Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. That honor belongs to Miss Rowling.

A/N: I'm back! So I know I left a lot of unanswered questions but I'm back to answer them. So here is the first chapter. I hope you guys like it and thanks to eagleanimagus (AJ) for his wonderful beta-ing job and to everyone else who helped!

***
Chapter 1
The after math

The sky was a beautiful shade of blue which made the sun seem even brighter as a young man stood at the shore with a surf board in hand. He had a smirk on his handsome face as he watched his friend ride a wave.

“He’s totally gonna bail,” he muttered as he continued to watch. His sparkling grey eyes were full of amusement. He grinned when, exactly as he had expected, his friend fell off his board. He laughed as his friend swam back to shore. “Nice try Jess, but you took it too early! You always do that! Didn’t I tell you to wait it out?”

“I did wait but I can’t surf when I’m hungry. Is your mum home?” the other boy asked as he shook his head. “I need to be fed!”

“I dunno we can check,” the other replied as he led them towards a little house not far off. “Mum, are you here?!”

“James Andrew Black, how many times do I have to tell you to dry yourself off before you come in!” said a woman as she came into the sitting room. The two boys looked down and saw they had drenched the carpeting. The woman shook her head and a few more strands of black hair fell to her face. She hadn’t changed much in the 16 years that had gone by. She had a concerned look in her eyes as she came in but it vanished as soon as she saw her son. Jay White was an expert at hiding her feelings. “Jesse, apparently I need to remind you of the same thing.”

“Aw come on Jay, we were just hitting some wicked waves but hunger got to us. That’s why we forgot,” Jesse Smith said as he walked to the kitchen. “Please tell me you guys have grub because my mum isn’t home.”

“Yes, there’s food in the oven but you have to wait a bit,” Jay said, sighing and putting down the paper she had in her hand. It had the picture of a boy with messy black hair and round glasses. “How killer were the waves today?”

“Jess completely wiped out on a wicked wave. He acts like such a barney at times,” James said, as he took out his wand and began to dry the carpet.

“James no magic outside of school,” Jay reprimanded without really meaning what she said.

“Right Mum, you were the one who told me it didn’t matter as long as I behaved and now I’m cleaning, so it’s a good use of magic,” James said, winking at his mother. She rolled her eyes and walked to the kitchen. James picked up the paper and scanned the page. “Who’s this Harry Potter bloke and what did he do?” he asked curiously.

“Never you mind. Don’t worry about the problems going on in England. You just worry about bringing up your Herbology grade,” Jay said, as she took out a roast from the oven. “Professor Newport sent me an owl. Care to explain why you let hung three boys in girls’ underwear?” James and Jesse began to laugh like crazy. “So you were in on it as well, then,” Jay observed. “Well your mum won’t be impressed.”

“My mum will be okay... alright, no she won’t but Dad’ll calm her down,” Jesse said, shrugging. “Jay this smells like heaven – your cooking has really improved!”

“Shut up and eat. Where are your parents anyway?” Jay asked as she put salad on the table. Jay had moved to Queensland sixteen years ago. Her son, James, had been born in that very house. Jesse’s parents were her best friends who happened to live close by. James and Jesse grew up together as there was only a month’s difference between them.

“Dad is working and Mum is out with Blondie, I think” Jesse said bewteen mouthfuls. His blonde hair was beginning to dry and fall gently into his face. His hazel eyes were shinning happily. “Did you notice that your mum is a master at avoiding questions?”

“I know and she doesn’t even show emotion – it’s a talent I tell you!” James said, winking at his mom. She looked down at her plate. When James would wink like he just did he reminded her so much of his father. “We’re just teasing Mum, don’t look so sad. What else did Old Man Newport say?”

“He said you are a brilliant student but he has asked me to talk to you so you’ll behave. Why did you tie those boys up and what colour panties?” Jay asked feeling relieved to be off unsteady ground.

“She asks about the panties... how cool is that?” Jesse snorted. “Don’t worry Jay; these guys had it coming to them. They’re turds and turds deserve to be pranked.”

“Yeah Mum, these guys go around school thinking they’re god’s gift to mankind and, to be honest, they smell like an elephant’s backside,” James said, shrugging.

“Those are some interesting insults you have...” Jay said, shaking her head. “I have the mouth of a sailor and my son says elephant’s backside... ironic,” she muttered more to herself than James or Jesse.

“Well Mum, I do swear… just not in front of you... it seems wrong,” James said, rolling his eyes, “Old Man Newport hates me just because he says I look like someone he once met.”

“I have to go check on something. I’ll be right back,” Jay said, getting up quickly.

She heard Jesse ask, “What’s wrong with your mum?” as she left the room.

“It’s probably about my dad or something...” James replied.

Jay went into her room and sat on her bed. She was completely overwhelmed. James and Lily had died in vain because he was back.

Jay went to her drawer and pulled out an old, tattered picture. There was her best friend, with her long red hair pulled up neatly as always. In her arms was a tiny smiling baby with big green eyes, just like his mom’s. Hugging them was a smiling, messy haired man. His glasses were slightly lopsided – Jay giggled slightly at that – sitting next to him was 21 year-old Jay smiling happily; hugging her tightly was the man whom she still longed for. Sirius Black sat there grinning, as he typically did.

A tear fell gracefully into Jay’s lap. Her son looked just like him, same eyes, same elegant hair, and James had even inherited Sirius’ smirk.

After she left England, she hadn’t looked back. She had no communication with anyone from her past. She didn’t want her son to know what his father had done. This was the first time she had gotten the Daily Prophet in years. Her aunt had brought it to her because the young man on the cover was the spitting image of James. Sirius had been responsible for the death of both Lily and James Potter. Harry didn’t have parents because of what Sirius had done.

Jay bit her lip as she remembered her friends. She wanted to see Harry to be able to hug him and tell him about his parents and yet she didn’t want to risk her son finding out. Sirius might find out about him one way or another. She was waiting for James to finish school in Mount St. Bernard, the best academy of wizardry there was in the country. Unfortunately, her son had also inherited his father’s love of pranks.

Life hadn’t been easy; having James was the best thing that had happened to her. Even if they did live in a far and deserted place in the north of Queensland, Australia, her life was much better because of her son. AJ, Kristina, and Erin had been a big help to her all these years but it seemed as though the day that she’d have to tell James the truth was drawing ever nearer.

“Mum, hurry up because Jesse is eating your roast!” James yelled as he laughed. Jay smiled and put the picture away. Not today… maybe tomorrow…

***
Bellatrix Lestrange paced around her dark room. She had to tell her master about the child. She hadn’t mentioned it at all during these years but it was time she did. Even if the child was dead he had to know. But what if he was angry with her for not telling him before?

She had given birth while in Azkaban. Her child had been born dead, that was what her sister had told her but she still felt unsure because she swore she had heard the child cry. It wasn’t possible for a child to be born healthy if throughout her entire pregnancy she had been in a jail cell.

