I Will Always Be Yours

Chapter 22

            Over the next week, Jilli could walk although she had to take it a little slow. She went looking for Harry after dinner. She waited outside the Gryffindor common room until finally someone came out and she asked them to go get Harry.

            Harry was shocked to see her.

            “Hello Jilli, you look great. You must be feeling a lot better.”

            “I am, but enough about me, I need a favor,” she said quickly, “I need you to tutor me on Defense Against the Dark Arts.”

            Harry just looked at her strangely.

            “Come on Harry,” Jilli pleaded, “if anyone knows the dark lords back it's you, and since I wasn't able to join the D.A. I need you to help me brush up on my spells.”

            “Well, I guess I can,” Harry said, still surprised she came to him, “but why are you wanting to do this?”

            “You know times are bad. I want to be prepared.”

            So they decided to meet after their last classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, until the end of the year or Jilli got them right.

            Jilli met with Harry out on the grounds of Hogwarts the very next day. She was very good and a fast learner. She was still having trouble with her balance and coordination after the Quidditch accident and one time she slipped down when she and Harry were attempting a Stunning spell. “Stupify,” they both shouted, when she slipped Harry's spell hit her hard and sent her flying.

            Harry ran over to her worried, trying to help her up. Jilli was laughing when he came over, infact she was laughing so hard that if Harry had not been holding her up she'd be on the ground rolling with it, “You should have seen your face,” she said between breath, “when you hit me with that spell.” they didn't realize they were being watched.

…...

            Draco had seen Jilli and Harry leave the school together after class. And he watched them now from a 3rd floor window in Hogwarts. What was she doing with Potter? He watched as they started practicing spells. She was doing really well until she had slipped and got hit full blast by Harry. Draco had to grip the window ledge to keep from flying out there and tearing Potter apart.

            Draco watched Harry go to her, helping her up and holding her. Jealous rage came over him, until he saw Jilli laughing, he hadn't seen her smile and laugh in a very long time. All the anger left him with her single smile. Jilli deserved to be happy, and if Potter could do that for her, he was willing to give her up forever.

…...

            Jilli's meetings with Harry were very productive and she had gained back full use of her legs. In three weeks time she had mastered all her spells, even her Patronus charm, which was a beautiful sleek leopard. Harry decided she had learned enough and all she needed now was to keep practicing.

            Jilli and Harry were still friends but that was as far as it went, they both wanted it that way. Harry was now liking Ginny Weasley and Jillianne's thoughts were always on Draco.

            “Thanks Harry.” Jilli gave him a friendly hug.

            “You’re welcome,” he said, returning it. They both headed up to Hogwarts.

            Before they entered Harry grabbed Jilli lightly by the arm, stopping her, “Look, I know you like Malfoy, but please don't try anything foolish with all these spells we've been working on. I know you care about him, but Draco has made his own bed and now he has to deal with it. I don't want you hurt.” Harry was concerned.

            “Harry, I'll be fine. I just needed to work on these spells in case I need them.” They said their good-byes and each headed to their own dorm.

            When Jilli went up to her dorm she found a fancy envelope lying on her bed with her name on it. She opened it, and what she saw and read nearly brought her to her knees. It was a new contract signed by Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy breaking the marriage betrothal between Jillianne and Draco and it was signed and sealed into effect by the new Minister of Magic two weeks ago. It also stated that Draco was now betrothed to Astoria Greengrass.

            Jilli couldn't believe it. She was having difficulty breathing and felt like she was on the verge of hysterics. Jilli tried to make herself calm down, she had to think. The more she thought the angrier she got. So they couldn't break her betrothal over a year ago when she had begged them to and had absolutely not wanted it, but now she wanted nothing more than to spend her life with Draco and it was over just like this. Tears were starting, but she had to get a grip.

            Jilli then noticed a note attached to the inside of the envelope. Dear Jillianne, Thank you so much for being there for my Draco. You don't know how much it means to me. I know you did not want the betrothal between you and Draco, but I had hoped things might change. Draco has decided that he wants out of it, since that is what you want. He doesn't wish for you to be unhappy. I wish you all the best. Yours, Narcissa.

