A/N: Thirdd chapter! And WOO! ASH! But yeah, REVIEW! :) (I'll give you a cookie...)

A few hours later I woke, oddly finding myself on my bed, shirtless and under the covers. I couldn't remember getting into bed, but I must have. I could still feel the spots on my cheeks where tears had dried up. Damn it. I was such a sissy... What 16-year-old boy cries? Especially me? What the fuck was I, drunk?

Extremely annoyed with myself I stood and stretched, spreading my arms out to either side. The room was dark, only a sliver of light coming through the curtains. I walked over to the window and pulled them open. The second I did, bright radiance flooded the room, filling every spot with midday sunshine. Yippee.

I turned and rubbed my eyes once more, about to head off to the loo. Stopping dead set, I turned, a noise coming from below. Did the door downstairs actually just close? I ran to the window to peak, and sure enough the wanker was outside, walking with her toward the road. They were talking with someone, someone who obviously owned the large limo in front of the pave-way. Bloody brilliant. Were they really that stupid? I waited a bit longer, and sure enough they got into the car. And then it drove off.

Heart racing with that pure taste of freedom I ran to my bag (you know, the one I kept hidden under my bed should my parents ever find it) and pulled out my mobile, dialing the first number I ever learnt.

They were gone. My parents had left, and I was home alone. Could they really be so dumb? I had the entire house to myself now...and I could do anything I pleased. Well, for a few hours at least.

"Hello?" a girl's voice came from the other end, innocently high. I grinned widely and looked out the window, picturing her sitting on her bed right now.

"Prats left." I said simply, smile still wide on my face. I was never so happy to hear her voice. The shriek that followed wasn't exactly her "indoor voice" and I had to pull my mobile away. Far far away from my ear.

"JAKE!" she yelled, obviously sounding as happy as I felt. I laughed. "Merlin, you had me bloody worried! Stupid git, are you alright? Was he mad? I got your letter but you didn't help! If anything you made me more nervous to what the hell was going on! To hell that you were laughing, tell me right now what-"

"ASH." I said, stopping her. I laughed and sat down in my desk chair, moving from the window. "Calm down will you? I'm bloody fine...you worry to much."

"Oh forgive me, it's been a week. Can you hear me rolling my eyes? Because I am." she said, obvious sarcasm in her voice. "But good that you're alright...Merlin, I thought they'd kill you or something."

I forced a small laugh in reply, and nodded, even though I knew she couldn't see it. "Yeah, yeah, well close... Kidding. Really, Ash, I'm fine. Just thought I'd call you."

"Darn right you did. Wait...how can you call me? I couldn't even write to you because of some crap about your parents seeing."

"Yeah, well, I didn't want to piss 'em off more than I had." I said, glancing toward the window again. "They, er, left though. Yeah, so I'm probably good for a few hours. I just really needed to hear you're voice. You have no idea how boring it is."

As if she hadn't heard a single other word I'd said, Ashley asked one thing. "They're gone? Like they aren't home?"

"Um, yes." I said, figuring I knew what was coming. Oh Merlin, no.

"I'm coming over. Be there in five." she said without a seconds pause. I could hear shuffling in the back, and a zipper going up.

"ASHLEY, NO." I suddenly said fiercely, standing up. She seemed to stop moving.

"What, why not? I thought you wanted to see me!"

"Well, I do but-Ash they could be back any second, you aren't coming. They'd kill me."

I felt as if I could hear her roll her eyes again. "You just said we had hours! So what's a short visit? Five minutes, I swear, Jake! Do you not want to see me or something?"

"No, no that isn't it." I muttered, picking up the hurt in her voice. Damn girls. "Look, Ash I called to talk. You can't come over, okay? I love you and all, but you can't."

"Why then?" she asked, sounding seriously hurt this time. "Tell me why."

I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Because, okay? Can you just trust me?"

"No! Give me a reason!" she repeated stubbornly. Did she always have to do this? "Jake you have five seconds or I'm coming over there. Five. Four. Three-"

"Ashley STOP IT." I said seriously, words coming out a bit more harsher than necessary. "I told you no, so-"

"See you." BEEP. I stared down at my mobile in shock, wondering if she seriously had just hung up on me. What the hell? If she thought she was coming over here, she was dead. Oh bloody CRAP. She was, wasn't she?

I re-dialed her number furiously, getting voicemail every time. What the heck was she thinking? Didn't girls ever listen? I wanted to talk for Merlin's sake, not have her come over! I looked around my room quickly, looking for something to slip on. Grabbing a muggle sweatshirt I pulled it over my head, leaving the hood up. I brushed down my fringe and rolled my eyes, pissed off she was making me do this.

