They say opposites attract. Samantha+Aaron

"I know that Quidditch is a sport. I was just saying that you probably prefer Quidditch over your classes. And I like Divination, its interesting. Though the teacher is a little odd."

Aaron started to reply. "I would have to disagree on several accounts, there. School and Quidditch are on equal footing, for the most part. Divination is complete and utter nonsense, however. The teacher has no idea what she is talking about!"

However, he got cut off early on in his sentence when Samantha was slammed into him. He had seen her get pushed, so he did not blame her. However, she turned bright red, obviously embarrassed and mortified by the encounter, and Aaron could not help but start cracking up. He felt the perverse need to poke fun at her, although he probably would regret it. "I see you could not keep your hands off of me, it seems. Well, no matter. I think you're a keeper, either way." He winked again before cracking up.

Samantha was still bright red with shame.

Shoving away from him, Samantha sat back and crossed her arms, avoiding looking at him. She was fuming, the blush lingering on her face like a bad itch. He was laughing at her embarrassment; it didn't exactly make her feel like the best thing in the world.

I think you're a keeper, either way? Whats THAT supposed to mean? Quickly pulling out her book, she smacked him over the head with it, but not too hard, but enough to show her she wasn't happy about his amusement.

To his surprise, Samantha pulled her book back out, slamming on the head. She did not hit him very hard, but she got her point across pretty well. No more making fun of her pain. Apparently, she did not appreciate it?

However, when Samantha was going to put her book away, Aaron noticed something. He thought he recognized the book--it was a muggle book he once saw at a shop his father and he were stealing groceries from, and it was definitely not standard reading material for a Hogwarts student. However, he wanted to be absolutely positive--there was no need to accuse her of reading muggle books, something that would offend many students. He had just poked fun at her misery, there was no need to torture the poor girl if he was actually wrong.

"Wait a second, can I see your book, please?" He went for politeness, as opposed to demanding that she hand it over--something told him that that would not end well at all.

Samanthas face blanked when she realized her mistake. Quickly moving to put it back in her bag, she shook her head.

"No, no. Sorry." She said hastily, Her face this time pale. She couldn't imagion what would happen to her if another student saw what book she had. Samantha wouldn't be able to handle that embarrassment. Life would be tourcher for her.

"No, no. Sorry," Samantha said, her face draining of all its color. Now Aaron was even more curious--even as a kid, he was always the most curious about the things that he was told he could not have. Samantha stuffed her book back in her bag, and Aaron moved over to the other side, where she was trying to hide her book.

Obviously, it had to be something good, or she would not be hiding it, nor would she be whiter than a sheet.

Before using force, though, he decided he would appeal to her one more time, out of courtesy.

"Please?" he asked, looking her straight in the eyes to let her know that he was serious. "I will figure it out either way, and this way is less painful for both of us. Can you just show me the book?"

"No, Aaron." She said firmly, glaring right back into his eyes and hoping color returned to her face, but from the prickly feeling, she guessed it hadn't. "You just d-" She stopped and winced.

Yes, it would be very bad. Aaron would probably turn right back around on her once he found out what book it was, laugh in her face again, and then laugh about it with his friends. The whole school would find out, and her already bad reputation would be completely destroyed and-

Samantha stopped her train of thought and tried to control her slightly panicked breathing. The last thing she needed to do was have a panic attack in front of all of Hogwarts.

"No, Aaron. You jus d-"

She stopped, with an expression on her face that looked almost painful, as if showing him the book would be the end of her life, and the world would come crumbling down. The whole thing seemed rather melodramatic--so what if she was reading a muggle book? Aaron had decided that this had to be the case, because otherwise, she would not care so much.

"I recognized the book, Samantha. I know it is a muggle book, I just want to know which one. It is not that big of a deal, you know. It's not like no one at Hogwarts has read a muggle book before. I don't know what you think I am going to do that is making you look like a deer caught in a headlights, but I can guarantee that what happens in a private conversation stays in a private conversation."

Samanthas mouth opened in wordless shock, and she stared up at him, before her hands folded in her lap and her eyes dropped back to the ground.

"You just don't understand." She finished her last thought, wondering how something so innocent that would have gone wrong. Light banter, then her getting pushed into Aaron and then her mistake of letting him see the Muggle book. No one could understand, she was more interested in the muggle world than the magic world. In the muggle world people worked for their earnings, unlike in magic, where you can just cast a spell and-- poof!-- you have it. Color returned to her face, but in the form of another blush.

