Chapter 4 - The Glass Vile

Disclaimer: all characters except Jerica are owned by JK Rowling.

The weeks seemed to pass like hours, in a never ending cycle that seemed to eat away the year. The sudden change of heart of Harry towards Jerica had caused little stir amongst the Gryffindors. The same, however, could not be said for the Slitherins.

The slitherins had been investigating the mysterious closeness of Harry to Jerica, but the two seemed to keep their relationship a secret. No one was able to ask her, so the matter was quickly forgotten. At least, to all but one Slitherin.

Draco had had quite enough of hearing about Harry and Jerica. As far as he was concerned, pathetic chats like this about them were purely rumors. In his mind, Jerica had better taste then dumb gryffindors. Wasn't it her, anyway, who said equality among the houses and her who associated with Slitherins? His head fuming with anger, he skulked to each class, waiting till the end of the day when they had Transfigurations with the Gryffindors.

He'd now be able to see if the rumors were true, he thought. He had been so sure that Jerica had liked him, she always smiled and waved hi to him in the halls and his heart seemed to stop beating every time he saw her.

Everything he had felt for her had been something he'd never felt before, since he'd always been full of malice and grudges against Gryffindors. But Jerica, well she was just a different breed.

She was kindhearted, but had an attitude all the same. She was funny, sarcastic at times, not afraid to break rules...beautiful. Draco shuddered at the thought of that sick Potter boy all over the girl he liked. The thought was just sickening.

The hour transfiguration was to start, Draco ditched Crabbe and Goyle to search for Jerica alone. Stupid fools, he thought as he swiftly changed crowds in the corridors, leaving Crabbe and Goyle walking in the wrong direction.

Sitting down at one of the back tables in Transfiguration, Draco pondered what to say to Jerica. If she was indeed dating Potter, then he would just have to sway her away from him. If she wasn't, well, then she was all his.

With winter holidays quickly approaching in a week, Draco had decided to stay at Hogwarts. His father was to be doing some major business with the Death Eaters and so Draco would not be able to stay at home. His father needed him near Hogwarts for a certain reason anyway.

A loud creak told him that students were entering the room. He looked back and sure enough, Jerica walked in with Hermione, Harry, and Ron. Turning back around quickly, he sneered at the thought of Jerica being around Harry.

He felt a hand graze across his shoulder and he looked up, his heart stopping as Jerica grinned and waved at him. "Hey Draco." she said, her voice happy and carefree.

He smiled back at her, a rare thing for him to do. Harry and Ron turned around and sneered at him, then turned back to Jerica, who was now seating herself at a table two in front of Draco.

Draco didn't even care about Harry. He was lost in a dreamy gaze, his mind fully on Jerica.

The period seemed to go by so slow, drifting on and on as Professor McGonagall talked nonstop about changing a fork into a centipede.

When it finally did end, however, Draco immediately stood up and walked over to Jerica, not even thinking about Harry or Ron or what they might do to him if he even touched her.

"Jerica, can I talk to you for a sec?" he said, placing a hand on her arm.

"Sure," Jerica said, smiling, then turning to Harry and Ron. "I'll catch up with you guys."

Harry reluctantly stalked off, Ron glaring maliciously at his side. Hermione skipped off, trying to catch up with the guys.

Draco turned to Jerica, his hand still on her arm. "Are you staying here for Winter Holidays?"

"Yea, actually, I am...I don't think I ever want to leave Hogwarts," Jerica said with a laugh.

"Would you like to spend some time with me then, over the holidays I mean...I'm planning on staying here as well, my father has some business he has to take care of."

"Sure...I'd love to." She said, her eyes sparkling beautifully. "I better get going now, don't wanna keep Harry, Ron and Hermione waiting! Bye Draco" she said as she walked out of the room and down the corridor.

Draco never thought he'd ever felt so happy.

~*~

At last, winter holidays had arrived. Students filed merrily out of the school and back home, cheerfully talking of christmas and presents and feasts. The hogwarts staff began to decorate the castle, even though few students were staying behind to enjoy them.

Ron and Hermione had decided to go home this year, and so it left Jerica and Harry alone in Gryffindor with a few other students from other houses. One of those students staying behind was Draco.

"What do you want to do?" Harry asked Jerica, sitting in the Gryffindor commonroom. A large fire was in the fireplace and the sun was just setting over the vast horizon. Streams of sunlight streaked through the windows and cascaded across the walls of the commonroom.

Jerica and Harry sat bored out of their minds, playing a casual game of chess.

"I dunno...wanna go for a walk?" Jerica asked hopefully, looking up at Harry. She felt so much for him just looking at him or just hearing his voice. To her, it was the strangest feeling in the world, yet the most wonderful.

For Harry, the feeling was more then mutual. Sometimes he found himself staring at her, mindlessly lost in her eyes. Right now was turning into one of those moments.

"Harry...?"

He snapped out of it, completely forgetting what she had asked.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" she repeated, her lips curving into a sweet smile.

"Sure," Harry said, standing up and taking Jerica's hand in his. He lifted her out of the armchair she was sitting in and pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her tightly.

She lifted her head and looked up into his eyes. Green shone brightly through his glasses along with love and devotion.

Jerica lifted her mouth to his and wrapped him in a soft and sweet kiss. Their lips parted and they walked quietly out onto the grounds, holding eachothers hands tightly.

The hazy sun was just setting over the mountains and warm orange glow covered the grass. Birds flew happily around the trees by the lake, speaking peacefully to one another. The lake rippled slightly with the calm breeze that whispered on the back of Jerica and Harry's necks as they stepped outside.

Jerica took a deep breath and smelled the sweet aroma of honeysuckle and oak. Heading towards the sun, they walked around the castle, not speaking but instead taking in the beauty of the outdoors.

Weather like this was abnormal for Scotland, and it seemed to send chills up Jerica's arms just enjoying it. Never had life been so peaceful, so relaxed, as it was now.

Harry suddenly stopped and turned to face Jerica, placing his hand on her chin. He bent down and kissed her lips softly, tasting her and breathing in the smell of her hair.

Jerica moaned quietly, almost a purr, as she intensed the kiss and placed her hands on his chest. She stepped closer to him and pulled out of the kiss, and instead gazed up into his eyes.

"Life has never been more wonderful then it is now," she said, smiling.

"I think I'm in love with you, Jerica." Harry said, his hand running down her cheek.

Jerica felt her heart skip a beat at the sound of his words, and saw the sincerity of them in his eyes.

"I knew I was in love with you a long time ago," she said, brushing her soft lips against his. He smiled and couldn't believe how happy he had become. Something about her always drove him wild. He now knew what it was. He was in love with her.

They walked over towards the lake and sat down on its shores, watching the sun pass over the crest of the mountain. Her head on his shoulder, Jerica swore she'd never love anyone more then Harry. He'd reached her like no one else could have, and it sent trembles through her body just at his touch.

The sun behind the mountain, Harry turned to Jerica and kissed her once more, a neverending habit that put him over the edge.

~*~