Fic Title: Dreaming

Author: Psychotic Ditz

Summary: Gryffindor fourth year, Aurora Neisson has always been intrigued by the seemingly misunderstood Slytherins. What happens when she happens upon a chance in counter with their "king."

Rating: PG13 - For adult issues (sex), and language.

A/N: Sorry, this one took awhile. I have a complete list of ligitimate excuses, but I doubt that you care to hear them…

The next morning, I could barely open my eyes. I had been kept awake till the wee hours of the morning thinking about the enigma that is Draco Malfoy. Oh, I knew that our "relationship" was a bad idea. You never want to be in a no-strings-attached relationship with someone that you have feelings for, particularly the kind of tumultuous, fiery feelings that I have.

But I couldn't stop it. I knew even now, with my sleep-laden brain, that I would be out by the entrance hall tonight. The thought made me feel sick. I was not one of those girls that falls head-over-heels at the slightest thing, that is willing to put herself on hold for a guy. I had prided myself on always being the one in control of the relationship, up until now anyway.

I stumbled down to the Great Hall and had just enough time to grab a piece of toast before going to Potions. Gin was already there with a couple other students in our year. I plopped down next to her ungracefully, and shoved the last of the toast in my mouth.

"Hey Sleepy-Head," she practically chirped.

"Mmm."

"So…how was last night?"

"You make it sound like we're lesbians," I retorted. Gin smirked rather than taking offence.

"I take that as a 'not well?'"

"No, last night was fine. I'm just really tired, and really not in the mood for Snape right now."

"Ah, I see. I'll post-pone my corrections till lunch." I mumbled a 'thank you' that really did no justice to the gratitude I felt. Just then Batman walked though the doors in an impressive billow of robes…just like every other class. Professor Severus Snape was the one thing I could not bring myself to like about the Slytherins. I could admire their cunning, appreciate their independence, and even respect their right to have (completely wrong) opinions, but I could not find a single bit of merit in their head of house.

It wasn't that I didn't like his class. I could probably enjoy potions given the chance. It wasn't that I thought he was too strict or demanding. I loved Transfigurations for the simple reason that McGonagal didn't put up with any nonsense, and therefore we actually learned a great deal in her class. (I hated Divination, though.) No, the reason I couldn't bring myself to like Snape was because of two things. One was his blatant favoritism towards his own house. Now I could understand how he could justify going easy on his house, since they were generally the ones that were excluded by the rest of the school, but all of our other teachers managed to remain fair. The second reason was his unprecedented knack for discouraging his students. Even with the Slytherins, he still managed to make it clear that he expected us all to do badly, and, as I pointed out, this outlook greatly affected how he taught us. It was as if we were a waste of his time, not the reason for his paycheck.

Now, standing up at the front of the room and glaring down at all of us, he began to speak, "Today we will be working on the Antidote on page 241. As it is a difficult potion, and one I doubt that you idiots will be able to do alone, I have taken it upon myself to put you in pairs."

Do you see what I mean? Second sentence of the day and we're already idiots.

"Now, not to waist anytime, Weasly, Patterson!" Ugh, Derrick Patterson, younger brother of sixth year Weston, was one of those cocky boys you always wanted to beat the hell out of, then make some immature comment about being beaten by a girl. I gave Ginny a sympathetic glance as she gathered her stuff together. Snape was still calling out pairs, each more painfully matched than the one before. Have I mentioned yet the Batman is also a sadistic bastard?

"Neisson, O'Rielly." Okay, a really sadistic bastard.

I moved to sit next to Piper O'Rielly, my one time friend. Since we had gone our separate ways, Piper had grown more and more fond of being really, flat-out awful to me, as if to cover up our friendship in first year. The Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy rivalry was still the poster child for our to houses, but I often thought that the Aurora Neisson/Piper O'Rielly one could give them a run for their money. You see, we were more sophisticated than two boys calling each other names and exchanging punches. We were above that petty form of fighting. We, basically, were females, which if don't know already, means a more silent, more cunning, more unscrupulous kind of fighting. An example of this was waiting for me the second I sat down next to her.

