Hey guys! Hope you're enjoying the story so far! I've updated a lot and wont be back for a week or so due to finals! Let me know how it goes! =D
Hearing the stylish departure of their beloved Headmaster was definitely shocking for the entire school. The Ministry appointed Umbridge as Headmistress of Hogwarts and she used this power to come down hard on the rest of the students, especially anyone associated to Harry. As a member of the Inquisitorial Squad, Malfoy and the rest of his gang had a field day with subtracting points from every house except their own. She saw Fred and George talking to each other, looking highly annoyed with the new positions filled into Hogwarts. They were particularly peeved of Filch's new found happiness at the changes being made and were possibly planning something big.
"So I had a run in with Ass as I was hiding the rest of the first and second years of the D.A." Jade said to Ginny who paused halfway from eating her lunch.
"What happened?" Ginny asked. Jade looked over her shoulder towards Astoria who smiled at Malfoy, kissing her fingers and commenting about another student. As everyone in her table laughed at whatever Malfoy said, Astoria looked up at Ginny and Jade.
"She didn't say anything. She lied to Pansy and walked off somewhere else to let us escape." Jade said, turning back to Ginny.
"Whatever it may be, she'll always have our back. I just wish we had her without that dick." Ginny said.
"You can't help for who you fall for." Jade said.
"I disagree." Ginny said. Jade gave her a pointed look.
"Really? I only have to say one name and your heart would be back in a ruin of molten gushy mess." Jade said, glancing towards Harry who was talking to Ron, Seamus and Dean. Ginny threw a grape at Jade and sunk in her seat, blushing. Jade smirked and felt a small weight on her fingers. She looked down to see a paper dove nestling itself against her hand, holding a small apricot blossom. She took the dove and unfolded it, seeing a message written in it.
'I agree.'
Jade looked at Fred who was watching her, with his hand supporting his head, pretending to listen to Lee and George's conversation.
"How on earth could you listen from all the way over there?" Jade asked, knowing he wouldn't be able to hear her a few yards away.
"He placed his stupid ear here." Ginny said, plucking the Extendable ear from underneath her plate and dumping it into a goblet filled with pumpkin juice.
"I hope your brother doesn't make any Extendable eyes next to watch me change." Jade said, looking at Fred who got up and started walking towards them.
"No he wouldn't do that…until you're dating him, then its fair game." Ginny said.
"I didn't hear the last part, what was that?" Fred asked, sitting next to Jade.
"Out of all the girls you've dated, how many of them found out about your Extendable eyes and ears?" Jade asked.
"You might be the first one. Want to give it a run?" Fred asked, nudging her.
"Cripes, are you two flirting again?" Ginny mumbled, rubbing her head.
"I'm patiently waiting for that phase again." Fred said, burying his head into Jade's shoulder.
"You were so close to getting lucky but snogging another girl accounts for worse than giving me an accidental black eye." Jade said.
"But you're over it right? We're on flirting terms again?" Fred asked, placing a hand around her waist.
"When did I ever say I was over it and did I say you could touch me?" Jade asked, putting his hand away.
"But you were laughing at my jokes yesterday and gave me those looks like you wanted to kiss me!" Fred said defensively.
"I was laughing because you were talking about her beard and what looks?" Jade asked.
"You bat your eyelashes, touch me, give me those girly know it all looks that Hermione gives Ron!" Fred said.
"Never!" Jade said.
"Oh! Seriously? Ginny!" Fred said looking at Ginny who watched them, enjoying their banter. "Ask your friend right now if she wasn't thinking about kissing me yesterday when we were in the tunnel?" Fred asked.
"What tunnel was this in?" Ginny asked.
"Does it bloody matter? You were the one thinking of getting us lost so we could snog our way out." Jade said.
"Don't tell me the idea didn't excite you?" Fred asked.
"It didn't." Jade said, trying hard not to laugh at Fred who quickly turned his mood sour.
"It didn't?" he asked again seeing her shake her head. "And Malfoy? I bet he gave your heart a few turnovers." Fred said.
"Fred!" Ginny said.
"It's okay Ginny. The problem with Fred is he's the only one that can pull jokes but minds when someone else puts the joke on him." Jade said, getting up and taking her bag. She looked at Fred and smiled at him as she put her arms through the straps on her bag. He stared at her, his face red and his jaw set stiff as he pushed around the folded note that he sent her. Jade bent over, placed her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
"I challenge anyone to give my heart the same turnovers you give me. Oh and I'll take that!" Jade said, plucking the apricot blossom sitting next to his hand.
