Late. If someone asked for one word to describe Riley at that point in time it would be late. He didn't know how it happened, or why it happened but every year he was late to the platform. He saw it as a good thing that he was in shape because of Quidditch otherwise he would probably miss the train entirely. This year was different though.

He didn't have his siblings to blame or his parents, as he normally did. Riley was having a hard time dealing with losing what was literally his entire family. He might have been what some would call in denial. It was easier than the alternative. Which was to deal with the pain. In the here and now Riley just took his time finding somewhere to sit on the train. He wasn't in a hurry. This was always the best way to scope out the girls. And the train was the best gossip mill. By the time you got Hogwarts you knew who had broken up with who and why.

It was a gold mind.

So Riley made his was along the train leisurely, sending his crooked smiles at the witches and allowing them to pass him in a gentlemanly way. Yea. He loved the train ride to Hogwarts.

To say the day had been hectic would be putting it mildly. Ginny found herself completely overwhelmed as she ran a hand through her long red locks, which were wild and windblown after her run to catch the train. She wouldn’t have had any problems if it wasn’t for the terrible mood Ron seemed to be in, the glares he’d been shooting her, the questions from her mum, and the uncomfortable mumbling her dad had been able to muster before being shot down by glares from both Molly and Ron. Ginny actually felt rather bad for her dad. He had no idea what was going on.

She inwardly cursed herself for wearing jeans that held her hips so snuggly, as they made it rather difficult to move quickly in. Her Holyhead Harpies tee was riding up as she tugged her luggage behind her along the train, having just managed to hop on before it started to move. She’d stayed behind after Ron had unceremoniously left the family to search for his once friend, who Ginny was sure he planned to scream at until he had to run off to his Prefects meeting.

“Bloody idiots,” she muttered darkly, willing herself to calm down before she scared the younger students. She’d been so frustrated since the day she ran into Harry in Diagon. It seemed he hadn’t even noticed how she tried to present herself to him. Couldn’t he see that she’d grown up? That she cared about him? Of course not. He was too blinded with his own rage and determination. Well, Ginny was a growing girl and she had needs, and if Harry was going to ignore those needs she’d just find someone else to fill them. She huffed as her trunk got caught on a compartment door, turning to tug on it as she pushed her butt out and wiggled her body, working her upper body strength against the trolley she was using for her luggage.

Suddenly, she felt her rear bump against something and felt her cheeks glow red. She turned around and stared at a familiar face. He was a Ravenclaw in her year. She had a few classes with him. Knew him to be a terror to some of the ladies around the castle. And she’d just bumped him with her butt. “Fantastic,” she muttered.

“Sorry about that. Bloody trunk’s caught.” Ginny still couldn’t get the stupid thing out of the door, and she was causing a bit of a traffic jam. She looked at the boy she’d unceremoniously run into and felt her cheeks go pink again. “You wouldn’t want to help me a bit, would you?” she asked hopefully. Normally, she’d never ask for help, but she was so flustered already and today was going so poorly she just wanted to get to a compartment and hide from the whole world. Great start to the school year.

"No apologies necessary. Feel free to bump into me anytime." In an interesting turn of events it seemed fate was on Riley's side this train ride. See normally he would spend the trip to Hogwarts lining up possible witches to date. What else was there to do really? He was a fifteen year old male and puberty had been reached long ago. Riley loved witches and they loved him. He wasn't about to apologize for it. He considered himself lucky for it because it was getting hard for males these days with Potter and Malfoy around the castle.

He gave the girl his crooked smile and leaned down to help unstick her trunk. "Allow me." He offered charmingly. She was kind of cute in that girl next door sort of way with her red hair and now blushing cheeks. He recognized her from classes but had heard she was off limits. But how could he resist when she wandered so easily to him? Riley took the handle of her trunk and bowed his head forward to signal she should lead the way and he would gentlemanly push her trunk for her. "You lead. I follow."

Surprise allowed the redhead to give up hold on her trolley and lead the way to a nearby empty compartment. She was confused by how, well, polite the Ravenclaw was being. Wasn't be supposed to be some kind of sexual predator or something? In truth, Ginny found herself rather charmed by the dark haired fellow.