"So, Neisson, I've been hearing some pretty interesting stuff about you lately," she said in a smooth voice that brought to mind the image of being bound with silk handkerchiefs.

"O'Rielly, I'm sure that whatever gossip you're talking about is absolutely untrue, and therefore, I don't give a shit. Can we get started on our potion now?" I asked in an equally sweet voice.

"Certainly," she replied lighting a fire under the cauldron and handing me some beetle eyes to crush. We worked in silence for a few minutes with relative ease. We had been working on antidotes all quarter and were rather familiar with them now. Then she opened her mouth to speak again.

"So, you're saying you didn't have sex with him." I almost dropped the beaker I was holding. How did she know? I tried to regain my composure.

"Have sex with who?" I asked, turning to look at her through narrowed eyes. She smiled slowly.

"With Draco Malfoy, of course." I was torn, part of me wanted to say, 'yes, I did sleep with the Slytherin Sex God,' and gloat over her. The other part wanted to run and hide from the fact that something that personal was about to be common knowledge. Most of me wanted to slap that smirk off her face. I opted to go for the first one, not wanting to come off as ashamed.

"So what if I did?" I asked her. She raised one black eyebrow, her deceptively soft brown eyes sparkling with amusement.

"My, my, Aurora. Where have you insufferable morals gone?"

"Who said I had any to begin with." Piper O'Rielly was a slut. Her last relationship had ended with a bang when her Ravenclaw boyfriend found out she was sleeping with not one, but both of his best friends. But I could be a slut too, and sometimes it felt good to go against everyone's expectations. I would ignore the fact that I was being blatantly hypocritical for right now.

"Well, I guessed I just always assumed that you Gyrffindorks High and Mighty pose can from a stick of self-righteous morals stuck up your ass."

"No, Piper, I think you're the only one low enough to take it up the ass," I said. She simmered. It was always easier to take an insult to you house than an insult to your person.

"And anyway," I continued, "you don't have to be so petty, just because I have the hottest guy around. Not to mention the one that always turns you down." Oh, that felt good.

"Please," she spat, turning hideous with rage, "don't kid yourself. You're just his latest toy. You'll be discarded next week, if not sooner."

My eyes narrowed. "Oh, really? And what about you? How long did you have him for, hmm? If I remember correctly, the answer is never. You want to know why that is, Piper? It's because you're too despicable, too lowly, too fucking easy to be of notice to him. And while you're busy swimming through the lowest of society, he and I watch, and laugh at how pathetic you are."

She raised her hand to slap me, perfectly manicured nails turned into claws. I flinched and closed my eyes, only to be saved by an oily voice from behind me.

"Is there something wrong here girls?" I spun around and she dropped her hand back into her lap.

"No, Professor," she said softly. I bit back a sigh of relief. At that moment, I could have kissed the Batman, greasy hair and all.

"Then may I ask why neither of you seem to have been able to complete your potion? The rest of the class is already done." I forced myself to lower my eyes, as if ashamed. Without looking I could tell that O'Rielly was doing the same thing. There was a long pause before Snape spoke again.

"Ten points from each of your houses and a detention tonight at eight. I expect you to be here and ready to prepare this potion. Alone." And with that, he billowed off.

~*~*~

Ginny caught up with me just outside of the classroom. I was in a worse mood than I had been before class started now that my anger was beginning to lessen.

"What was that all about? I tried to listen, but you two were speaking too softly." Shouting in whispers.

"That whore knows," I said, putting full emphasis on 'whore'. Gin knew better than to reprimand me.

"Know what?" I turned and just gave her a steady look.

"Oh. OH!" I kept walking, quickly. Gin hurried to keep up. "Oh, Aurora, that's awful! What are you going to do?"

"Do? What can I possibly do? By lunch, the entire school will know thanks to O'Rielly."

"Well, I mean, I'm sure if you were to deny it, people would believe you."

"Really, Gin? I mean, how many people truly know me, hmm? You do, but I rarely put up with anyone else, including our dorm mates, all of whom know I've been out late the past two nights. And anyway, if I deny it, it will look as though I'm ashamed."

"Oh, Aurora!" she cried piteously. I pushed open the doors and headed over to Greenhouse 5 for Herbology. Today was going to be a very long day.