Chapter 6: Christmas at Home Pt.II
As much as Jade hated to admit it, she noticed that Amanda was, in fact, on Veritaserum. She smiled at Derek after she had seen him hand her the vial of clear liquid.
"Now, please recount to me what happened on December 15th." Amanda smiled absentmindedly.
"Well, I got up, and I went to breakfast. I chatted with my best friends, Natalie Brine and Jade Potter. My other best friend is Giovanni Bellino, but I'm in love with him..." Amanda's eyes became, if even more cloudier, and she began to babble on about how wonderful and hot and perfect Giovanni was. The Pensive Derek coughed.
"Rivera, you're going off topic. Tell me what happened after breakfast." Amanda nodded.
"Well, I had Potions first period. I hate Professor Vizen, he hates me. So when I made the slightest mistake, he gave me detention. I missed dinner, and that git had me scrub everything in the Potions room with a bloody toothbrush until 10 pm. By then, I was just so tired that I went to bed and didn't even bother to do my homework. I didn't have anything to do that next morning, so I didn't worry." Amanda smiled as she finished her story. The real Jade began to put two-and-two together. Curfew was, for them, at 9 pm. When Jade had headed to the Library, it was 7.
If Amanda had missed dinner, then that meant that she had been at Vizen's from 6 until 10, which meant that she couldn't have possibly have made out with Derek. Unless... apparently, the Pensive Derek had thought this as well.
"Amanda, tell me, was Professor Vizen there the whole time." The Pensive Amanda scowled and nodded.
"He sat there, correcting papers. But I saw the smirk on his face. Ugly git!" Jade almost cried with happiness. She threw her arms around the real Derek and kissed him passionately on the mouth, all of her previous anger leaving her. But then, she pulled back. Derek had kissed Amanda back.
"Why did you kiss her!"She cried. The real Derek sighed.
"Actually, she cornered me, and whispered that she now finally had me all to herself. Then she just started to snog me. And let me tell you, I don't think the real Amanda is that strong. I wanted to push away, but her body pinned my arms to my own body. I was completely powerless to stop her." Jade couldn't explain why she trusted him, but she did. She nodded and smiled softly. She hugged him, and Derek held the smaller girl against him. In that instant, Jade didn't know why their bodies seemed to melt to fit each other...
"Derek, take me out of here."Jade said softly. Derek nodded, and he grabbed her hand and pulled upwards. And just like that, they were out of the Pensive. Jade smiled, and kissed Derek. He kissed her back, his arms snaking around her waist.
"Jade-Oh! I'm so sorry!" Melissa said as she threw open the door. She smirked and raised an eyebrow at her bright red sister, and closed the door. Jade glanced at Derek guiltily, and then laughed. Her lip gloss were now on his lips.
"What?" Derek asked, confused. Giggling, Jade grabbed a tissue.
"Come here." She commanded, grinning.
"Anyway, I have to go." She said sadly. Derek smiled, and pulled her away into him for one last kiss. Jade broke it away, and she stared up into his silver eyes that were swimming with emotions.
"I'm so sorry, Derek." She said, as she crushed her body into his. He put his arms around her waist, and leaned his chin into her head. 'The perfect fit.' Jade thought to herself.
"It's alright." Derek said. He kissed her tenderly. He then pulled away, and smiled.
"I'll be back later, if you want." Jade shook her head.
"We're probably not going to be home until late. Besides, I want to apologize to Amanda, and explain the whole story to my friends. Come over tomorrow." Jade said. Derek made a puppy dog face, and Jade laughed, and kissed his nose.
"You big baby." She said, laughing. Derek grinned goofily.
"Yes, but I'm your baby." He said. Jade smiled as she thought about that.
"Too right, you are." She said, smiling. Derek grinned, and leaned in to give her one last kiss.
"Alright then, Jade. I'll see you tomorrow." With one last smile, Derek parted to her room. Grinning happily, Jade re-applied her lip gloss, and then she straightened out her outfit, and made sure her hair was perfect. She then went downstairs, and put a finger to her lips when she saw Melissa. Her sister was wearing a blue dress. The sleeves were long and were made of blue lace. The dress just was ever-so-slightly above her knees, and she was wearing white stilleto's.
