CHAPTER FIFTEEN- Forbidden Love (Ron's point of
view)
December came with winds, sleet and very, very light flurries of snow that didn't even stick to the ground. I was surprised we hadn't had much snow yet, though. Peggy seemed rather depressed about this.
"Snow is the best part of winter!" She said at dinner Friday the first. "Snowball fights! Sledding! Goofing around freezing your butt off!" She exclaimed, waving her arms about.
"Okay." Hermione said slowly, reading a letter.
"Who sent you that?" I asked.
"Viktor." Hermione said, narrowing her eyes at me. "and are you going to make a fuss about this letter?"
I chose to ignore her and turned to Peggy. "Don't worry, it'll snow soon."
"I hope so." She sighed, looking at the ceiling where gray clouds swirled.
After dinner we headed to the Common Room. Peggy and I played chess. She was quite good but not good enough.
"Check and mate." I said.
Peggy sighed again and sat back. "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." she grumbled.
"It will snow. Don't worry." I said.
"I just hope it snows soon." Peggy said with a sigh. She went over to the Common Room fire and flopped into a chair. I walked over and sat in the chair near her, staring at her. I had gotten these weird feelings since she had stayed with me at the hospital. Weird feelings that made me very confused. Very, very, very confused. And I didn't like it one bit.
***
The next day was a Hogsmeade trip. Harry, Hermione, Amy and Jasmine piled into a carriage, leaving me and Peggy to share a carriage by ourselves. Oh what a shame. Oh yeah, and Professor McGonagall made it too crowded for me and Peggy to join them.
"Ron, you okay? You seem weird lately. Well, weirder then usual." Peggy said as we sat back.
"Yeah I'm fine." I mumbled, trying not to look at her. When I did I got these weird feelings. Worse then normal. I couldn't like her! I knew I couldn't. She wasn't pretty at all so how on earth could I, Ronald Weasley, like her? No, no, no. I couldn't like her. Nope. I couldn't. Me like her? I most certainly did not!... oh my God I liked her.
I liked Peggy Morlins.
One of the ugliest girls in the school. I liked her! No! I couldn't! I most certainly could not! But I did. No I couldn't. I felt like screaming. I couldn't believe it. I liked her. I couldn't! I couldn't! But these feelings.
"Ron?" I jumped slightly and looked at her.
"Y-yes?"
"You okay?" She asked.
"Yes." I mumbled, staring at her. I then got a feeling I never, never got before and probably shouldn't mention. And it made me very embarrassed.
"Are you okay? You're getting really red." She said.
Indeed my face was rapidly turning red. "I-I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Are you getting too hot? Want me to open a window?" She asked, reaching for the window.
I sure as hell was getting way, way, way too hot. "I d-don't care." I said.
Peggy opened the window a little and sat back again. I couldn't believe I liked her. No way. She wasn't pretty at all!!!!! But I did. I liked her. I liked her very much.
The rest of the trip was in silence. I glared fiercely outside the entire time. We got to Hogsmeade and piled out, joining back with Harry, Jasmine, Amy, Hermione and McGonagall. We first went to the Three Broomsticks and crowded around a round table. Professor McGonagall went to a near-by table and sat there, keeping a close eye on Harry.
"Hi kids." Hagrid came through the door.
"Hey Hagrid." We all said as he joined our table.
"I though' you were supposed ta have a teacher with yeh." Hagrid said.
"I do. McGonagall." Harry said, nodding at the table where McGonagall was reading.
"Ah." Hagrid said, looking into the huge tankard of mead Madame Rosmerta just set in front of him. "Thanks."
"Mm-hmm." She said, walking away, swinging her hips. Why couldn't Peggy have a body like hers? Rosmerta was extremely pretty and very curvy. Peggy was curvy but not. pretty at all.
I sighed and looked into my tankard of Butterbeer. It wasn't fair. Why did I have to go and like an ugly girl? Not fair. Totally not fair.
I glanced up as the door jingled. Four new people had joined the crowded pub. Four red-headed troublemaker people. They were still on their battle of the twin thing but it wasn't as harsh as it was when it started, and I had a feeling there was more going on behind the scenes.
"Hey Ronniekins." Fred and George said as they passed me.
"Ronniekins." Frederika and Georgette giggled, following. I scowled.
"Ronniekins?" Peggy asked. I turned red as she began giggling.
"Oh shut up." I grumbled.
"I'm going to go." Jasmine said, standing up quickly, staring at the window. I glanced over and saw Malfoy there.
"Jasmine-" Harry said sharply and she narrowed her eyes fiercely. "er, have a good time." he muttered quickly.
Jasmine grinned and ran off.
"How can you let her go off like that?" I demanded.
Harry sighed and shook his head. "I don't like it. I want her to stop but for the mean time." he sighed and glared out the window as the two walked off. "she'll soon find out how horrible he is."
"Harry, it'll hurt her when she finds out." Hermione said softly.
"I know but she'll get mad if I forbid it." Harry said, looking incredibly worried.
"What's goin' on?" Hagrid asked in confusion.
"Jasmine. LIKES. Malfoy." Harry said through clenched teeth.
"What?! But they-he-"
"I know, Hagrid." Harry sighed.
"Well, I'm done. I'm going to Honeydukes. Who wants to go with me?" Peggy asked.
"Chocolate is going to rot your teeth." Amy said.
Peggy stuck her tongue out at her and started to leave. "Peggy-wait I-I'll go." I stammered. I chugged the rest of the Butterbeer and dashed after her.