She shouldn’t tell Lord Voldemort – no – she couldn’t tell him. It was just a secret she’d have to take with her to the grave. If only she felt more confident that the child was really gone, then she’d be able to put it all behind her. She had her master back. That was her only comfort. He was, after all, the only man she’d ever love. They were together and now had the wizarding community at their command.

What Bellatrix didn’t know was that there was a girl at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who looked a great amount like her father…

***
Elizabeth Shaville walked down the corridors of the school, thinking about the Holidays there at the lonely castle. She was lucky to even be there seeing as she was, as far as she could tell, muggle-born. There was something odd about it all. She had been sorted into Slytherin without even knowing an inkling about Hogwarts or its bizarre traditions – let alone that it existed – as soon as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head those five years ago. She couldn’t say she had very many friends because not many people liked her vile ways. She could be charming when she tried to be but she never felt inclined to make true friends.

She wasn’t an ugly girl at all, in fact, her black hair, black eyes, and delicate features made her attractive to many. It was her personality that made her feared. She liked the power she had, thanks to her reputation. She was smart enough to stay out of the teachers radar. Being an orphan and a good student made many of them pity her.

She walked into the empty girls toilets. She walked directly to the sink and whispered something to it. It opened up and she gracefully went down the steep shoot.

She might not have a known last name but she knew she was special – she’d take advantage of that. She knew one person would appreciate her ability to speak Parseltongue. The Dark Lord would be impressed…

***
I love twists

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Hey all I'm back with the second chapter! Since I have a wonderful beta for this fic I take longer to post because first I must send it to him. Thanks to AJ for his wonderful work! Seriously the chapters suck before I send them to him haha. So big thanks to everyone who took the time to read my first chapter and I hope you enjoy this one.

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Chapter 2
Unexpected

James sat on the shore line staring at the horizon while deep in thought. He loved sitting there and just thinking about things. He and his mother had sat there on many occasions just having fun or just simply watching the sunset together. It felt good to be home but lately he’d noticed something that wasn’t normal in his life. His mother was nervous all the time, jumpy even. It wasn’t normal for a woman like Jay, she was an expert at hiding her emotions but ever since James had come home from school she’d been thoughtful... sad even.

He remembered when he was a child he would ask his mother about her childhood and she would tell him a bit about it but when she got to her schooling years she would always change the subject or just leave. James didn’t know anything about his father. It was one of the big bits that his mother had left out.

“Why the long face dude? You look noodled,” said a voice from behind. He turned and saw the only father figure he had. AJ Smith sat down next to him and smiled. Jesse sat on the other side. “You ok there?”

“I’m just thinking is all.”

“Wow does it hurt? Because I reckon that when you don’t do it often enough your brain looses capability,” Jesse said grinning as James rolled his eyes, “Okay you aren’t in a joking mood.”

“AJ, do you know who my father is?” James asked suddenly. AJ looked startled as he rubbed his brown eyes.

“Whoa dude, easy with the questions! You could seriously hurt a person with a question like that!” AJ said running his hand through his messy curls. “Why the question though?”

“Dad, it’s only normal for James to want to know about his father,” Jesse pointed out, shrugging.

“I don’t even know his name, dude. Can you imagine what it’s like to go through life not knowing who your dad is and why he isn’t there to teach you to fly your first broomstick, or to teach you to shave?” James said sighing deeply. His grey eyes looked slightly angered. “All I’m sure is that his last name is Black and well it’s one of the most common last names ever.”

“Like Smith,” Jesse muttered.

“Mum has been really weird lately and I reckon it has something to do with him and all of her past,” James said, thoughtfully as he took a sea shell in his hands and tossed it up and down. “She’s impossible to understand at times.”

“I wish I could answer your questions, dude, but it’s not my place,” AJ said, patting James’ shoulder. “If your mum hasn’t told you anything, she must have her reasons, mate. Your mum is a smart Betty. Give her some time.” AJ sighed deeply. “You two have to understand that we know what we’re doing.”

“And you guys should try to remember what it was like to be our age and remember that sometimes we do know what we’re doing!” Jesse said, also taking a shell and throwing it into the water. “James has a right to know about his old man and I have a right to do whatever the hell I want to!”

“Jess, you can do whatever the bloody hell you want but things in England are ugly right now,” AJ said sighing once again. “I’m all for you going out and exploring the damn world but how about you wait until you finish school.” He turned to look at Jesse who simply shrugged. “Come on lads; let’s go entertain ourselves ‘til dinner. You choose: muggle amusement or wizard amusement?”

°°°
Jay sat on the porch watching her son as he sat watching the sun set. He had a thoughtful look on his handsome face. Right when she was going to go sit next to him, AJ and Jesse joined him.

“Hey Jay, what’s with the face?” Erin said, coming out of the house. Her shoulder length blonde hair was lying gracefully on her shoulders. “You look like if the titanic just sank again.”

“Blondie, you shouldn’t have brought me the Prophet,” said Jay as she sat down on the porch steps, “Things are nasty back home. The Prophet doesn’t say it but I reckon he’s at large once again. Now they are hunting down Harry, James and Lily’s son. For all we know he could be dead!”

“So you would rather not know whats going on? Not even that your godson is in danger? Or that your friends and the people you grew up with are dying?” Erin questioned. She suddenly looked serious. It wasn’t every day that Erin Green looked serious. “When I saw that issue of the Prophet and saw the picture of that boy on it, the memory of your graduation night came back to me. It’s so vivid in my mind; all those masked death eaters attacking everyone. I’m guessing that they aren’t masked anymore and they kill whoever and whenever they want.”

“Just shut up Erin, I don’t want to hear it!” Jay snapped as she got up and stormed into the house.

“No Jacinta, I’ve been shutting up for years! I’m not going to this time though! You’ve been running from your past for sixteen years! I understand that what you went through was horrible and very painful. You loved Lily and James like if they were your family, so seeing them dead was hard. I know that what made it harder was knowing that the man you love was the reason they were dead. But it’s time for you to stop running ****!” Erin said, exasperatedly as she followed Jay to her room. “Your son needs to know the truth! You can’t avoid his questions forever! One day he’ll get tired of not knowing and he’ll hold it against you!”

“How can I bring myself to tell him that his father betrayed his best friends? That the man who helped create him worked for the darkest wizard of all time? How do I tell him that, Erin? You’re wise and seem to know everything; tell me do I say: ‘James your dad is a murderer, now let’s have some supper.’? He’s only sixteen for Godric’s sake!” Jay yelled back, she was shaking, “You know what his reaction would be! He’s the spitting image of Sirius and he’s got his damn temper too! He’d go to England and – and if Voldemort’s at large again it means Sirius is out of Azkaban!”

“Then how about you find out how things are over there! Don’t just assume things! There is one person who could tell you everything,” Erin replied as Jay shook her head vigorously. “It’s the only way of knowing for sure what’s going on. Swallow your damn pride, Jay!”

“No Erin, not him! I can find someone else but not him, anyone but him!” Jay said, as she turned and left the room in a huff.

