As soon as Jade let go, her hands slammed back to the earth and it was as if her hands were locked from going absolutely anywhere. Jade's body was limp and heavy, and she felt her wrists about to rip apart from carrying her weight. She opened her eyes to see Draco right there, getting a better hold of her arms and pulling her up.
"Pull yourself up!" he shouted. Jade could hardly believe her eyes. She was ready to let go and die but at that exact moment, Draco had found her. She was so incredibly happy to see him, she could cry. Draco saw the crocodiles from beneath, trying to run up the dirt wall to catch Jade's legs but Draco wasn't going to allow that at all. He saw that Jade stared at him, obviously in deep shock and he kept trying to tell her to pull herself up but it seemed as if she wasn't even listening. He wrapped an arm around her upper body and pulled as hard as he could to get her completely safe from harm. He fell back; feeling exhausted from pulling her out of danger and placed a hand over his eyes, gasping for breath.
"Y-you saved me." Jade said, still staring at him, stunned. Draco removed his hand from his eyes and stared angrily at her.
"Yes or you would have died. What do you think you were doing Harper? Is this place some kind of tour for you? Did I not warn you about this place? Did you not get the memo that this place is one of the most dangerous places in the Wizarding world?" he asked angrily. He didn't care if he was hurting her feelings, she needed a good scolding. She needed to realize that she was just about to be killed and this wasn't some little vacation that they were taking for the pure hell of it. Their lives were in mortal danger in any corner of this bloody forsaken place.
"I got lost Malfoy, what's wrong with you? I know my life's at risk. Do you think anyone would be depressed enough to just walk into a pit full of hissing crocodiles?" Jade asked him hotly. They both shook in anger knowing that the other was just a stubborn prick.
"Then you must be an idiot. How could you get lost with all of those people walking with you?" he asked. Jade rolled her eyes at him.
"It happens Malfoy. People often get lost, even when they're with big bands of people. Someone's bound to get lost." Jade said finally getting up. Draco also stood up, still angry at her.
"Yes, it's usually the brainless ones." He said. Jade turned towards him and pushed his shoulder.
"Why'd you even bother to save me then you Death Eater?" Jade asked. She saw him tense up and look at her murderously.
"Take that back Harper." Draco hissed.
"No thank you. Don't run your mouth off and act angry that I've nearly killed myself back there. You don't even give a dragon's shit if I live or not, you just want to bask in all the glory you can in front of Paul, those gypsies and your Belle." Jade spat.
Draco balled up his fists, feeling humiliated and betrayed by her. From what he had thought of her, to now, he felt an unpleasant blow to himself as a person. He saved her life because he wanted to protect her just for her to belittle his actions and say that it was an excuse for glory and that he didn't care. Maybe he shouldn't care about her anymore. Maybe everyone was like this and no one was really worth to deserve his sincerity. His wall had been built and he felt his entire heart ice up again.
"Even Potter doesn't deserve to have raped a washed up whore like you." Draco said malevolently.
Jade instantly felt her anger vanish and her entire world disintegrate. Her shoulders slumped and Jade felt her heart vanish. There was nothing inside of her, except for the choking sensation of a sob making its way through her throat. Her eyes quickly filled with tears and felt like the most defeated individual in the entire universe. No human being, not even an enemy would say that to another human being. Draco had used the cheapest and the most hardest heart shattering blow he could ever use. The one thing that Jade always kept private in her life and even from herself had resurfaced. She never spoke of this incident to anyone, not even to herself. She buried this secret in her heart but Draco found out and Jade knew she could never forgive herself for ever telling him. She stared at him who looked ruthlessly at her. Fresh new tears trailed down her face and she shook her head at him.
"How could you say that to me?" she asked softly.
Draco thought he could answer that but couldn't. Instead he looked at her and understood at what extent he had hurt her. Draco completely broke her. Now she stood in front of him, crying silently and looking at him like the she had been defeated. They heard footsteps nearby and Draco turned to see Annabelle and a couple of other gypsies appear from the trees.
