Ok, I won't be able to update for a bit after this because I have tests coming up in Law and Philosophy (argh!), so hopefully this will be alright as a bit of a filler/insight into the other characters.

This will primarily follow Harry, but I wanted to introduce Jack and Rose a bit better. So here goes!

Chapter Three: Jack of Hearts

An Interlude of Sorts

The invitation had been thrust into his hand by a nervous looking first year who'd run off before Jack could say a word.

The envelope was beautiful enough itself – clearly expensive by its texture, and a simple champagne colour. The inked caligraphy proclaimed 'Jack Potter', but Jack himself was wary of anything coming from a Slytherin. Cho had explained about the infamous Slytherin/Griffindor War that had been raging for several decades, and with Harry and James in Griffindor he was rather worried in respect to the Slytherin's motives...

The invitation itself was of delicate green paper, quite thin, and the same black writing was once again used. The silver swirls decorating the border were unable to distract Jack's eyes from the words in the centre, however.

Jack Potter,

You are cordially invited to Slytherin's annual

Halloween Hellraiser.

Dress is club-wear/costumed.

Please present this invitation at the door to the

Slytherin Common Room,

Halloween Night.

We're always open...

You have been vouched for by:

Draco Malfoy

The last few lines were the most suspicious. Why would Draco Malfoy want him at a Slytherin party? He'd been told that occaisionally other House members were vouched for and invited to Slytherin parties, but why him? He was new, and related to Griffindors – so Draco's motives were certainly suspect.

But if Jack was honest with himself, he'd already decided to go. He knew Rosalie had an invite as well, and they could go as Heaven and Hell quite easily – playing off being twins always works in their favour. It would be fun – and if Malfoy had hoped to embarrass him with the 'club-wear/costumed' idea, he was sorely mistaken. Jack had nothing he needed to hide.

Rose squealed in delight as her twin walked out to meet her. He looked divine – white ribbons were wound around his arms and torso, wings adorned his shoulder-blades, and he wore thigh-high white stilleto boots that he'd secretly bought in the holidays. The tightest, shortest shorts she'd ever seen showed off his best asset to perfection, and she couldn't help hoping her own make-up was as stunning as the silver lines and lip gloss her brother wore.

With Jack's assurance that her skimpy red mini dress and killer stillettos were imaculate, they set off for the Slytherin 'Dungeons' – and a night of debauchery.

It wasn't hard to find the Dungeons – there were plenty of Slytherins milling around outside. Presenting their invitations to Crabbe and Goyle, they ignored the stares they were earning and made their way to the make-shift bar along one wall. Grabbing a cocktail off a Slytherin 'vampiress' who was almost spilling out of her top, Rose turned to grin at him.

"Well, pretty blonde girl in the corner = yum, so I'm going to talk to her. Have fun gorgeous!" Her quick departure wasn't unusual, and when Jack saw the nordic goddess she was referring to he entirely forgave her.

He'd just reached for his own mohito when a pale hand lightly grabbed his wrist.

"Why don't you try something a little more... potent?" asked Draco Malfoy, and Jack found himself looking directly into mercury eyes alight with mischief. He couldn't resist an answering smirk as he replied:

"Actually, this is for you. The absinthe* shot is mine." Malfoy's smirk vanished to be replaced by an expression of mild shock as Jack took the shot sitting next to the cocktail and downed it in a single gulp as though he shotted absinthe every day.

"What? Is there a problem?" This mocking enquiry seemed to shake Malfoy out of his stupor. His face morphed into a genuine grin, and he reached out for the mohito.

"You know what, Potter? I think I actually like you." And Jack couldn't resist laughing, and agreeing to dance.

The music was pounding through his body, the bass keeping time with his heart. Jack barely even registered that he'd been dancing with Draco Malfoy since those first few moments, or how close they'd become – Draco's hands rested on his waist, and he was grinding into Jack from behind. At any other party it would've been quite the spectacle, but this was Slytherin. Rose was making out with the nordic blonde; Daphne Greengrass was practically humping Theodore Nott; even Lucius Malfoy (who always acted like stone) was 'dancing' with Sirius' cousin Narcissa. Draco's assurances earlier that they were practically married didn't really make Jack feel any better about her near-nakedness and Lucius' roaming hands.

As Draco's hands slid down past his hips and back in a blatantly sexual manoeuvre, Jack grinned. He knew he came across as innocent, and often abused this fact mercilessly. Draco clearly thought this would be a great conquest, but Jack knew that he wanted to be the conqueror. He twisted in his partner's grip and backed up closer to the wall. Draco looked confused for a moment before smirking predatorily and stalking towards Jack as the latter leaned back against the wall, stretching languidly to show off every asset.

Draco's long white fingers lightly traced Jack's face before trailing down to rest on his hips, bringing them flush against each other.

"Just so we're clear, Draco – I win." The look of confusion that flashed across Draco's face almost made Jack laugh aloud as he pressed his own smirking lips against the blond's.

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Draco was drowning, but struggling. He'd never been kissed like this – lightly, more of a caress than a kiss – and it felt incredible. But what Potter had said had thrown him. What did he mean 'he'd won'? Draco had been playing a game of his own admittedly, wanting to embarrass the supposedly shy Ravenclaw with the party. Yet the table had turned quickly, and he'd decided to make a play for the boy's... 'company' that evening.

Somehow Potter had even turned this on him! It was un-nerving, and Draco could feel his calm control slipping away from him. This wasn't supposed to happen, damnit!

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Jack could only cheer inside as he deduced Draco's confusion and annoyance. He'd known all along what the handsome blond had planned, and it amused him greatly to turn Draco's own games back on him.

He let the blond pull away, not bothering to hide his own smirk as Draco's eyes bore into his. Jack was even tempted to laugh, but felt that this might be slightly suicidal.

"Come on, Draco. Your game was obvious from the moment I saw your name on the invite." Draco looked horrified, and Jack realised that no-one had ever been so blunt with him before. Deciding to take pity on the blond, he leaned closer to Draco's ear, and whispered to him.

"If it's any consolation – the kiss was purely because I wanted to." And with that he slid around Draco and headed for the door.

He'd almost made it out into the hallway when Draco grabbed his arm, forcing him to turn around in askance.

"Don't go. Please?" The look on Draco Malfoy's face was so humble and desperate that Jack felt himself pause and consider. This in itself was unusual – Jack rarely second-guessed his actions. But something in Draco's eyes told him this wasn't another game; it was genuine longing.

Promising himself he'd probably regret it in the morning, Jack smiled and stepped back towards the blond.

"Well, I suppose I could stay for one more dance..."

Draco's face lit up, and Jack couldn't bring himself to feel guilty for changing his mind.

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Draco was ecstatic. It was funny, really – usually he'd find his prey for the evening, seduce them, fuck them, and have no regrets. Yet something about Potter was making him re-assess this plan for the first time in all his years at Hogwarts.

Even though they didn't kiss again that evening (or anything further), Draco couldn't help feeling as though the evening was a greater success than any previous.

So... please leave a review, let me know what's good/bad/could be done in the next chapters.

Hope you like my characters, I like to use a couple of them to be completely creative with (and yes, Jack is a favourite name for me. This one has a tattoo of a Jack of Hearts card... but I'm not telling you where yet ;) ).

Oh yeah: Jack is gay, Rose is a lesbian, Harry will probably be bi and James is straight ;P

*If you've ever done absinthe, you can understand the HUGE alcoholic difference between the two drinks – if not: when my friend first did a shot of it she couldn't breathe for a minute. I'm rather proud of the fact that I wasn't quite as bad my first time (more like 20secs...).