Jackie: Okay, this is definitely not my normal realm, but this needed to be written.
(Silence)
Jackie: Agent Blorange? Where are you, you're supposed to have the second line all the time!
(Offstage voice): Not in a Harry Potter story, not in a million years! Leave me out of this!
Draco-muse: What a jerk.
Takeru-muse: Okay, who's this poser?
Draco-muse: Allow me to introduce myself. The name's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy.
Takeru-muse: That's nice. Jackie, why is he a muse?
Jackie: There's enough room for both of you. Anyways, as you might be able to tell, this is my first HP story, and it centers on a certain blonde-haired smartass whom we all know and love. I don't own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does. I do, however, own all rights to my original character, Jacquillyne Christine Ashmore. If I find you using her name or likeness without permission, there will be money involved.
Draco-muse: Yeah, a whole quarter's worth.
Takeru-muse: Jaa-ckieee, make him drop the muse thing!
Jackie: You're still my main muse, Takeru, calm down and just enjoy the story. That goes for you, too, and don't forget to R&R!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THIS FAMILY, YOUNG MAN!"
"WELL, MAYBE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE SUCH IMPOSSIBLE EXPECTATIONS FOR ME..."
"THAT'S IT! AFTER THIS SUMMER IS OVER, YOU ARE NO LONGER WELCOME IN THIS HOUSE!"
"FINE!"
The door slammed behind Draco Malfoy as he escaped into his room. Well, what used to be his room. This, in his opinion, was a scene more befitting of Potter's home, not his. He sighed. "I can't say I wasn't expecting this, though."
Draco's 5th year at Hogwarts hadn't gone very well grade-wise; although he passed everything, he was nowhere near the top of his class anymore. To add insult to injury, Granger was at the top. Lucius had been on Draco's case ever since his grades fell into his hands, one lecture after another. Finally, he started fighting back, and, well...
"Bloody hell, where am I going to go now? I don't exactly know, or like, anyone well enough to go crash at their house. I can't get a job, because I'll be at school...Good one, Malfoy, just yell at your crazy father..." He flopped backwards on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His eyes scanned the room that had been his since he was born; the familiar moldings, the king-size bed, the bookshelves full of both schoolbooks and personal readings alike...all of which would be either gone or moved. This was and had always been his familiar dwelling, the only place he really felt he really belonged.
And in one flare of temper, he had lost it all. Unconsciously, a single tear formed in the corner of his eye, and he quickly brushed it off and flipped onto his side. Before long, he had fallen into a restless sleep.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
September came faster than Draco would have liked. His last week at home had been spent wandering aimlessly around the halls of the manner, fighting back old memories that rushed in at each spot. He spent as much time as he could wandering around the grounds, mentally reliving happier moments as a child, before Hogwarts, before Potter, before his world had turned upside down. Many times, it took all of Malfoy's strength just to hold back the tears that he often felt welling up in his eyes.
Malfoy left early the morning that he was to leave for Hogwarts. He walked the whole way, starting out before the sun rose, just trying to take in all the sights and sounds of the morning. His father had left a note with his things...Draco's personal belongings would be waiting for him at the platform when he returned next summer...don't bother coming home for Christmas, they wouldn't be there...and at the bottom, in her delicate handwriting, a few bits of motherly advice that Narcissa had probably slipped in after Lucius had left the room. The words replayed time and again in his mind the whole journey.
After several hours of walking (though it only felt like he'd been walking a few minutes), Draco finally reached the train station. He sidled up to the barrier, pretended to lean against in to tie his shoe, and slid gently through. Once on the other side, he looked around and the bustling platform 9 3/4. Familiar faces rushed here and there, greeting one another. A few lost looking ones were beginning to cling to one another, and he decided that they were the first years. However, unlike the past 5 years, Crabbe and Goyle were nowhere to be found. Draco assumed that their families had learned of Draco's disownment, and therefore had warned them away from him. His suspicions were confirmed when the two hulks walked straight past him, with only a sideways leer in his direction. Draco sighed, climbed on the train, and seated himself in the back of an empty car.