Erin sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed. She looked around the room and shook her head. There were only pictures dated back to James’ birth, none of her friends. It was as though Jay had tried to erase the past. When she arrived sixteen years ago pregnant and alone, Erin had vowed to do everything in her power to help Jay and the baby.

“She’ll hate me, and then understand,” Erin said as she pushed her hair out of her face. “It’s love/hate Erin... but I’ll wait ‘til James is back in school.”

“Did you know that the first sign of madness is talking to yourself?” Kristina Smith said, from the door way. Erin simply shrugged.

“Then I crossed the line between sanity and madness years ago.”

“I came over to tell you guys that dinner is ready but then I saw Jay run out in a huff. Is there any particular reason why?” Kristina asked, following Erin out of the room. “She looked like she was about ready to kill someone. She’s been in such a weird mood lately.”

“After years of hiding and running from her past it appears it’s finally catching up to her,” Erin said, as she leaned on the rail of the porch. She looked out to the now darkened sky. “James needs to know about his father.”

“You have to understand her, Blondie. James’ dad is a back-stabbing pratt. I doubt it’s going to be easy to tell James that. I understand why she doesn’t want to say anything,” Kristina said, sighing as she crossed her arms. The light breeze made some loose strands of hair fall on her face. “To be honest, I think I’d do the same thing if I was in her situation.”

“Oh but Jesse isn’t as mellow with you as James is with Jay. Jess would somehow beat it out of you,” Erin said, grinning. Kristina smiled and shook her head. “But James is way too understanding when it comes to his mum...” Erin suddenly stood up straight, “If I asked AJ and you to take James away for a couple of days would you?”

“Of course we would bu –”

“I have to – err, do something important. I’ll be over for dinner after that,” Erin said, as she ran in the house humming happily.

***
Remus sat staring at the blazing fire. Even with the fire going the room was still dark and damp. This place had once been a colourful and warm place to live. Now the small flat in the middle of London was the last place anyone would think Remus Lupin would be hiding. Why would he be there if he had a lovely home and a charming wife else where?

Remus didn’t understand how life could have gotten so complicated so fast. After he had broken up with Jay so many years ago, he had sworn he’d never get close enough to another woman to hurt her. He’d tried and worked hard to keep his vow but Nymphadora – she just didn’t know how to take no for an answer. Now he was going to be a father, though he’d never see the child. No matter what Harry had said to him, or what anyone said to him, he couldn’t stay with a child knowing that his life would be hard because his father was a werewolf. His child would be ashamed of him and Nymphadora would end up hating him.

A loud tapping noise interrupted his thoughts. He turned and saw a small owl tapping desperately at the window. He stood up slowly and let it in. He took the letter from its beak and gave the owl water.

The letter had his name on it but the handwriting was unfamiliar. He didn’t recognize it. Had something happened to his wife? Or was it news from Harry?

He opened it quickly and gasped as he read and re-read the letter. He grabbed his cloak quickly and stormed out the door, leaving the owl looking confused.

***
“Come on Jamesy-Daisy, come to Sydney with us! We can ditch the old folks and have some fun,” Jesse said, as he and James flew over the water. Their parents always told them off for flying over the ocean. The claimed it was dangerous seeing that muggle fishermen might see them, but they loved the feeling of flying low over the water. “They are dragging me along with or without you. I’m begging you, my best mate, my brother... don’t leave me alone with them!”

“But your parents are cool! They aren’t embarrassing or anything,” James said, and reached down to graze the water with his hand. “Now, if you were going alone with Blondie, then I’d understand why you need someone else with you.”

“I know my parents are cool but they’re going to start nagging about school and how I want to go to England,” Jesse rolled his eyes, “They don’t understand that I’m going whether they like it or not. But that’s not the point! Dude, you owe me!”

“What do I owe you?”

“I got Trixy Torkleson off your back!” Jesse said shuddering slightly as he stood on his broomstick, “Boy oh boy, do you owe me for that!”

“Oh please, you did that for yourself! You needed to cross Trixy off your list!” James said, laughing, as he too shuddered slightly. When they had had turned thirteen, they made a bet to see who could date and dump the most girls before they graduated. They had even made lists of girls that were a must, “But I’ll go anyway even if I don’t owe you anything. There are a few shops I want to check out.”

“What kind of shops?”

“Well I’m thinking of a new prank... but we need some material,” James said, grinning as he and Jesse raced back to shore. James’ black hair flew back smoothly with his speed. When they arrived and jumped off their brooms, he ran his hand through his hair and smirked. “We’re going to legends mate. I can guarantee it.”

***
Jay walked slowly across the shore line. Everyday after work, she loved to relax by walking barefoot at the edge of the water. The waves seemed to be playing graceful music, which was, mostly, unnoticed by humans except for Jay, who took the time to notice it.

She breathed in deeply as she reached up to let her hair loose. The gentle breeze made a few strands fly around happily. The breeze felt good on her face – it made her feel… alive. Moments like these were priceless to her. Nature had so many wonders that could heal a wounded heart.

It was not like her job was stressful; on the contrary, it was a fun job. She and AJ had opened a surf shop that had become very popular. When they saw the instant popularity, they opened a coffee shop next door. Business was good and she enjoyed her job. It was a lot better than being an Auror, less excitement, of course, but at least she didn’t have to see people die all the time.

“Blondie I’m home!” Jay shouted. She left her shoes next to the door. She looked down and saw that she had gotten the carpeting wet. She smiled and thought how lucky she was that James was in Sydney because he’d never let her live it down. “Blondie where are you, weirdo?”

“She’s on the loo, she said she’d be right back,” said a male voice from the kitchen doorway. Jay snatched up her wand and pointed it at the person staring at her with an amused look on his face. A look she knew so well...

**
A/N: I think that little cliffy is nice. I know you guys aren't very intrigued but I liked it. Oh and for those who don't know noodled=tired

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Chapter 3
"Ghosts of the past"

“YOU!”

“Me.”

“Don’t move, Lupin! Or I swear I’ll hex you to oblivion!” Jay shouted, as she pointed her wand unmoving at Remus. “Get the hell out of here!”

“It’s a pleasure to see you too Jay… you really haven’t changed much in these years, aye?” said Remus as he grinned. Jay’s dark eyes opened as wide as saucers. “Oh come on do I really look that bad? I mean, I know most days I look like ****,” he shrugged, “but that’s part of being a werewolf.”

“Jay put your wand down now! You can’t go around hexing our guests!” Erin said, scornfully, as she walked in. “Even if he is a foul git, you must never be rude!”

“What the hell is he doing here Erin?! I told you ‘NO!’ For Godric’s sake! Don’t you ever listen?!” Jay snapped. The grip on her wand didn’t loosen a bit and Remus still had a smirk on his face, which didn’t please Jay at all, “Lupin, wipe that smirk off your face before I hex it off!”

“I come in peace, Jay. I’m not here to do anything other than talk,” Remus said, shrugging. Jay glared at him, at first not moving her wand, but then she lowered it, though, not releasing her grip. “It’s really good to see you.”