She considered sitting down upon entering the small space, but she couldn't let herself. E lazy and expect this boy to do all the work with her luggage. Thus, she reached out and hefted her trunk off the cart, letting out a small grunt as she lifted the heavy thing to the rack above her. Truth be told, she was rather proud of the muscles she had developed, not to mention the flat stomach that peeked out below her tee when she raised her arms like that.

"Thanks for your help," she said, tossing her hair behind her shoulder and offering a hand to the boy. "Ginny Weasley. Don't think we've ever been properly introduced." She flashed him a grin as her other hand found its place on her hip, which was popped out slightly in a natural way that showed her curves. Ginny subconsciously bit her lower lip as she looked the boy up and down. Her day might just have gotten a bit better...

Sure, a true gentleman would insist on doing all the work himself for the lady. But it could be considered just as gentlemanly to allow a witch a bit of freedom and do as she liked. Riley knew a majority of females these days enjoyed being treated like the little princesses all fathers told their daughters they were. And Riley could oblige them for the most part. But he was just as equally aware of a completely separate type of witch.

These types were the independent ones. The hard to catch and hard to keep hold of type. They did everything on their own and when they wanted and were generally the ones who didn't giggle around a fellow. Riley pegged the little ginger witch as one of these wizards so he obliged her by letting her get her trunk up in the rack herself. He had fun watching, leaning against the door jam casually as his eyes raked over her toned body while she wrestled the trunk into place.

"Like I said, anytime." He took the offered hand and gave her his crooked grin. "Weasley huh?" He asked with a spark coming to life in his brown eyes. "Aren't you Potter's main squeeze?"

Ginny squeezed the boy’s hand a bit harder than necessary before letting it go and tilting her head, smirking at the Ravenclaw. “Potter’s main squeeze? Who said I belong to anyone?” Her eyes flashed with something like defiance as she took a step closer to the male, leaving barely any space between them. Let him figure her out. She was not in the mood to be categorized as belonging to someone, especially when that someone hadn’t even gone so far as to kiss her yet.

“You should really pay more attention to the actual action and not just the rumors. I haven’t ever been claimed by Harry. I’m his friend, but far from his girlfriend.” She licked her lips slowly as she watched for the boy’s reaction. “I don’t have any chains holding me down.”

The redhead wasn’t sure what kind of rumors were actually going around about herself and the boy who lived, but she wasn’t sure how she felt about them either way. She wanted to be involved with Harry, yes, but if he wasn’t going to act on his feelings for her, she didn’t want to be held down by his claim. She was a teenaged girl with needs, and if Harry couldn’t take care of them, or wouldn’t as it were, then Ginny would find someone else who would. She grinned and bit her lip.

Of course, things couldn’t go so smoothly for Ginny. The train hit a bump then, and she felt herself lose her footing, flailing a bit before losing her balance completely and falling forward toward the boy’s very close body. This was going to be awkward…

The dainty little squeeze of her small hand made the Ravenclaw chuckle. It was cute. He also found her defiance cute as she stepped toward him into his personal space. That was fine with Riley. He had no problem sharing space with the little witch. He answered with his own smirk. "Why pay attention to witch's who are apparently spoken for when there are plenty of others who aren't?" His own head tilted a fraction. "A fine little fiery thing like you? Potter must be gay." Riley stated decidedly. The boy-who-lived-in-the-same-house as her hadn't made a move on her. There must be something wrong with that bloke.

When the train pitched forward and she lost her balance Riley only did what a gentleman would. He caught her up in his arms and pulled her flush against him as his hands settled easily on her hips. Ok so maybe it wasn't exactly gentlemanly but you had to admit it was smooth. "Whoa. Steady there little ginger." He said smiling crookedly down at her.

This guy was rather toned, Ginny noted as she found herself pressed against his chest. Her hands were trapped between them, feeling his body in what might have been an awkward position if he didn’t seem so comfortable with it all. It was odd, but the redhead found herself feeling rather comfortable as well, even as his hands crept to her hips and held her there.

“I don’t think he’s gay,” she murmured, “he’s just easily distracted from the obvious.” Modesty wasn’t exactly something that plagued Ginny Weasley. In short, she knew she was nice to look at, and to hold, so she wasn’t about to sell herself short. Harry was missing what was right in front of his eyes. She did feel a slight blush come to her cheeks though as she realized she’d just been called fine, fiery, and ‘little ginger’.

