Chapter 32

5:57 p.m., Bathroom, Hogwarts(Monday)

"What the hell do you want now?" Draco angrily asked as he leaned against a closed bathroom stall door. Rylen rolled his eyes at him.

"I can't believe you kid. How many times do I have to tell you to watch what you do around that girl?" Rylen angrily said while taking off his leather jacket.

"You don't get it. I had to regain my reputation with my House," Draco told him trying to explain his actions. Rylen scoffed.

"Well was it worth it? You scared the shit out of a deaf kid, you made Vixen hate you, and now your House probably has even less respect for you because you apologized to Hugo," Rylen said while pointing a finger at Draco.

Draco angrily crossed his arms over his chest. So maybe he hadn't thought this whole reputation regaining plan out as well as he should have but that was no reason for Vixen to flip out. Then again his Housemates did try and attack her because of it. Draco let out a loud groan.

"Who is there? Oh, Draco it's you. Oh and you brought a friend," Myrtle said floating toward the two boys and circling Rylen. Rylen scrunched his nose up at her as she placed her transparent hands around his large bicep.

"Ooh so strong and handsome," Myrtle cooed making Rylen uncomfortable.

"Leave him alone Myrtle," Draco said calmly. Myrtle released his arm and looked to Draco.

"What's the matter Draco?" she asked in a concerned tone as she floated closer to him. He rested his head against the stall door and sighed.

"I really messed up with Vixen today Myrtle," he said. She tilted her ghostly head at him.

"Oh? Well then go fix things," she told him. Rylen raised an eyebrow at her.

"It's not going to be that simple. I made a complete ass of myself out there," Draco explained.

"You got that right," Rylen added. Myrtle turned around and smiled a toothy grin at him.

"What am I supposed to do now? I need some help this time," Draco begged. Myrtle turned back toward him now.

"You should get her flowers. Nobody ever gets me flowers," Myrtle told him before starting to sniffle.

"I will Myrtle. But don't worry, I'm sure someone will get you flowers someday. Now, if you'll excuse me I need to get moving," Draco said pushing away from the stall. He walked past Rylen and exited the room.

"So, what's your name handsome?" Myrtle asked floating over to Rylen again. He grimaced at her and quickly exited the room.

6:12 p.m., Dining Hall, Hogwarts(Monday)

Without even attempting to find Draco, Vixen made her way into the dining hall for dinner. The moment she entered the doors the entire Slytherin table fell silent and glared daggers at her. She swallowed hard before looking over at the Gryffindor table. She smiled upon seeing her three friends in their normal seats. She quickly made her way over to them.

"Hey guys," Vixen said taking a seat between Ron and Harry. The three looked at her curiously.

"Hey there Vix," Harry replied quickly. Ron stared at her making her uncomfortable.

"What is it, Ron?" she asked him. He moved his mouth to one side making his cheek squish upward.

"I hear you met Fred and George," he said. She nodded.

"Sure did. I like those boys, they're really funny," she told him. Hermione stared at Vixen sadly.

"Aw man, you guys know don't you?" Vixen asked in an annoyed tone. The three nodded slightly.

"It's going around the school Vixen. Nobody thinks you did anything wrong though," Hermione told her. Vixen scoffed.

"Tell that to them," she said pointing at the Slytherin table where the students were still glaring at her.

"If it makes you feel any better, that boys hearing thing is fixed," Ron said while scratching his head. Vixen smiled a small smile at him.

"Good, I'm glad. Hugo is a good kid," she said while nodding her head.

"Hugo, huh? Cool name," Ron said while nodding slowly. Hermione nodded in agreement.

"I take it you aren't speaking to Malfoy," Harry said. Vixen shrugged.

"Haven't seen him since Rylen took him off after the incident," Vixen confessed. Ron cringed.

"That guy freaks me out. I don't understand how Luna deals with him following her all of the time," Ron said. Vixen chuckled at him.

"Oh Ronald, he seems nice," Hermione added.

"Yeah well you said that about werewolf boy too," Ron said while crossing his arms.

"He's right, you did," Vixen pointed out. Harry laughed.

"We're back to Jacob being the werewolf again? I thought we were over this," Hermione groaned before leaning onto the table.

"It just makes so much sense!" Ron said grabbing onto his red hair.

"I know! Harry, you believe us don't you?" Vixen asked. Harry laughed nervously.

"Why don't we just stop pointing fingers and start worrying about keeping you safe?" Harry said avoiding the question. Vixen and Ron pouted in unison.

"Well thanks for letting me hide out with you guys for a while but I need to be getting back to the Slytherin House to find Draco," Vixen groaned as she stood up from her seat.

"You're always welcome here Vixen. If you need anything you know where to find us," Hermione said. Vixen nodded before leaving the dining hall.

Vixen walked slowly through the Hogwarts corridors with her hands in her jean pockets and her converse squeaking with each step she took. Her short bangs fell into her eyes and she slowly lifted her hand to her face and brushed them out of her way. She stopped when she reached the Slytherin House doorway and sighed. She said the password and entered the tunnel way. She continued through the tunnel slowly hoping that there wasn't going to be any trouble for her once she got into the living area.

