A Quite Interesting Encounter (Alastair and Natalie)

Usually, alcohol would calm everybody down when angry or just generally depressed. But at the Three Broomsticks, butterbeer could barely be considered as strong alcohol to take your mind off shit that got to you so damn much. Was it even alcohol in the first place? Didn't taste like it, didn't look like it, sure as heck must have not been it. Even so, a drink was good anytime, especially when your huge ego had just been hurt by somebody's mean comment to you.

'Cute? Cute!? I'm not just cute, I'm damn sexy. Jeez, never let an older chick give you a compliment because they fucking disappoint. I mean, cute? Seriously? I'm so much more than that!' 17 year old Alastair Creed's ego had been severely crushed and hurt by the 19 year old that had come up to him while he was casually strolling around Hogsmeade. Cute girl, though not exactly his type, and here he was now to drink away the 'pain' and 'suffering'.

That was simply the Quidditch lover's small idea of 'mean comment', but hey, they had practically made fun of his looks and charming personality! Frowning to himself, he rose an arm in the air as soon as he sat down, although a guy was already walking to him, blinking a little at he brunet's sudden pissed off look and stepping back in case he would lash out and bite...or something of the sort.

"A butterbeer. All the ginger in the world." He'd mumbled almost comically, and the older man nodded in slight amusement before shaking his head and walking away.

Even with his devastated state, the man's words still echoed in his ears, "Kids these days..." Kid? Kid!? He was technically a legal adult in the wizarding world now, because his trace had broken about a month ago so basically he could do whatever he pleased without having to worry about the stupid ministry being on his back all the damn time!

Yeah. The minute he got a comment about being less than what he was, whether it was in looks intelligence etc., it got to him this bad.

Natalie said goodbye to her friends outside, having spent the first part of the day shopping with them. Now, she decided to step into The Three Broomsticks for a quick drink while she waited for her mother to come and pick her up. How she hated being unable to apparate yet. If only she had been born a few days earlier...

Suppressing a sigh, she pushed open the door and was instantly greeted by the strong smell of butterbeer and firewhiskey. She inhaled deeply as she walked to the bar, where she ordered a butterbeer and waited patiently for her drink. Soon, she thought, she would be old enough to order firewhiskey, and then her friends would no doubt be trying to get her to buy drinks for them. Part of her would want to tell them to wait, just as she had had to, but the other part of her knew she wouldn't be so mean; after all, since when was she that much of a good girl? Oh the Sorting Hat may have chosen Gryffindor, but it seriously considered Slytherin. She was pleased with her House though; the Gryffindor's were far more accepting of a half-blood like her than the Slytherin's would have been, even though the war ended long before they were even born, many Slytherin's still thought highly of blood purity. What a load of crap.

She thanked the lady at the bar as she took her drink, and then turned to find a place to sit. Unsurprisingly, the place was packed, with no tables left, so she looked instead to find anyone she recognised from school. Surprisingly, there was none. Or so she thought. Her eyes suddenly caught sight of a familiar boy at a far table, and she squinted in order to see better. Yep, just as she thought; Alastair Creed. Slytherin. She cast one more glance around the pub, hoping there was someone else she recognised, but finally started walking towards the table the boy was sat at. It wasn't that she was scared of Slytherin's, quite the opposite, but she had no idea how Alastair would react to someone who wasn't pureblood, and today of all days she really couldn't be bothered with an argument.

"Hey, do you mind if I sit here?" she asked, drink in hand.

The moment his butterbeer was placed down in front of him, Alastair nodded at the guy, taking a big gulp of it while staring at a wall, ignoring the world around him. He was brought back to normal when he heard a small voice, and he turned towards it curiously. He recognised the girl from around school; Natalie Paige. As far as he knew, she would've made an amazing Slytherin. But here she was, another Gryffindor.

"Go right ahead." His shoulders rose and fell in a shrug as he gestured to the seat opposite him.

The place was truly packed, and Alastair didn't really think that saying no would be the right thing to do; even if he usually did it. Besides, some company wouldn't hurt, eh? Of course, the fact that he had ran into two Gryffindors this summer couldn't help but freak him out a little. What would his friends think of that? Most didn't believe in the rivalry anymore, but some still did, although he wasn't really one of those people.

