Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter related characters and objects.
Jane was woken later in the summer by Lucius bringing her a hot drink. They hadn't really spoken much since the world cup and Lucius had things, he wanted to get off his chest. Jane sat up in her blue, long sleeved pajamas and rubbed her eyes, then she muttered thanks as Lucius passed her the hot drink and knew, that there was more to it than doing her a favour and waited. Eventually Lucius sat at the end of the bed, and Jane lowered the cup she had been given.
"You want a word don't you?" she asked.
"I need to know if you've made up your mind. Are you staying or going?" asked Lucius.
"Mr. Malfoy my mind has always been made. I'm not going anywhere. Not unless you wish it. My place is with this family. You told me during my first year it was what my parents wanted. Plus it was either you or back to the care-home," replied Jane.
Lucius narrowed his eyes. Jane had never mentioned the care-home to him in all the years that she had lived with him, mainly because she was scared of his reaction. Jane had lived with muggle children at a very strict home in West London, a place that had caused her to speak very well all through her life, and taught her very strong morals, manners and behaviour.
"Where you right? Is living with me any better?" asked Lucius.
"Of course. I wasn't mistreated or anything there but your home has a better atmosphere. I remember one care-worker, Eddie his name was, everyone was always pleased to see him. He was the one who gave out treats, money and new clothes. He noticed what every child needed, with one glance and he'd make sure they got it. Even if it meant taking a group to the shops," replied Jane.
"Sounds like you were grateful, for something a little too natural if you ask me," said Lucius.
"Everyone there is brought up with at least some manners," she said.
"Jane. You're not the first Slytherin to have come from a care-home but you were the first to be saved. I want you to have a good life. I mean to honour the promise I made," he said.
"Then why was I left there for so long sir?" asked Jane.
"Because you were well protected. There are wizards out there who wanted to keep you away, away from me and other Slytherins. But when the sorting hat decided otherwise, as school governor I found you. I spent almost a year fighting for you. Only when I found written proof, that it was your mother and father's wishes, was I finally granted the right to have you here. Jane I spent years searching. There was nothing..." replied Lucius.
"Alright. I know the rest. You found me in the common room with Sasha, asked for a private word and the next think I knew, I was at your door shaking hands with Mrs. Malfoy," added Jane.
Draco appeared but backed away. Lucius smiled at the young witch and then turned quite impatiently, to his son, who seemed to regret walking into the room.
"Sorry. Mother wants to see you," he said.
"I'll be with her in a moment. Jane you need to understand I didn't mean, for my actions at the cup to upset you. Is there any chance?" asked Lucius.
"I've already begun to make amends. I hope you don't..." began Jane.
"No. I need to learn when I'm needed. I made good time once, I'm sure I'll manage again one day...Oh and one more thing," started Lucius.
"Yes Mr. Malfoy?" asked Jane.
"You are no different from me. Drop the title. You are not working at the ministry yet," he replied.
Jane silently disagreed with Lucius. She felt that she was very different from him, however it didn't stop her smiling at him as he left. Draco then took his father's place and Jane looked at him, like a big sister to her brother. Finally Jane realized that she wasn't a spare part to the Malfoy family, she was part of it. Now all she had to do was act like it.
"You never spoke about that care place. I couldn't help but hear Jane. I was looking for father and..." began Draco.
"Don't worry about it. Besides I had no need to. It is in my past and I have no interest in returning. Besides they couldn't handle me," said Jane.
"Handle you?" asked Draco.
"They knew I was responsible for certain, happenings around the place. The fun part was asking them to prove it. Of course they couldn't," replied Jane.
Draco smirked at the thought.
He suddenly pictured a very rebellious, young Jane. He could
picture her playing pranks on muggles,
"Got the hang of it
did you?" he asked.
"Oh yes. That's why I'm really looking forward to this year. We start wandless magic. I always practice anyway. Might even get some points from McGonagall," replied Jane.
"But she won't let you do Transfiguration at NEWT," said Draco.
"Usually, but me and the head of Gryffindor had an agreement. If I passed the subject and I wanted to do it for NEWT, she'd let me. I passed the subject and she can't go back on her word," added Jane.
"What about Quiddich?" asked Draco.
"What about it? The cup is cancelled this year. Surely you figured that out?" asked Jane.
"I know, but what about next year? You should be Captain," replied Draco.
