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Hugo was prattling on to Albus the whole way to breakfast, and most of the way through it.

"So, do you...like her?" he asked curiously, shrugging when Albus shot him a glare. "I'm just asking!" he exclaimed.

"No," Albus shook his head.

"You were mo-" Hugo started before being hit upside the back of the head.

"I know," Albus groaned. "Wanting her and liking her are two totally different things," he pointed out. "I mean, it's inevitable. All I think about is trying to seduce her, she's got a nice body, and I haven't had sex in forever," he shrugged.

"I'm sure Jessica-" Hugo began, and then was cut off again by Albus, and he rolled his eyes.

"I'm not that desperate yet," Albus muttered. "I'm going to go...do something," he shrugged, not really sure what yet. Maybe talk to Ari, she wasn't down yet.

"More like toss off," Hugo suggested, snickering under his breath. Not for the first time, Albus wondered why he was even friends with the boy. He headed towards the Slytherin common room, waiting to run into Arianna.

There she was, talking with Olivia Zabini, the taller girl looking downright furious. Arianna locked eyes with Albus and arched her brows.

"Let me talk to him for a minute," Arianna murmured to Olivia. The raven-haired girl shrugged, walking to the Great Hall alone now, not bothering to question her friend's motives.

"What is it?" Arianna asked quietly, not flinching as he approached. She bit her lip, looking down at the floor, not knowing what to say to him.

"Are-are you alright?" he asked, a bit awkwardly. Arianna couldn't keep herself from smiling slightly.

"Yes, Albus, I'm alright," she reassured him. "No more tears," she promised, giggling lightly. She felt like she...owed him at least nicety after last night.

"I'm glad to hear that," Albus admitted, tucking her hair behind her ear. "He wasn't worth them, anyway," he added. She blushed, taking a step back.

"Potter-" she began warningly.

"Stop that," Albus requested. She arched her eyebrows in question, silently asking him what he was talking about. "You're afraid of me. Every time I get close to you, you automatically freeze up, instead of acknowledging the truth."

"Which is?" Arianna asked. Albus stepped closer, until she was looking almost straight up to see his face, flinching slightly as he lowered his head.

"You're attracted to me," Albus said confidently, his lips skimming her ear, but still she refused to back away and give him that satisfaction.

"No, I really don't like you, actually," she assured him. Albus smirked, his hand gently trailing over the side of her neck, goose bumps following his path. Arianna shivered visibly, her body flushed, and eyes dark. Her hands rested limply on his chest as he began following his hand with slow kisses, and soon she was gasping for breath.

"Please stop," she squeaked out. "I-Michael-" her voice cut off when he began gently stroking the skin exposed between the hem of her shirt and her skirt.

"Merlin," he muttered, his mind going back to last night's dream. Arianna looked at him and his eyes flashed up to her. "I told you," he smirked, moving his lips close to hers. He grinned widely as she moved slightly, almost against her will, stretching to close the distance. He shook his head at her, pressing is lips to her cheek and backing away, watching as confusion flashed across her flushed face. Her eyes hardened as she glared at him.

"Admit it," Albus chuckled, leaning against a wall, arms crossed over his chest. "You wanted me to kiss you, didn't you?" he asked. Arianna shook her head furiously.

"No," she snapped. "You were practically assaulting me, Albus," she muttered. "What do you want from me? I don't want this," she whispered.

"Your body does," Albus disagreed smugly.

"Yes, but my body doesn't control me!" she snapped. "And I'm sick of my body being the only thing anyone wants," she spat, crossing her arms defensively.

"Malfoy," he sighed. "Typically you want someone to be physically attracted to you in a relationship.

"Well, we're NOT in a relationship, and Michael was plenty attracted to me, but that didn't work so well. Did it?" she laughed.

"You don't seem too upset by it," Albus pointed out nonchalantly. Arianna's eyes darted up to his and she crossed her arms unhappily.

"You're a right bastard you know that," she snapped. "You tell me my boyfriend's practically a scum-bag, tell me he's cheating on me because all he wanted is sex," she paused, shaking her head angrily, "and look at what you're doing right now!" she accused. "Are all guys the same?" she asked rhetorically.

"Don't compare me to that prat," he said, lip curling into something akin to a sneer. "I was raised with decent morals. I would never cheat on anyone." He hated the way she was acting. Why did she have to be so damn difficult?! And now with the thought of his dream on his mind, being anywhere close to her left his mind fuddled and his judgment impaired "I wouldn't expect that you and your brother were raised with the same values," he said without thinking.

"What the hell is your problem?" she asked. She glowered up at him. "Do you honestly think I enjoy being a Malfoy?" she demanded, pushing past him and storming through the Great Hall.

"Why wouldn't you?" Albus asked, catching her wrist, looking confused. Her comment had thrown him a little. "You're ridiculously rich, are you not?"

"Yes, I am," Arianna agreed. "But listen to yourself. The name Malfoy isn't exactly associated with anything good. All we're known for is the Dark Mark," she looked down. "It's why I want to be an Auror," she muttered. Albus didn't really know what to say, so Ari took this as her opportunity to escape and she gently extricated her wrist from his grasp, entering the Great Hall.

She was just in time to see a furious looking Michael storming out of the Great Hall with startling blue hair and tongue swollen. Arianna laughed aloud, earning her a glare.

"Serves you right," Albus muttered under his breath as Michael passed, who turned for a moment, looking as if contemplating murdering Albus. After a few seconds, he made a derisive sound under his breath and continuing his path towards the Hospital Wing. Olivia looked across the Great Hall, meeting eyes with Arianna at the entrance and giving her a rather conspicuous wink.

Arianna stepped back into the hall, out of sight and giggled uncontrollably. Merlin, this was why she needed Olivia around. Albus was chuckling as well. He was starting to understand something. Despite her easy confidence, Arianna was insecure, and what Michael had done had been downright humiliating as well as heart breaking. Albus couldn't blame her for the way she was so quick to push him away. He hadn't exactly gained her trust, he would have to. He winced inwardly. He would have to gain her trust and shag her for a bet. Maybe he would stay with her afterward. Just so she wouldn't be too upset, of course.

Cunning and Ambition

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