MALFOY MANOR

Disclaimer: I do not profit from this fic. Some paragraphs you will find almost directly quoted from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Chapter 8

A/N: First of all, my gratitude to Jackiie Hallows, littlemomo-chan and JohnnyDepIsMine for reviewing in the previous chapter! Secondly, I apologise for taking so long posting- I didn't know how to string together my random ideas about scenes I could have in the Order of the Phoenix. In the end, I decided that I wasn't getting anywhere and I should really just get it going... And so, here goes! Hopefully the chapter is satisfactory...


The couple fought. And this time, neither side spontaneously sought to undo the situation.

On Jade's part, it was too much. Being in the Inquisitorial Squad for that Umbridge hag and Draco's provocation of Harry and the Weasley twins during the Quidditch match was clearly overboard. The main point was not whether she felt sour that her fiancé caused her House to lose a Seeker and two Beaters- and not even that Draco had led the Slytherins in the stupid song meant obviously to unsettle Ron- but that Draco had known. Through their link, Jade had pleaded for him to reign in his emotions, to stop even before the twins heard his insults. Her stomach turned as she saw Draco bruised from being punched repeatedly, and tears fell spontaneously from her green eyes- but she was not about to put her foot down.

If his pride was worth more than her begging, there was nothing to say.

Draco did not see himself in the wrong, and to him, Umbridge was exactly what Hogwarts needed. The faster Dumbledore had to relinquish power the better! To put the school back into the prestigious state it was in during the time of their founders, you first had to have capable, useful teachers. And Hagrid, for one, was obviously not.

A stalemate, in a way. But neither of them released their engagement rings nor the pendants on their necks. Because through the link they knew that annoyance and self righteousness was the only thing keeping them apart.

Respecting their current differences however, Draco spent a weekend experimenting with how to limit how much the bond could reveal. The result was that they could only feel the changes in emotions of the other. When Draco was the cause of Jade's change in emotions, he could feel it clearer. And that was what he lived for- feeling her heart quicken and expand every time she saw him, despite how she'd avoid his eyes. But even if his ring was in contact with the red pendant, he couldn't hear her thoughts anymore.

Just once, however, he did. When Jade had screamed in her mind for him, it reached him as clearly as if she had been standing beside her. And the fear that had radiated over almost made him nauseous. After one second of shock, his legs led him instinctively to where Jade was. He had burst into the Slytherin common room before the logical part of his brain caught up with him- why the hell was Jade in the Slytherin common room? Much less on a Hogsmade weekend-!

Some of his fellow Slytherins were manhandling Jade. And by how Millicent Bulstrod's eyes shone with malice and Blaise Zabini's hands lingering a bit too long and inappropriately on his fiancée, they weren't planning to stop.

In the corner of the room lit green, Draco's rage burst forth like water in a dam.

No, he did not pull out his wand. The pure hate radiating off him made the small group of Slytherins part to let him through. Shaking uncontrollably, Draco extended his hand to Jade, the thin line his lips formed revealing how hard it was to keep the anger in check. Once she put her cold hand in his palm, he'd dragged her out of the place, not saying a single word until they reached the grounds.

Jade had sunk to her knees against a tree, her visage pale while Draco stood erect.

Without warning, Draco threw his fist against the trunk of the tree, uttering an oath. He then dropped to his knees beside a stunned and worried Jade and pulled her face towards his.

He kissed her ferociously. When he was about to pull away, Jade had pulled him close for more. Draco panted as the kisses intensified and… how he could lose himself in her green eyes-! The kiss radiated love, relief and a usually hidden longing- topped with gratitude and wonder that he had found her. For him too. It was a renewal of his promises and words to her before, despite their differences.

Draco and Jade sat underneath the shade of that tree for the next few hours, his arms curled around her waist. They stayed this way, in their own world, ignoring the stares from other students. Sometimes they met the knowing eyes of the Professors.

When they broke apart at dusk, they hadn't come to a consensus about their differences. Stubborness from both parts, and how it was going to be resolved it wasn't certain… but that did not stand in the way of their love. Nothing stood in the way of their love.


Jade's heart was pounding frantically in her chest, and the fear threatened to make her hurl. From the moment Zabini's eyes had sparkled with triumph, the confidence that drove her disappeared.

She had managed to get Ron to catch a breath and tell her what he was rushing about for, but all he had said was that they required distraction.

"Oh come on, Ron," she said, a frown crossing her features. "Two heads are better than one. While you are looking for Umbridge, I could help you find Filch and pass the message- back up your story. So Peeves is wreaking the Transfiguration department?"

