Only Skin Deep

"Well, if it isn't my favorite Ravenclaw," the voice said as she turned to meet it. Emily groaned at the sight of him.

"Draco, why don't you go bother someone else for a change," Emily suggested, turning back around on her heel. "Potter is just behind that door. Go egg him on."

"No, I rather like annoying you," he said, cutting her off. She rolled her eyes.

"Oh please, like you can really bear the sight of me," she said, trying to move past him. She got a few paces ahead of him when he called out.

"How can ignore my little piggy?" Emily kept walking. She figured if she ignored him, he'd go away. Not that Draco ever gave up but she had to give it a shot.

Much to her surprise, he walked away toward the front of the train. Hmm, that was quite odd, she thought as she went to go change.

Draco turned and walked away from Emily. He didn't feel up to taunting her today. Maybe Potter and the Weasel would put up more of a fight. He flung their compartment door open and heard the laughing cease as he did so.

"Oh, Potter, where did you go wrong?" Malfoy asked in a downsizing tone. He looked about the compartment at the blank faces staring at him.

"What the hell are you talking about Malfoy?" Harry snapped at him, standing up as so to be eye to eye.

"Well, it seems you didn't make Head Boy this year. Pity it is," he said with an evil smirk. Ron's mouth fell open as he noticed the Head Boy badge shining brightly on Malfoy's chest. "I suppose Weasley here is wondering why neither of you two made this coveted title."

"You're damn right I am!" Ron yelled, clearly angered by the thought that he nor Harry was selected. Harry sat down, leaving himself vulnerable to Draco.

"So, you're really Head Boy?" he asked, hoping that this was some lame prank Malfoy was trying to pull on him. Malfoy allowed himself a faint chuckle.

"Yes, Potter, I am Head Boy. See the badge," he said pointing at his newly polished badge. "So you two better watch your step." He turned to face Harry better. "And you'd better keep your girlfriend in line or I'll have to do some major damage to the poor Mudblood." Harry scowled.

"She made Head Girl, there's nothing you can do to her," he growled at Draco through clenched teeth.

"Like I'm going to let something like that spoil my fun?" Malfoy smirked again at them and turned to head back to his compartment. As he did so, he ran into Emily, returning from changing. "Why don't you watch where you're going, you piglet!"

"You should know by now, Malfoy, that fat jokes don't phase me," Emily laughed. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Getting too comfortable with my teasing, are you?" he spat, circling her. "Then maybe, I'll just have to try something different." Emily fake shivered.

"Wow, I'm so scared," she mocked. Draco sneered at her with his emotionless slate eyes.

"You will be," he threatened, walking back up front. Emily went into the compartment with Harry, Ron, and Neville. Luna was nowhere to be found.

"Where's Luna?" she asked, sitting down next to Neville. Ron shrugged.

"She left a little after you," he said, starting to pull down his trunk. "Uh, do you want help with yours?"

"No thanks," she said, grabbing hold of the top of Pyotr's cage.

The train came to a slow stop, and hundreds of teenagers came filing out onto the platform. Hagrid's bellowing for first years was loud above the heads of the students eagerly heading toward the carriages. Emily ventured with them, looking for a carriage. Harry's was filled so she headed up the line. The only one she could see available was Malfoy's. She knocked gingerly on the black door.

"What?" Malfoy snapped poking his head out of the door. "You? You expect me to let you ride in here?" She nodded weakly. He sighed. Draco, stay firm. Don't let her in he thought. Damn it, why the hell couldn't she have bothered someone else. He looked down at her. She had begun shivering. "Fine!" he said exasperated. Emily climbed in and found that no one was inside.

"Where are your big goons?" she asked, then rather regretted it because Draco had just let her in.

"In with some of their other..." he paused, thinking of the right word, "friends. Yes, but it is quite odd that Pansy hasn't come sniveling around here." At the mere mention of her name, Pansy came to the door of the carriage. She eyed Draco with a lovesick expression.

"Mind if I share?" she asked, not taking her eyes off Draco and therefore not noticing Emily. Pansy climbed in before Draco answered. Plopping down next to him, Pansy stared intently on his pale face. "I'm so glad I got you alone," she cooed, inching closer.

"Pansy, have you met Emily?" he interrupted, spinning her to face Emily. Pansy's face crunched up. Emily scooted toward the window, father away from Pansy. She looked at Draco, then at Emily, and folded her arms across her chest.

There was a thick silence by the time their carriage rolled onto Hogwarts' grounds. Emily cautiously went to get out. Pansy stood and pushed her back before she had even opened the door.

"Who says you get to leave first?" she barked at Emily. Pansy opened the black door and stepped out into the cold night. Draco shot a dirty look at Emily.

"Don't assume that you're better than us," he growled, getting out. Emily was all confused. All she had done was try to get out. Damn it, Slytherins were hard to read.