Jane laughed. She hadn't given the next Captain of Slytherin team a thought. However the more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. The only girl on the team and Captain. It would be her chance to prove that witches were just as powerful as wizards.
"That's Professor Snape's decision. Besides you're on the team too. It could be you," suggested Jane.
"I doubt it. You're a better keeper than I am seeker. I'll exchange positions with you. Use the hoops in the garden tomorrow, charm the quaffel and you go and catch the snitch," said Draco.
Jane laughed.
"You've never been a keeper," she said.
"Scared Gibbs?" he asked.
"We'll see Malfoy. Don't give up too early over a black eye or two will you?" she asked.
"You'll never get it Gibbs," replied Draco.
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Draco had been wrong about Jane. She was indeed a good seeker. However Jane was surprised at the effort he made as a keeper. For the tenth time before the Hogwarts term, Jane caught the snitch as Draco seemed to develop a pattern of catching one out of three quaffels.
"Draco! Move only when you're certain which way it is going!" she shouted.
Draco just looked at her and moved away from the hoops for her to get back to her usual position, as if to ask her to prove a point. Jane did so and attacked the quaffel with great force. Draco shook his head at her.
"Show off!" he shouted.
They heard faint shouting from below them. They looked at each other with confusion, then looked down. Lucius was shouting up to them. Draco went straight down and sensibly got off his broom, unlike Jane, who thought she'd jump from her broom, and wobbled slightly when she landed and caught her broom. Lucius looked quite concerned for a moment.
"Never do that again," he ordered.
"Sorry Lucius," she said.
"I thought you both might like to know, that you will have a celebrity staying at Hogwarts this year," added Lucius.
"Ludo Bagman, you already told us father," said Draco.
"Other than he. Viktor Krum still attends Durmstrang...Jane you don't look impressed. You surprise me," said Lucius.
Indeed Jane wrinkled her nose slightly in distaste. At Lucius' words she shrugged her shoulders and looked unimpressed.
"Sorry. Viktor Krum, well he's ugly and looks as thick as flobberworm..." she began.
"Jane! He's an international star!" exclaimed Draco.
"...Who is ugly and thick as..." added Jane.
"Settle down. Just thought you'd both like to know..." began Lucius.
"Well one of us did," added Draco.
"Don't look at me. Not my fault that he's a better seeker than you," taunted Jane.
Lucius rolled his eyes and gave up on them. However, he was still surprised that Jane took no interest in Viktor Krum. Perhaps he didn't give her the credit she deserved? Maybe she wasn't like other witches, out for the best at any cost. Jane considering her past seemed very stable, with a big heart in his opinion. Perhaps she would love for love. Lucius decided he would have to keep an eye on her, an easier task now that she was starting, to act like a member of the family.
Jane couldn't have been happier when she arrived on the Platform at Hogsmade. She was back with Sasha at her side, who had spent the journey telling her all about her father's terrible mood. Jane had found the whole story very interesting. Professor Snape, had told his daughter all about Sirius Black, how people believed that he was innocent.
"Apparently he's no more a death-eater than Dumbledore. Not even a supporter or anything. And Peter Pettigrew is still alive," said Sasha.
They were in the carriage on their way to the castle. Jane simply raised an eyebrow and shrugged her shoulders.
"So, he's only accountable for tweleve murders. Oh and for selling the Potters to the dark lord," she said.
"That's the thing. Pettigrew apparently blew up the street, cut his finger off and framed Black for the whole bloody thing! How pissed do you think Black is? Almost as pissed as my father is for loosing that Order of Merlin," added Sasha.
Jane smirked.
"Does Potter know all of this?" she asked.
"Potter told the teachers all of this! Plus to add insult to injury...Black is Potter's godfather. The only family he has left. How fucked up is that?" asked Sasha.
"Very...Sasha do I detect some pity?" asked Jane.
"My arse! This is bloody brilliant. Think of the stick you can give him next year on the pitch..." began Sasha.
"Would I do such a thing?" asked Jane.
"What?" asked Sasha, looking very shocked.
"I mean, why do it myself? I'm sure Draco would love to use the story. Why have an owl and deliver the letter yourself?" asked Jane.
"You know some people are right, you're tapped in the head. Pure evil. Merlin! You are such a bitch!" cried Sasha laughing.
