The next morning, Draco woke up to find a fresh towel and a supply of toiletries with a note from Jade. After taking a shower, Draco stepped out, feeling incredibly refreshed. He walked along the balcony, overlooking the entire jungle. It was incredible to be up in a tree which served as a small hospital. Fresh rain had fallen not too long ago but the skies had cleared up and the sun shined brightly. It took Draco five minutes to become drenched in his own sweat again. He swore, wiping the sweat from his forehead and looked below, seeing Jade sit on the steps, sipping from her cup. Draco looked around, wondering where Fred and Astoria were. Usually they were staring at her or making comments at Draco but they were nowhere to be seen for now. Draco reminded himself that he was going to have to ask Jade about her personal life thanks to Astoria. She and Weasley made it clear to him that he had better find out who she was engaged to. Draco didn't want to tell them but he had his own reasons to come all the way in a bloody jungle to find Longbottom and her love life was no concern of his. Draco went down the stairs, seeing Jade look up and smile at him.
"Morning, princess." Jade said, moving over to make space for him.
"Good morning Hagrid. How are you, this morning?" Draco asked, stretching his legs out.
"Pretty well. How did you sleep?" Jade asked. Draco sighed, seeing her smile.
"Merlin, don't you people have cooling anything? I think I developed boils on my arse it was so hot last night." He said.
"Living in a jungle isn't easy." Jade said. Draco took her cup of coffee and sipped it.
"I always took you for a monkey but I didn't actually think you were going to live here." Draco said, seeing Jade shake her head.
"I've been here for a month now. We travel from country to country, meeting different people with different health concerns. We're not always vine swinging barbarians, you know." Jade said, seeing Draco raise his eyebrows.
"I see. How does your fiancé feel about that?" Draco asked. Jade's head snapped towards him, seeing him innocently sip from his cup.
"How did you know about that?" Jade asked.
"Your friend, Sheila. She mentioned it to me. How come she doesn't know anything about you?" Draco asked. Jade gathered her hair and started twisting it into a bun.
"No one really knows me here. I'd rather them not know everything in my life. It's part of the reason why I escaped." Jade said.
"I'm jealous." Draco said.
"Well you're here. Better late than never, right?" Jade asked, seeing him nod.
"I mean, I'm not escaping from fiancés-"
"I'm not escaping from him. I just need time to think and breathe." Jade said.
"Who is he?" Draco asked. Jade gave him a pointed look. She got up and started to walk with Draco following her.
"These are one of the many places where wizards, witches and even muggles receive treatment. There is a special indigenous group who hold pure magical qualities. They've made a life here in the jungle for hundreds of years so it's fascinating to learn from them and even treat them with our Healing abilities. Did you know that they can heal at least forty times faster than the ordinary witch or wizard in our time today?" Jade asked, guiding him through the thick leaves.
"That is interesting. And it's impressive work. There are probably millions or even billions of these groups in different parts of the world and you're here studying and healing them. Where do I sign up to be a Healer?" Draco asked, seeing Jade turn and grin.
"I've been meaning to ask you. How's Scorpius?" Jade asked.
"Scorpius is fine. He's running around, playing with other kids and having very intelligent conversations." Draco said, moving a low branch out of Jade's way.
"Does he remember his mother?" Jade asked softly.
"Not really. Which is a shame but I make sure he knows who she is and remind him every single day how she would react if he acted a certain way. It's the only way I know how to get him to know his mother." Draco said.
"I'm glad you didn't drag him all the way here. Where is he now?" Jade asked.
"Astoria's parents are taking care of him. Just until I get back." Draco said.
"I wish I could see him." Jade said, stepping over a large root. "It's been almost two years." Jade said.
"You could have stopped by with your fiancé once in a while you know." He said, smiling when she looked annoyed at him. "Come on, you won't tell me his name? Where did you meet him?" Draco asked.