“I can’t say the same. I want you to leave. My aunt was probably stoned when she asked you to come –”

“I wasn’t stoned, Jay. He has a lot of things to say that you have to hear,” Erin said, stubbornly, “Sit down, shut your damn mouth, and listen!”

“Do you not know what it means to respect someone’s wishes? Do you want me to draw it out for you with sparkles and stuff? I’m not a child anymore! You can’t just make decisions for me! It doesn’t work that way!” Jay shouted, as her face began to turn slightly pink. “He’s the last person I can trust! I trusted him once and that didn’t end well! I was going to contact someone else! Maybe Mad-Eye… or Alice! Anyone but him!”

“Mad-Eye is dead. Alice is in no condition to inform you about anything seeing as she can’t even formulate a sentence,” Remus said, quietly but in a tone that was a bit harsh. Jay flinched terribly. “Bellatrix and a group of Death Eaters tortured Frank and Alice for information… they’ve been in St. Mungos for some time now.”

“I-I c-can’t… NO!” Jay screamed. She kicked the chair in front of her and regretted it immediately afterwards. Her toe throbbed terribly but that wasn’t the only pain she felt. Her mind was racing and she felt sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to hear anymore.

“Frank and Alice… it was after You-Know-Who’s down fall… just when we thought we were all safe,” Remus said, bitterly. “Alastor was killed just a few months ago.”

“The least you could do is to have the guts to call him by his damn name! It’s Vold–”

“I don’t know if the taboo applies here too. I don’t want Death Eaters here when they are so wonderfully ignoring your existence,” Remus said, cutting Jay off briskly. He’s back Jay a-and it’s worse than last time because Dumbledore…” Remus swallowed back tears as he looked intensely at Jay, “Dumbledore was killed by Snape,” Remus forced out the words, in a tone suggesting he wanted anything but to believe what he just said.

“Y-you’re lying! That is insulting Lupin! How could the greatest wizard of our time… how could he be murdered by a slimy git like Snape?!” Jay snapped as the colour left her face completely. She was feeling light headed. “Y-you liar!” she exclaimed.

“I wish I were lying… after you left, Snape somehow convinced Dumbledore that he was on our side. He played the double agent card for a while and was even teaching at Hogwarts. Albus was weak and wandless when the coward killed him,” Remus growled, as he glanced down at his scarred hands. “The Order is still fighting but we’re out-numbered.”

“How could Dumbledore be so… so stupid?!” Snape has ALWAYS been an evil, slimy git!” Jay said, as she felt tears burning in her eyes. “W-we’re all doomed!”

“Why don’t you sit down Jay, while I make us some tea,” Erin said, looking almost as pale as Jay.

“No… sitting isn’t going to make all of this go away…” Jay turned as ran out of the house. She couldn’t hear anymore. She wanted to run somewhere, hide with her son and pretend she didn’t know anything. She wanted to pretend everything was ok and that Albus Dumbledore was still alive! He just couldn’t be dead! The only reason she hadn’t worried about Voldemort all those years was because she knew that as long as Dumbledore lived they’d all be safe.

She sat down where James had sat days ago; that was the very same place where she had sat when she first told AJ about Sirius. She felt as if she were still the frightened twenty-one year-old that had sobbed, not knowing what to do.

“I didn’t mean to come here and mess up your life Jay; I came because Erin said it was urgent and that I owed that to you,” Remus said, and sat down beside her. “I know I’m the last person in the world you want to see and I can understand that. I want you to know I’m sorry about what I did to you. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Remember I was just an eighteen year-old, scared of hurting the one thing I loved the most.”

“But you hurt me worse, making me think that I wasn’t good enough so you had to go shag someone else. Your dishonesty hurt me,” Jay said.

“I know that but… I’m a werewolf… I’ll always be a werewolf,” Remus shrugged. They sat in silence for a moment. “Things aren’t what they used to be, back home I mean.”

“Where’s Harry? Why are they after him like if he was an escaped Azkaban prisoner?” Jay asked quietly. She stared out at the sky with all its magnificent colours.

“I don’t know where he is, but I’m sure he’s ok. He’s a talented boy. It’s rather obvious why they want him dead. He’s gone through a lot in his short life but I think mainly You-Know-Who wants him eliminated because of the Prophecy…” Remus said, looking at Jay who looked completely confused, “You don’t know about the Prophecy do you? There was a prophecy about Harry and You-Know-Who. Nobody knows its full content but that is the reason why Harry is being hunted down. He’s off doing Merlin knows what because Dumbledore told him so.” Remus sighed heavily, “All I am sure of is that Harry is alive. He’s got both Lily’s and James’ brains and abilities.”

“Remus before you continue, I don’t want to know anything about Sirius…”

“But-”

“Please that’s the only thing I ask. I don’t think I can handle that…”

“You really need –”

“No,” Jay said, firmly glaring at Remus. He just stared back.

“Who did Harry live with all these years?”

“He was sent to live with his aunt Petunia. There was a spell placed on that house… it was because of how Lily saved his life with her own… anyway as long as he lived with a blood relative he couldn’t be harmed,” Remus explained quickly. A smile appeared on his battered face, “You should see him Jay; the boy looks just like James but with Lily’s eyes. I worked at Hogwarts some years ago and I taught him. He’s a great kid.”

“If we somehow get out of all of this mess I’d love to meet him,” Jay smiled as she remembered the last time she saw Harry. He was flying around the sitting room on a toy broomstick Sirius had bought him. “I bet James and him are going to get along.”

“I’m sure they would but James is dead, remember?” Remus said, confused.

“Didn’t Blondie tell you?” Jay asked, looking just as confused. Remus shook his head. “Well I’ll fill you in but first are you married?” Remus instinctively looked down at his wedding band as it glinted with the last rays of sun. “So you are.”

“Let’s not talk about that,” Remus said, as he looked away.

“Let me guess, you love this woman but you are trying to protect her in your pathetically noble way of pushing her away. Remus you need to stop being such a damn coward!” Jay snapped. Her eyes had their old feisty glow. “Don’t do the same thing to her that you did to me! She’s an adult and has a right to choose! Being a werewolf is better than being a damn coward!”

“I’ve always hated that word because of you! I’m not a cow –”

“Then stop acting like one, ****! I’m guessing she loves you for the great man you are. I bet my boat that she doesn’t give a damn if you’re a werewolf or not!”

“You have a boat?” Remus said, trying to change the subject.

“Pay attention Remus! How about you try to be happy for once in your life?” Jay said, harshly.

“She’s pregnant… I can’t make both of them suffer the embarrassment of having me in their lives,” Remus said, looking carefully at his ring. “My child will be ashamed to have a werewolf father.”

“He’ll be ashamed to have a father who didn’t care enough about him to think about him first! Kids need both parents in their lives,” Jay said, shortly,. “Stop thinking about yourself and think about the child and about your wife! It’s hard to be pregnant and alone. She loves you… go back to your family Remus.”