She hesitantly took her last step into the dimly lit living area and quickly scanned the room. The room was empty accept for Draco Malfoy who was standing across the room from her with a bouquet of flowers in his pale hands. Vixen pursed her lips together tightly and sighed to herself. Draco slowly approached her and stopped when he was a few feet in front of her.

"I got these for you," Draco said extending the assortment of flowers toward Vixen. She took them from him.

"Thank you," she said quickly as she looked through the flowers. Draco nodded.

"I'm not really sure what to say here," Draco admitted while rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

"Honestly there isn't much that you can say. I don't understand what could have made you think that what you did was alright. I guess I just wonder if you've been doing things like that the entire time you've been being nice to me," Vixen said looking to the ground.

"I haven't, I swear," Draco quickly told her. Vixen looked up at him.

"You really could have hurt Hugo today. He didn't even do anything to you that I'm aware of. You just…attacked him," she said while shaking her head slowly.

"It was nothing more than a miscommunication, honest," Draco continued. He watched her carefully as she looked away from him.

"Draco, I don't think I can trust you. Maybe it would be best if we didn't go to this ball together," Vixen said while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Draco furrowed his eyebrows and gave her a sad look.

"Vixen, you don't mean that," he said trying to convince her.

"No, I do mean it Draco," she responded as she looked up at him.

"You have to be kidding me. All of this because I grabbed some deaf kid?" Draco angrily said clenching his fists. Vixen gave him an angry look.

"He is a boy who is deaf. It's rude to put the impairment before the person Draco. It doesn't define him," she corrected while pointing her index finger at him. Draco groaned.

"So that's it then, is it? I make one little mistake and now you're going to punish me for it?" he asked her in a harsh tone.

"Draco, it isn't like you told me that it was Tuesday instead of Monday. That is a little mistake. You were going to hurt someone. That is more than a little mistake, don't you think?" Vixen said as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"You know what, save it. I don't give a damn about some ridiculous ball anyway. I wasn't even going to ask you to go with me in the first place!" Draco yelled. Vixen's eyes widened as she felt her heart drop.

After the words left his lips Draco wished he could have taken them back. The hurt expression that showed on Vixen's face made him want to fall to his knees. His heart pounded against his chest as he stared at her with wide eyes. He was going to reach out for her but decided not to when her expression changed from hurt to angry. She threw the flowers to the cold floor below before speaking.

"Well I didn't want to go to the ball on the arm of some arrogant, stuck up ass hole anyway! I don't need you to take me. Oh, and by the way, I didn't ask you to be my date for a reason," Vixen angrily yelled. Before he could respond to her she turned on her heel and started into the tunnel way.

"Where in the hell are you going?" he yelled after her.

"I'm going to look for the big bad wolf!" Vixen screamed back, her voice echoing through the tunnel. She opened the doorway and slammed the painting behind her, hard.

Draco stood shaking with adrenaline and anger in the living area staring down the dark tunnel way. He knew that he should have gone after her but what was the point? She had made it perfectly clear that she wanted nothing to do with him at the moment, so why would he go running after her? He turned quickly when someone spoke from behind him.

"That was some conversation," Pansy said calmly with her hands clasped together. Draco scowled at her.

"What do you want Parkinson?" he angrily asked. She sighed to herself.

"I know why you reacted the way you did to her turning you down for the ball," she said to him. Draco glared at her.

"Do you now? Why don't you enlighten me then," he sneered. Pansy stood up straighter.

"You've never been told no before. You always get your way, Draco. But she isn't like other girls," Pansy started to explain.

"I suppose you're going to tell me you're a better fit for me then?" Draco asked her angrily. She shook her head from side to side.

"I was one of those people who never told you no. Vixen isn't like me, Draco. You need to realize that. She isn't going to let you get away with everything the way I did and that's the kind of girl that you need to be with. It kills me inside that I'm telling you this but it's the truth. She doesn't need you but you need her," Pansy told him as she fiddled with her hands nervously. Draco remained silent as he stared at her.

"I'm not telling you to run off and marry the muggle. I'm just telling you that if you let her get away from you tonight that you're never going to let yourself live it down," Pansy said quietly.

"Pansy…if Vixen doesn't change her mind about going with me to the ball, would you be my backup?" he asked her in a serious tone. Pansy looked up at him.

"Yes," she replied after a moment of silently thinking over the question. Draco gave her a small smile that she returned.

"You really should go after her," Pansy told him nodding in the direction of the tunnel way. Draco nodded at her.

"Thank you, Pansy," he told her before making his way into the tunnel. She smiled at his back.

"You're welcome Draco," she whispered as she watched him exit the room.

6:51 p.m., Hallway, Hogwarts(Monday)

Vixen stormed through the Hogwarts corridors with her fists clenched at her sides and her Converse slamming against the stone floor as she scowled at everyone she passed. When she reached the top of a staircase she ran down the stairs as fast as she could before the entire staircase moved. She continued through the corridors until she was grabbed by her arm. She looked up angrily at the person who felt it necessary to stop her.

"What in the hell do you want?" Vixen snapped.

