Disclaimer:  I don't own Harry Potter.  Oh how I wish I did…BUT I DON'T! The only character that is mine is Jade Miko! I created her; you can only use her after explicit written permission from me, the authoress.  Thank you.  If you survive, please come again.

~~You know what those mean! Yep, it's recap time.  Let's see, when we last left Jade and Draco, they were separated.  It seemed everything was going to be alright.  Draco wasn't expelled, and Jade's housemates decided to allow her to be with Draco, as much as they hated it.  This chapter is a few days later.  Hope you enjoy! ~~

You'll find better love

Strong as it ever was

Deep as the river runs

Warm as the morning sun

Please remember me

-Tim McGraw, "Please Remember Me"

Chapter 6: Revenge is Bittersweet

            Draco finished his meal in the Great Hall and got up to leave.  Jade watched Draco leave, still eating. She glanced at him, smiling, as he walked by.  Draco didn't see her at first as he walked by, but at the door he turned around.  He spotted her smiled, turning to go out the door.  He walked out of the Great Hall, not noticing the large group of 7th year Slytherins heading his way.  He stopped just before bumping into them.  "Oh, hey guys," he said casually.

            "Hello, Malfoy," the boy in the front said coldly.  Draco recognized him as the Quidditch captain, Marcus Flint.  Draco was confused for a moment, trying to figure out why they called him Malfoy, but quickly realized why. 

            They moved, surrounding Draco. He looked slightly nervous as he tried casually to escape.  "Excuse me guys, I have homework to complete."  They didn't budge.  He started pushing, trying to get away from them.  "Come on, guys, let me go."

            "Now why should we do that?" Flint asked, glaring at Draco.  Draco stopped pushing, realizing it was hopeless.  He glared at them.  "What kind of look is that?" Flint demanded, faking innocence.

            "It's a get out of my way kind of look!" he cried.

            "After what you did?" Flint shook his head.  "Not likely."

            "I didn't do anything to you," Draco insisted.

            "You disgraced our house, Malfoy," Flint growled.

            "I didn't do it on purpose," Draco insisted once more.  "I told you all before it was an accident!"

            "That's not good enough."

            "Well, it will have to be.  Now MOVE!"

            "Don't think so," Flint said, shaking his head. 

            Draco stamped his foot and moved up close to Flint.  "I said let me pass!"

            Flint pulled out his wand.  All the boys whipped out their own wands as well.  Draco pulled his out as well.  "Useless," Flint said.  And with that, they all screamed the same spell at Draco.  Draco's wand flew from his hand to the ground.  In a few seconds, he lay on the ground greatly bruised and unconscious.  He was bleeding from different cuts on his body.

Back in the Great Hall, Jade finished eating.  She left, going to look for Draco.  Walking outside, she spotted Draco lying on the ground not far from the school entrance.  "Oh my god, Draco!" she cried.  Jade ran over to Draco, kneeling beside him. She took his head in her arms.  "Draco…" 

Draco cracked his eyes open a little.  His face was contorted in pain.  "Ug," was all he could say before passing out again.

"Draco, please answer me," Jade pleaded.  Silence was her only response.  Jade, realizing he wasn't going to wake up, lifted him in her arms, with some difficulty, and made her way to the infirmary.

"Miss Miko, what happened to Mr. Malfoy?" Madame Pomfrey asked when Jade brought Draco into the hospital wing.

"I don't know," Jade said, frantic.  "I found him like this."

"Well, it was very good of you to bring him here.  He sure looks like he's had a beating."
            Jade gasped.  Then her face hardened.  "The Slytherins," she spat.

"The Slytherins?  They did this?" Madame Pomfrey asked.  "Which ones?  I shall report this to Snape; Dumbledore shall know as well…"

"I don't know," Jade admitted.  "It was just a guess."  Madame Pomfrey didn't respond.  She laid Draco down on an empty bed, dressing his wounds and bandages him.  She put ice on the bruises, and then covered him with a blanket.  "He's going to be alright, isn't he?"

