Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Sorry that this chapter is so late, but I was out celebrating the 4th of July, like many of you were.
The next few weeks are going to be very hectic… I'll try to keep posting regularly, but it probably won't happen.
This chapter's going to be a little different than what you might expect, but it's not just a filler, I promise.
Finally, the next chapter is going to be when things really get going.
Thank you, and please review.
Chapter 8
The years continued to pass. Jem worked hard to improve herself. The results were showing; whenever she went on missions, they were a success. She became toned and tanned from spending so much time outside on the grounds. The only bad part was that she was lonely. She trained alone, occasionally with her father, but he was always busy.
People don't often realize how much work it is to be a Dark Lord at war. He had to make sure that all of his followers were loyal, and that they were following his orders to the letter. He also had to keep all of his spies in check and an eye on the old fool who had defeated Grindelwald.
He had to make sure that he didn't go broke, too. The Dark Lord could always steal money, as he often did, but there was only so much money in the world to take. To make matters worse, it was getting harder and harder to use counterfeit, as the goblins of Gringotts had developed a new spell exposing it.
At the same time, he was looking for ways to give him an edge in the war. He needed places close to wizarding towns to launch attacks from. The Dark Lord often needed to go on long trips to gain allies on different continents.
Finally, he needed to improve his own power. He needed to be stronger than Jem, and that was getting harder and harder as he grew older.
There was no one that could beat Jem aside from her father. She sometimes struggled to improve because there was no one better to practice against. Still, she worked and worked and worked.
Summer was Jem's only break. Draco and her other friends, Theo, Pansy, Blaise, Daphne, Crabbe, and Goyle came home from Hogwarts then. The latter two weren't really friends, they were just there because their parents told them to be.
When the gang got together they would play games and dare each other to do crazy stunts. As they got older they started going out into the muggle world for "research." They would do things like see movies, go to festivals, go to the beach, and climb mountains.
While their parents weren't thrilled with these muggle activities, they couldn't argue with the Dark Gem. The Dark Lord was often too preoccupied with other matters to care.
One day, as they were walking home from a movie, they heard loud, pounding music. It seemed to be coming from a club that had a sign advertising "Teen's night, no alcohol, just dance."
"That looks fun, let's do it!" Pansy squealed. After careful consideration, they agreed.
It was probably the best night of the summer. They found themselves in love with the upbeat muggle music. They flirted with muggles, and had fun. For the first time in a long time, Jem let loose. She was able to be a normal teen. She didn't have to worry about training; she could just dance.
Many times more that summer, they would visit the club on teen night. It was always the highlight of that week.
Of course, Draco and Jem spent almost every minute of every day together. He was the only one who dared go with her to her monthly explosions. He always knew how to cheer her up.
Jem found herself dreading the end of summer. She and Draco had grown even closer this year and she really didn't want him to go.
On the last day of summer before they went to back to Hogwarts for their fifth year, Daphne suggested that they go to the club.
"But it's not teen's night," Theo objected.
"Come on, it'll be fine," Pansy whined.
"I'll go as long as we get back at a respectable time. We have to get up early tomorrow," Theo reluctantly agreed.
The next day, they cast spells on each other to make them look older. Long lashes, garish eyeshadow, red lips, and skimpy clothes wouldn't hurt either, the girls thought. The guys simply grew some facial hair and made themselves taller and were good to go.
Draco had some fake id's for them to use. Finally, they were ready.
They arrived at the club, which had a very different mood than they were used to.
The gang started off as they always did, dancing. Soon they were swept apart, older men and women asking them to dance.
Jem looked over to the bar and saw Pansy and Crabbe downing shots. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Daphne heading over to do the same. Suddenly Draco, Goyle, and Theo seized them and dragged them out of the club.
Jem followed and heard shouting.
"Do you want to get drunk and let those men take advantage of you?" Theo bellowed at Daphne.
"What were you thinking?" Draco yelled. "There are muggles in there, you guys could have blown our cover!"
"I can do what I want!" Daphne yelled back. Pansy sunk to the ground in drunk tears. Crabbe and Goyle stood silent, although Crabbe was swaying a little.
"Yeah, this was a great idea, come to the club and get drunk," Theo mocked.
"I'm leaving!" Daphne yelled. Pansy stumbled after her and so did the rest.
Draco and Jem were left staring at each other.
"You didn't have anything to drink, did you?" He asked protectively.
"No, but I would be fine if I did."
"Oh really?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I could handle it," Jem replied stubbornly. She marched into the club and ordered herself a drink. Draco trailed after her, wanting to see if she would really put herself in danger to prove a point.
Several drinks later, Jem was still fine.
An hour later she was bouncing off the walls.
"Come on, I have to go home," Draco pleaded for the fifth time.
"Noooooo, this is fu-u-un," she giggled.
Draco grabbed her and dragged her onto the street.
"We are going home now," he commanded.
"You can't tell me what to do!"
"I can right now."
"Ugh, fineeee," Jem pouted.
The next morning Jem awoke with a pounding headache. She hardly remembered the night before.
On her mental list of things to avoid she put alcohol. Jem changed her mind and put it on her list of things to master. She was sure an immunity to alcohol could come in handy someday.
Her father didn't really approve of it. In his eyes, it wasn't ladylike for a girl to be able to drink a lot, but he could see that it was just another poison for her to avoid.
Draco and the rest of the gang went back to Hogwarts, while she remained stuck at the Dark Palace.
Jem continued her work and started participating in raids at least once a week.
The war was on the verge of a win for the Dark Lord. Well, it was, until things weren't so black and white anymore.
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