The Fox In A Snake Pit!

Not Born To Fly!~Edited October 2025

While they were enjoying Jade's singing, Draco discreetly approached Snape and asked if he could test Jade's blood to find out if she was related to his aunt. 

Snape was initially hesitant and rejected the proposal. To him, she did not resemble any of the pure-blood families he recognized. However, his skepticism quickly faded when he witnessed Jade's astonishing display of wandless magic. He was particularly impressed by the subtle power she exhibited and her ability to transform the stone into a living creature with such precision. This remarkable feat made him reconsider and agree to Draco's request, as it suggested a potential link between Jade and the greatest enemy in the wizarding world. 

"The last time I saw someone perform wandless magic at such a young age was Lord Voldemort," Snape thought to himself. "I suppose I could check her blood status first—if it turns out she isn't a pure-blood, then the matter is settled." He watched as Draco approached Jade, who had started to walk towards the castle.

~ A Week and a Half Later~

After engaging in several discussions with Harry and Ron, Jade came to a realization. She didn't have any particular issues with Harry, finding him to be reasonably smart and generally pleasant. 

However, her feelings towards Ron were entirely different. She didn't merely have a dislike for him; she outright hated him. She saw him as nothing more than an obnoxious, incompetent, and foolish boy. Furthermore, his rude comments about her to Harry and Hermione showed that he simply disliked her for being a Slytherin. To make matters worse, the Weasley boy had a dreadful smell, which she found unbearable. 

Still, first-year Slytherins only took Potions alongside the Gryffindors, so Jade didn't have to suffer Ron's presence much. That was until they discovered a notice in the Slytherin common room that made everyone groan in unison—Flying lessons were scheduled to kick off on Thursday, and, to everyone's surprise, students from Gryffindor and Slytherin would be learning together. 

Jade was not pleased with this arrangement at all. She had already expressed her dislike for Ron, and now she would have to share a flying lesson with him. "Oh, fantastic," she scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Just what I always wanted—to make an absolute fool of myself in front of the entire school." She glared at the notice, her pale blue eyes narrowing. 

In contrast, Daphne, the voice of reason, attempted to calm her down. "You won't know until you give it a shot," she said, her voice gentle. "Besides, you might actually be good at it." 

Jade shot her a skeptical look, but her friend's words offered a sliver of comfort. 

"Plus, if Weasley is as skilled on a broom as he is with his wand, you really have nothing to worry about," Draco smirked, leaning against the common room wall. His eyes glinted with mischief as he watched Jade's expression shift from irritation to reluctant amusement. She huffed, smoothing her robes, but the tension in her shoulders eased slightly. The prospect of Ron's inevitable clumsiness did offer a dark sort of comfort. 

"Perhaps..." she murmured, already plotting the satisfaction of outmaneuvering him midair. Thankfully, though, Daphne and Draco just let it go without any further comment. 

~

On Thursday at breakfast, Hermione bored the first-years with flying tips she had come across in a library book named Quidditch Through the Ages. 

Neville hung on her every word, eager for any advice that might help him remain on his broomstick later. Everyone else was relieved when Hermione's lecture was interrupted by the arrival of the post.