The Gryffindor common room was empty. Everyone was still at the Ball dancing, joking and having a laugh. It was deadly silent – that is, until Jasmine burst in weeping. She ran to the sofa and buried her head in her arms crying. She couldn't believe how stupid she had been. She should have stuck by her word, and walked away instead of kissing him back. Everything the others had told her had suddenly felt true. Of course deep down she knew that they wouldn't lie to her, after all they were her best friends, but because she wanted Draco so much, she still had doubts in the back of her mind. Maybe he had changed, and maybe he could learn to be kind to everyone. But now she saw his true colours, even to someone he so badly 'wanted' he couldn't help but hurt them in some form or other. For once, couldn't she settle down with someone who truly loved her? Someone who would never hurt her, and who would treasure her forever. Amidst her thoughts, Jasmine felt a hand on her shoulder. She lifted her head and turned to see who it was. Two emerald green eyes stared back at her. It was Harry. Jasmine quickly dried her tears and sat up. Her eyes were now all red and puffy and her make-up had run.
"I knew I should have worn waterproof mascara" Jasmine sniffed jokingly.
Harry smiled at her, "Jasmine…are you alright?" he asked softly, "I…I saw what happened..."
Jasmine's eyes began to fill with tears again, "Oh Harry…I'm so sorry…it just happened I didn't mean to…oh I feel so shit Harry…I knew I should have listened to you guys…" she whimpered,
"Jasmine, look at me," started Harry, "you are…such an amazing person, you're beautiful, funny, intelligent, kind…I mean, If Malfoy could still let his little reputation, get in the way of being with a girl like you, then he's…well mental as Ron would put it"
Jasmine unearthed a weak smile, "Thanks Harry…you're so nice to me, even after I went behind your back and kissed Draco, I don't deserve your friendship" she replied.
"Don't be silly Jasmine, of course you do, and people can't help how they feel sometimes…even if they were told to be careful" he teased raising an eyebrow.
Jasmine laughed while wiping away the tears and mascara from her cheeks. If only she could fall for someone like Harry. He was such a sweet guy, and had the added bonus of being able to defeat Dark Wizards so would undoubtedly be able to look after her very well. Something clicked in Jasmine's brain, and she looked at Harry more deeply. Deeply into those captivating emerald eyes, so starkly in contrast with that dark, ruffled hair. There was no denying it, Harry was unmistakably handsome, and he was so powerful too. Maybe that ache for Draco would vanish if she could be with that power.
Harry was looking into Jasmine's eyes. Those bright, shining hazel eyes, so starkly in contrast with that dark red hair. She was undoubtedly entrancing and so innocent too. Slowly, as the silence between them lingered, Harry found himself drawing closer and closer to that innocence. His sight moved from her eyes to those smooth, luscious lips, resembling a tender rose, and the craving to taste that rose. Jasmine reached up to touch Harry's cheek, and with a final linger of want, Harry moved in, finally kissing her after so long. Jasmine was at a loss and she let herself deepen into a soft, sweet kiss with Harry. This was for the best. Draco was bad for her. Harry was the one who would never hurt her. He was the one who would always be there for her. And as for Draco…he was the one, who, as hard as she tried to forget, would always have her heart.
Harry went to sleep a happy man, and had drifted off while waiting for Ron to come up so that he could tell him what had happened. So when he woke up the next morning, he was quite surprised to see, that Ron's bed hadn't been slept in. Harry got dressed and went downstairs to the common room to find out what was going on. The common room was fairly packed; most people had woken up and were sitting around chatting on the couches. The normal spot by the window in which Harry and his friends sat was, to his surprise, empty and Harry started to wonder where Ron had got to. Part of him started to worry, as he began thinking that something may have happened to his best friend at the party last night, but then he thought to himself that at least one of the Professor's would have surely found out if Ron was in trouble and informed Harry immediately; after all that's what had happened in their second year when Hermione had been petrified. Harry began to relax a little at this point and sighed heavily. He had so wanted to tell Ron what had happened between him and Jasmine last night; Harry was positively bursting with the desire to tell someone.
"Hey babe" came that sweet, soft voice from behind him. Harry turned to see Jasmine standing there, looking as radiant and as giggly as ever.
As usual, the male population of the common room were glancing every now and again over at Jasmine, while the female population who, simply had gotten used to this by now, ignored them and giggled with each other in their hoards.
"Hi Jasmine" Harry replied smiling as she sat down beside him. Then, without warning, Jasmine kissed him and before he knew it, he was in a passionate clinch with the girl who he had for so long sought after, in front of the whole Gryffindor common room. Once again, Harry felt all eyes upon him and it was as if someone had pressed the 'mute' button on a remote control as everyone went quiet. As Jasmine slowly pulled away from his lips, the whispers started, and Harry knew that he was now the envy of all the guys in the common room, and was soon to be added to the girl's gossip column. But for once, he really didn't care. Harry wanted everybody to know that he was going out with Jasmine Rai and, although he had hoped Ron would find out first, was glad that the news was going to spread like a bad case of the flu.