"Where were you two? Where did you go off to?" one of the gypsies asked. Jade only stared at Draco, not even being able to speak. Annabelle stood there feeling awkward. Jade looked heartbroken and Draco was torn between apologizing and looking incredibly angry. She wondered what happened between them. Jade finally tore her eyes off of Draco and walked away, from them. Annabelle followed her out and they all led Jade and Draco to the group again.
"Where did you run off to? You had Draco worried sick." Paul smiled when Jade came back with Annabelle. Jade didn't answer him but only mounted the horse and looked straight ahead.
"Is she all right?" Paul whispered to Annabelle who shrugged. They saw Draco appear with the other men and Draco looked as miserable as Jade did.
"What happened back there?" Paul asked confusedly.
The men shook their heads and shrugged, equally puzzled. Draco mounted onto another horse and everyone watched them silently. When they didn't even show that they were interested in telling them what had happened, Paul signaled everyone to get back on their horses and they all rode off to the next town of Castile.
This specific town was much livelier than the last town. People had been juggling balls of fire and women were dancing with small tambourines, earning money like Jade had.
"Thank you Paul." Jade said hugging Paul who smiled warmly at her. They were next to the whorehouse where all the men couldn't wait to relieve themselves from the women who coyly watched them from the open windows from above.
"It was an honor to escort you my lady." Paul bowed. Jade patted his shoulder and nodded at him.
"Goodbye. It was nice to see you Paul." Jade said seeing him nod.
"May we meet again." He said.
Jade didn't reply to that. She probably won't see him again. Either she was going to Hogwarts or she was going to die, nothing promised him to let him see her again. Jade took a step back and let him wish Draco and Annabelle goodbye. Draco shook hands with Paul who had given him a piece of advice on women.
"Whatever you say, women will always be right. Do not let a small squabble ruin something as precious as love. Of course you are probably thinking, what does a gypsy know?" Paul asked, seeing Draco shove his hands into his pockets and look away angrily.
"I have been in love with a woman for nearly 35 years in my life. We had a happy life together until we had a small fight and she died from a bridge collapse with my 10 year old girl. I could not tell them I loved them or tell her I was sorry. Women come and go in your life Draco but the special ones, the ones that are worthy of your love should be treated like you're worthy of them. Right Jade?" Paul asked Jade who crossed her arms and turned, not the least bit interested in anything he had to say.
"She is always right no matter what. If she murders, you support her because you love her. Just know that." Paul said pointing to Jade.
Draco shook his head and went to explain that Jade and him weren't an item but Paul cut him off.
"No arguments. Make up with your lady and enjoy whatever you have between each other. You are young, you probably have another 50 years ahead of you but who knows, maybe you will die tomorrow. No one is certain." Paul said.
Draco mulled over his words and inwardly shook his head. Paul had no idea. Paul clapped Draco's shoulder and started walking back inside of the whorehouse.
"Good day to you!" Paul said disappearing.
When Paul had left them, Draco, Jade and Annabelle stood there awkwardly, wondering what to do next. Usually Jade would chirp up and suggest something but she was stone cold this time, not even bothering to say anything. Draco turned to Annabelle, and directed the question at Jade.
"I'm hungry, what do you say?" Draco asked Annabelle who glanced at Jade who stood near them, not bothering to cooperate. She looked back at Draco who determinedly kept looking at her, as if he was expecting her to open her mouth and say something when she obviously couldn't. Annabelle gestured that she was hungry too but to ask Jade what she wanted.
"We'll go get something to eat then." Draco said not harassing himself into asking Jade what she wanted. He walked off for them to follow but heard Jade stop Annabelle.
"Annabelle do you know if there are any places to stay? I'm extremely exhausted." Jade told Annabelle who nodded.