"Watch your mouth, girl. Where is your caretaker?" Professor Snape said with his hand gripping Vixen's arm. She angrily pulled away from his grasp and glared up at him.

"It's not my job to baby sit him anymore. Find him yourself," she replied as she turned to walk away from him. Snape grabbed her shoulder and spun her back around to face him.

"You are really trying my patience tonight. You know very well that you are not to be roaming around without supervision from Draco this week," Snape told her. Vixen scoffed while rolling her eyes.

"I don't need supervision from anyone. I'm not five," she replied angrily. Snape released her shoulder and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You are putting yourself in danger," he said slowly.

"I don't care," she told him in the same slow tone. He scowled down at her.

"I'll see you tomorrow in detention," he said.

"I'll see you in Potions first," Vixen replied with her eyes narrowed. Snape rolled his eyes before leaving her in the hallway.

Vixen turned around and continued down the hallway. She made a right turn and entered a familiar doorway that brought her into the Library. She walked around silently through the stacks of books looking for any sign of life. She stopped when she noticed Neville Longbottom sitting on the ground with his back against a book shelf and his nose stuck inside of a large book. Vixen smiled a small smile at the boy who wasn't aware of her presence before taking a seat next to him.

"Hi Neville," she said calmly. He looked up from his book now.

"Oh Vixen, hello," Neville said obviously surprised that she was there.

"What are you reading?" Vixen asked turning her head to try and read the books cover.

"Just an Herbology book. What are you doing in here?" he asked her while shutting the book and laying it in his lap.

"Clearing my head I guess," Vixen told him.

"Where is Draco?" Neville asked as he looked around to see if he was around.

"Who cares?" she replied angrily. Neville sighed.

"Are you excited for the Muggle Studies ball this Thursday?" Neville asked, changing the subject.

"Not particularly Neville. It appears that I haven't got a date," Vixen said while laughing slightly. He nodded.

"You could ask Jacob to go with you. I know he wants to ask you but he thinks you're going to say no," Neville told her. Vixen raised an eyebrow at him.

"Why would he think that?" she asked.

"Well, for the same reason all of the other boys in Muggle Studies haven't asked you to be their date. Everyone assumes you're going with Draco," he explained. Vixen snorted a laugh.

"Well that certainly isn't the case. What about you Neville? Do you have a date?" Vixen asked poking him in the shoulder with her index finger. He smiled slightly and started to blush.

"Well, not yet exactly," he told her. Vixen smiled.

"So who is the lucky girl?" she asked.

"I want to ask Luna Lovegood to go with me. I'm sure she'll say no though," he told her.

"Aw Neville, I'm sure she'd love to go with you," she replied trying to lift his spirits.

"She's probably going with Rylen," he pointed out. Vixen thought to herself for a moment.

"Then go as a group. You'll get to spend time with her at least," she said. Neville smiled at her.

"That's a good idea Vixen. Thanks," he said standing up. He extended a hand to Vixen and helped her off of the ground as well.

"No problem Neville. Let me know how it goes," she said as she started to walk away. She stopped when Neville spoke again.

"I'm sure you and Draco will work things out," he said. Vixen gave him a confused look.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," he added.

"Wait, you know? About Draco and myself, I mean?" she asked in disbelief. He smiled at her.

"Know what?" he said before turning and walking away. Vixen smiled at his back before turning and exiting the Library.

Vixen had made it nearly ten steps outside of the Library before slamming headfirst into somebody. She grabbed her forehead with one hand and winced as she stumbled backward. She opened her eyes and let out an annoyed groan when she realized she had run into Draco.

"What are you doing Draco?" she asked while rubbing her head. Draco was doing the same when he spoke.

"I was looking for you," he replied with a small frown.

"I thought I made it clear that I didn't want to be around you when I stormed out of the Slytherin common room," Vixen replied while raising an eyebrow at him. Draco shrugged and smirked at her.

"Well, you can't always get what you want love," he told her calmly. Vixen scoffed.

"Why were you looking for me Draco?" she asked in an un-amused tone. Draco sighed.

"Regardless of whether you're angry with me or not I'm not going to let you get attacked by some stupid wolf," he answered. Vixen smirked at him.

"Stupid wolf, huh? That's a terribly brave thing for you to say considering any one of these students could be that wolf," Vixen said as she looked around the hallway at the students passing by herself and Draco.

"What makes you so sure the werewolf is a he?" Draco asked. Vixen shrugged.

"Stop trying to make me talk to you," she said as she pointed a finger at him.

"You think you know who it is, don't you?" Draco whispered as he got closer to Vixen. She sighed.

"Like I would tell you," she said. Draco smirked at her again.

"You don't have to tell me because I can already tell that you think you know who it is. Listen, let's go home and we can discuss it in private," he recommended.

"I don't want to discuss anything with you. Why don't you get that?" Vixen sighed.

"Fine. Then I am going to instate my position as your examiner and caretaker for the week," Draco threatened.

"Meaning?" she asked.

"Meaning we are to do everything together starting now. So wherever you go, I go," he said matter-of-factly.

"You're so damn aggravating!" Vixen yelled before storming away from him. Draco smiled to himself as he followed behind her.