Chapter2: The Challenge

Her first class was Ancient Runes, Ariel knew she would love this class. For numerous reasons, one was that she loved history and mystery. Two the Professor is so nice and funny. Gryffindors were paired with Ravenclaw and true to Hermiones word they were a witty bunch.

Next up was Charms. She sat down next to Harry as Hermione took her place next to

Ron. Ariel didn't concentrate very well, she kept glancing back to a pair of silver eyes. She didn't know whether he was flirting with her or taunting her. And that Blaise Zabini! He kept smiling at her and sending her suggestive looks. After class she had a free period and then break. She promised Nick she'd meet him outside.

Sitting down on the grass next to Nick, Ariel told her everything that happened. Nick kept smiling while eating his green apple. Several girls glance their way and were openly staring at Nick. Him being a well built teen with sandy blonde hair and green eyes had a certain appeal to most girls.

" Are you the most sought after guy in Hogwarts?" Ariel asked her cousin, who merely laughed.

A few feet away, Harry, Ron and Hermione were quarrelling with Draco and his cronies.

" Back off Malfoy!" Ron said angrily.

" Defending your mud blood girlfriend? How pathetic!" Draco sneered.

Ron, along with Harry were already seeking their wands but Draco was much to fast and cunning to boot.

" Accio Gryffindor wands" Draco shouted.

" Who the hell took my wand!" Ariel asked Nick.

" Draco Malfoy. As known as the Prince of pleasure, he's sleep with half the girls in Hogwarts except from Gryffindor. Care to be the first cousin?" Nick drawled.

Ariel smiled, " you know I never back down from a challenge" she said and walked to where her friends and Draco were standing.

" Why do I have four wands?" Draco asked incredulously.

Placing herself inches from his body, Ariel slowly traced his thigh to where his hand had dropped. He looked uncomfortable, and Ariel saw him swallow hard. She had to look up to gaze into his eyes, which made him twitch. But he just looked so arrogantly hot. Tilting her head, she said in her most seductive voice

" That would be mine. If you wanted to catch my attention all you had to do was say Hi. You didn't need to resort to taking my wand."

Licking her lips she gave him a slow, enticing smile. And walked off making sure her hips were swaying provocatively. Reaching her cousin who was lounging on the grass, she gave him a triumphant smile.

" is he looking this way?" Ariel asked.

" Yup, and in disbelief! Ohhh now he's scowling! I swear cousin here I though you only got under my skin" he said laughing.

" what do you think he'll do?" Ariel asked as she took her apple and took a bite off it.

" Don't know, get even I guess. He never lets a Gryffindor have the last word" Nick said.

" Should I be scared?"

" Nope, you have guts. He wont hurt you, beside he'd have to get pass me first." Nick replied.

" Elle, what was that about?" Hermione asked as she settled herself next to Ariel.

" A challenge was thrown my way and I never back down"

" And everything you said, what was that?" Ron asked.

" Well, I don't know it was fun to see him squirm! Don't tell me you didn't enjoy it" Ariel retorted.

" it was brilliant! He looked so undignified, so un-Malfoy" Harry said smiling.

" I think he was too shocked to take points off Gryffindor." Hermione said thoughtfully.

" since he became head boy, he's been unbearable" Nick added lazily. " But the head girl, now that's a different story" he said eyeing Hermione who blushed seven shades of red.

" I think we better be off, don't want to be late for potions." Ron muttered.

Nick stood up and helped Hermione stand up. " It was a pleasure Miss Granger" he said as he bowed and kissed the back of her hand. Hermione was trying her best not to swoon. Finding her voice she said " Please call me Hermione."

" I'll have Don Juan here escort me to class" Ariel said before taking his arm. Nick was openly laughing at her.

" What was that about?" Ariel hissed.

" What do you mean?"

"you know what I mean" Ariel replied narrowing her eyes, trying to decrypt his motives.

" is it a crime for me to flirt?" Nick defended.

" She's my friend and I don't want her to get hurt." Ariel fired back.