When she would come down to the towns, they would usually spend the night in. Annabelle took Jade's hand and led her to a small yet cozy inn that she had seen the soldiers spend the night in while she slept inside of the carriage with the cook. Draco followed Jade and Annabelle who had walked towards a building where they saw horses being walked in by their owners. Chickens were being fed by women and a man sweeping the stairs. Jade, Annabelle and Draco walked up the stairs and the man looked up at them, in his thirties with short blonde hair.
"What do you want?" he asked rudely, seeing their dirty and worn clothing.
"How much is a room for one night?" Draco asked curtly. The innkeeper shot a look at Draco and realized that they wanted to spend the night and they had money.
"An entire silver shilling." The man replied, looking at them curiously.
"Give me two rooms." Draco told him. The innkeeper dropped his broom and bowed, gesturing inside.
"Yes! Yes! Whole heartedly! Come in! Come in!" the innkeeper told them.
They walked in and looked around the inn. It was well kept and tidy for the medieval times but both Jade and Draco found it to be disgusting by their standards. The innkeeper showed them to their rooms and Jade immediately lied down on her bed to fall asleep. When the innkeeper left, Draco again asked Annabelle if she was hungry.
"Then let's leave. I'm hungry as it is. Tell her to wake up." Draco said lowering her voice to Annabelle who nodded. Annabelle walked over to Jade and shook her gently. Jade looked at Annabelle, wanting to go back to sleep.
"I'm not hungry Belle. You can eat without me." Jade said closing her eyes and burying her face in her arms. Annabelle looked over to Draco who was surprised. They hadn't eaten anything this morning, she should be starving! Annabelle persisted but Jade pushed her away.
"I'm not hungry. Please just leave me alone." Jade said sternly. Annabelle got up and looked at Draco who waved Jade off and opened the door.
"We'll just see how long she can last without food." Draco snapped as Annabelle left the room.
He slammed the door shut, feeling incredibly furious at Jade who wanted to be stubborn. Fine, let her be. How long could she be stubborn for? Draco would certainly find out today. He had seen a lot of people pull the 'I'm not hungry' trick all the time and in the end, they gave up and gave in to their food. It wasn't going to fool him and he wasn't going to be guilty about anything once she puts something in her mouth. Draco walked down the streets with Annabelle by his side. Annabelle noted that he was furious and didn't want to further upset him. They walked into a tavern that didn't surprise either of them. It was a stench filled and crowded tavern with men. There were a couple of women scattered around, sitting on the laps of men or trying to flirt around to find payment for the night. Draco sat down and a thin and lanky boy came up to them with ale.
"What would you like to have today sir?" the boy asked, wiping his hands with a small handkerchief that hung from the side of his belt.
"What do you have?" Draco asked.
"Slices of cold beef and bread." The lad said.
"Go on." Draco said seeing the boy nod.
Draco turned to Annabelle who looked uncomfortable sitting there in the tavern. She wasn't typically attractive, but had an innocent and sweet face. She looked highly gullible and it was a danger for the both of them. It would attract thieves or other money swindlers and Draco didn't want to deal with that. The last thing he needed out of all the problems in the world is to earn the money back that Jade made for the both of them. He felt a tinge of guilt and even regret pinching him slightly inside. Annabelle softly placed a hand on Draco's hand and he looked up to see her nervously look at him. Draco withdrew his hand from her and crossed his arms together.
"I tried saving her life and instead of being thankful or being grateful; she called me a Death Eater." Draco told Annabelle who wrinkled her face, probably wondering what a Death Eater was.
"She called me a murderer…ough you wouldn't understand. You don't know what we've been through or where we came from." Draco said looking off. Annabelle softly knocked on the table and gained back Draco's attention. Annabelle gestured two fingers.
"First one…forgive; no, next." Draco said seeing her sigh and gesture to the second word.
"Forget? Definitely not." Draco said.
