muggles."

"It works on Wizards too, shocking I know given the vast biological differences between ourselves and muggles."

"Uh huh, interesting" he replied, completely missing my sarcasm.

"Yeah…"

"Hey, I was sorry to hear you lost the match."

"Hear? You didn't go?"

"No, I probably shouldn't say this to you but I'm not much of a Quidditch guy."

"Why not? You'd make a good beater from the look of you."

"Are you checking me out, Alvic?"

"What?" That comment had come out of nowhere, "Of course I'm not, I'm making an observation."

"Yeah, ok."

I shook my head, or at least I attempted to, the actual effect was that my jaw wobbled slightly.

"So, I was wondering, do you need me to bring you up any work? I know we're in transfiguration together. I could bring you the essay titles, fill you in on what you missed."

"Oh, er, sorry. Thanks for the offer an' all, but I already got that covered. Henry's sorting that out."

I thought I saw his jaw tighten slightly, but a moment later I thought I must have imagined it, because that dazzling smile was back in place.

"I don't think you're catching on Alvic, what I meant by that was, I'd like to see a bit more of you."

"Why?" I suspected a trap, guys like Greengrass did not want to see more of girls like me. Wood's words from first term echoed back to me. Oh yeah, all guys want headstrong, cynical, bossy Quidditch Captains. It doesn't work that way round, Alvic

"You seem interesting." Greengrass replied, "and you have nice legs."

I wished my face had been more functional, so I could have shot him a disdainful look.

"You're kidding me right?"

"At least I'm being honest. And you have a nice face, if that helps, when it's not all…"

"Smushed?"

He laughed "that is definitely not a word."

"Accurate though."

"Absolutely . So anyway, may I visit you again?"

I considered this, I was bored out of my mind, and although Greengrass didn't really seem to be on my wavelength when it came to sarcasm, he had been quite good company, and if I was honest, finding guys who liked my legs, face…whatever, had turned out to be a bit of a rarity in Hogwarts. I could at least give it a go.

"Wood wouldn't like it if I said yes." I told him, doing the best impression of a sly grin I could manage, "he says you're a dick."

"I imagine he does."

"Any reason?"

"We just have our difference. Oliver Wood is" he trailed off.

"Yes?"

"I was raised by my parents not to speak ill of others in polite company."

"This is hardly polite company."

"Fair enough, Oliver Wood is a smug ass."

"Ooh, tension."

"My opinion of Oliver Wood is not the question. The question is whether you give a damn about his opinion."

Well, when you put it like that….

"Oh course I don't." I said, proudly, "Oliver Wood has no power over me. In the same way I have no power over you. So the way I see it, if you were to come to the hospital wing again there would be very little I could do to stop you."

We were interrupted at that point by Madame Pomfrey hurrying over to inform us that visiting hours were over and that Greengrass needed to return to his dormitory.

He stood up to leave languidly, hovering by the end of the bed for the moment, "You might have some power over me, you know." He said calmly, "only time will tell."

"That was cheesy." I told him sternly, "you'll have to cut that out."

"Really, I thought it was more…debonair."

"Maybe in a Jane Austen novel." I said dismissively , "and no, that's not a good thing."

"You don't like roses, or Jane Austen. You are fascinating. I'm trying to work out if there's anything wrong with you."

"Ask Wood, I'm sure he can give you a heap of reasons."

"I wouldn't be too sure."

"What?"

"Goodnight, Elizabeth."

"Goodnight, Greengrass" I said pointedly.

After he left, I contemplated the conversation. I wasn't quite sure I liked the fact he had used my first name so soon after us meeting, it felt like a rather awkward abuse of social convention. Then there were all the compliments, they did have a rather rehearsed feel, and I could see the insincerity in them. Of course Greengrass knew I had faults, and I know he was trying to be nice and stuff but I couldn't help feeling a little peeved that he expected me to fall for those lines.

That however, was proud Riza talking, the Riza who had manage to sabotage almost any relationship she had found herself even remotely close too, and the Riza who was responsible for eliciting some of Flora's most pitying looks. If I looked at this objectively, removing my, admittedly rather sizable, ego from the equation, I had found my time with Greengrass quite entertaining and for the most part I had to conclude I enjoyed his company. And then there was always the added bonus that is would annoy Wood, something I relished with a rather unexpected satisfaction.