Classes began again and Jade walked with Draco and Pansy to breakfast, they came in late so she had to eat quickly before they had to walk down to Hagrid's for Care of Magical Creatures but as she started towards the Slytherin table from the Great Hall's large doors, she heard someone call her name. She found Harry waving her over, Hermione and Ron turned in their seats to look at her.
"I'll see you guys in a few minutes?" She offered Draco and Pansy. Pansy glared past Jade's shoulder at the Gryffindors and then silently continued her way to the Slytherin table.
"Yeah, that's fine." Draco agreed even though it was clear he didn't want to.
"What's up?" Jade smiled, sitting in the spot next to Harry.
"Right, there's something I have to tell you guys." Harry lowered his voice, his tone serious. They all leaned in to hear him better in the loud hall. "The second task is February twenty-fourth, and I know I told you I was figuring out my egg, Hermione, but I still have no idea what I'm supposed to do with it."
"You told me you had that figured out weeks ago, Harry." Hermione scolded.
"I know, but… Cedric might have given me a clue." He said reluctantly.
"Great, so what's the problem?" Ron asked.
"He told me to grab my egg and then take a bath," Harry said simply. "That's it."
"So do that," Jade added but it almost came out as a question. People began leaving the tables and heading for their first classes and Jade rose with her friends and followed them out of the Great Hall. She was a bit bothered that she hadn't grabbed anything to eat but she pushed the thought away when Harry spoke again as they trotted down the stone steps of the castle.
"But, what does that even mean? I told Cedric exactly what to expect for the first task and all I get is a vague hint to take a bath." He huffed quietly, his breath curling out in front of him before disappearing. There was still a layer of snow covering everything but there was no breeze today, it was almost enjoyable.
"Harry, I don't understand what the big deal-" Jade began but then trailed off when she noticed someone standing outside of Hagrid's hut. The other three looked to see what she was staring at and quickly moved past the discussion.
"Who's that?" Hermione asked. They ruined their way through the fresh coat of snow on the ground to get down the hill. It was a woman, an old woman, with short gray hair and a very prominent chin. Even though they were the first to arrive, the older witch looked irritated.
"Hurry up, now, the bell rang five minutes ago," She barked at them as they struggled toward her through the snow.
"Who're you?" Ron spoke up. "Where's Hagrid?" Jade looked behind her to find the rest of their class stumbling and slipping after them.
"My name is Professor Grubbly-Plank," She announced after a minute so the rest of the class could hear her. "I am your temporary Care of Magical Creatures teacher."
"Where's Hagrid?" Harry repeated loudly.
"He is indisposed," She gave as a vague explanation. Draco's laugh reached her ear, he didn't look surprised to see the substitute at all. "This way, please," Professor Grubbly-Plank ordered before anyone else could ask any more questions. She walked off around the paddock where the Beauxbatons horses were shivering.
"What's wrong with Hagrid?" Harry asked, hurrying to catch up with Professor Grubbly-Plank. Jade, Ron, and Hermione only a few steps behind them.
"Never you mind," She said, growing irked by Harry's investigating.
"I do mind, though," Harry said hotly. "What's up with him?" She didn't answer him though, she led them past the paddock toward a specific tree on the edge of the forest, where a large, pure white, magnificent unicorn was tethered. Jade's concern for Hagrid was replaced by the desire to touch the unicorn embarrassingly quick.
"Oh, it's so beautiful!" Lavender Brown gasped. "How did she get it? They're supposed to be really hard to catch!" The unicorn was whiter than the snow on the ground, it almost glowed. It pawed at the ground nervously with its golden hooves and threw back its horned head.
"Boys keep back!" Professor Grubbly-Plank barked, throwing out an arm and catching Harry hard in the chest. "They prefer the woman's touch, unicorns. Girls to the front, and approach with care, come on, easy does it." Jade eagerly went forward behind the teacher, dragging an uncertain Hermione with her. Professor Grubbly-Plank gave the unicorn a reassuring stroke down its nose and then shushed it soothingly as she stroked its back.
"Alright, you, step on up, say hello." She gestured for Lavender to step forward and she did with a large smile on her face. "Now, these majestic equines possess potent magical properties, just their tail hairs are used as wand cores, also known as a 'supreme core', which is a distinction shared by only two other beasts. What are the other two?" Jade's hand rose into the air quickly and Professor Grubbly-Plank pointed at her.