*** (Draco's point of view)
"Harry is so mad." Jasmine said as we walked down a small street in Hogsmeade.
"I bet he is. But he didn't stop you." I pointed out.
"He was going to." Jasmine said with a sigh. We got to the edge of town, near a small forest (not the Forbidden Forest, another safe and smaller nice one). We sat at a picnic table under a bare maple tree. "I think they all are. Ron, Hermione, Amy. I don't think Peggy is but that's because she doesn't mind you."
"Yeah, we are partners in Healings." I said, staring at her. We sat across from each other. We actually sort of matched. I was wearing black pants and a dark gray turtleneck and a winter cloak. Jasmine was wearing a black, wool skirt that ended a little below her knees, a dark gray and black sweater (that reminded me of pepper) and a regular black cloak.
"The rose is started to wilt." She said.
"The rose I got for you when you were in the hospital?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"I guess the spell is wearing off. I'll get you another flower."
"Not a deep red rose, though." Jasmine said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Cause it means 'bashful shame'."
"What the heck does that mean?" I asked then shook my head. "never mind. I'll get you a flower right now. Let's go to the shop."
Jasmine giggled and stood up. "Okay."
We went to the Florist shop. It was filled with flowers and other plants. "Hello dears," a thin, spidery old woman appeared. She had a wispy white dress that floated about her. "can I help you?"
"What flower do you want?" I asked.
"Surprise me. I'll wait outside." Jasmine smiled and left.
"I want a really pretty flower for her." I said after a moment, indicating Jasmine.
"Your girlfriend?" She asked.
"Er, no but. I uh."
"Like her." The woman said.
"Yes." I admitted. I couldn't believe I had said that. I couldn't like a Gryffindor! Let alone Potter's little sister! But Jasmine was so. perfect.
"All right then dear, what flower?" She asked.
"Hmm. what about a jasmine?" I asked.
"What type of jasmine?" She asked.
"What. kind?" I asked.
"Regular jasmine, cape jasmine, Carolina jasmine, Indian jasmine, Spanish jasmine, Yellow jasmine, or Phoenix jasmine?" She asked.
"Uh. um. does any mean 'I really like you' or something?" I asked.
"Not really. There's 'I attach myself to you' and 'When you die, I shall cry'."
"Uh."
"There is." She said, her eyes getting smaller. "one that means 'grace and elegance'."
"I'll take that one." I said, wanting to get away from this odd, odd woman. She handed me a lovely yellow jasmine in full bloom. I smiled. "how much?"
Suddenly the woman's eyes got very, very wide. "BEWARE!" She screamed.
"What?!" I shrieked, jumping back in surprise.
"I just saw a vision." She said, eyes returning to normal.
"A-a vision?" I asked.
"There will be those who forbid this relationship. Many, many people." She said, eyes now slitting. "Um, how much for the flower?" I asked.
She shook her head. "It will be free. For you need all you can to help this relationship. there will be so much in your path. Poor kids." She whispered.
"Uh. right." I backed out of the store as quickly as possible. Jasmine was across the street, looking in the window of the mail shop, at the owls. I pulled out my wand, and charmed the flower, then walked over, hand behind my back.
"Hullo, done already?" She asked.
"Yes. For you." I handed her the flower.
"A yellow jasmine" She giggled, accepting it. "Grace and elegance."
"You know?" I asked.
"Ofcourse. I know what all the jasmines mean. I'm just glad you didn't get me a Spanish jasmine."
'Why? What does that mean?" I asked.
Jasmine giggled as we walked down the street. "Maybe I'll tell you when your older."
"Okay, I- hey! Wait a minute! I'm older then you are." I said.
Jasmine smiled and put the jasmine in her red hair. "When's your birthday by the way?"
"April fifth." I replied as the wind blew our hair back. "when is yours?"
"July twelfth." She replied.
"Hey, its snowing." I said as a thin flurry came down. It wasn't much but it was nice.
"Yeah. isn't it romantic?" She asked.
I wondered vaguely if that was a hint. "Mm."
She rested her head on my shoulder, warming it slightly. "Draco?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you like me even though you hate my brother."
"And I'm glad you like me even though your brother and I hate each other." I said, slipping my arm around her waist. We continued walking down the street, both very happy.
*** (Ron's point of view)
Peggy and I went to Honeydukes, and was greeted by the smell of chocolate. "Chocolate is the best thing in life." She said with a grin.
"Even better then love?" I asked.
"Well, I don't know. I've never been in love." Peggy giggled.
"Not even crushes?" I asked.
"Nope. I don't really believe in love."
"You. don't?" I asked hesitantly.
"No." She said quietly as we went to the chocolate section.
"How come?" I asked. Her face was stony as she stared hard at a small chocolate house. Very clever. The house itself was regular milk chocolate in shape of logs. The roof was dark chocolate made to look like shingles. In the windows was sugar spun light stuff, pale yellow for curtains. The door was white chocolate colored green with a little dark chocolate doorknob. "Er, if you don't want to talk about we don't-"
"Good." She said quickly and moved on, looking at a white chocolate unicorn with sugar crystal glaze that looked silver for the mane and tail. It had its head tossed back and one bent front leg. "That is so pretty." she said.
"Thanks." We jumped as a young black woman appeared. Her chocolate brown hair was sleek and shiny and in a top-knot bun. She had dark chocolate brown eyes behind glasses with dark chocolate brown rims, wore chocolate brown robes and a red rose in a lapel. As I looked closer I saw it was made of white chocolate. The bloom with red coloring, and the stem, leaves and thorns green colored.