"I never thought I'd see Fred happier than watching Percy run outside naked with infant pixies thinking of certain parts of his body as a hiding bush." Ginny said entering the Charms room with Jade.
"Your brother is going to give me one hell of a ride." Jade said.
"Ew." Ginny said, sitting down.
"I didn't meant that Gin. You know, I hope Flitwick finds a way to postpone this exam. I didn't study enough for it." Jade said.
"Nobody did. Not when Umbridge was crawling up everyone's arses about shutting down the D.A." Ginny said. Jade turned around to see Astoria sitting in her seat next to a few other Slytherin girls. She looked ready to shove a desk down their throat from exhausting her with their talk.
"We should ask what they have that makes us different from them." Ginny said.
"We have a brain." Jade said hearing Ginny trying to laugh quietly.
"Good afternoon everyone!" Flitwick said, rushing in.
"Good morning." The class murmured.
"As you all know, you have an exam today! Please remove all books and notes from your desk and take out a quill!" Flitwick said, distributing the exams.
"Good luck." Ginny and Jade to each other.
In the middle of the exam, Flitwick did his usual rounds around the room to prevent cheating. While everyone was scribbling away an explosion heard downstairs startled them.
BOOM!
"What was that?" a girl asked.
"Settle down! Settle down! It must have been a spell backfiring…poor Mr. Finnigan." Flitwick murmured. The students reluctantly went back to their exam but this time heard a series of explosions and screaming. Jade looked around to see that the cabinets were shaking and windows were rattling from the thundering noises made downstairs. Everyone got up and ran out of the classroom to see that everyone else walked out of their classrooms to look around.
"What was that noise, Professor?" McGonagall asked, standing at the hallway.
"I don't-" Flitwick stopped when a large Catherine wheel burning bright pink zoomed past him and dropped back down the stairs again. "That was incredible!" Flitwick squeaked applauding. Jade and Ginny ran off with the other students down the stairs to see Umbridge and Filch running away, zapping spells at the fireworks to seize them but it only seemed to have made it bigger and stronger. Jade was fascinated with the different colors and lights that the fireworks displayed and looked at a set of sparklers forming words in the air.
"F-U-C-oh." Jade said, bursting into laughter. It was even funnier to see Umbridge shrieking and swatting off the flames that the dragons were breathing when they chased after her.
After classes were cancelled, the Gryffindor common room was filled with miniature versions of the fireworks that were still wreaking havoc around the castle. Fred and George were both lying on the sofa tired from laughing all day. Jade didn't know how they did it but they managed to turn the school system upside down for Umbridge and her Inquisitorial Squad but they didn't seem finished at all.
"I think the fireworks did something to Hermione." Ron said as they were sitting by the fire in the common room.
"Why? What happened to her?" Fred asked, lifting his head from lying down on the sofa.
"She said we could skip a night of studying." Harry said, grinning.
"Well if it impressed Hermione, I'm sure it put Jade in a good mood about Fred." George said, looking at Jade who smiled.
"I think Fred can answer that question himself." Jade said, turning her head to see Fred looking at the ceiling, the corners of his lips tugging upwards.
"Fred! I think she's attempting to make a move on you!" George said.
"The fireworks looked lovely tonight didn't they?" Neville asked, walking towards them.
"Neville! Your timing is impeccable! We were just talking about them and I agree; they were lovely! Did you take the lady to see them? I suggest the Astronomy Tower." Fred said. Jade frowned at George who shook his head. Neville blushed and started to stammer.
"I…er…well maybe…goodnight!" he said, hurrying up the stairs. He zoomed past Cormac who stared after him, shook his head and went downstairs.
"Hello gang!" he said cheerily, giving them a wave. The minority of them grunted in response and Jade got up, taking her bag. "Ready pookie?" Cormac asked.
"Cormac I told you not to call me that. Let's go, bye everyone!" Jade said. Fred shot up and Jade thought for a moment that he would bolt out of his seat to tackle Cormac.
"Where are you going? With him?" Ron asked. The boys were staring at Jade and Cormac making Ginny and Hermione uncomfortable.
"I promised Cormac that I'd help him practice for his O.W.L.s this year." Jade said.