"Malfoy…" Jade warned. They entered a clearing where children were playing Quidditch. "This is where we've set up pitches and introduced the children to Quidditch." Jade said, showing Draco around. "This is Jacob. Over there we have Maria, Anna, Eric and Stacy. There are a few others of course but this is the team I've been with for the past few months. All of them, brilliant Healers." Jade said, seeing Draco shake hands with them and introduce himself.
"Trekking the rainforest all by yourself, I heard. Pretty brave." Maria said.
"Or pretty stupid." Someone else said. Draco turned around to see a handsome and tall man walking towards them in a black sleeveless shirt. He was muscled and lean and carried his head in a way where he seemed he was too good for everyone else.
"Eli." Jade said, unenthusiastically.
"Hey sweet cheeks." He said, swatting her bum. Jade jumped and Eli grinned, looking at Draco who couldn't believe that Jade said nothing about what had just happened. "So you're the one that everybody's been talking about?" Eli asked with a smirk.
"Do you want an autograph or something?" Draco asked. Eli laughed.
"Funny guy." Eli said, poking Draco's shoulder. Jade could see how rough he was being; intentionally trying to piss Draco off with what seemed like an innocent poke. Draco was doing well with keeping his temper under control.
"So who's up for a game of Quidditch?" Jacob asked.
"I think our friend here would like to sit and observe the big boys." Eli said, walking away.
"I have no interest playing jungle Quidditch with you children. I had my fair share of being Captain and Seeker of my Quidditch team in Hogwarts." Draco said.
"Oh wow. You were Captain and Seeker?" Stacy asked.
"Ask Jade. I used to give Harry Potter hell in my days." Draco said. Jade smiled and took Draco's arm, walking off with him. "What's up with your boyfriend? Why is he such a prick?" Draco asked, looking at Eli.
"He's not my boyfriend." Jade said, as Draco turned around, looking at Eli who was glaring at them while he was putting his Quidditch gear on.
"Oh is that the prick you're marrying?" Draco asked.
"He is not my fiancé either. I'm not marrying anyone. Not yet actually." Jade said.
"I don't understand." Draco said.
"You don't have to." Jade said.
"So are you engaged or not?" Draco asked.
"I'm not engaged and I'm not…not engaged." Jade said seeing him give her a puzzled look. Jade sighed. "I'm seeing someone and he proposed and I haven't accepted yet. I'm taking some time to think but it's not Eli." Jade said in a low voice. Draco narrowed his eyes.
"Why would you let him smack your bum around like you're some cheap ninny?" he asked. Jade blushed furiously and looked down. He felt bad for asking her that question, seeing how embarrassed she was. "I'm sorry. It's none of my business." Draco said. Jade tried to smile but she couldn't. "If Fred were here, he would have knocked that pillock out of his boots." Draco said.
"Fred definitely would have." Jade said, between a laugh and a sob.
"Fred thinks you should give her a hug to make her feel better too." Fred said, behind Draco who saw Astoria standing next to him. Draco shook his head but Astoria pointed to Jade.
"You hug my best friend right now and comfort her! That's the least you could do because you just stood there like a gaping idiot when he disrespected her right in front of you." Astoria said. Draco rolled his eyes and put his arms around Jade, hugging her closely.
"What are you doing?" Jade asked in a muffled voice.
"Just shut up and hug me." He said. He heard her snort and hug him back tightly.
"This actually feels nice. I never thought Draco Malfoy could be huggable." Jade said, hearing him chuckle.
"So you've thought about hugging me? I never knew you had those feelings about me." Draco said. Jade sighed, resting her head against his chest and closing her eyes.
"I only thought about it in Hogwarts when we used to talk to each other. There were so many times you looked like you needed a hug but I never did because I just thought you would hex me or something." Jade said.
"Wow. I almost forgot that we had secret sessions in Hogwarts." Draco said.
"They had secret sessions?!" Fred shrieked, making Draco jump.
"What happened?" Jade asked, letting go of Draco.
