Chapter 5 - The Glass Vile

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

Jerica sat alone in the quiet library, bored of studying and instead rolling her glass vile around in her fingertips. The mist was glowing a faded red as Jerica fingered the metal rose on it's cork.

"Hello, Jerica."

The sudden voice caused Jerica to jump.

"Oh..hey Draco." she said, smiling at him, placing the vile around her neck by the silver chain. "You scared me...I'm just finishing up a report for potions homework, want to join me?"

Draco smiled and walked over to her, sitting down at the small library table.

The afternoon sun was shining through the open windows and cool air poured in.

"So..." Jerica began, setting down her quill and turning to Draco. "What have you been doing over the holidays, I haven't seen much of you."

Draco smirked, his steel eyes focusing clearly on her face. "Nothing really...except that I've been meaning to show you something that I think you will like very much."

The tone of his voice seemed to change, as if the kindness he had for her had vanished and all that was left was malice.

Jerica felt fear in her stomach but tried to conceal it behind a smile.

"Alright...what is it that you want to show me?"

He stood up and reached for her hand, taking it in his and kissing it softly.

"Come with me."

Jerica hesitated for a moment. "Well...let me just leave a note for Harry then, he's in the bath right now, but he'll be back soon, I should tell him where I'm going...wait...where are we going, Draco?"

"It's a surprise, and come, we don't have time for you to write a note." he said, pulling her arm, trying to get her to move. But she was alittle stronger then that.

"No, Draco. Now hold on, I'm not going to let myself be pushed around like this. I'm not coming with you if your going to treat me this wa-"

"You shouldn't have made this difficult." Draco said, pulling his wand out of his robes. "Imperius!"

~*~

Steam and mist filled the air as Harry stepped out of the large bath in the prefects bathroom. Turning off all the faucets, he walked over to the towel rack and wrapped a warm fluffy towel around his waist.

He pulled on his clothes just as the sun was leaving the windows, darkness falling upon the room.

Opening the door, Harry stepped out into the cool corridor and began walking downstairs, towel drying his hair.

By the time he had reached the library, Jerica and Draco had left, and there was no note, not a shred of evidence as to where she could be.

Harry wouldn't of thought much of it, if all her belongings hadn't been there. But everything looked as if she had just left suddenly, not bothering to gather up her books and parchments.

He ran upstairs to the commonroom only to find it empty as well. The great hall: emtpy. The corridors: she was no where to be found. It wasn't until he had searched the whole castle and grounds that he began to feel true fear in his stomach.

~*~

"Come, follow me, walk now."

Jerica mindlessly followed Draco into the dark forest, her head spinning and her mind not being able to form thoughts.

Heavy fog began to appear on the ground as they walked deeper and deeper into the forest where no light shone. It was a whole different and surreal world, and Jerica couldn't comprehend why she was there.

Malfoy suddenly stopped, and taking Jerica's hand in his, lead her closer to where a large group of people stood.

"Father...this is the girl." Draco said, pushing Jerica towards a tall man with long white blonde hair who looked shockingly like Draco.

"Ah...very well then." the man said, an evil smirk forming on his face.

Jerica began to feel sick and dizzy and felt her legs turn to jello beneath her. The next thing she saw was black.

~*~