Unfortunately, it didn't stay empty for long. Much to Malfoy's dismay, who should stumble noisily into his compartment than the trio themselves. Harry, who, instead of the short, skinny, dorky lad, was now a TALL, skinny, dorky (and slightly awkward) teenager...Ron, who, unlike his best friend, was actually starting to grow into his body, but still had that same blazing red hair...Hermione, the know-it-all prefect who still sported that frizzy poofball hairdo, only now it was pulled into a wild ponytail (A/N: Sorry, all you D/Hr peoples...I love the pair too, but Hermione's not a sex goddess in this one) and...
Hmm. He'd never seen this girl before. At first, she looked as though she might be some relative of Ron's from the back, but as she turned her head, he could tell that that glossy red-auburn hair wasn't that of a Weasley. No, it was too straight, and too neat as it fell just at her shoulders, part slightly off-center but perfectly straight. His eyes trailed down her back as she stood listening to the two boys argue about something frivolous. Unlike Hermione and the other Hogwart's girls, this one actually had the makings of a beautiful young woman going on. Her curves were soft and filling out in just the right places, at least that's what it looked like from the back. Her skin was bronzed, a sign of time spent outdoors, not of race. Also unlike Hermione, to whom she was now paying attention to, she hadn't changed into her Hogwart's robes yet, and he admired the way her dark jeans fit her almost perfectly, flaring at the bottom over a pair of what looked like Italian boots. She had on a black peasant blouse, long sleeved, and very sheer. He could just make out the lines of a brassiere underneath...
She must have felt his eyes on her, because without warning, she turned and looked at him.
*Jackie's POV*
Man, these three are boring. I'm in a house full of these braggarts? Damn, I'm in for a long year. And why does this Ron guy keep staring at my chest? As if I don't notice it. Harry...shut up. No one cares about that dumb game. I should have never told you I play Quidditch...Hermine, or whatever your name is...please, I didn't memorize the whole textbook before I came, and I don't want to be able to memorize it from listening to you recite it! Oh well, just smile and nod, smile and nod...
Wait, is someone else in here? It feels like...oh! There is someone...in... here...damn!
*End POV*
Jackie's eyes quickly assessed the quiet boy in the back of the compartment. His blonde hair and silver-gray eyes were certainly striking, but not as striking as...other things. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a black tee shirt under his open robes...her personal weakness. She could see the outlines of muscles underneath the tight cotton, and could tell that he either worked out or played sports on a regular basis. He caught her stare, and she inadvertently made eye contact...a habit that often did her more harm than good in meeting new people. She could tell that he was slightly embarrassed, having been caught staring, but she flashed him a quick smile to show that she didn't mind.
*Draco's POV*
Is she really smiling at me? Wow, I thought she looked good from behind! Oh man, she probably things I'm some sort of pervert, staring at her like that...
*End POV*
The new girl's face gazing upon Draco's caused him to blush slightly, from both embarrassment and intrigue. Her straight red hair flipped in to frame her round, girlish face. Her eyes were strikingly blue, with dark rings circling the iris, giving her an exotic look. She was wearing makeup; not a whole lot, but just enough. A pinkish-tan eye shadow was highlighting her lids, and a just-dark-enough lip gloss added sparkle to her curved, round lips, which slid into a welcoming smile upon making eye contact. Unconsciously, and quite uncharacteristically, Draco also found his mouth twitch into a soft smile in return.
Unfortunately, Ron also chose that moment to discover the compartment's other occupant. "Malfoy, what are you doing in here?"
Draco's soft smile twisted into his trademark smirk. "It took you that long to notice me, Weasley? I've been here the whole time, or were you too busy lusting after Harry's arse to see that?"
Harry walked over, stepping in front of Ron, and sat down next to Draco, to everyone's surprise. "I can see why you're in such a snit, Malfoy. After all, very few of us know what it feels like to be hated by your own family." Shit, how does he know? Ron also came and took a seat across from him. "Yeah, Dad's told us. Says that Lucius blew his top. Shame."