"What the hell is going on?! How do I not even know anything about this?" Fred asked Astoria who bit her lip. "You knew about this? They were shagging behind our backs and-"
"Whoa, hang on for one second!" Astoria protested.
"Are you out of your bloody mind?" Draco asked.
"Me?" Jade asked, looking at him. Draco looked back at Jade.
"Uh…yes!" he said, ignoring Fred and Astoria arguing. "Are you out of your bloody mind…for…thinking that I was going to hex you?" Draco quickly recovered.
"Nice!" Astoria said. She turned back to Fred. "They had therapy sessions. When you were broken up with her, Jade was a mess and when Draco was a Death Eater-"
"I'm out of here." Draco said, walking off. Jade scratched her head, wondering what was wrong with him.
"I don't like him. Is that supposed to be her fiancé?" Eli asked Jacob.
"I honestly don't know." Jacob said, trying to mind his own business. Eli saw the way they were smiling and hugging with each other. They walked alongside each other, joking and Jade was as happy as he had ever seen her. They both were watching the kids being directed how to play and snuck in a few conversations with each other. Draco put his elbow on her shoulder and she had her arms crossed, looking painfully casual. It took Eli months to try and keep a conversation with her but she wouldn't play along. She still wasn't warming up to him but it took this idiot two seconds for her to fall all over him and give him lifelong hugs. It made Eli sick to his stomach.
"Hey buddy, do me a favor will you? Go distract Jade for me." Eli said, patting Jacob's head. Eli didn't see Jacob scowl at him as he walked away, going to fetch Jade.
"Hey Jade. Could I use you for a minute?" Jacob asked.
"Sure." Jade said, walking away.
"She's special, isn't she?" Fred asked.
"She's all right." Draco said.
"You're mother's all right." Fred shot. Draco grinned.
"Hey buddy." Eli said, walking up to Draco.
"Oh good. Here comes the big dick in a boot." Astoria said.
"Knock the lights out of him. Prick." Fred spat, staring at Eli.
"He would be very gorgeous if he weren't such a giant maggot." Astoria said.
"How may I help you?" Draco asked Eli who gave him a fake smile.
"You seem like a good guy." Eli said, placing a hand on Draco's shoulder.
"Apparently I'm funny too." Draco said, brushing Eli's hand off.
"Ha. Let's get straight to the point, shall we?" Eli asked. Draco blinked.
"Finally. And here, I thought you were just pussyfooting around for fun." Draco said. Eli clenched his jaw, his eyes dropping all humor and fun.
"Oh Malfoy. If I could give you a big fat kiss, I would!" Fred said.
"Look. I don't care where you're from or who you bloody know. Over here, this is my territory. Whatever you have with Jade? Drop it." Eli said.
"Excuse me?" Draco asked.
"You heard me." Eli said.
"And if I don't?" Draco asked. Eli smiled.
"You don't want to go there. Trust me. Back off from her. I don't give a shit what you two have with each other. Drop it." Eli said.
"Who the fuck is this guy? Who the fuck does he think he is?" Fred asked.
"I appreciate it, buddy." Eli said, going to leave.
"Hang on for a second." Draco said, seeing Eli stop and turn back around. "We don't know each other and I would like to give you the benefit of doubt because you might be a mindless idiot. You don't know anything about me and I don't give a shit to know anything about you but no one threatens me. I am giving you a decent and fair warning. Don't you dare make that mistake again." Draco said, going to leave. He turned back around. "Oh and one more thing, buddy. If I ever see you touch her inappropriately ever again, no potion in the world is going to heal that eye the same way ever again." Draco said, pointing to Eli's right eye. Draco returned a fake smile and walked away.
"If Malfoy could do that to her fiancé, it would make me feel forever in peace." Fred said watching the game with everyone else.
"Maybe. I feel a little anxious that Draco hasn't even found anybody. I mean I should be happy that he's not porking someone but it feels a little uneasy and unsettling that he's alone. All the women that he chooses to sleep with…good Merlin I hate all of them." Astoria said. Fred shook his head.
