Fraises et chocolat (English version)

Chapter 9

Pov Jane

How could I? Losing control like this, in front of Malfoy. How could I have? It wasn't like me, it was definitely not like me. Everything I was going through at that time, those strange words from Malfoy, had led me to become someone else and to respond too impulsively. I left the conversation upset and it wasn't long before Harry noticed my discomfort. At first he ignored it and spent the rest of the day examining my behavior. When, shortly before dinner, he asked me to sit next to him, in the dim light of the candles and the fireplace, I was not surprised.
He seemed undecided as to how to initiate the conversation until he turned awkwardly to me. Apparently he opted for a simple: "Jane, are you okay?" "Yes, I'm fine. Just a little hungry," I replied, giggling. He remained serious and stared at me insistently. "No Jane, today, after you talked to Malfoy, you were sad all day. If he did something to you, you have to tell me. It will take me less than two seconds to make that air of superiority disappear." His words were harsh and full of anger and yet they made me smile. He moved me to see how he cared about me, how he was ready to protect me.
"No, no. Malfoy didn't hurt me. I'm alone. No, no, don't worry. Really, don't worry about me." I don't know why I said that, I didn't want to give him any more thoughts, didn't I just want to tell him about the evening spent in Malfoy's company?
"Jane, listen, we've been best friends since we were eleven. You don't have to be scared to tell me if you're sick. Please, if something's wrong tell me because I can't think of standing here and doing nothing knowing you're not well. No, not really. "
I sighed. "Okay Harry, okay. The fact is that this tournament thing, the dragons, you and Ron stubborn as two pumpkins so much that we can't even talk to each other or stand in the same place, you who will soon have to risk your life, for the 'umpteenth time, all this is exasperating me. I live every day with the fear that you will be torn to pieces by a huge dragon in just under two weeks. And then Hermione and I are trying in every way but you and Ron, it seems like you do it on purpose. It's terrible for us to see you like this, apart, it never happened and, I don't know ... I'm just tired "
I didn't notice that I had been holding my head in my hands and that I had raised, even if slightly, my tone of voice. Harry looked at me guilty. He knew I was partly so stressed out because of him, even though I never intended to blame him. I understood that he was thinking about this; that he was silently blaming himself in his head. "Oh, no Harry, that's not what I mean. I don't mean it's your fault, just that I'm more thoughtful these days than usual. But it's not your fault, Harry."
He looked at me sadly. "No, you're right, sorry. I never think about it. I never think that, as I am nervous about the challenges, you are too. But I promise you it will be fine, at the end of the test I will be in better shape than now" . I wasn't sure if he said what he said to console me or if he did it to convince himself that the proof would actually go well, but I was grateful for that response from him nonetheless. He didn't talk about Ron I decided not to insist. Harry started to get up thinking I was done but I held him back.
"Wait Harry, I have to tell you one thing, another, and it's about Malfoy" he looked surprised and stopped to listen intently. "You know the night of the party? I was actually with Malfoy when I disappeared. But listen, don't jump to conclusions." I said seeing him agitated. "I was drunk and I had lost you. He saw me throwing up and he helped me and he even offered to bring me back and stayed with me until I fell asleep. He did it because he didn't want to stay there. , to celebrate. You see his ex was there and apparently he didn't want to see her, or so Hailey told me. " I spoke quickly without taking a breath and trying to sum it all up, but sounding credible. Harry was angry, but confusion was probably taking over in him. "You. Malfoy... what? Oh, dear, Jane. Why didn't you tell me?" "Well, because I thought you'd be angry and actually."
"Of course I'm angry, but not with you, I can't be angry with you. Just, if it happens again, tell me ok? And did Malfoy try to do something to you? I mean-"
"But please Harry, what could he have done? ? He barely spoke to me. Except that since that night he's strange, more than usual, as if sometimes he's less Malfoy "
" Malfoy less Malfoy. Shall we talk about the same person? "
"But yes Harry, don't you see him? In this last period he is unexpectedly calming down. I don't know why but surely it's better this way"
"Are you trying to defend him?" he asked me looking at me as if he could set me on fire instantly. "Harry, please, you too know that I would never take his defense. If you pay more attention to it, you too will notice, trust me"
"Jane, I don't trust. I mean, yes, I trust you but not Malfoy. Before we talk about him like that, it's better to see what his intentions are, "he told me between resigned and annoyed. "What did he tell you today?" he cut him short. He was angry.
"He thought I fell in love with him. I don't know how he came to think such a thing but he wanted, in his own way, to clarify"
Harry looked shocked, anger was assaulting him. I knew that if the snake were there, with us, at that moment, he would not hesitate to beat it. He stood up and screamed at me. "But that's not true. You can't. You're not in love with Malfoy, are you?" he said with a note of fear in his voice and staring eyes turned in my direction. "Calm down Harry. Nothing happened. And no I'm not, I couldn't," she replied in exasperation; now I too had risen to my feet and tried to calm him down. "The fact is that you and Malfoy should calm down. You can't continue fighting each other like two children, at least not now." I threw myself dead weight back into the chair but he remained standing.
He looked at me annoyed, aware, however, that I was actually right. Now we were all focused on the tournament and there was no room for anything else. "I don't know Jane. It's a matter of principle. I hate him and he hates me, end of story. Then after what he told you how can I look at him without wanting to break his face?"
"Think how you want it Harry but know that one day you will grow up and you will be forced to put a stop to all this." I was surprised at my own words. Since when was I against the daily clash that existed between our group and that of the snakes? I do not know, but I could not withdraw the words now said and thus made Harry more upset than he already was and with no valid arguments to argue with. "We better get moving if we don't want to miss dinner," he said suddenly, in a vague attempt to ease the tension, giving me a crooked smile.
"Yes we go". I smiled back.
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Authors space
Sorry for the wait, here we are again with a new chapter :P Don't forget the star✨