Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 12
The Fight
It was Hermione who found Jade after her sudden disappearance. Jade was sitting alone in her dormitory, the dormitory was dark, and Hermione could tell that Jade had extinguished everything that was bringing light into the room. Hermione sat on the edge of Jade's bed and asked,
"How are you doing?"
"I'm fine." Jade said in a brittle voice. Hermione could tell that Jade was really upset but she refused to let anyone else let on.
"It's alright to be sad, your best friends just left. You don't have to be strong all the time, if you let your guard fall this one time I won't tell anybody." Hermione walked forward and gave Jade a friendly hug.
Jade retuned the hug and began to sob. "If I tell you something do you swear not to tell anyone not counting Harry and Ron of course?"
"Yes. You can tell me anything after all what are friends for." Hermione said giving Jade a small reassuring smile.
"Fred and I have been friends for over six years now. As time passed I grew more and more fond of him." Jade took in a shuddering breath and then continued in a whisper, "Eventually my fondness grew into love."
She looked at Hermione. Hermione smiled and said softly, "When you are friends for a long time that can happen."
"I guess I never imagined what my life would be like without him, and now he's gone." Jade sighed and then said, "Just yesterday I received a letter asking me if I would like a summer job in the Auror's office. It's nothing big, just a job as a secretary, but it will give me some good experience."
"But I've heard that the secretaries for the Auror's are often wanted more than the Aurors. It's a dangerous job, you must have incredible qualities to get a job like that when you are still in school." Hermione said half in shock and half in awe.
"When Fred and George were here I wasn't sure if I was going to take the job, but I have made up my mind. I am going to take it." Jade said straightening up with pride. "I intend on being an Auror just like my father before me."
"I'm sure Fred and George would be proud of you." Hermione said patting Jade on the shoulder and giving her a reassuring smile.
"I am going to start this summer, they also told me I might get lucky enough to go with an Auror on a slightly dangerous mission." Jade said, "Even then there is a risk, but I am willing to make it."
Jade looked out of the window and after a moment of silence Jade said, "Hermione, I know about the poison that Umbridge slipped into my drink before Fred and George where banned. I know that there is currently no antidote, because I asked Madam Pomfrey and that I am going to die."
XXX
When Mr. Weasley came in Harry noticed that right behind him was Jade. She looked tired and over worked, Harry knew that it was probably due to her new job at the Ministry. While Mr. Weasley helped himself to some onion soup Jade sat down in a chair across from Harry and she put her face in her hands and sighed. Harry looked at Jade's hands and noticed that on the ring finger of her right hand was a golden ring with a large green stone on it, there was also what looked like a golden family crest on the ring, but Jade put her hands under the table before he could get a good look at it.
"Did you have a hard day at work dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked putting a hand on Jade's shoulder.
"Completely." Jade took her hands out of her face and smiled at Mrs. Weasley, but Harry could tell instantly that it was a forced smile. "But still it is worth it, I want to be an Auror and this way I get first hand experience."
"Would you like something to eat?" asked Mrs. Weasley pointing to the pot of onion soup.
"No thank you. I think I am going to go to bed though. Thank you again for letting me stay here." Jade said standing up and heading towards the stairs.
Once Jade was upstairs Mrs. Weasley shook her head and said, "Poor dear, they are working her to hard."
"Molly we've been over this." Mr. Weasley said exasperatedly, "No one, not even Fred and George have talked her into quitting this job. Voicing our opinions isn't going to make her quit anytime soon."
"I know, I know…" Mrs. Weasley said her voice trailing off.
XXX
The next morning during and awkward morning of silence between Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione, Harry found himself asking,
"Why isn't Jade staying in Fred and George's room?"
"I think Jade chose to stay in Percy's room because since she Fred and George were such close friends that staying in their room brings back painful memories for her." Ginny said once again taking her position on the end of Harry's bed.
"Yeah, she hasn't seen them since they left, but she does get a letter from Fred once a week telling her how things are going." Ron added.
When Harry, and Ron were about to make their way down the stairs and down to lunch they heard Mrs. Weasley call up to Ron,
"Ron, could you do me a favor and go and tell Jade that lunch will be ready soon."
"Sure Mum!" Ron called back turning around to head up one more flight of stairs to the landing where Percy's room lay.
On the landing Ron knocked softly on Percy's bedroom door and voice from inside quietly called, "Come in."
Ron opened the door and the first thing that he hand Harry saw was Jade. She leaned against the open window, she was cradling a hot cup of, what Harry assumed was cappuccino, between her hands and she was staring out at the garden. The light from the sun caught her black hair and made her skin seem as if it were glowing, but it didn't hide how pale or how thin she had become over the past few months.
"Mum, just wanted us to tell you that lunch will be ready soon." Ron said. Jade turned her face to him and her green eyes fixed on him.
