A few days after the nosebleed incident, Jade resumed her classes at Hogwarts and tried getting on the very difficult reign of Dolores Umbridge who banned practicing spells for Defense against Dark Arts. Fred stopped sending his paper doves and flowers, mainly because he tried to avoid a very angry and well deserved confrontation. Instead he left her alone, leaving an odd feeling around her.
"So Slytherin's throwing a small victory party over beating Hufflepuff this morning." Astoria said. Ginny and Astoria looked at Jade who was staring into space, tapping the quill on her chin. Jade saw a few fingers wiggling in front of her and she looked at Ginny and Astoria who giggled.
"Someone looks a little too preoccupied. Seems a little important if she didn't hear the word 'party'." Astoria said.
"I think she blocked out somewhere after you said Slytherin. What's on your mind Jade?" Ginny asked.
"Nothing. So you're having a party in Slytherin? Sounds interesting…are we invited?" Jade asked.
"Are you high?" Ginny and Astoria asked.
"You're hiding something. You have a boyfriend don't you?" Ginny asked.
"Hey girls! Are you studying?" Hermione asked, bringing a stack of books to their table.
"Of course not. Jade has a boyfriend and she hasn't told us who." Astoria said.
"Oh, is this about Fred?" Hermione asked.
"Fred? Our Fred?" Astoria asked, turning to Jade.
"Oh please, you wouldn't be able to choke 'Fred' and 'boyfriend' out of me in the same sentence." Jade said.
"Why are you getting so defensive? I thought we were your mates? You could say you have romantic feelings about Longbottom and we wouldn't judge you." Astoria said. Jade, Ginny and Hermione gave Astoria a disturbed look and she shrugged.
"Okay maybe a little bit!" Astoria said.
"I'm being serious! I'm not thinking about Fred!" Jade said. This was definitely untrue but Jade was hardly thinking about him. She was only thinking about the pounded paper dove and the hyacinth that she had in her pocket.
"Stop teasing her. I just hope you know that Fred definitely has feelings for her. I saw him flirting with you the other day and that flower he gave you." Hermione said, flipping through her books. When no one responded, Hermione quickly looked up to see Jade and Ginny looking horrified and Astoria in the middle of a laugh and complete shock.
"You have got to be screwing my chain. Fred likes Jade?" Astoria asked.
"Oh…I thought you all knew. I shouldn't say things by accident." Hermione said innocently, going back to her books.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Astoria asked, hitting Ginny.
"Ow! My brothers never tell me anything! I always have to figure things out myself! And would you honestly think he'll have a heart to heart with me about being in love with my best friend who hates his existence?" Ginny asked.
"Ginny!" Michael called from the doorway.
"One minute!" Ginny said going back to their conversation. "Of course I wouldn't know and if I did, I think I'd tell you. Maybe not Jade, but I'd tell Ass or Hermione." Ginny said.
"How did you know Hermione?" Astoria asked.
"No one told me. I just saw the way he was looking at Jade and the way George and Lee were teasing him every time she would be around in the Great Hall or the common rooms. Jade was too busy pretending she was mad at him." Hermione said.
"Ginny!" Michael called again.
"Hell, Corner! I said in a bloody minute! Cripes, I have to go before he starts crying again." Ginny said gathering her books. "And don't go to any parties without me! Oh and keep all the juicy talks too. Talk about how stuffy the new D.A.D.A professor is. Bye!" Ginny said. Astoria smacked Ginny's bum with a rolled up newspaper and turned to Jade, wagging her eyebrows.
"You and Fred would make the cutest red haired, black eyed babies." She said.
"Shut up you over-sized orangutan." Jade said.
"This is frustrating. How are we able to practice these spells written in these books?" Hermione asked.
"Mm, that's what I said too. That Ministry woman is beyond legally crazy. Did you hear what she did to Harry's hand? Oh, of course you know, you're the one who told us." Jade said.
"I just wish there was a way to learn these spells from someone." Hermione said, closing the book and starting to think.
"I wish we had more school clubs around." Jade said.
"That's it! Brilliant!" Hermione said.
"What?" Jade asked.
