If Only

By Jeni Draco's Girl

SORRY SORRY SORRY that this has taken so long…

...

The next day, Monday, everything seemed back to normal. Well, at least as normal as it could get when you were dating a Slytherin and actually had fans, of all things. And these 'fans' had taken up a lot of Jeni's spare time in speculation. She was thoroughly confused as to why, all of a sudden, she had found herself being chased by Draco and greeted constantly by a group of male Slytherins whom she had never met before and who were now her supposed 'fan club'.

She had, of course, avoided telling Char about any of the details of her last few weeks, and had kept up a regular stream of correspondence to avoid suspicion, because Char was the last person you wanted to have on your bad side, and she was sure she didn't want to know what Char might do if she found out that Jeni was dating the Slytherin Char hated the most. Sitting in DADA, a class her father had insisted she take even though You-Know-Who had been defeated, Jeni saw the scene in her head for the millionth time. But she still couldn't understand 'fans'. Her father was an Auror, one that had been involved in the fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the capture of Draco's father, who had somehow gotten himself out of a life sentence in Azkaban. Draco, she figured, mustn't know this. Otherwise he would never have had anything to do with her, and would probably have determined to make her life hell.

But the other Slytherins were the most confusing thing she had ever come across. Why did they like her? Was it because Draco did? Draco definitely commanded some respect, though not as much as he had originally. Jeni had been unable, at the time, to figure out which group they belonged in – Draco's or Henri's. But Henri had been there with them, had been betting against them, and there were two things this could have meant. One, that they were Henri's group, his friends; or two, that Henri had joined Draco's group. Both were equally ridiculous, when she thought about it. If it was the first, then why did they like her? Was it because Henri did? But if they were all Henri's friends, then why had they been congratulating Draco? Had the two groups suddenly become friends without her noticing? If it was the second, why had Henri joined Draco's group? Were they suddenly best mates? It was true that Henri had seemed to be more friendly towards Draco recently, but if they were friends then why had Henri followed her on her first date with Draco? Wouldn't he have trusted him?

Then it clicked. They must be Henri's friends if he'd been betting with them, and Draco was just being more mature, and accepting of others. This conclusion satisfied her enough, no matter how unlikely it may or may not have been, and Jeni's concentration snapped back to what this years Defence teacher was saying. She was lecturing about the Unforgivable Curses and other spells used during the Second Wizarding War - when You-Know-Who had finally been defeated - again. Jeni was sick to death of hearing all this.

'Thousands of people were tortured…' the professor was saying.

Yeah, thought Jeni, and twenty more are being tortured right now just listening to you. She was only the tiniest bit more interesting than Binns had been – Jeni had dropped that subject as fast as she could. She was shocked that there actually was a N.E.W.T. level History of Magic class at all, but, she supposed, not everyone was the same…or maybe some people had to take it for whatever line of work they wanted to pursue.

Jeni still didn't know what she wanted to do, but she had chosen subjects she enjoyed, with the exception of DADA…and Potions…, as this is what she had been advised to do in Careers Counseling. So she was taking, among other things, Transfiguration and Herbology, which were her two favourites, though what she could do that involved these two things together was beyond her. Transfiguring plants didn't sound like a job description. She was quite good at DADA, no matter how much she hated it, but transfiguring dangerous magical plants didn't sound like much either.

Finally the bell went, and she was able to escape to recess, meeting up with Henri in the entrance hall like she normally did. However, today there would be no walk outside. There was a ferocious storm pouring down rain and she didn't like their chances of surviving a walk like that.

Instead, they headed upstairs to the library, where it was much warmer, and found seats next to one of the roaring fires.

'Have fun in Defence?' Henri asked, slightly sarcastically.

'Humph! Yeah right,' Jeni replied sullenly.

Henri's eyes flickered up, and over towards the door. 'Well, this ought to cheer you up,' he told her.

Jeni frowned and turned towards the double doors at the library entrance. 'Draco!' she cried.