"Thank you Ron. I will be down in a minute." She said giving him a small smile. Ron nodded his head and he and Harry went down to the kitchen to keep Hermione from freaking out about her O.W.L.s.
Just as she promised it was only a few minutes before Jade was down in the kitchen and untying her Hogwarts letter. All she really had was a list of everything that she needed for the upcoming year; she barely glanced at it then handed it over to Mrs. Weasley who was going to hold onto all of their letters until they went to Diagon Alley. Once again Harry saw the ring but he was still unable to see what the golden crest that laid on top of it was.
Harry tried to inch closer so that he could get a better look at the crest but before he could do so Jade put her hand in her pocket hiding the ring from view. He couldn't help but wonder where the ring had come from for she certainly didn't have it last year. After a moment he realized that he was just being stupid, Jade had probably bought the ring and had her family crest placed on it.
XXX
Upon entering Fred and George's joke shop Jade realized that the twins had finally made their dreams come true. The shop was packed and their merchandise was getting even better then it once was. She was reading the back of a box labeled "Patented Daydream Charms" when she heard a familiar voice ask,
"Haven't you girls found our special WonderWitch products yet?" The next thing she knew she felt a firm but gentle grip on her elbow followed by the same voice saying, "Come on, that includes you too."
Jade looked up to see Fred leading her to another part of the store that was brilliantly pink and purple. "I see that you didn't let up on the pink this time around."
"What are you talking about the pink was your idea?" Fred asked looking at her and letting go of her elbow.
"I know, I'm just surprised you went into another store to purchase all of these pink objects." Jade retorted. Fred flushed slightly and then quickly turned to point out their new range of love potions.
Jade gently picked up one of the bottles by its slender neck and brought it closer to her face to examine it. While Fred and George explained how the love potions worked Jade turned the bottle around and examined the back, after a moment she raised one of her eyebrows. Suddenly George snatched the bottle out of her hand and said,
"We aren't selling any to you either for obvious reasons." He gave her an evil look.
"And what do you mean by that?" Jade asked catching the sarcasm in his voice and placing her hands on her hips.
"What we mean is that since the potion works on how good the girl looks, if you used it the potion would never wear off." Fred finished his face also splitting into an evil grin when Jade became flustered.
"Well, I do believe that I brewed that potion for you." Jade said in defense pointing to the little bottle in George's hands.
"We were wondering if you would pick up on that." George said stifling a laugh since Jade was still flustered and red in the face from embarrassment.
"Speaking of love potions we are running kind of low on the stock you made us last week." Fred gave her a kind of begging grin and Jade let out a sigh.
"I don't know how you two do this but you somehow get me every time." Jade straightened up and looked at the twins. "But you two win, I will make you another batch of love potion, but you had better have all of the ingredients ready because I am not using any of mine."
"We have everything all set up in the back." George said taking Jade's arm and leading her towards the back, Jade turned towards Fred and she said to him,
"Fred tell you mother where I am so that she doesn't freak out."
XXX
Things in the compartment with Professor Slughorn were pretty boring until Jade walked in, she was later then all of the others and she had an annoyed look on her face.
"You wanted to see me sir." She said upon entering.
"Yes, come and join us for lunch." He said pointing to an empty space next to Harry.
Reluctantly Jade took the seat next to Harry and Professor Slughorn introduced her.
"This is Jade Williams, daughter of John Williams. Do any of you know who John Williams was?"
Finally Zabini said, "It was said he was one of the greatest Aurors the Ministry ever had."
"Correct. I have also heard from many of the students that she herself has become a powerful witch." Slughorn said giving her a wide, whiskery grin.
Harry could see Jade was biting back insults, he had a feeling that Jade didn't like to be spoken about like a breed of dog. Harry also had a gut feeling that she didn't like mentioning her father, mostly because she still missed him.
"Tell me, what do you remember about your father, Jade?" Slughorn asked after a moment when Jade said nothing. Harry sensed that this was a bad idea but before he could do anything Jade's temper got the better of her,
"I wouldn't remember much. He was murdered before my eyes by Voldermort when I was three." Everyone in the compartment except Harry flinched and Jade stood up and walked out.
Slughorn looked around at everyone, they were all staring at the door wondering what had made Jade act the way she had, but Slughorn just smiled and tried to lighten the mood within the compartment,
"Well now I know what not to mention around her." He chuckled, "She has a temper like a firecracker, oddly enough though that was something her mother had too."
"Jade isn't always like that." Ginny had spoken up, "She is best friends with my brothers Fred and George, though she got to see them over the summer, I have a feeling she never forgave them for leaving last year. Most of the time she is a very sweet girl, but she has been through a lot lately."
"Still, I have a good feeling about her." Slughorn said in a low voice and looking at the door to see if Jade had really gone.
