Disclaimer: I do not own HP characters or objects ect.

Jane didn't like defense against the dark arts. If the truth be told, Professor Moody, for someone probably responsible, for the imprisonment of her parents, was quite nice to her. He graded her work fairly, which often meant, high, even Sasha found it all a bit strange, even more so as she didn't get much fair treatment at all, from Professor Moody, who often just threw her work back at her. Sasha had done some growing up, Jane noticed that she didn't react at all to Professor Moody, but at the same time, she felt that could be because he wasn't, the type of teacher to mess with, if one had a death-eater as a father, who was still alive and had escaped prison. Sasha and Jane where on their way to lunch, Professor Moody in-front of them. There was some trouble with the doors of the great hall. They had to be opened by hand because they refused to stay open. Jane didn't expect Professor Moody, to hold the door open for her.

"In you go, Miss Gibbs," he said.

"Yes sir, thank you sir," said Jane.

Sasha and Professor Moody, glared at each other, before continuing. Sasha sat down with Jane, started to help herself to food and muttered angrily.

"So unfair! What's so special about you anyway? No offence Jane, I think the world of you, but why does he?" asked Sasha.

"My parents got caught and I've dealt with it. Maybe he captured them?" suggested Jane.

"You're still none the wiser are you? I bet we know someone who is, but not telling," replied Sasha.

"I'm asking nobody anything. Least of all that bearded, old, coot," added Jane.

"How come you get away with being disrespectful and I don't?" asked Sasha.

"Because I don't say it so that he can hear me, or that any other teacher can hear me, oh and I don't owe him my father's freedom," replied Jane.
"Oh alright, fine! You have him! He's your father now!" cried Sasha.

Jane covered her mouth and shook her head. Sasha winced, knowing full well Professor Snape was stood, right behind her.

"When I'm six foot below ground that is! Ah! Speak of the devil," added Sasha.

Jane couldn't believe that Sasha got away with it, they laughed with relief and carried on with life as normal. The usual routine of class, dinner, homework and bed, with the occasional ball and task thrown in. The ball was something Jane did not attend. Instead, she stayed up in the girls' dorm, replying to letters from Marcus, until she heard Professor Snape shout up to her.

"Are you up there Miss Gibbs?" he asked.

"Yes sir," replied Jane.

"I want to see you in the great hall, dress robes on, five minutes," he ordered.

Jane paused, reading the letter in her hand for at least the third time.

"Yes sir," she replied.

Jane was already in black dress-robes. She stood up and put away the letter, then left the room, to the great hall. Professor Snape opened the door for her, she knew she was being forced, but still had no wish to enrage him. Jane only went looking for Sasha, who she found laughing at someone in pink robes, as she left the room. Sasha turned to Jane, still laughing.

"Granger's just left, stupid girl, of course nobody's going to..." she began.

To her surprise, Viktor Krum was wondering around with two glasses in his hands, Jane rolled her eyes, and pulled her friend to one side.

"While you've been entertaining yourself with, everyone elses' downfall, I've been in the dorm, writing to Marcus, until your father, made me come here," she said.

"Quite finished with letter of love have you?" asked Sasha.

"For the moment, the last one, was quite, hard to take in," replied Jane.

"Why?" asked Sasha.

Jane looked around, as a safety precaution. She didn't want any teachers to know, or any other Slytherins to know, what she was about to tell Sasha, who rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on! It can't be that bad," she said.

"I know. Marcus, asked me to marry him," replied Jane.

"Do what?" asked Sasha.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Professor Snape, ordered his house to the common room, as soon as Cedric and Harry returned, from the maze of the third task. Sasha, saw her father leave the dunegon and got passed the prefects, causing Jane to follow her. Sasha and Jane, who gave up protesting, knowing that nothing stood between her and her father's well-fare. Sasha and Jane, paused outside the door of the defence against the dark arts class, they peered through the door, just as Professor Moody's appearence changed, and they over-heard the name.

"Barty Crouch Juniour," said Professor Dumbledore.

Professor Snape looked curious and amazed, Sasha entered the room and pulled him away from the man, as Jane entered the room also, noticed Harry in the room and looked, with interest at the death-eater.

"Your parents, were wonderful servents, now that he's back, how about honouring their memory? I met them you know? In Azkaban, wonderful people...they hoped they'd be free, alas life in there isn't really healthy, died...oh where are we? Must have been your third year," said Barty Crouch Juniour.

Professor Snape, gently pulled Jane and Sasha, out of the room. He glared at Sasha for disobeying orders, but she defended herself.

"What did you expect? A boy dies and you run off! I thought knowing you, you'd go and catch the killer...which I'm now guessing..." she said.