"Why on earth would you do that?" Ron asked.
"Shut up Ron." Jade said, taking her bag.
"The man asked a question! Answer him!" Fred said.
"I needed help with my O.W.L.s and in return she'll take nothing!" Cormac said.
"You're giving him help, free of charge? I think someone fancies you, McLaggen." Fred said.
"Actually if she only accepted my request of taking her to dinner then I'd think so too." Cormac said.
"You asked Jade to dinner with you? Here in the Great Hall?" Fred asked.
"Are you on something Weasley? I told her she could go on one date in Hogsmeade with me because frankly speaking, I'm gorgeous." Cormac said.
"And I said no because I knew that no matter what, I didn't deserve to waste a valuable minute with Cormac when he could have been with prettier and…prettier girls." Jade said seeing Cormac nod.
"She's been one of the most understanding and nicest friend I've ever had." Cormac said.
"Try the only." Ginny mumbled to Hermione.
"We'll see you in an hour or two." Jade said.
After the Wildfire Whiz-Bangs were put out the next day, students were complaining about a series of swamps blocking the corridors and tiny critters emerging from the swamps to chase them. None of the professors, especially McGonagall seemed to mind about the disturbances created around Hogwarts.
"I haven't even seen Fred and George the entire day and everyone's been talking about them." Ginny said, as they walked out of the Quidditch pitch.
"You should have seen the swamps the first time around! It clogged up the entire corridor somewhere around the dungeons." Jade said.
"Good! Let all those Slytherins smell like the septic tanks they're known for." Ginny said.
"Great game Gin. I think somewhere in that castle, Harry's starting to have dreams about you catching his snitch-OW! Whore!" Jade yelled when Ginny hit her with her Quidditch bag.
"Hey!" Michael called from a few yards away. Ginny turned around to see Michael jogging towards her, swiping his hair off to the side, his cheeks red.
"Hey! Good game wasn't it?" Ginny asked, going to kiss him but Michael stepped back.
"Listen, I already spoke to Madame Hooch and even though she called me mental, I think we can have a rematch of this game." Michael said. Ginny's face hardened with shock and anger.
"WHAT?" Ginny shouted.
"I think I should go. Gin, do you want me to take your bag?" Jade asked quickly.
"No! I need something to pulverize his face with!" Ginny said, sharply turning back to Michael.
"All righty then!" Jade said, turning sharply and walking away.
Even entering the castle, Jade could hear Ginny shouting at Michael. This argument was long overdue. Michael and Ginny hadn't been spending enough time together as they'd used to and when they did, it would end abruptly with a small fight. Jade carried Ginny through the fights and awkward patches of the relationship but this was the last straw on the camel's back. Jade wished Michael would come out of this with a black eye and Ginny with a weight lifted off of her chest. Someone whistled sharply and Jade jumped, turning to see Malfoy walking behind her.
"Hello there! My you're looking pretty today!" he said, approaching her. Jade placed her wand on his jugular and narrowed her eyes.
"What's wrong with you?" Jade asked.
"Okay, so you're not pretty at all. I mean that's what you're comfortable hearing right?" Malfoy asked, feeling Jade press the tip of his wand further into his neck. "All right, all right! I need to talk to you!" he said, taking a step back.
"Then talk." Jade said.
"Not like this! It's about Astoria." He said.
"I swear on my parents, Malfoy. If you try anything funny, you'll be growing fungus out of your nose and the treatment will be worse." Jade said.
"Should I dock off points for speaking rudely to a member of the-fine! I won't dream of doing anything!" Malfoy said. Jade removed her wand but still had it at hand in case Malfoy turned back on his word.
"Have a seat." He said, offering the ledge. Jade stood still and he put his hands up slightly and sat down. "Fine, stand. What do I care?" he asked. Jade watched him sit down and sigh.
"I know you and Weasley are best friends with her…or were, I don't know. It's really obvious that your relationship turned a little sour because of me but I'm not here to apologize for it. I came here to tell you that I love her. I really care about her, I always have and I can't see her at her most miserable." He said.
"She left us for you. And you're absolutely right…this is all your fault. You tell her things about Fred, George and Harry because you don't like them and she completely turns against them, acting like someone she would hate!" Jade said.
"Imagine your boyfriend getting a hard time by a group of pricks." Malfoy said.
"I don't have to imagine, I'm looking at one right now." Jade said.