"Did you make this?" Peggy asked.
"I do all the things like that. The house, unicorn and all the others like it." She said and pointed to a small sign the size of my pinky in front of each. 'Designed and made by Mrs. Cocoa Black' is what it said.
"Is that your real name?" I asked.
"Yes it is. I've always loved chocolate." She said with a smile.
"This is amazing. You're really talented." Peggy said.
"Thank you, dear."
"Are these for sale?" I asked.
"Ofcourse." She said, eyes shining with happiness as she looked at a chocolate statue. It was of a ballerina. Her hair was made of milk chocolate, her skin of white chocolate colored peach and her dress of pink, spun sugar. White chocolate indicated tights and her ballet shoes, white chocolate colored pink. Her arms were raised above her head and one leg was outstretched behind her. It was extremely realistic.
"Beautiful." Peggy whispered. "Too beautiful to eat."
"Thank you." Mrs. Black said. She looked hard at me for a moment. "Are you related to Charlie Weasley by any chance?"
"Yes I. he's my brother. How do you know him?" I asked.
"I thought as much. He said he had brothers at Hogwarts, still and one who loved chocolate. Come here." She led us to another part of the room and showed us a solid twelve inch tall chocolate dragon. "Couple years back I got a request to do chocolate dragons so I went to the best dragon colony place in the world. In Romania. Your brother showed me around. Very nice boy." She said.
"Yeah." I muttered, looking at the dragon.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Ron." I said.
"Ron. Why don't you come back next Saturday? I'll have a surprise for you." She said.
"All right." I said slowly and Peggy and I left.
"Hey, its starting to snow!" Peggy said cheerfully.
Indeed it was flurrying a bit. "Maybe it'll get heavier." I said.
"I hope so." Peggy said with a grin.
"You really like snow, don't you?" I asked.
"Ofcourse. Its so beautiful and magical." She said, face lifting upwards to let snow fall on it. We stood there in silence a few moments.
Something then overcame me. I don't know what happened but I found myself grabbing her shoulders, pulling her close and kissing her.
It was amazing. I saw fireworks on the inside of my eyes (since they were closed). My heart raced yet stopped. Its like the whole world was spinning yet time stopped. It was-
WHACK!
I stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, pain filling my cheek since Peggy had just slapped me. And hard. I was seeing stars she had slapped me so hard.
"Ouch." I moaned, looking at her.
She was positively enraged. "Ron! How could-why did-what on earth and beyond were you thinking?!" She shrieked.
"I-I-I-I-I-I"
"Forget it. Just-forget it!" She snapped, whirled on her heels and stormed off.
Boy was I an idiot.
***
"Ouch. ouch. ouch." I moaned, pressing a cold wet cloth against the red, hand-shaped print on my cheek later that evening. I ofcourse had gone back to Hogwarts right away. I didn't even tell Harry and them, nor did I go after Peggy. The hand-print stung like crazy.
There was a bee-like voice buzzing in my head repeating over and over that I was an idiot. Which I was. "How could you do that?" I demanded, staring into the mirror, at my eyes. I had just probably ruined any remote chance I had with her. I gripped the sink and leaned forward, staring down at the drain. I felt like everything had just shattered into millions upon millions of tiny pieces.
"Ron?" Seamus came into the bathroom.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Well I saw you leaving Hogsmeade rather quickly and I had nothing more to do so I decided to see if everything was okay." He said.
"No. Nothing is okay." I said bitterly.
"Whoa! Who slapped you?" He asked, seeing the print.
"None of your business." I grumbled.
"Ah. I get it."
"Get what?" I asked, turning back to the mirror. In it was a total idiot.
"Girl."
"What?"
"A girl slapped you. A girl you liked." Seamus said and looked smug as I scowled. "ah so I was right. Now then, who was it?"
"Go away, Seamus." I snapped.
"Okay, okay." Seamus muttered and left. I turned back to the mirror and slumped over the sink slightly.
***
The next day Peggy totally ignored me. I thought she'd avoid me but no, ignored me. As if I wasn't there. At breakfast I kindly asked for her to pass the salt but she continued chatting away with Amy. She heard me all right because Amy said so.
"What?" Peggy asked.
"Ron asked you to pass the salt." Amy said.
"I didn't hear anything." Peggy said and Amy ended up passing it to me. In the Common Room it was the same. She and Harry were talking and I sat down and said 'hey'. Harry replied but Peggy, once again, totally ignored me. It went like that the rest of the day. The others noticed because they asked what had happened. "What do you mean?" Peggy asked.
"Between you and Ron. One day you're like best friends and now you are totally ignoring him." Amy said. Peggy chose to ignore that.
I couldn't take it anymore. I loved her and wanted to at least be friends with her. As long as I didn't show my true feelings for her I think I'd be safe. That is, if she'd accept. That night I sat directly beside her in the Common Room. "Peggy, look at me." I said. She ignored me like always. "Peggy, look at me." Once again, nothing. "Peggy please! I want to apologize."
With this she turned towards me. "Then apologize." She said rather harshly.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For kissing you." I said.
"What about it?"
I looked at her. "I'm sorry!"
"For what?" She asked.
You could no longer see the red hand-print from her since my whole face was red. "for kissing you."
"What about it?"
"Peggy!"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for kissing you."
"That's the right way to apologize." She said and closed her book.
"Friends again?" I asked.
"Yes. So long as you never mention it again." She said and shook my hand.
