A/N: Thanks again to Batmarcus for reviewing. Please do review again.

Chapter 3

She was leaning over the latest issue of her favourite sporting magazine when someone sat down next to her two days later. Pansy was on her other side, and Riley vaguely saw her friend's actions still, but didn't think too much of it. She didn't look up, because whoever sat down next to her probably didn't even know her.

"Frost?" Someone said, and she looked up to find Draco Malfoy speaking to her. She frowned, what did he want? Perhaps some flying tips? She was a better Quidditch player than he was, but his father had bought his spot as seeker in their second year, so, seeing as this was her seventh year, she really had no chance of ever playing Quidditch at school level. That and the Slytherin team didn't like having girls on their team. Sexist assholes.

"Can I help you?" She asked, looking back at her magazine. Oliver Wood, bless his soul, had just played his first match as Keeper for her favourite team, and she wanted to know how it had gone.

Also: Malfoy was talking to her? He would be damaging his social stance. It was breakfast and everybody could see him.

A pale hand was placed over the article she was reading, and she heard Pansy draw in her breath. Draco Malfoy had just made a huge mistake. Pansy was well acquainted with Draco and his family, due to some business deal their parents had. That, and Pansy had a crush on him.

"Draco, darling, I advise you to get your hand off the magazine. Riley will hex you, and last time I tried to draw her away from her Quidditch, I was vomiting bees for a week." Pansy said, and Draco removed his hand quickly.

Riley looked up, and finally her glare looked less like a tired cat – it looked like Snape's female version. No one, not the minister himself or the Dark Lord, should disturb her while she was reading her sporting magazine and looking at Oliver Wood's very nice body.

"I'm sorry," he said, his hands up in defence, "I just wanted to talk to you."

She sat back, putting the magazine down, "Okay, that's what you're doing right now, isn't it? What do you want?" She spat at him.

Draco's cheeks reddened a bit, and she stared. Draco Malfoy was blushing? Why? And while she had noticed some changes about him, she didn't expect to find the Malfoy heir blushing. It was beneath him, she would imagine.

"Can I talk to you later?" He mumbled, casting his eyes down. She laughed loudly, gathering her sporting magazine and bag. She didn't have time for this.

"See you in class, Pans, Draco," she nodded to each of them in turn before walking off. She probably would speak to the ferret later, but he had just awakened her scorn, that vice that is universal for all women, and she had no intent of letting up easily.

She walked right into the last person she wanted to see – Colin Creevey, who smiled brightly when he saw her. He hadn't replied to her note yet. She rolled her eyes and pushed past him, intent on ignoring him for the rest of her life.

…

It wasn't long after that Draco found her again, this time in the library, where she was quietly taking bets on the winning Quidditch team. Many of her housemates considered her a traitor for putting all her money on Gryffindor, but she didn't care, she knew talent when she saw it.

She was just happy that Snape hadn't banned the sport too, otherwise she would be destroying the castle. She needed some sort of outlet, otherwise she'd break something valuable.

He kept lingering in the library, flipping through some of the books, but all the while keeping a bored expression on his face.

"Look, Frost, I need your Quidditch expertise, or I need you to step in and play for the Slytherin team." He said when she was finished taking bets, stuffing the money into a pouch around her neck; later she'd seal them in her suitcase.

She looked up at Draco and scoffed, "Draco, I just bet all my money on Gryffindor, why should I go against something that's in my own interest?" She started to walk back to their Common Room, and he followed.

"I will reimburse you," He promised, "please, Frost, I need this. It's the only thing keeping me sane." He took his platinum hair into his hands and pulled. She stopped mid-stride – what was going on?

"What is wrong with you, Draco?" She kept the accusation out of her voice. Now she was curious.

"Just… please? I don't trust you yet, but the whole Quidditch team knows you're better than us, because you actually study the games and you can tell us what's wrong. Please, Frost? Just train me a bit. I'll pay you for it, I will, just… Help me."

She glanced at him, seeing him beg was what made her decision. His eyes were red, as if he'd been rubbing them a lot, and he was actually paler than usual.

"Quidditch pitch tomorrow at five, don't be late and bring an extra broom." She said, before giving the password to the portrait and made her way to the dormitory. Draco didn't speak to her when they entered the Common Room, she noticed.

She sealed the list of bets and the money in her suitcase along with a severely nasty curse as a treat for anyone who opened it.

Turning around, she spotted another letter on her bed, and she supressed the urge to roll her eyes. Couldn't Creevey use his brain? She wasn't interested. The other day he might have piqued her curiosity, but now he was only annoying her.

She folded the letter open and read.

Riley

You honestly don't know me, do you? This is the fastest I have ever fallen for anyone, and I don't plan on letting that go. You can be a bitch to me all you like, doesn't mean I will give up.

Colin

She hated that he used her name; he wasn't friendly enough to do that. Heck, Draco didn't even see himself as friendly enough yet, even if they had been in the same class for nearly seven years.

She took her quill and scribbled an answer.

Firstly, it is 'Frost' to you, you are nowhere near important enough to call me by my first name. Secondly, my last name gives an accurate description of how you can expect me to handle you.

She put the letter under her pillow again and retired to the bathroom to shower and get into her pyjamas, she was planning on an early night, seeing as she had done her homework a week in advance and she figured she could do with a little downtime. She still had that magazine article to read too.

Just as she finished the first paragraph, Pansy burst into the room, and Riley closed the magazine with an audible sigh (one Pansy would miss), fully expecting a Pansy-themed drill.

It proved to be true, because Pansy wanted to know what she was doing with Draco Malfoy and what was the story with Colin Creevey, and did she know that dating Gryffindors were absolutely taboo? Like seriously rather-eat-your-own-toenails taboo. Riley had to laugh at Pansy's antics.

"Pans, sweetie, since when exactly do I give a damn about taboos? You know I don't follow the crowd, I'm off on the side playing with my dolls and tossing seeds at idiots." Riley grinned. Pansy laughed.

"I know, but come on, it's Draco Malfoy and Colin Creevey!" Pansy shrieked.

"Draco wants flying tips and Creevey's got a stupid little crush on me, that's it. I'm not encouraging him, I'm discouraging him. At first I thought it would be interesting, I admit, and I do deserve a bit of attention, seeing as you and the Greengrass sisters get it all the attention." She shrugged. It was true. She was a plain girl, or that was how she saw herself, with too much fat on her hips and breasts that just weren't what boys wanted.

Pansy smiled softy, cupping her friend's face, "Rile, kid, I know you don't think so, but you're exceptionally beautiful." Pansy hugged her. Riley shimmied out of the hug – she didn't like to be hugged – and smiled thankfully at Pansy.

She didn't say it, but it was Pansy's duty to say she was pretty when she wasn't; it was what friends did, as easy as that. And Riley loved having Pansy around.

. . .

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