***Present
Draco woke up early in the morning and got ready for work. Jade had a day off so she slept in.
Jade woke up to find that Draco wasn't there. There was nothing new about that. She got up and found that there were no groceries. Having a quick and small breakfast, Jade got ready and left to the nearest grocery store to stock up for the week. Jade walked through the grocery store, mentally checking off her list of necessities. She wanted to make a big Christmas dinner for Draco and her. She was excited at the thought of it. Sure he wasn't too enthusiastic as she was about Christmas and having a big dinner but it was Christmas. Of course they couldn't have an ordinary meal. Every Christmas she would try to make the best of it. What had made her look forward to it even more was the fact that Draco spent every Christmas with her. Smiling to herself, she pushed her cart to the counter and started placing her things to be checked off.
When Jade reached home, she started to put her groceries back. Throughout the whole day, Jade did nothing but cook and read. She had work tomorrow and especially took her days off just so she could spend Christmas and her anniversary with her Draco. It made her smile to think that she was going to spend her Christmas with the only person she had in her life.
*** Flashback
"I think I'm developing a fever." Jade said to Hermione in their dormitory. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and leaned over to touch Jade's head.
"It's warming. I'll go see if I have a potion. Oh Ginny, do you still have the potion I gave you yesterday?" Hermione asked.
"It's all finished." Ginny said digging into her drawers to reveal an empty flask. Jade lightly got up and slipped her shoes on.
"I'm going to Pomferey's for it." Jade said pulling on her sweater.
"Hold on, I'm coming with you." Hermione told her. Hermione marked her book with a ribbon and slipped off her bed, tying her hair and stepping into her shoes.
"I'm going to sleep. Big Hogsmeade date tomorrow." Ginny said grinning broadly and pulling the covers over herself. Jade smiled knowing that Ginny was all too happy about her date with Harry.
It would be nice for a change to step out of her studies and focus around her romantic life. She hadn't been on a date for a while. She remembered herself dating a boy named Noah, her neighbor back at home. That relationship didn't last very long. Other than Noah, there had been a couple of boys in Hogwarts that had expressed their interest in her but she never found them worth her time. Colin Creevey, yes Colin, was horrible on their first and second date. Dean was a jerk to her sister and Neville was too much of a friend. Then there was Draco Malfoy who clearly shown interest for her and nearly driven her to the brink of insanity for a mere date but he was Draco Malfoy. It was to be abided by nature to hate him.
Hermione placed a hand on Jade's elbow and the two left the dormitory, wishing Ginny a good night's sleep. They left the common room and walked down the hallway, talking to each other about tomorrow's day.
"You know your brother can be very romantic sometimes? You almost believe that the man has absolutely no idea how to charm a girl but he can be so unpredictable sometimes." Hermione told Jade who rolled her eyes and clasped her hands on her ears.
"Jeez, don't start about my brother again!" Jade said.
Hermione giggled and told Jade how he planned a 'perfect' date for them in Hogwarts.
"Oh my goodness Hermione. You are one of the luckiest girls alive in this world did you know that? First you're dating my brother; second, he's taking you to Flourish and Blott's with him! How sexy of him." Jade said dryly as Hermione started laughing.
"You make it sound bad Jade! I happen to like Flourish and Blott's. Well at least he knows what I like and what I don't like." Hermione said as Jade shrugged, feeling her body feel incredibly tender and flushed.
"Granger! Hermione!" a voice called behind them. Jade and Hermione turned around to see a 6th year prefect running towards them.
"I'm so happy I caught up to you! I missed today's prefect meeting because of Quidditch practice. Can you tell me what went on today?" He asked Hermione who turned to Jade.
"Sean, I have to take my friend to the Hospital-"
"I can go by myself Mione. I'll meet you there." Jade said waving her hand at Hermione.
"All right Jade. I'll see you in a few minutes." Hermione said. Jade turned around and left, walking in the cold corridors by herself. She shivered, feeling her knees grow weak and her head feel lighter than when she stepped out.
After two flights of stairs, Jade stopped at a hallway but found a drunken 7th year Slytherin in front of her. She suddenly felt alarmed to pass Theodore Nott while he stood a few feet away from her with a bottle in his hand.
"Hasn't he graduated yet?" Jade asked herself.
She could wait for Hermione but wondered what good it would do for the both of them if he was there? She cursed because she didn't have a wand at hand and decided to go on anyways. The Hospital Wing was only down the hall. Jade entered the hallway and tried to pass Nott without looking at him. She walked ahead, hearing footsteps behind her so she started to walk as quickly as she could, not daring to look behind her. The Hospital Wing was near, so close. Jade took a quick peek behind her and saw that Nott was gaining on her. How could he walk like a sober person while he was drunk? Jade knew she had to break into a run and alert Madame Pomferey about Nott.
She felt a hand grasp the back of her hair and felt his hand swing around her neck. The tip of a dagger pressed on her jugular and Jade heard his voice in her ear.
"Scream and I'll kill you. Keep quiet and do as I say." He whispered.