"I won't." I said. I would not mention the kiss. Dreaming, however, is a different thing.
***
Draco and Jasmine sat at a private table in the farthest and darkest part of the library. "The rose is completely dead." She said.
"The jasmine is fine." Draco said, looking at the yellow jasmine she held in her hand.
"Yes. It is." Jasmine said with a smile. "what's wrong?" She asked as Draco got a look on his face.
"Some of the Slytherins are being jerks again. Cause they saw us together at Hogsmeade."
"Oh." Jasmine said slowly.
Draco quickly grabbed her hand. "Jasmine I don't care what they think. I really like you and. and."
"And?" Jasmine asked, brown eyes dancing.
"And I. I. I've been wanting to do this since we met." Draco leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I really, really like you."
"And I really, really like you, Draco." She replied.
Draco had no clue how he got enough nerve to say what he next said. "In fact I think I love you." Jasmine was silent at this. "a lot."
"Oh." She said.
"I. I better go." Draco said, standing up. Jasmine stood up quickly.
"No, don't go." She said.
"You probably don't like me in that way I'm stupid, I shouldn't of even thought that you'd-" Jasmine put her hand up to his mouth.
"I never said I didn't love you." She said quietly.
"You. what?" He asked.
And Jasmine leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips.
***
Harry stood there in shock. Total and utter shock. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe it at all.
His sister and mortal rival were kissing.
***
Jasmine walked into the common room, humming happily to herself. The common room was completely empty. Or so she thought.
"So." She jumped as she spotted Harry's outline by the fire.
"Hello, Harry. What're you doing up so late?" She asked, looking at her watch. It was past midnight.
"I'd ask the same to you." He said darkly.
There was something about his voice that frightened Jasmine. "Something. wrong?" She asked.
Harry stood up. She could still only see his silhouette since he was right in front of the fire. "Oh yes. Something is wrong." He moved to the side slightly and she could see the fire in his green eyes. And it wasn't the reflection of the fire behind him. "sit down."
"Okay." Jasmine said meekly and sat down quickly.
"Now then. Where were you?"
"Library."
"With who?"
"D-Draco."
"And why are you coming in so late?" He demanded, slowly sitting down across from her.
"Draco and I were talking." She said.
"You were kissing!" He hissed.
"You saw?" Jasmine asked then went pale. "I mean-"
Harry leapt up, finger in her face. "Jasmine how could you do such a thing?!" He near-yelled. "I could tolerate you and him being together but kissing?!"
"Harry this is none of your business." Jasmine said.
"Jasmine, Draco Malfoy is a horrible, horrible guy!" Harry yelled.
"Maybe to you but to me he is sweet and romantic and wonderful!" Jasmine shrieked, eyes filling with tears.
"I absolutely forbid you to go near him."
"I-"
"No Jasmine! I mean it! If you go near him I swear I will hurt him."
"You will not." Jasmine said, nearly crying now.
"Oh yes I will." Harry hissed, eyes narrowed.
"I hate you! I hate you!" Jasmine screamed and ran from the common room.
She ran down the corridors, crying her eyes out. She didn't care where she went, just as long as it was away from him.
"Jasmine?"
"Draco?" Jasmine sobbed, looking through teary eyes and seeing a blurry Draco.
"Jasmine. what's wrong?" He asked, putting his arms around her.
Jasmine told him what Harry had said. "and-and I know h-he'd carry out the threat."
"He probably would."
"Wh-what are you doing out here?" She asked.
"Vorin Nott threatened me."
"What?"
"He said if I was seen with you again he'd hurt you. And like your brother, Nott would carry it out."
"Draco what are we going to do?" Jasmine cried into his shoulder.
"I don't know. I don't want you to get hurt." Draco whispered, stroking her hair.
"And I don't want you to get hurt. figures this would happen after tonight." She said. After she had kissed him, Draco asked her to be his girlfriend. Good thing Harry hadn't heard that.
"We could still be, you know, girlfriend and boyfriend." He said.
"How? All the Gryffindor and Slytherins are going to be out watching us probably." Jasmine said.
"Then we'll keep it secret." He assured her.
"Draco."
"Yes?"
"I love you so much." Jasmine whispered, not wanting him to let go.
***
Sure enough the next day, Jasmine found all the Gryffindors were watching her and the Slytherins glaring at her. And she saw a lot of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs as well.
'Great, the whole school is out to get us'. Jasmine thought Monday in Healings class.
After class Peggy secretly handed her a note. Peggy was the only one in the entire school who knew the truth. Peggy said she'd help, and would pass notes between the two. Because she liked Draco and Jasmine.
Jasmine, meet me in the empty classroom on the west side of the fifth floor. Tonight at 1:30am. Draco.
There was also the flower drawn on the paper. It was the yellow acacia. It meant 'secret love' and they decided for that to be their flower.
That night at about 1:15am, Jasmine got dressed and ran to the empty classroom. Draco was waiting for her, holding a yellow acacia.
"I was hoping you'd show up." He said, smiling.
"How could I not?" She asked, hugging him tightly.
Draco stroked her hair and kissed her cheek. "I wish we didn't have this to be secret." He whispered into her ear.
"Me, either Draco."
***
Ron felt strained. Very, very strained. It was the Wednesday after he and Peggy had kissed. oh that kiss. Ron closed his eyes and remembered that wonderful kiss. oh god he yearned to kiss her again. But he couldn't. No, he couldn't show his true feelings for her. They were back to being good friends. But every night he had dreamed of her. But he couldn't do anything about it. It was like torture.
