A/N:

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise. I only own the characters, items and locations that you don't recognise.

Summary: When shy and intelligent Ariella Potter and Quidditch hotshot Lucas Malfoy get paired together for a school project, Ariella knows that she shouldn't feel anything but hatred towards him. So why does she feel attracted to him? And what will Ariella do when Lucas returns her affections? Will they ever break free from their cliques and parents' rivalry so they can be together?

Chapter Thirteen – Khadesia Strikes Again.

When they were back at Hogwarts, Lucas said goodbye to Ariella and Dawn and walked back to the Slytherin common room. Halfway there Khadesia cornered him. What Lucas didn't know was that Ariella had followed him and was within earshot of everything that was being said.

"Luke admit that you don't like her. I know that you don't like her," Khadesia was saying to him.

"I'm not going to because I do like her! Khadesia you're being incredibly stupid now! Just let go and admit that you know that I don't like you!" Lucas replied.

"Because I know that you do Luke!"

Lucas shook his head and looked at the girl in front of him. Sometimes he just wished that she would go away and leave him alone. Khadesia stepped forward and whispered something in his ear.

"Admit it and I'll leave you alone. That's what you want isn't it? You want me to leave you alone!" Khadesia whispered.

Lucas sighed then said the one thing that he knew he was going to regret saying for the rest of his life.

"Okay, I don't like her! I'm using her! Are you happy now?" he shouted.

Lucas then pushed past her and ran back to the common room. Ariella had heard everything from where she was standing and tears were silently running down her face. She ran back to the library and sat at a table staring into space until Lucas arrived. All the time that he was there, Ariella wouldn't speak to him and he didn't know what he had done now. When the project was completed, Lucas put down his quill and looked at her.

"What's wrong?"

"You lied," Ariella replied simply.

"Lied about what? Ari I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Don't Ari me Malfoy! I heard what you said to Khadesia! Just forget about us! Forget we were even friends!"

"Ariella! I said that to get her off my back! Don't listen to what other people say! They're manipulating us! If you believe them then it will only make us hate each other!" Lucas exclaimed.

"Maybe that's how it's supposed to be! We're supposed to hate each other! Forget it Malfoy!"

"FINE POTTER!" Lucas shouted as she left the library.

In the days leading up to the Yule Ball, Lucas tried to talk to Ariella but she wouldn't have any of it. When he was at the end of his tether, Lucas decided to pay Dawn a visit.

"Dawn I mucked things up with Ari! Is there any way I can fix it?" Lucas asked desperately.

"There's one way. In Dresses For All Occasions Ariella found a dress that she really liked but she couldn't buy it because it was too expensive."

"What does it look like?"

"If you want I can sneak into Hogsmeade and reserve it while you owl them. I'm sure that they would send it to you."

"If I give you the money can you buy it and ask them to owl it to me?" Lucas asked.

Dawn nodded and watched as Lucas gave her a pouch of galleons.

"Why do you carry this much around with you?" Dawn asked.

"I had it in my trunk and I brought it with me hoping that you would have a solution," Lucas replied.

Dawn nodded and said that she'd see him in a few and ran to the secret passageway that led to Hogsmeade. Half an hour later Dawn came back and gave him the thumbs up to say that they were sending it to him at that very moment. Lucas smiled and walked briskly back to his dormitory where sure enough there was an owl waiting for him. Lucas relieved the owl of its package and sat down on his bed with a piece of parchment and a quill to write a letter.

Ariella,

I really didn't mean to say those things to Khadesia. She manipulated me into saying them and I regret saying it now. I know that I will regret it for the rest of my life. I do like you and I would love to take you to the ball but if you don't have the gift on you then I'll know that you don't forgive me and I will leave you alone. If that happens I'll probably end up dying alone because no other girl could ever match up to you! If we can get past what people are saying about us then we can break free and make everyone realise that two people from different houses can be friends. See you at the ball I hope.

Lucas.

Lucas put the letter into the box then carried it back down to the Great Hall where he was hoping that he would run into Dawn. Sure enough he did and he beckoned her over to him.

"Can you put this on her bed please. This is my last hope!" Lucas told her.

Dawn nodded and walked off in the direction of Gryffindor tower. Once she was inside the tower Dawn walked up the stairs to the girls' dormitories and put the box on Ariella's bed. Ariella looked at her and sighed.

"What's that?" she asked.

"An owl delivered it in the Great Hall. It's for you," Dawn replied.

Ariella nodded and opened the box. When she saw the dress inside she gasped.

"Who's it from?" asked Dawn.

"I don't know. There's a letter," Ariella replied.

Ariella picked the letter up and quickly read it. Once she had finished she looked at Dawn with tears in her eyes.

"It's from Lucas to say that he's sorry. What do I do Dawn?"

"I think that you should wear it! He's really cut up about what happened Ari."

Ariella nodded and lay back down on her bed while she read the letter again.

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