Jade's throat went dry and she felt an instant wave of panic. She trembled violently as she walked and knew that she couldn't do anything to save her own life. She didn't have her wand with her, she didn't have anyone with her and she was too weak to defend herself.
He shoved her into a deserted hallway and leered at her. He grabbed her and kissed her roughly, the dagger still at hand. Jade squirmed with the little energy she had and tried to push him, feeling as if she was going to throw up by smelling the alcohol on his breath.
"No! Please let me go! Please!" Jade croaked.
"Shut the fuck up and you do as I say!" he hissed, pointing the dagger to her face.
Jade stopped moving, allowing him to do whatever had needed to be done. She wasn't going to try to do anything stupid to risk her life. The dagger was making contact with her skin and with one quick push, it would end her life. Nott clumsily tried to hold himself up as he fumbled with Jade's sweater. He became even more aggravated when he couldn't take it off himself.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jade saw a figure appear and stand there to watch him. Her heart leapt up in joy but it was quickly crashed down when that figure ran away. Jade broke down at that point and started to cry, feeling her tears burn her cheeks.
Nott grabbed a handful of Jade's sweater and started to saw through it with his dagger. Jade knew this was a tense and serious moment in her life but this moment started to seem quite comical to see a drunken Theodore Nott try to cut through her sweater as if were some kind of turkey for carving. He looked up to see her watching him curiously and he roughly let go of her.
"You bitch! You bitches never take your clothes off for me!" he yelled.
Jade flinched, feeling her thighs burning and growing weak from the fever. "I'm sorry." was all she could say.
He squinted his eyes and leaned closer to her face. "Weasley...is that you?" he asked.
Jade couldnt reply to his question because in a flash, Nott was knocked down to the ground. She watched Nott trying to make a swipe at his attacker but his attacker was quick. Jade stumbled away, trying to hold her tattered sweater against her. Her mind was racing so fast and in circles that Jade couldn't understand anything. Jade saw Hermione appear at the end of the hallway and let out a horrified shriek. She ran towards Jade and embraced her.
"Oh my goodness! Are you hurt? Did that bastard hurt you?" Hermione asked. Jade shook her head and buried her face in Hermione's shoulder, shaking violently.
"I don't feel good at all Hermione. I don't feel good." Jade choked. Hermione shrugged her cloak off and wrapped it around Jade, hugging her tightly. Hermione looked up and saw Draco order Sean, the 6th year prefect to drag Nott's bound body to the Headmaster's office before Draco really did try to kill him.
Sean did what he was told and dragged Nott's unconscious body out of the hallway. Jade had her face buried in Hermione's shoulder but heard Draco near her.
"Is she hurt? Did he do anything to her?" Draco asked acidly. He sounded like he was having a difficult time controlling his own rage and Jade shamelessly felt flattered. They reached the Hospital Wing and a very sleepy Madame Pomferey came over to check Jade's temperature.
"Yes you are developing a fever." She said pouring a potion into a cup. "Drink up dear." She said handing the cup to Jade.
As Jade sipped, she heard footsteps and murmuring near the entrance of the Hospital Wing.
"What is this? This time of night?" Madame Pomferey asked seeing Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape arrive with a flustered Sean, dragging Theodore Nott. "Miss Weasley! Are you all right? I have notified your parents and they will be-"
"For the love of Merlin, you contacted my parents?" Jade groaned.
"Jade don't be stupid." Hermione said knocking Jade's shoulder.
"Mr. Frubbs has given me a brief summary of the incident that has occurred not too long ago. I'd like to know what happened from you Miss Weasley." Dumbledore said gently.
Jade felt her body restore itself. She glanced at Nott's direction as a confused Pomferey started to heal his broken nose and bruised up face. She briefly explained what happened to her, seeing Draco stiffen and glance murderously at Nott's unconscious body from time to time. It seemed like he was planning to murder the boy tonight. She answered Snape and McGonagall's questions and they had heard enough.
"This isn't a small offense Miss Weasley. Such an atrocious crime has been attempted; it should not be treated lightly. I shall write to the Ministry of Magic about this right this very hour. Mr. Nott will be facing severe charges and will be tried as an adult." Dumbledore said looking heavily disappointed and sorry that one of his own students would try to do such a horrible thing to another student of his.
"Miss Weasley are you feeling well now?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes actually. Thank you." Jade said getting up. She set the cup down on a table and felt Hermione stand by her side.
"Draco why don't you escort Miss Granger and Miss Weasley back to their common rooms so we don't have any further incidents like this tonight?" McGonagall asked.
Jade met with Draco's eyes and Jade smiled knowing that he was going to be there. She needed to thank him for what he had done for her. Draco, who looked like he was waiting for this moment, stood up straightly and went to walk Jade and Hermione out but Dumbledore softly intervened.
"Severus I would rather have you escort Miss Granger and Miss Weasley back. I have something to discuss with Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said. Jade felt a tad bit disappointed and looked towards Draco who slightly frowned. He looked at her again and watched her leave with Snape and Hermione.