"You just don't understand," she said, finishing her statement from earlier. She seemed mortified, despite the fact that he really did not care, and he shook his head. However, he could not help but notice how well the pink color complimented her face--it was odd to notice something like that at such a time, but it was quite clear to him. She really was a rather beautiful girl, and it was such a shame that no one else seemed to see it. He wondered whether she had been awkward as a kid, or something to that extent, that the others could not look past to see what she was like now. Her eyes were beautiful, also, even filled with shock and despair.

"I'm pretty sure I have a better concept than you think, Samantha. A much, much better concept than you would think."

He paused for a moment, not wanting to reveal more. Then, he changed the subject.

"So, now that the cat's out of the bag, can I just see the darn book? This is entirely too much work for a measly little novel."

Glancing up as he spoke, she saw the odd way he looked at her for a few seconds. Sighing, she gave in, and pulled the book out. The title read Scepter of the Ancients. It might not have been something that would actually happen in the muggle world, and it did have elements of magic in it, but unlike the magic that went on here.

Samantha looked around, hoping no one was in a close enough proximity to read what the book said.

After a few minutes trying to convince Samantha, she finally gave in, pulling her book out of her bag. The look in her eyes was wild, paranoid. Obviously she did not want anyone else to see. Aaron still did not see why it was that big of a deal... until he glanced over at the usual Ravenclaw girl posse, and he figured out why she might be smart to be discreet after all.

The book was one that he did recognize, after all. It was called Scepter of the Ancients, and it was a book that Aaron had considered taking once. However, he did not--he read the back cover, and it seemed interesting, but it was just too unrealistic for his tastes. Those who wrote it really seemed to have no concept of how magic really worked, from what he had heard, and the concept of magic that was so drastically different was odd.

Aaron handed the book back go her, and she cautiously put it back in her bag.

"Now, that was not so bad, was it? The world goes on, and I have not dubbed you vermin of the universe. I am not going to spread rumors about it, and the world goes on. Your paranoia is somewhat misplaced, I believe, but either way. It looks like an interesting book. Is it good?"

Samantha nodded, shoving the book to the very bottom of her bag.

"I like it." She said, her eyes on the ground once more. "And thats exactly the point, Aaron. Rumors." Not feeling like going further into the conversation, she looked back up and stared at him, trying to think of something to say. He didn't freak out, that was a plus, but they never do.

Samantha wondered why she had such pessimistic thoughts about him. He WAS nice enough...

"I like it," she said, seeming almost ashamed of this fact. "And that's exactly the point, Aaron. Rumors."

Aaron rolled his eyes. She cared entirely too much about what other people thought. Aaron was always a "screw everyone else" kind of person, from his independent childhood to this very day. Sure, maybe had learned to put a little charm into it to get what he wanted, but he could not give a darn about most people. The majority of the human race could go die in a vat of bubbling sludge, and he could care less.

He liked Samantha, though. Which was odd.

However, she cared far too much about whether other people liked her or not, which was the real stinger.

Aaron would have pursued the matter had it not been for the expression on Samantha's face, warning that she DID NOT want to talk about it.

"So, I see that we've officially descended back into silence, eh?"

"Well, you aren't talking, so what am I supposed to say?" She replied, watching as an odd expression covered his face. Samantha resisted sighing again, he didn't seem to get that it wasn't just emotionally scarred she was from other students.

You don't know half the story, Aaron. She thought, frowning slightly.

Samantha wished she could tell him, but one, she didn't have the guts. Two... well, the trust issue.

She watched out of the corner of her eye as a Seventh year Ravenclaw girl from Aarons little fan group made her way over to their spot on the grass, and braced for the worst.

"Well, you aren't talking, so what am I supposed to say?" Samantha was staring at him, sizing him up. She frowned slightly, as if she was struggling to make a decision.

The awkward staring session ended when Scarlett started making her way over. Scarlett was a 7th year Ravenclaw, like him, who he dated back in... oh, fourth year or so? She was the clingy sort, terribly annoying and pushy, and someone who Aaron wished did not exist. He acted as if he craved the attention, and with some he did... just not Scarlett.

Aaron knew trouble was coming when he saw the expression on her face. It was her dangerous, "Don't mess with me" face, the one he had seen far too many times, but deliberately ignored every time. However, for once, the extreme glaring session was not aimed at him. It was aimed at Samantha.

Aaron smelled trouble a mile away.