"We need a group, a team of some kind to gather around and learn these spells." Hermione said.
"How are we going to learn these spells without a Professor?" Jade asked.
"I have someone in mind…it's just whether or not he'll be willing to teach us." Hermione said.
"Who?" Jade asked.
"Harry. He's one of the best D.A.D.A students in our school! I have to go! Will you be able to join us?" Hermione asked.
"Of course. It sounds a little tricky but I trust you." Jade said.
"Thank you Jade and what about you Astoria?" Hermione asked.
"I'll pass. It sounds nice and all but I can't." Astoria said.
"It's not a problem but please keep this a secret. If Umbridge knows what we're planning…it'll be disastrous for all of us." Hermione said.
"You have my word." Astoria nodded.
"See you girls later!" Hermione said, running out of the library.
"It sounds like a good idea. Why aren't you joining?" Jade asked.
"I wouldn't want my sister to get on my case. It's way too risky and I don't want to be a part of it." Astoria said.
"You see the pretty girl there with the brown hair?" Malfoy asked the first year Slytherin. He was pointing to Astoria who was walking down the hall with Jade Longbottom.
"They both have brown hair." The terrified first year replied.
"Okay…the prettier one. You see her?" Malfoy asked.
"How do I know which one is prettier?" the first year asked. Malfoy sighed and shook his head.
"Of course, that's right! How would you know? You're light years away from sprouting a chest hair! Listen to me you over-smart twat; the one that doesn't have the bruise on her eye. You'll know when you get there, now go!" he said, pushing him forward.
The first year blinked rapidly running towards the two girls.
"Hey there. What are you doing out of bed?" Astoria asked. The first year looked at the girl with the fading bruise on her eye. Draco Malfoy said he wanted the girl with the bruise, right? He turned to Astoria.
"A girl named Ginny is looking for you downstairs and Professor Snape is looking for you." the first year said to Jade.
"Snape? Looking for me? Did he say why?" Jade asked.
"I'm only the messenger!" he said, running off.
"Snape's office is just ahead. I'll see you soon." Jade said seeing Astoria nod.
"Not a problem! See you later troll." Astoria said, kissing Jade's cheek.
"Bye Ass." Jade said, walking off. Astoria disappeared into the staircase and Jade started walking ahead towards Snape's office. Just when she was about to pass a dark corridor, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her towards it.
"Don't scream, I'm not here to hurt you." he whispered before kissing her. Jade couldn't see a thing but she instantly knew who it was. The way he kissed her, convinced her that he was holding strong feelings for her and that he was genuinely sorry for whatever happened. Jade kissed him back, allowing him to press her further into the wall. He pushed her cloak off and she miserably tried with his cloak but he silently laughed against her cheek, kissing it as he ripped off his own cloak. He placed his warm hands on her ribs, underneath her breasts and circled them around to her back. Jade shuddered, feeling her entire body spasm in goose bumps and hot flashes.
"Why didn't you try to tell me you liked me?" Jade asked.
"I thought it was obvious." He said. Jade blushed again, feeling embarrassed that she was too busy trying to avoid him than having to notice what he was actually feeling. "We can go someplace else if you like." He whispered. Jade put an arm around his neck, trying to touch his face.
"We're not exactly ready for this…it's too fast." Jade said. He kissed her again. "
Go out with me. Hogsmeade tomorrow?" he asked.
"Fred I-"
"Fred?" he asked incredulously. He pulled away from her.
"Fred?" Jade asked.
"What are you talking about? I'm not Fred-"
"Jade! Jade! Where is she?" Astoria asked, appearing from the other end of the lit corridor. Jade felt him gasp slowly and Ginny appeared, nodding to Astoria.
"She's probably down at the Great Hall. Let's go." Ginny said. Astoria and Ginny left the corridor and Jade felt him grab her shoulder.
"Wait, if you're not Fred…" Jade trailed off seeing Malfoy in the light. He looked disturbed, wiping his mouth with his sleeve and she stared at him, feeling tears well up in her eyes. "Oh my god…please let this be a nightmare." Jade said, covering her mouth.