"His cuts aren't bad, but his nose is broken," Madame Pomfrey replied gravely.  "The bruises will heal in time, but I have to make sure there isn't internal bleeding.  I fear he will be here for a while."
            "Then I will be too," Jade decided.

"I have to run some tests so you better go.  You can stay and wait in the lobby if you wish, but I doubt he'll be waking up soon."
            Jade nodded.  "It's alright, I'll wait."

Madame Pomfrey showed Jade to where she could sit and headed back to Draco's bed, mumbling softly, "First Potter, now Malfoy.  This school is going to get a bad rap." Madame Pomfrey began running the tests on Draco, all the while softly mumbling and grumbling about the misbehaving children of the school.  A while later, she come back out to tell Jade what she had determined.

Jade stood up when she saw Madame Pomfrey.  Her whole body trembled.  "Madame Pomfrey?"

"Mr. Malfoy has minor internal bleeding, but does have a rather large bump on his head.  I don't think he has a concussion, but when he wakes he might be a little out of it.  He will live if that is what you are worried about miss.  You can go and sit with him, if you'd like."

"Thank you," Jade said quietly. She went into the room and sat next to the bed where Draco lay, taking his hand in hers.  He clasped Jade's hand lightly.  "Draco…?"  He opened his eyes slightly, but didn't say anything.  Jade looked at him anxiously, clasping his hand tighter.

"Not that tight," Draco said, whispering so softly that Jade could barely hear him.

"Oh!" she cried, releasing his hand. "Sorry."  Draco groaned a little and closed his eyes.  "Draco…"

Draco opened his eyes again.  "What happened?" he whispered, groaning again.

"I don't know," Jade replied.  "I found you outside like this."

"It was…I don't remember," Draco said.  "Why are you here?  This was over you, you know."

"I couldn't just leave you here," Jade said.

"You shouldn't be here."

"Why not?" Jade asked.

"What's that?" Draco asked, ignoring Jade's question and pointing at a blank spot on the wall. 

Jade looked at where he was pointing.  "Th-there's nothing there, Draco."

"Yes there is.  It's um…" Draco squinted, "purple."  Jade's face looked concerned.  "Hell, you are purple.  When did you dye your hair, Jade?"

Tears welled up in Jade's eyes.  "I—I'm not purple and I didn't dye my hair."

"Okay, why lie?"  Draco said.  "I didn't—don't cry...I don't mind," Draco groaned, "that your hair is purple…oh now it's blue," Draco closed his eyes.

"I just—hate to see you like this," Jade said, laying her head lightly on Draco's chest.

Draco groaned a bit more.  "Can you tell me why…why…why…," Draco couldn't finish.  His voice faded into silence.

Jade lifted her head up.  "Draco? Draco!"

"Why…is Ginny staring at me like that?" Draco asked, looking past Jade. 

"Wha—Ginny isn't here," Jade said.

"Yes, she is," Draco insisted.  He groaned, trying to get enough energy to lift his arm to point towards the door, but couldn't.

"Shh…don't move, please."

"But, she's…she's…they're all just," Draco's voice faded once more. 

Jade turned.  Draco was right.  There was Ginny, standing in the doorway with Harry.  "Jade…" Ginny started, walking into the room.  Harry stood in the doorway, not moving.

"Don't you 'Jade' me," Jade snapped, ushering Harry and Ginny out of the room.

Harry didn't move, but stopped her from pushing them away.  "Look here, Jade.  I don't like your decision.  In fact, I hate it.  I don't want, or think, you should be hanging with him.  But he did have a point.  I can't control you.  But…are you sure this is the right decision?  It will change how people think of you."

"If we are going to talk, fine, but not in here," Jade whispered furiously.

"Why not?  Shouldn't he hear us too?  Though, he looks pretty conked out to me," Harry said coldly.

"Don't, Harry.  If you want to talk, we do it out there.  Or not at all."  Harry backed up and walked out, gesturing for Ginny to join them.  Ginny followed silently.

When they were outside, Harry spoke.  "So Malfoy got what he deserved.  I want to know who to congratulate."