Scarlett plopped down on the grass next to Aaron, on the opposite side of Samantha, and immediately began her assault. She was obviously trying to prove a point. She nestled up against him, and brightly, suavely said, "Oh, it's been entirely too long, dahling. I forgot how warm and soft you were."

Aaron scooted away a bit--not enough to set off her alarms, but enough that she was not clinging to him for life.

"Um... hello, Scarlett. Would you mind getting off me?"

Samantha recognized Scarlett, one of the most snobbiest girls in Hogwarts. She draped herself over Aaron, pretending like they were an engaged couple, even though Samantha knew that Aaron was currently single.

Don't ask how she knew.

Samantha sat up a little straighter, narrowing her eyes at Scarlett. There was a whole lot of things she wished she could say --and call-- Scarlett, one of them a certain five letter word that would earn her a slap in the face. She hoped she looked at least slightly menacing, just enough to show Scarlett she wasn't going to take any more crap from her.

Resisting a giggle at Aaron's comment toward her, she tried to keep from smirking in triumph too, seeing how Aaron cringed away from her.

Aaron watched out of the corner of his eye and found Samantha trying hard to repress laughter. Of course she would be laughing. She was not the one who had a possessive ex molesting him.

Scarlett ignored Aaron, only scooting closer to him whenever he scooted further. Scarlett smiled sweetly, but Aaron knew her well enough to see the spark of hatred in her eyes. She was angry, and Aaron knew right then that Samantha would not be laughing for long.

"Oh, Aaron, dahling, you always were such a joker!" she trilled, her voice high and sickeningly sweet. She laughed, but she was the only one who did. "I mean, we both know that you want nothing to do with that... that THING over there, right? I mean, she's so obviously not your type, dahling, we both know it. You really can quit leading her on, sweetie--you might damage her oh-so-fragile, weak, baseless, minute little ego, and we can't have that happening! Without the little dignity she has, she cannot EVER hope to make it in life."

Aaron wanted to facepalm. She was so dramatic and blunt in her insults, and anyone who heard it should have just sat there and rolled their eyes.

"In case you have not noticed, Scar, there was no leading on taking place here. There is nothing going on between the two of us. We are just two people, sitting here, talking. There is really no need to be so possessive. You can go back to your friends now." Aaron flashed her his most dazzling smile, but he made it quite clear in his eyes that he was serious. Scar took the hint.

"Well," she smiled, hanging onto the pretense of cheeriness, "I'm glad to hear that your judgment has not completely lapsed since I've left your life."

She bent down and gave him a peck on the head, which was completely uncalled for, and sauntered off.

"Sorry about that," Aaron sighed, rolling his eyes.

Samantha got madder and madder with each word that came out of Scarletts mouth. Shooting up, she quickly jumped in front of her, stopping with grace. Her eyes narrowed, face clouded with the threat of violence.

"You just described your whole personality, Scarlett. I was never trying to steal your ex-boyfriend from you. I may have a tiny ego, but at least my brain isn't small. You stole just about every single cliched insult. If I ruined your chances of trying to snog Aaron, my bad, but I won't be in your way anymore." She ranted, then moved to pick up her bag.

Walking off, she didn't give Scarlett a chance to reply before she was a few meters away.

Things then proceeded to go wrong.

As in terribly, horribly wrong.

Samantha was up before Aaron could blink, and stepped directly in front of Scarlett.

"You just described your whole personality, Scarlett. I was never trying to steal your ex-boyfriend from you. I may have a tiny ego, but at least my brain isn't small. You stole just about every single cliched insult. If I ruined your chances of trying to snog Aaron, my bad, but I won't be in your way anymore."

Aaron had never seen someone's face turn that dark, angry red over something so ridiculous. Yes, Scarlett was being ridiculous, but as Samantha stormed off, Aaron could not help but think that Samantha was overreacting. He would not tell her this, though, he thought, getting back up to go toss the quaffle around again. Girls never liked to be told their reactions were irrational.

Samantha made her way into the hallway, slightly unnerved. She was just a tad annoyed that Aaron didn't come after her, but she supposed he was just running back to Scarlett. Samantha didn't bother to turn around and check.

She went further into the hallway, not exactly sure where she was going. Probably anywhere away from people, which would be either her dorm or the bathroom, both nearly on the other side of the campus. Not sure if she wanted to go that far, she slowed down, tons of thoughts running through her had at the same time.