"I guess I know how you would feel. I'm torn as well. What do I do?" Fred asked.
"I mean, they look cute together, I suppose." Astoria said.
"Who?" Fred asked. Astoria jerked her head towards Draco.
"Jade and Draco? Don't they look cute together?" Astoria asked. Fred looked bewildered.
"Why on earth would they ever look…cute…together?" Fred asked.
"See I knew you weren't going to take it well. I don't know, maybe I'm crazy-"
"Clearly." Fred said.
"-but they…I don't know. Who else could you want Jade to be happy with?" Astoria asked.
"I could name a hundred people." Fred said.
"Oh really? Please, by all means." Astoria said, watching him grow red and quiet, furiously thinking of someone. Astoria cleared her throat. "Don't be shy, Weasley. Out loud, come on." Astoria said.
"Will you shut up? I don't want them together. That's just ridiculous and stupid. It's not even fair to Jade to spend her life with someone like Malfoy." Fred said.
"See…I don't take any offense to that because you know that Draco is a wonderful father and a decent human being. A few minutes ago, you could have snogged him to death if you could for standing up to your woman." Astoria said.
"But that doesn't mean that they should belong together." Fred said.
"Why not?" Astoria asked.
"I don't have to explain anything to you. Move over." Fred said, leaving her. Astoria sighed, looking back at the game.
When the game ended, Astoria walked towards Draco as everyone cleaned up.
"Hey handsome." Astoria said, seeing Draco ruffle the children's hair.
"Hey beautiful. Where's your sidekick?" Draco asked.
"I don't know. He's mad at me but no one cares." Astoria said.
"Why?" Draco asked. Astoria shook her head and dismissed it with a wave.
"You know how redheads are so sensitive about death. So how was the game?" Astoria asked.
"Uh…it was okay I guess. Wasn't paying too much attention." Draco said. Astoria nodded.
"Why? Because your eye was wandering?" Astoria asked. Draco looked suspicious.
"Okay, what? Why are you acting so weird?" Draco asked.
"Me? Weird? You're the one that's weird! So chummy with my best friend all of a sudden? Trying to be her knight and shining armor?" Astoria asked. Boys were so easy to stun.
"Are you insane? I'm just trying to be nice." Draco said.
"You're never nice. Admit it; you have a soft spot for Jade." Astoria said.
"I have no spots for her. Why are you doing this? Are you bored?" Draco asked, starting to leave.
"I'm not bored! I was just curious. She's pretty, our age, smart and caring. Looks like she has a soft spot for you." Astoria winked.
"You are out of your fucking mind." Draco said. Astoria shushed him.
"Not too loud. She's coming this way." Astoria said.
"Hey Draco." Jade said.
"Goodbye." Draco said, leaving her. Astoria frowned, seeing Jade stand there, dumbfounded as Draco walked away from her.
"So you don't think she's pretty?" Astoria asked. Draco didn't look at her directly but Astoria saw that he was angry. "You don't have any feelings for her?" Astoria asked.
"Absolutely bloody not." Draco said. Astoria jogged after him.
"And she's not pretty?" Astoria asked. Draco didn't answer her, making her yelp in laughter. "You think she's pretty!" Astoria squealed. Draco growled, stopping. He turned around, seeing Jade was out of earshot but making her way towards him at her own pace. Draco looked back at Astoria who looked cheeky with pleasure. He started walking again and Astoria tried keeping up with him. "Okay fine! If you have no feelings for her which I totally believe-"
"I do not like her." Draco emphasized as quietly as he could.
"Of course you don't! And that's why if you don't like her than you won't mind if Eli touches her, manhandles her or whatever." Astoria said.
"What the hell does that have anything to do with liking her? You don't have to know someone to intervene when they're being tossed around by a dick." Draco said, violently moving a branch out of the way.