She smiled at the boy, leaning in close to him, her lips very nearly touching his as she whispered, “And what should I call you, besides devilishly handsome?” Some part of her couldn’t believe her own nerve, but another, stronger part was simply happy. She wasn’t letting anything stop her and it felt good. Freeing. Plus, the guy was very attractive and he seemed quite nice, if a bit devilish. She liked devilish. It went well with her own personality.

"The obvious being that you're appealing to the eye." Something was definitely wrong with Potter if this little sphinx had been throwing herself at him and he hadn't taken the bait. Good thing Riley was a shark waiting to bite. "And touch." His fingers gripped her hips just a little tighter as he added that in. Her blush Riley liked because girls like her didn't seem to do it very often. It meant he had an effect on her and this caressed his ego more than anything else. But he also liked to please the ladies and one thing he had learned was that if you were making them blush you were usually headed in the right direction.

"Name's Riley. But you can call me whatever you like." This was stated absently since his whole focus was now on her pink lips. What the hell, Riley thought. He already came this far. Before the caution in him decided to read its ugly head Riley dipped his head enough to kiss the red head full on the lips with no inhibition despite the fact they were standing in the doorway of the compartment with students at his back. Any of which could end up being The Chosen One himself or the girl's brother with the famous temper.

His lips touched her and Ginny found herself losing all self-control. She kissed back with a hunger and let out a little noise of pleasure as his fingers dug into her hips a bit. It felt good. He seemed so sure of himself, and it made her happy. Having a guy with confidence kissing her was something rather new, and it was just what Ginny wanted. She was a strong willed woman. She needed a guy with an ego.

“Hmm,” she pulled away from his lips with hooded eyes, looking at him with a small smirk curled on her lips. “Riley, huh? I like it.” She licked her lips and pulled fully away from him, turning into the compartment and finding her way to a seat. She sat down sideways, stretching a leg out on the bench while her other foot settled on the floor. She lounge comfortably, running her hands through her hair and pulling it up in a messy ponytail. She found she was suddenly a bit warm.

“So, Riley, do you kiss all the girls you run into on the train?”

Yes. The train he definitely loved and for a new reason this year. Her kissing him with a sort of reckless abandon fed his ego and so did that little sound of pleasure that he ripped from her. This year was starting off better than he had originally planned and that was completely ok with him. It ended a bit too soon for his liking but Riley let her go easily. He wasn't the chasing type no matter how good a kisser she might be. She had obviously had some practice. Good for her was his thought on that.

He watched her make herself at home in the compartment thinking how fortunate it would be for him to get her to himself the entire ride. What a ride it would be, he smiled to himself and slid the door shut taking a seat across from the witch. What a witch too. "Usually I wait to get to school first before snogging them all one by one." He countered with his crooked smile. He was gentleman enough to speak the truth to her. Riley wasn't a relationship man and he figured the situation could only be helped by letting her be privy to that. Riley had dates. Not girlfriends.

“Your reputation tends to agree with you,” Ginny said easily. She didn’t expect things to be any different than normal with her. It wasn’t like she was naïve. It actually made things easier, since she wasn’t interested in relationships if they weren’t with Harry. A bit of PDA to make the boy jealous would suit her just fine, however. “I have a little proposition for you, birdy boy.”

Ginny swung around in the seat, both feet flat on the floor and her knees spread, elbows propped on them with her hands supporting her chin. She looked up at the boy with a coy smile on her face. She knew this look was rather adorable. Like a puppy almost. It was the one she used on her brothers to get anything she wanted.

“If I’m not mistaken, you enjoy my company,” she stated, knowing she was right. A boy didn’t kiss someone like that unless he was enjoying her. “And I’m rather enjoying yours as well.” She licked her lips for what must have been the tenth time, mentally scolding herself for seeming so… easy would be too much but she didn’t really have another term for it. “So, you are going to help me get the guy and enjoy his year all the same. And I’m going to make sure you have a lovely snogging partner.”

As if to prove her point, Ginny hopped up, only to straddle his lap, resting her knees on the seat around his thighs. “So what do you say?” she asked, lips brushing his for the second time.

