Draco sat in front of a possible candidate for Alcaeus's private tutoring who spoke about her qualifications.
"I completed my studies in America and moved here. I help a friend of mine run an organization for children who have disabilities or have A.I.D.S or any other disease." She said seeing Draco getting bored. "Anyways, I've majored in Mathematics so teaching Alcaeus Math wouldn't be a problem…is that what you're weak at Alcaeus?" the woman asked looking at Alcaeus who shrank in his seat.
"He needs help in everything believe it or not. He's failed his mathematics, English, geography, sciences, history you name it, he failed it. I'm being serious Miss Madison, this is why I placed the ad in the newspaper, my son needs desperate help or he won't be allowed into Hogwarts." Draco said seeing her nod.
"I understand. You don't have to worry about that Mr. Malfoy. I'll take care of Alcaeus." She said.
Draco felt a bit relieved. "When do you want to get to work?" he asked.
"Today?" she asked.
"Today? Sure. The sooner the better I guess. You both can stay in the study, I'll be out." Draco said getting up. He walked over to Alcaeus and placed a hand on his head. "Be a good boy." Draco said. Draco left and Alcaeus sat there, looking at the floor, not interested in the least to learn anything.
"So I already know your name, would you like to know mine?" the woman asked softly. She watched the child sit there, cold as stone, not concerned with her. "All right well that's not important, let's get you straight to these problems." Miss Madison said. It had been over an hour and Miss Madison couldn't get Alcaeus to respond, look up or participate.
The next day, Jade finished her work at the art school where she was a school and apparated to her organization where she saw everyone getting ready for a play they made on their own.
"Need a little help?" Jade asked seeing a little girl trying to get into her costume.
"Please Jade!" she squeaked. Jade chuckled and helped her in her costume and made faces with her to relieve her tension.
"Remember you're the big bad witch! You make these faces and scare them off! Look at this one." Jade said twisting her mouth and squinting her eyes.
"What about this?" she asked widening her eyes.
Jade gasped and looked terrified, making the little girl happy. "Now go on, you're perfect." Jade said seeing the little girl run to her mother. Jade smiled looking at the kids act out their roles and rehearse their lines. She helped them with a few things and couldn't help but feel extremely happy when she saw them being active and participating.
"Jade!" someone called. Jade turned around to see her friend Samantha standing there waving at her.
"Sam! Where have you been? We were looking for you yesterday and-"
"I had an interview with a parent to tutor a child. Sorry I didn't get to tell you sooner. Anyways, how's everything holding up without me? You all are probably in dire need of my help aren't you?" Samantha asked as Jade scoffed.
"More like grateful because you weren't there to screw things up." Jade said seeing Samantha make a face.
"Oh and I hope it's not a problem. I invited my student to see the play, but he's a quiet fellow. I haven't heard a single thing come out of his mouth since yesterday." Samantha said.
"Where is he?" Jade asked. Samantha went to point but a parent came and asked the two if they could help her two sons get into their costume.
Jade sat down next to Samantha and was very excited to see the children pull off this play. The curtains opened and Mia walked out waving her wand. "I'm a princess!" she said waving her wand around.
"Not anymore! You are going to be…um…what was my line again?"the girl who was the witch asked innocently. The parents chuckled and she silenced them with a finger to her lips. "I'm trying to hear my line!" she whispered.
Jade smiled and her eye caught a lonely figure, sitting next to the windowpane, detached from everyone. Jade tapped Samantha and told her that she'd be back. Samantha nodded and Jade left to walk towards the little boy. He had messy black hair and wore a buttoned shirt with a dark green vest over it with black pants and black shoes. Jade observed the dirt all over his shoes and the bottom of his pants and she sat next to him. He turned to her and Jade got to see his light gray eyes, which shifted back to where he was staring outside the window.
"Do you find plays boring?" Jade asked softly. He didn't answer her, but kept looking outside, as if he hadn't heard her. "Would you like to draw? Paint?" Jade asked. He still didn't answer her and Jade smiled. "It's all right." Jade said placing a hand on his head. She smoothed her hand over his head and left to get him some cookies. She went back and placed a plate full of cookies and milk in front of him. Jade walked away and turned to see the little boy turn to the plate full of cookies and milk. He turned a bit more to see if she was watching and when she wasn't he reached out for a cookie and took it. Jade sat down and saw him turn his body, fascinated by the milk and cookies that was in currently in front of him.
After the play, the children all were treated to finger foods as the grownups spoke to each other. "All right, I'll have to go. I have to drop my student off and go home." Samantha said.
"Oh right, where is he? I haven't met him." Jade said. Samantha looked around for Alcaeus and spotted him, sitting next to the window, staring outside with an empty plate in front of him.
"Jade! Jade!" Jade turned around and almost fell to see Dean walking towards her.
"What are you doing…here?" Jade asked. He kissed her and looked around.
"I came to take you to Seamus's party. Babe, you have to come. It's going to be wild and-"
"Dean, I hate going to your parties. I'm sorry, I can't come." Jade said seeing him roll his eyes and look around.
"This isn't the time to be complaining. And besides..." he said lowering his voice. "I'm always coming to your events for these kids and I'm always donating money!" he said.
Samantha stood there, and decided it would be best to leave with Alcaeus. She didn't want to stand there, watching Jade fight with her fiancé. Giving a small squeeze on Jade's hand, Samantha indicated she was leaving and Jade turned, giving her a face that conveyed that she was horribly sorry. Samantha shook her head and gave her a small wink and left, telling her it was all right. Samantha disappeared and
Jade turned around to see Dean still waiting on her. "Dean, why can't we go home and have dinner? I'll cook." Jade said placing a hand on his cheek. Dean clicked his teeth and walked away from her. Jade tried to hold herself up. This wasn't the first time he had walked out on her without a word. Whenever things didn't go his way, he'd simply walk off without hearing the rest.
Jade thanked everyone for coming and when they left, Jade locked up and apparated back home, to relax. She slipped into her pajamas and grabbed a box of ice cream from the refrigerator. She crashed on her sofa and turned the television on, wishing that Dean had been with her, spending time on the sofa and ice cream. She looked down to the engagement ring on her finger and played with it. She slipped it out and placed it on the table next to her sofa that held pictures of her, Dean, her caretakers and her friends.