Am I hearing things right, Draco thought, or are these two really being nice to me?
"So, which are you choosing, Pansy's whorehouse or Azkaban? You know, you'd fit in quite well at both places."
Harry and Ron both burst out laughing at this latest witticism. Draco's face quickly darkened into a scowl, and he felt his cheeks involuntarily flush. "Fuck off, Potter," he muttered, and turned to stare out the window.
He didn't look back until he had heard the compartment door open and slam shut, a sign that everyone had left. Otherwise, he would have seen the reluctance on the new girl's face to follow the trio. Instead, he fell into a spell of loneliness, and a single tear slid down his cheek. He didn't even bother to brush it off.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco had fallen into a dreamless sleep, and woke with a start as the train came to a screeching halt. He rubbed his eyes and trudged towards the exit. Every step was more painful than the last, as more and more people took notice of him and every second a new pair of eyes was pointed in his direction. He heard the whispers; news travels fast in the wizarding world, especially if your father is a particularly powerful and notorious figure. Draco kept his eyes downcast, glad that his family wasn't here to see yet another disgrace to the Malfoy family name in his submissive posture, and avoided any and all contact with any of the gleaming lasers drilling through the back of his head.
After what felt like the longest walk of his life, Draco stepped out of the harsh artificial light of the Hogwarts Express and into the cool moonlight that surrounded the castle. To one side, he could hear the Golden Children of Gryffindor talking to Hagrid, but kept his eyes focused straight ahead. Even so, he felt yet another pair of eyes follow him as he climbed aboard an empty coach. From its window, he watched his former friends and acquaintances board the other coaches, avoiding the one with the blonde head and silver eyes peering out the back.
"Hey."
At the sound of another voice in his coach, Malfoy spun in his seat, his trance broken, barely avoiding hitting his head on the windowsill. "Who the hell said you could sit in..."
His voiced trailed off as hi found himself face to face with the same blue eyes and red hair that he had met on the train.
*Jackie's POV*
Harry, Ron, and Hermione just introduced me to the gamekeeper here, Hagrid. At least he's somewhat decent, unlike those three. He didn't slam that blonde boy...Malfoy, is that his name? That seems more like a surname, but that's all they call him. Anyways, he wasn't insulting him, but he wasn't stopping them from doing it, either. I feel sort of bad for him. He looks...so lonely.
Why is he always by himself? I'm sorry, but those stories Harry and Ron have told me don't seem quite in sync with him. Oh well, they can be hateful all they want; I'm going to see if he wants some company.
There he is. He seems so sad! I wonder what's wrong. There's no one else in the coach with him. Maybe I'll try to talk to him...
"Hey." I say. It's not the most articulate thing I've ever said, but I guess it's okay for a first greeting. I must have surprised him, because he spun so fast he almost falls off the seat. "Who the hell said you could sit in... here..." His voice trailed off and the last word was barely audible. Wow, look at those eyes! I've never seen anybody with eyes like those...they're so gorgeous...
*End POV*
*Draco's POV*
"...here." I can't even hear myself say the last word. What's with her? Why isn't she with her little Gryffindor buddies? What does she want from me?
Still, look at her...wow, those eyes, there's something deep behind those blue pools, it's almost like she can see through me. "Um, sorry, I thought you were someone else." I mutter, hoping that the shadows in the car hide the redness that just flooded my face.
*End POV*
"Um, sorry, I thought you were someone else." Draco said quietly.
"That's alright. So..." There was an awkward silence between the two. "Um, so, which house are you in?" Jackie asked, hoping it was a gentle enough question.
Draco's face fell emotionless. "Slytherin. I'm surprised your little Gryffindor buddies didn't tell you that already." He turned and stared out the window again.
