Jade was still deep red as they exited the bookshop. The owner of the bookshop stared at them, puzzled by Draco who couldn't stop laughing at Jade.
"I'm sorry sir, I don't know him." Jade said as Draco paid the storeowner.
"Will you stop it?! It's not that funny!" Jade said as they walked down the street.
"Of course it is! You know, you're really ten steps ahead of me. I'm here wondering how in the world I'll be able to charm you and you're there-"
"All right! I get it. I'm a pervert and you're not. Let it go…jeez." Jade said when they entered a restaurant for lunch. They sat in the bright restaurant and the two took off their cloaks.
"What may I get you while you're looking at the menu?" the waiter asked.
"I'll have water." Jade said. The waiter nodded and turned to Draco.
"I'll have the same." He said. The waiter nodded and left, leaving them to decide what they wanted.
"What are you having?" Draco asked as Jade set her menu down.
"A sandwich. What do you want?" Jade asked picking up her bag and digging through it.
"They don't have what I want on the menu." Draco said smiling lightly at Jade who narrowed her eyes at him.
"Very clever." Jade said resuming with what she was doing.
"And she doesn't seem to want me either…not in the restaurant at least." Draco said as Jade blushed fiercely.
"I told you to stop mentioning it! I had a perfectly good reason behind what I said." Jade said scooting closer to him.
"I want to know the reason." Draco grinned as she took his hand and gently pushed his beige sleeve up his arm to reveal the knife wounds.
"I honestly don't understand why you put yourself through this. Madame Pomferey is always there to help. Do you know that wound could have gotten infected? All this time and your arm could have been amputated." Jade said holding on to his hand as she gently wiped the gash with an alcohol pad.
"I know but I honestly don't care." Draco said wincing as he felt the sting of the alcohol.
Jade concentrated on his wound and while she was fixing it, Draco took his free hand and brushed it across her face. She didn't seem to mind so he moved her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear, cupping her face.
"If you distract me, you'll have an arse for a head." Jade said pointing her wand to his gash. She whispered a spell and they both watched the gash disappear, leaving Draco's skin smooth with a faint scar of the gash on his arm. She let out a sigh of relief and tucked her things back.
The waiter came back and took their orders. When he left, Jade and Draco started talking to each other. Jade instantly felt comfortable talking so naturally to him. He explained about his behavior last week with her. He told her that he hated himself for doing that to her and apologized to her.
"So when are you leaving to buy dresses?" Draco asked as they ate.
"I'll have to leave after this. Hermione is the only one that knows I'm with you right now. Ginny, Harry and Ron don't even know." Jade told him.
"What about Thomas?" Draco asked seeing her look up looking at him curiously.
"Thomas? Dean Thomas? What about him?" she asked carefully.
Draco smirked, stabbing his potatoes. "I was just wondering why you said yes to him." Draco said looking up to her, seeing her squint at him, shaking her head.
"Say yes to what?" Jade asked.
"You're going to the Ball with him aren't you?" Draco asked seeing her give him an incredulous look.
"Why in the world would I ever to go the Valentine's Ball with him? Who told you I was going with him?" Jade asked.
Draco set his fork down and stared at her with shock. "So you're not going to the Valentine's Ball with Thomas?" he asked in disbelief.
"No!" Jade said with disgust.
"Then who are you going with?" Draco demanded.
Jade blushed and looked away from his eyes momentarily. "I don't know…I said no to all of them." Jade said in a quiet voice.
"Why did you say no to all of them?" Draco asked seeing her blush deeper.
"I was waiting on someone else." She admitted.
"Who is it?" Draco asked gently.
Jade didn't answer him.
"Jade." Draco called but Jade shook her head.
"Would you have said yes if I asked you?" Draco asked.
Jade traced circles on the table to serve as an excuse not to look at him. "Maybe…I don't know." Jade said giving a half hearted shrug, looking up to see him run a hand through his hair and look at her in disbelief.
"What?" Jade asked.
"Thomas was bragging about it a week ago. He told everyone he asked you and you said yes so I never bothered to ask you. Otherwise you know I'd make you say yes." He said seeing her shrug.
"Well I can't believe that you never tried to make me say no to him. Besides, now that you know that I'm not, why don't you ask me now?" Jade asked. She saw that he looked a bit awkward and rubbed his neck, wondering how to break it to her.
"Oh…have you asked someone already?" Jade asked softly. He looked up apologetically at her.
"I can explain it to her. She'll understand-"
"No. Don't do that to her. You can't just dump something on a woman and expect her to 'understand'. She's only human too. I spoke with Neville last night and he told me that if nothing worked out, I'll seek him out. Of course he deserves so much better but he doesn't think so." Jade said feeling goosebumps rise when Draco touched her hand.
"Well at least Longbottom's got some sense." He said seeing her smile.
They walked to Gladrags where Hermione promised to meet them.
"Early for tomorrow don't you think?" Hermione asked as Jade grinned.
"Where's Ginny?" Jade asked as Hermione pointed inside.
"Inside trying out more gowns. We've been looking for hours and she hasn't found a dress yet, but we've picked out a couple for you." Hermione said.
"Oh, thanks." Jade said seeing Hermione nod.
"And now it's my cue to go in and wait for you inside." Hermione said leaving. When she left, Jade turned to Draco and raised her eyebrows.
"I'll see you in the castle then." Jade said seeing him lift her hand up and kiss it. He turned and left, leaving Jade dazed and struck with fascination and infatuation. Jade walked into the store and smiled goofily as Ginny stepped out of the stall wearing a green gown.
"Jade! You finally came! How do I look?" Ginny asked turning in her dress.
"You look cute sweetheart." Jade said as Hermione handed her the dresses she had selected.
"How do you feel in it?" Hermione asked Ginny who nodded.
"Really comfortable. It fits well." Ginny said smoothing the dress out and looking at herself in the mirror.
"I think I'll get this one." Ginny said going back into the stall.
"Finally." Hermione laughed.
"I'll just get something in black." Jade said pulling out a simple long black dress.
"No, you can't do black! Everything is black for you! Take red!" Hermione said and Jade shook her head.
"Red is too dangerous; too 'look at me'." Jade said but Hermione shoved the red dress in her hands and pushed her into the stall. Jade changed into the red dress and opened the stall door. Hermione helped zip up the back and watched Jade stand around in it.
"That's a bloody sexy dress." Ginny said.
"I feel naked." Jade whispered. She did like the dress. It stopped above her knees and formed a delicate silhouette.
"Perfect." Hermione and Ginny chorused.
