A/N: I know there are no more notes, but thanks for the reviews so far! I'm loving this story. I know the chapters are short, but I'm writing when the inspiration strikes, which is right now. When I'm supposed to be doing work. :)


Chapter 3

"Hey, Severus," Riley said, the next day, sliding into a seat next to him at the Great Hall.

"This is the Slytherin table." He muttered to her, his head, once again, deep in a book.

He hunched over, giving observers the impression that he resembled a vampire with his long, dark hair and pale skin, crouching away from the sunlight. She studied him and felt that instead of a vampire, he just appeared to be a very intelligent person, forever with his nose in a book. Other people would have been offended by his brush-off, but Riley's face glittered at the challenge. Some glares from further down the house table aimed themselves their way, daggers pointed at the Gryffindor girl. Riley knew some of Slytherin's students were not fond of Riley calling on Severus. But again, she didn't care. She did what she wanted and what she wanted was to talk to Severus.

"I didn't see you at the end of tryouts."

Severus knew this would come up, Gryffindor's were so sentimental, and it was a quality he loathed.

"I was there." He stated in an obvious tone, still not raising his head from his text in front of him.

"I know," Riley said. Her hand glided toward his forearm on the smooth tables, gently brushing his exposed skin at the wrist at the edge of his sleeve. His head popped up like a rocket at the touch of his arm. His black, deep eyes met her aquamarine crystal eyes for a second before he turned red and pulled his contacted hand under the table. The electricity of her eyes meeting his eyes was too much. He felt something pull within him as those eyes met his. He couldn't allow that feeling to resurface again. Riley did not look offended and did not push anymore contact due to his reaction. She looked disturbingly peaceful with an angelic calm on her tanned, rosy cheeked face.

"I was hoping we could celebrate afterwards."

"I do not have time for such things. I don't even know why I was there in first place."

Riley sighed, "Oh, Severus, now I see why they call you a git sometimes."

Severus' head jerked up in shock and anger. He sneered at her, his upper lip curling up as he faced her. Anyone else would have run away from him after that expression. Not Riley.

"Put that lip away, Severus, or I'll touch you again." Riley warned, in a taunting tone, fighting to keep her grin on her lips at bay. Her lips failed her and she laughed uncontrollably with her arms clutching her flat stomach. She rolled slightly to her side, tears streaming down her face. Severus stared at her, his face pale and confused. His tall frame jolted up from the seat at the table, his gangly arms gathering his books and rushing away from the hysterical girl.

Riley felt kind of bad. Kind of. It was pretty hilarious if you think about it. No boy—or man had ever flinched away from her before. It was new, it was fun, it was a challenge that she had readily accepted. Her intention wasn't to make fun of him, but the look on his face when she dared to say what she did to him. Priceless. She found it adorable really. He was just so afraid to be touched. That's why she had to catch up to him and—ugh, apologize. Without laughing. Good luck, Brannigan.

She dried her tears of mirth from her eyes and rolled herself off of Slytherin's bench, right before she blew them a kiss, of course. They all stared back at her and said nothing in retaliation. She did not care what they thought of her half-blooded or not. Her life was peaches and cream.

"See y'all later!" She said to them, walking off with a playful sway of her hips.


"Severus!" She called after him, racing out of the hall, after being glared at by a professor and a ghost for running. She shrugged her shoulders and gave her patented grin before waving to them both. The professor shook his head and the ghost trailed along in a wispy sadness.

Severus walked faster after he heard her footsteps and her call. His uniform black robe whipped behind him as he quickened his pace with his long, lanky legs. A sweet, tropical scent filled the air beside him as he turned to his right side. There she was jogging slightly beside him. She wasn't even breathing hard as she caught up to him. Her pretty tanned legs were encased with white knee high socks with blue stripes at the top and she wore platform, black mary janes.

"How do you run in those things?" Severus asked, staring at her tiny feet.

"Very well, thank you!" She chimed with a show of her jog beside him.

She ran around to his front and stood right in his path, blocking him from moving further. He glared down at her from his vast height, black hair draped around his cheekbones while she placed her hands on small, curved hips. He was a good head and neck taller than her, although she wasn't very short in stature. Most people would have found his height intimidating, if they didn't call him a bat behind his back.

"What do you want from me?" He sighed, staring down at her. She liked how his tall, broad shoulders raised up when he inhaled his deep breath.

Her lips twitched and she rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry." She said blinking with her dark lashes.

He stared at her in silence and she knew that it wasn't enough and although she wasn't good at apologies apparently she'd have to try better this time. She dropped her hands from her hips, so that they hung down past the hem of her shortened skirt. She readjusted her stance to look less casual and blinked up at him.

"I am sorry." She said clearly. "You make it so easy to tease you."

He shrunk back irritation, "I'm glad my humiliation amuses you."

"Oh, Severus," She sighed, "You know what I mean. I'm just teasing for fun. I like your reactions. You're so serious all the time."

He stared at her and she tried again. Apparently, she still wasn't good at apologizing.

"I've never met anyone like you before."

"I've never met anyone like you before either."

"I'll take it as a compliment!"

"It wasn't intended as one."

"Tomato, tamato!"

Severus shook his head at what was probably an odd muggle comment and she moved back to his side. She cocked her head in his direction as they both started walking again down the hallway.

"So where are we heading now?" She said with a smirk.

Severus sighed. It was going to be a long year at this rate. He sneaked a glance at his side, watching the glossy, chestnut head bob along side him, although it could be worse.