"Who's that?" Blaise nudged Draco rather hard in the ribs at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, looking over at a girl with long, black curls. He frowned, not knowing her. He thought he knew everyone in the school.

"Dunno," Draco replied, "but she's wearing Slytherin robes. I think we'd have noticed her before now."

"She might be a transfer," Blaise observed, "it'd be fun to mess with her." Draco raised his eyebrows at the dark-haired Slytherin, knowing how he liked to play with his girls before pulling them in.

"We've never had a transfer before, though," Draco said doubtfully. "I don't even think they're allowed."

"They are," Pansy chimed in, "says so in Hogwarts: A History."

"Who reads that crap?" Both Blaise and Draco looked disgusted, but Pansy looked offended.

"I do."

Draco shook his head. "Not going to go nerdy Granger on us, are you, Pans?"

Pansy sniffed. "Definitely not." 

"She doesn't look like a Pureblood," Blaise said, bringing them back on topic, "at least, not like us. See her posture while she eats? And the way she handles her knife and fork?"

"Bad breed Pureblood, then," Draco sneered. "Figures. No other school would probably want to keep her."

Blaise stared intently at the girl. "She's quite pretty, though." Both Draco and Pansy turned their gazes on her, also looking hard. 

"She looks rather like a pig," Pansy said, dismissively. Draco thought this was a bit rich for her to say, seeing as she had often been described as pug-looking, but he didn't say so, not wanting to hurt her feelings. He knew how possessive girls were, and how they instantly got their claws out when they felt a threat.

Hence, he knew how to appease her. "She's not nearly as pretty as you are," Draco smiled at Pansy, who accepted the compliment with grace. She only felt platonic to the blonde, and she knew he did as well, so they felt comfortable.

"Thank you, Draco."

Suddenly, the students in the Hall began to stand and move up, and they guessed they had been dismissed, not having heard it because of their conversation.

"I might just introduce myself to the girl back in the Common Room," Blaise said mildly. "Come on."

"Really?" Pansy whispered to Draco. "A book? Who's the nerdy Granger nerd now?" Draco smiled mockingly at the girl, although he wasn't sure she saw it. 

"I'm going to introduce myself," Blaise said, with an air of haught. He walked purposefully to one of the leather sofas the girl had seated herself down on, until he was standing in front of her, towering over her. "Why, hello there." He gave her a charming smile. "I'm Blaise Zabini, and I've only seen you recently. It's alarmed me, because I'd think I would have noticed so beautiful a girl as you before. Might I enquire as to your name?"

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," Blaise replied, taking a hand of her's gently and turning it to press a kiss on her wrist. He had the whole Pureblood introductions down pat. "I'm pleased to know that you will be in the same Year as me. What class will you be taking?"

Draco and Pansy watched from afar, and saw that Blaise's display had also attracted the attention of most of the Slytherins, who had been wondering who the girl was. When they had found out she was just a boring transfer, they quickly turned away to restart paused conversations.

"She'll be putty in his hands in no time," Pansy smirked. "Such a pity."

"I wonder if Blaise has found out about her parents yet," Draco said, "I want to know if she's a Pureblood. If she is, she might make a good snog-partner."

"If Blaise doesn't get there first," Pansy laughed, "but really, why are you talking so crudely about the new girl? For all you know, she might be your dream girl."

"Yeah, sure," Draco scoffed, "I don't go for nerds." That was a lie. He was quite the nerd himself, loving to read in his time at the Manor during the holidays, because there was nothing else to do. He especially loved Potions and Charms, but he'd never tell anyone that. It would ruin his image.  

"Honourable classes indeed," Blaise smiled, cocking his head slightly to the side. "Of the classes you have mentioned, I find it rather unfortunate that the only classes I have with you are Arithmancy, Divination and Apparition."

He invited himself to sit beside her, still grasping her hand. "So, Aria. I would like to know much about you. What do your parents do?" As he said this, he absently studied her perfect, delicate hand.

Blaise waited until Aria had climbed the stairs of the Girls Dorm before making his way back to Draco and Pansy.

"I don't know what to call Aria," Blaise shook his head. "Technically, she's a Pureblood, but her mother's a Mudblood."

"Easy," Pansy sneered, "she's a Mudblood as well then."

"Halfblood," Draco corrected. "At least, that's what we'll call her."

Pansy and Blaise nodded. 

"She'll probably make friends with the Mudblood Champion soon, although with the Scarred Saviour and the Red Weasel." They all laughed at the immature nicknames.

"Yeah."

"You still going to go after her, Blaise?" Draco asked, "'cause you know, if you aren't, I might just try." 

"We can both try," Blaise replied with a leer, "and may the best man win her heart."

Draco just smirked and shook his hand. "Deal."

"Boys," Pansy shook her head, chuckling. "I'm going to bed, guys. See you."

The boys waved her off, and then went to their own dorm. Draco was extremely competitive, and he knew he was going to win this. He'd introduce himself to Aria the next day. Luckily for him, he had the same classes as Blaise, which meant he had classes with the girl as well.