Jasmine laughed embarrassingly, "Sorry Harry…I just thought that was the best way of letting people know that I am now officially taken" she muttered, turning slightly pink.
"Oh really Jas, don't apologise…in fact, I think we should let people know more often" he winked cheekily as she giggled back.
"Oh by the way, do you know where Hermione is? Only I woke up this morning, and it looked like her bed hadn't been slept in" said Jasmine, sounding concerned.
Suddenly it hit Harry, and he began to wryly chuckle to himself as he realised what this meant. Jasmine looked surprised.
"Harry! Why are you laughing? Didn't you hear what I just said?" she cried sounding confused.
"Jas…Ron's bed hasn't been slept in either" he replied raising an eyebrow.
Jasmine looked even more confused at these words and opened her mouth to ask where on earth Ron and Hermione could be, when slowly her brain began to register everything and her eyes widened- "OH!" she stifled suddenly. Harry nodded ("mhm") at her grinning.
"Oh my god…how? What? Where? Eugh I don't wanna know!" Jasmine cringed as Harry laughed at her heartily.
"That's it, tonight, me and Ron have got some serious talking to do…" said Harry as he and Jasmine headed down to breakfast holding hands.
The great hall was almost full as the students were sitting at their tables; including, thankfully Harry thought, Ron and Hermione. As Jasmine and Harry sat down to join them Harry began his interrogating.
"So where were you two this morning? I was expecting to see you in the common room…"
Ron shuffled awkwardly glancing at Hermione and replied, "Oh we woke up early and were um…hungry so came down early to see if…if we could maybe start…eating"
"Really?" started Harry, "that's funny that is…seeing as your bed hadn't been slept in all night!"
Ron choked on his bread roll and began mouthing silently, trying to come up with a response.
Hermione quickly muttered "Oh Ron remember, that was because you slept on-"
"Your bed wasn't slept in either" interrupted Harry matter-of-factly. Hermione suddenly turned very red and Ron began whistling loudly.
"Come on guys, we weren't born yesterday" whispered Jasmine.
"Don't worry your secret's safe with us" spoke Harry quietly as he began tucking into his breakfast. Jasmine laughed at the embarrassed look on Hermione's face, while Ron seemed relieved at being saved from having to make up a story as to where he had been.
"By the way, there's something you guys should know" Harry started looking at Ron and Hermione whom both turned to him looking gravely concerned.
"What is it?" squeaked Hermione,
Harry cleared his throat nervously, "Well…Jas and I are officially together…as in like you know, um, dating" Harry finished, turning slightly pink while Jas smiled nervously.
Ron and Hermione stared at the couple before finally bursting with congratulations, Ron particularly winking at Harry ('I knew you'd do it mate') Jasmine giggled and leant in for another kiss with Harry, and as she moaned softly, it was obvious that the 'bad case of the flu' had completely spread. From over by the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy scowled as he watched Harry Potter locking lips with his Jasmine. The Jasmine whom he had so passionately kissed merely hours before. Draco felt as though he were going to explode and his eyes began stinging wildly – both with rage and hurt. Before he knew it, Draco found himself leaping from the table and storming out of the Great Hall to escape this new-found haze of emotions. Grasping the wall, Draco took long deep breaths and shut his eyes to calm himself down but all he could see in front of him was Jasmine kissing Harry. It was if the image was permanently plastered in front of him.
"Mr Malfoy?" came a voice from behind him, Draco recognised the voice immediately; it was Professor McGonagall.
"Goodness gracious Mr Malfoy, what on earth is the matter?" she asked concerned,
Draco gathered his breath to speak, "Nothing Professor" he managed to choke.
"Well I refuse to believe that!" she cried, "look at the state of you Mr Malfoy, you can hardly speak! Come on now what is it?" she pestered.
But Draco could not answer as the sight he had seen in the Great Hall minutes before flashed and whirred in front of him, he had shut his eyes so tight to try and escape it that tears were now starting to flow from his eyes, his breath had become strained and he was sweating uncontrollably.
"Dear me, what could have caused such a reaction? We must get you to Madam Pomfrey now Mr Malfoy, you are clearly unwell!" spoke Professor McGonagall who was now directing a somewhat bruised and unwilling Draco toward the Hogwart's Hospital. It was as though Madam Pomfrey had a sixth sense as she instantaneously ran out to help pull Draco into the ward; ('Oh my dear we must get you looked at right away!' she cried).
From a distance, a familiar face looked on watching as Draco disappeared behind the curtain. A tiny sob echoed down the corridor, as Jasmine wiped away her tears and headed to the Gryffindor common room to go get the Potions textbook which she had 'left' on her bed. However much she tried, she could not stop the pain in her heart of seeing Draco suffer, and however much Draco didn't deserve it, she could never forget her love for him.