Professor Snape didn't speak, neither did Jane. Sasha looked at Jane, as she waited for news in the common room, with everyone else. Finally the door swung open, some stood only to be motioned to sit again, by Professor Snape.

"I'm sure many of you are aware, that Cedric Diggory is dead. Investigations are being made, into how this happened. Also your defence against the dark arts teacher, wasn't everything he seemed. He has been taking PolyJuice potion all year, none of you have actually been taught by Professor Moody. Instead you have been taught by the son of Barty Croutch senior, Barty Crouch Juniour, who was smuggled out of Azkaban many years ago, after being convicted for dark activity. That is all, you should all get some rest," he said.

Sasha and Jane went straight to their dorm. There was an uncomfortable silence for a long time, although they both seemed to be heading to sleep, both candles remained lit. They knew that what Professor Snape told the house, and what they knew where two completely different things. He hadn't told the others that Voldemort was back, for one thing, and neither of them knew what had happened, but they could make educated guesses.

"Diggory, was killed by him, wasn't he?" asked Sasha slowly.

"I think so, if what that man said, was true that is, maybe he was aiming for Potter and missed, or Diggory got in the way. It could be anything," replied Jane.

"Barty Croutch, the one in the office, seemed very interested in you, and your family, he gave you some advice too. Will you take it?" asked Sasha.

Jane sat up, she opened her bed-side table draw and pulled out a piece of partchement. She looked at it to check it was the right one, and held it up.

"This confirms that me and Marcus, are going to get married. It isn't just up to me anymore, I haven't even told Lucius yet. Dark Lord or not, he's not, on my list of things to do," replied Jane.

"Maybe not, but you'll be on his list of people to shove a dark mark on. Think about it, Lucius will have answered the call, all he has to do is order him to take you to him," said Sasha.

"Then I shall go and argue my case, before him," said Jane.

"And if Marcus refuses?" asked Sasha.

Jane went silent. Every option, she thought of ended in a death, Lucius', Marcus' and her own. She bit her lip in thought.

"Now it's getting difficult," she replied.

"Difficult meaning?" asked Sasha.

"Every plan I think of, ends with a consiquence of someone's death," replied Jane.

"Then keep out of it!" added Sasha.

"I can't," said Jane.

"Why not?" asked Sasha.

"I promised Lucius, that I'd protect him. That's why to start with I need, to get him to accept Marcus, as the man I want to marry, then I'll do what it takes to secure our furture," replied Jane.

Sasha, sat out of bed, with her feet on the floor. She looked at her friend in amazement.

"Live up to your name, of a selfish Slytherin, and cancell the marriage with Marcus, and peg it as far away from Malfoy, as wizardingly possible," she ordered.

"Selfish Slytherin? Sorry, who's bailed you out of trouble all of these years? Who has got you up, on time for class? Oh and given you plenty of essays to copy from? That is not my nature and you know it! I promised Lucius, I'd help keep him alive and, agreed to Marcus' proposal. I will not go back on my word!" shouted Jane.

"I'm not telling you this for a laugh, Jane, I'm telling you, because it is what you have to do. Prejudice though you are, I can't see you torturing muggles and mudbloods. If you have any sense, you'll see Dumbledore in the morning and beg for protection!" shouted Sasha.

Jane shook her head. Sasha, looked at her with disbelief. Jane looked back at her friend and shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

"Then I have no sense, because I'll never beg to Dumbledore, not when there's a chance that I can keep hold of the life I want. I will not be a blood traitor," she said.

"You're insane. You and Marcus haven't seen each other since that first Hogsmade trip, you hardly know him, yet you're convinced you want to marry him. Malfoy beat him up, to keep him away from you, he's not going to like his efforts being wasted, I just know it. Plus you're his ward, it's up to him, who you marry," said Sasha.

"I know, Marcus is going to visit him, over the holidays to ask his permission," added Jane.

"And if he refuses?" asked Sasha.

"I'll save that Quaffel when I have to," replied Jane.

Sasha rolled her eyes, and went back into the warm, bed.

"Sleep on it, think about it all in the morning, then make up your mind," she said.

The next morning, Sasha didn't need waking. Instead, she found herself waking up Jane, who opened her eyes, only very slightly.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"Breakfast, but just. Thought I'd let you know, the place is like a grave," replied Sasha.

"Someone has been killed," added Jane, getting up.

"What's it to you?" asked Sasha.

"Diggory let us win most of the time, but he was a good player, nice bloke really. Hufflepuff or not, he didn't deserve a death like that, not at his age," replied Jane.

