Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Jade and Emma's Story

Chapter 5

Jade walked down the hall, bored and wondering if she should go hang out in the library to pass time. "Jade!"

She turned around to see two Gryffindors walking close behind her. "Oh hey, Emma. Hermione."

Hermione gave her a friendly nod, and Emma grinned widely. "What are you up to?"

Jade shrugged. "Nothing."

"Come with us!" Emma immediately suggested, running up to grab Jade's hand. "We're going to watch Ro- the Gryffindor Quidditch practice."

"Okay," Jade replied simply. It beat wandering the halls or sitting in the library under the close watch of Madam Pince.

She followed the Gryffindor girls to the Quidditch pitch, where she was hit by a small gust of wind. She shivered, her sweater thin and her body small and easily chilled. Emma looked down and frowned. "Do you not have your robes or anything?" Jade shook her head and smiled sheepishly. "Here." Emma handed her red and gold gloves and a scarf.

"Don't you need these?" Jade asked in concern.

Emma shook her head. "The scarf is an extra and I can put my hands in my robes. Its fine - plus you're so small I'm worried you'll freeze right through."

Jade laughed a little, and Emma raised an eyebrow. "What?" she questioned while putting on the Gryffindor accessories.

The other girl shrugged. "I've never heard you laugh before."

They made their way to the stands, and Jade watched eagerly as the Gryffindor team came out to the pitch - she saw who she was looking for, walking next to the boy with flaming hair.

"What's that Weasley's riding?" Jade stiffened when she heard the familiar sneering drawl. "Why would anyone put a Flying Charm on a moldy old log like that?" She looked up to see the Slytherin Quidditch team halfway up the stands, along with a few others Jade recognized vaguely. Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson - one girl Jade absolutely detested - were laughing hysterically at Malfoy's jab.

"Great," she hissed under her breath as they walked up the steps.

Emma's face was scarlet as she screamed at Draco, "Shut it, *" with a foul name Jade didn't dare to repeat.

Malfoy only laughed at her insult. "Oh, the Mudbloods are getting more courageous the more we see them. Must be that nasty, Gryffindor charm." His eyes suddenly found Jade, who he must have overlooked because of the Gryffindor color on her neck and hands. They narrowed instantly, and he started towards them, flying down the stairs.

Emma's hand fluttered to her cloak, hovering over her wand but hesitating as Draco didn't have his drawn. "What's he doing?" she hissed.

"Baem," he said darkly, grabbing Jade's wrist as soon as he was in front of them.

"Hey," Emma snapped, grabbing Jade's shoulder. "Let go. And stop making fun of Ron!"

"Why are you so obsessed with Weaselby, Mudblood?"

Emma flashed him an obscene gesture, "Malfoy, I swear -"

Draco held up a hand. "Save your breath I don't pay attention to your meaningless words anyway. Come on, Baem."

He began dragging her away, and Jade mouthed an apology to her friends. Emma asked her if she wanted help through her eyes, but Jade just shook her head in defeat He'd only get worse if she struggled. He didn't let go even as they stood within the mass of jeering Slytherins, instead he swiveled her around to face him. "I almost took you for one of them," he growled, forcefully tearing the scarf from her neck and throwing it on the ground.