Melissa had straightened her hair, and her long (and now straight) bangs now framed her wide brown eyes. All in all, Jade thought her younger sister looked rather beautiful. Melissa smiled and nodded, and made a zipping motion across her lips. Jade smiled at her in a grateful way, and Melissa winked.
Jade felt a slight tapping at her mental shields, and scowled heavily at her father, who had been watching his daughters' silent interaction. However, Jade grinned wickedly. When Harry tapped at her mental shields, Jade ''accidentally'' let a image of her and Derek kissing a couple of months ago. Harry gasped, turned red in the face and stumbled, and then mumbled incoherent words.
Jessica threw her husband disapproving look before going back to ironing her dress(the muggle way, surprisingly. Jessica was a pureblood, but she liked to do muggle things sometimes.)
"Mum, when are we heading to Grandma Weasley's?" Jade asked.
"When I'm finished, and your father is done having his weekly spaz attack, Jade." Her mum answered nonchalantly. Jade nodded, and went upstairs to collect her brother. She giggled as she saw him with the teddy bear, fast asleep. She picked him up, and slowly began to sing to R.J and rock him as to wake him up.
He yawned and rubbed his little eyes as he cracked open a brown eye. Jade gave him a warm smile, and carried him over to his changing table. Her brother squealed loudly with anger when Jade changed him out of his pajamas. Jade giggled, and put a warming spell on R.J's new clothing. She put him in a warm red sweater from a muggle store called 'Old Navy' and a pair of red fleece sweat pants. She then put a red santa hat on his almost-bare head, and dressed him in sneakers.
Finally, she put a bubble coat on him, and smiled. Jade put him back in her arms, and her brother smiled, and dug into her for more warmth. Holding him carefully, Jade walked back downstairs. Her mum was dressed and ready, and gave a smile of gratefulness when she saw R.J dressed.
"He's kinda nestled into me, so I'll just hold him until we get to Grandma Weasley's." Her mum nodded, and smiled at Harry, who was staring at Jade suspiciously. Suddenly, a thought that was obviously her fathers went through her mind. Apparently, Jade had forgotten to put up her mental shields. 'You're never getting near Malfoy ever again.' Jade giggled, and sent a mental note back. 'We have to get married by the end of the year. 'Just think, daddy, wedding night.' Uh-oh. Her dad put on a horrorfied look, and then promptly passed out. Jade's mum sent her a look.
"Jade, stop teasing your father. Ennervate." Harry awoke, and then immediately glared at his eldest. Jade gave an innocent smile and shrugged.
"Well, it's true." Her dad shuddered.
"Please don't remind me." Jade gave him an bland smile and started to chant,
"Derek and I are gonna have a mini-Malfoy, Derek and I are gonna have a mini-Malfoy, Der-"
"Silencio!" Her dad yelled. Jade gave her father a dirty glare, and wouldn't stop looking at him. Harry began to inch away from his daughter. She wasn't blinking... immediately, he reversed it, after not being able to take it anymore. Jade threw him a triumphant smirk, and apparated to her Grandma Weasley's. She was immediately swept up into the family, and received many hugs, smiles, and oohhs and awwws over R.J, who had woken up and was now basking in the attention. Jade smirked. 'Definatly a Potter.' She thought to herself, giggling. Emma walked over, and Jade immediately sobered up. Emma smiled.
"So, how are you."She said, a hint of interrogation in there. Jade smiled.
"We patched it up. It turned out it was never Amanda." The raven-haired girl frowned.
"I have to find out who did trick me, though." Emma smiled, her red hair glinting in the firelight.
"That's great about you and Derek. And don't worry, we'll find out who did make you hate Malfoy for those 2 ½ weeks." Jade nodded absentmindedly. There was a tense silence, and Jade was glad when her Grandma Weasley yelled that dinner was ready. Jade ate and smiled along with everyone else, and by the end of it, Jade knew that she had gained quite a few pounds.
Sighing, Jade flopped down on her bed, and glanced at the time.7:44 pm. Jade didn't know if Amanda was home, and was slightly wary of her best friend now. She didn't know how Amanda would handle it, and Jade didn't know if her pride would allow her to grovel. Sighing, Jade got up and sat at her desk. She grabbed a piece of parchment, a quill and ink, and then dipped her quill into the ink. She paused. What should she say?
