"Your brother's such a dick." Astoria said seeing Ginny sigh.

"Tenth time you told me today Ass." Ginny said.

"Feels like I haven't said it enough." Astoria said

"You said it probably a thousand times yesterday too." Ginny said. Astoria shrugged.

"New day, new start and I haven't heard you disagree yet." Astoria said.

"What's there to disagree about? He acted so unreasonably towards Jade. Maybe what she did wasn't something good but he didn't have to humiliate her like that in front of everyone." Ginny said.

"Gin, I really need to tell you something important." Astoria said.

"What?" Ginny asked.

"Ginny!" Ron called behind them. They turned around seeing Ron make his way towards them through the students.

"Harry told me that we needed to regroup for a team meeting." He said.

"When?" Ginny asked.

"Right now. Hey Astoria." Ron said seeing Astoria nod.

"I'm definitely tired and can't wait to relax when I get back to the dorms." Ginny groaned. Astoria patted Ginny's shoulder as she started to leave.

"What did you need to tell me though? Is it important?" Ginny asked seeing Astoria nod.

"It's very important but it can wait." Astoria said seeing Ginny nod.

"Fine then. I hate surprises." Ginny said.

"Then you're going to hate this one…or maybe you'll like it." Astoria shrugged.

When Ginny and Ron left, Astoria started walking back to her dormitory to kill a few hours before dinner. As she made her way down the stairs, she saw Jade walking into a corridor. She went to call her but saw Draco slipping out of a crowd of students and walk behind Jade. Astoria could see that Jade looked startled and tried to turn but Draco had her firmly facing forwards as he whispered quickly. Astoria wished she knew or heard what they were talking about but she could only follow them and wondered why they were suddenly so involved into each other.

"You promised to meet me yesterday." Malfoy hissed behind Jade who jumped.

"Holy shit, Mal-"

"Keep straight, act normal." He said turning her shoulder when she tried to turn.

"I really hate that I have to do this every time I talk to you in public. I don't think any of your friends care if you're talking to a Gryffindor." Jade said.

"Forget about my friends, what happened to you? I was waiting for hours there, waiting for you." he said. Jade looked down at the ground, trying to swallow her emotions.

"I couldn't. I wasn't feeling well." Jade said.

"You look ghastly, like you've been crying all night. What happened? Weasley sent you back your mix tape or something?" Malfoy asked. He saw her tearing up and he frowned, feeling a little bad.

"It's been months and all of a sudden-" Jade turned into another hallway and pulled him into a classroom.

"It's not all of a sudden, Malfoy! I saw him yesterday in the tea shop with Alicia Spinnet and he said the most hurtful things he could ever say about me! It's like I wasn't human and he wasn't concerned that I'd take it badly because he treated me like I don't have a heart! Merlin, Malfoy, he was so horrible, it's not like him." Jade said, tearing up. "He hates me…he can't even stand to look at me or speak to me unless he crushes me." Jade said.

"That's not healthy." Malfoy said, watching her cry. She sat in a chair and buried her face in her arms, resting on a desk. Malfoy pulled a chair in front of her and started patting her back.

"Sometimes when the people we love and care about do something to hurt us, it's easy to hurt them. It's also the reason why we can hold our anger and frustrations the entire day, come home and kick the ones we love to feel better." He said.

"Malfoy, you're not helping." Jade said.

"Just shut up and keep crying." He said. He heard Jade sniff and continued.

"I don't understand the reasoning behind this but I do understand that the people that we care about also care about us. They've understood and weathered through many things to still stand by us and accept us for the way we are. That's why it's so comforting to go back and hurt them because it's easier and they'll take it. Just like how my father used to treat my mother and I." he said.

"Really?" Jade asked, looking up, seeing Malfoy nod.

"We knew how frustrated he was but tried to manage and take in his tempers the best way we can. All my life, I've been growing up to see that in order to speak to someone, you'd have to dig their heart out. What did that gain me? Idiots for friends, the loss of a wonderful and gorgeous woman, a Dark Mark and an emotionally unstable mother." Malfoy said, showing Jade the Dark Mark on his arm.

"And you say I'm ghastly." Jade said, examining the Dark Mark. Malfoy only sighed, looking at the Dark Mark with her.

"I have to go soon…much to do but before I go, I do want you to realize that it's not fair for you to put up with his abuse anymore. He's got the right to be terribly angry with you and he's punished you enough but no more after that." He said.

"Yes but-"

"Don't argue with me. If he loves you, he'll have to forgive you too. He doesn't have the right to treat you like a punching bag every time he sees you. I know you would never do that to him, so what gives him the right to do that to you?" Malfoy asked. When he saw the sudden smile on Jade's face, he instantly narrowed his eyes.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"Just a little funny hearing this from you of all people." Jade said.

"I know…I never thought I'd feel bad if I saw you this upset." He said.

"Aren't you the perfect gentleman?" Jade asked.

"Isn't that the perfect gravestone epitaph? Draco Malfoy; Death Eater and Perfect Gentleman." Malfoy said.

"Just because you carry the Dark Mark, doesn't make you a Death Eater." Jade said.

"Some of the things that I do is true to a Death Eater. I don't have a choice." He said. Jade covered his hands with hers.