“I know she loves me… I don’t really understand why but Dora is crazy about me,” Remus said, smiling very slightly.

“Dora?”

“Nymphadora Tonks”

“Wait, wait, wait… not Dora as in the cute little flower girl, from Lils’ and James’ wedding?” Jay asked in shock. Remus nodded as he grinned. “Holy Godric, now that’s what I call liking them young. Now you’re related to my son.”

“I know it’s completely crazy –” Remus opened his eyes wide. “Son?!”

“I have a sixteen year-old son. His name is James. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Jay said, smiling and reaching into her pocket. She pulled out her wallet that contained a picture of two boys; a handsome blonde boy with hazel eyes and a jet-black haired boy with grey eyes. Both boys were holding surf boards, “James’ is the one with –”

“I know which one he is… he looks exactly like –”

“I know, you don’t have to remind me. I don’t want to even hear his name,” Jay said, cutting him off abruptly. “So as you can see, we’re doing pretty well here. I have my own business, a beautiful son, a house… my life is here now. I don’t need anything else.”

“There really is something you need to know about Sirius –”

“I don’t need to know anything about that man. As far as I know, my son has no father. If you say anything else, Remus, I’ll hex you and trust me I’ve created some good ones over the years,” Jay said twirling, her wand in her hand. They sat in silence a few moments as Remus still examined the picture. “Is my dad still…”

“He died a couple of years ago. He was driving drunk and hit another car… the crash was fatal for everyone,” Remus said, softly as he handed the picture back to Jay. They sat in silence as Jay wiped tears from her eyes.

“Who’s in charge at Hogwarts? I assume McGongall,” Jay said, absent minded.

“Snape is Headmaster. You-Know-Who put him in charge when he came to power. Minerva is still there trying to keep the students safe,” Remus, said bitterly. “We’re losing and I no longer know how to help.”

“Go home to your wife. Tell her you’re sorry and that you love her. Then do what you must to protect them,” Jay said, standing up.

“It was really good to see you again. Please Jay, keep in touch,” Remus said, as he hugged her. “You really do need to kn –”

“No I don’t!”

“It wasn’t –”

“Remus, I said no. Whatever it is I don’t want to know. Sirius is part of the past. I buried him a long time ago,” Jay said, letting Remus go. “Just leave it be.”

“Blondie invited me for dinner… I hope you don’t mind if I stay…”

“No, you can stay for dinner. I’ll be there in a bit,” Jay said, turning towards the ocean. She heard him walk away and sat back down. Her head was full of memories and old ghosts. Dumbledore was dead and Voldemort in power… it seemed like some sort of nightmare. She didn’t even know what she had to do.

“Are you still mad at me?” Erin asked when she went out to check on her. Jay shrugged as she wiped tears from her face. “I had to do it you know… for your own good.”

“I know but what now? What do you expect me to do? Run back to England and fight Voldemort off myself?” Just then, there were five loud cracks and fove people appeared in the moonlight. Jay bounced right up and shot a stunner at one of them. Erin was hit by a hex and fell to the floor completely knocked out…

***

“Look who we have here. If it isn’t Jacinta White,” sneered one of the cloaked Death Eaters still standing. Jay recognized him as Avery. “We thought you were dead!”

Jay shot another spell but they deflected it easily enough. She was scared not knowing if Erin was okay.

“Avery you scum, you haven’t changed a bit,” Jay said, braver than she felt. She shot another spell and nearly hit him. Remus ran out of the house casting spells all around. Soon Jay was engaged in a duel with two Death Eaters while Remus fought off the others.

“Bellatrix will be glad to know that you aren’t dead. She’s always wanted to get you back for all the trouble you caused her back in school,” Avery said, laughing insanely as he sent a killing curse at her. Jay felt the warm heat from the spell near her face. They were out numbered and a spell had hit her leg. She was suddenly thrown off her feet. Avery came over to her and grinned. “I wonder what would impress the Dark Lord more, bringing him your dead body or bringing you in alive.”

Just as he neared her, he toppled over completely immobilized. The other Death Eater turned quickly, casting the killing curse all around but was soon on the ground also.

“Mum!” James yelled, as he ran over to his mother. His hand was grasped tightly around his wand. Jay sat up as quickly as she could. AJ and Jesse were helping Remus with the other Death Eaters. Kristina was checking on Erin. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine… Blondie!” Jay said, trying to get up but her leg was injured.

“Who the hell are these idiots?!” Jesse said as he pushed his hair out of his face. He put all of the unconscious bodies in binds. “And who the hell are you?”

“I’m Remus Lupin… old friend of Jay’s, and these idiots,” Remus chuckled a bit at that, “are Death Eaters,” he finished, wiping blood off his face. He limped over to Jay. “I told you the name was tabooed!”

“I bloody forgot! Sue me!” Jay snapped, as James helped her up. Kristina had conjured up a stretcher, and was taking Erin to the house. “I didn’t know that they’d come though! Forgot to mention that, did you?”

“I have to take those idiots back. If we kill them then You-Know-Who will know about this…” Remus said, shaking his head.

“You can’t seriously let them go… that’s Avery!” Jay shouted, amazed at Remus’ intentions and looking down at the unconscious man. Another one looked familiar. “That’s Crabbe!”

“I know who they are Jay, but we don’t have a choice! I can’t send them to Azkaban because it’s being used as a place to keep innocent people,” Remus said, bending over the Death Eaters. “Give me a second to think of what to do because they all saw you.”

“How about you take a second to explain what the bloody hell is going on here!” James demanded. Jay looked away from him and down at Remus with a pleading look.

“We can modify their memories and just send them back. I’ll take them back and leave them at a pub or something,” Remus suggested, ignoring James.

“James asked a damn question Lup-**** or whatever the hell your name is!” Jesse snapped. Remus looked at him amused. “Why the hell are you smiling?”

“How about you two help me out here… how good are you with memory charms?” Remus asked both Jesse and James. AJ had gone inside to make sure Erin was okay.

“We’ve been doing those for years but we want answers not assignments,” Jesse replied, glaring at Remus.

“Jess, shut the hell up for two damn seconds and help!” Jay said, giggling a bit at her son’s friend. She sat back down as James went to help Remus. Her mind was racing. Death Eaters in her house… she’d have to move… she’d have to think of something to say to James. She watched them modify all five Death Eaters’ memories, and then tie them back up.

“I guess I’ll take a rain check on that dinner, Jay. Don’t worry about anything. I’ve got it taken care of… just don’t say the name,” Remus said, as he gripped the bind of the prisoners. Jay nodded. “It was nice to meet you boys... specially you James,”

“Who are you? You didn’t answer!” Jesse reminded him. Remus grinned and left with a crack. “Completely bogus tosh!”

“Help me to the house, boys,” Jay mumbled, as she felt a stab of pain in her leg.

They walked into the house slowly. Jay sat on the couch and looked at her leg. It looked as though it had been burned. The spell had only graced her leg; if it had hit her she wouldn’t have a leg. James looked at her coldly and took her leg in his strong hands.