"Thanks." She smiled a little as she sat down opposite the older student and took a sip from her drink, but then she frowned. At school, Alastair Creed always seemed pretty arrogant, and as though he didn't have a care in the world. The boy sitting in front of her, though, seemed... well she wasn't quite sure what he seemed. Angry? Depressed? She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she was concerned; she had never seen him, or any Slytherin for that matter, the way he was now.

As she thought, she bit her bottom lip, a habit she had had for as long as she could remember. For some reason it helped her think, but even this couldn't help her pinpoint exactly what the emotions of the Slytherin boy were, and perhaps that was what concerned her most, but then she shouldn't really be surprised. The Sorting Hat had come close to putting her in Slytherin, not only for her rebellious nature and sharp tongue, but also for the way she was extremely difficult to read unless she wanted people to know how she felt. Apparently the two students had that in common.

Finally, unable to sit and wonder any longer, she just went and asked him.
"Are you ok? You seem...troubled."

The silence they had sat in was alright for Alastair. He didn't care, as long as an argument didn't break out again. He'd had enough of those to last him a lifetime. Seriously. Another thing that had amazed him was than a Gryffindor was willing to even be around a Slytherin; most were either scared or just steered clear as to not start an argument, or a fistfight. Oh yeah, like the teachers would let that one happen.

"Are you ok? You seem...troubled."

The Slytherin looked up from where he had been staring at the table, and decided that girls were not worth getting his ego crushed over. He still had a lot of fangirls; that was fine with him. He thought for a little while, before putting on his cute grin and nodding.

"Yeah, I'm alright. For now, I should think," A pout formed on his lips. "Huh...yeah. Yeah I'm okay." He confirmed, taking another sip of his drink and looking around, before his dark eyes landed on the girl opposite him again.

"Whatcha doing around here? I mean, how come not with your friends and stuff?" His head tilted to the side, and he leaned back into his seat, listening curiously.

It was probably good talking to someone; might take his mind off some stuff.

"Yeah, I'm alright. For now, I should think,"

She nodded slowly, not wishing to pry into what was, or had been, bothering the older student. Whatever it was, it was highly unlikely he would bother to open up to a Gryffindor any more than he really needed to.

"Whatcha doing around here? I mean, how come not with your friends and stuff?"

She raised an eyebrow at his curiosity. Why should she not be here? She had just as much right as he did. Still, she just shrugged, not really in the mood for throwing out sarcastic comments as she normally would have done. It was hard to resist, but she managed it. "I was with my friends," she began. "We were just going round the shops. We've kinda been in every store in Diagon Alley more times than I can count this summer, so we decided to have a change of scene." She laughed. "We said goodbye at the door, and I came in here to get a drink while I wait for my mum to come pick me up." There was a bitter tone to her voice as she spoke the last few words. Yet again, she thought about how unfair it was that she had the misfortune of being born just a few days too late to be a seventh year. If only she had been born a few days earlier, she would know how to apparate. Granted, she wouldn't have her license yet, but she could have applied for it just after turning 17. As it was, she would have to wait all year to be taught and eventually take the test.

Unclenching her jaw, she looked back up at the older student. "How about you? What brings you to Hogsmeade alone today?" She took a sip of her drink as she waited for his reply.

"How about you? What brings you to Hogsmeade alone today?"

He thought a little. What indeed brought him here? "Boredom?" It was more a question rather than a simple statement. "There's nothing to do at home so I kinda decided to hang around here for a while. My friends are all on holiday somewhere or have stuff to do. Damn busy bugs." He mumbled the one last thing to himself, but shook his head fondly. His friends were probably the reason he even bothered showing up to school; even if that sounded a little weird coming from an arrogant guy such as he. After all, Alastair Creed wasn't supposed to have feelings...or a brain, for that matter, but he had both. Or at least that was what he liked thinking. See? He thought! You do need a brain to think so he must have one!

Alastair took a few more sips from his drinks, leaning even further back into his chair. No one else he knew around here today. Well, this was just boring wasn't it? At least he had somebody to talk to. But a Gryffindor...? Yes, he was starting the whole rivalry thing up again...he liked to think that Hogwarts should have been just like it used to years ago, with rivalries and all that stuff. Well okay, truth be told he had thought about that for a while but then found himself socialising with other houses, and so that was forgotten and he learnt to accept everyone.

