Chapter 19:

Holiday Disputes

"You friend's a real piece of rubbish, you know that?" a voice exclaimed angrily from behind her.

Jessa and Taryn turned to find Ron, Harry, and Hermione coming up behind her. Ron threw a newspaper at her. She looked down to see a photo of some magical creature – a hippogriff, the paper called it. She looked up again.

"That's the creature that hurt Draco, isn't it?"

Harry nodded, clearly not happy with her use of his first name.

"His father took it to the courts. Hagrid's okay, but Buckbeak is going to be executed."

"What?"

Both girls gaped at the boys. "Why? It wasn't a serious injury," Taryn pointed out.

"Yeah, well Malfoy and his father made enough of a deal out of it."

"That's why I had to sub for him last match, isn't it?"

"Yes. Malfoy tried backing out, but because Slytherin has you, they couldn't."

"But why are you blaming me, though?"

"You're friends with him, aren't you?"

"Doesn't mean I support every decision he makes! Honestly. How could you think I would support something like that?"

"We don't," Hermione tried to say, trying to keep the peace. "We just wanted to know if you knew anything else more than we did."

"Well, I don't. Sorry."

Harry noticed how tense she'd become. He knew they were accusing her friend, but seriously? Of all the people for her to become friends with, it had to be that git? What had happened to her?

First day of holiday break, Jessa sat down in the Great Hall for lunch. There weren't many people who were staying behind. She nodded as Blaise Zabini sat down across from her.

"How are you doing?"

She nodded. "Alright. Happy for the break. You?"

"Same. Sick of all the essays they pile on."

She snorted, glancing up, eyes shifting down the table for a moment to where others who had stayed behind sat; then her brow furrowed.

Harry was at the other end of the table with his friends. Except he looked terrible. Paler complexion, hair more mussed than usual, circles under his eyes. Blaise caught her glance and looked over his shoulder to find what she was looking at.

"He's been looking something terrible for the past week or so. Dunno why though."

"Didn't expect you to. Thanks for telling me though."

"Anytime."

Then it was Christmas morning. This year, three boxes lay at the foot of her bed. Once again, she felt horrid she couldn't get something for them.

The first box contained a carton of chocolate frogs.

To our favourite snake.

- Fred & George Weasley

She smiled. She appreciated the gesture from them.

.

In the second box, a new set of quills and ink, and the book Quidditch Through the Ages.

Happy Christmas, Jessa!

I noticed you were running low.

Enjoy and see you after the hols.

- Taryn

.

In the third box lay a gold rhinestone snake charm.

This is the second layer for the necklace you have. This snake will hook over the original medallion.

Happy Christmas. Keep practicing your quidditch skills.

- Draco

She slipped the necklace on. Sure enough, it fit precisely into place over her original medallion. It locked into place and the chains magically melded into one. She wished he was here. As is, she was one of the only Slytherins – only students – staying behind.

She stayed mostly tucked in the common room, working on the homework the professors had insisted on assigning over break.

Harry looked up as Jessa slid into the chair next to him in the reading room adjacent to the library.

"Happy Christmas," he said, wrapping an arm around her.

"Happy Christmas," she returned, leaning into his side.

"Where have you been?"

"Holed up in the common room. I have a lot of work, same as you."

He snorted. "At least it's better than the Dursleys'."

"True."

Harry glanced down again. His bright eyes narrowed.

"Is that from Malfoy?"

"It is. Is that a problem?" she tried to challenge.

"Yes. I don't like it."

"I know that. But we're friends. He's one of my only ones. I can't give that up."

"Did it have to be him?"

"I didn't realize who he was when we were introduced. I know he's not always nice. But he's nice to me. Doesn't that count for something?"

Harry sighed. "Of course it does. It doesn't mean I have to like it."

Jessa was still bent over a table when arms wrapped around her. She stiffened, panic filling her even as she heard Taryn's voice in her ear.

"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, Taryn! Thank you for the gifts."

"Of course. How was it here?"

"Quiet."

Someone snorted. "I'll bet."

She glanced up to see Taryn's brother standing next to the table. "Happy New Year, Potter."

"Happy New Year, Puecy. You ready for the next match?"

He nodded. "As I'll ever be. The new Hufflepuff captain isn't half-bad."

She nodded. "I know. I've been keeping an eye out at the matches, too. I've gotta know who I'm up against if I have to sub again."

Adrian nodded sharply in approval.

It didn't take long before she was interrupted again.

"Need some help with that?"

She glanced up to see a familiar blonde sitting down across from her. She smiled.

"Thank you," Jessa said, fingering the necklace.

He nodded once. "You're welcome. It looks good on you."

"I love it. Thank you. I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything."

He shook his head. "No. I appreciate the gesture, but I don't need anything in return."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Honest, Potter. Promise. Besides, thanks to you, I have a better shot at beating your brother in the quidditch matches."

She laughed and conceded. Though she still felt bad.

"Potter. I mean it. Now, do you want help with that or not?" he said, pointing to the books in front of her.

She nodded shakily. "Can I ask you something first?"

He leaned forward a bit. "What's up?"

"I was cornered over break by Harry and Ron Weasley. About what happened in your Care of Magical Creatures class."

"Ah. Let me guess, they told you about my father moving forward with a trial."

"Yeah. For an animal? Who was defending itself, no less! Seriously, Malfoy?"

"He injured me! It was a dangerous lesson, and that half-breed oaf shouldn't be teaching."

"So maybe it wasn't the best lesson for that time. That doesn't make him a bad teacher. Besides, being part of a magical school, taking a class like that, it kind of comes with the territory, doesn't it? And not to make light of it, but your injury wasn't all that bad."

"Look. We back down now, we look weak. Malfoys are not weak."

"I never said you were. But killing an animal who was defending himself against your arrogance? C'mon, Malfoy. He doesn't deserve that."

Draco gave a non-committal shrug.

"And Hagrid?"

"That half-breed doesn't deserve to be teaching."

"So have him removed from that position. Make them reverse the position to just groundskeeper again."

Malfoy sat up straighter. "That's…not a bad idea."

"Well thank you," replied Jessa. He could sense the slight sarcasm in her tone.

He simply rolled his eyes. "I'll see what I can do. Happy?"