What if I say I'm not like the others?

What if I say I'm not just another one of your plays?

You're the pretender

What if I say I'll never surrender?

The Pretender

The day was just like any other day at Hogwarts except for the fact that everywhere she went, eyes followed her. Riley didn't feel like the little bookworm that no one knew anymore because by lunch, everyone was whispering her name under their breaths. She always thought they knew her name for two reasons; Claudia and the Marauders. If you knew the Marauders, you also knew their other friends too.

During classes, James and Remus chatted to her as usual but Sirius seemed more interested with Peter and would only nod in agreement if asked his opinion and when she looked at Lily, all she done was give her a thumbs up. It was driving Riley crazy knowing that she had went through all of the hair products and make-up to be ignored.

At the end of Potions that day, Riley and Lily made their way to the Library cutting their way through a large group of sixth years standing in the Entrance Hall.

"That was pointless," Riley moaned. "I went through all of this to be ignored."

"Oh hush," Lily said and looked behind her as they walked up the stairs. "It worked perfectly. And keep your voice down."

"What? Lily, he barely looked at me!"

"Shh! Listen, I was watching him this morning in the Great Hall, trust me, he noticed you. Now hurry up."

"Why?"

"Two sixth year boys are following us," Lily murmured. "Don't turn arou-!"

Riley glanced quickly behind her shoulder and saw she was right. Two sixth year Ravenclaw's were waking behind them, keeping a bit of space. One of the boys with blond hair caught her eye and smiled at her. Riley smiled back at him shyly and turned back around.

"How do you know their following us?"

"I can tell," Lily stated and rounded a corner. "The seen us come up from the dungeons."

"It's probably to ask you out," Riley said doubtfully.

"It won't be."

"How do you know?"

"What is this? 20 questions? Just believe me, Riles."

Riley remained quiet for the rest of the journey to the library fighting the urge to turn around. Lily was acting calm and casual all the way and Riley knew she was getting irritated by her constant fidgeting. When they entered the library, Lily didn't head for their usual table in the back, she walked to one in the centre of the library, in plain sight. Lily and Riley placed their bags on the table.

"What are we studying then?" Lily asked.

"Eh, how about we do our Charms homework?"

"Yeah, sure. Wait here and I'll get the books."

Riley nodded and sat down at the table and got out a roll of parchment and her quill and wrote her name on the parchment and then looked for where Lily had went.

"Hey, it's Riley right? Riley Martinez, Claudia's little sister."

Riley looked up and nearly died. One of the Ravenclaw boys that were following them was standing before her, smiling down at her.

"Yes, this is she," she replied, smiling shyly. "And who may you be?"

"Brandon Parker, do you mind?"

He pointed to the seat across from her.

"No, of course not!"

"Thanks," Brandon said and took a seat. "So erm, I was wondering because I use to see you a lot in our Common Room and I always did think it and then I saw you today and I knew I had to-I'm babbling on, aren't I?"

Riley laughed. "Just a bit."

"Sorry," he said rubbing the back of his neck. "Basically…do you want to go to the next Hogsmeade trip with me?"

"Oh, um, yeah," Riley said. "Yes, I will!"

"Great," Brandon said and stood up and walked around to her side and kissed her on the cheek. "See you later."

"Fuck!"

"Mr. Black! Out! I will not have such language used in my library! Out! OUT!"

Riley turned around in her seat quickly and saw Sirius picking a book off his foot. Just then, Lily came into appearance with James, Remus and Peter following. Lily ran straight to Riley grinning while the others left with Sirius. Riley watched them leave.

"I told you it was for you!"

"Yeah," Riley said watching the exit. "You did."

"What's up? He's hot!"

"Nothing. I'm great!"

Riley looked to Lily and smiled.

"Good! Now about the Charms homework…"

"Who even is he? Have you ever saw him before?"

James, Remus and Peter were running after Sirius who was raging on in front of them.

"He's a beater for Ravenclaw," James informed him. "Brandon Parker."

Sirius shook his head.

"I knew I shouldn't of listened to you…I was stupid."

"Wait, are you admitting you like her?"

"No!" Sirius exclaimed. "Of course I don't."

"Sirius will you slow down?" Remus asked. "If you like her, just tell us. We'll understand."

"I-" Sirius faltered. "I don't know. Its just…if she does go out with Parker I may of blown my only chance."

"We're playing Ravenclaw in three weeks," James said. "You need to show her who's best."

"Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"You're going out with Brandon Parker?"

"Does it concern you?"

The one thing Riley didn't like about being in the library late at night was because Claudia was usually there too. She had been sitting in her old seat at the back of the library when Claudia had came running up the isle and started throwing questions at her.

"He's in my year though," Claudia stated.

"And Sirius was in the year below you," Riley said and collected her books. "So what's the problem."

"I thought you and Regulus had something going on."

"I've not spoke to him since Christmas Eve," she said and put her bag over her shoulder. "You obviously thought wrong."

"He's half blood."

Riley laughed. "Merlin, Claudia. You really are a prejudice bitch."

She stepped around her sister and walked out of the library, her head held high.

It had been almost two weeks since Brandon had asked Riley to Hogsmeade and the trip was that weekend. When they were in classes near each other they would hold hands and he would often ask her to study with him. It was nice, Riley had thought. She enjoyed talking to him. The worst mistake she could of made though, was going to quidditch practice with him. The pair had walked down when the Gryffindors were just walking up the hill and was almost sick. Sirius was further behind, his tongue down Kirsty Letham's throat.

Riley tried to busy herself with her zipper and the surroundings.

"You alright there?" Brandon laughed.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Riley said. "Just a bit chilly."

"Oh right. You can always go back up to the castle and we'll do something when I'm done?"

"No! It's fine. I'm desperate to see you play," she said as she noticed Sirius walking up the hill. "I heard you're a fantastic beater."

Sirius had just passed them at the last line and she turned around to see him turning back. The eye contact was awkward but Riley wasn't backing down.

"Riles?"

"Sorry, what?"

"Do you play?"

"I've never really tried it before.."

"Maybe one day when the pitch is free, we can play two-on-two."

Riley bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah, sure."

She prayed the pitch was booked up until his last year at Hogwarts.

Short but eventful? Let me know!

Abbey xoxo