A week later, and no reply had come to Harry from Donna, and he was becoming a bit angry at the silent treatment he was receiving. He still waited for Jess every morning, and enjoyed her company at the table during breakfast. That morning, once the mail arrived, Harry received a short letter from Rose, and showed it to Jess.
"What does 'duck and cover, Donna's going to Howl' mean?"
Jess paled and pointed at a large falcon that just arrived and was flying towards the front table with a red envelope in its beak. "Auntie Donna sent someone a Howler" She saw it drop onto Dumbledore's lap. "Brace yourselves, Dumbledore's going to get an earful."
A few moments later everyone was looking at Dumbledore, who's face slowly lost color as everyone heard Donna's rant at a thousand times what it usually was. "I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU! SENDING HARRY TO LIVE WITH PETUNIA DRUSLEY, YOU HAVE GONE SENILE IF YOU THOUGHT EVEN FOR A MOMENT THAT SHE'D TREAT HIM LIKE FAMILY! SHE HATED ALL OF OUR KIND BECAUSE SHE WAS BLINDED BY JEALOUSY OF LILY! HELL, SEVERUS SNAPE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER CHOICE THAN HER! AND THEN... AND THEN YOU DIDN'T TELL HIM ABOUT JESSICA, HIS LITTLE SISTER! YOU KNEW THAT HE'D BE SAFE WITH US, BUT YOU LEFT HIM WITH CHILD ABUSERS SO HE WOULD FIT THE BLOODY MOLD OF THE BLOODY PERFECT FUCKING HERO! YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN BE AROUND CHILDREN, CONSIDERING EVERYTHING I HAVE JUST SAID. OH, AND BY THE WAY, DUMBLEDORE. I AM CALLING A CONVOCATION OF THE HOUSE HEIRS CONCERNING YOUR POSITION AND THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AT THIS SCHOOL. WE WILL BE ARRIVING ON ALL HALLOWS EVE AND WILL BE USING THE FOUNDER'S TOWER. IF YOU STILL HAVE A JOB AFTER THIS, I WILL BE VERYMUCH SURPRISED! IF YOU STILL HAVENT FAINTED FROM THIS, YOU'VE MORE BRAVERY THAN I GAVE YOU CREDIT. AND NOW, THERE'S SOMETHING AN OLD FRIEND OF OUR WORLD HAS TO TELL YOU, HEADMASTER."
The entire hall went quiet for a few moments before the sound of a younger man's voice said "I am disappointed in you Albus. As the first to study under Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin I must say that you no longer reflect the views of the four founders, and therefore shun you in all forms of communication for the rest of your life."
The letter then tore itself up and everyone silently went to their classes, only to find them cancelled for the day, the professors all in meetings the rest of the day. Dumbledore looked as if he'd heard a ghost from his past. Only how could the man remember? He'd been Obliviated after their adventure.
Harry started to look for Jess, but as dragged off to do Quidditch practice by Wood.
Jess walked over to the lake and sat by the dock, thinking about all of the missed events in their lives from not growing up together, all of the memories they never would be able to share, and never being a family as children. She battled her emotions for over an hour, until one single tear fell into the lake. As it fell, the last of her emotional barriers fell away and she began to cry.
When Draco came looking for her when it was nearing lunchtime, he found her sobbing on the docks. He quietly sat down beside Jess and pulled her into his arms to comfort her. She buried her face in his robes as she continued to cry. She wasn't even aware that she was holding onto Draco, and he was mildly surprised that he didn't mind comforting the small, fiery red haired Gryffindor even if she was a Half-Blood, and according to his father unsuitable for a Pureblood like himself. Once he realized this as the sun set, he decided damn the rules his father laid down for him ever since he was a child, he was going to be his own person and a better man than his father.
He gently carried the now sleeping Gryffindor up to the castle and slipped in before Filch could lock the door. He wandered in the general direction of Professor McGonagall's office when he met Nearly Headless Nick.
"What are you doing with Miss Potter?" Nick said as he floated by Draco.
"She fell asleep on the docks while I was comforting her. Her aunt Donna's Howler to the Headmaster probably caused her to think about all of the memories she and Potter didn't get to share." He shifted Jess's weight so his hold on her was less precarious. "Would you mind leading me to the Gryffindor commonroom? Jess is awful heavy, even if she's such a small firstie."
Nick chuckled and lead Draco through some secret passageways that lead to the Fat Lady's portrait. Draco knocked on the portrait's frame. Hermione Granger opened the door and glared at him, before squeaking in surprise "You can't come in here!" as Draco muscled his way past her into the room.
"What would you rather I do? Leave Jess outside the door? Or, leave her asleep on the dock of the Black Lake? Because her brother was forced to practice all day by Wood, he wasn't there to comfort her and I was." He gently placed her on one of the couches and put a pillow underneath her head after saying "Rippey?"
With a crack a small house elf appeared and said "Yes, Master Malfoy?"
"Would you mind getting Miss Potter a blanket and some refreshments for both me and Miss Granger?" Draco asked the elf politely, promising that he'd free his family's house-elf Dobby when he went home for the holidays.
The elf bowed low "Of course sir." He disappeared and a few moments reappeared with a blanket which he handed to Draco before leaving for the kitchens.
Hermione stood speechless as she watched Draco gently care for the sleeping Gryffindor. Before she could help it she blurted out "Why are you doing this? You're a Slytherin!"
He turned towards he with a smile and said "Once the Founder's Heirs are assembled I am going to petition for a change of House. Hopefully they will grant my request and my father will disown me."
Hermione considered what he said when Rippey re-appeared with two other elves carrying food and drinks, which they set up on one of the empty tables.
Draco pulled out a chair and let Hermione sit before he did, showing his more chivalrous side to his rival for the first time. "I do apologize for my behavior towards you and your friends last year." he poured her some pumpkin juice as he continued "I had been raised by a man that felt that blood status was everything, and I believed him."
"What made you change?"
"She did." Draco nodded towards Jess, who was still sleeping on the couch in front of the fireplace. "I met her at the end of last July at Madam Malkin's. She opened my eyes with how she considered people to be genuinely good inside unless they've proved to her otherwise." Draco shrugged and said "Maybe I'll be able to know her better once I've challenged my Sorting with the backing of the Founder's Heirs."
Hermione smiled and said "I hope you like where you're placed. You are a much nicer person than when we first met. I hope that next time you walk through the Portrait hole you will be wearing Gryffindor colors. It takes an insane amount of bravery to do what you are going to do."
"I know." Draco stood up and walked over to Jess, looking down at her "She looks so much younger when she's sleeping." He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and turned towards the portrait hole and walked out. He looked at the Fat Lady and said politely "Would you mind not telling anyone I was here? I'd rather not have to explain myself to the Head of my House."
"Of course dear. I hope that you will come by to talk to me more often."
Draco bowed "Maybe I will. Good night."
"Good night." The portrait replied as she watched Draco walk down a secret passage to his House's Common room. She had high hopes for that boy, for all the fact he'd been Sorted into Slytherin.