Jane smirked and got off the carriage. On their way to the Slytherin table, Sasha's father walked passed them and muttered.
"Welcome back Miss Gibbs,"
"Likewise sir," added Jane.
"Stop flirting with my father," said Sasha.
"He started it," argued Jane.
"I was joking!" shouted Sasha.
"Oh...really? I guess the secret is out..." began Jane sarcastically.
"For fuck's sake! Behave yourself...What are you going to be like when that all boys school turns up?" asked Sasha.
"Very well behaved. I have a date first Hogsmade weekend," replied Jane.
"Of course...wait...a date? You? With who? How?" asked Sasha.
Jane whispered the story of the world cup to her friend at the Slytherin table. Sasha's eyes got wider and wider, the more she whispered. She then moved her head and looked rather shocked and lowered her voice.
"Do you mean to tell me, that most of the dark activity, at the world cup, was because Lucius Malfoy, wanted to teach Marcus a lesson?" asked Sasha.
"Mostly, but he had nothing to do with the dark mark," replied Jane.
"So if it wasn't him, who was it?" asked Sasha.
"Nobody knows. A total mystery. But I tell you something, something is going to kick off. I just know it," replied Jane.
The other schools arrived. Draco shoved Jane up the bench, so that Krum could sit by him. Sasha's eyes gleamed in a flirtatious manner and Jane rolled her eyes. To make matters worse she couldn't get to the food that she wanted, because the international star was blocking it, giving her no choice but to speak to him.
"Can you pass me the potatoes?" she asked.
Viktor turned to her and looked slightly surprised, at her request. Eventually he did as she requested and Jane muttered thanks to him, as if he always passed her food. Sasha looked dumb-struck at her friend and Jane passed back the potatoes and didn't even react, when his hand touched hers. Sasha tugged her friend towards her very swiftly.
"What is with you? You just asked him to pass the...you're mad!" she muttered.
"He was in the way!" hissed Jane.
Sasha let her go and rolled her eyes in disbelief. Jane managed to catch Draco, talking to Viktor about the Slytherin quiddich team. To her horror he was pointing out the remaining players, including herself.
"...That is Jane Gibbs. She's the keeper, really good too. There's a good chance she's going to be the next Captain of the team," said Draco.
Viktor turned to Jane with sudden interest. Sasha smiled at him, but her face fell when he started talking to Jane and not her.
"Really? How long haff you been on der team?" he asked.
"Third year. However the cup has been cancelled this year due to the tournament. Draco over compliments. I'm really not that good," replied Jane.
"Rubbish! Don't listen to her Viktor, modest to a fault. She's good. Very good. The only reason we loose is because someone, can't catch a golden ball!" said Sasha, looking at Draco.
Draco glared at her. Viktor seemed more interested in Jane, than the dig that Sasha made towards Draco and his seeker skills.
"Good keepers are hard to come by. Vot broom do you haff?" he asked.
"Nimbus 2001," replied Jane.
"A good broom...two year ago. Perhaps you vud like a change?" he asked.
"No thank you. I'm happy with the broom I have. It was a gift. I'm not comfortable with the idea of getting rid of it so soon," replied Jane.
Sasha's head hit the table and Draco shook his head behind Viktor. He then started making hand gestures to let her know, that she thought that she was mad. Jane did not let herself be impressed by the Bulgarian quiddich player the whole evening. She even managed to shake his hand without showing a flicker of admiration for him. This caused Sasha to go on a huge rant, as they started unpacking their things back into wardrobes and draws.
"So, Viktor Krum, practically offers you a broom ride, and you tell him to shove it right up his arse! His very fit arse because yes! I was looking! The whole female population of Hogwarts was looking! Except you! I bet even McGonagall was looking! You need to open your eyes! Now where the hell is my NEWT list?" she asked.
"Sasha! Krum is ugly, bulky and thinks he's Merlin's gift. It'll do him good to be rejected every now and again, rather than having witches voluntarily lifting their robes for him," said Jane.
Sasha continued looking through her bags.
"Ah! So you're just playing hard to get?" she asked.
"No. I'm playing I don't want to be got," replied Jane.
"Can I have a go then?" asked Sasha.
Jane smiled.
"You can have as many goes as you like," she replied.
Sasha looked up with a shocked expression on her face and threw a pillow at her friend, which she caught before it hit her.
"Keeper!" she cried.