Jade whispered furiously, getting very close to Harry.  "This is all your fault, you realize that?!  If you," Jade glared at Ginny, "hadn't forced me back to the common room, Draco wouldn't have been outside the common room waiting for me.  He wouldn't have pushed you down the steps, therefore losing his house 100 points.  A gang of Slytherins attacked him, Harry!  Don't you even feel the least bit sorry?!"

"Should I?  Sure, he's hurt.  I don't wish that on anybody, but he did push me for doing what's right in the first place," Harry countered.
            "You think doing what's right is trying to make decisions for people!" Jade cried, still whispering.

"No.  I think doing what's right is showing them what mistakes they are making so they don't get hurt in the long run.  Malfoy is bad, Jade!  He's a bad seed, he can't be trusted."

"He's told me that numerous times," Jade said, rubbing her forehead.  "Look, Harry.  I can't explain it, but I like Draco...a lot.  And I can't control my own feelings.  If you don't like it, well I'm sorry," she paused, looking at him curiously.  "Why did you come up here anyway?"

"Well…um…no reason," Harry stammered.  "I didn't expect you to be here, though.  I thought you'd have learned your lesson."

"Learned my lesson?" Jade forgot herself, shouting.  "Learned my lesson?!  Harry, you are not my professor! I LOVE HIM!" she cried. 
            Harry stepped back, surprised at her sudden outburst.  "You love him?  Are you sure?"

Jade glared, still furious.  "Yes, Harry, I do.  I've never been so sure in my life.

"Does he feel the same way?"

"I—I don't know."

Madame Pomfrey came bustling out of the infirmary at that moment.  "Please keep your voices down," she scolded, then looked at Jade.  "Miss, if you want to, please, I need some help Draco has gone into some sort of fit."

"What?!" Jade gasped. "Wha—what's wrong with him Madame Pomfrey?"

"I'm not sure.  He just started twitching and it got worse.  It must be that lump on his head.   Did he say anything weird to you?"

"He was seeing odd colors," Jade replied.  She looked worriedly at Draco, who was twitching violently on his bed.  She walked over to him, placing her hands on his shoulders.  "Draco, please!"

Madame Pomfrey put her hands on Jade's shoulders.  "I don't think he can help it, dear.  I gave him a potion that will stop this.  It will take a little while, though."  Jade turned away from Draco.  She couldn't stand to see him like this.  On the bed, Draco's twitching slowly tapered off, until eventually it stopped. 

Jade turned back around, her eyes red.  "Is he going to be okay?"

"The potion worked faster then I expected," Madame Pomfrey replied.  "He'll be fine.  I believe he has a concussion.  I didn't see it at first, but they can be missed.  I'll give him another potion that should lessen his pain.  I expect he'll be awake soon if you want to stay."
            Jade nodded.  "Please."

"Alright I'll be over tending to the other patients," Madame Pomfrey said and walked away.  Jade nodded and walked back over and sat in the chair next to Draco's bed.  Draco's fingers twitched a little bit as Jade placed her hand over his hand.  He let her fingers fall through his, and then grasped them lightly.

"Draco," she whispered softly, bowing her head.

"Yes?"

Jade snapped her head up.  "You awake?"

"Unless I talk in my sleep, I'd say yes," Draco said.

Jade smiled.  "Same old you."

"Expect me to change?" Draco said, groaning slightly.

"Never."

"Good, because it won't happen," he said.  "What did Potter want?"  Draco's voice was hoarse, and strained. 

Jade shook her head.  "Nothing, don't worry about it.  How do you feel?"

"I'm bruised, beaten and my head hurts like a mongoose's ass with a splinter.  How do you think I feel?"  Draco tried to laugh, but winced.  "Owww."

Jade looked slightly hurt.  "Sorry I asked."

"Don't be like that," Draco said, seeing the look on her face.  "Where's your sense of humor?"

"It left when I found you earlier."

"Well, you need to go find it," Draco said, couging.  "Ow," he smiled slightly.

"I was worried about you, you know," Jade said, smiling back at Draco.

"What happened?" Jade asked.

