14. Secrets

Draco and Ron returned to school holding hands and went back to Hermione to study. They held hands under the table and Hermione didn't notice anything. Her books and final exams were more important to her than anything else. "We have to give back the stones next week but some students can earn them back if they are the best of their class"

"And why do you want one of these stones?"

"Jade saved a life with them and what she writes... I'm better than her" Hermione didn't take any break from reading her books. Ron and Draco knew it was best not to ask too many questions when they were suddenly interrupted. "Are you a couple?" Astoria stood behind Draco and in her hand was Jade's shiny gobstone. It's magic glow was shining through her fist and gave it a golden shine.

"We..."

"Why do you ask us these questions? I know the London Daily Prophet suspects..." Hermione was cut off when Astoria shook her head and looked from Ron to Draco. The blonde boy blushed while the red haired was nervous and bit his lip. "We... Hermione, it's..."

"WHAT?"

Jade didn't attend Petunia Dursley's funeral instead she went with Scabior to the woman's house and saw no pictures of her family. Only of picture was on the wall. It was the one Jade had given Petunia months ago. "She didn't go back to her husband" Scabior searched cupboards but didn't find anything interesting.

"No, she had quit this life to be with her real son but... it was too late" Jade didn't feel any sympathy for Petunia. Harry's mother had died unnoticed if Jade had never told her story. There were still unanswered questions but the young witch didn't want to give up. "Let's find her bedroom and then we get out of here"

"Ron!" Hermione was screaming and everybody saw she was angry. She stared her best friend before she stood up and slapped Draco. "That's what you did? You take him away? Why did we even help you? You are nothing! You don't belong to us! And now you took him but he is not yours!"

"Hermione, please..." Ron tried to speak calm until he felt Draco's hand leaving him. His boyfriend wanted to cry again and it broke his heart to see Draco like this. His hand grabbed Draco's hand and he didn't care about Hermione seeing them. "This is new for me too, okay? I really like him and he helped us when he was scared"

"He is always scared! And remember how he treated you in Hogwarts!"

"I changed..." Draco's voice was weak like him. Ron had to drag him away and didn't want to listen to Hermione. He felt strange since Draco had kissed him but he liked his friend and it was not like with Harry. Draco was different and he wasn't the same anymore. Draco had become someone who was worth his friendship, protection and more...

Hermione sank back on the seat and was crying. Astoria watched her but didn't step closer. Her stone was still glowing and her eyes turned to it. At least Draco knew it was real while Astoria only hoped her friendship with Jade was more than a spell.

"Are you still the smartest witch of your generation?"

"What? Why do you... why don't you leave me alone?" Hermione wanted to slap the girl too but she didn't try. Hermione nodded and let Astoria take the seat next to her. Once the girl had opened her hand her stone was glowing less. The golden shine was not reaching out anymore but it was still beautiful. Hermione liked to look at it and a small smile came to her lips. "I'm impressed what Jade and you did with the stones... she saved your life, she found you and could watch you... know you are still alive"

"My friend Kendra thinks it's more... what if Jade put my soul in this stone? What if she controls me? I don't want to believe it... I trust her more than anyone. But I know she can be scary... the other students and everybody who reads her book and the Daily Prophet..."

Hermione nodded and turned back to grab a book from the table. "I read something about it and I think there is a way to find out but... I need help with this. Ron won't trust me now and... I think it's not wise to do it in this school. I feel like we run around with the gobstones they gave us... I think they are watching us"

"Why didn't you stick with her? She is your best friend and you have been through much more with her than... I'm a coward and an idiot, Ron. Without you I would be lost..." Draco rubbed the last tear away while Ron still held his other hand. He was very quiet but he didn't look away from Draco. "I don't want you to lose your best friend because of me"

"Stop" Ron's word was sharpe and made the other stop talking. "Draco... I don't know what I feel... your kiss was... it was unexpected but not unwanted. You mean as much to me as Hermione and maybe... maybe more..."

"You are more to me... more than only friends..." Draco's cheeks were red and he tried to look away but Ron stopped his chin to move. He leaned slowly forward and kissed the nervous boy.

"We need someone you... you want to take control of?" Astoria thought about it and nodded. She was sure Hermione won't harm anyone. She was known to be a brave and clever witch and now she wanted to help Astoria. "Will you need me to make Draco meet you alone outside the school or do you have a muggle in mind?"

"I want to believe something is not right with Ron and Draco but we should test our theory with a muggle or... who is that man that is always so close to Jade?"

Petunia's bedroom was on the first floor. It had no decorations like the rest of the tiny house. Harry's mother must have spent all her money to get away from her family. Jade walked around while Scabior searched under the bed and found something. "What have we here?"

He took the small blue box with flowers on it from beneath the bed and showed it to Jade. A child had written something on it which made Jade smile.

My secrets

"Well, Petunia... let's see what else you have hidden all these years" Jade grinned and opened the small box where she found a baby picture of Harry, letters and an old diary of Petunia Evans.