"Blimey, Harry! What's up with you?" Ron asked as they watched Slytherin play against Hufflepuff at the end of February. Harry was complaining and making angry faces whenever Jade scored and she and Draco high-fived.
"Nothing," Harry snapped.
"I told you they were going to start talking again," Ron said.
"But I told her what I heard at the party before Christmas and she acts like she is in denial."
"It's not surprising. You'd be in denial too if you were in her shoes. Is anything else bothering you?"
"No."
When Draco caught the snitch, he barely did though, Jade smiled and Harry could see how much he meant to her. She had never seen him that way and somehow that bothered him. There was nagging feeling inside of him that he hadn't felt before. Just as Jade and Draco were going to hug and celebrate, Harry turned and walked away, leaving the field and headed to the castle, followed by Ron.
Slytherin wasn't doing as great as last year, with lots of goals and huge point differences but at least they were winning their matches. But that wasn't what was bothering Harry. Gryffindor was also winning and not doing bad.
"They hadn't talked in months, Harry. They are catching up," Ron said. "It's normal."
"Do you think they are back together?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. We didn't know they were together all the time they were together. They're good at hiding it," Ron said and Harry frowned. "But I don't think they are. I think Jade would go step by step first. Malfoy was really mean, I doubt she would jump back in a relationship with him again. It took her months to forgive him and talk to him again."
"I'm worried..."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, what if Malfoy drags her into being a Death Eater?"
"We don't know if he's one, Harry."
"And remember what she said... The Lestranges want her to join. What if she's forced into it? She doesn't want to tell us what Dumbledore told her. What if it has something to do with her family and what they do?"
"What? Did she already talk to Dumbledore?"
"Yes and lied about it. She told me Dumbledore didn't want her to tell us."
"Well, could be true, can't it?"
"She could have at least told us that and not hide it."
March came and the first day of the month showed to not be good. Jade didn't find out until the next day, though.
"Potter's friend was poisoned," Jade heard Channel telling Millicent. Normally Jade didn't pay attention to gossip but Harry's name made her snap out of her thoughts.
"What did you say?"
"The redhead... he was poisoned last night. Apparently he was in Slughorn office so they found an antidote quickly."
Jade didn't need to hear more. She rushed to the Hospital Wing, where she saw Mrs. Weasley, George and Bill next to Ron's bed.
"Oh Jade, how have you been dear?"
"I'm okay, how is he?"
"They say he is going to be okay. He woke up earlier but he's sleeping again," Molly told her.
Ten minutes later, Harry appeared. He greeted Ron's relatives and then asked Jade if she could go outside with him. Jade excused herself and followed Harry outside.
"What happened to him? I mean... how did it happen?"
"He ate something with a love potion... meant for me. Took him to see Slughorn and after he took the antidote, Slughorn opened a bottle of some wine or something and Ron drank it all before Slughorn and I even tried it. I used a bezoar as Slughorn was paralyzed..."
"I'm glad you thought of something quick."
"Could Malfoy...?"
"Ugh, not again, Harry!"
"Jade, not even you can deny there's something dodgy about what I've heard and how he is behaving!"
"You said Slughorn opened a bottle... can Slughorn be a suspect? How did he get it? Why did he open it for you?"
"I told him it was Ron's birthday. Slughorn said the bottle was a gift for Dumbledore."
"Do you think the poison was meant for him then?"
"I don't know. Everything is possible. Look, Katie is still in St. Mungos, you know? And now Ron... I really need to know... I'm not asking you about Malfoy to bug you or because I dislike him!"
"Need to know? You are not an Auror! You are not even an adult!" Jade exclaimed. "You are just being nosy and it's annoying."
"I'm just concerned and..."
"I'm concerned too! Ron is also my friend! But I'll tell you... Draco can be the one as anyone else here... I think your personal feelings towards him are blinding you a bit."
"Can I ask you something...? " Harry asked and Jade just gave him a look. He asked anyway. "Is Malfoy leaving Hogwarts?"
"How could he?" Jade said, actually laughing.
"I've got a map, it shows me where everybody is in Hogwarts. Malfoy has disappeared several times during the last few weeks."
"Are you sure the map shows every single corner of this place?" Jade asked and Harry nodded. A long silence followed.
"Are you dating him again?"
Jade opened her eyes wide in shock, then looked down at the floor. Jade fidgeted uncomfortably. She never liked that kind of question or to discuss personal issues.
"No... we are just friends."
"How many times did you tell us that before and it wasn't true?"
"I couldn't tell you! I had to keep it a secret! You know why! And I don't even see why we are talking about this, Harry! My love life and just my life in general is my business, not yours!"
"I just thought that you would be more careful...knowing he could be a Death Eater," Harry said, a mix of caring and angriness could be sensed in his tone.
"I'm here to see Ron, not to get yelled at for having a friend you don't approve of," Jade exclaimed. "Or because you are jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Well, you are acting like you are," Jade said shrugging.
"I..."
"Look, I do like Draco, okay? But right now my life is too complicated to think of dating someone. I also have the situation with Cass... I don't need more drama in my life and I'd appreciate it if you don't keep adding pressure. Draco is not the person you think. I'm not saying he is like me, that one day he will hug you and call you his friend or hang around Muggle-Borns or anything like that but he is not bad. If he had to choose, he wouldn't choose his side, especially with what has happened to his father. He's angry, he feels loath... repugnance towards him and what he represents. Believe me."
"Jade..."
"Just leave it for today. Tell Ron I came by if he wakes up."
Reluctantly, the next Saturday Jade went to watch Gryffindor playing Hufflepuff. One good thing was that Luna was commenting now that Lee Jordan had graduated. She was eccentric and funny.
