Disclaimer: I don't own the Potter books or the Potter or the Weasely or the Granger and the Malfoy. But I do own the Jessica and the world that the Jessica has created by her presence.
A/N: okay so yes I know I said I would post this yesterday but I couldn't for my lack of Annaness. I'm a failure. But I have so much happening in my brain for this story so, yes. Please review. They mean more to me then anything and help me post on time. Reviews would mean so much. But of you who have stuck with me through my "break" and are still out there, I love you so much and thank you. You guys mean everything to me.
Haunted
It's getting dark, and it's all too quiet
And I can't trust anything now
And it's coming over you now like it's all a big mistake
Oh, I'm holding my breath
Won't lose you again
Something's made your eyes go cold
-Taylor Swift
Jessica's POV
Once breakfast ended everyone made their way to their classes or common rooms. The hallways were filled with a comfortable warmth as we made our way back to the Gryffindor common room with some exceptions.
Luna and Neville were walking hand in hand toward the Ravenclaw tower while Luna talked about some strange creature no one else could see from the magazine she carried around. Ahead of them Ron and Hannah were quietly laughing about something. Ron smiled at her which made her blush and look away. When she looked back up at him, he gave her smile that I could tell made her weak in the knees, but she kept a façade and nudged him gently. She giggled as he nudged her back. And ahead of them was Harry and Ginny, who didn't look so happy. I could tell Ginny didn't like me. I'd have to ask Hermione about that.
And in the very back Hermione and I walked slowly watching the people rush around to get to class.
I smiled to myself as I thought about Malfoy and Hermione.
When I looked over t the Slytherin table, imagine how I felt when I recognized the blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes that belonged to the person who had spared me my life. And then imagine the excitement that filled me when he was staring at Hermione. I leaned on Harry's shoulder to whisper in his ear.
"Who is that guy at the Slytherin table staring at Hermione?" I asked, glancing up at him. Harry's body immediately stiffened as his eyes flashed semi-dangerously and looked up to meet blue eyes. The boy quickly dropped his eyes and pretended to be eating his food.
"Draco Malfoy." he said, his jaw tightened.
"The Draco Malfoy?" I asked.
"I see she's talked about him." he said unhappily, dropping his gaze from Draco to his plate.
"You could say that."
"Did she tell you about last night?" Do I love Hermione? Yes. Do I want her to be happy? Yes. But despite everything, can I ignore good gossip? No. does that make me shallow? Yes. Very.
"No. what happened last night?"
"They danced." he said as if it was the worst thing in the world. My grin got wider.
"They danced?" I said, turning toward Hermione, who only glared back even though she had no idea what I was talking about. My face happens to be an open book to Hermione so something in my face must've made her as wary as Harry was about their pending relationship. I think Harry knew something was happening between them and I think he was just angry because he couldn't stop it. He didn't like Malfoy. I don't know why right now, but I'll find out.
Being here was like peeling an onion, there was always a new layer to unfold whether it be the magic or the people.
Harry stopped randomly in his groveling and paused in the middle of the walkway, making Ron run into him.
"I'm not." he said. Ginny turned around, confused.
"Your not what?" he glared at her.
"I'm not sorry!" he yelled. She flinched away from him as if he moved to hit her. "I didn't do anything wrong." he said softly, then he turned to Ron.
"We need to talk to Hermione." he said, looking up and over to us. Hermione looked at me, shock clear in her eyes.
"Y-you remember how to get to the common room, right?" my eyes flickered to Harry who was watching us, his random anger slowly draining from his face.
"Yeah. Go on. I can get there." she nodded, smiled, squeezed my arm, and walked away. As I watched The Golden Trio walk away I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding and everyone seemed to thaw out of their initial shock. Ginny stormed of into the opposite direction Harry and his friends had gone, Luna linked arms with Hannah and they walked off to the Hufflepuff common room, and then I was alone.
I'm admittedly not a fan of being alone. When I'm alone I'm forced to think about the things that I've dealt with and the real reasons I left California in the first place.
His name was Marty.
I don't really have good luck when it comes to relationships; I seem to choose horribly wrong guys. When I dated Marty I thought he was a good and safe choice. I thought he would stand by me no matter what, love me no matter what. Obviously that was a lie.
I remember the day he left me.
"Your hopeless." he growled at me. He pulled open my front door harder then necessary, making the door hit the wall behind it. He stepped onto my porch when I finally noticed what he was doing.