The thin boy came back with their food and set it down on the table. Annabelle attacked her food and scarfed it down, never feeling this hungry in her life. Draco ate but as hungry as he was, he found it incredibly hard to eat when he knew that Jade was all alone, eating absolutely nothing. He chewed slowly, seeing Annabelle stuff her cheeks with food that tasted like dung. A heavyset and muscular man walked by their table and stood next to Annabelle who glanced at him and quickly looked away.
"What's yer name darlin'?" he asked taking out a pouch filled with money out. He shook it in front of her and she ignored him, looking at Draco intently. The man looked at Draco and curled his lip, looking at Draco.
"I'll pay yeh double the money he's givin' yeh." The man said scratching his beard.
Draco wanted to avoid getting his arse kicked. He didn't want to deal with a man that was twice his size and Annabelle was definitely not fighting for. Annabelle took her chair and scooted away from him but he kept going closer to her.
"Why are yeh lookin' at him for?" the man growled looking at Draco who looked down at his food.
"Hey! Yeh got a problem with me?" he boomed, swiping Annabelle's empty plate and cup off the table. Draco looked up and put his hands up in mock surrender.
"I'm minding my own business; you're the one causing a problem for yourself." Draco said. The entire tavern laughed at the man who went to grab Draco but Draco stood up and stepped back.
"I'm leaving in peace." He said. He stepped away and saw the man watch him make his way out of the tavern. Annabelle was in complete terror as Draco left her alone. She looked at the man who turned back to her and chuckled darkly.
"That was easier than I thought." The man said grabbing Annabelle's hand.
Draco wondered if he was doing the right thing. Obviously it wasn't, but he was being saved from getting beaten up right? Annabelle meant nothing to him, but still, what did she do to deserve being taken away from that brute? He remembered the time he had left Jade the countless times when they were both in danger. She took it by full measure, even when knowing there were serious consequences following right behind it.
Draco often thought people like that were fools and didn't even care about their lives. Annabelle was a friend of his and Jade's and what kind of person would he be if he allowed another man to manhandle her when Draco could have done something about it? Jade wouldn't have tolerated it. She would have marched right up to that man and would have done whatever she could to stand up for what was right and in this case, Annabelle was right.
Draco turned around, seeing the man grab Annabelle's arm who started to cry uncontrollably. Draco mustered up the courage and for once in his life; he went to defend someone who wasn't him. The man heaved in laughter and went to bring Annabelle closer but heard someone from behind him.
"Hey; dick face!"
The man turned around and saw Draco swing a chair right at him, causing him to stumble back and fall. Draco swore the whole tavern shook and let out a sputtered laugh, pointing at the man who was unconscious on the floor, his pot belly sticking up in the air. The men got up and looked at Draco incredulously and for a split second, Draco thought he was in deep trouble. Instead, they all cheered and paraded towards him, clapping his back, congratulating him and thanking him for knocking down the troublemaker who had been harassing them and their women for a very long time.
"Free ale for you sir!" the boy said handing him an extra cup of ale for him and Annabelle.
"Actually, is it all right if you can pack me some food? I have a friend." Draco explained seeing the boy nod graciously. Draco turned to Annabelle who was grateful for him to come back and save her from the man. She crashed herself against him and hugged him and Draco stood there, unsure if he should hug her.
"Don't worry about it." Draco said, relieved that she finally pulled back.
He could see that she really did feel strongly for him but he wanted to let her know that, that wasn't how he felt and that she shouldn't really like him for anything really. He was so close to abandoning her, if it wasn't the sudden good side of him that sprung up, he would have never came back. The boy came back and handed Draco a small basket of food and Draco thanked him, paying him his money. Draco handed Annabelle the basket and went to put his pouch back into his belt. He heard Annabelle gasp and looked up to see her terrified expression. The men around tensed up and Draco froze, his eyes moving around to see everyone gape at what was behind him.
Draco slowly turned his head and saw the man towering over him, looking thunderous. Draco chuckled nervously and saw the blood dripping from the man's nose.
"You know…red is a great color for you. Really brings out your…er…nose?" Draco said.