Cold Love || Draco Malfoy

1- The Spark of Something New

Jessica Gold had never felt more out of place. Her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime, yet here she was, three years later, still feeling like an outsider. Not that she let it show—Slytherins like Jessica didn't show weakness. At least, not in front of others.

The Great Hall buzzed with the usual morning chatter as students gathered for breakfast. The enchanted ceiling above mirrored the bleak September sky outside, heavy with dark clouds. Jessica pushed her curly blonde hair behind her ear and fiddled absentmindedly with her wand, her thoughts miles away from the conversations swirling around her.

Across the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy sat, flanked as always by Crabbe and Goyle. His sharp, features were marred by the same expression he wore daily—a smirk that never quite reached his icy gray eyes.

Most students saw him as nothing more than an arrogant bully, but Jessica had always noticed something more. Not that she was friends with Draco—far from it. They weren't even on speaking terms most of the time, save for the occasional exchange of pleasantries or when they had to work together in class. But that was enough to pique her curiosity.

"Gold, are you going to eat, or just stare at your plate until the food disappears?" Tahlia Moonstone's voice cut through Jessica's musings, her tone dripping with mockery.

Jessica's eyes flicked up to meet Tahlia's. The dark-haired girl lounged across the bench, looking as though she owned the table. Tahlia had taken it upon herself to be the unofficial queen of Slytherin—at least, when Draco wasn't around to overshadow her. Jessica had always kept her distance from the inner circle of Slytherins, preferring to observe rather than engage.

"I'm just not hungry, Moonstone," Jessica replied coolly, picking up her goblet and taking a sip of pumpkin juice. She knew better than to let Tahlia get under her skin.

"Suit yourself," Tahlia sneered before turning back to her conversation with Daphne Greengrass about the latest fashion trends in Diagon Alley.

Jessica resumed her silent contemplation, her thoughts once again drifting back to Draco. There was something in his expression this morning—something colder, more strained than usual. She'd heard whispers around the common room late at night, rumors about Draco's family, about his father's fall from grace after the incident at the Department of Mysteries. It was a topic no one dared bring up directly to him, not unless they wanted to experience his infamous temper firsthand.

But Jessica had noticed the subtle changes. Draco's already sharp tongue had grown even more venomous, and he'd been more distant lately, even with his closest friends. It was as though he carried the weight of something dark—something he didn't want anyone else to see.

Suddenly, the scraping of benches signaled the end of breakfast. Students rose from their seats, gathering their bags and heading toward the door. Jessica grabbed her things and followed the flow of students, her mind still preoccupied.

---

The halls of Hogwarts were alive with the usual energy as students streamed toward their morning classes. Jessica walked alone, as she usually did, her steps unhurried as she made her way to the Potions classroom in the dungeons. The flickering torches cast long shadows across the stone walls, adding to the dark, cold atmosphere that had become second nature to her.

She preferred being alone, despite how it might look to others. While most Slytherins sought out the camaraderie of their housemates, Jessica found solace in solitude. It wasn't that she disliked people—she simply found it exhausting to keep up the charade. She stole that trait from her Ravenclaw father, setting her apart from most Slytherins.