The redhead nodded, and they parted in different directions. As Jade relayed the fake information to Filch, she cursed as his lips curled upwards in a sneer. For some reason, the game was up and she knew it. Then Zabini appeared with the badge of the Inquisitorial squad pinned on his robes, pocketed her wand and hauled her away to Umbridge's office.

It wasn't fear of Umbridge so much that was making her weak now though.

With one strong hand, Zabini had secured both her wrists painfully behind her. What was affecting her was what the other hand was doing- running up and down her arms and occasionally in contact with her back as they walked.

Jade knew he couldn't pull something with Umbridge's office in sight now, but his actions on top of how hungry he had looked when she was cornered in the Slytherin common room… Bile rose in her throat, sickening her. Draco's concern reached her through their bond, but it was no solace.

Jade was terrified. Almost as terrified as she had been when she realized the note that was signed Draco was a fake, and the Slytherins had her trapped in the Slytherin dungeons. As terrified as when they approached her, their expressions promising…...

The door of Umbridge's office burst open as Zabini shoved her inside. The surprise on Harry's face, and the other members of the DA at seeing her there was nothing as compared to the expression on Draco's. It lasted a split second, before Draco had his face in a cool mask. His eyes stayed locked on her though, and the surprise- mingled with what Jade suddenly realized as hurt- continued radiating through the ring. Neither of them heard as Zabini related to Umbridge how Filch had caught her lying about Peeves and sent her to Umbridge's office through him, nor the exchanges between Harry and the High Inquisitor.

"… I have no alternative but to force you. Draco-" the said person startled, and turned to face Umbridge. "Fetch Professor Snape."

Once Draco slipped out of the room, the brief relief disappeared with him. Jade filled with icy dread as Zabini subtly pulled her closer. Her arms were touching his front now, and the Slytherin was breathing down her neck. Jade bit down hard on her lips, trying to stand as still as possible. If she moved, she'd most certainly touch him… A thought that she barely repressed a shudder at.

She had kept things from Draco. While he had joined Umbridge, Jade had joined Dumbledore's Army- her name signed on the sheet Hermione had passed around in the Hog's Head. Yet as much as she wanted to, she did not belong there. Apart from Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys, just about everyone else who had signed looked at her with mistrust as Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four came through.

She didn't blame them, honestly she didn't. When you had a fiancé who was on the enemy's side, it was hard for people to put their trust wholly in you.

Amongst the entire room of anti- Umbridge students, she was the one who didn't belong.

Finally Jade had given up trying. She accepted the fake Galleon that Hermione had insisted she take as a member of the DA, but to put everyone more at ease, she had unofficially quit. Her heart still went out for their cause, but her absence at the Room of Requirement was deeply appreciated.

When Cho's friend was discovered to have betrayed their secret rather than her, people hadn't think any better of Jade. Not that she had expected them to. Perhaps to them, it was just a matter of time that Jade had the words SNEAK across her face. It didn't matter. To Jade, it really didn't matter.

Zabini's fingers were trailing her back now, and Jade struggled to keep the tears- from fear!- from welling up in her eyes. Her eyes cast around like that of a frightened bird, but everyone else was too busy fighting their captors to notice her distress. Luna and Harry excepted, but there was nothing they could do either.

Severus Snape entered the room. The knot in Jade's stomach lessened a little as she saw Draco, and even the barely noticeable frown that crossed Snape's forehead when he noticed her was comforting.

As Umbridge's toadlike face broke into a smile, Draco had slipped to Zabini's side and shoved him firmly away from Jade. Jade didn't get to see Draco's expression, but by the feelings she sensed from Draco that bubbled very close to the surface she got an inkling of how he might have looked. As if confirming the mental image that Jade had conjured in her mind, Zabini moved away from the pair unhappily.

A brief second where Jade's hands got relief from the ache from Zabini's grip, before Draco's warm hand circled her wrists. His hold was firm, yet designed not to give her more discomfort than what could not be helped. Draco's left hand wrapped around Jade in what could be viewed as a headlock. The lack of pressure applied however spoke a very different story- it was more of an embrace.

Draco pulled on her, leaning her back to come into contact with his chest. Their eyes met.

He wasn't blaming her. He didn't want to know if Jade decided not to say. All he wanted was that she was alright. That much Jade sensed from the soft gaze.

Jade knew too, that Draco could sense her gratitude for saving her from Zabini.

In Draco's arms, she watched as Snape was dismissed from the room by an angry Umbridge. The couple watched together as Hermione cracked, pressurized by the threat of torture used on Harry, and when Umbridge decided to bring none of the Inquisitorial squad with her.

Once Umbridge left the room, Draco burrowed his face in her hair and sighed quietly. The arm around her neck loosened and fell to rest on her waist.