"Of course you do, you just need time choosing." Jade said. Malfoy nodded, looking back to her hands.

"Are you hitting on me?" he asked. He grinned, seeing her take her hands back and fold her hands to her chest, shaking her head.

"Grow up!" Jade said, rolling her eyes.

"Keep feigning it. It suits you to be a prude, mainly because you are one…but I have to go soon." He said.

"Then go. I can't thank you enough for this chat. I'm sorry I had to skip yesterday because of what happened in Hogsmeade but I can be available at the same time, every day." Jade said.

"I can be free tonight. Same time?" he asked seeing Jade nod. "Then it's fixed. Really, Longbottom, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate on asking for it. I have more money than Granger can even count." Malfoy said.

"I really don't need your money." Jade said.

"You'll need it for Healing school, won't you?" he asked.

"How did you know I wanted to go to Healing school?" Jade asked.

"Astoria talks endlessly about you and Weasley. Sadly, I know more about you two than you two will ever know about yourselves." He said, getting up.

"Is that so?" Jade asked seeing him nod. "Then I guess I'm lucky to have a therapist that understands me so well." Jade said.

"Do you like it when I flirt with you?" Malfoy asked seeing the smug grin on Jade's face drop.

"No sir, I absolutely do not." Jade said.

"Then don't get snarky on me." He warned.

"Absolutely. My mistake." She said, seeing him grin.

"Astoria was right, you're a good time. Tonight at the second floor bathroom then, don't keep me waiting or else I'll forget about prostitutes and find solace in you." he said, leaving.

"I'll be early!" Jade squeaked, watching him leave and laugh to himself.

Astoria leapt off to another classroom, barely containing her laughter when she heard the exchange between Draco and Jade. It was the greatest delight to know that they were getting along so well and they were using each other to confide in one another. But what about a meeting in the second floor bathroom? What were they meeting there for? She saw Jade walk out of the classroom, blushing and muttering to herself.

"That blonde pig! So embarrassing that he has to bully me around by saying sexually inappropriate things. Arse." Jade said.

"Are you staying over tonight?" Jade asked Astoria as they walked into the castle with Ginny.

"I definitely will. There's a lot to talk about you know but what we going to do now?" Astoria asked.

"I'm hauling my arse to my bed for a two hour nap before dinner." Ginny yawned.

"I have to help a few second years with their homework in the library." Jade said.

"That sounds so sweet of you, why don't I come?" Astoria asked.

"Oh…" Jade laughed nervously. "No, it's just a long and boring trail of asking stupid questions and answering them. It's History, you see." Jade said.

"Ough, that's definitely worth missing out of." Ginny said.

"What part of History?" Astoria asked. Jade shrugged.

"I don't really know. I have to see their assignments to know." Jade said.

"I thought you did the worst in History." Astoria said seeing Jade pause, trying to think of an answer.

"Yeah…you can barely pull yourself out of a 'Dreadful'." Ginny said.

"Maybe I'm trying to better my skills?" Jade said.

"Hmm…I think you're lying. You're going to meet with someone aren't you?" Astoria asked. Ginny's eyes lit up and Jade stared at the two of them, feeling herself start to simmer with anger.

"She's just as red as Ron is whenever he sees Hermione's bra strap." Ginny guffawed.

"Why the fuck do I have to prove myself to the both of you? I'm not seeing anyone! Why would I have to lie about that for? And since when did you two decide to become arses all of a sudden?" Jade yelled.

Ginny and Astoria quickly looked at each other, trying hard not to laugh.

"Please don't keep your laughter in, by all means, cackle like the pair of hyenas you two were born as! I have had it with people pushing me around like I'm some kind of chess piece! Your brother can definitely shove it! I'm definitely over his bullshit. I've apologized and begged too many times for forgiveness but if he doesn't want to then I won't have to. He can go shag Alicia as much as he wants but if he makes another comment and thinks that I'll take it quietly, he'll wish he didn't! No one's going to make me feel bad or try to intimidate me by flirting! I won't have it! I'm finished! Finished!" Jade screeched. She turned around and left, leaving Astoria and Ginny behind.

"I don't understand…what did the last part mean?" Ginny asked seeing Astoria shrug.

"It's Jade, what is there to ever understand?" Astoria asked.

Jade ran towards the second floor, fuming. She pushed the bathroom door open and went to shout at Malfoy but saw a large pool of water mixed with what looked like blood which was also staining the walls and mirrors. Jade's heart dropped as she looked around, not entering the bathroom.

"MALFOY!" Jade yelled, trying to see if he was anywhere nearby. She stepped in and tried avoiding the blood that was covering most of the area in the bathroom.

"Malfoy! Myrtle! What the hell happened in here?" Jade asked seeing Myrtle crying at a corner.

"Harry Potter came in and used very dark magic against Draco." She said.

"Harry? But…why would he do that? Is Draco all right?" Jade asked seeing Myrtle shake her head.

"He's lost a lot of blood. Potter looked just as surprised as you did but he must be getting treated at the Hospital Wing right now. Professor Snape came in and took both of them away." Myrtle said.

"Oh my goodness." Jade said, turning around to see Astoria walk in, looking around. Seeing the panic on Jade's face, Astoria immediately ran out, running full-fledged towards the Hospital Wing without stopping for a breath.