As the weeks passed little has changed between Draco and Jade. They still were super close, as they had always been. They weren't as romantic or as affectionate as other people but they were fine with it. Draco usually put an arm around her and she would rest her head on his shoulder when they were alone and from time to time they would share a kiss or two.
Only that day when they went to Hogsmeade they held hands and showed their affection more, and they were lucky that no one saw them. One time Pansy found them sort of cuddling in the common room, but the same thing had happened during their first year so Pansy didn't even bother to tell anyone, as she found it normal.
The thing that changed a bit was Draco being jealous. He could have been jealous before, especially of Cassius, but now he was jealous of Ron. Something he never thought of feeling. He noticed how close they were during class and Jade said it was just to taunt Granger. Draco paid attention and he did notice how angry the girl got whenever Jade talked to Ron or got closer to him, the worst was when she saw the pair laughing. She would just storm off if she could. So he enjoyed that but he still didn't feel comfortable with the situation. At times he felt like going with Granger and just rant to her as she would understand but he never did, of course.
The relationship between Jade and her brother had gone back to normal, it was even better actually, as he had no one following and spying her around the school anymore, thanks to Cassius of course, but Jade didn't know that.
Speaking of him, Jade had gotten over the event of the Yule Ball. Or pretended to. She decided it was better to show she didn't care as much, as long as she wasn't humiliated again. Some Slytherins still didn't like him for how low his standers were. But she started talking to him again and be slightly nicer. Cassius knew things weren't perfect, he could still feel the tension between them but it had gotten better.
One day Jade saw the French blonde girl approaching Cassius and he turned her down. Jade knew it wasn't because he respected her or anything like that, even when Lexion claimed it was, but it was actually because of her blood status. The girl walked away crying. Jade thought she would enjoy it but she didn't. She knew that if she was a Pure-blood, Cassius wouldn't even think how much that would hurt Jade. It wouldn't cross his mind at all.
Jade had to admit the girl was quite beautiful. She thought she was a bit plain at first but she had good-looking features, which just made her be in a bad mood for about three days in a row. Not even Draco could stand being around her during that time. Ron had the unfortunate timing of talking to her at a wrong time and she just started yelling at him for no reason at all. He had noticed that she had been like that with everybody but it still puzzled him.
Jade hated the feeling of not being good enough. She was never good enough for her parents, they reminded her constantly, or even her brother at times and she sort of feared that once she was married to Cassius he was going to look at girls like the French girl, who were pretty. She'd think they were better than her, at least in a physical way. But that was enough to make her feel not good enough for Cassius. And the thought of feeling that way for the rest of her life terrified her.
Jade knew she wasn't beautiful, even though she was, and she knew that Cassius was a handsome guy. She heard her friends talking about him all the time. So, she felt self-conscious about it, specially after the event during the Yule Ball. She had nothing to offer him, except that she came from one of the best families and had a respectable name. And they were good friends, at least until recently. But would that be enough to make him at least content during their marriage? Would that be enough for him to stay faithful to her? Or would he go for the prettier, sexier girls. Or would they grow to despise the other and he unhappy forever?
At times she had conflicted feelings. She liked being with Draco, she was happy when she was with him, he made her feel like if she actually mattered. But she also knew that eventually that 'joke' would have to end and she would have to marry Cassius. She might have three or four years of 'freedom' and a part of her wanted to enjoy that freedom and especially with Draco but another part of her was scared of falling in love with him and regretting all of it because it would hurt and it would be even worse as she would have felt love but having to abandon it. And she knew she couldn't be with him, unless they both decided to go against their families, against their world, just to be together.
She often wondered if she was doing the right thing. The obvious answer would be that if it made her that happy it couldn't be wrong but she knew she wouldn't be that happy forever and she often dreaded the time when she had to end things with Draco. Both knew that day would come. It'd already hurt a great deal, she couldn't imagine the pain if they continued the relationship longer and developing stronger feelings.
"What is wrong with you?" Ron asked her, interrupting her thoughts.
After the three days of unexplained anger, Jade had been sad for several days over those feelings, it was eating her alive. Jade never showed emotions, so seeing those extreme reactions from fury and sadness in the young Slytherin was almost bizarre to everyone who had noticed, and many had.
What if when they were older with their own families, they would see each other and feel that love but having to pretend there was nothing between them and pretending to be happy with their spouses and possibly kids? How hard would that be? Or would they just break up, no feelings attached and live their lives as they are supposed to? Was that possible?
"Lias?"
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
Jade bit her bottom lip and looked away. She hadn't told Ron who she liked and she wasn't going to tell him they were together now, it was a secret that she couldn't tell anyone.
"I'm always okay, why would you think I'm not?" Jade exclaimed, trying to smirk but she failed.
"I know you are lying," Ron said.
"It's just life, Weasley," Jade said with a shrug, realizing her efforts were in vain. "I might feel not like myself right now but I'm okay. I've got to be, right?"
"No, you don't have to be okay if you aren't okay."
"It's nothing, Weasley. Stop worrying about me."
"But you are my friend..."
At that, Jade turned to look at him with wonder. It was probably the only time Ron had seen shock written all over her face. Her eyes were wide opened and her lips slightly parted. For a second, Ron regretted what he said , scared of pushing her away but then he shrugged and nodded at her. It was said and he wasn't going to take it back.
"Friend?" she asked, the word felt so unfamiliar to her.
"Yeah, friend," Ron said with a gentle smile, which she returned.
"I like the sound of that," Jade said looking down at the ground for a second, surprising Ron. "But really, stop worrying about me. It's not like I'm dying."
"Still. I can see something is upsetting you. You don't have to bottle it up."
"Thanks but it's just the same thing, you know?" Jade said, shrugging. "I've just been thinking a lot more lately."
"Well, if you want to talk you know where to find me."
"Yeah," Jade said nodding. "Hey, can I ask you something? Have you told your friends about... you know what?"
"What?"
"About us..." Jade said looking away. "About what happened."
"No, I told you I'd never tell them," Ron said. "Maybe in twenty years but now... nope. I haven't told them. And even if I did, they wouldn't believe me."
"Then why do they keep thinking you like me or that we are together?"
"Oh, you have heard them," Ron said, blushing slightly. "It's just this..." Ron said pointing at her and then at himself. "For once, you aren't being nasty to me and in return, I'm not nasty or hating you."
Jade felt like apologizing, which was a new feeling for her. She opened her mouth to say something but it wouldn't come out. Jade Lias never says sorry... Well, she felt sorry now but she couldn't really make herself say it, so she told herself to do it another time.
"Yeah, must be weird," she said instead. "I think we are being a bit careless."
"How so?"
"We are talking too much... and being civil... in public."
"So? We stated earlier you are my friend," Ron said with a shrug. "Right, Jade?"
Jade felt it extremely weird to hear her name said by Ronald Weasley but it sort of felt right. She couldn't help but smile.
"Right," she whispered.
"But I get it. Let's hide it more... at least until your brother leaves Hogwarts," Ron said and she was shocked at how he thought. He understood her situation.
"Okay..." Jade said nodding and then looked up at him again. "...Ronald."
Hello guys! How's everyone?
So, I've been watching Merlin on Netflix and I think Arthur makes a better Cassius. He fits the description perfectly so I will change that character :P Before it was William Moseley (Peter from Narnia) What do you think?
Speaking of Merlin, I imagine Jade a little bit like Morgana but younger. :P
And tell me what's your opinion on this chapter :P