"Marty, Marty. Don't, please. Just… stop Marty! Please don't leave me!" I cried out as fresh tears rolled down my face and I grabbed his arm. He shook me off and looked down at me with pity.
"Bye Jessica." I reached for him again as he walked down the steps but I missed and ended up falling onto the top step. I took a breath, attempting to regain what dignity I had left. The pit of my stomach filled with anger as I stood up. When I looked up he was trying to get his car door open in a hurry because of the rain. I pushed myself off the step and stomped toward him.
"So that's all you wanted, huh? Just sex. You spent a year with me just to get in my fucking pants! That's all you do. You date girls, pretend you love them, get them in the sack, then throw them away like a piece of trash!" he got into the car and started it. "Is that all I am to you?" I hit his window. "A piece of trash?" He pulled out of his parking spot and began down the road. I yelled in frustration and looked around on the ground. I grabbed the first rock I found and threw it at his car, leaving a satisfying dent in his trunk.
He never looked back at me and I was left crying in the rain. After that horrible fiasco and the way people watched me mope around in pity… I just couldn't take it. I left, with my parents permission and lied to Hermione. I didn't want to bother Hermione with my small relationship problems.
I sighed and slowly began walking down one of the many hallways, giving myself the chance to get lost. I turned down empty corridors until I my feet were slightly sore from the uncomfortable flats I was wearing.
I turned down another hallway, not really seeing as I silently walked.
Out of nowhere a hand squeezed my mouth and an arm yanked me backwards into a dark room.
"Don't fight." the voice whispered. If the situation were less funny I would've laughed. But instead of freezing up like most people do, adrenaline pumped hard through my veins and years of fighting with my brothers kick started my in my brain. I elbowed the man in his stomach which made him retract his grip on me.
If I knew anything it would be to stay and fight instead of try and run away and end up getting shot in the back.
So I turned around to face the man who was doubled over in pain. He glared up at me, then took a moment to straighten himself up. I squinted at him, trying to make out who he was in the darkness.
"Stop." he said darkly. I glared at him.
"Screw you." I lunged at him, throwing my fist into his face and connecting with his nose. I grunted as I felt something in my right hand move out of its place. I was about to throw another punch with my left hand when his forearm stopped it. I reached out for his arm with my right hand, my knuckles screaming in intense protest. I laced my fingers with his, then twisted his arm in the opposite direction. He let out a grunt of pain and with a thrust, pushing me onto the wall behind me.
I could feel his breath on my face, he was so close I could touch, but I still couldn't see him. I felt like I was fighting blind.
"Are you bloody insane?" he asked, his voice rough. I smirked.
"Maybe." I curled my left hand into a fist and punched him in the throat. He immediately let go of me and choked, trying to breathe.
"Lumos." he choked out. Somehow a light finally entered my vision which was attached to the man's wand, which was pointed at his face.
"Holy crap! Malfoy!" I dropped my façade and let go of a breath I was holding. "Why didn't you say anything?" I said.
"You know, your friends are gonna be able to use your fighting skills one day." he said in a strangely calm voice. I stepped back and put my hands on my hips.
"What do you mean?" he shook his head.
"Nothing. So why are you punching me, may I ask?"
"When someone comes up behind me and tells me not to fight, I'm going to fight."
"I'll keep that in mind the next time I approach someone."
"Yeah, maybe you should announce yourself first. Say, 'hey Jessica, it's Malfoy. The guy who saved your life-" all of a sudden his hand was on my mouth again. "Ya know you should really stop doing that." I tried to say, but his hand muffled the words so it came out more like, "yu no yu shud reely sop ooing hat."
"This is what we need to talk about." he said, removing his hand. "Mufflio." he whispered, pointing his wand nowhere in particular.
"W-what does that do?" I asked, trying to sound indifferent and failing completely.
"It's a silencing charm. It creates a bubble where we can talk to each other but no one else can hear us." I smiled.
"A silencing charm to the outside world."
"Right."
"Amazing." he turned to face me.
"You know who I am."
"I do." silence.
"Do they?"
"Oh ya know, everyone. Dumbledore got it out of me in the first couple of seconds. You should've seem Hermione's face-"
"Are you kidding me?"
"Are you? You really think I'm that stupid? Keeping your secret… holding your life in my hands. You don't think I know what that means? If I told anyone, even Hermione, who saved me not only would you die, but I go down with you. I would die too. I may be a muggle but I'm not entirely stupid." more silence.