Seconds later I could hear the front door downstairs opening and I cursed, throwing my bedroom door open. Had my parents actually not charmed the fucking door? Well then again, there had been a muggle there... Not the point. I hurried down the stairs, hoping to stop her before she came up.

"Ash-" I started, seeing her as she walked toward the stairs. She looked up and a huge grin spread over her face. I stopped, wanting nothing more now than to kiss her. I hadn't seen her in what felt like forever. She started coming up the stairs and I snapped back into reality, taking a few steps up.

"Ashley, no, wait, stop." I said hurriedly. She looked up in confusion.

"What the heck, why?" Ash asked, taking another step up. I took one back.

"Um, because, I'm sick..." I said stupidly. Coughing loudly I held my elbow to my mouth to prove the point. "You have to leave."

"Oh, right out lie, Jake! What is up with you? Stop it, already!"

I swallowed and moved up again, holding out a hand in front of me. "Really, no. Look, a different day, okay? Ash, please."

She looked up strangely at me and shook her head. "What is up with you? And what are you doing in a sweatshirt? It's summer and like, 95 outside."

I sighed and pushed my hand out again. "I TOLD you I was sick."

"And I told you that was a fat out lie." Ashley glared at me, getting that stubborn determined look. Oh hell I hated that look. We stared at each other for a few seconds, and then, before I knew it, she was racing up the stairs into my arms. Ashley's hands wrapped around my neck and I was pulled down into a kiss, one I couldn't help but respond to. Merlin, I bloody missed that.

After a few moments she finally pulled away and I grinned stupidly, leaning down to kiss her again. Before I could though she reached up and pulled the sweater off my head, pressing her lips together when she saw I wasn't wearing a shirt.

"Ohhh, whoops." she joked, throwing the jumper to the floor. "Now I get the sweatshirt."

I swore mentally, but she didn't seem to notice it. I grinned forcefully, and nodded. "Yeah...but really, you should probably get going before my 'rents get back. You know, not that I don't love you being here. But...yeah."

Ashley rolled her eyes and moved up onto the landing so she was a step higher than me, making her about an inch taller. "We'll be fine...I promise." she said, and kissed me once more. It was gentle and sweet, and it was everything I loved her for. I didn't protest, and I kissed her back, wrapping my arms around her waist. She ran a hand through my hair, her palm coming dangerously close to my forehead. I started feeling conscious about it, and when she hit it-

I gasped in pain and stepped back from her, putting a palm to the gash on my forehead. It still hurt because it hadn't been treated properly. I had no idea how to do muggle first aid. I had no idea if it was infected or whatever. All I knew was that it hurt.

Ashley's eyes went wide, and she moved closer to me, trying to push away my hair to forehead. I pushed her hand away but she persisted, finally succeeding in grabbing my hand and pushing my bangs up. A small gasp escaped her lips.

"What the heck happened to you?" she exclaimed, looking at my forehead seriously. I pushed her hand away again and went back up onto the landing, so I was once again taller.

"I'm fine," I said, brushing it off. "I fell."

She looked at me skeptically, and I could feel her eyes on my face. Ashely slowly reached out to touch my cheek where a cut ran along side it. I pushed her hand away again once more.

"Ash. Stop." I said, narrowing my eyes. She frowned, but once again tried to reach up.

"You just fell? Where?" Ashley asked, concern clear in her voice. And disbelief.

"Um, stairs. Look, seriously, I'm fine. Let's get something to eat, 'kay?"

Ashley crossed her arms. "You wanted me to leave a second ago."

"Well-look do what you want." I muttered, self defensive now. Damn it. Like really, just why the hell did she have to bud into everything?

"Look, Jake I just wanna hel-"

"I know you do, okay?" I asked, once again to harsh. I sighed and closed my eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm just...stressed. Just stop freaking out over me. I can take care of myself. Just stop."

Ashley looked at me for a while, still frowning. Finally, she opened her mouth to speak. A soft voice came out.

"Why didn't someone heal it?" she asked.

I looked at her confused for a second before shaking my head. "What?"

"You're cut. Why didn't someone heal it?"

I glanced away, once again feeling self conscious. "I don't know...I didn't want to ask for help, alright?"

Slowly, she stepped forward. I didn't shove her away this time. Ashley lifted her hand and touched me cheek, following bruises down my neck. When she looked back up at me I could have sworn her eyes were shining.

"What happened." she whispered. "And tell me the truth."

I sighed, still stubborn about it, and looked away. "Don't cry on me Ash, seriously."

"What happened." she repeated.

I sighed and looked back at her. I swallowed at the sigh of her face, her eyes, and the look of fear I could see. I shrugged. "I got into a little fight with my Dad. No big deal."