"Okay I see your point but now I would just think that you're making excuses because you think she's pretty and you don't want her to be manhandled by a dick. I mean, when have you ever tried to fight for another woman's honor?" Astoria asked.
"I fight for loads of women's honors!" Draco exclaimed.
"Oh really? Please, by all means." Astoria said.
"I really hate it when you do that." Draco said. Astoria smiled.
"Okay but you see my point right? You've never stood up for anyone in your life other than your mother, me or something good in your life. Jade's a little peculiar if you're consistently standing up for her, I would think that's a little suspicious." Astoria said.
"Fine. I won't do anything when I see your friend being manhandled or raped by another man. Happy?" Draco asked.
"Ecstatic!" Astoria said.
"Fucking weirdo." Draco muttered before going up the stairs.
Jade couldn't understand what was going on with Draco. He was mostly talking to himself and angry in a matter of seconds. This morning, he was smiling and joking with her and now he didn't even want to see her face. He was so strange. Him talking to himself seemed harmless but when his mood completely shifted, it was probably something that Jade should take medical interest in. Before starting up the stairs behind him for lunch, she heard Eli behind her.
"Hey sweet cheeks!" Jade turned around to see Eli smirking at her, his light green eyes twinkling. He looked up, seeing Draco pause, looking at them. "Great game, wasn't it?" Eli asked.
"Yeah. Pretty great." Jade said. Eli stepped closer to her and slid his arms around her. Draco saw Eli look at him as he hugged her and made his hand down her bottom and squeeze it. Astoria stood in front of Draco, seeing him flare his nostrils. One look from Astoria made Draco turn around and leave. Draco walked past Fred who was pale, watching Jade try to push Eli away.
It was torturous but for the next two days, Astoria watched Jade being a scapegoat to Eli. Most of the time, Astoria wanted to bash his head in as he made his way around, being incredibly obnoxious. Eli went around grabbing different women but his primary target was Jade. Every time Jade would walk past him, Eli would slap her rear and give her a wink as she walked away in shame. Astoria knew Jade wasn't the confrontational type but she wished her entire life that she would be outspoken against people sometimes. She saw Jade turn beet red, staring into her food, about to explode in anger but she wasn't going to stand up against Eli for the life of her. Astoria watched Draco sit there who ignored her with Fred. Of course she knew what she was doing was despicable but she was waiting for it to play out.
"Okay. Why aren't you doing anything?" Fred asked, slamming his hands on the table in front of Draco who was slowly chewing on his food, looking at Fred.
"Don't ask him. It's not like he's her knight in shining armor." Astoria shrugged.
"No one was talking to you. Malfoy please listen-"
"She's right. I'm not obligated to do anything for her." Draco said, going back to his food.
"Malfoy please. As a friend or even a human being, which I know is hard for you sometimes but…she's so helpless." Fred said. Draco could see how frustrated Fred was and it annoyed Draco that he was feeling the same exact way. He never saw Fred look so devastated and tortured by being so helpless. Fred was tearing up in front of him and it took a lot that he wasn't breaking down in front of him. Draco rubbed his head, looking away.
"What are you trying to prove Malfoy? You don't care! That's fine, I get it. You win! Please just do me this favor." Fred begged. Fred looked at Astoria. "Ass please!" Fred pleaded.
"You two better get out of my sight." Draco warned. Astoria stood up and started leaving. Fred followed her and grabbed her arm.
"Ass please listen to me. You win! I want those two to be together and have children but tell Malfoy to stop it." Fred said. Astoria grabbed Fred's shoulder and turned him around to make him watch Eli sitting next to Jade, scooting close to her, playing with her hair.
"Hey gorgeous." Eli whispered.
"Eli please stop." Jade said trying to move away but Eli put an arm around her, holding on to her tightly.
"Hey, stop, stop. Let's just talk." Eli said.
"I can't believe this is happening." Fred moaned, placing his hands on his face.