Dear Amanda,
Boy have I got a funny story for you! To find out what it is, you need to write me back a.s.a.p, and let me know when I'll be allowed over at your house. Anyway, talk to you later!
Jade
Smiling in satisfaction, Jade watched Artemis fly away into the darkness. Shivering, she closed the window quickly. Jade changed into fleece pajamas, and went downstairs to go make a cup of her mum's hot chocolate. Her dad was sitting on the couch, foot over his leg and reading the Daily Prophet. He scowled slightly when he saw her, and Jade chuckled. She knew he still hadn't forgiven her for the memory she slipped him, but Jade didn't care. He could be angry all he liked, but she felt like her father fully deserved it. There was no way that he was going to forbid her from ever seeing Derek again. Besides, he should know better than tapping at her mental shields.
She hated whenever he did that. It felt like he didn't trust her, and was privying into her private affairs. Jade began to make the hot chocolate, and smiled while she did so. Her mum's hot chocolate had almost always made her feel better. While Jade didn't need cheering up, she enjoyed the hot cocoa. Smiling, Jade blew gently on it, and walked up the stairs to her room. She propped herself onto her window ledge, and watched the snow fall. Even though Jade hated the cold, she loved the snowflakes, and the playing in it that came with snow.
Jade's brilliant green eyes lit up with anticipation. Yes, she was 17. But in her heart, Jade was still just a kid. Well, she felt like that, anyway. Jade sipped some hot chocolate, gazing absentmindedly out into the snow. Her thoughts traveled to Amanda. Her friend would, probably, be very confused. After all, it wasn't like Jade to write such a short note. Especially without writing a Happy Christmas on it. But Jade had done that on purpose, to let Amanda know that it was important that she answer quickly. She knew Amanda would get the hint.
Jade thought for awhile, until she had finished her hot cocoa and went back downstairs. All was silent in the house. Her dad was nowhere to be seen. Jade thought he had gone to bed, and so, had put her cup in the sink. The living room was alighted with a warm glow from the crackling fireplace. She headed over, and warmed her hands quickly, feeling hopelessly empty for some reason. Jade had no idea where this sudden emotion came from, and it frightened her a bit. It was Christmas. She had Derek and Amanda back. So why didn't she feel better?
Jade awoke the next morning to find Artemis pecking at the window. Blinded with sleep, Jade stumbled out of the warm bed, and opened the window, shivering at the December cold. Yawning quietly and glaring at the clock, (7:17 am!) Jade slit open the envelope.
Dear Jade,
Well, that was a curious owl to come home to. My mum said that you could over later, maybe around 1 pm. Does that sound alright to you? Send me back an owl a.s.a.p!
Much love,
Amanda
P.S- Happy Christmas!
Jade chuckled. It was so obviously clear now, and she felt immensely guilty for ever thinking that Amanda had really done such a terrible thing to Jade. The green-eyed witch frowned thoughtfully. Then again, now that she thought about it, it wasn't that hard to believe. Not only was Amanda a beautiful witch, and Derek very handsome (Jade licked her lips as she thought about her boyfriend) but Amanda had almost always been a little selfish.
Plus, Jade had been very hurt at the time. Her hurt must've overtaken her reason, and by that time, nothing besides pain had rang through her mind. Sighing, Jade sat down at her desk, contemplating what to say. She sighed, quill poised, and finally began to write.
"Mum, I'm going to Amanda's for a little while at one." Jade said, when her family was finally up. Her mum blinked sleepily, then nodded. Jade grinned a little too cheerfully for the barely-awake people, and her cheeriness was slightly scary. Suddenly, RJ began to cry and scream upstairs.
"I'll get him."Jade said brightly, and getting up from her chair, she skipped happily into the corridor and up the stairs. Harry watched his daughter, confusion clearly in his eyes. He turned slightly to his wife, who merely shrugged.
"She's just my daughter. I don't claim to understand her. Besides, she's a teenager." Harry nodded sadly. He had been trying to stop his daughters from growing up too soon, but it was a fruitless attempt. Jade now had a steady boyfriend, and he was beginning to see the seed of love start to grow between them. This made Harry, of course, extremely sad. He could still remember taking Jade to her first Quidditch match. To her, being four and them sitting in the backyard during the summer, and when she had seen him and Jessica kiss, wrinkle up her little nose and the freckles showed. Harry had laughed.