December came with winds, sleet and very, very light flurries of snow that didn't even stick to the ground. I was surprised we hadn't had much snow yet, though. Peggy seemed rather depressed about this.
"Snow is the best part of winter!" She said at dinner Friday the first. "Snowball fights! Sledding! Goofing around freezing your butt off!" She exclaimed, waving her arms about.
"Okay." Hermione said slowly, reading a letter.
"Who sent you that?" I asked.
"Viktor." Hermione said, narrowing her eyes at me. "and are you going to make a fuss about this letter?"
I chose to ignore her and turned to Peggy. "Don't worry, it'll snow soon."
"I hope so." She sighed, looking at the ceiling where gray clouds swirled.
After dinner we headed to the Common Room. Peggy and I played chess. She was quite good but not good enough.
"Check and mate." I said.
Peggy sighed again and sat back. "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." she grumbled.
"It will snow. Don't worry." I said.
"I just hope it snows soon." Peggy said with a sigh. She went over to the Common Room fire and flopped into a chair. I walked over and sat in the chair near her, staring at her. I had gotten these weird feelings since she had stayed with me at the hospital. Weird feelings that made me very confused. Very, very, very confused. And I didn't like it one bit.
***
The next day was a Hogsmeade trip. Harry, Hermione, Amy and Jasmine piled into a carriage, leaving me and Peggy to share a carriage by ourselves. Oh what a shame. Oh yeah, and Professor McGonagall made it too crowded for me and Peggy to join them.
"Ron, you okay? You seem weird lately. Well, weirder then usual." Peggy said as we sat back.
"Yeah I'm fine." I mumbled, trying not to look at her. When I did I got these weird feelings. Worse then normal. I couldn't like her! I knew I couldn't. She wasn't pretty at all so how on earth could I, Ronald Weasley, like her? No, no, no. I couldn't like her. Nope. I couldn't. Me like her? I most certainly did not!... oh my God I liked her.
I liked Peggy Morlins.
One of the ugliest girls in the school. I liked her! No! I couldn't! I most certainly could not! But I did. No I couldn't. I felt like screaming. I couldn't believe it. I liked her. I couldn't! I couldn't! But these feelings.
"Ron?" I jumped slightly and looked at her.
"Y-yes?"
"You okay?" She asked.
"Yes." I mumbled, staring at her. I then got a feeling I never, never got before and probably shouldn't mention. And it made me very embarrassed.
"Are you okay? You're getting really red." She said.
Indeed my face was rapidly turning red. "I-I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Are you getting too hot? Want me to open a window?" She asked, reaching for the window.
I sure as hell was getting way, way, way too hot. "I d-don't care." I said.
Peggy opened the window a little and sat back again. I couldn't believe I liked her. No way. She wasn't pretty at all!!!!! But I did. I liked her. I liked her very much.
The rest of the trip was in silence. I glared fiercely outside the entire time. We got to Hogsmeade and piled out, joining back with Harry, Jasmine, Amy, Hermione and McGonagall. We first went to the Three Broomsticks and crowded around a round table. Professor McGonagall went to a near-by table and sat there, keeping a close eye on Harry.
"Hi kids." Hagrid came through the door.
"Hey Hagrid." We all said as he joined our table.
"I though' you were supposed ta have a teacher with yeh." Hagrid said.
"I do. McGonagall." Harry said, nodding at the table where McGonagall was reading.
"Ah." Hagrid said, looking into the huge tankard of mead Madame Rosmerta just set in front of him. "Thanks."
"Mm-hmm." She said, walking away, swinging her hips. Why couldn't Peggy have a body like hers? Rosmerta was extremely pretty and very curvy. Peggy was curvy but not. pretty at all.
I sighed and looked into my tankard of Butterbeer. It wasn't fair. Why did I have to go and like an ugly girl? Not fair. Totally not fair.
I glanced up as the door jingled. Four new people had joined the crowded pub. Four red-headed troublemaker people. They were still on their battle of the twin thing but it wasn't as harsh as it was when it started, and I had a feeling there was more going on behind the scenes.
"Hey Ronniekins." Fred and George said as they passed me.
"Ronniekins." Frederika and Georgette giggled, following. I scowled.
"Ronniekins?" Peggy asked. I turned red as she began giggling.
"Oh shut up." I grumbled.
"I'm going to go." Jasmine said, standing up quickly, staring at the window. I glanced over and saw Malfoy there.
"Jasmine-" Harry said sharply and she narrowed her eyes fiercely. "er, have a good time." he muttered quickly.
Jasmine grinned and ran off.
"How can you let her go off like that?" I demanded.
Harry sighed and shook his head. "I don't like it. I want her to stop but for the mean time." he sighed and glared out the window as the two walked off. "she'll soon find out how horrible he is."
"Harry, it'll hurt her when she finds out." Hermione said softly.
"I know but she'll get mad if I forbid it." Harry said, looking incredibly worried.
"What's goin' on?" Hagrid asked in confusion.
"Jasmine. LIKES. Malfoy." Harry said through clenched teeth.
"What?! But they-he-"
"I know, Hagrid." Harry sighed.
"Well, I'm done. I'm going to Honeydukes. Who wants to go with me?" Peggy asked.
"Chocolate is going to rot your teeth." Amy said.
Peggy stuck her tongue out at her and started to leave. "Peggy-wait I-I'll go." I stammered. I chugged the rest of the Butterbeer and dashed after her.