"You enjoyed it!" Malfoy said defensively.
"Because I thought you were Fred! ARRRGHHHHHH!" Jade screamed. She shoved Malfoy and walked away from him screaming to herself.
"Yeah scream louder! People are going to think I'm trying to rape you! Calm down!" he said.
"That's what you basically did to me! You kissed me! You took advantage of me and-"
"Excuse me but don't flatter yourself! I thought you were Astoria! I told the little prick to send you downstairs for Weasley and Astoria to Snape's office." Malfoy said. Jade hit the stone wall with her fist, grunting and shrieking in rage. She kicked the wall as hard as she could but felt a sharp crack on her toe. She felt down and grabbed her foot that started to throb in pain. Malfoy naturally ignored her, berating himself for making such an enormous mistake like that.
"How the hell could things have gone wrong? I told that muppet for the pretty one! How could he have thought you? I know why…you knew I was there!" he said, turning around and pointing towards Jade.
"I beg your fucking pardon?" Jade growled.
"You knew this was a ruse to get Astoria alone with me but you manipulated the little boy so it can be you I kissed and not her! You're in love with me! Ew! EWWWW! Longbottom's in love with-" Malfoy stopped immediately when a shoe hit his face. He sputtered and wiped his face, staring at the shoe for a second and back at Jade who was temporarily content.
"You're going to pay for that Longbottom! I'll tell my father on you! I'll tell Umbridge!" he said, walking towards her.
"Yes, run to Daddy and sit on his lap to tell him all the things the mean little boys and girls did to his precious son! You're a slimy little work Malfoy and you're a creepy pervert!" Jade said.
"And I think I just contracted herpes. I'm going to have bad breath forever! It's a good thing you're awfully prudish, Longbottom otherwise who knows what kind of creature would have bitten me off down there under your skirt!" he said. Jade went to remove the other shoe but she was pushed to the floor. He forcibly removed her shoe, picked up the other one that had been lying on the floor and threw them out of the balcony.
"Tell anyone what happened here and you'll be horribly sorry. You have my word as a slimy little work, trust me completely on that." He said before leaving. Jade was sitting on the floor enraged but in tears from the pain. She wasn't used to being treated like this by anyone since she was pampered all throughout her life.
"What is this?" a prim voice spoke up. Jade looked at Professor Umbridge standing in front of her in a soft lavender suit.
"I broke my toe." Jade said. Umbridge cocked her head slightly and raised her quill and clipboard.
"Irresponsible drunken students, lying in corridor…" she muttered to herself.
"I am not drunk and irresponsible! I broke my toe!" Jade yelled.
"Raises voice, disrespectful and lying…" Umbridge muttered again.
"You're the liar! You're ignorant and a horrible excuse for space in this world! I am lying here in pain and you're patronizing me for nothing!" Jade said. Umbridge only scribbled faster. Snape appeared at the end of the corridor and started walking towards them.
"Oh Professor, I don't think you should be here now." Umbridge said quickly.
"I'm afraid that isn't an option Professor. She is after all, one of my students." Snape drawled, looking bored with his hands behind his back. He gave a small sigh, looking slowly at Jade. "What are you doing here Miss Longbottom?" Snape asked.
"I broke my toe and I told this to Umbridge-"
"Professor." Snape corrected.
"Do not speak…what was it? Miss Longbottom?" Umbridge asked.
"She's accusing me of being drunk and irresponsible!" Jade said. Snape turned to Umbridge who had her nose in the air. "She's even written it down on her clipboard and called me a liar when I told her otherwise. I'm not drunk; I just need help getting to the Hospital Wing because I broke my toe!" Jade said. Snape grabbed Jade's upper arms and hoisted her to her feet. He smelled her and checked her eyes.
"This student is not drunk and completely aware and in her senses, Professor." Snape said. Without a word, Umbridge ripped the parchment off, crumbled it up and tossed it into the air. It evaporated and she walked away from them.
"25 points from Gryffindor for disrupting traffic and creating a scene in the hallways." Snape said.
"Traffic? What am I possibly disrupting?" Jade asked.
"10 more points for speaking back." He said.