Chapter 26:

Third Year Begins

"Jessa? Are you in there?" a rap at the door came quickly.

Draco turned the door handle and saw his friend sitting quietly on the bed. He moved to sit on the edge next to her. She wouldn't face him.

"I have to ask – why are you so surprised?"

She shook her head gently. "I'm not surprised to find your father supported Vol – sorry –You-Know-Who. I already knew that. I just…I suppose I hadn't really thought about his followers. But to see what they were doing to those Muggles, those not ideal in their minds…Draco, if I wasn't with you, that could have been me."

Her voice pitched a bit at the end. She was scared, he realized with a jolt.

"I wouldn't let that happen to you."

"And if I was in Gryffindor like my brother? If you disliked me as much as you do him? Our parents were on opposite sides of the war. They probably fought against each other."

Draco didn't have a response for that, except to run a hand through his growing blond hair.

"You don't have to like my father. But please, Jessa…don't push me away."

The rest of the summer seemed to pass in slow motion. The air was considerably different then before the World Cup; it was full of tension, and Jessa almost wished she were back at the Dursleys. At least there, she knew how to play the game.

She felt silly for simply accepting the offer – especially knowing Mr. Malfoy was less than thrilled with their friendship. Still, as cold as the man could be, she was still treated better here than she would have been at her relatives'. She couldn't deny that. Nor could she deny how much she liked spending time alone with her friend. He was…different when it was just them. Something she knew she needed to stop ignoring.

"Thank you again for letting me stay with you, Mrs. Malfoy," Jessa said, facing the Malfoy Matriarch.

"You're very welcome. Hopefully we'll see you again soon."

Well, at least one out of the two Malfoy parents seemed to like her.

Draco had told her he'd meet her – that his father wanted to speak with him. So she dragged her trunk towards the train. It was heavier than she'd previously thought.

"Need some help with that, little snake?" a voice asked from behind her and Jessa turned to find the Weasley twins looking down at her.

"Yes, please," she replied, breathing a sigh of relief.

"So…how creepy was the Malfoys' place?"

Her brow furrowed, before realization hit her. "Harry told you."

They nodded. She rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. It was fine."

Fred snorted. "That's the best word you can come up with for the giant Manor of Darkness? 'fine'?"

"I'm okay. How was your summer?"

"Fine," they answered in unison with a shrug, making her laugh. They helped her onto the train, before leaving her to find one of their own yearmates. She walked down the train corridor alone, only having to travel a short distance before she found the compartment with her brother in it.

She knocked on the door and the trio looked up.

"Can I sit with you?"

Hermione immediately moved to sit next to Ron as Harry moved over to make room for his sister. Before anyone could ask, she interrupted,

"I'm fine. Truly. I wasn't hurt."

Harry looked like he didn't quite believe her – but also knew not to push the topic too much.

"Were you alone with them for long?"

He shook his head. "Under a week. It wasn't that bad," he said. "And you should have been there for when Mr. Weasley came to get me. The twins came along."

She snorted. "I can imagine."

Finally, the Hogwarts Express arrived at the grand school. Slowly, Jessa pulled herself off the train and into a carriage, before methodically moving into the Great Hall and taking a seat at her house's table.

She picked at the small plate of food. Adrian noticed from down the table, and raised an eyebrow at his younger sister, who just shook her head. She didn't know what was wrong with her friend. Though, from the glances Malfoy was giving her when he thought he was being discreet, it had something to do with him.

Of course it did.

Jessa tried to pay attention when the headmaster began to speak, but she couldn't quite manage it, simply continuing to pick at the food until Taryn nudged her, linking her arm through her friend's on their way back to the dormitory.

Even if she had missed the headmaster's welcome (back) speech, there was no way she was able to miss all of the chatter everywhere about the school that night and in the coming week. Hogwarts was to host the legendary Tri-Wizard Cup: a competition between three wizarding schools to find who the "bravest of them all" was…or something along those lines. It meant two other European wizarding schools would have students arriving within the month and would be lodging (and learning) at Hogwarts.

Tentatively, Jessa approached her head of house's desk as he dismissed their class.

"Professor? Can I talk to you a moment?"

Snape looked up at one of his favourite students and nodded once.

"I know that third-years and up are allowed permission to attend Hogsmeade. Is there any way Harry would be allowed to sign for that permission? My aunt and uncle never will."

"No. He's underage. Therefore, he cannot sign on your parents' behalf. Only your legal guardian can."

"So even you, as my head of house, can't? I mean, you, the school, you're my guardians while I'm here, right?"

"We are," he agreed. "But that does not allow us to make legal decisions regarding decisions like field trips." He paused for a moment. "I am sorry, Miss Potter."

She just nodded sadly. "It's okay, Professor. Thank you."

"Alright. What did he do?"

Jessa looked up a week later to find Blaise Zabini sliding into the seat across from her. She quickly ducked her head again.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Malfoy. You and he are at odds. So, what did he do?"

"Nothing. But I hadn't realized…no one had told me just how bad it was…no one had told me about Death Eaters."

"Ah. The World Cup, yeah?"

She nodded.

"You know he wouldn't have let anything happen to you, yeah? He cares about you."

"I'm a Potter. My mother was muggle-born. I'm muggle-raised. I'm fairly certain I'm on their 'hit-list'."

"Probably," he agreed. "But you're in Slytherin and friends with Malfoy of all people. You may not want to admit it, but that is going to help you. Draco may agree with them, but he isn't one of them."

"I know. It just got…well, awkward to say the least those last few weeks."

"Mr. Malfoy doesn't like many people. Especially children. I wouldn't take it personally. He's like that with almost everyone – Draco included."

Jessa just nodded softly to show she understood.

"Did Draco tell you what Mr. Malfoy spoke to him about right before we left?"

"No. But it doesn't surprise me that Mr. Malfoy called him into his office, nor would it surprise me anymore if Draco didn't exactly follow his father's demands."

"Why?"

"Why? Because of you."

"Blaise, I'm getting tired of this. Just say what you mean."

"What I mean is, I have never seen Draco Malfoy show as much care for someone – or something – as he does for you. Certainly not openly. I know it isn't easy. But let him in. Besides – the two of you being at odds is causing the rest of us issues. Just make up already."

Jessa rolled her eyes but smiled anyway.

"Thank you."