"Dragon heartstrings and Phoenix feathers." She answered and Grubbly-Plank nodded and gestured for her to approach the unicorn. Jade stepped forward, taking Lavender's place, and gently pet the unicorn's incredibly soft hair.
"Unicorn foals are born pure gold in color, at about two years old they turn silver, and around four years old, their horns grow in. They don't turn white until they're about seven years old and that is when they have fully grown." She went on explaining unicorns and the girls took turns petting the creature. "Are you paying attention over there?" Professor Grubbly-Plank's voice rose sharply towards the boys and Jade looked behind her to see Draco and Harry glaring at each other, a nasty sneer on Draco's face. She went on, but Jade was no longer paying attention and when they returned to the rest of the class she walked up to Harry. Draco had stepped back but a satisfied smirk held firm on his face.
"What's going on?" Jade asked, trying to keep her tone light even though she knew Draco had said something cruel. Harry didn't even look at her, he shoved a copy of the Daily Prophet in her hands and stormed off. "Harry!" She called after him and Ron who had followed but then looked down at the paper in her hands. It was an article with a large picture of Hagrid looking uncomfortable.
'DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE' The headline read. Jade scanned it quickly. Rita Skeeter wrote about Dumbledore's odd choice of hiring with Hagrid and Professor Moody and then went on more to talk specifically about Hagrid. She made him out to be manipulative and crazy in how he acquired his position as professor. She wrote about his mother and father and made it seem like Hagrid was a danger to everyone because of who his mother was. What made her pause was a specific quote from Draco Malfoy. No wonder why Harry was so angry. She threw the paper at Draco who momentarily fumbled to catch it. Class was over, students were beginning to start up the hill for lunch and Professor Grubbly-Plank was gathering some boxes for her next class.
"I can't believe you!" Jade hissed as she brushed past him, following Pansy and Blaise and just trying to get away from him.
"Hey! I know it looks bad, but-"
"How is there a 'but'?" She whirled around on him and all humor she had previously seen on his face was gone.
"I said that stuff weeks ago! I didn't know she'd wait so long to publish it, or that she would publish it at all."
"Why would you even talk to that awful minger?" She turned back around, Pansy and Blaise were even further away and she sighed as she continued her walk.
"Weeks ago, Maddex." He joined her side. "Before we started-"
"So that makes it okay?" She asked, refusing to look at him.
"No, but I'm biting my tongue a lot more now." She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, please. You didn't bite your tongue ten minutes ago."
"I just showed Potter the paper, he was going to see it eventually." She could feel the warmth from the castle leaking out towards her. "I'll do better." He said after they entered the castle and she glanced at him as they set foot in the Great Hall.
"Promise?" She asked.
"Yes." He told her as they took their seats. "I'm still me, though." He added as Jade began grabbing food for her plate.
"Seriously? Hagrid is not a bad teacher and you were inconsiderate and childish to sit down with Skeeter." She sighed.
"What's wrong?" Gretta asked from across the table.
"She's mad at me for something I said almost a month ago," Draco answered.
"Be happy you only got an angry comment for what you did." Jade shoved her spoon in her mouth and Draco suppressed his grin.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Don't call me ma'am."
Usually after a break, Jade came back to her classes with a renewed energy and focus but when Saturday came, and offered a trip to Hogsmeade, she was ready to throw her books aside for a chance to escape her homework. They went later in the afternoon this time, Blaise wanted to get his Herbology homework done before so they all buzzed around him impatiently until he was done. It felt like a longer walk than usual, Draco had interlocked his fingers with Jade's and it didn't go unnoticed. Blaise and Theo teased them about it, Jade blushed but Draco ignored them. Jade hadn't been sure if becoming Draco's girlfriend was a good idea, she'd worried things would be different between them, what if it didn't work out and she lost her best friend? But her feelings for him had blossomed into something different and they grew so persistent that she took the chance. She was glad she did, Draco made her feel wonderful, when he wasn't irritating her beyond belief. He showered her with attention and it didn't take long until she became addicted to the new way he looked at her, talked to her, and touched her. It still felt a little strange, their relationship changed so quickly… it didn't mean she didn't enjoy the change. She really liked him and he made her happy, that was all that really mattered, she just needed time to adjust.