That was surprising to his other house friends. Smiling only slightly at the memories and all that, he turned his head again to look back at Natalie, still in curiosity. He only knew her because he'd seen her around school.

"Boredom?"

She laughed lightly at his short response, but nodded understandingly as he elaborated upon it. "I know the feeling." She sighed, thinking back to the start of the holidays in that way as her friends all went off to America, France, Spain, Australia, or some other far away country. It was definitely boring being alone, and Nat had no siblings to hang around with, and her parents both had important jobs; her father was a Muggle and worked in the Police force, which was basically the Muggle equivalent of the Aurors, and her mother was an ex-professional Quidditch Player who now spent nearly every day visiting the various teams, from Regional level right up to International level, to help coach the players. And so Nat was left alone much of the holidays when her friends were away. She didn't begrudge them the time with their families, though, as she knew she would be doing the same if only her parents didn't work so much. Still, it was always good when they returned to England and were free to hang out with her again.

As her thoughts trailed off, she noticed the older student looking at her curiously. She raised an eyebrow, silently questioning him why he was watching her. The two had never made contact before, being in different Houses and different years, so she had no idea what could have made him so curious about her.

It wasn't often that Alastair got caught in staring curiously at a girl. Maybe it was why his cheeks lit up when he caught the look she was giving him, and he gave her a sheepish grin and busted' sort of look, his shoulders rising only slightly and then dropping again in a small shrug. Probably his way of saying 'sorry about that!'

"Well...not everyday I speak to somebody I barely know. Forgive my curiosity." He smirked, looking away then and whistling rather uncomfortably.

Huh. He liked her. She was an interesting one, certainly. And seemed a little bit like him with the comments, attitude and sarcasm. It was the arrogance that he didn't see radiating off her, but other than that they seemed to be a little alike. What can I say...Alastair loved people like him, as long as they weren't worse, though.

He refused to look at her for the following few seconds, then he finally looked back to see her still giving him that look, so he pouted and crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow at her also. "What?" He asked then, staring right at her. Looked like a staring/glaring match was in play.

She laughed again, a little more this time, tilting her head back ever so slightly. Apart from the arrogant air that remained about him, he was different to the boy she had always assumed he was. It was interesting, to say the least. Clearly he found her interesting, if his statement about being curious because he barely knew her was anything to go by. Still, she realized, even if he did know her he would probably still be curious; very few people really knew her. She wasn't straight forward like so many other people were, indeed the majority of them, but was one of the rare few who was a complex character, unpredictable and changeable. In that way, she felt her and the Slytherin were quite similar, maybe even to the extent where they could be called alike.

In answer to his 'what', she simply shrugged. "Not every day I speak to somebody I barely know. Forgive my curiosity." She repeated his earlier words, even smirking as she finished. She couldn't keep the smirk for long, however, as she quickly started to laugh, surprised at how easy it was to be herself around someone who was from her House's rival house. Oh she never believed in all that rivalry crap, but it was strange nonetheless. She doubted her friends would believe it when she told them. That's if she told them, actually. She didn't exactly keep secrets from her friends, but she was of the opinion that there were just some things they didn't need to know. If they asked, she would tell, but she wouldn't volunteer the information. She guessed the same would be true for the older student, but then again he was a Slytherin, so maybe he would be inclined to keep this meeting from his friends even if they asked. Who knew? Certainly not Nat.

"So, are you thinking of entering the Tournament?" she asked, smiling. The Tournament was never far from her mind this summer, and she was seizing every opportunity to talk about it.

"Not every day I speak to somebody I barely know. Forgive my curiosity."

Alastair found himself laughing, thing he didn't do often around people he didn't know or people from other houses/different schools. And the fact that she repeated his words made him grin widely. Okay. He definitely liked this one! Definitely should have been in Slytherin. Why was it that the Sorting Hat put her in Gryffindor again? He honestly didn't see why she shouldn't be one of 'them', as in one of the Slytherins.

"So, are you thinking of entering the Tournament?"

His eyes widened. Finally, somebody who was willing to talk about the Tournament without him starting the conversation first and going endlessly on about it! "Heck yes!" He nearly yelled, though thankfully not attracting any attention to either of them. "I need to get into it and make sure I win! Seriously!" He was so clearly enthusiastic about it that he was nearly jumping up and down on his seat; the Alastair that no one saw in school again. You are a very lucky person IF getting him to show his true and rare side to you. He didn't usually do that, since he was oh-so-used to just being his arrogant self, but there really was a sweet side to him...he had a heart. "What about you? Wanna enter the tournament or are ya gonna just watch?" He grinned.