"Eli enough." Jade said, trying to rip away from him. Eli let her go, chuckling and watching her take her lunch to leave but he grabbed her hips and sat her down on his lap. Jade pushed him as hard as he could but Eli laughed with a few of his goons and in a split second, it was like as if a hurricane swooped in and disassembled everything. Draco was in front of Jade instantly, ripping her away from Eli. He grabbed Eli's collar and pummeled away on his face mercilessly.
"I told you not to touch her." Draco said, dragging him off. Eli tried to stabilize himself and he swung at Draco, cutting into his cheek. Draco stumbled back and touched his cheek and looked at his fingers to see blood. "Son of a bitch." Draco said, going to attack Eli but Jade stepped in between them and pushed Draco away with all her might.
"Draco, stop. Draco, stop." Jade said repeatedly, holding on to his shirt tightly, steering him away from Eli who swooned. Draco breathed as hard as he could, seeing Eli fall unconscious. The chief slowly walked past the scene and took one look at Eli on the ground. A small deep laugh escaped his lips and he shook his head, laughing wildly as he walked over his body and disappeared around the corner.
"You could have really hurt yourself you know." Jade said, finishing up his stitches. Draco winced in pain.
"You're still saying that after you saw what I did to him?" Draco asked.
"I understand but you really could have gotten hurt yourself. He's a really big guy." Jade said.
"What does that make me? Dobby? He's just as big as I am." Draco said.
"It was foolish to fight. You two could have just talked about it or something." Jade said. Draco pulled his head away from her, giving her a challenged look.
"Have a heart to heart with my best mate Eli? Yeah, you're right. Why am I such an arse?" Draco asked. Jade punched his arm. Draco yelled in pain and Jade instantly rubbed it, cringing and apologizing.
"I'm sorry." Jade said.
"You better be. That was one hell of a punch I took for you." Draco said.
"You didn't have to do that. I'm thankful for what you did for me but you really didn't have to." Jade said.
"Don't feel too special or anything but I didn't like the way he acted around you. I specifically asked him the very first day and warned him about it too. He shouldn't complain." Draco said.
"It's not like anyone is going to give a shit about what he says when he wakes up. I'm pretty sure you're every girl's hero right now. Prepare to be whisked off your feet." Jade said daintily. Draco only smiled at her as she gently pressed a gauze against his stitches and smiled back.
"I know I owe Malfoy one but I don't think I owe him Jade." Fred said, standing at the window, watching Jade and Draco interact.
"Again with the doubts and complaints?" Astoria asked.
"I know, I know but-"
"But what? You know what? Why don't you just think back at how you were feeling when you were watching the love of your life trying to run for her life from some piece of shit's lap and Draco out of every man that was there got up and did something about it. I know there are good people that stand up for good things but this is different. Look at them in that room together and tell me it's not different. Look at the way she's looking at him. I know that look because that's exactly how stupid she looks when she used to look at you." Astoria said. Fred touched the glass, seeing Jade laugh at something Draco was reenacting what happened. "And him…I know that look because that's how he used to look at me." Astoria said her voice breaking. "You think this isn't hard for me? I have someone that I love in there too but it hasn't been easy for me either." Astoria said. Fred hugged her immediately, letting her sob in his arms.
"Okay, okay. Just calm down. You're crazy, you know that, Ass?" Fred asked. Astoria sniffed and wiped her nose on his sleeve. Fred was disgusted but continued to comfort her.
"Hey, I'm only crazy for the people I love…and hate." Astoria said. Fred smiled and looked up to the sky.
"So when they fall in love and hypothetically have a long happy life together. When they both kick the bucket, will they love each other in the afterlife or us?" Fred asked.
"Huh…that's a good question." Astoria said, her nose blocked. The two wondered for a few minutes in silence.
"Well I guess we should start having sex or something and fall in love before those two do." Astoria said as Fred barked in laughter, wrapped an arm around her neck and kissed the top of her head.