The sun was setting by the time they reached the village, students filled the streets as they ventured in and out of shops.
"Fancy a butterbeer?" Pansy asked, already starting off in the direction of the pub.
"Why not?" Jade agreed. The place was packed full, like it always was, Jade noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting at a table, hunched over their butterbeer and talking, not paying attention to anything around them. Jade causally let her hand slip from Draco's and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear before placing her hands in her pockets. He didn't seem to notice, thankfully. Jade hadn't told her the others she was dating Draco yet, they'd seen the Daily Prophet and had their fun calling her the 'Slytherin Princess' but that's all they talked about. She was grateful for it, she wouldn't lie to them but she was hoping to keep it to herself for a little longer. She didn't think their reaction would be good, she wouldn't be surprised if it started an argument, so she was avoiding it until she found a good moment. Draco went with Blaise to order the butterbeer and Jade went with the others to grab a table.
"I just don't understand why you'd want to take the class," Theo said, continuing their conversation from their walk down to Hogsmeade.
"It's fascinating," Gretta answered simply, scooting into the booth next to Theo. "Muggles are so interesting."
"How?" Pansy snorted.
"Plenty of ways."
"Like?"
"If you're interested, maybe you should take the class," Gretta told her and Pansy groaned.
"Yeah, no thanks. I doubt they have anything that could compare them to us."
"The class isn't about comparing. It's about learning about them and their ways, how they're different."
"They can't do magic," Pansy stated simply.
"Who can't?" Draco asked, coming to the table with two butterbeers in his hands and Blaise stood behind him with a tray full.
"Muggles," Theo answered. Draco made a face and Pansy nodded,
"Exactly."
"Oh, look, your best friend just walked in," Jade told Draco after a sip from her drink. They all turned to see Rita Skeeter walking in with her photographer, they couldn't hear what she was saying but she looked excited about it and Jade knew that meant whatever it was it wasn't good. Skeeter walked in wearing banana yellow robes and a quill floated at her side, writing something down on a notepad as she talked.
"Funny." Draco hummed into his mug. Rita Skeeter sat down at a table in between Jade's table and Harry's.
"Trying to ruin someone else's life?" Harry announced loudly, catching a few people's attention. They were sitting close enough to the trio that his brave voice couldn't be swept away from the rest of the pub's chatter. Rita Skeeter's eyes widened behind her jeweled spectacles as she saw who had spoken.
"Harry!" She said, beaming. "How lovely! Why don't you come and join-"
"I wouldn't come near you with a ten-foot broomstick," Harry interrupted her furiously and Theo chuckled. "What did you do that to Hagrid for, eh?" Rita Skeeter raised her heavily penciled eyebrows.
"Our readers have a right to the truth, Harry. I am merely doing my-"
"Who cares if he's half-giant?" Harry yelled. "There's nothing wrong with him!" The whole pub had gone very quiet. Madam Rosmerta was staring over from behind the bar.
"One second." Jade excused herself from the table and walked up to Harry who had risen from his seat. Rita Skeeter's smile flickered very slightly, but she hitched it back almost at once.
"How about giving me an interview about the Hagrid you know, Harry? The man behind the muscles? Your unlikely friendship and the reasons behind it. Would you call him a father substitute?" She was unbelievable, she never stopped, she would turn anything into a story for her readers. Hermione stood up very abruptly, her butterbeer clutched in her hand making her knuckles turn white.
"You horrible woman," She said through gritted teeth, "you don't care, do you? Anything for a story, and anyone will do, won't they? Even Ludo Bagman-"
"Sit down, you silly little girl, and don't talk about things you don't understand," Skeeter told Hermione coldly, her eyes hardening as they fell on her. "I know things about Ludo Bagman that would make your hair curl, not that it needs it-" She added, eyeing Hermione's bushy hair.