She grinned as the older student laughed. She really couldn't get over how well they were getting on! Maybe Slytherin wouldn't have been so bad... no, she told herself firmly. If she had been sorted into Slytherin, she would have to explain to her family why she wasn't in Gryffindor, after generations of her mother's family had been in there. It was just... easier being in Gryffindor and fitting in with her family's expectations. No one knew how close the Sorting Hat had been to putting her in Slytherin, and that's the way things would stay.

She laughed again at his excitement about the Tournament, pleasantly surprised by the way he seemed as at ease with her as she was with him.

"Heck yes! I need to get into it and make sure I win! Seriously!"
She rolled her eyes, but not unkindly. "And you're not at all competitive are you?"

"What about you? Wanna enter the tournament or are ya gonna just watch?"
"Oh believe me, I'm entering. There is no way in hell I will settle for just watching if I have the chance to be part of it!" she replied, a smirk worthy of a Slytherin crossing her face. It was true that she wanted to be the Champion for her school, to prove to the students in seventh year that she was just as good as them, and she wasn't any less of a witch because she was in the year below them. She didn't know if they really saw her that way or not, if she was honest, but it was a constant insecurity of hers since she started at Hogwarts. She supposed it was this that sparked off the incredible determination she had; a determination so strong it scared her friends at times, and she often had to use all her willpower to stop herself before she went too far to achieve her goals. It had always been there, though. The Sorting Hat had recognized it, and told her it was one reason why she would thrive in Slytherin.

Her integrity helped balance it out, however. As determined as she may be to become the Hogwarts Champion for the Triwizard Cup, she was a true sportswoman and would not try and get herself chosen if it wasn't meant to be. At the end of the day, all she really wanted was for the Hogwarts Champion to be the best choice for the school, and to win the Tournament so that the Triwizard Cup would remain at Hogwarts. She would be disappointed if it wasn't her, of course she would, but she would support the Champion of her school no matter who they were.

"

It was a wonder to Alastair too as to why they got on so well, but he'd have to learn to live with it. He'd see a lot more of her around school from now on, surely, so they should get on perfectly anyway.

"And you're not at all competitive are you?"

"Oh, but not at all~" A playful smirk found its way on his lips and Alastair could only give her one of his cute winks. "Competitive in everything and anything, that's me. But, surprisingly, eating contests aren't really my thing...even with me being a guy and I'm supposed to like these kinds of things." And so he pouted, shaking his head. "Maybe I'm a woman in disguise..." That last bit was meant as a joke, and he only hoped that she got it. "I'm going off-subject here." He laughed.

"Oh believe me, I'm entering. There is no way in hell I will settle for just watching if I have the chance to be part of it!"

They just might be able to build an amazing friendship what with them both so enthusiastic about something that most other people were too scared to enter, and just having a couple of things in common. Well, a couple that they had discovered. There were still many things to think and talk about.

"Well then," He started cheerfully. "I can't wait to see who'll get picked. And if it is you...then I'm with ya all the way." He gave her a sickly sweet smile, and tapped his foot in a rhythm under the table, obviously rather happy about how he'd found someone he could talk about these things with.

"Oh, but not at all~"

Nat merely rolled her eyes and laughed lightly, shaking her head as the older student winked in what he no doubt thought was a cute way, which admittedly it sort of was. Still, there was no way she was letting him know that! That ego of his didn't need any more feeding!

"Competitive in everything and anything, that's me. But, surprisingly, eating contests aren't really my thing...even with me being a guy and I'm supposed to like these kinds of things. Maybe I'm a woman in disguise..."

She raised and leaned forwards conspiratorially. "I always thought so," she said, her voice low as if sharing a secret. "But don't worry. You're secret's safe with me." She winked, smirked, and sat back, finally laughing. She knew well he meant it as a joke, but she couldn't resist sneaking in a little bit of banter!

"Well then, I can't wait to see who'll get picked. And if it is you... then I'm with ya all the way."

