Chapter 6

She and Creevey exchanged letters, much to her dismay (and to her secret pleasure), which grew longer and more detailed, until she knew his favourite colour was deep purple, his favourite subject was Charms, he liked to eat escargot (yeah, who would've guessed?), he loved dogs, was a photographer (hobbyist level, of course, he was only sixteen), he was still a member of the group Dumbledore's Army and he wasn't into Quidditch that much.

He knew that she liked the colour green, her favourite subject was Ancient Runes, she was in love with sport, even muggle sport, she liked to eat popcorn and she wasn't on anyone's side in the war. It had nothing to do with her, so she figured why pick sides?

Only Blaise Zabini shared this sentiment, and the two of them often ended up in one another's company when Slytherin house turned on itself on which side they should follow.

They didn't say much to one another, but both found the quarrel for power amusing. It had happened only a few times this year, but Slytherin house was, once again, divided. Snape would have a fit if he saw his house act like lunatics. Slughorn didn't have the balls to stand up to the students.

Riley agreed to see Creevey a month after he started to write letters to her. She didn't know why exactly she responded to his letters, but her hostility had been taken as friendly banter and one thing lead to another, they wrote more constantly and he claimed his love for her in every letter. He said it was love at first sight, and she said it was bullshit.

Despite finding this annoying… she liked him, his personality that is, he was funny and she thought he had a bit of a screw loose. She was nuts, she knew, but she was starved of affection herself.

She arrived late at the edge of the Black Lake, where he was perched on a rock, looking out over the lake. He must've heard her approach him, because he looked around and smiled at her.

"Riley Frost! The girl of my dreams, welcome!" He jumped up from the rock and bowed down before her. She wanted to laugh, but kept it inside. She wanted to keep up a mask of indifference; she could only be herself in letters and in the sky, where she laughed and cheered at the clouds and the birds.

"Creevey," she nodded, "I hope you make this quick, because I am not in the mood to be serenaded or for love poems to be read."

"Why not? It is the perfect day! The sun is shining, or rather now it's setting, but it's still romantic, isn't it? And I brought you a rose, even if I know you don't like roses, it is the idea that counts, isn't it?" He babbled on, saying things that greatly amused her, but she refused to crack a smile.

Suddenly he was in front of her, and he was hugging her. She remained stiff as a board; she didn't like to be touched, to be honest. She was also deprived of romantic experience, so this was new to her. She liked the attention and compliments he showered her with, even if she doubted his words and constantly wondered if this was a Gryffindor prank.

He let her go and she stared at him, before warning him to never touch her again, otherwise she would slice off his muscles one by one.

He went back to the rock, and she found herself relaxing in his company. She even laughed a few times, and when it was time to go, she was strangely sad – she liked having him around her. She would make a point of him meeting more. She had a session with Draco in a few minutes, something she was actually looking forward to.

She got a promise from him to write a reply for her latest letter and he promised her that they would meet again, perhaps near the forest this time to keep suspicion at bay. She was happy that he'd brought it, because she wouldn't.

She was too shy, in a way, and too proud, in another way.

From their meeting at sunset, she headed to the Quidditch pitch. They'd met the last month at least once a week early in the morning, this would be their first evening meeting, and Draco's hairpin dives were getting better, his spotting abilities still needed some work though. He couldn't find a spell to make his watch magnetic, though, and she refused to help him.

He was already in the air, practising his dives, and she continued to watch him for about half an hour – he was getting good, but he was already good at flying, it was just that she was better –before he attempted something he hadn't done before. It was dangerous and way above his current skill level. He wasn't born with the skill, so he wouldn't just get it right. Her mind ran ahead with what would happen. He went faster than he ever had, and she knew he would attempt to swerve through the hoops, but she barely made it through that manoeuvre, how could he even think to attempt it?

She ran as fast as her two legs could carry her, and just in time too, because he swerved out of control and crashed into one of the three hoops. She heard a rather girlish scream as he fell, but she was there at exactly the right time, and she raised her wand, yelling a curse Pansy had taught her in her head, causing Draco's entire body to lurch, his robes falling over his head as he was suspended by the ankle, just a few metres above the ground.

"Riley?" Draco yelled, attempting to look at her, but with his robes hanging over his head, it was rather difficult.

"Yes, what were you thinking? You were nowhere ready for that!" She shrieked, furious. She kept her wand on him as she walked closer. She would catch him, how utterly ironic. Or she would try to. She waited until she was directly underneath him before cancelling the spell, and he landed right on top of her, sending them both crashing down to the earth, and she yelped in pain as she heard a crack from her right.

. . .

A/N: Who doesn't love this?