Saturday came. And luckily without surprises or ambushes against Harry. Jade had stayed close to Harry every day but even so there had been attempts. Romilda Vane offered him some water after Quidditch practice, a Ravenclaw gave him some sweets during Potions. Jade took the bag and discarded it later. Some other girl had even gave something to Ron so he could then give it to Harry, knowing Jade wouldn't be around in the common room with them later.
The group of girls that were after Harry looked stressed and frustrated. They kept looking at Jade even when she wasn't with Harry, like during Quidditch practices or when she took classes without Harry. Jade felt watched all the time but she pretended to be oblivious to it.
She heard some of those girls that had sat behind her for History of Magic. One of the girls was convinced she wasn't dating Harry as they weren't romantic towards each other and the other believed the opposite. They were always together, she even pointed out that Ron and Granger didn't hang out with them anymore, so that made the girl believe more firmly that they were in fact dating.
Later that night, Harry met with Jade in the entrance hall. Harry smiled when he finally saw her. As they made their way to Slughorn's office, lots of girls seemed to be glaring at Jade and she smirked rather than feeling intimidated like anyone would. Even then, Jade didn't hold Harry's hand. She didn't need to prove anything to anyone.
Harry thought she looked quite nice. She was wearing a short light purple dress and she let her hair down and curled it. If it was weird for Harry before, it was weirder now, he was in fact going with her and he felt happy about it.
Like he didn't feel as if he shouldn't have asked her, he wasn't regretting it. He was glad she had actually accepted. There was no awkwardness and he thought at some point that he was lucky to go with such a pretty girl.
Slughorn's office was bigger than usual, there were many people in there. At once, Slughorn spotted him and dragged him away. Harry actually had to grab Jade's hand so they wouldn't separate. Slughorn stopped and introduced him to a werewolf and an ex-student who wanted to write Harry's biography. He didn't seem too excited or pleased about the idea.
"Sorry, I'm actually doing that. You can buy the book in about two years, thanks," Jade said with a kind but fake smile. "Anyway, we gotta go."
"Thanks," Harry told her as they walked away. He was relieved Jade managed to get him out of that one.
A few minutes later they found Hermione who was hiding from her date, Cormac McLaggen. Apparently he was so full of himself and she couldn't stand it anymore, which was a bit obvious.
"All I've heard about has been about his fantastic Quidditch abilities," Hermione complaint with sarcasm.
"He is not even on the team, though," Jade muttered, thinking Cormac wasn't that good but she didn't know that Hermione had confunded him so Ron could do better than him.
"Oh no, here he comes!" Hermione panicked and within two seconds she was gone.
"Have you seen Hermione?" he asked, taking a glance at Jade.
Jade bit her lip, wanting to rat her out or just tell him to not brag about himself and maybe people would like him. She couldn't decide which one to say, or say both, so she just stayed quiet.
"Uh no, sorry," Harry said.
It was then when Professor Trelawney approached them and started to speak to Harry, asking him why he dropped Divination. It wasn't really his choice as he had failed that subject. Unlike Jade, who had only taken one year of Divination and then dropped it. She thought it was a waste of time.
And then to Harry's horror Slughorn joined the conversation, telling Trelawney how exceptional Harry's potion abilities were, Jade smirked, knowing how and why he had gotten so good. Harry just smiled awkwardly and looked at the ground.
"Some credit must go to you," Slughorn said, revealing Snape to Harry's disbelief. Jade couldn't believe they were having a conversation with three teachers. It was so awkward, especially when they were all talking about Harry and it seemed like she was either invisible or just not there. "You taught him for five years."
Snape looked from Harry to Jade and back to Harry the whole time he spoke as if he was trying to know why she was with Harry. Jade felt even more uncomfortable. For once someone was paying attention to her but she wished she could be ignored again.
"I never had the impression that I managed to teach Potter anything at all," Snape said in a cold tone.
"He produced the finest Draught of Living Death I've seen on a first attempt," Slughorn said.
"Really?" Harry gulped.
