Decree No.29 (O.C) Fred Weasley/ Draco Malfoy

The Deal

The journey to Kings Cross was a lonely one.

The other students from Grimmauld Place took the Night Bus earlier that morning, accompanied by the Aurors of the Order, but Jessica was not invited to go the same way. She didn't mind; she had to have a lie-in and leave later without a rush, but waking up in a nearby empty house without its energetic inhabitants felt oddly eerie.

Jessica had a rough time sleeping the night before, spending hours twisting and turning in her bedsheets. Every time she got close to drifting off, another replay of the evening flashed in her mind, making her wide awake again. Fred had not realised what he had done to her; he had given her a taste of bliss before giving her a decision that wasn't hers. Throughout the night, she wanted to go upstairs to see him, but every time, she stopped herself after remembering that it would be a mistake.

He didn't hate her, and she decided that was enough. His anger was one less thing to worry about, and now that he was neutral, space could be freed in her mind for other things.

Mrs Weasley volunteered to drop Jessica off in the taxi, but when they arrived at the station, she didn't get out after being told by the Order not to accompany Jessica to the platform. As usual, it was more about eyebrows being raised through association than Jessica's well-being.

"Now, have a safe journey," said Mrs Weasley as Jessica got out of the taxi, handing her back the wand that Sirius had taken from her. "Don't worry; Arthur and I will talk some sense into the boys before the summer holidays. By boys, we mean Remus and Sirius, of course."

Jessica giggled as she grabbed the handle to her trunk but was a bit confused, she didn't quite get what she meant.

"Oh, you haven't realised?" Mrs Weasley said, noticing her expression, "We do believe you, of course, about everything. We just haven't been able to tell you before now."

Jessica's heart filled up with joy.

"You do?" she asked as the taxi man closed his door, ready to pull away again.

"Of course!" Mrs Weasley responded like it was obvious. "Why do you think we visited you three times a day? We wouldn't let one of our children be alone because of others' ignorance!"

The driver put the gear in first and pulled away, making Mrs Weasley shut her door frantically. Jessica hurriedly grinned and waved goodbye as Mrs Weasley pulled herself together and did the same. She watched the car disappear back into London City, and once again, she was alone, but she knew she wasn't.

They believed her. Those who she admired most thought her. She was almost at half the order now, and once Bill and Tonks got proof that her necklace was of legend, she was sure there would be no more doubt from the rest of them.

Newly energised by Mrs Weasley's admission, Jessica started striding through Kings Cross. She gave herself a pep talk as she pulled her trunk towards platform 9, telling herself that she knew what to expect this time and was prepared for the hurdles she would face.

This was going to be her term.

She had barely stepped through the passageway to Platform 9 & 3/4 when-

"There she is!"

"Hey-ow fuck!"

Jessica was now staring at the train platform ceiling, having been knocked to the ground by a bouncing blur of thick black hair. She laughed as she cradled her friend and grinned, playfully nudging him in the ribs to make him get off her.

"Sorry, he wanted to look like an idiot. Who am I to stop him when he does it so effortlessly?" said Pansy Parkinson as she strutted into view. A large smirk was on her face as her new full-length cloak floated around her ankles.