Of Dragons and Jewels

“So... Can I ask you something?” Now that they were alone, their initial joy at discovering a brother was wearing off, and neither knew what to say, or where to begin.

“Sure, you can ask me anything.” Jewel didn't know what was normal for siblings; life on the street had made her oddly open about some things, but she also knew when to remain silent.

“It's just...” Draco blushed and bit his lip. “I don't know what I should be calling you... Which name do you prefer- Jewel, or Jared?”

“Oh. Jewel, please, keep calling me Jewel.” Then, shyly; “Can you tell me about our Father? What is he like?”

“He-” Draco couldn't do it, he couldn't dash Jewel's hopes of a kind, loving father with the harsh reality that was Lucius Malfoy. “Do you hate me?” He found himself asking, instead, surprising both of them.

“Hate you? Why would I hate you?” Jewel was bewildered.

“Because I never had to live on the street... I was raised wealthy... a noble heir in all but title, and you...” He broke of.

“Oh... Draco, its not like that. I didn't come from a broken home.”

Draco was beyond surprised. “You... But...”

“I mean, sure I didn't grow up rich like you did, but I didn't starve either. Things didn't go bad for me at home until I was thirteen, before that, we were an average, middle class family. Happy, in our own way. My step-father was good to me, kind and gentle, and ever since I can remember, he'd set aside every third Saturday of the month for me, and I got to choose what we did- within reason. We went bowling, took in movies, went to the zoo, museums, even weekend fishing trips once or twice. His job kept him busy, but I still felt like he loved me. Of course, he loved me as a boy, not as they girl I really am...” She broke off, looking scared.

“Harry's already told me that you have a gender association disorder. That your really my sister, not my brother.” Draco's tone was gentle, though inside he was till trying to come to terms with the idea that his brother was a girl.

“Both my parents loved me, and each other. I had friends, parents who loved me, what more could I want?” Then her face darkened. “My mother was a social activist, among other things. A truly incredible woman, she would stand up and advocate for anything and everyone. One day, when I was twelve, we were driving home from a late show, when she saw a couple white guys ganging up on a black girl, trying to force her to put out for them. She pulled the car over, and got me to call the cops while she went over to talk to them... neither of us saw the gun until it was too late...” Fighting back tears, she took a deep breath. “She was shot in the head, and died instantly, while I watched helplessly, still trying to tell the dispatcher our location.

“After the funeral, my step-father made an even bigger effort to bond with me. And for the first year we were closer than ever... then he started drinking, and bringing strange women home. I withdrew, hurt and confused, and we started fighting. When he kicked me out, I was relieved, and had been thinking about taking off anyway. Without my mom, things just weren't the same. But I never imagined I'd end up selling my body on the streets...” She met Draco's eyes as she lost the fight to not cry. “So what do I have to hate you for?”

“Nothing. You're right... you have no reason to hate me. Your the lucky one.”

“Lucky? How so?” Jewel wiped at her damp cheeks as she eyed her brother in confusion.

“Our Father... is a hard man. Strict, stubborn, caring more for the family image than his actual family. That's why your mother wanted to wait until you were eighteen to tell you about him- to shield you from the hard truth that he would never love you. How could he, when he never even loved me, the child he actually helped raise?

“My mother... she was the only thing that made my childhood bearable, but even then her affection was sporadic. More often than not, they would both ignore me, and leave my tutors and nannies to raise me. So yeah, I had the money and prestige, but you're the lucky one. You had love.”

“Did he hit you?”

“No... but he hit her. My mother tried to shield me from it, but I could tell. My father beat her, maybe that's why she never had any affection for me, because she had been made to not care though pain.”

“Is Harry your boyfriend?” Jewel quickly changed the subject. Draco nodded. “How long have you two been a couple?”

“Only a day.” Draco blushed, but smiled at the same time. “This is still new- he's only bi and noticed girls first, and I was never given the freedom to have a boyfriend before now. I have no idea if this will last, but I hope it does.”

“Good.” Neither heard the footsteps approach from outside as Harry carried up the heated soup for Jewel. “I was scared that I had ruined things for you.”

“Ruined things how?”

“By having-” Harry frantically pushed open the door, knowing what Jewel was about to say, but he was seconds too late. “- sex with your boyfriend. Harry and I had sex when we met- I hope you don't mind.”

Draco turned as the door opened, but Jewel's statement caught him blindside. Seeing Harry's shocked, guilty expression, he felt his own turn hard. “Harry, tell me it isn't true. Please, tell me you never had sex with my brother!”