He smirked. 'Miss me already? You saw me just yesterday,' he teased, sliding onto the couch beside her and settling an arm around her shoulders.

Henri rolled his eyes. 'Please, no! The last thing this boy needs is an ego boost.'

'Hey!' Draco sat up straight indignantly. 'I'm a man, not a boy.'

'You just keep telling yourself that,' Jeni joked, patting Draco's hand.

'Alright already, I know when I'm beaten.' Draco sighed resignedly, outnumbered two to one. He flopped back in the chair.

Jeni pouted at him. 'Aw, poor Drakkie. Been out numbered, have we?' She was somehow managing to keep a straight face through all of this.

Draco stood up. 'Just wait 'til I'm back with reinforcements,' he said.

'Ah, but I think you're forgetting something, aren't you?' Jeni raised a brow. 'I thought the majority of the male population of Slytherin were a fan club just waiting on my beck and call.'

Draco sighed again, slumping back down in the seat. 'Fine, fine. Like I said, I know.'

Jeni took his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. 'Of course you do. Well, at least, I should hope so. I'd hate to think I was going out with someone of inferior intellect.'

Draco scowled, but Jeni amended this slight bad mood by giving him a quick kiss. 'All better?' she asked like a concerned mother.

'Course it is,' he replied pulling her closer.

'Maybe I'll be going,' Henri said slowly.

Jeni sighed and pulled away. 'No, it's fine,' she told him.

Draco made a noise that sounded like a five year old who has been denied a present.

Jeni just leant close to him and whispered, 'There'll be plenty of time for that later, K?'

'Fine,' Draco said with an exaggerated air.

Henri and Jeni just smiled at him.

'Are you two in ca-hoots, or something?' Draco asked suspiciously.

'Now, that's an interesting issue,' Henri began, like someone giving a lecture, 'Because we first have to ask, what exactly is "ca-hoots"?'

Jeni nodded along, looking completely interested.

'Arh!' Draco exclaimed theatrically, throwing up his hands. 'I give up.'

'Well, that's good,' Jeni said. 'I like to know I'm in control of my man.' She leaned towards him, and Draco leaned in also, until their noses were touching.

'Well, it's good to know I'm your man,' Draco replied, flashing a glance at Henri, who looked amused. 'Not your boy.'

'Hmm,' said Jeni, thoughtfully. 'No. I wouldn't go out with a boy. Mind you, how can I be sure you are a man?' Her eyes twinkled suggestively.

Draco just smirked, and pulled her closer to him, so that their legs were pressed right up against each other. Jeni slipped her arms up around his neck. 'Maybe you better reassure me?' she suggested.

Draco kissed her fleetingly. 'How much reassurance do you need?' he asked, teasingly.

'I'd say a good fair bit,' Jeni told him, amazed at her own forwardness.

Draco smiled slightly, and kissed her again.

Henri muttered something that might have been a 'Pfft,' and left the library, slightly annoyed at being so easily forgotten. But he rationalised that if he himself was in that situation…no, he thought. That would never happen to him.

...

Aw…ok, so, thanks to CS, RLJ and MELANIE, also EMMA (Cap.) and other friends for support…including the other EMMA and HANNAH. They've actually been bugging me to update…wow… Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, I love you all, bar m00nstorm77. That would be a bit off, if I loved him…ewww!!

This chapter wasn't really serious…just a bit of VERY LEGAL Draco baiting. That's right…you CAN'T SUE! And it was fun to write…doubt it was that fun to read, but I am doing this for MY OWN amusement, not anyone else's, as you may have guessed.

The fluff bunnies have stayed out of this chapter…is that one I see hopping across the library?…no, just my imagination…if you have any questions about stuff you don't understand, that's what reviewing is for. But more than likely it just hasn't been explained yet because you will find out later…YES, you will because I will finish this story. I will. WHY WON'T YOU BELIEVE ME!? deep breath . OK, I'm fine.

CYA!