" Look Elle, I find her cute. And it's hard to talk to her when she keeps hanging around Weasley and Potter." Nick retorted.

" have I found your weakness?" Ariel said mockingly

" here's your class, I hope Snape gives you hell." Nick muttered and stormed off.

Ariel entered class and saw that Draco too was in the dungeon. Smiling she sat down next to Hermione who was fidgeting. Ariel had to hide her smile. Hermione likes Nick too! Brilliant, maybe I should hook them up. She thought silently in her head.

Ariel paired up with Hermione, while Harry and Ron sat behind them and they had to work on Veritaserum. Ron was working extra hard to get the potion right and kept mumbling, "zero points for Weasley" or "pathetic attempt Weasley" . Smiling Ariel helped and was pleased when the potion turned clear.

" Alright, Miss Parkinson. You shall drink Mr. Malfoy's potion and see if it's working" Snape said.

" Alright, now. Class ask anything," he continued.

" Why do you cling so much to Malfoy?" Ron asked.

" Because he's the best thing ever!" She answered.

" Were you the one that started the rumor that I was gay?" Blaise asked.

" Yes." She forcefully answered.

" Were you the one who started calling me the Prince of Pleasure?" Draco asked.

" Yes" she answered longingly.

After several more questions, Ariel dare Ron to ask, what she really thought of Draco.

" He's beautiful, enchanting, brilliant, amazing and superb. He's the best thing that has been sent to earth since chocolate. And he's so sweet to me like candy." she replied with a dreamy look on her face and looked longingly towards Draco.

Ariel and Ron tried their very best not to laugh and Ariel went red just trying to suppress her laughter. Snape looking to their table raised his eyebrow and said.

" Now Miss De Leon, you drink 's potion" Snape said

Ron looked terrified but Ariel smiled and gulped down the potion. " God, that's nasty!" she said and looked around.

" Begin the questions" Snape declared.

" Do you think Malfoy is sweet?" Ron asked.

" Well, I haven't tasted him yet. But I'll let you know when I have" Ariel said. The class roared with laughter.

" Are you a naughty girl?" Blaise asked suggestively

" I don't try to be" She replied.

" Do you have any designs on Draco?" Pansy asked.

" Several" She answered. Blaise kept saying how lucky Draco was.

" Are you part veela?" A Slytherin boy asked.

" No." Ariel said in disbelief

" Enough. I want an essay on the uses and side effects of Veritaserum. In by next week" Snape said and dismissed the class.

" Sir, do I get an antidote for Veritaserum?" Ariel asked

" Oh, yes I almost forgot." And he passed her a vial. She said her thanks and rushed to the great hall.

People were whispering and pointing at her. She looked at Nick and asked " What the hell is going on?" with her eyes. Nick just shrugged and shook his head. Ariel hastened her steps and sat down next to Ginny.

" Ginny, What's going on" she whispered.

" Don't you know? Malfoy's been saying that you have the hots for him and that you'd sleep with him if he only asked!" Ginny whispered back.

" Is it true Ariel?" Lavender asked.

Ariel composed herself, she was so angry and was about to hex Malfoy. Putting on her best smile she turned to Lavender and Parvati. The two looked hopeful, they loved the fact that they would be the first to know of her reply.

" Is what true?" Ariel asked in faux innocence.

" Is it true that you have the hots for the Prince of pleasure? And that would be crawling into his bed soon? " Lavender asked.

Ariel gave a light laugh before answering. "Not before I bring the Prince of pleasure to his knees" her eyes held a dangerous gleam as she looked at Lavender and Parvati. Getting up, she looked at Draco and gave him a salute. He only raised his eyebrow. Immediately Lavender and Parvati were telling people what they heard.

" Goyle, find out what's going on" Draco drawled.

" you're not really going to sleep with her are you?" Pansy asked as she was scanning the crowd

Goyle came back and told them what Ariel said. Pansy gasped. While Draco smirked.

" Let the chase begin" Draco drawled and raised his goblet.

" You're one lucky son of a bitch" Blaise said jokingly and raised his goblet to Draco, who gave a lazy smile.