"Slytherins attacked me outside the Great Hall," Draco replied.  "Said I disgraced the house.  They wouldn't let me pass.  I heard what you said out there.  Kind of hard to miss.  I remember you coming back in though."

Jade blushed.  "You heard me?"

"Yes I did," Draco replied.  "And yes I do."

"You do?" Jade asked, somewhat confused.

"He…asked if I felt the same way," Draco explained. 

Jade realized what he was talking about.  She faked ignorance.  "About what?"

Draco blushed. "Don't act so oblivious you know what I mean.  I…" he couldn't bring himself to say it.  He blushed some more.  "I love you."

Jade smiled.  "I know."

"Just had to make me say it, didn't you?"

"I wanted to hear it from your lips.  Unless, you didn't mean it?"

"No, I did," Draco looked like he was about to say something more, but stopped.  Harry had walked back into the hospital wing with Ginny by his side.

"Jade?"

Jade turned around, walking back to Harry.  "Yes?"

"Just…tell him…I'm sorry, okay?" he said shortly and started to walk off.

Jade grabbed his arm.  "Wait."

Harry turned.  "What?" 

Jade pulled him in front of her. She shoved him forward.  "You tell him."

"Oh no, you don't.  No way.  You tell him.  He doesn't want to see me anyways." Harry babbled.

"Oh spit it out, Potter," Draco snapped.

Harry glared at Draco for a few seconds, and then said quietly and quickly, "I'm sorry."  He looked at Jade.  "Can I go now?"

"I don't care."

"What for, Potter?  I'm the one who pushed you," Draco said before Harry could leave.

"Yes, well, I wasn't much help either." With that, Harry ran out of the hospital wing, leaving Ginny.

Ginny's face was red with embarrassment.  Draco laughed a little.  "Still a little wuss.  Never could take confrontations," he looked at Ginny.  "Yes, Ginny?"

"I—I wanted to apologize.  For everything."

"You do?" Draco asked, surprised.  "I don't deserve it, but thanks all the same." He smiled painfully at Ginny.  She ran out of the hospital wing.  "My face hurts."

Jade sat back down, exhausted.  "You don't smile too often."

Draco laughed.  "Guess not.  Look what you did to me!"

"Well, excuse me!" Jade said, the tiniest bit angry.

Draco laughed again.  "Wow!  Now look who has a temper!  I think I'm wearing off on you.   Better get you back to the way you were," Draco said, and, ignoring the pain, sat up and leans over, kissing Jade.

"Dra—," the rest of Jade's words were cut off by the kiss. She closed her eyes, putting her hand on the bed to support herself.  After a few seconds, she pulled back.  "This has to be hurting you."

"Yeah, so?"

"I've caused you enough pain."

"It's all worth it my dear," Draco said, smiling again.  He fell back on to the bed, painfully.

Jade lay her head down next to Draco, falling asleep fairly quickly.  Draco put his arm around her.  She wasn't asleep for long when Ginny came back into the hospital wing.  She was carrying a tray of food.  "Thought you guys might be hungry," she said, setting the tray and walking out.

Draco shook Jade a little.  "Hey Jade…Jade wake up Ginny brought us something…hmm guess she isn't too bad still a Weasley but…"
            "Huh? Wha—?" Jade said, still not awake.

"Ginny has brought us dinner."

Jade sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Oh…food."

Draco laughed.  "Yes."

"Have we really been up here for that long?"  Jade asked.

"Yeah," Draco replied. 

"Feeling any better?"

"A little.  The potions are kicking in.  I think the lump n my head is almost gone."

"Good.  Hungry?"  Jade asked.
            "Yes, very."

Jade got up and stretched a little. She went over to the tray and filled two plates with food. She walked back, handing one to Draco. "Mm, thanks," Draco said, taking a plate. He winced.  "Ug, chewing bad."

"Chew slower," Jade suggested.  "Unless you want me to go get you some soup or something?"

"Mm, no, I'll be fine," Draco said.

"You sure?"  Jade asked, munching on her food.

"Positive," he replied, chewing slower.

Jade finished eating and lay back down next to Draco, falling asleep once more.  Draco put his arm around her and fell asleep as well.