Ron wasn't allowed to play so Harry got McLaggen to play Ron's position. He seemed good enough but Jade saw the two boys arguing in the middle of the match, that wasn't good. Jade had been captain for two years and had never argued with a teammate during a match, even when she now had Crabbe and Goyle as beaters... Sometimes she gave instructions or orders but never argued.
Being a captain too and having a brother that was Captain too and knowing Quidditch so well, she could see little details that were important. McLaggen kept telling everyone what to do, including Harry and in the process forgetting he had three hoops to worry about. Hufflepuff scored a few times because McLaggen was too busy telling other people how to play their positions and leaving the hoops completely exposed and apparently forgetting about his role on the team.
At some point, McLaggen grabbed the bat from one of the beaters and was telling him how to do it. Hufflepuff was already winning by then.
"Oh God!" Jade exclaimed, hiding her face in her hands. That was embarrassing. Jade wanted to grab her broom and say something to that idiot. Jade wouldn't care if she had to play with six players, she would get rid of him if he was in her team.
Jade saw how Harry flew towards them and scolded McLaggen. Jade wasn't sure how exactly things happened but the idiot, as she was calling him now, hit a Bludger to "show" the beater how to do it and hit one of his teammates, his own captain.
Harry was hit in the head quite forcefully and his limp body fell to the ground loudly. It was nasty. Harry was unconscious on the ground but the game continued...
Some hours later, Jade found herself between Harry and Ron's bed in the Hospital Wing. It was getting dark when Harry finally opened his eyes, at once Jade stood up and approached him.
"How do you feel?"
"Awful, what happened?"
"Cracked skull," Madam Pomfrey told him. "I've mended it but you must stay here overnight.
"I need to find McLaggen and kill him!" Harry exclaimed.
"So you remember?" Jade asked.
"Yeah... I think. He hit me, didn't he?"
"Yeah, the sound was horrible and then you seemed dead... I was worried."
Harry did blush at her words. He offered her a small smile despite his migraine and she smiled too, knowing he was okay.
"What was the score?" Harry asked, fearing the worst.
"Three hundred and twenty... to sixty," Ron replied. "I could hear Luna's commentating from here. It was so cool. Hope she keeps commentating."
"Brilliant," Harry muttered sarcastically. "I'll kill him, I swear!"
"I'm sure the other players already dealt with him. Never seen them so angry," Jade said. "He was a complete idiot. I'd have stupefy him or something and would replace him with any other player, even myself, if he was my keeper. The way he acted was just stupid and made no sense."
"Isn't that illegal?" Ron asked.
"Yeah but no one has to find out it was me, right?" Jade said with a smile. "Anyway, got to go before Madam Pomfrey comes again. Hope to see you both out of here soon."
Jade bumped into them the next morning as they left the Hospital Wing. For just a few minutes it seemed like everything was back to normal between them. After breakfast the three of them plus Granger walked to the seventh floor, which was empty, except for a little girl, she dropped the brass scales she was carrying.
Granger, being kind and a prefect, helped the little girl and repaired the scales. The girl didn't say a single word and kept looking at the four older students until they were out of her sight.
It was then when they ran into Luna, she pulled out a scroll of parchment out of her pocket and handed it to Harry. They all knew it meant Dumbledore wanted to see him again.
"Nice commentary last match," Ron complimented her.
"Everyone says I was dreadful."
"What? No! I'm serious! Never enjoyed commentary as much as when you did it."
Luna thanked him and then talked to them about some of her weird stuff she had in her pockets. No one knew what the hell she was talking about. Jade looked at the other three, hoping to get an explanation but they all just shrugged, being as clueless as she was.
"You know, she's grown on me," Ron said as their conversation ended and Luna went the other direction. "I know she is insane but... in a good way, you know?"
"Seems like someone's got a crush!" Jade exclaimed with a chuckle and Ron blushed. "And to be honest, I like her way more than..."
"Ron!"
To everyone's surprise Lavender Brown was at the end of the corridor, fuming. "What is she doing with you?" she asked looking at Granger. "And she?" she asked, this time looking at Jade.
"Excuse me!" Jade exclaimed.
"C'mon," Harry muttered, interrupting Jade, knowing how Jade could get and how Lavender was.
Harry actually had to grab Jade by the elbow and drag her with him. The two of them and Granger hurried away, leaving Ron behind with his girlfriend, who was complaining about not being told that Ron was out of the Hospital Wing and spending time with not one but two girls... if only she knew Ron was complimenting Luna only some minutes ago.
"Harry, before I forget," Jade muttered as they were out of sight from Ron and Lavender. "Ask Dumbledore if you can know of the other prophecy... I promise I'll tell you if he says yes."
Granger looked confused as she didn't know what they were talking about. Harry, though, looked satisfied and happy. He nodded and smiled at the brunette.
Ron didn't look cheerful for the rest of the day as he had been earlier, he looked miserable and it didn't take much to notice the drop in his mood.
"Can I give you an advice?" Jade asked with caution, she didn't want rude Ron back. But she couldn't keep it in, she had to risk it.
"Sure."
"Why don't you break up with Lavender? You obviously don't want to be with her... give it some time and ask Luna out. I'm sure she is funnier and friendlier than Lavender. And way cooler as well."
"Have you broken up with someone?" Ron asked and Jade nodded, except she didn't literally say those words. "It's like the more hints I give her, the more she clings to me. I don't know what to do."
"Just tell her, Ron," Jade said with a shrug. "What's the worst that can happen? I mean, you already want to end things so... just do it."
I've tried to edit a new video but I'm blocked because I have too many ideas. So I don't know where to begin and what idea to choose.
I was also thinking of doing a Jade/Draco short video but the actress I chose to portray her isn't that popular and isn't in too many shows and it's hard to find enough clips... so who do you think can portray Jade?
She has green eyes and longish brown hair.