“You’re going to have to explain, Mum.”

“Why aren’t you in Sydney?” Jay asked as she flinched.

“Jesse and I forgot that we had made plans to teach a couple of girls to surf tomorrow. Even though AJ and Kristina insisted on not letting us come back we came. Good thing too! That guy was about to kill you!” James said, as he waved his wand over his mother’s leg. “I’m not taking ‘No’ for an answer this time, Mum.”

“We leave and this place becomes a bloody war zone!” Jesse said, as he sat down on the couch next to them. Everyone was quiet. “Jay you have to explain!”

“I don’t have to do anything boys! For Godric’s sake, just don’t ask!” Jay snapped, as she limped away. James was about to follow but Jesse held him back.

“You’re mum has some major trust issues. But I reckon she’ll never tell us what’s going on,” Jesse said, sighing deeply. “We’re just going to have to find out on our own.”

“This has to do with my dad I know it,” James said, scowling.

“Don’t worry mate, the truth always comes out.”

***

A/N: Ok I know I haven't updated in forever and I know that most of you have already forgotten about me but I promise to be back with the next chapter in a couple of weeks at latest! So this chapter wasn't as good as I hoped but it'll do! Thanks a lot to my awesome beta AJ who does wonders with the tosh I send him . Thanks to everyone who I use for inspiration for this fic! And a huge thanks to my faithful readers! You guys rock!

Remember to leave feedback, it's my writing food

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Chapter 4
"Chocolate"

Elizabeth sat in the damp chamber reading a thick book about curses. She loved to go down there just to prove to herself that she could. Plus, she needed silence and the chamber was the quietest place in school.

She was a first year when the chamber was first opened. She didn’t really understand why she heard voices in the walls or why she had understood Potter during the first dueling club meeting when he was telling the snake to leave the boy alone. She never mentioned it to anyone because there was no one she could trust. She felt a certain need to protect her secret and did so thoroughly.

When she learned about the Chamber of Secrets she had been ecstatic! This linked her somehow to Salazar Slytherin. The first time she came into the chamber she had found a small trap door which contained many volumes of books that grasped her attention. She would go down there to read even though she knew that Head Master Snape wouldn’t have cared about what she read. She was just being safe. She didn’t want to draw any attention to herself.

She sighed as she finished the book she had been reading diligently. She stood up and went to put the book back in the trap door, along with the other volumes. She caught a glimpse of the book she had been reading before this one: Wizard Genealogy. She knew she had to be a descendant of Salazar Slytherin but, according to what people said, the Dark Lord was the last direct descendant. Did that mean she was related to him? No one here could tell her who her parents were.

They had told her that it was her aunt that had dropped her off at the orphanage. She had claimed that her mother died and that she couldn’t take care of her. Her aunt had randomly disappeared before anyone could ask her for a last name.

She walked down the corridors with her Prefect badge gleaming on her robes. She saw a couple of third-year girls run in another direction when they saw her. She smiled smugly, enjoying the fear she could inflict with a mere glance. She saw a boy walking along looking over his shoulder. He looked very amused.

“Hello, Longbottom,” she said sweetly, causing the boy to jump. He blushed slightly when he saw her. She gave him her award winning smile, “You did something silly, didn’t you?”

“As if I’d tell you, you’re one of them.”

“Oh come on Neville, do I look bad to you?” Elizabeth asked as she faintly fluttered her long eyelashes. She knew that look could dazzle any boy. Neville looked slightly disoriented for a moment. “You really have changed since I first met you.”

“I’m not falling for your stupid tricks, Sheville. I have better things to do than to be standing around talking to you,” Neville said when he snapped out of it. He ran off shouting, “Dumbledore’s Army!”

Elizabeth continued walking down the corridors.

“You girl, have you seen Longbottom?” Alecto Carcrow snapped as Elizabeth crossed the entrance hall towards the dungeons.

“He was headed towards the seventh floor, Professor,” Elizabeth replied calmly. Alecto looked at her intently. There was slight curiosity in her gaze. “Is there anything else you need Professor?”

“Are you related to the Blacks?” Alecto asked, looking at her closely. Elizabeth gripped her wand tightly. To be able to come back to Hogwarts she had been forced to modify quite a few memories. She was a very gifted witch. She slowly shrugged. “You have a resemblance to Bellatrix. I guess it’s possible given that almost everyone is related to the Blacks. But... you look more like someone else. I just can’t put my finger on it”.

“I don’t really know what to say, Professor,” Elizabeth said, as she prepared herself to raise her wand.

“Right then, carry on.”

Elizabeth walked away feeling both relieved and annoyed. It would have been a hassle to modify a teacher’s memory but what annoyed her was Alecto’s comment. She was going to have to find out a little more about Bellatrix Lestrange.

***

“St. Bernard’s Academy of Magic is a tranquil school where students come to acquire, the magical skills they will require for –” Professor Newport was cut off by screams coming from the main entrance hall. He was giving a tour of the castle to a cloud of parents who were interested in transferring their children into St. Bernard’s. He smiled politely at them. “Will you excuse me for a moment? I’ll be right with you”.

There were only a few students who could manage such chaos. He had two particular boys in mind. When he walked into the entrance hall, he slipped and fell. He was suddenly covered in a creamy brown substance. He tried to yell at someone to help him but the substance got in his mouth. For a moment he was afraid it might be something disgusting, but he realized it was chocolate. He reached inside his robes for his wand but he couldn’t find it. He’d dropped it with the fall.

Professor Newport stood up slowly and saw that the chocolate was rising. It was up to his waist in no time. He heard some laughing at the top of the staircase; there were two boys laughing and snapping pictures. When they saw that he noticed their presence, they waved happily and walked off.

“Oh Merlin, this one is for the book!” James said, laughing as they walked towards their dorm. They saw a couple of girls covered in chocolate and stopped. “Wow! You two look good enough to eat!”

“It was you who did this, wasn’t it?” snapped one of the girls as the other giggled. “I slipped and fell on my bum thanks to you!”

“Well would you like us to kiss the boo-boo?” Jesse asked, winking at them. James laughed as the girls walked away. “Oh come on, it’s a joke. Someone has their wand in a knot”.

“It’s a good thing that both of them are already on the list,” James shrugged as they continued to walk. “Do you think Newport suspects we did it?”

“He’s old, not stupid. I’m curious to see what he’s going to punish us with. I mean, we’re only a few weeks from the end of the school year” Jesse shrugged. “You know I wonder how long it’ll take them to stop the chocolate.”

“First he has to find where its coming from!” James laughed. “This is truly priceless mate.”

“Indeed, but to be truthful the chocolate did cost us three galleons,” Jesse corrected him. “Come on; let’s go finish our Transfiguration’s essay”.

“I think it’s silly that you care so much about finishing your school work but whatever.”

“Good grades are equal to a job at the ministry, a job at the ministry is equal to getting the hell out of here without my mum trying to trade me for a camel!” Jesse said, rolling his eyes.

