Disclaimer: The same disclaimer I've used for every chapter so far...

Author's Note: Eek. Uh. Here. Have a chapter. I have nothing useful to say, sadly. Stupid FF. Net for killing my formatting. Please read and REVIEW!!

Secrets, Secrets, Are No Fun...

Jade's thoughts were interrupted suddenly when Cho entered the dormitory. Cho took one look at the girl sitting dejectedly on the edge on her bed, tears streaming silently down her face, and threw her arms around her. Jade felt the warmth of her friend's embrace and silently hid her face in Cho's smooth black hair.

--

Cho stroked the girl's back, whispering "It's okay," over and over as soothingly as she could. She had only seen the girl cry once before, and she knew why she was crying now. Jade sobbed as she clung to her friend, muffling the sounds in Cho's robes. Cho rocked her back and forth gently, cradling the girl's head against her. She didn't know what else to do. Slowly, Jade quieted and simply held on to Cho for dear life. Silence filled the dormitory as the two girls sat on the cerulean sheets, moonlight managing to stream through partially closed curtains. That sacred silence held them both still as they shared the burden of one girl's grief.

Into that sacred silence intruded the whining creak of the door. The mild chatter of the common room echoed up through the stone halls and through the small crack in the door. The opening widened and a smiling girl with freckles and brown hair strolled in.

--

"Hey, Jade, you in... here...?"

Her voice tapered off as she took in the sight before her. Jade, clearly distraught, was being held by Cho. 'What's going on?' she mouthed silently at Cho, who gave her the "don't ask now" look and shook her head ever so slightly. Jade started to turn towards the girl, but Cho patted her head and held her closer. Hannah was utterly confused, but nodded at Cho and backed out of the dormitory.

--

After what seemed like an eternity, Jade slowly pulled herself out of Cho's embrace, pushing strands of hair that had stuck to her face out of the way. She wiped at her eyes and nose and the met the other girl's gaze.

"Cho... I think... I think I just need to be alone for a minute."

Cho looked concerned, and took hold of one of her hands.

"...Are you sure? Sometimes it's better if..."

"I'm sure. I'll be okay... thanks."

Jade managed a small smile, and Cho nodded, giving her a final pat on the arm as she stood and walked out, closing the door behind her.

Jade flopped back and lay stretched out on her back. What am I going to tell Hannah...?

Cho nearly smashed right into Hannah after she had closed the door and begun to walk forward. Apparently she had been waiting outside.

"Woah! Sorry, Han..." she said with surprise as she composed herself and took a step back.

"What's going on with Jade?" Hannah asked pointedly, her face and voice full of concern.

"Umm..."

Cho didn't know what to say. Should I say something...? Her thoughts raced. Did Jade tell her anything about the incident? she thought frantically. If she didn't, does that mean she doesn't want her to know? But what could Cho say to Hannah, what could she say to make her see it wasn't a secret being kept specifically from her... or is it? Cho didn't know. All she knew was that she should probably keep her mouth shut. What can I say to her? She just cares about Jade...but...

"Umm..." she said again.

"What is it?" Hannah asked, her concern clearly rising.

"I... don't... know if... if I should tell you," Cho finished lamely.

Hannah just looked confused, maybe even a little hurt.

"But... I only..."

"I know," Cho said simply, relieving Hannah of the need to say anything. "I don't know what she's told you... it's something that happened last March... it's... not my place to say anything. I don't know what she wants you to know... If she wants to tell you, it should be her that does it."

Hannah felt an involuntary knife-prick in the back of her mind. Last MARCH...? She never said anything to me... all this time... why does Cho know and I don't...? Why would Jade... hide something... from me...? She shoved the thoughts from her mind and nodded. The girls slid down and sat against opposite walls, facing each other. That is, Hannah was facing Cho. Cho couldn't bring herself to meet the girl's gaze, so full of confusion, hurt, and what looked like the seed of jealousy.

--

Jade finally let out a reluctant sigh and rolled herself off the soft, warm, comfortable blue sheets, feeling her feet protest as weight was shifted onto them. The day's trip of walking through Hogsmeade in very old, dead sneakers had left her feet sore. She would have to ask her parents for a new pair. A strange thing to be worrying about right now.. she thought, somewhat amusedly. She looked in the mirror. The redness around her eyes had faded, but her hair was disheveled and the tears had left dried tracks of salt water on her face. She sighed and walked into the bathroom to clean up. After she looked mildly presentable, she made her way towards the door and lifted the wrought-iron latch out of its place. The door gave its usual whining creak and opened.

As the door swung out into the corridor, the two girls who had been waiting outside hurried to their feet. Jade stopped walking forward and managed to meet both their concerned faces. She felt Cho's hand on her upper arm.

"You okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah," Jade replied, forcing a small smile.

Hannah looked from one girl to the other, waiting for an explanation. As Jade's eyes returned to the floor, Hannah let out a pointed cough. Jade's eyes rose and met hers.

"What's going on here?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.

Jade paused for a long moment as she tried to think of something to say.

"I..."

The silence returned. Three girls stood tense, unmoving, waiting as Jade's thoughts raced.

"I... need a snack."

She mustered a smile and started walking down the corridor. Hannah's gaze turned to Cho as Jade walked past her. Cho averted her eyes. Hannah's face was incredulous, confused, and almost a bit angry. Cho had no answer, no explanation that she could give. And so she averted her eyes.

"...Cho?" came Hannah's voice, full of conflicting emotions.

"I..." Cho faltered. Silence hung in the air as Jade's footsteps halted, waiting, listening.

"I can't."

She turned and followed Jade down the corridor. Hannah's heart sank as she stood there frozen, mouth half open as though to protest. She heard their footsteps disappearing down the corridor, and as they went, she stood silent, listening as she heard quiet speech.

--

"You never told her, did you?" Cho whispered.

Jade kept walking and said nothing. Her heart was sinking and her mind was racing, trying to come up with some solution, any solution. Some way to explain why she had never told the poor girl back at the dorm about what had happened. But there was no answer. No reason.

"...No," she finally replied.

Uncomfortable silence filled the air between the two girls as they walked down the hall, their footsteps echoing off the stone floor.

Note: Ouch. That stings. Nothing important to say, so... Please review.