Nine

Her head swiveled around once more, and a soft scowl marred her pretty features when she realized that Pansy Parkinson had casually tossed another crumpled piece of paper at the back of her head. The Slytherin girl's large smirk and giggling posse was enough to tell her that much. Her hand quickly turned into a fist, as she came to the conclusion that the library was not the best place to study at the moment.

Snapping her book shut, the fifth year Gryffindor shoved it into her bag and promptly stood from her seat. She sighed lightly at the look Madam Pince cast toward her at the noise, before making her way into the bookshelves. The quick-footed flight was second nature to her now, after five long years of staying just one step ahead of her Slytherin pursuer.

Pansy's chair made a loud screeching sound when it was pushed back.

The Gryffindor quickly turned down her heel, dodging her way into the E section between two young Hufflepuff students attempting to find an elusive book there. She gave them a quick smile, her feet nearly gliding across the library floor, and successfully ducked out of the section before Pansy and her posse checked it. She quickly glanced down the D section to make certain Pansy had not stationed a girl there, before continuing her advance toward the library entrance.

Higurashi Kagome caught the eye of Hermione Granger on her way out, and smiled a little more when the other Gryffindor sniffled a giggle behind her book. There was little doubt, if the slam in the back of the library was any indication, that Pansy had made certain to check the back exit after their last game of cat and mouse. And from the fire behind Madam Pince's eyes, she was not pleased with the noise.

Quietly, she slipped out of the library.

Her mission, after all, had been successful, since she knew that Madam Pince would hunt down the Slytherin Princess and her posse. The witch detested such noise in her library, and was as familiar with the game of cat and mouse as anyone.

Kagome sighed at the memory of the scowling woman giving her detention in her second year for shuffling her feet in one of her first attempts at escaping another Slytherin in such a fashion. Her lip quickly turned downward, as her vision began to cloud slightly at the thought of him. She shook away the seemingly endless lifting of the veil, and decided instead to ponder why Pansy Parkinson had taken such an interest in attempting to hex her recently.

Her eyes narrowed. For as long as she could remember, the Slytherin had never truly done more than point her wand in her direction and spit empty threats. So, why— "Ofh!"

Her hand reached out, fisting immediately into the robes of the student she had foolishly run into. An odd sense of déjà vu swept through her body, as she made a quick effort to fix her footing before taking a quick glance up. Kagome froze at the green tint to the fabric clutched between her fingers, and she feared that—

"It would seem you are taking every opportunity to run into me, Higurashi."

Snatching her hand back, she hissed, "Malfoy."

Draco Malfoy did not make an effort to sneer at her, and knew he surprised her when he grabbed her fisted hand to pull her toward him. He stared down into her widened eyes, and finally his tired smirk creased his lips when he realized her face was beginning to flush. "Is something wrong?"

"Let go of me," her hiss was low. Her heart thumped loudly within her chest, however, when she noticed the fire burning within his gaze. She pulled on her hand slightly, as the familiar sensation from the previous year began to overwhelm her body and soul.

The future she knew was so bright and wondrous. She just wanted—

"She told you to let go of her, Malfoy."

Draco's head turned to the side at the voice, as he growled, "Potter."

Reality swept back into focus at Harry's interference, and Kagome felt her face darken a bit more when she noticed that she had practically pressed herself up into the Slytherin's broad chest. She nearly stumped backwards, sputtering, and was not all that surprised that the boy let her escape so easily. "I—I—" the words stuck in her throat.

Harry's voice was nearly lethal, as he spat, "Leave."

Anger beginning to surface, Kagome snapped, "Don't you tell me what to do, Harry Potter!" She frowned heavily at the other Gryffindor, and huffed at the darkened look he shot in her direction. She did not really care what had happened to him the previous year, but he had no right ordering her around as if he were her father! "You think that just because you're the Boy-Who-Lived that you can tell everyone what to do!"

"Shut up!" Harry snapped back. "I wasn't the one about to swap saliva with Draco Malfoy! You think that no one has noticed how you follow him with your eyes, or how you've suddenly decided to play nice! He's a Death Eater, or don't you understand that?! Why does no one listen to me?"

Higurashi Kagome did not notice the Slytherin Prince slip away silently, as she took a threatening step toward her fellow Gryffindor. Her hand flew immediately, striking him across the cheek, as she said, "Don't you dare think you know what I was about to do! And, for your information, Harry, I was about to push that git onto the floor before you decided to play the hero!"

The lie slipped so easily from her lips, she did not even realize she had said it.