"Let's go," Hermione huffed, "C'mon, Harry, Ron." They grabbed their cloaks and left, barely making it to the door before Rita Skeeter's Quick-Quotes Quill was zooming back and forth on the notepad. Skeeter leaned towards it and eyed it appreciatively. Before Jade could think better about it, she took a step forward, grabbed the quill, and snapped it in two. Skeeter gasped and glanced down at the table as Jade tossed the pieces back to her.
"Just to let you know, 'Slytherin Princess' is pathetic and tacky," Jade told the older woman. She walked back over to her friends. "I'm gonna go after them," Jade told them, throwing her cloak over herself.
"Okay," Pansy said, eyeing her in fascination. Jade quickly kissed Draco on the cheek and mumbled a 'see you later' before hurrying after Harry. It took a minute or two but everyone slowly went back to their own things as Rita Skeeter sat there, glaring after Jade. Her photographer fixed the quill with a simple flick of his wand but Skeeter grabbed it harshly as it floated in front of her and shoved it back into her crocodile skin bag.
"I can't believe she did that," Gretta said quietly.
"I can, she was livid when she saw the paper," Blaise smirked.
"A kiss on the cheek, that's cute, Malfoy." Theo chuckled.
"Jealous, Nott?" Draco bit back at him.
"Hey! Hang on a second!" Jade called after the trio. She ran to catch up with them. "You alright, Hermione?" Jade asked, noticing the blush on her cheeks.
"I'll show her! Silly little girl, am I?" Hermione huffed. "Oh, I'll get her back for this. First Harry, then Hagrid."
"You don't want to go upsetting Rita Skeeter," Ron told her nervously. "I'm serious, Hermione, she'll dig up something on you-"
"My parents don't read the Daily Prophet. She can't scare me into hiding!" Hermione was now striding along so fast that the three of them had to jog almost to keep up with her. Jade rarely saw Hermione this angry, when she did, she thought it best to let her do as she pleased but Ron was trying to calm her down, which only angered her further. "And Hagrid isn't hiding anymore! He should never have let that excuse for a human being upset him! Come on!" Hermione broke into a run and Jade groaned as she and the boys followed after her. Running up the hill with snowing pulling at their feet with every step was quite the workout. Jade realized Hermione was in incredible shape, she didn't stop until they reached Hagrid's cabin. Jade and Ron bent over to catch their breath, the cold air stinging Jade's throat. The curtains were drawn but they could hear Fang barking as they approached. "Hagrid!" Hermione yelled, pounding on his front door. "Hagrid, that's enough! We know you're in there! Nobody cares if your mum was a giantess, Hagrid! You can't let that foul Skeeter woman do this to you! Hagrid, get out here, you're just being-" The door opened. "About ti-" She stopped immediately when she realized it wasn't Hagrid who had answered the door, it was Dumbledore.
"Good afternoon," He said pleasantly, smiling down at them.
"We… we wanted to see Hagrid," Hermione said quietly, all of the fury from before evaporating in front of the Headmaster.
"Yes, I surmised as much," Dumbledore chuckled slightly. "Why don't you come in?"
"Oh, okay," They went into the cabin and Fang launched himself upon Harry the moment he entered, barking madly and trying to lick his ears. Hagrid was sitting at his table, where there were two large mugs of tea. He looked a real mess. His face was blotchy, his eyes swollen, and his hair really needed a brushing, more so than usual.
"Hi, Hagrid," Harry said. Hagrid looked up.
" 'Lo," He greeted hoarsely.
"More tea, I think," Dumbledore said, closing the door behind them. There was a slight pause, and then Dumbledore said, "Did you by any chance hear what Miss Granger was shouting, Hagrid?" Hermione went slightly pink and Jade hid the smile on her face to keep from laughing, but Dumbledore smiled at her and continued, "Hermione, Harry, Jade, and Ron still seem to want to know you, judging by the way they were attempting to break down the door."
"Of course, we still want to know you!" Harry said, staring at Hagrid. "You don't think anything that Skeeter cow- sorry, Professor," He added quickly, looking at Dumbledore.
"I have gone temporarily deaf and haven't any idea what you said, Harry," Dumbledore twiddled his thumbs and stared at the ceiling. Jade giggled at that.
"Right," Harry said sheepishly. "I just meant, Hagrid, how could you think we'd care what that… woman wrote about you?" A tear fell from Hagrid's eyes.
