DISCLAIMER- Must I tell you again? The characters here are not mine. I don't own them. Never have, never will. *sigh*

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Alicia's eyes fluttered open in the quiet room. A solid stream of sunlight fell upon her bed. She watched mindlessly as specks of dust danced in it, swirling and spinning. Sighing, she rest her arm across her eyes and grimaced. She would eventually have to leave the Hospital Wing, and it wouldn't be pretty when she did.

Running her hands through her hair as she walked, she pulled it back into a messy bun. A stray strand of wavy honey brown hair fell into her face. She pushed in behind her ear and looked down at the stone floors.

"Hey! Spinnet!"

Alicia stopped dead, closing her eyes as if praying for serenity. She turned around slowly, throwing Draco the best glare she could muster. "What is it, Malfoy?"

He smiled. "Now now, Spinnet. Is that what I get for saving your life? Not even a  'Gee thanks for making sure I didn't die, Malfoy' or anything? Shame. Maybe next time I won't."

She could tell he was thoroughly enjoying this. Alicia's fists were balled so tightly that her nails were digging into her skin. When she spoke, it was through clenched teeth.

"You-did-not-save-me." She said harshly. Draco grinned.

"You're right. I'm sure you would have lived after smashing yourself into the ground." Several bystanders sniggered. "No Spinnet, can't blame yourself really. You are, after all, on Gryffindor, and we all know they can't fly to-"

He was cut short. Alicia stood before him, eyes blazing. Draco, completely speechless, reached up and rubbed the red handprint on his face.

"Never insult me or my team again, or a bitch slap will be the least of your worries." She spun on her heel and stormed off, leaving Draco utterly shocked behind her.

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Alicia paced back and forth on the plush maroon rug, hands clasped behind her back. Every once in a while she would run her hands distractedly through her hair. Cringing, Draco's sneering face ran through her mind once more. She let out an angry growl before running into someone.

"Ouch! Who the-" Alicia said angrily. But when she looked up, it was Angelina's concerned gaze that she met.

"You ok, love? The common room is going to have a trench in it if you keep this up."

Alicia smiled weakly. "I'll give you one guess."

Angelina grimaced. "Malfoy." Alicia nodded, and Angelina guided her by the shoulders over to an armchair. Alicia sat on the side of the couch and crossed her arms, playing absentmindedly with the fringe of a cream colored pillow.

"Okay, so he has one up on you now I suppose. But he's Draco, he lives to torture. And soon he'll find some other poor victim to wreak havoc on. But for now, his target is you." Angelina said, a pained look in her eyes as she stared at her friend. Alicia's gaze finally shifted from the pillow's frayed trimming.

"I don't know what makes him think he can do it though. If anything, he's got worse problems than all of us! His bloody father is in prison, and his hair wouldn't move if you chiseled it. He…he just has no right! Quidditch is my life, Lina…if I'm bad at this now, what do I have left?"

Angelina, who had sat quietly and still as he friend gushed to her, shook her head slowly. "You're not bad, Alicia. In fact, if you keep this up, you may get to be a professional player someday. Just like we'd always talked about, remember?" Alicia's eyes held a far-off look in them, but she nodded her head slightly. "Don't listen to Malfoy. He doesn't matter- never has, never will. Got it?"

Alicia looked up. "Yeah, got it." She got up and gave Angelina a quick hug. "Okay, enough sappiness for one night, mate." she said smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Angelina said her goodnight and watched as her friend walked up towards the dorm. Alicia sighed, dragging her feet up each step with great effort. Don't listen to Malfoy. He doesn't matter. She kept repeating Angelina's words over and over in her head. She was, of course right- what a self absorbed, rich, slick haired little prat like Malfoy said shouldn't matter at all. Not in the least.

But it did.