Note: I've gained a pretty good group of readers =] I'm happy that many of you are enjoying the story!

Chapter 9

1:13 p.m., Library, Hogwarts, (Saturday)

After Hermione had returned from Hagrid's, the two girls strolled around the castle briefly. Hermione then realized she had forgotten to make notes for her Divination exam coming up on Wednesday, which landed the two in the library. Hermione was tentatively studying her large book and scribbling notes down while Vixen sat on top of a table, obviously bored.

"Hermione, you're really freaking out about this exam," Vixen pointed out. Hermione sighed.

"I know. I just have to pass this class," she replied.

"Gosh I love your accent," Vixen pointed out. Hermione smiled.

"That's good considering you're not in the States anymore," she laughed. Vixen nodded.

The image of her Ohio home flashed in her head. She saw her father struggling to find his keys, and Leonardo swimming happily in his bowl. Vixen began to feel home sick.

"I'm gonna go look around," Vixen told Hermione, pushing herself off of the desk. Hermione nodded and continued studying.

Vixen examined the room as she walked through the stacks of books. Nobody but the two girls were in the room. Bored, she let out a sigh and leaned against a bookshelf. She panicked when it began to tip over and she started to fall back. She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for the crash onto the floor. She opened them curiously when someone grabbed her.

"You're so accident prone!" Draco said with one hand on her back supporting her and one hand on the bookshelf.

"Thanks," she mumbled as he pulled her up. She regained her composure and looked at him.

"You know, for hating me so much, you sure are around to play the hero quite often," she said crossing her arms. He scoffed.

"I'm not the hero type, girl. That's Potter's area," he said wrinkling his nose. Vixen smirked.

"Then what type are you?" she questioned. Draco smirked now.

"Well isn't it obvious?" he said slowly walking toward her. He backed her up against the now sturdy bookshelf and leaned in close to her ear.

"I'm the handsome villain who you innocently lust after," he whispered. Vixen tensed up slightly.

"Well, maybe there is something I should confess," Vixen seductively said pushing him back until he was now backed up against a bookshelf. Draco smirked.

"Tell me," he quietly said. His heart was beating quickly with anticipation.

"Truth is.." she began to whisper into his ear. "I'm not that into you."

She walked back from Draco as confusion swept across his face. She smirked and turned to walk away. Before she left, she turned over her shoulder.

"Take it easy, villain," she teasingly laughed as she walked away. Draco crossed his arms and watched her leave.

He smirked to himself replaying what had just occurred over in his mind. He laughed a little to himself thinking about how she caught him off guard. He then stopped himself.

He was supposed to hate this girl. He did hate this girl. The only reason he was being so nice to her was so he could carry out his plan. He needed to stop flirting with her, no matter how innocent it was.

"That girl is corrupting me," he said to himself, shaking his head.

"It looks to me like she is the light to your dark, Mr. Malfoy," someone said from behind him. Draco turned around and his face dropped.

"Oh...shit," he thought.

"Good afternoon, Professor Dumbledore," Draco unhappily said while placing his hands in his pockets.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Malfoy," he replied smiling. He placed a hand on Draco's shoulder, catching him off guard.

"Come, let's chat," Dumbledore said walking through the stacks of books. Hesitantly, Draco followed along side him.

"Is there something you wanted to talk about specifically, sir?" Draco asked. Dumbledore smiled.

"Oh no, dear boy. It's just nice to have some company on a Saturday afternoon," he replied.

"Do you do this often, then?" Draco asked.

"Every Saturday I'm in the library. It's quiet in here, usually only one or two students are in here. However, today I had the pleasure of two students and one muggle," he said, stopping and turning to face Draco.

"Yeah, one muggle," Draco said, angrily saying the word.

"Are you unhappy with this project, Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know, sir. I'm not a fan of their kind. Everyone knows that. It's...hard," he replied running a hand through his hair. Dumbledore sighed lightly.

"You come from a line of purebloods my boy. It's not strange that you feel the way you do. But I have seen you around that young lady, Mr. Malfoy. I think you should be open to changing," he told Draco. Draco smirked.

"If you don't mind sir, I'd like to go back to my room," Draco said turning slightly.

"By all means, my boy. Enjoy your weekend," Dumbledore replied slowly walking away from him. Draco scrunched up his nose.

"Bloody fool. Open to change? I think not! It would be best for you to mind your own business, old man. While you still have time, that is," Draco thought striding out of the library, not even glancing at Hermione and Vixen on his way out.

1:30 p.m. Library, Hogwarts (Saturday)

Vixen was now sitting on top of another table next to Hermione. She was still reading her Divination book and frantically making notes. Frustrated, Hermione let out a sigh and dropped her book onto the table in front of her. Vixen walked over to her.

"You alright?" she asked. Hermione sighed.

"I'm afraid not, Vixen. There is no way I will learn all of this by Wednesday," she said

frowning. Vixen placed a finger to her lips and examined the book on the table.

Slowly, she closed the book. Hermione gave her a questioning look. Vixen then picked it up and placed it under her arm.

"You need to relax, girl. Tonight, you and I will just have fun. Then tomorrow, I will help you study," Vixen said smiling.

"But you don't know anything about Divination, Vix," Hermione sighed.

"True. But I can help you learn the muggle way. We will make flashcards and I'll be your helper," she told her. Hermione smiled.