Jade's pulse quickened pleasantly.

"That's no good, Malfoy," Zabini said in a mocking tone, making Draco's head snap up. "You don't know how to handle your captive." He took one step closer. Draco straightened, tense. "You're having a hard time resisting your girl aren't you, Draco? Shall I show you the correct way to hold Bloomwood?"

Everyone's eyes were on the two guys now.

"Lay a hand on Jade again and suffer my wrath, Zabini," Draco said in a nonchalant tone, but his stiff form betrayed his true feelings. Beneath the surface, Jade could feel Draco's mixture of protectiveness and possessiveness acting up.

A silent standoff between the two males started. The Slytherins were staring at the three of them, as a result not noticing what Jade did.

The DA captives were exchanging glances at each other. It seemed… as though they were going to take advantage of their captors' distraction. Luna caught Jade's eye and gave a wide grin.

It required some effort not to start at that. Jade watched how Luna's eyes flicked towards Zabini, then back to her. Understanding dawned onto her.

Your cue will be when he approaches.

Zabini did, and while Draco loosed his hand to reach into his robes, Jade saw from her peripheral vision Ron's nod.

Jade pressed her finger to the pendant at Draco's chest, causing him to look into her eyes in surprise.

I'm sorry, but trust me.

Jade pulled Draco's wand from his slackened grip and pointed it to Zabini.

"Expelliarmus!"

The wand flew into her waiting palm, and as she shoved Draco's wand back to him, she Stunned Zabini. Meanwhile, Luna and Ginny were wrestling get their captor's wands, and the guys were fighting off the Slytherins. Jade Stunned Crabbe- Ron shot her a quick glance of acknowledgement before ducking a spell that had missed Luna.

"Catch, Neville!"

Zabini's wand almost slipped out of Neville's awaiting hands , but Neville proved himself by landing a well placed Impediment Jinx on Warrington. Draco pointed his wand at Neville, but Ginny had quickly hexed him instead, sending him to the floor with flapping things on his face. She caught the look on Jade's face, and grimaced in apology. Jade's lips pursed but had barely time to complain as she ducked a hex from Luna's captor.

Ron and Luna shouted "Stupefy!" in unison, and the office was suddenly quiet.

"We actually did it," Neville said, the tone of surprise unmistakable.

"Yeah we did," Ron replied in satisfaction as he drew Harry's wand from Draco's robes. "Let's get out of here."

Everyone nodded and followed Ron as he led the way towards the Forbidden Forest.

"If there are any lasting effects on Draco, Ginny-" Jade started in a threatening tone.

"There won't be, but you're welcome to hex Ron if you want," she replied, earning amused laughter from all but her brother.

They reached Harry and Hermione in due time, updating Jade meanwhile what she found herself mixed into. Apparently Harry had seen Sirius captured and tortured by Voldemort, and they needed to go to the Department of Mysteries all the way in London to save him. Jade frowned as she heard the involvement with the Dark Lord, but said nothing as they found the duo.

"… We were all in the DA together. It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it?" Neville said quietly. "And this is the first chance we've had to do something real- or was that all just a game or something?"

"No- of course it wasn't-"

"Then we should come too. We want to help," Neville said simply.

Jade cleared her throat, and the rest stared at her.

"I… Cannot openly oppose the Dark Lord- it would mean disastrous consequences for the Malfoys," she said, fingering the engagement ring. "I'm staying behind. I'll find Snape and tell him- or send Hedwig to Dumbledore…"

Harry nodded stiffly, a clear dismissal. But when Jade's light green and Harry's emerald eyes met, there was understanding in the latter.


The trees swishing of the trees was the only sound for a moment. Slowly, Jade raised her eyes to meet Ginny's.

"Bellatrix Lestrange killed Sirius?" she whispered. Ginny nodded tiredly. "Bellatrix Lestrange killed Sirius..." Jade repeated, shaking her head in astonishment. Draco's aunt killed her own cousin. Draco's aunt..

Jade didn't know how she could look in Harry's face ever again. The next time they met was after Harry walked away from Malfoy and the two Professors. She halted in her steps- then, taking Harry by surprise, bowed deeply. After she straightened, Harry was the first to break the silence.

"This is a parting of ways."

"It is," Jade replied. "But I hope in the end... we'll fight on the same side once more."

Harry's lips twitched and walked away without another word.


A/N: Thank you for reading! In the next chapter we will move on to the couple's sixth year at Hogwarts. =) Open to criticism as usual! Oh and I have started writing a particular scene [that belongs to the ending of Half Blood Prince oops], so after the next chapter is painfully generated, it should flow smoothly! Please review! =)