XXX
On Christmas morning Jade came down for breakfast and she smiled at the presents that Mrs. Weasley had received from Fred and George. For some odd reason earlier that day when Jade had woken up she noticed that Fred and George hadn't left her a present like usual. She sat there rather grumpily and when the twins walked in she didn't even look up. A voice next to her ear made her jump,
"Don't think we forgot about you, we just wanted to give you our present in person." Jade turned her head slightly to the right and she came face to face with Fred.
She felt something cold touch her neck and looking down she saw a beautiful heart shaped golden locket with the words 'To my best friend' engraved on the front. Jade gasped just as George came forward holding a box that was still wrapped. Jade opened it, inside was an ornate wooden box with intricate carvings upon it.
"Open it." George insisted.
Jade opened the box and the first thing everyone noticed was the slow pretty music. It was a music box and inside instead of the dancing ballerina that most music boxes was a golden replica of the dancing couple on she and Fred's trophy from the Yule Ball.
"T-Thank you." Jade managed to stutter as the twins took her in a huge three-person hug. Then for the first time in months Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw Jade's face break into a true smile.
That night at dinner things had a considerably lighter mood. Just before dinner, Jade, and Fred and once again wrestled another garden gnome, but this time the gnome had bitten Jade's hand when she tried to pull up one more carrot for Mrs. Weasley.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had witnessed the capture of this gnome, Jade was crouching on a patch of earth in the garden, Fred was next to her and showing her how to pull up the carrots without hurting herself. Just as Jade grabbed onto one of the carrot leaves a gnome came out of nowhere and bit her hand. Harry had a feeling it was attracted to the ring she wore since it bit her right hand. Jade pulled her hand away with a yell and Fred tackled the little creature.
Jade and Fred didn't use this gnome as an ornament for the tree, instead they showed the gnome what they did to the other one and then let it go. For fear of getting painted gold and stuffed in a tutu the gnome ran and disappeared in less than a few seconds.
After the incidental dinner an owl arrived landing on the just cleaned table. The handsome tawny looked at Jade and stuck out his leg. Jade took the letter and the owl left and went on his way. Jade opened the letter and began to read it after a moment she dropped the letter on the table and sank to the floor. Then she placed her face in her hands and Harry heard the distinct sound of sobbing. Fred snatched the letter and he began to read it out loud,
'Dear Miss Williams,
Just last week we a young man who was mixing antidotes made a mixture that has been proven to heal many poisons, all of them deadly and slow acting. The antidote was tested on many other poisons and it has also proven to heal those as well. Miss Williams we have…'
Fred trailed off and he took a shuddering breath and then continued his voice shaky,
'We have found a cure for the poison that was issued to you during that fateful Quidditch match.'
Silence followed only broken by Jade's sobs. Fred got down on one knee, put his right hand under Jade's chin and lifted her head to look her in the eyes.
"I never thought that they would find an antidote." She whispered.
"All that matters is that you are going to be fine." Fred said softly. Jade smiled at him and he took her in a big hug. Fred helped Jade to her feet and said, "Come on you've just had a major shock you should go lie down for a while."
XXX
Over the next few days Jade was more full of life than she had ever been. When she and Fred had tried to release the little golden gnome he promptly bit them both on the ankle and then scurried off out of sight. Instead of getting angry at the gnome both Fred and Jade started laughing about it as they wondered what the other gnomes would do once they saw him.
The day before they had to go back to school Jade and Fred were outside the gate. George had already disapperated and Fred was going to join him at the shop in a few minutes. When he and Jade hugged each other to say goodbye Jade had a piece of folded parchment in her hands. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley saw her open the parchment and read it. Jade face went from happy to angry. Though they couldn't hear what they were saying from the window they could tell that Jade and Fred had begun a heated argument.
Ron followed by Harry, Hermione and reluctantly Mrs. Weasley made their way to the door and opened it,
"How dare you lie to me!" Jade had shouted
"I have no idea what you are talking about!" Fred shouted back, they were both red in the face.
"Then how do you explain this!" Jade brandished the letter
"I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THAT IS!" The argument was becoming more intense.
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! I THOUGHT I KNEW YOU, BUT NOW I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!" A moment of charged silence followed, but then Fred walked out past the gate, turned on his heel and disappeared.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley could see that there were tears on Jade's face. After another charged moment Jade hit her knees and she began to sob her long black hair falling into her face. Immediately Hermione pushed past Harry and Ron and ran to Jade, she put a reassuring arm around Jade. Jade looked at Hermione, they hugged each other as Jade sobbed into Hermione's shoulder. Mrs. Weasley looked confused, but Harry and Ron knew why Jade was so upset and just like they promised they weren't going to say anything about Jade's heat being broken by her best friend.