They walked happily to the library to finish the assignment. Both boys had the best grades in the school and still managed to be adored by all. They had the charm and the charisma to be the most popular boys in the school.

They still heard shrieks from bellow as they sat working. As the minutes passed, the shrieking decreased.

“Black, Smith –”

“You must be mistaken Professor, there is no ‘blacksmith’ here. You should try down in town.” James replied, grinning cheekily. He rolled up his essay and sealed it. Professor Haines scowled at them.

“I don’t have time for your play on words Black. Thanks to you two I have to spend my valuable time cleaning! If I were your parents I’d beat you –”

“Which is why I thank any higher power day and night that you aren’t, or I’d be horrible looking, like you,” Jesse said, smirking. Professor Haines turned a nice shade of magenta. He flushed up to his hair line.

“Detention, Smith, tomorrow. And I don’t want to hear a word out of you, Black, or you’ll be joining him,” Haines snarled at them.

“Oh, I wasn’t planning on saying anything, Professor, except for that I think both Jess and I would look disgusting with your hair line. I’m quite fond of my hair so forgive us, but we thank Merlin for the fact that you aren’t in any way related to us,” James said politely. Professor Haines glared.

“That means you join your little friend in detention. Professor Newport wants to see you two now!” he snapped at them. James and Jesse stood up smiling, taking their time to pick up their belongings. “If you two don’t hurry it means another week of detention!”

“You know, Professor, I think it might be good for you to control your temper. I reckon it’s bad for you health,” Jesse said innocently. “Not to mention your looks.”

“Plus, imagine if the parents found out that you treated their kids rudely. I think they might want you out of here,” James said, nodding. They left before he was able to give them another week of detention.

“I think we might have gone over board with that slimy idiot,” Jesse said, shrugging, on their way to Professor Newport’s office.

“Well, he deserves everything we said. I’m not willing to forget how he insulted my mum and mocked me about not having a dad when we were in first year!” James said coldly. Jesse limited himself to a nod. Newport’s office was open, as if he were waiting for them.

“Come on in,” said Newport as soon as they reached the door. They walked in smiling, closing the door behind themselves. Professor Newport was now free of the chocolate, except he still had some in his snowy-white hair. “Sit.” The boys barked and stuck out their tongues. He lifted an eyebrow. “So, you think filling the entrance with chocolate is funny?”

“Now, now, Professor, you can’t just assume it was us! We are ‘innocent until proven guilty,’” Jesse said slyly. He didn’t say that it hadn’t been them, but he didn’t say it was.

“Mr. Smith, both you two have been here 6 years. In those 6 years, I’ve had you in here more than any other student. Actually, you’ve been in here more times than all the other students put together,” Newport said calmly. James grinned. “I’ve come to know your style of pranks. Now please explain!”

“We were in the library working on our Transfiguration assignment. You’re simply assuming that it was us and yet... do you have any evidence to back that statement up?” James replied, trying to sound innocent. “I think it’s only fair that we have a right to defend ourselves.”

“This isn’t a muggle court trial, nor do we abide by politics here. This is a school, which means that since I know it was you, that's all I need!” Professor Newport said, grinning. Both boys simply shrugged. He turned to open a filing cabinet with the names Black and Smith labeled on the front. It was large and full. “This is worse than when you turned the lake to jelly or when you made the food in the dinning hall come to life... I will admit that your pranks are creative. Therefore you punishment must also be creative. I will let you know what it is.”

“I just want to state that you might be punishing the wrong blokes,” Jesse stated, looking offended. “We aren’t the only pranksters this school has. What makes you think we did it?”

“You two are the most brilliant students in this institution. You’re also the craziest and most irresponsible, too. To be honest, you are the only ones who’d be able to pull off a prank like this,” Professor Newport said, shaking his head. “See Mr. Smith your father was a prankster so you have it in your blood. Mr. Black, I don’t know your parents but you remind me an awful lot of a boy I once taught.”

“Now honestly, Sir, that hurts. I’m one of a kind!” James said, smirking.

“That is what Sirius Black would say, too.”

“Who’s Sirius Black?” James asked, trying to remain calm. His heart was pounding so hard, he was sure Newport would be able to hear. Black... that was a fairly common last name, but...

“He was a boy I taught when I worked at Hogwarts. I taught him during his first year, right before I came to run St. Bernard,” Newport said, shaking his head. “I have a hard time remembering names but Sirius Black and James Potter were a pair of students I’ll never forget. You could never forget a couple of first years that can turn you hair into garden snakes. I doubt I’ll be able to forget you two either,” Newport smiled. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to think of a good punishment for you.”

Jesse pushed James out the door. James looked thoughtful and completely distracted.

“Are you okay, James?” Jesse asked after they reached their dorm.

“I need to talk to Newport again. I’ll be back,” James said, turning to run back.

***
“I’m going to need a little more time to think of a punishment Mr. Black so plea –”

“No, Professor, I’m not here about that. I have a couple of questions that maybe you’d be able to answer,” James said politely as he sat down.

“Is this another prank? Honestly, I think I’ve had enough for the day,” Newport said, sighing.

“No pranks, Sir.” James’ hands were shaking slightly. He might finally get the answers he’d been longing for. “Sir, when did you teach those two boys you mentioned before? I mean how long ago was it?”

“Well I think it was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years ago. I was working at Hogwarts as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. But then I was offered the position of head master here. I talked to Headmaster Dumbledore about it and he advised me to take the job.” Professor Newport smiled. “Great man, Dumbledore was.”

“Sir, do you recall if you taught my mother? She was a student at Hogwarts then. Jacinta White was her name, also known as Jay White.” James asked after a moment. He didn’t want to sound too urgent.

“Give me a moment. I’m terrible with names,” he replied, looking like he was really concentrating. He snapped his fingers and stood up. “I know how bad I am with names so I have something to help me remember my old students!” He walked over to a large bookcase. He hummed quietly as he looked for something. He snapped his fingers again and brought over a large old book. He looked at a large picture, “Aha! As a matter of fact I did teach your mother. I’ll never forget that class because they were a dream come true for me. Teaching alongside Dumbledore and all... plus, I had some very talented kids there. Your mother was good friends with James Potter... if I recall correctly they lived near each other.” He seemed to be taking in all of the faces in the photo. “Your mum was good friends with Carmel Duran, brilliant girl really. I understand where you get your sass and aggressiveness, but also your intelligence.”

“May I see that, Sir?” James asked with a slight quiver in his voice. Newport shrugged as he handed him the picture. There was a group of students waving happily up at him. They looked like tiny eleven-year-olds. He found his mother standing next to a small girl with big eyes. He gasped slightly as he saw a messy haired boy with round glasses grinning at the camera. He looked almost exactly like the boy from the newspaper he’d seen last summer. What surprised him, the most, was the boy standing next to the messy haired boy. It was like he was looking at a picture of himself when he was eleven. His nose was slightly different and his lips were, too, but the resemblance was spectacular. That was his father. He knew it.