She smiled, genuinely happy that a Slytherin who should by all accounts hate her for not only being a Gryffindor, but for being a half-blood, would support her if she got selected as the Hogwarts Champion. "Likewise." She nodded, then rolled her eyes and shook her head once more as he gave her a sickly sweet smile. He was so full of himself! But she was learning that it was sometimes in an entertaining way, not always the ego maniacal way that it so often seemed when merely observing from a distance. "Have you any ideas what the challenges will be?" she asked, herself having wondered many times throughout the holidays, and always coming up blank.

Alastair had grinned as Nat laughed. It wasn't every day that he made a Gryffindor at least a little bit happy, or entertained; it never seemed to work with Melissa. Then again, she and he never did get on exceptionally well, like he and this newbie (a newbie to him, as he had never found it in his interest to speak to her, no offence).

"I always thought so. But don't worry. You're secret's safe with me."

"Great. I think I should take that as an 'that's the most amazing thing you've ever said to me and I think the whole school would be interested in hearing it too'. Cute, really." As much as he tried to keep a smile back and seem annoyed, Alastair couldn't, and so a smile formed on his lips as he shook his head at her. "You really are a mean one." He tried seeming upset then, pouting and giving her his puppy eyes, but it seemed to fail, as his eyes were still filled with such amusement that words could not describe.

"Have you any ideas what the challenges will be?"

"Well, if they're going to be the same as what they were in Voldemort's time--" He earned a glare from a passing by couple, who obviously seemed bothered by the use of the name of the known 'Dark Lord'. "--then yeah, I think I do know what they might be. If not, then...I'm totally clueless. I do wanna battle a dragon though," He paused for a brief second. "It'd look good on my CV." He finished with a slight grin.

"Great. I think I should take that as an 'that's the most amazing thing you've ever said to me and I think the whole school would be interested in hearing it too'. Cute, really. You really are a mean one."

Nat shrugged and laughed "I never said I wasn't." She smirked once more, but failed to hold it too long as she starting laughing again at the way the older student tried, and failed, to pout and give her puppy eyes in an attempt to look upset, his eyes mirroring the amusement that was clear in Nat's own eyes. Once more, she couldn't believe how easily they got along. Then again, she reminded herself, it shouldn't be that much of a shock. After all, the Sorting Hat had wanted to put her in Slytherin, so it was only natural she should be able to get on easily with the other students in that House.

"Well, if they're going to be the same as what they were in Voldemort's time then yeah, I think I do know what they might be. If not, then...I'm totally clueless. I do wanna battle a dragon though. It'd look good on my CV."

Nat rolled her eyes and glared right back at the couple that glared at them for daring to speak the so-called Dark Lord's name. Really, it was ridiculous how that single word, not even his real name, still scared people so much. It was as if they thought he could rise again any day! Had they not realized that he had no way back? That he was actually dead this time? The couple frowned at her, and she simply raised an eyebrow, daring them to do or say anything to her. They simply shook their heads and walked away, seemingly somewhat startled by the nerve of the girl not even half their age.

She turned back to Alastair and laughed at his eagerness to battle a dragon.
"See, I think that would be pretty cool, but I'm not so sure that they will just use the same challenges as last time? I mean," she paused to shrug, "it would be too easy for people to prepare. Not to mention they could just do what the Champions did last time!"

Alastair had blinked, only then realising that there had been somebody staring at them, and he turned to look at them just as they were casually walking off, although they seemed a little taken aback. He turned back in time to see Nat giving them the last of her glare, so he raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly at her. "What was that about? A little glaring match at my use of the name 'Voldemort'?" His smile turned into a sweet one as he turned to look at the couple once more.

"See, I think that would be pretty cool, but I'm not so sure that they will just use the same challenges as last time? I mean, it would be too easy for people to prepare. Not to mention they could just do what the Champions did last time!"

"Well, that's certainly a very good point. I'm still hoping though. If not then I'd battle a giant...or other weird creatures. Well, not that I'm saying that giants are weird creatures...y-y'know, just saying I wanna battle one..." He stumbled over his words, grinning as he rubbed the back of his head nervously. Well, this was certainly something new! It wasn't everyday that amazing-to him at least-arrogant Alastair Creed stumbled over his words. Maybe he was just a little bit tired.