"Remind me Harry, what other subjects you're taking?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology..." Harry said, he noticed that Jade was looking all around the room, obviously not enjoying being excluded and not knowing what to do besides just standing there and Harry was not enjoying being the centre of attention. Especially, Snape's attention.
"All the subjects required for an Auror," Snape sneered.
"Yeah, I'd like to become one."
It was then when they saw Filch walking towards Slughorn. He had Draco Malfoy, dragging him by the ear. Everyone stopped what they were doing to see what was happening.
Harry was enjoying the view, he couldn't deny it. He took a quick glance at Jade, who had crossed her arms in front of her chest and she looked a mix of concerned and angry and even insulted by Filch's actions.
"Professor, I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited. Did you issue him with an invitation?"
Malfoy took a quick glance at Snape and then his eyes lingered on Jade. He noticed how close she was to Harry and instead of glaring or looking angry he looked sad but that was soon gone. He pulled himself free of Filch's grasp.
"I wasn't invited, alright!" he exclaimed angrily.
"You are in trouble!" Filch said.
"It's Christmas and it's not a crime to want to come to a party," Slughorn said quickly. "You may stay Draco."
While Filch walked away disappointed and outraged, Malfoy thanked Slughorn and sort of sucked up to Slughorn. Jade had a poker face on but she was refusing to look at Malfoy, instead she found her bracelet quite interesting as she started to play with it. Malfoy kept glancing at her every once in a while, Harry noticed that.
Harry perceived though that Snape looked angry and even scared at what he was looking. Malfoy seemed... sad. Was it because his ex-girlfriend attended the party with him? Could it be that? Or something else?
But Harry also noticed that Malfoy did look a bit ill. He looked tired, he had dark circles under his eyes and his skin was paler than normal. He almost looked as bad as he did when Jade was in a coma. And there was something in his eyes, but Harry couldn't quite describe it. Fear? Hopelessness?
Then when Slughorn finally walked away, Snape took Malfoy out, he seemed really angry with Malfoy and it couldn't mean anything good. Jade didn't notice, she was still looking at her bracelet or at anyone but Malfoy.
"Uh, I'll be right back, need to go to the bathroom."
"Just don't kiss any French girl," Jade joked. It was dark humour. Harry blushed.
"Never."
Harry went down a corridor, while using his Invisibility Cloak. He wondered why he brought it but now he was glad he had done it. He heard two voices and he approached them slowly and silently.
"Don't look at me like that!" Malfoy exclaimed. "I know what you are doing, and it won't work... I can stop you!"
"Oh, Aunt Bellatrix has been teaching you Occlumency, hasn't she? What are you trying to conceal from him?"
Harry could think of a hundred things... Jade was obviously one. Speaking of her, Harry needed to tell her. If Bellatrix had been teaching him Occlumency, she probably saw whatever she and Malfoy had... or all the things she trusted him with. That wasn't good. Harry's heart beat faster just thinking about all the things Jade could have said that now Bellatrix could know.
"Listen to me, I am trying to help you! I swore to your mother I would protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow..."
"Looks like you'll have to break it then. I don't need your protection! It's my job! It was given to me!"
"I can assist you..."
"I've got all the assistance I need, thanks. I'm not alone."
"You were tonight."
"Because you put Crabbe and Goyle in detention but I've got other people."
"I hope you aren't getting Jade involved, Draco," Snape said as his voice got even colder. Harry shivered.
There was a long pause. Harry couldn't see them but he could almost bet that Malfoy looked or at least felt sad when he mentioned Jade. He almost felt bad for him.
"She would be the last person I'd get involved," Malfoy said harshly but Harry could detect the sadness in his voice. "This has nothing to do with her. And perhaps you didn't see her but she seems happier with Potter... not going to ruin that."
"Is that what you are trying to conceal from him? Is it Jade?" Harry heard movement, Snape had touched a nerve. "You are acting recklessly, Draco. I just want to protect you. I quite understand that not speaking to Jade and your father's capture and imprisonment have upset you but..."
And that was it. Malfoy sprant away from Snape without another word. Harry heard heavy footsteps that got further and further.
At least now, Harry knew and was one hundred percent sure that Jade wasn't involved in anything bad. He trusted her but it felt good to have proofs of it.
