Harry Potter and The Jade Dragon

Chapter 14 ~ Yu-Lin's Revenge

Shan was very quiet and subdued over the next few days. Robert was right; she didn't seem to want to talk to him; they sat at separate places in class, and would go their own ways after that. Ron and Hermione, of course, were wondering what had happened, but the others didn't seem surprised.

"It happens," said Fatty placidly. "When you spend so much time together, you're bound to have some disagreement. They'll patch up in a day or two, wait and see. I've seen it happen before."

Shan seemed depressed and rather lost, without Robert around. She was used to doing her homework with him, and asking him for help whenever she didn't understand something. Harry tried to keep her company as Robert had suggested, though he could hardly think of anything comforting to say. She didn't seem to mind him being around, anyway, and he would sometimes do his homework together with her, or accompany her to the Caverns, staying outside while she went in to talk to the dragons.

One day after Care of Magical Creatures, he stayed to wait for her, because she wanted to talk to Chen-Kang about something. Ron stayed back as well, since Pixie had gone off for one of her classes. To Harry's annoyance, Malfoy, instead of disappearing with Yu-Lin as he usually did, saw them and came over to bother them, an annoying smile on his pointed face.

"So ... Potty and the Weasel have both found girlfriends," he said softly, looking at them, his pale eyes narrowing. He glanced at Shan, in the distance. "But she's a plain Jane, isn't she, Potter – compared to the previous one."

Harry glared at him. "What are you talking about?"

Malfoy smirked.

"Your previous crush, Potter," he drawled, a sly gleam in his eyes, "remember – the one who turned you down for the Ball?" He flicked another glance at Shan. "She's a poor second, isn't she, Potter? But I suppose that's the best that you can do."

Harry was furious. How had Malfoy found out about Cho? Cho's friends must have seen Harry asking her to the Yule Ball, and blabbed about it to everyone.

"Shut up, Malfoy," said Ron, seeing that Harry was too angry to speak, "Speak for yourself – no one'd ever look at you. How much did you bribe Pug-nosed Parkinson, to get her to go with you?"

"She's better than that cheap little piece of trash that you're with, Weasley," retorted Malfoy coolly. "Better send her for a check-up before you do anything serious with her, in case you catch something from her – I hear she's had countless other flings before."

Harry held Ron back, because Chen-Kang could see them, and Crabbe and Goyle were coming toward them together with Yu-Lin. Shan had also finished with Chen-Kang, and was coming over. Malfoy, aware that she could probably set the dragons on him if she wanted to, gave one last smirk and left.

"Is something wrong?" asked Shan, coming up to them.

Harry felt his face going red.

"It's nothing," he mumbled, finding himself unable to meet her eyes, "Just Malfoy being his usual nauseating self."

Ron was fuming, and his face was even redder than Harry's.

"Piece of trash, indeed," he spluttered, "That Parkinson – not that they're together, anyway – is always reading all those porn periodicals – " He saw Shan looking at him, startled, and broke off. He stomped off, muttering angrily to himself, leaving the other two to catch up with him.

Harry looked at Ron, rather worried, as they started to follow him.

"Was Malfoy talking about Xiao-Yan?" asked Shan, also watching Ron. She looked at Harry's face. "You're not worried about him, are you?"