A proud grin crept onto his face. His reputation was the end result of a lot of work being put into it. It wasn't easy being a ladies man. Witches were complicated creatures and it wasn't like there was a section in the library about them either. "Birdy boy eh?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I would say you're lucky you're cute. But let's hear this proposition of yours."

It was clear from her puppy look that she was going to try and pull a fast one on him to get him to agree. He did her the service of hearing her out though. Sure he enjoyed her company. For the train ride. He hasn't thought about anything beyond that though. Soon she was straddling his lap and using all her feminine wilds to get him to agree. Riley weighed the option in his head. "So let me get this straight," he said placing his hands on her hips again, "you want me to snog you around Hogwarts in the hopes of making Potter jealous?" Riley wasn't as dumb as people seemed to think he was. If Potter really wanted the girl he would have gotten her by now. He could have easily agreed to her little plot just to get what he wanted from her. But the fact was he was actually turned off by her now. Why would he want to help trap some poor bloke in a relationship? He told her as much as he pushed her back a bit.

"No offense little ginger, but if Potter wanted you he would have you. It's as plain and simple as that. Maybe he's just not that into you." Riley easily slid out from under the red head and headed for the door. He paused before leaving the compartment altogether. "Look, I'm going to have to turn down your proposition. There's not much in it for me and it might seem like I don't have morals but I do and I'm not about to help you trap Potter of all people into something."

Riley left thinking that at least he was upfront about how and who he was with witches. It was clear that the same could not be said for the opposite sex. Witches would do anything to get the blokes they wanted. Going as far as to enlist the help of other blokes to trick them into some twisted relationship that wouldn't make anyone happy most likely.

Well, that wasn’t at all what she expected. Ginny pouted as she semi-sat, semi-stood in the compartment. One knee was on the seat and the other foot on the floor as she gaped at the open door. He left! She just got turned down by the one guy who seemed perfect for the part of ‘make Harry Potter so jealous he won’t know what hit him’. What the hell was she going to do now?

There was certainly something she wasn’t going to do, and that was let this guy think whatever it was he thought about her. She stood and stomped over to the door, poking her flaming head out of the compartment and calling at his retreating back. “HEY! Bird boy! I’m not trying to trap anyone!” she roared, showing that fiery temper that he didn’t seem at all afraid of. Stupid twat.

She stomped down the hall, leaving her things in the compartment. No one would mess with them if they knew what was good for them. And most knew her temper. Unlike this sorry sod. “It isn’t like I’m forcing him to react. If he reacts, that means he always wanted me, he was just ignoring his feelings to deal with the other bullocks that was going on in his life. If he doesn’t react, then I move on. Either way, it isn’t as if you are doing anything wrong.” She glared at him with fire in her eyes. “And I’m not doing anything wrong either. I’m a single girl showing my natural attraction to a single guy. So don’t think anything less of me, birdy.”

She’d gotten very close to the boy again. This time, she was giving off rage instead of sensual vibes, however. If he knew what was good for him, he’d start apologizing. Somehow, Ginny didn’t think the idiot knew what was good for him, though.

Uh-oh. There it was. The famous female rage most blokes spent their lives trying to avoid. He turned to watch her storm up to him as other compartment doors slid open and people stuck their heads out to see what the commotion was. This didn't seem to bother the little ginger though as she was too busy yelling at him. More like trying to defend herself and her little half-baked plot.

For his part he just stood there in all his confident glory with the same crooked grin he had left her with in the compartment. Unlike other blokes his age Riley didn't fear the wrath of woman. He knew worse pain. He just calmly let her rage. He crossed his arms in a purely defiant move when she demanded an apology. The little ginger would not be getting one of those. Since she seemed so interested in ultimatums though... "Tell you what little ginger. I'll apologize." A small smirk presented itself and he added on, "Only if Potter agrees with you."

Ginny looked at the boy with her hand raised and her mouth open. She was about to slap him when he said he’d apologize. If… “If he agrees with what?” she asked, wondering what part of what she said would be brought to Harry’s attention. She really didn’t want any bit of it brought to his attention. She wanted to continue plotting with this attractive Ravenclaw and then end up with her lion in the end. Alas, perfection was only possible in dreams.

She considered simply taking her wand from her pocket and hexing the boy, then remembered she’d left it in the compartment with her luggage. If anyone found out about that she’d never hear the end of it. Harry would kill her! She was supposed to be armed at all times no matter what. Unwritten rule of the Order and all things Potter.

