A.J RYAN IN THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Chapter 14 - A Hufflepuff

The start of the following school week, A.J was standing talking to some fellow Gryffindors in the Entrance Hall. They headed into breakfast together. She got as far as the end of the Hufflepuff table when Simon dragged someone over to her.

"See you later on, A.J." One of the girls called as they continued to the Gryffindor table.

"Hey Simon, what's up?" She inclined her head in greeting.

"Not much." Simon was acting stranger than usual.

A.J raised her eyebrows and looked to the guy beside him.

"Yeah. This is Riley Bistlow, he's in Hufflepuff. I just ...ah... thought you guys should meet. This of course is A.J Ryan." He gestured towards her. "So ah... I really need to get going. Okay...bye." He shuffled off in rather a hurry.

A.J stared after him with an amused expression.

"Did he just? ... Wow, he was weird." She shook her head and turned to face Riley. A.J subtly admired his dark wavy hair, chocolate eyes and strong jaw line.

Riley was rather nervous. He had gone over with his cousin how he should introduce him to her, and he had completely pantsed it up. Now she was looking at him...she was smiling.

"So how do you know Simon?"

"Oh, he's my cousin. Quite unusual, though isn't he?" Riley gave a nervous chuckle.

He couldn't believe he was talking to the A.J Ryan.

"The brilliant usually are. He's really nice though." She responded.

Riley was staring at the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled.

"So have you eaten yet?" A.J pointed to the breakfast spread over the table.

"Ah no. I just got here really." Riley scratched his head nervously. "Do you want to...?" He inclined his head towards the Hufflepuff table.

She nodded.

They sat down at the end of the table side by side. Once Riley got talking to her, he realised how easy it was and relaxed into the conversation.

Fred and George cornered her just inside the common room later that night after watching her with Riley, first at breakfast, then Herbology. She was sitting in an armchair by the window, with her legs folded up beside her, gazing intently at a book.

"What's the matter with you?" Fred accused, now standing in front of her.

"First a Slytherin, now a Hufflepuff?" George finished.

"How is this any of your business?" She didn't look up again from her book.

They ignored her question.

"Can you seriously not look for someone from your own house?" George continued.

"Think about it. When it doesn't work out, I won't have to tip toe around the common room trying to avoid them."

The twins shared a look between them before dragging two armchairs over and sitting down.

She folded her book on her lap and looked at them.

"What do you mean when it doesn't work out?" George asked curiously.

"Not holding out much hope for this relationship then?" Fred smirked.

"I'm available, he's interested. We'll see where it goes." A.J shrugged. She picked up her book again to continue reading– but Fred took it from her.

"Oh no, you don't. We're having a conversation." He said as he snapped it shut.