"I'd really like that," she said standing up beside Vixen.

The two walked out of the library with their arms linked. They walked down the hall passing a few students on the way. They rounded the corner and Vixen's body slammed into someone else. Hermione kept her from falling, but she felt as if she had ran into a brick wall. She looked up to see Jake with a serious look on his face.

"Excuse you!" Vixen yelled at him, handing Hermione her book so she could fix her now askew sweatshirt. Jake simply moved his eyes to hers.

"Sorry," he coldly replied. Vixen furrowed her brows.

"Lighten up, man. I'm not really angry at you," she told him. His expression didn't change.

"I know that," he replied staring into her eyes.

"Lay off working out, you're as hard as stone," she said grabbing Hermione's arm lightly and pulling her past him. Jake followed her with his eyes, turning around as she walked away from him.

"Soon enough, Vixen Charm. You're going to remember me. Soon enough...," he whispered to himself.

1:43 p.m. Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts (Saturday)

"He seemed awfully strange today," Hermione whispered to her friend as they walked into the Gryffindor common room. Vixen shrugged.

"That boy is always strange," Vixen reminded her. Hermione laughed.

The two walked into the living area together to see Harry and Ron sitting on the couch together, talking. Vixen held a finger to her lips telling Hermione to remain silent. Vixen then slowly walked over behind the boys. She then swiftly grabbed onto each of their shoulders and screamed. The two jumped in their seats.

"Bloody hell!" Ron yelled turning around. Harry had a hand over his chest.

"Got ya!" Vixen laughed. Hermione also laughed and walked over to a chair and sat down. Vixen sat on the back of the couch, her feet resting on the cushions beside Ron.

"You're a terrible girl, you know that!" Ron yelled, still flustered. Vixen smiled.

"I've been called worse," she pointed out. Harry smiled.

"Are we still banned from hanging out with you two?" Ron asked Hermione. She looked at Vixen.

"Nope. Tonight, we are all going to have fun!" Vixen said rubbing his hair with one hand until it was messier than normal.

"Hermione? Have fun? Ha!" Ron laughed. Hermione shot him an angry look.

"Be quiet, Ronald! I'm a very fun person!" she yelled crossing her arms. Harry laughed.

"So what have you two been up to all day?" Vixen asked. The boys simply shrugged.

1:57 p.m. Slytherin Common Room, Hogwarts (Saturday)

Draco had been sitting in a black leather chair in the Slytherin living room since he left the library. His chin rested on one hand, while the other remained on the arm of the chair. He watched the fire in the fire place dance. He let out a heavy sigh.

"Maybe the old man had a point. Something keeps on happening inside of me when I get around that girl. My chest gets heavy," Draco thought to himself. He looked up when Goyle walked into the room.

"Hey Draco," he said sitting across from him.

"Hello, Goyle," he replied.

"I've been trying to be nice to my muggle, like you told me too," he gloated. Draco raised an eyebrow.

"What muggle do you have again, Goyle?" he asked.

"Jacob. Jacob Corbin," he reminded him. Draco scoffed.

"Oh yes, I remember that one. He also belongs to Crabbe and Pansy, right?" he asked Goyle

"And Neville Longbottom," he added.

Draco flashed on the night he was going to apologize to Vixen. He remembered watching

Vixen and Jacob together in the courtyard. He felt his heart begin to beat faster, and his ears get hot. Draco was somewhat familiar with this feeling. It was jealousy. But what did he have to be jealous of?

2:03 p.m. Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts (Saturday)

"Do you guys know how to play hide-and-go seek?" Vixen asked. Hermione and Ron nodded, but Harry looked confused.

"All you do is go hide, Harry. Then whoever is "it" looks for everyone. But if they give up and someone hasn't been found, then they are "it" again," Vixen explained. Harry nodded in understanding.

"Why do you ask, Vixen?" Hermione questioned. Vixen grinned.

"'Cause we're playing as of right now! We can only hide outside though to make it easier.

Ron's it!" she yelled, running from the room. Harry and Hermione laughed, chasing after her.

"Aw, c'mon! That's not fair!" Ron yelled standing up.

"Start counting to twenty Ron! No peeking!" Vixen shouted leaving the common room.

Ron groaned and sat on the couch and began counting out loud. Vixen, Hermione and Harry all split up in the courtyard. Hermione ducked beside the fountain and Harry hid behind a tree. Vixen ventured out onto the hillside near the courtyard. She then climbed into a nearby tree and waited.

About three minutes had passed, and she heard Ron yell that he had found Hermione. Vixen smiled when the two started laughing. Her smile faded when she heard someone walking beneath the tree. She looked down to see Jake just standing there, staring at the tree trunk.

He was breathing so heavily that his chest was visibly rising and falling. Vixen clasped a hand over her mouth when he started viciously punching the tree trunk. His hands had started to bleed, staining the tree bark and the grass below him. Vixen wasn't sure what to do. Jake stopped when Ron yelled again.

"Found you, Harry!" he yelled. Vixen watched Jake storm off in the opposite direction.

Quietly and quickly, she climbed out of the tree. She was careful not to touch the blood Jake had left behind on the tree. She slowly walked toward the courtyard.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked upon seeing her. Harry and Hermione turned to look at her.

"Nothing. Uh, let's stop playing for the day," she said slowly walking back into the castle. Confused, the other three shrugged and followed her.