It was a Saturday. A particularly warm day, considering it was autumn. Draco decided that he would get out of the common room and take a stroll through the grounds. When he stepped out of the castle, the hot air hit him instantly and almost suffocated him, to the point where he wanted to pull off his robes. He wasn't too surprised when he saw students dipping their feet into the lake, some even daring to swim in it.

He thought he would try the cooling water of the lake for himself – just not in front of the other students. He'd find a secluded area, where he could enjoy himself in the lake without the interruption of others. He quickly made his way around the lake for a good ten minutes. Deeming he was far away enough from the other students, he sat down next to an oak tree and gazed at the water, trying to decide whether or not to actually dip into the dark lake.

Then there was a disturbance, not too far from him. He quickly picked himself up and hid behind the wide tree. A head popped up from under the water. For a moment he thought it was one of the creatures living in the water, he was terrified of the thought of actually seeing its face, when the head turned around. Her face was covered by her hair, sticking to her cheeks and eyes, but Draco knew it was her. The chocolate of her hair and the striking gaze of her eyes gave her away.

It was Aimee.

He smiled to himself. He could only hope that she decided to not wear a swimsuit, but all he could do was watch. She started swimming towards the shore of the lake, and Draco glanced to where she was swimming, he hadn't noticed the pile of clothes and a towel only a few meters away from where he had taken refuge from the burning sun. He directed his eyes back to where Aimee was swimming, but she wasn't there anymore. Draco got up from his previous squatting position and stood there behind the tree, waiting worriedly for her to appear again.

And she didn't disappoint. Seconds later, her head popped up again, more gracefully this time as her hair wasn't sticking to her face. When she'd made it to a shallow part of the lake, she stood up, showing that she was wearing a black one-piece swimsuit, much to Draco's disappointment. Though what did please him was that the back of the swimsuit didn't leave much to the imagination, if nothing at all.

Without any control he took a step forward, stepping on a twig and quickly jumped back behind the tree. She looked up to where he was only a split second earlier. Aimee carefully scanned the trees and turned her back on them. Draco's eyes opened wide in terror when he'd seen what was on her back.

"What in the world..." he whispered to himself.

She looked as if a werewolf had attacked her, for there were numerous scars defacing her back.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Without showing concern, or acting panicky, Aimee quickly dressed. It was clear to her that there was something watching her – and she didn't want to anger it in fear of attack.

I knew I shouldn't have left my wand in the dorm, she thought angrily to herself. God, she was so stupid! When she decided to go for a swim she contemplated whether or not to take her wand, but decided against because she saw no need for it – well she saw the need now.

She patted down her clothes and instantly regretted her decision. She was still a little damp from the water and her clothes became sticky; but she pretended as if nothing had happened. She wanted to get back to the castle, and fast.

Aimee grabbed her towel, wrapped it around the ends of her hair and turned to make her way towards the castle – calmly; or at least she hoped it looked that way.

She walked at a moderate pace towards the castle when she heard a twig snap. She spun around; her hair sticking to her face.

"What do you want Malfoy?" she said almost pleadingly. She hadn't missed the head of platinum blonde hair. Aimee watched as Draco walked out from the shadows.

"Nothing," he answered haughtily, "just taking a stroll – it is rather a warm day, don't you think?"

Aimee took a deep breath.

"Look Draco, you've been following me around ever since we got back from summer holidays, what do you want? What could you possibly want from me?!"

Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked,

"Just your company at the ball"

"If I say yes will you leave me alone?" Her blue eyes met his gray ones and pleaded with him to agree.

"Fine, I'll leave you alone – but only until the ball"

Aimee opened her mouth to argue, but quickly closed it when Draco made an expression that dared her to argue with him.

"Fine" and with that Aimee turned her back on him and jogged to the castle, if Draco was going to take her to the ball – she'd better pick a really nice dress, not that she wanted to impress him or anything, she couldn't care less what he thought about her, just so his…

Just so his reputation wouldn't be… ruined, she reasoned with herself. Yes, just so he would stay upper class, and wouldn't attend the ball with his date in a daggy dress. Or rather, she should go to the ball in a daggy dress, just to embarrass him…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco entered his common room that afternoon with a skip; finally – he had achieved his goal! Aimee was going to the ball with him. He just hoped she'd choose something suitable, not something skimpy that some girls thought it would be cool to wear to a ball, when it really wasn't. Smirking to himself, he strided to the bookshelf and ran his finger over the spine of the books.

Hmm, this looks interesting…

"So-" said a voice from behind him

"Ah!" he quickly turned around, "Pansy" he growled

"What?" she asked innocently, widening her eyes like a little girl, "I was only wondering what got you so upbeat – normally you walk around with a scowl all the time."

"I do not walk around with a scowl all the time!" Draco defended himself, turning around to face her

"Yes you do" she replied

"No, I don't"

"You do…" said a quiet voice from his side. It was a third year boy – and he immediately regretted his decision, for Draco scowled at him and said in a low voice "If you're not gone by the time I get to 3 – you will regret it" and watched as the younger wizard ran off to join his friends.

"See?" Pansy continued, "You scowl"

"Oh, shut up Pansy" Draco whined turning away, "You're annoying me"

"I don't care"

"You will soon" he threatened

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" she asked, angrily

"Because if you don't close your mouth soon, I just might - Aimee!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Aimee stepped into the common and looked up – there he was again; only this time with Pansy. Nowadays he was always there every time she looked – and it was very annoying. She simply walked right past him and into her dorm room.

Now… she thought, what shall I wear to the ball…