"Well uh, gee, I don't know what challenges they will have this year then. Truth be told, I'm kinda looking forward to meeting the other students rather than find out the challenges, because I know I'm going to ace them no matter what. Especially if one of them is gonna be related to flying a broomstick. Because I am the amazing Slytherin Quidditch team Beater alongside my dear friend...whose name I don't really remember..." He pouted a little.

"What was that about? A little glaring match at my use of the name 'Voldemort'?"

Nat shrugged, grinning slightly. "I just don't understand why people are still scared of the name! It's been, what, 32 years?" She rolled her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief as she shot another glance at the backs of the departing couple. "It's just a name! Not even a real name, for Godric's sake!"

"Well, that's certainly a very good point. I'm still hoping though. If not then I'd battle a giant...or other weird creatures. Well, not that I'm saying that giants are weird creatures...y-y'know, just saying I wanna battle one..."

She laughed yet again as the arrogant Slytherin stumbled over his words. That was highly unexpected, and definitely amusing! She wondered not for the first time what her friends would think if they could see her getting on so well with the older student. "I think it would be pretty hard for them to get a giant to agree to come over for the Tournament!" She pointed out, still laughing lightly. "And I don't think they're exactly the sort of creatures you can force to do what you want! Maybe a troll..." She trailed off, grinning at the prospect of having to fight a troll.

"Well uh, gee, I don't know what challenges they will have this year then. Truth be told, I'm kinda looking forward to meeting the other students rather than find out the challenges, because I know I'm going to ace them no matter what."

At this, Nat raised an eyebrow in an 'oh you think so, do you' fashion. "You know they're not going to make them that easy, right?" Was all she said, however, choosing instead to comment on the students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. "I'm definitely looking forward to meeting them! Especially because of the Yule Ball!" She grinned. The Ball was definitely what she was looking forward to the most. Whether she be Hogwarts Champion or not, there was the Ball to look forward to.

"Especially if one of them is gonna be related to flying a broomstick. Because I am the amazing Slytherin Quidditch team Beater alongside my dear friend...whose name I don't really remember..."

She rolled her eyes. "Mmm, I still remember nearly getting knocked off my broom by a bludger you aimed at me in my second year!" She frowned, pretending to be annoyed, but it was short lived as she started laughing at the memory. It had been her first Quidditch match and she had been eager to prove herself as a Chaser, and had been too busy concentrating on the quaffle that she had completely forgotten to watch out for the bludgers! Thank Godric for her quick reflexes!

"I think it would be pretty hard for them to get a giant to agree to come over for the Tournament! And I don't think they're exactly the sort of creatures you can force to do what you want! Maybe a troll..."

"Aw, Naaat!" The older student whined then, pouting as he took another sip of his butterbeer. "You just totally ruined my good mood now! I wanted them to get giants over!" His pout grew as he leaned back in his seat and shook his head at her. "But hey, I think a troll would suffice, as long as I win the fight in the end. The tone of voice he used went to rather happy as he stated that.

"I'm definitely looking forward to meeting them! Especially because of the Yule Ball!"

Alastair sighed. "Aw man. By the time they get here all Hogwartian guys are gonna get the beautiful foreign chicks to go to the Yule Ball with 'em before me. If I do get picked for the Tournament, then I can't wait to see who it is I'm gonna end up going with." It was mostly a disappointed mumble, because the girls that would show up would either be exactly like him so it would be hard to get on with them, or would be too shy for his liking, or maybe they would rather go for the other guys. It wasn't every day that Alastair had doubts about girls liking him because c'mon, they all loved the guy, but this was something big so he needed to think.

"Mmm, I still remember nearly getting knocked off my broom by a bludger you aimed at me in my second year!"

"Sorry," He grinned. "I guess you were in my way. And I did kinda wanna win the match after losing about four around that time. Now, however, nobody can win a game against Slytherin...and live to tell the tale..." He said dramatically, though amusement was still in his eyes.

"Aw, Naaat! You just totally ruined my good mood now! I wanted them to get giants over! But hey, I think a troll would suffice, as long as I win the fight in the end."

She laughed as the Slytherin whined and pouted. "By all means, feel free to go contact a giant and see if one would be willing to come over and be attacked by three different students." She shrugged. "Just don't blame me when you lose a limb. Or two. If you're that lucky..." She smirked, knowing full well that nearly every giant would attack a human on sight, and even those that would bother listening to said human would attack them after hearing them out.