"Touché! It's great we're bonding but I need to tell you that your best friend, my girlfriend is the person of interest right now! Now I know we haven't been on good terms but as a person, do you think you can help Astoria?" Malfoy asked.
"Does she even want to talk to us?" Jade asked.
"Of course she does! She cries about it all the time! All she does is talk about Ginny this, Jade that, Ginny, Jade, blah, blah and blah. I'm afraid that my kids are going to be born to those horrid names!" Malfoy said.
"Will you just shut the hell up for two seconds? First of all, I can't even imagine why she chose you but I'd never know. Second, why did she keep you a secret? She's practically our sister! Even if she was in love with a toad-shut up, don't talk over me-I think we would have no choice but to just accept it! Surely whatever good she saw in you, we might be able to see it…and that's a huge fat 'might'." Jade said.
"Of course and the feelings are returned." Malfoy said.
"But she never gave us a chance to give Fred the same courtesy we should have shown you. I would love to talk to her but it's not just me, she upset a lot of people that night." Jade said.
"So?" Malfoy asked. Jade gritted her teeth and took her bag.
"Listen Malfoy, I love Ass, I really do but you weren't there that night. If she can't accept Fred, there really isn't anything I can do." Jade said.
"Let's say she did but would you have the courage to accept me?" Malfoy asked.
"Let me tell you something Malfoy. Fred and Ass were extremely close, so for her to act that way towards him all of a sudden doesn't make sense but that relationship can be restored because they both knew each other. They saw the best, the worst and everything in between but I've never seen anything special about you, other than the fact that you've been terribly nasty to everyone I know. It's harder to accept you Malfoy because I can't think of a single good thing you've ever done and if you really loved Ass, you should have been a lot nicer to us. Instead you tried to take her away from the very people that loved her and it's up to you again to fix her skewed vision of us. Until you do that, there isn't anything I can do to make it better. I'm sorry Malfoy." Jade said. With that, Jade turned around having Malfoy's face imprinted in her mind. He was genuinely concerned about Astoria and her happiness, something she never imagined to witness.
In a few hours, Jade returned to the Astronomy Tower for Divination. She looked at Ginny who looked into the telescope and scribbled down her answer on a sheet of paper. She looked unusually calm and happy to just having to break up with Michael.
"Five minutes." Firenze announced.
"Five stars orbiting around the rings times the number of years-" Jade murmured, stopped to hear cheering and howling from the grounds. Everyone stopped and looked outside to see two very familiar twins on their brooms, flying towards them.
"They're going to get themselves killed one day." Jade said, seeing Fred fly in. He waved his wand upwards and the exam papers that the students had in their hands flew into the air. Jade looked up at the paper being scattered everywhere and down to Fred who was watching her from the other side of the room.
"This will not be tolerated." Firenze said, walking towards Fred who bowed.
"I'm not here to trouble you Firenze, I only have one small thing to close up with someone in your class before I quit from here!" Fred said.
"Quitting? Here?" Ginny asked.
"George and I just expelled ourselves. Oy, Longbottom!" Fred shouted.
"What do you want?" Jade asked. Fred walked towards her, smirking. He placed an arm around her and pulled her into a kiss. Jade smiled putting her arms around his neck and pulling him closer. Students were giggling and chattering, watching Fred nearly putting Jade on a table.
"You might want to cut down on the affection, lover boy! Umbridge and Filch are on their way to the Astronomy Tower right now!" George said, from the window.
"I have an extra minute. All fat lards have trouble getting through the stairs." Fred said, turning back to Jade. "Mind being my girlfriend?" he asked.
"I don't see why not! You'd have to promise not to use your pranks on me." Jade said.
"I think I can live with that. I'll see you around? Tell McLaggen you're taken now." He said planting another kiss on her again.
"Mmm, absolutely!" Jade mumbled, still kissing him. The doors opened and Umbridge stumbled in with her wand out.
"YOU TWO WILL BE PUNISHED-"
"Peekaboo!" Peeves screeched, pelting a screeching Mrs. Norris at Umbridge.
"Peeves you naughty little genius! Keep up the good work!" Fred said, taking his broom towards the window.
"Sayonara everyone! Special discounts at Weasley Wizard Wheezes to anyone who swears to use it against this old bat! You're our hero Peeves!" George said, flying off. Fred jumped on his broom and winked at Jade before following George out.