            Jilli couldn't believe him, how could he. She thought he loved her, and she knew deep down that she wanted to marry him more than anything.

            Jilli went looking for him and found him alone in the boys’ dorm.

            “How could you,” she hissed, pulling her wand out of habit. She threw it aside in disgust. She didn't know what came over her but she wanted to hurt him, hurt him like he was killing her. She started swinging at him and he had to grab her arms to keep her fists off him, she was still weak from her Quidditch accident,  weak as a rag doll.

            “Jilli, please,” he cried out as she struggled with him. Jilli was finally out of fight and just slumped against him.

            “Don't do this to me Draco,” she pleaded, holding on to his robes for support.

            “I'm doing what's best for you Jillianne,” Draco said in stern desperation.

            Jilli stood back from him looking at him, really looking at him. He looked worn down. The dark circles around his eyes were worse. His cheek bones were very prominent because he'd lost more weight.

            “I'm not going to let you do this, Draco. If you can't see reason then you leave me no choice. I'm joining up with the dark lord. I'm going to join the death eaters,” she said seriously.

            Draco grabbed her arms harshly, pushing her against the wall.

            “Shut your mouth,” he sneered, “you don't know what you’re saying.”

            “It's the only way,” she said sadly, closing her eyes.

            “Look at me,” he said harshly, grabbing her chin to force her head up.

            “You’re hurting me," she whispered, looking up at him with tear filled eyes.

            Draco immediately released her chin, but his hand lay softly against her cheek, as he looked her in the eyes urgently, his silver-blue meeting her violet ones. “I don't want you anywhere near the dark lord or his death eaters. You’re not that kind of person. You couldn't hurt anyone.”

            “You’re not that kind of person either, Draco,” she wrapped her arms around him.

            “Yes I am,” he said against her hair, “I was born into it, I have no choice right now.”

            “Well I was born into it too, or have you forgotten that my father was a death eater and I have the same Marvolo blood running in my veins as the dark lord.”

            “Jillianne, your mother wasn't one of the dark lord's followers, you know that.”

            “Draco, I'm not going to give up on you or let someone else have you. I'm not like my mother. I'll follow you wherever I have to, even if it means right into the dark lord's circle.”

            “Quit talking like that,” he said angrily, shaking her, “don't you know I love you,” he half shouted, “that is the last place in the world I want you to be.”

            Jilli could feel the tears falling down her face. She didn't know what she could do to change his mind. Jilli realized he was trying to protect her, but she needed him. Jilli walked over and picked up her wand and then locked the dorm door, putting a spell on it to keep anyone out. She started taking her robe off. Draco was watching her, wondering what in the world she was doing. She pulled her green Slytherin sweater over her head and then kicked off the clogs she had on and her jeans came next. She finally stood before him in nothing but her bra and panties. She came up against him pressing him into the wall.

            “I want you, Draco,” she whispered against his cheek, “I want you to love me and I want another baby,” she whispered against his lips, tears running down her face.

            Draco knew he shouldn't but he couldn't resist Jilli. He grabbed her to him capturing her lips in a deep kiss. He touched her everywhere, removing the rest of her clothing as she helped him get rid of his own. He gave into her wishes.

            As they lay in each others arms in Draco's bed afterward, Draco spoke-up, “Jilli, I don't want us to be over, but you've got to let me do what I have to until I can somehow get out of this. I have enough on me without constantly worrying about your safety. Promise me you will stay here safe at Hogwarts or at your grandfather's until this whole nightmare with the dark lord is over. Who knows, maybe Potter can take care of the dark lord. Do you promise not to put yourself in danger, no matter what happens?”

            Jilli didn't say anything.

            “Come on, Jilli,” he pleaded desperately.

            “Okay,” she said with a sigh, “as long as you promise you'll come back to me, and you aren't marrying this Astoria Greengrass or whoever she is?”

            “Jillianne, no matter what, I will always be yours,” he kissed her deeply.