When he got back and rejoined Jade, who was speaking to Zabini, he realized Jade was drinking something alcoholic. Thing that Slughorn didn't mind, he even encouraged it. Jade looked and sounded a bit tipsy by then. Had he taken that long?
"Harry!" Jade mumbled with a smile. "You're back! I was telling Blaise..."
But Harry didn't really listen. He was still thinking about Snape and Malfoy and what they had discussed. Zabini attempted to take the glass from Jade but she stopped him and then drank everything so Zabini couldn't stop her at all.
Jade started giggling. Harry had never seen her like that. It was quite amusing that teachers were allowing underage students to drink alcohol. He wondered where Jade got it, apparently Zabini hadn't given it to her. He wasn't even drinking.
Zabini was too shocked as well, to insult Harry or tell him to get lost, or even care that they had come together to the party. He looked concerned for her.
"I should probably get Draco," Zabini mumbled.
"Why?" Jade giggled. "He doesn't like to have fun anymore."
"You are too drunk... we should probably go."
"Go? We just got here, right, Harry?" Harry only nodded, not knowing what to say. "You can go, Blaise, but Harry and I are staying for a bit longer."
Knowing he couldn't argue with Jade, sober or drunk, Zabini just nodded at her but eventually he mentioned Malfoy once again, thinking he could somehow get her to stop drinking. Jade just walked away to get another drink and didn't go back.
She started talking to some people she didn't really know, they were some Hufflepuffs from the seventh year. Harry awkwardly smiled at Zabini before going after her and sort of dragging her away from the Hufflepuff group.
Only half an hour later, Harry was actually helping Jade out. She didn't want to leave, just like before but Harry didn't want to be there anymore and it would be better if they didn't stay longer. And he just couldn't leave her alone in there.
Harry had his arm around her as they walked. Luckily, the Slytherin common room wasn't far. Like, he couldn't imagine if he had to walk her all the way to the Gryffindor common room.
Her heels echoed in the empty hallway. She kept giggling and slurring things but Harry just said things like 'yeah', 'sure' or 'absolutely'. And at some point he took the glass from her hand and pretended to drink whatever was left so she wouldn't complain about it, claiming he wanted some of it.
Just out of the common room, Jade's ankle twisted and she lost her balance, Harry, who still had his arm around her, quickly held her with both his arms and stabilized her. Jade smiled shyly and whispered how embarrassing that was as she looked down at her ankle.
"Never mind that," Harry whispered. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?"
Jade's dark green eyes looked into Harry's. She was slightly blushing. Harry felt nervous as he had never been so close to Jade. He tried to let go of Jade but something inside of him didn't let him. He didn't want to.
Then, he noticed how Jade's face was inching closer to him and without noticing, his was also moving towards Jade. His breath got caught up. His heart was beating fast and he felt like he couldn't breath and like if his whole body was burning. He closed his eyes, ready to kiss the beautiful girl in front of him. A second more and it would have happened. But he couldn't.
Harry opened his eyes and coughed awkwardly, making Jade open her own eyes. She bit her lip and blushed deeper. Harry could kick himself as he realized how much he actually wanted that to happen, how much he really wanted to kiss her, but he couldn't just kiss Jade knowing she was drunk.
Harry didn't know what to say, he just stood there, stuttering. Luckily, he heard footsteps and quickly let go of Jade, he kept an arm around her for support though. He didn't want Jade to trip again and fall. He looked behind them and saw Zabini.
"I'll take it from here, Potter." Zabini said.
He had witnessed her behaviour earlier at the party and probably saw how much she drank. Instead of being a git to Harry, he acted in a civil way. He put an arm around Jade without saying anything else to Harry or glaring at him and walked inside the common room with the brunette.
Million things were going inside his head. From Draco to Jade. From Voldemort related stuff to... almost kissing the girl he used to hate.
He couldn't get out of his head what almost happened and now he was conflicted. Should he tell her about Malfoy? Or would she think he was making it up so she could forget about Malfoy for good and instead be with him?
I don't even know what to write here today LOL
But tell me what you think of this chapter :)