Tears literally started to fill her eyes, and Ashley looked like she might break into sobs any second. "It is a big deal." she whispered, "He freaking...hurt you, Jake."

I looked away once more, my gaze now a glare. I didn't want her feeling sorry for me. At all.

"Stop it, okay?" I muttered. "I don't care. I'm fine." I wanted to say I was used to it, that I grew up with this, but that was really the last thing she needed to hear.

I could feel her watching me, and it was making me more uncomfortable by the second. "That isn't right." Ashley said, voice quiet again. "I'm telling my father...he has to do something. Jake that's horrible!"

"No." I said fiercely, turning back to her. "It's sweet that you care, but you CAN'T." My voice was firm, and I looked toward her directly as I talked. "I'd be in more trouble than I am now. Ashley, SWEAR to me you won't tell a soul."

She stared back at me and said nothing, so I repeated myself, telling her to swear. Once again she stared back. Finally she shook her head.

"Jake, I can't-"

"YES YOU CAN." I growled, dead serious about this now. I took her hands in mind and looked at her with all the sincerity I could muster. "Swear. To me. Now. No buts. Just do it Ashley. Or I swear to Merlin I'm never speaking to you again. I'll be dead before that happens."

More tears spilled over and she stared back at me, clearly debating her options.

"If you really cared you would. Swear you won't tell."

Silence followed for a few seconds before she opened her mouth to speak. "I swear I won't." she whispered, and looked down. I took her and kissed her again, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Shh, okay? I'm going to be fine." I cracked a small smile. "You worry too much."

Ashley shook her head and looked away from me. "No. Jake that isn't funny." She moved her hands from mine and crossed her arms close against her body, as if trying to comfort herself.

I sighed loudly and leaned into kiss her again. She simply moved out of my way. That better not have just killed the mood. "Oh, what? Look, I said I'm FINE. Now all of the sudden your upset with me? Just...forget it Ashley. I'm 16, a guy, and I can handle myself perfectly. I don't need some 5"7 blonde girl worrying about me."

Her head suddenly turned sharply to me and she glared. "You know, I just wanted to help you. And I get it fine if you didn't want me saying anything-well, no, I don't, but that at least I can deal with it. I get it you don't want me worrying, and you think you're fine. But you're being a right down jerk about it. If this is some crap about being able to handle yourself, and how I'm some 'girl' who shouldn't feel sorry for you, then shove it. Because I don't know if you realize this, but in the muggle world, your father could get arrested. And just because this society is a little MESSED up, and it's quite common for fathers to reprimand their children physically does NOT mean that it is alright for your father to beat you and for you to have cuts like that. It is NOT okay for there to be bruises on your neck. Jake, it looked like he tried to...you know what he did."

I glared back at her, hating when she gave me those speeches. She was right. And wrong. I could handle myself, and I didn't need her worrying. But...I guess my father trying to kill me is a bit...uncalled for. Then again, I'm sure he wouldn't have actually gone through with it. He was trying to teach me a lesson.

"Ashley. I understand how you feel, alright? I get it that you care. But this isn't about pride or being sexist or anything." Okay, so the last part wasn't exactly true, and I did feel kind of ashamed and I didn't want her help because I felt ashamed. But she didn't need to know that. "This is about my father probably killing me if he found out that you were here, or that I told you, or whatever. So he beat me. It was one time Ashley." She was staring back at me, listening to my words, and by the look on her face, not exactly liking them. "In a few months I am going to be 17 and I can find a place of my own. In one month I am going to be back in Hogwarts. In a few weeks I'm going to heal. So...it isn't the biggest deal. As long I don't run to Paris again I'm going to be FINE." Finally she looked away.

"It still isn't right." Ashley whispered after a few seconds of silence. I moved so I was in her view.

"I know. But I can deal with it, and yes, I'm going to be fine without any else's help. To you this is hell and to me this is life. So please forget about this?" I looked at her seriously, but gently, really just hoping she would drop it.

She sighed and met my eyes, nodding. "I can't forget, and I really want to just murder your parents now. Like, I'm fuming inside. But," she stopped, and took a breath, calming herself. "If this is really what you want then I won't tell anyone. Be careful though, okay?"

I leaned in and kissed her gently, before breaking away and looking at her. I smiled crookedly. "You worry to much."

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, sighing. "And you're an ass." Pushing a small smile Ashley leaned up and kissed my cheek. "But I trust that you're going to be fine." She didn't sound like she did. But it was sweet she pretended.

I grinned and made a quick peck for her lips before taking her hand and pulling her down the stairs. "Good to know. Now, let's get something to eat."