She smirked at him then, placing her hands on her hips and quirking a brow. “You’re nervous, aren’t you? I get it. I intimidate you. That’s why all the theatrics and resistance.” She puffed out her chest rather proudly then. “The ‘little ginger’ is better at your game than you are!”

She was going to slap him now. Her hand was raised and he prepared himself for the sound of her hand meeting his face accompanied by the sting but it never came. Instead she had paused to ask him what Potter had to agree with. "All of it." He replied casually like they were talking about the weather. Riley was sure she wanted to curse him by now but he continue to be unafraid. Everyone knew he was usually caught on the wrong end of a witch's wand or hand. It wasn't considered new for him to wander into the common room with a handprint on his face or singed robes on one occasion.

He was hard pressed not to laugh he really was but he just couldn't hold back the hearty chuckle at the witch's expense. Him nervous because of a witch? Intimidated by one? That was all very far from the truth. "You really think highly of yourself don't you little ginger?" It was a rhetorical question he expected no answer too as he shook his head still chuckling at her. "Hate to break it to you but I'm not the least bit intimidated by you." He spoke honestly having no reason to lie. "I meant what I said back there. You're trying to trick a bloke into a reaction thereby trapping him into a relationship he either isn't ready for or doesn't want and I'm not down with that. I don't think Potter would think much of your plan either. But if you want that apology we could as him. I'm sure he's somewhere around here..."

He trailed off looking around as if to see if be could spot the boy-who-lived.

Of course that didn’t work. Why would any attempt at turning this whole thing around work for Ginny? She didn’t know why she thought it would work, so she mentally kicked herself when she noticed the Ravenclaw looking around as if trying to spot Harry. “Honestly, you make me sound like a terrible person. It isn’t that bad!” It was making her angry now. It wasn’t like she was trying to do anything worse than what he did every day. So she wasn’t telling Harry. It wouldn’t exactly work if he knew what she was doing!

She actually growled at the stupid boy for existing. First she thinks she’s going to get a nice snog on the train, with the added benefit of making Harry a bit jealous, then she’s having to keep this git from running off and… what? Telling on her? “Wait.” She hissed at him through clenched teeth. If only she had her wand. She would hex him so good he’d never dream of saying she didn’t intimidate him. Ah, but that would have to wait until they were at school.

“I wouldn’t want that kind of apology anyway. I’d want it to actually mean something.” She tilted her head as an idea struck her, then she smirked. “Though, I don’t think you’d ever apologize and have it mean a thing.”

She resumed her glare and flicked her ponytail in an irritated way. It was odd the way girls sometimes used their hair like a cat used its tail. It was a good way to tell when they were angry. “No need to bother Harry, though I am rather surprised you would choose to go this route. I mean, you would be helping the boy realize what he really wants and what he could have.”

Ginny decided to just go with it, since she couldn’t really mess things up any more than she had, as long as the idiot bird didn’t go talk to Harry. She leaned up on her toes and kissed the boy’s cheek before turning on her heel and stalking back to her compartment, making sure to sway her hips in just the right way. “Think about it, birdy boy.” She winked before slipping back into her compartment.

"I wouldn't call you a terrible person. Just seriously misguided." He replied in kind chuckling again. Riley could tell this was far from over. He knew her dirty little secret which was unfortunate for her but he had no plans on telling Potted. It wasn't like they were on first name bases or anything. They weren't even on last name bases.

She growled at him and his brown eyes lit with amusement. She reminded him of an angry kitten. She really was a little feisty thing and the kind of girl Riley had always seen himself getting serious with. The no nonsense type that challenged him in everything. That's what a guy needed in his life. Not those little flower petals that only wanted you to make them giggle and blush. He felt it a shame this one would waste away pining and going through such lengths to get the attention of a bloke who couldn't match her. But that was how the world worked.

It was obvious from the glare that she would love to hex him into the next century and Riley thought that might be fun if she wasn't so jumped up on the boy-who-lived. "You might be surprised little ginger." He told her with his crooked smile when she kissed his cheek and watched her walk away shaking his head at her chuckling. "I suggest you do the same." He called back and headed the opposite direction. He wasn't disappointed. He'd got a good snog out of it after all.