*** (Draco's point of view)
"Harry is so mad." Jasmine said as we walked down a small street in Hogsmeade.
"I bet he is. But he didn't stop you." I pointed out.
"He was going to." Jasmine said with a sigh. We got to the edge of town, near a small forest (not the Forbidden Forest, another safe and smaller nice one). We sat at a picnic table under a bare maple tree. "I think they all are. Ron, Hermione, Amy. I don't think Peggy is but that's because she doesn't mind you."
"Yeah, we are partners in Healings." I said, staring at her. We sat across from each other. We actually sort of matched. I was wearing black pants and a dark gray turtleneck and a winter cloak. Jasmine was wearing a black, wool skirt that ended a little below her knees, a dark gray and black sweater (that reminded me of pepper) and a regular black cloak.
"The rose is started to wilt." She said.
"The rose I got for you when you were in the hospital?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"I guess the spell is wearing off. I'll get you another flower."
"Not a deep red rose, though." Jasmine said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Cause it means 'bashful shame'."
"What the heck does that mean?" I asked then shook my head. "never mind. I'll get you a flower right now. Let's go to the shop."
Jasmine giggled and stood up. "Okay."
We went to the Florist shop. It was filled with flowers and other plants. "Hello dears," a thin, spidery old woman appeared. She had a wispy white dress that floated about her. "can I help you?"
"What flower do you want?" I asked.
"Surprise me. I'll wait outside." Jasmine smiled and left.
"I want a really pretty flower for her." I said after a moment, indicating Jasmine.
"Your girlfriend?" She asked.
"Er, no but. I uh."
"Like her." The woman said.
"Yes." I admitted. I couldn't believe I had said that. I couldn't like a Gryffindor! Let alone Potter's little sister! But Jasmine was so. perfect.
"All right then dear, what flower?" She asked.
"Hmm. what about a jasmine?" I asked.
"What type of jasmine?" She asked.
"What. kind?" I asked.
"Regular jasmine, cape jasmine, Carolina jasmine, Indian jasmine, Spanish jasmine, Yellow jasmine, or Phoenix jasmine?" She asked.
"Uh. um. does any mean 'I really like you' or something?" I asked.
"Not really. There's 'I attach myself to you' and 'When you die, I shall cry'."
"Uh."
"There is." She said, her eyes getting smaller. "one that means 'grace and elegance'."
"I'll take that one." I said, wanting to get away from this odd, odd woman. She handed me a lovely yellow jasmine in full bloom. I smiled. "how much?"
Suddenly the woman's eyes got very, very wide. "BEWARE!" She screamed.
"What?!" I shrieked, jumping back in surprise.
"I just saw a vision." She said, eyes returning to normal.
"A-a vision?" I asked.
"There will be those who forbid this relationship. Many, many people." She said, eyes now slitting. "Um, how much for the flower?" I asked.
She shook her head. "It will be free. For you need all you can to help this relationship. there will be so much in your path. Poor kids." She whispered.
"Uh. right." I backed out of the store as quickly as possible. Jasmine was across the street, looking in the window of the mail shop, at the owls. I pulled out my wand, and charmed the flower, then walked over, hand behind my back.
"Hullo, done already?" She asked.
"Yes. For you." I handed her the flower.
"A yellow jasmine" She giggled, accepting it. "Grace and elegance."
"You know?" I asked.
"Ofcourse. I know what all the jasmines mean. I'm just glad you didn't get me a Spanish jasmine."
'Why? What does that mean?" I asked.
Jasmine giggled as we walked down the street. "Maybe I'll tell you when your older."
"Okay, I- hey! Wait a minute! I'm older then you are." I said.
Jasmine smiled and put the jasmine in her red hair. "When's your birthday by the way?"
"April fifth." I replied as the wind blew our hair back. "when is yours?"
"July twelfth." She replied.
"Hey, its snowing." I said as a thin flurry came down. It wasn't much but it was nice.
"Yeah. isn't it romantic?" She asked.
I wondered vaguely if that was a hint. "Mm."
She rested her head on my shoulder, warming it slightly. "Draco?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you like me even though you hate my brother."
"And I'm glad you like me even though your brother and I hate each other." I said, slipping my arm around her waist. We continued walking down the street, both very happy.
*** (Ron's point of view)
Peggy and I went to Honeydukes, and was greeted by the smell of chocolate. "Chocolate is the best thing in life." She said with a grin.
"Even better then love?" I asked.
"Well, I don't know. I've never been in love." Peggy giggled.
"Not even crushes?" I asked.
"Nope. I don't really believe in love."
"You. don't?" I asked hesitantly.
"No." She said quietly as we went to the chocolate section.
"How come?" I asked. Her face was stony as she stared hard at a small chocolate house. Very clever. The house itself was regular milk chocolate in shape of logs. The roof was dark chocolate made to look like shingles. In the windows was sugar spun light stuff, pale yellow for curtains. The door was white chocolate colored green with a little dark chocolate doorknob. "Er, if you don't want to talk about we don't-"
"Good." She said quickly and moved on, looking at a white chocolate unicorn with sugar crystal glaze that looked silver for the mane and tail. It had its head tossed back and one bent front leg. "That is so pretty." she said.
"Thanks." We jumped as a young black woman appeared. Her chocolate brown hair was sleek and shiny and in a top-knot bun. She had dark chocolate brown eyes behind glasses with dark chocolate brown rims, wore chocolate brown robes and a red rose in a lapel. As I looked closer I saw it was made of white chocolate. The bloom with red coloring, and the stem, leaves and thorns green colored.