Sasha raised an eyebrow, but let the conversation go. Jane soon found that Sasha, hadn't been joking. There was black banners, in almost every direction, instead of the usual house colours, they got to the great hall, where they were almost knocked over by a chinese girl, running out of the room in tears. At that point, Jane thought of being in her shoes, if anything happened to Marcus. She sat down and looked over at the staff table, most of the female members of staff, had tears in their eyes, especially dumpy, little Professor Sprout, Cedric's head of house. Meanwhile, Draco entered the great hall, and sat next to Jane, Crabbe and Goyle followed him and sat by him. Jane smiled at him slightly and went to turn away, but she didn't get that chance.

"Have you heard from Father?" he asked.

"Post hasn't come yet," replied Jane.

"Do you think...he answered?" asked Draco.

"Draco, I know about as much as you do. I'd like to think it is you he'd contact before me," replied Jane.

"Oh right. I suppose, you're right," he said.

Finally, the owls littered the hall, more than usual. The Malfoy owl brought two letters, one each, for Jane and Draco, and another owl, came with a letter for Jane, who got her priorities in order and opened Lucius' letter first, believing it to be of more importance:

Dear Jane,

As you can imagine upon receiving this letter, me and my wife are alive. We answered him, and are awaiting further instruction. Again I welcome you home this summer, and only hope that you stick to what you decided after the world cup.

Lucius M

Jane sighed with relief, as did Draco, who she believed received a similar letter. Both of them where thrilled that nothing had happened to the Malfoys, but Jane's mail hadn't ended. She tore open the other letter, hoping that Marcus hadn't changed his mind:

Jane,

I've heard what happened yesterday evening, I know what action Malfoy will take and I know that unless I do the same, we will never be married. However, I'm willing to do this. I don't care who I support, as long as I have you as my wife, too long have I waited for your love, and I'm not about to throw it away, the one thing he can't do is tell me who to love.

Yours Always,

Marcus

Jane covered her mouth and had to dry her eyes. Sasha took the note from Jane, with no force being used to stop her and read it for herself. She looked at the letter, then at Jane. Her eyes shone with concern and she did her best to look kindly at her friend.

"I know you're in love, both of you, I'm happy for you, but I can't see you lasting...if you know what I mean?" she asked.

"My marriage?" asked Jane.

"No your life! Are you prepared to die over this promise?" asked Sasha.

"What marriage? What promise?" asked Draco.

"You shush! You, yes I am, right you, I have been proposed to, however please don't shoot your mouth off, because I haven't told your father yet, and he won't be best pleased as it is," replied Jane, to both parties.

"Jane, it's not worth it," said Sasha.

"Yes it is! Don't you see? For the first time in my life, I've learned to love, love the family that's kept me and love the man I want to marry. If I die, I'll actually die happy," corrected Jane.

"Why am I friends with this fruit loop?" asked Sasha.

"Because you'd have been expelled by now for lateness," replied Jane.

The hall was forced to silence, Professor Dumbledore made a speech, causing Jane's eyes to narrow slightly, as he admitted Cedric Diggory was murdered, and by Lord Voldemort. However when he started to speak about how he expected his pupils to react, Jane refused to listen, along with most Slytherins, who shook their heads in disagreement and distaste, before they too, could listen no more to what was being said. Jane and Sasha as soon as they could, collected their things, ready to go. Sasha was for Spinner's End and Jane, was nervous about returning to Malfoy manor.

"Rather you than me, talking to father about marriage," said Draco.

They arrived at London and Lucius as ever, liked to play the gentleman, and carried Jane's belongings as she waved to Sasha. As soon as they got to Malfoy Manor, Draco and Narcissa, went into the sitting room, and Jane was just able to stop Lucius.

"Lucius, can I speak with you in the dining room? Please?" she asked.

"Of course, but I do feel rather uneasy about it," replied Lucius.

Jane and Lucius entered the dining room, Jane sat down and Lucius, took the seat next to her, and turned it to her so that he faced her.

"I plan to stick to my word, I would never go back on it, but I have a confession to make, something that happened during a Hogsmade visit," began Jane.

"Oh, and what is that?" asked Lucius.

"I, I fell in love," replied Jane.

Lucius' expression of polite curiosity, turned into that of shock and surprise.

"Love? Fell in love with who? How did this come about? I had no idea you were interested in anyone," he said.

"Neither did I, I promised Marcus a drink, just one drink after what happened at the cup, I saw him in a new light, but Professor Snape saw us together, we've been writing to each other ever since," explained Jane.

"I see, how serious is this?" asked Lucius.

"Rather, Marcus asked me to marry him, he would like to visit you to ask your permission," replied Jane.

"And if I weren't to be placed into consideration, what would your answer be?" he asked.

"As you are in concideration Lucius, the closest thing I have to a father, I'd be very happy, if you allowed the marriage to take place," replied Jane.

Lucius stood up and walked over to his drinks cabinate, and poured himself a strong drink. He swirled the liquid around the glass in thought, and all Jane could do, was wait in the harsh silence.