"Aw man. By the time they get here all Hogwartian guys are gonna get the beautiful foreign chicks to go to the Yule Ball with 'em before me. If I do get picked for the Tournament, then I can't wait to see who it is I'm gonna end up going with."

She rolled her eyes. Trust him to be thinking about the foreign 'chicks' already. Then again, Nat couldn't exactly comment considering she was very keen to see the foreign guys who would be coming over... so she simply shook her head as she laughed lightly. "Well I guess you'll just have to eye them up quick and ask before anyone else gets a chance." She shrugged. "At least you have that option! For us girls, we'll probably all miss out on the guys we like because they'll ask someone else!" She put on a pout here, over-exaggerating the disappointment of missing out on going to the dance of the year with the guy you wanted. "And," she continued, "if you do get picked as the Champion, I'm sure you'll have girls queuing up to go to the Ball with you!"

"Sorry I guess you were in my way. And I did kinda wanna win the match after losing about four around that time. Now, however, nobody can win a game against Slytherin...and live to tell the tale..."

Once more, she raised her eyebrow in an 'is that so' way. "Really? Well, I find that hard to believe considering us Gryffindors have beaten you the last few times we've played." She smirked. "And funnily enough, we're all still alive!" She laughed, eyes twinkling in amusement.

"By all means, feel free to go contact a giant and see if one would be willing to come over and be attacked by three different students."

"Oh, will do. I have one on speed dial." Alastair told her, sarcasm dripping from his voice as he rolled his eyes. Though it looked it, it wasn't in a mean way, but mostly a playful one. He hoped that Nat got it. "Ah just a sec," He pulled out his phone, and put it to his ear. "Yeah...uh-huh..." He put it back down and smirked at her. "Oops, looks like they're awaiting a special invitation. When they get that, then they come over. What're you, crazy? I'm not gonna contact a giant and risk ruining my reputation with a missing limb before the dance. I can't dance nor compete in the Tournament with just one arm or one leg you know. I bet those things would even be able to harm you through the telephone. One angry shout is enough to get you deaf."

"And, if you do get picked as the Champion, I'm sure you'll have girls queuing up to go to the Ball with you!"

Alastair's over-sized ego seemed to grow just a little more, and was fairly obvious in the way he smiled at her then. "Girls queue up for me anyway." He told her sweetly, in case she'd missed it. Aw come on! It must have been obvious, how girls talked about him everywhere he went. Whether it was about how good looking he was, or how they'd like him better without that ego of his and jerk-y attitude, it didn't matter because, both ways, it still meant they liked him. They liked him but. All he had to do now was figure out how to get them to get rid of that 'but' and leave it just to 'They liked him'.

"Really? Well, I find that hard to believe considering us Gryffindors have beaten you the last few times we've played. And funnily enough, we're all still alive!"

"Natalie..." The older student used her full name, leaning over the table and looking her straight in the eye, as if the subject was of big importance. "Why do you enjoy bringing me down so?" He asked, over-dramatically, as he shook his head and ran a hand through his brown, messy hair. "Is there no way to make you, just a little bit nicer to your loved friend? Because you love me. Everyone loves me." He grinned. This wasn't said because his ego kicked in, but because he knew that, if he said something like that, it would annoy her. And boy, did he love annoying people!

"Oh, will do. I have one on speed dial."

Nat couldn't stop herself from laughing out loud as the older student pulled out his phone and pretended to have a conversation with a giant. It was just... so not what she would have imagined from him! The sarcasm, yes, but definitely not the little comedy skit that went along with it! After taking several deep breaths, she finally managed to control her laughter.

"What're you, crazy? I'm not gonna contact a giant and risk ruining my reputation with a missing limb before the dance. I can't dance nor compete in the Tournament with just one arm or one leg you know."

Now she sat back in her seat, one eyebrow raised and a smirk on her lips. "You know you could still lose a limb in the Tournament itself?" She pointed out. "I'm not saying you will, but..." She trailed off, her eyes dancing with humor. She really wasn't suggesting that he would lose a limb in the Tournament, she had faith that he could take care of himself and avoid any serious injuries, but it was fun to imply it all the same.

"Girls queue up for me anyway."

She rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "You really do have a big ego, you know?" Admittedly he did seem to have a gang of fangirls, but they were all in Slytherin or the lower years of other Houses. Certainly no one in her year in Gryffindor acted like a loved up kid, no matter how good looking they thought he was. It just wasn't worth the trouble when you knew how arrogant he was.

"Natalie... Why do you enjoy bringing me down so? Is there no way to make you, just a little bit nicer to your loved friend? Because you love me. Everyone loves me."

Once more, she smirked. She leaned forwards over the table, copying his body language so that she, too, was looking him straight in the eye. "Because..." she began, her voice low. "It's fun." Then she sat back a little and shrugged, pouting ever so slightly. "Oh well you see, I must not be everyone in that case. I'm afraid I am an exception to whatever ideas your ego has about the female population."

"You know you could still lose a limb in the Tournament itself?"

"Wow, really? I never knew that. I thought you just battled, won, and Bob's your uncle." Alastair muttered sarcastically as he rolled his eyes, although couldn't help smiling a bit. "Yeah, but at least that would be in the tournament rather than before it." He pointed out, shaking his head only slightly. "Nevertheless, if I do get injured severely and lose a limb, then...I'm gonna get a robotic one and go live at the circus." He decided, as if it were unusual to get a robotic limb. Which, actually, was probably rather unusual. Unusual enough to move to the circus. Have one of them arms that stretched up to the ceiling, and stretched far enough to grab the hat off of a young girl's head. Or feet which, when you kicked a ball with, that ball would go through a brick wall. Hey, daydreaming was nice, okay? Let the boy fantasize!

"You really do have a big ego, you know?"

"If I didn't, then I wouldn't look the way I do today." He responded. "Believe it or not, I used to be really self-conscious. Thing which made me push myself to the top, until I went from nerdy, to hot." He was speaking cheerfully, as if oblivious to the fact that his ego was growing and he was flattering himself too much. Well, he did it so often that it wasn't a wonder that he had stopped noticing when it was that his ego was growing too much.

"Oh well you see, I must not be everyone in that case. I'm afraid I am an exception to whatever ideas your ego has about the female population."

In mock shock, Alastair put a hand to his chest and fake-gasped, looking away, seemingly hurt. "That...hurts." His voice broke. "That really, really hurts, Nat."

"if I do get injured severely and lose a limb, then...I'm gonna get a robotic one and go live at the circus."

No matter how hard Nat tried to keep a straight face and pretend to take his talk of joining the circus seriously, she just couldn't do it and her light laugh was heard once more. She just couldn't picture the older student in a circus, with or without a robotic limb!

"Believe it or not, I used to be really self-conscious. Thing which made me push myself to the top, until I went from nerdy, to hot."

At this, she raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Forget not picturing him in a circus, that was easy compared to picturing him being self-conscious! And of course there was the self-proclaimed hotness. He really did have problems with his ego! But, and this is what she found strange, where she would once have found this incredibly irritating, she now found it fairly amusing. Besides, she found she quite enjoyed their light-hearted banter, and his ego was a huge target for her.
"Hot, you say?" She frowned. "Why ever would you think that?"

"That...hurts. That really, really hurts, Nat.

She shrugged, pretending not to care less, but she couldn't prevent the corners of her lips turning up into an ever so slight smirk. "Ah well, I'm sure you'll live."

"Hot, you say? Why ever would you think that?"

"Because, dear Natalie." Alastair allowed himself to put on a rather flirty smile on. "I am hot. Come on! Every girl thinks it as some point in their life, whenever they see me. Well, maybe not the really young first years 'cause they aren't interested in guys, but the others..." He stopped there, realising he was feeding his own ego. Nah. He liked other people to do that, not him. And now he'd set himself a new task; get this girl to feed that big enough ego of his. That might be a little hard...but he always liked a challenge.

"Ah well, I'm sure you'll live."

"Oh but I won't. I need you to join my lovable group of fan-girls so I can be happy. I mean, you're gonna end up doing that soon because I'm just as lovable as my fans...but I'd rather that was sooner." He ran a hand through his hair, winking at her. He was probably unaware of how funny he was--even if the stuff he said was mostly a joke unless it was related to his 'hotness'--and how it was him that made her laugh all that time. Then again, he knew he was really funny when he wanted to be, so it was probably surprising he didn't notice that yet.