"Did you make this?" Peggy asked.
"I do all the things like that. The house, unicorn and all the others like it." She said and pointed to a small sign the size of my pinky in front of each. 'Designed and made by Mrs. Cocoa Black' is what it said.
"Is that your real name?" I asked.
"Yes it is. I've always loved chocolate." She said with a smile.
"This is amazing. You're really talented." Peggy said.
"Thank you, dear."
"Are these for sale?" I asked.
"Ofcourse." She said, eyes shining with happiness as she looked at a chocolate statue. It was of a ballerina. Her hair was made of milk chocolate, her skin of white chocolate colored peach and her dress of pink, spun sugar. White chocolate indicated tights and her ballet shoes, white chocolate colored pink. Her arms were raised above her head and one leg was outstretched behind her. It was extremely realistic.
"Beautiful." Peggy whispered. "Too beautiful to eat."
"Thank you." Mrs. Black said. She looked hard at me for a moment. "Are you related to Charlie Weasley by any chance?"
"Yes I. he's my brother. How do you know him?" I asked.
"I thought as much. He said he had brothers at Hogwarts, still and one who loved chocolate. Come here." She led us to another part of the room and showed us a solid twelve inch tall chocolate dragon. "Couple years back I got a request to do chocolate dragons so I went to the best dragon colony place in the world. In Romania. Your brother showed me around. Very nice boy." She said.
"Yeah." I muttered, looking at the dragon.
"What's your name?" She asked.
"Ron." I said.
"Ron. Why don't you come back next Saturday? I'll have a surprise for you." She said.
"All right." I said slowly and Peggy and I left.
"Hey, its starting to snow!" Peggy said cheerfully.
Indeed it was flurrying a bit. "Maybe it'll get heavier." I said.
"I hope so." Peggy said with a grin.
"You really like snow, don't you?" I asked.
"Ofcourse. Its so beautiful and magical." She said, face lifting upwards to let snow fall on it. We stood there in silence a few moments.
Something then overcame me. I don't know what happened but I found myself grabbing her shoulders, pulling her close and kissing her.
It was amazing. I saw fireworks on the inside of my eyes (since they were closed). My heart raced yet stopped. Its like the whole world was spinning yet time stopped. It was-
WHACK!
I stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, pain filling my cheek since Peggy had just slapped me. And hard. I was seeing stars she had slapped me so hard.
"Ouch." I moaned, looking at her.
She was positively enraged. "Ron! How could-why did-what on earth and beyond were you thinking?!" She shrieked.
"I-I-I-I-I-I"
"Forget it. Just-forget it!" She snapped, whirled on her heels and stormed off.
Boy was I an idiot.
***
"Ouch. ouch. ouch." I moaned, pressing a cold wet cloth against the red, hand-shaped print on my cheek later that evening. I ofcourse had gone back to Hogwarts right away. I didn't even tell Harry and them, nor did I go after Peggy. The hand-print stung like crazy.
There was a bee-like voice buzzing in my head repeating over and over that I was an idiot. Which I was. "How could you do that?" I demanded, staring into the mirror, at my eyes. I had just probably ruined any remote chance I had with her. I gripped the sink and leaned forward, staring down at the drain. I felt like everything had just shattered into millions upon millions of tiny pieces.
"Ron?" Seamus came into the bathroom.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Well I saw you leaving Hogsmeade rather quickly and I had nothing more to do so I decided to see if everything was okay." He said.
"No. Nothing is okay." I said bitterly.
"Whoa! Who slapped you?" He asked, seeing the print.
"None of your business." I grumbled.
"Ah. I get it."
"Get what?" I asked, turning back to the mirror. In it was a total idiot.
"Girl."
"What?"
"A girl slapped you. A girl you liked." Seamus said and looked smug as I scowled. "ah so I was right. Now then, who was it?"
"Go away, Seamus." I snapped.
"Okay, okay." Seamus muttered and left. I turned back to the mirror and slumped over the sink slightly.
***
The next day Peggy totally ignored me. I thought she'd avoid me but no, ignored me. As if I wasn't there. At breakfast I kindly asked for her to pass the salt but she continued chatting away with Amy. She heard me all right because Amy said so.
"What?" Peggy asked.
"Ron asked you to pass the salt." Amy said.
"I didn't hear anything." Peggy said and Amy ended up passing it to me. In the Common Room it was the same. She and Harry were talking and I sat down and said 'hey'. Harry replied but Peggy, once again, totally ignored me. It went like that the rest of the day. The others noticed because they asked what had happened. "What do you mean?" Peggy asked.
"Between you and Ron. One day you're like best friends and now you are totally ignoring him." Amy said. Peggy chose to ignore that.
I couldn't take it anymore. I loved her and wanted to at least be friends with her. As long as I didn't show my true feelings for her I think I'd be safe. That is, if she'd accept. That night I sat directly beside her in the Common Room. "Peggy, look at me." I said. She ignored me like always. "Peggy, look at me." Once again, nothing. "Peggy please! I want to apologize."
With this she turned towards me. "Then apologize." She said rather harshly.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For kissing you." I said.
"What about it?"
I looked at her. "I'm sorry!"
"For what?" She asked.
You could no longer see the red hand-print from her since my whole face was red. "for kissing you."
"What about it?"
"Peggy!"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for kissing you."
"That's the right way to apologize." She said and closed her book.
"Friends again?" I asked.
"Yes. So long as you never mention it again." She said and shook my hand.