"Living proof of what I've been telling you, Hagrid," Dumbledore spoke, still looking carefully up at the ceiling. "I have shown you the letters from the countless parents who remember you from their own days here, telling me in no uncertain terms that if I sacked you, they would have something to say about it."
"Not all of 'em," Hagrid said hoarsely. "Not all of 'em wan' me ter stay."
"Draco feels awful about what he said," Jade added quietly, it was a lie, but it was one that wouldn't hurt.
"Really, Hagrid, if you are holding out for universal popularity, I'm afraid you will be in this cabin for a very long time," Dumbledore looked away from the ceiling at over at Hagrid. "Not a week has passed since I became headmaster of this school when I haven't had at least one owl complaining about the way I run it. But what should I do? Barricade myself in my study and refuse to talk to anybody?"
"Yeh, yeh're not half-giant!" Hagrid croaked.
"Hagrid, look what I've got for relatives!" Harry said furiously. "Look at the Dursleys!"
"An excellent point," Dumbledore pointed out. "My own brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate charms on a goat. It was all over the papers, but did Aberforth hide? No, he did not! He held his head high and went about his business as usual! Of course, I'm not entirely sure he can read, so that may not have been bravery…"
"Come back and teach, Hagrid," Hermione said quietly, "please come back, we really miss you." Dumbledore stood up.
"I refuse to accept your resignation, Hagrid, and I expect you back at work on Monday. You will join me for breakfast at eight-thirty in the Great Hall. No excuses. Good afternoon to you all." Dumbledore left the cabin, pausing only to scratch Fang's ears. When the door had shut behind him, Hagrid began to sob into his hands. Hermione rubbed his arm soothingly, and at last, Hagrid looked up, his eyes very red, and said,
"Great man, Dumbledore, great man. Ar, he's righ', o' course,yeh're all righ'. I bin stupid, my ol' dad woulda bin ashamed o' the way I've bin behavin'. Never shown you a picture of my old dad, have I? Here," Hagrid got up, went over to his dresser, opened a drawer, and pulled out a picture of a short wizard with Hagrid's crinkled black eyes, beaming as he sat on top of Hagrid's shoulder. Hagrid was a good seven feet tall, judging by the apple tree beside him, but his face was beardless, young, and smooth, he looked hardly older than eleven. "Tha' was taken jus' after I got inter Hogwarts," Hagrid croaked. "Dad was dead chuffed, thought I migh' not be a wizard, see, 'cos me mum. Well, anyway. 'Course, I never was great shakes at magic, really, but at least he never saw me expelled. Died, see, in me second year. Dumbledore was the one who stuck up for me after Dad went. Got me the gamekeeper job. Trusts people, he does. Gives 'em second chances, tha's what sets him apar' from other heads, see. He'll accept anyone at Hogwarts, s'long as they've got the talent. Knows people can turn out okay even if their families weren' all tha' respectable. But some don' understand that. There's some who'd always hold it against yeh, there's some who'd even pretend they just had big bones rather than stand up an' say, I am what I am, an' I'm not ashamed. 'Never be ashamed,' my ol' dad used ter say, 'there's some who'll hold it against you, but they're not worth botherin' with.' An' he was right. I've bin an idiot. I'm not botherin' with her no more, I promise yeh that. Big bones, I'll give her big bones." Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at one another nervously, Jade had no idea what Hagrid was going on about now. Big bones? "Yeh know wha', Harry?" he said, looking up from the photograph of his father, "When I firs' met you, you reminded me o' me a bit. Mum an' Dad gone, an' you was feelin' like yeh wouldn' fit in at Hogwarts, remember? Not sure yeh were really up to it, an' now look at yeh, Harry! School champion!" He looked at Harry for a moment and then said, very seriously, "Yeh know what I'd love, Harry? I'd love yeh ter win, I really would. It'd show 'em all. Yeh don' have ter be pureblood ter do it. Yeh don' have ter be ashamed of what yeh are. It'd show 'em Dumbledore's the one who's got it righ', lettin' anyone in as long as they can do magic. How you doin' with that egg, Harry?"
"Great," Harry lied. "Really great." Hagrid finally smiled.
"Tha's my boy. You show 'em, Harry, you show 'em. Beat 'em all."