"Kissing is gross, daddy! Boy's have cooties! I'll never kiss any boys! I'll marry you, daddy!" And now, his little princess was growing up. Kissing (and boys) were no longer gross. The man that Jade was marrying was not her dad, it was to a man who held a Pureblood name. Harry sighed, and his wife quickly noticed his mood. Going over, she put her arms around his neck, and put her chin on top of his head.
"Harry, what's wrong?" She asked, placing a light kiss onto his head. Harry sighed, and shrugged her off. Jessica frowned.
"It's nothing dear." Melissa watched the couple quietly. Harry got up and walked upstairs, muttering the excuse that he was tired, and was going back to bed. Melissa gave her mum a worried look.
"Mum, he's worried about Jade." She stated matter-of-factly. She knew it was true, and Jessica nodded.
"You're right, dear." She said with a resigned sigh.
"But your father has to get over the fact that you two are young ladies now, and not just four year olds discovering the world. I suppose it's hard for him." Melissa nodded, and the two continued to eat their breakfast in silence.
Jade studied herself critically in the mirror. She was wearing a tight black turtleneck, black dress pants, and black high-heeled boots. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and she gave a slight grin. Well, all in all, she didn't look half bad. She nervously wiped her hands on her pants. Jade didn't want to go see Amanda, and explain everything that had been going on in her head for the past month. She sighed, and apparated to her best friends house. Mrs. Rivera was at the kitchen, washing some carrots. She smiled at Jade as she entered.
"Hello Jade. Amanda's up in her room."
Jade smiled and thanked Mrs. Rivera, who merely smiled and nodded. Jade walked up to Amanda's room, wiping her hands on her pants again, trying to hide the fact that she was nervous. Knowing that if she knocked, Amanda would be overly worried. So Jade merely opened the door and grinned at Amanda, who grinned back. She had been laying on her bed, doing some homework, but she got up and put it on her dresser.
"Hold it, Jay, I'll be with you in a moment." Amanda said, frowning angrily at her homework.
"Bloody teachers. This is, apparently, their Christmas gift to us. Well Happy bloody Christmas." Amanda cracked a smile to let Jade know she was joking. Jade smiled, although her smile wavered a bit. Amanda immediately frowned, and motioned to her now clean bed.
"Have a seat, Jade. You've obviously been under too much stress." Jade sat down on the bed awkwardly.
"Manda, what I'm about to tell you may shock you, and you must promise not to yell or hate me after I tell you." Jade said, and Amanda nodded. After a few moments, however, her cerulean eyes widened considerably.
''TELL ME YOU'RE NOT PREGNANT!" Jade almost fell off the bed, she was so shocked.
"Merlin, no! I'm not pregnant, if THAT'S what you were thinking." Amanda gave a sigh of relief. "However, my news are more...morbid." Amanda got serious. Hesitantly, Jade began to tell Amanda her story, starting with her conversation with Natalie, and ending with her coming here. She didn't leave out any details. She even included on how she had been so nervous, on her feelings, and every other little detail that she knew. Amanda didn't speak for a while after
Jade told her. Jade felt her heart breaking in her chest. Was Amanda going to hate her. No, wait, she couldn't. Actually, she could...Jade shook her head to rid herself of these thoughts, although her doubt still lingered, eating away at her mind. She was slowly going crazy by Amanda's silence. She would rather Amanda yelling and furious than this cold, suffocating silence.
"I know how you feel." Amanda said quietly, at last. "If I had found you kissing (she made a face) a guy I really liked, then I would've been furious with you as well. I am a little hurt that you would honestly think I would do that to you, but I do know where you're coming from." Jade smiled, and let out a breath she hadn't known she had been holding.
"Friends?" She asked timidly. Amanda rolled her eyes and hugged her. "The best." was her reply. It was two simple words, but it meant the world to Jade. She grinned widely, and Amanda started to laugh.
"Chocolate covered pretzels!" Amanda commanded, and a plate of chocolate covered pretzels appeared before them (A/N- Amanda's room is kinda like the Room of Requirement. If you want something, it'll give it to you.) Then, the two girls laughed, ate, and talked like nothing had changed between them. And all of a sudden, they forgave each other for everything.