"I won't." I said. I would not mention the kiss. Dreaming, however, is a different thing.
***
Draco and Jasmine sat at a private table in the farthest and darkest part of the library. "The rose is completely dead." She said.
"The jasmine is fine." Draco said, looking at the yellow jasmine she held in her hand.
"Yes. It is." Jasmine said with a smile. "what's wrong?" She asked as Draco got a look on his face.
"Some of the Slytherins are being jerks again. Cause they saw us together at Hogsmeade."
"Oh." Jasmine said slowly.
Draco quickly grabbed her hand. "Jasmine I don't care what they think. I really like you and. and."
"And?" Jasmine asked, brown eyes dancing.
"And I. I. I've been wanting to do this since we met." Draco leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I really, really like you."
"And I really, really like you, Draco." She replied.
Draco had no clue how he got enough nerve to say what he next said. "In fact I think I love you." Jasmine was silent at this. "a lot."
"Oh." She said.
"I. I better go." Draco said, standing up. Jasmine stood up quickly.
"No, don't go." She said.
"You probably don't like me in that way I'm stupid, I shouldn't of even thought that you'd-" Jasmine put her hand up to his mouth.
"I never said I didn't love you." She said quietly.
"You. what?" He asked.
And Jasmine leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips.
***
Harry stood there in shock. Total and utter shock. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe it at all.
His sister and mortal rival were kissing.
***
Jasmine walked into the common room, humming happily to herself. The common room was completely empty. Or so she thought.
"So." She jumped as she spotted Harry's outline by the fire.
"Hello, Harry. What're you doing up so late?" She asked, looking at her watch. It was past midnight.
"I'd ask the same to you." He said darkly.
There was something about his voice that frightened Jasmine. "Something. wrong?" She asked.
Harry stood up. She could still only see his silhouette since he was right in front of the fire. "Oh yes. Something is wrong." He moved to the side slightly and she could see the fire in his green eyes. And it wasn't the reflection of the fire behind him. "sit down."
"Okay." Jasmine said meekly and sat down quickly.
"Now then. Where were you?"
"Library."
"With who?"
"D-Draco."
"And why are you coming in so late?" He demanded, slowly sitting down across from her.
"Draco and I were talking." She said.
"You were kissing!" He hissed.
"You saw?" Jasmine asked then went pale. "I mean-"
Harry leapt up, finger in her face. "Jasmine how could you do such a thing?!" He near-yelled. "I could tolerate you and him being together but kissing?!"
"Harry this is none of your business." Jasmine said.
"Jasmine, Draco Malfoy is a horrible, horrible guy!" Harry yelled.
"Maybe to you but to me he is sweet and romantic and wonderful!" Jasmine shrieked, eyes filling with tears.
"I absolutely forbid you to go near him."
"I-"
"No Jasmine! I mean it! If you go near him I swear I will hurt him."
"You will not." Jasmine said, nearly crying now.
"Oh yes I will." Harry hissed, eyes narrowed.
"I hate you! I hate you!" Jasmine screamed and ran from the common room.
She ran down the corridors, crying her eyes out. She didn't care where she went, just as long as it was away from him.
"Jasmine?"
"Draco?" Jasmine sobbed, looking through teary eyes and seeing a blurry Draco.
"Jasmine. what's wrong?" He asked, putting his arms around her.
Jasmine told him what Harry had said. "and-and I know h-he'd carry out the threat."
"He probably would."
"Wh-what are you doing out here?" She asked.
"Vorin Nott threatened me."
"What?"
"He said if I was seen with you again he'd hurt you. And like your brother, Nott would carry it out."
"Draco what are we going to do?" Jasmine cried into his shoulder.
"I don't know. I don't want you to get hurt." Draco whispered, stroking her hair.
"And I don't want you to get hurt. figures this would happen after tonight." She said. After she had kissed him, Draco asked her to be his girlfriend. Good thing Harry hadn't heard that.
"We could still be, you know, girlfriend and boyfriend." He said.
"How? All the Gryffindor and Slytherins are going to be out watching us probably." Jasmine said.
"Then we'll keep it secret." He assured her.
"Draco."
"Yes?"
"I love you so much." Jasmine whispered, not wanting him to let go.
***
Sure enough the next day, Jasmine found all the Gryffindors were watching her and the Slytherins glaring at her. And she saw a lot of the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs as well.
'Great, the whole school is out to get us'. Jasmine thought Monday in Healings class.
After class Peggy secretly handed her a note. Peggy was the only one in the entire school who knew the truth. Peggy said she'd help, and would pass notes between the two. Because she liked Draco and Jasmine.
Jasmine, meet me in the empty classroom on the west side of the fifth floor. Tonight at 1:30am. Draco.
There was also the flower drawn on the paper. It was the yellow acacia. It meant 'secret love' and they decided for that to be their flower.
That night at about 1:15am, Jasmine got dressed and ran to the empty classroom. Draco was waiting for her, holding a yellow acacia.
"I was hoping you'd show up." He said, smiling.
"How could I not?" She asked, hugging him tightly.
Draco stroked her hair and kissed her cheek. "I wish we didn't have this to be secret." He whispered into her ear.
"Me, either Draco."
***
Ron felt strained. Very, very strained. It was the Wednesday after he and Peggy had kissed. oh that kiss. Ron closed his eyes and remembered that wonderful kiss. oh god he yearned to kiss her again. But he couldn't. No, he couldn't show his true feelings for her. They were back to being good friends. But every night he had dreamed of her. But he couldn't do anything about it. It was like torture.