"If you think that those three are my friends, you, sir, are sadly mistaken." Jackie half-coughed, half-laughed. Draco glanced back at her. Jackie met his eyes. "Are you okay?" Oh, yeah, great thing to say, Jackie jack-ass, of course he's not, you heard them talking!
Draco scoffed. "Oh yeah, I'm just great! I'm having a grand old time!"
Neither said anything the rest of the short journey up the mountain. Draco noted, however, that instead of staring him down as the rest of the school had done, she kept her focus out the other window. Hmm, this one was taught manners...what am I saying, she's with Potter and them. She's got something else going on in her mind...
As the coach halted and the doors swung open, Jackie stood up and began to climb out. Before clearing the stairs, however, she turned and once again made eye contact with Draco. "My name's Jackie, by the way. What's yours?"
"Draco. Draco Malfoy," he answered flatly.
"Well, um...I'll see you." Jackie said as she walked towards the castle.
"Yeah." Draco's reply was lost in the dyne of the exiting students.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts!"
Draco sighed and leaned his head against his hand in preparation for another long Dumbledore speech. The Sorting proceeded as usual, and even the little first years wouldn't sit next to Draco. He was at the far end of the table, on the opposite side from the teachers, near the door. His eyes were fixed on a crack in the Slytherin table, and he kept running his finger over its length, feeling the depth and breadth of it. He could see clearly a gouge mark on the end, and knew that it was done by a bored student with a penknife. How one person can do so much damage with one action, I'll never be able to figure out. As he ran his fingers along the edge, he felt the sharp sides gradually smooth out with friction and the oils from his hand. It was almost like he was "healing" the table...
"And now, if I could have everyone's attention, I have a very special announcement."
Draco looked up casually, and he could almost hear half the room turn their heads away from him. Dumbledore continued. "As some of you have already noticed, we are missing our own Lavender Brown from the Gryffindor house." There was some nodding in agreement, particularly from Seamus Finnigan. "Miss Brown is Hogwart's ambassador in an international magic exchange program, and this year we are proud to host Miss Jacquillynne Ashmore, from Hiogatoah Institute in the United States."
Draco's eyes shifted to the Gryffindor table, expecting to see the trio clapping her on the back for something she didn't even do, but was surprised to see her also seated apart from everyone else, and was staring down at the table, slightly blushing, and looking as though she would rather be anywhere but there at the moment. I know the feeling, Draco thought to himself.
As if reading his mind, she looked up and stared straight into his eyes. This time, Draco was the first one to let a smile creep across his face. She grinned back for a moment, and then was shocked to see the plates at the table fill with food. Draco laughed quietly to himself before turning to his food.
"What are you smirking about, Malfoy? After all, it's not every wizard who goes from something to nothing over the summer."
Draco snapped up to see Blaise Zabini sneering and his group of friends laughing. In a swirl of robes, Draco stood up and glared down at the smaller boy. He began to rise, but Draco turned on his heels and stormed out of the Great Hall.
Jackie watched him leave, and her heart sank in his chest. His name is Draco...
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Agent Blorange: I don't like where this is going.
Jackie: What happened to "Not in a million years?"
Agent Blorange: I got curious. Do you hate the trio, or is someone on the rag or what?
Draco-muse: *Pulling out wand* Watch it, muggle!
Jackie: Draco, Agent Blorange may or may not be a muggle, we just have to wait and see.
Agent Blorange: *Fingers crossed* Let me be a muggle, let me be a muggle…
Jackie: Ignore him. And as for the trio bashing, I don't hate them, no. I am just trying to see how Draco and Jackie would perceive them, and neither one of them is quite their type. But like I said in the story, I like Hermione at least.
Takeru-muse: That just sounds wrong.
Draco-muse: Shove it, hat boy.
Takeru and Draco-muses: IDEA! (to each other) I THOUGHT OF IT FIRST!
Jackie: I know what you're thinking, and it's duly noted. TTFN, and don't forget to Review! I live for Reviews!
Draco-muse: And so do I, if you catch my drift (HINT HINT!)