"It go to you didn't it?" I glared at him.
"What are you talking about?"
"Killing him." we stared at each other for a moment.
"What was his name?"
"Marcus."
"Oh." he cleared his throat.
"Well I'm glad you understand the import-"
"Don't hurt her." he turned to face me.
"What?"
"She's falling for you."
"Who?"
"You danced with her." he stared at me.
"So."
"She's falling for you."
"Okay."
"Are you?" he paused.
"No."
"You paused."
"What do you want from me?" he asked, somewhat resigned.
"To tell the truth."
"I am."
"Not to me."
"Then who?"
"To yourself." I sighed and walked toward the door.
"Bye-"
"Jessica. Were there. Were at that point."
"Bye Jessica."
"Bye Draco."
"Nox."
Hermione's POV
Harry walked Ron and I to the astronomy tower. It was our meeting place ever since Ron found it some years ago. We'd go up their to regroup after something happened. It was how we dealt with things; by sitting together but not saying a word. It was those times that made me feel so close to my friends, more comfortable then anything.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Harry turned to Ron.
"Ron, I think we should tell Hermione about what we discussed with Dumbledore." Ron's eyes flickered to me, then looked down.
"You tell her." he sighed.
"Your not going to like it 'Mione."
"You two sound like your about to get a root canal. Just say it, already."
"Were going to look for the horcruxes." Ron blurted.
"We are?" Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"We are, Hermione." I froze.
"A-and me?"
"Hermione…"
"Y-you both were just gonna… just gonna leave me here?"
"You have to stay here-"
"You don't think I'm strong enough to handle doing this?" I shouted at them.
"No! That's not the case at all, Hermione."
"Then what is it? Please, enlighten me."
"You have to stay here with Jessica, plus we need someone we trust to stay connected to things that are happening with Voldemort." Harry said.
"And we need someone we can go to no matter what for medical help." Ron said.
"Which means research." Harry finished.
"You want me to stay behind, stay in contact with the ministry basically, and study medicine?" they looked at each other, then back at me.
"Yes." they said at the same time. I sighed.
"I need to stay here and protect Jessica." Harry smiled.
"Exactly. And maybe you could figure out which Death Eater was the one who saved her life. If he's willing to save a muggle, maybe he's willing to give us something not make us one step ahead of Voldemort."
"I don't think she'd tell me who he is. All I know is that she trusts him and I trust her fo therefore I trust him. And maybe it's deeper then all of this. Maybe her protecting his identity is not only protecting him but it's protecting her too. We don't know the entire situation so I'm not going to push her." Harry nodded.
"I understand, but still. If you could, that would be big." Ron said.
"I know. So when are you guys leaving?"
"…Tomorrow." Harry said. I sighed, feeling complete drained.
"Okay. Is there anything I need to do specifically?"
"I think you should figure out a way to get an internship in the ministry."
"Any specific branch?" I asked Harry.
"You'll have a better chance of learning something with the Aurors." I nodded.
"Consider it done."
"And study medicine as best as you can." Harry said.
"We thought you would like that part since you love the library so much." Ron said.
"So I know things. My brain is like an encyclopedia. Yes I know. But I'm good in the field too. I've been with you guys from the very beginning the good and the bad, the books and the broom. Don't think me incompetent because I'm smart. I'm just as good as you." I said, my voice sounding more defeated then anything. Ron came up and took my hand, lacing our fingers together.
"I know that. But this is where we need you. I'm sorry we can't take you with us. But we need you here."
"I know, it just… sucks for lack of a better word."
"I'm sorry." Harry offered. I nodded.
"I should go find Jessica."
Later that night
"How was your day Jess?"
"I broke my hand earlier." Jessica laid down in her bed facing toward Hermione.
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
"Not now. How about you?"
"Harry and Ron are leaving." Hermione said as she laid in her bed facing her friend.
"Do you want to tell me about it?"
"Not now." Jessica smiled. She sat up and kissed Hermione on her forehead.
"Goodnight baby girl."
"Goodnight."
A/N: So in this chapter we learn a little bit more about Jessica and her relationship with Draco and about the soon to be absence of Harry and Ron. Don't worry, there is going to be a lot more Dramione stuff happening now that Jessica is more or less settled in. I hope you guys liked this chapter. Please review. They mean so much. Thank you J