Samantha seemed angry.

That was probably bad.

Aaron sighed, thinking about how unfair the matter was. He looked at Scarlett, who was back with her posse, clearly pleased with herself. So, maybe she had failed to win his attention, but at least she had managed to scare away the girl he was talking to.

Aaron could see the smug grin on her face, and he just wanted to roll his eyes, sighing exasperatedly. People had such screwed up priorities, especially the girls who seemed to trail after him. They thrived on the dramatic, which Aaron never could understand. He really hoped Samantha was not like them; all he needed was another upset, melodramatic female, interested or not.

However, Aaron suspected that she had to be at least a bit interested, or she would not have gotten nearly so defensive. Girls were odd that way, and he had learned a lot about girls over the last few years.

Sighing, Samantha hurried into her dorm, sat on her bed for an hour before falling into a troubled sleep...

*TIME LAPSE ZOMG NEXT DAY*

Samantha Forbs made her way through the hallway, heading toward her next class. The happenings of the day before lurked in her mind, and today she was feeling extremely... unhappy. Usually she was a bright spirited person, but not today. Her memories of the run in with Scarlett and Aaron stuck around with her like a bad headache that no type of healing potion could cure.

It was sickening.

So far her day was good, her first two classes went well. That Malfoy boy caused some problems, but nothing that bothered Samantha too much. She had no classes with Scarlett, which was good. Samantha wasn't sure if she was going to run into Aaron or Scarlett again, but if she did she was probably just going to turn the other way and ignore them both. She wasn't going to be one of those girls who begged for their forgiveness, she already came of fan-girlish with what happened yesterday.

Samantha hoped that she never came off that way.

Dodging a third years flailing arm, she passed by the walkway leading to the yard that all of the drama happened at. She glanced sideways toward Aarons usual hangout spot, briefly wondering if he was there.

Oh, how she hoped he wasn't.

Aaron was in the usual spot, at the usual place, at the usual time, doing the usual thing.

Which meant, of course, that he was hanging out with the rest of the guys by the tree from yesterday, after school, throwing the quaffle around.

He glanced at the tree from time to time, sneaking a peek to see if Samantha showed up again. If she was angry because of Scarlett, he would have to deal with that, whether he liked it or not, and if she came again today, it would be much easier to make amends. It would involve less time trying to seek her out when chances are she would try to ignore him, anyway.

It would be a waste of his time AND hers.

He threw the quaffle, and glanced sideways in the direction of the tree.

She was walking over there.

Aaron approached her gradually.

"Hey," he said. It was an original greeting, that was for sure.

Samantha heard a familiar voice, timid.

It was Aaron. Great.

"What do you want?" She said quietly, crossing her arms. She should have never came over, she already regretted it. If Scarlett showed up again, it certainly wouldn't be a pretty scene. Samantha had already heard rumors floating about from what happened yesterday, some she was sure Scarlett made up.

It was continuous whispering as she walked passed from a few upperclass students, and one fourth year asked about it. Her response was "No, honey. Scarlett did not insult my... mummy. Go along now." The child-like voice of the teenager had caused the rudeness, the mockery. The boy had obviously not his puberty/cast a spell on hisself to change his voice. That was during breakfast, and it did not leave Samantha feeling particularly perky. Yes, the students did stop whispering long enough to do their work, and it helped improve her mood, but still.

It wasn't something you could get over quickly.

Aaron waited for a response. After a few seconds, he got a mumbled yet angry "What do you want?" She had her arms crossed in front of her body, but her anger seemed out of place, as if it was hiding something else. Hurt was clear in her eyes, regardless.

Aaron sighed and sat down next to Samantha on the grass, although she turned away, her back facing him. Aaron wanted to roll his eyes, since they were not in third grade anymore, but he kept it in.

"I wanted to find out what is wrong, first of all. You look like you could murder the neighbor's cat, which might or might not be an animagus, so I would not recommend that course of action..." Aaron stopped, realizing that now was probably not the best time for a sense of humor to pop out. She was already mad, and making light of the situation, as ridiculous as it was, would probably only lead to disaster on his end of the spectrum.

"Look, Samantha, I don't know what you saw, but chances are, you have it wrong. Scarlett was pestering me as much as she was you. By now, you should know her type--everything she says should be taken with a grain of salt. I don't want to have anything to do with her, and if you believe anything different, you are sadly mistaken. She's just a thorn in my side, an old fling that ended badly but she has trouble letting go of."