Chapter Two
"Nicole! Josh!" I grinned, running over and hugging my two best American friends.
"How are you Jenna?" Nicole squealed.
"Good," I answered, looking from one to the other. Josh just smiled goofily.
"Oh goody," came a voice from behind me. My eyes narrowed and I turned around to face the man I detested with a passion.
"Hello Oliver," I said sweetly.
"Atkins," he replied, inclining his head slightly. "I thought George was kidding me when he said you were here. I damn wish he was."
"So lovely to see you too," I smiled. He wrinkled his nose and then walked on.
"You would think that after a number of years, you two would just get over your problems," Josh shook his head. "By the way, I've never understood what your problems were." I shrugged.
"I don't know either, we just don't like each other," I replied.
"Dinner!" Fred called from the kitchen. The meal was enjoyable with friendly gossip and an update on all that had gone on during the war while I was still in America.
"A lot of people dropped out after Harry died," Fred spoke up when a silence had fallen. "I mean, most of them knew the prophet, and they thought we had no hope left. But we couldn't just drop all we'd been fighting for. I'd rather die than give up."
"Hopefully you won't have to Fred," Josh commented. "We're going to beat him. We're going to make the world a safe place again. I just know it."
"Besides, we still have Harry's spirit with us, right?" I added softly. I got a sympathetic look from every person at the table, including Wood. I caught his eye and gave a half smile. After dinner, my offer to help clean the dishes was turned down.
"You, my dear, are to rest and be well so that you can check out our patients tomorrow," George steered me towards my room. I opened my mouth in protest, but he shut the door in my face. I laid myself down on my bed, realizing for the first time how tired I really was.
"Harry, I know you're the one who killed my potion!" I glared at my best friend. He put on an innocent look.
"I would never," he replied. "At least not on purpose. Ron and I were having a paper airplane contest, it sort of…landed wrong." I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing my anger wouldn't last and already feeling it ebb away. I couldn't stay mad at him for long.
"Besides, Hermione needs a day when she's better than you," he grinned sheepishly. I rolled my eyes and walked towards the grounds, Harry following behind. Cho came walking up to us.
"Hello Harry," she smiled at him. I felt jealousy growing inside, although I would never admit that that was the feeling.
"Hey Cho," he grinned nervously, his cheeks flushed.
"The Charms club is having a holiday party, and I was wondering if you'd like to go with me as my date," she batted her long black eyelashes at him. I wanted to ring her neck, but refrained, waiting impatiently for her to finish with my friend.
"I'd love to," he grinned wider. She giggled. Kill me now, just kill me.
"Great, it's this Friday in Flitwick's room at 7. I'll see you then." She caught sight of me, and just to piss me off, she kissed him on the cheek.
"Jenna," she smirked.
"Cho," I gave her the smile I normally reserved for Wood. She flipped her silky black hair over her shoulder and walked away.
"Well that was a less than warm greeting," Harry raised an eyebrow at me.
"She hates me," I whined, walking outside.
"She does not," he defended.
"Yes she does, for three reasons," I replied. "The same reason that most of the girls in this school hate me for, the whole Triwizard Second Task when I ended up in the lake as his hostage and she wasn't, and because she feels threatened."
"Threatened?"
"I'm your best friend."
"So that should mean she doesn't feel threatened, right?" I stopped and gave him a look, shaking my head and walking on. I distinctly heard him mumble, "I will never understand girls," behind me.
"You knew they were leaving," Harry said softly. "You knew and you didn't stop them." I looked up into his emerald eyes, nodding silently.
"Why didn't you stop them?" he asked, confusion set in his face. "George would have stayed for you, if you'd told him to, he would have-"
"It was his and Fred's dream Harry," I whispered. "I couldn't let him drop it for me. I'd never forgive myself. I had to let him go, because I love him." Tears welled up in my eyes, tears that I had been unable to shed. I didn't cry when he told me their plans, I didn't cry they day they left. I didn't cry even when it sunk in, but now, talking to Harry, telling him the reason I let George go, my heart finally shattered.
"Oh Jenna," he wrapped his arms around me and I cried into his shoulder. No one disturbed us, they all knew better, and no one questioned.
I opened my eyes to find the room completely dark. I felt tears spring to my eyes and my skin prickled from the cold. His green eyes haunted my thoughts, yet the memories were somewhat comforting. I wrapped my arms around myself, teeth chattering.
"Oh Harry," I whispered into the darkness. "I miss you so much." I squeezed my eyes shut to stop the flow of tears threatening to spill.
"Please Tom," I begged. The solid form of the once ghostly being smirked at me.
"You don't want me to hurt him?" he whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine.
"No, I don't. Do whatever you want with me, but leave him alone." I was crying, which made me more vulnerable.
"Sweet girl," he purred, running a finger down my cheek. "I need him dead. You were simply bait. Capture you, he's guaranteed to come. After all, who does Potter care about most in this world?" I choked back a sob. He'd used me. He'd pretended to be some one else, broken through my wall, I trusted him, and this is who he'd turned out to be. Tom Riddle, a year older than the diary ghost. He was feeding off my emotions, and I couldn't control them anymore. Worst of all, he was right. Harry would come and there would be nothing I could do to save him.
"Where is she Riddle?" his voice was venomous.
"I have her here Harry," Tom answered almost lazily.
"Let her go," Harry replied through gritted teeth.
"My, my. We are protective aren't we. Tell me Harry, is it her devastating beauty, or is there more?" Harry only glared back. Tom twirled his wand through around his fingers, smirking.
"I'm not going to hurt her Potter," his voice was sharp like ice yet smooth like velvet. "She's much to beautiful to hurt. All I want is you dead. Cooperate, and she goes free, completely unharmed. Be the burden that you normally are and…well I've been meaning to try out some new curses." He smile toothily, baring every white canine he own.
"Do I have your word?" Harry asked shakily.
"Harry you can't," I spoke up. "I'm not worth it. You can't do this-" I yelped as Tom's hand made sharp contact with my face. Harry took the opportunity the curse him. Tom flew back against the cave wall and Harry ran to me.
"Are you all right Jenna?" he ran his thumb over the red handprint that now adorned my skin.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, my eyes flooding again. He shook his head.
"I'm sorry he used you like that," he kissed my forehead, the spot tingling after his lips left it. "Let's get out of here."
"Shouldn't you do something about him?" I pointed to the unconscious form of Tom Riddle.
"I have a spell, but this place will cave in," he replied. "So we have to get out first." I nodded. He helped me up and we left the cave.
"Sponatonastedo!" he shouted. A metallic purple light shot out of his wand and into the cave. We heard the screams of Tom and then the whole cave fell in.
"Jenna!" My eyes snapped open and I sat bolt upright.
"Jenna, are you all right?" It was George. "I heard you scream and when I came in you were shaking." I felt bile rise up in my throat but I swallowed in down.
"Nightmare," I replied. He shook his head in understanding, worry still creasing his face. He touched my arm gently and then turned to leave.
"George," I managed to say. He turned back. "Stay with me. I don't want to be alone with these dreams." He heard the pleading in my voice and smiled reassuringly.
"I won't even think of leaving your side," he answered, climbing in next to me under the covers. I rested my head on his chest and fell asleep again, not having any more dreams.