“Do you understand, now, why I say you remind me of Sirius Black?” Newport said, smiling. James nodded. “Are you related to the Black family in England? What a silly question... millions of people are related to the Blacks.”

“Thank you, Sir. That was all I wanted to know,” James said, handing the picture back to him.

“Are you alright, Mr. Black? You look ill. Was it all the chocolate you ate?”

“I’m fine, Sir. I’m just tired, is all. Excuse me,” James said, nodding at Professor Newport, and he walked out.

***
“James, hold on!” Jesse hissed as they walked slowly through the dark halls. Everything was almost pitch black and it was impossible to see anything. He was sure he heard footsteps. “I said hold on, you twit!” James stopped as Jesse pulled him behind a large statue. The caretaker, Mr. Wimble, walked by them sleepily. They waited until they no longer heard footsteps. James was about to continue but Jesse held him back. “Dude, I’m all up for breaking into Newport’s office, but I’d like to know why we’re doing it!”
“I’ll explain afterward! Just come on!” James said as he continued to walk. When they reached the door, James muttered, “Alohomora.” They walked in quickly.

Jesse stood at the door, keeping an eye out for anyone, while James went directly to the book case. He lit the tip of his wand in order to find what he was looking for.

“Mate, hurry up! It won’t be long before Wimble comes to do his rounds here!” Jesse whispered urgently. He tucked some loose hair behind his ear like he did when nervous. He didn’t mind breaking into Newport’s office. They had done that several times before. What worried him was seeing James so crazed. He wanted to understand what was going on, but he didn’t. A strand of his blonde hair fell to his face as he scratched his head nervously.

“Got it, lets go,” James said happily as he put something into his pajamas. Jesse gave him a dirty look and they walked out.

“Would you care to explain what that stunt was about?” Jesse asked once they were in their dorm. Jesse flopped down on his bed angrily. James was pacing around the dorm like a caged lion. “James, explain ****!”

“This is a picture of my father. He went to school with mum,” James said, handing Jesse the picture. Jesse looked at it and found Jay and laughed silently. He suddenly gasped and looked up at James. “I look like him don’t I?”

“Sweet nation! This is... Sirius Black, I suppose?”

“Indeed. Next to him is my mum’s childhood friend called James Potter... now I know where I got my name from,” James said, shrugging. “I need to know if that son of a bludger abandoned us because he’s a stupid floppy-wanded-dementor-buggerer, or because he died, or became a transsexual and now lives in Transylvania! I need to know! I’m tired of accepting, ‘No,’ for an answer!”

“Well, I guess it’s good that we’re almost going home, then,” Jesse said, still looking at the picture. “These kids look older than we did when we were their age. Example, that little girl right there looks like she must have been a pain in the bum. I bet she was hot when she grew up.”

“Concentrate, Jess! I need a way to find out more about this Sirius Black character,” James said, taking the picture back. “Godric! I’m so close to finding out everything and yet... meh!”

“You need some sleep, pal. You can continue your rant in the morning,” Jesse said, lying down. “Remember how when we’re surfing, you always tell me I have to wait the wave out for the right moment?” James nodded. “It’s the same thing with this, bro... wait for the right moment.”

***
A/N: Wow I haven't posted anything in forever! I'm so terribly sorry! I have chapters written in my notebook but I kind of forget they are there! So here it is! Just a few things... the mention of everyone is related to the Blacks is actually a quoteish from another great fanfic which I highly recommend called "Real World: Hogsmeade". The floppy wanded dementor... blah blah is from Potter Puppet Pals. The school St. Bernard is actually in Aussie but its called Mount St. Bernard .

Thanks to my beta AJ for his help! Really the chapters are dooky when I send them! Thanks pal!

So everyone sorry for not posting but yeah, so remember to leave feedback!

Feedback! Do it! You know you want to!

Chapter 5
"The truth about everything"

“Stop whining Cissy! Draco should’ve recognized the Potter brat as soon as he saw him. The Dark Lord has every right to be angry.” Bellatrix Lestrange said, yawning as she watched her sister pace around the room. Narcissa Malfoy stopped to give her sister a nasty glare. “Don’t look at me like that! All I ever hear from you anymore are complaints. You’ve been a real hag since Draco became a Death Eater.”

“You have no clue what you’re talking about!”

“Draco should be proud to serve the Dark Lord. If the Dark Lord were to ask him to give his life he should proudly do so!” Bellatrix snapped. They had been locked in the Malfoy Manor ever since Harry Potter had gotten away from them. When Lord Voldemort found out about what had happened he had punished them all. It was worse for Draco, which was why Narcissa was upset.

“You can’t really believe that Bellatrix!” Narcissa snapped back. She looked outraged by her sister’s comment. “You don’t know the first thing about being a mother!”

“I would have been a terrific mother thank you very much!”

“You just said that my son should proudly give his life! Any half decent mother would want what is best for their child! Dying is not what’s best for mine!” Narcissa shrieked hysterically. She seemed completely out of her mind. “That child was lucky to get away from you and grow up somewhere sane-” Narcissa’s eyes opened wide as she covered her mouth. Her face grew paler than it already was.

“What did you say?” Bellatrix asked dangerously as she stood up and began to near her sister. Narcissa shook her head vigorously, “I asked a question NARCISSA! What do you mean ‘grow up somewhere sane’?”

“I meant I’m glad that she- it died!”

“Don’t give me that rubbish!” Bellatrix said pointing her new wand at Narcissa, “What did you do to my baby! Don’t even bother to lie because you just said it was a she and that she’s still alive! If you don’t tell me I’ll torture it out of you!”

“I-I don’t know-”

“Narcissa if you don’t tell me I’ll personally go tell the Dark Lord that Draco is a traitor and that’s why he didn’t say he recognized the Potter brat!”

“Bellatrix I-” Narcissa stammered. She knew she could no longer lie to her sister. “I’ll tell you anything you want but don’t hurt Draco!”

“You’re not in the position to strike a bargain with me!” Bellatrix spat. “Tell me NOW!”

“She wasn’t born dead! Somehow the child managed to be born healthy! I-I couldn’t keep her! L-Lucius and I were trying to stay out of the Ministry’s eye and it’d be hard if we had kept your child! You remember how hard it was to keep your pregnancy quiet! I-I looked for Rodolphus’ family but it was useless!” Narcissa said quickly, looking terrified as Bellatrix’s face grew paler and paler, “I-I couldn’t give her to a wizarding family because everyone hated you! They would have killed her or something of the sort! I-I did the only thing I could think of... I left her at a Muggle orphanage in Newcastle”.

“Crucio!” Bellatrix screamed as Narcissa instantly fell, screaming for dear life. Bellatrix’s face was deformed by rage; her once beautiful face was full of hatred

“Bellatrix stop!” Lucius said as he pushed her. She turned her wand against Lucius instead and saw him wither with pain.

“HOW COULD YOU NARCISSA! YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD! YOU DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS CHILD IS!” Bellatrix roared. She turned back to her sister who was lying on the floor panting, “GIVE ME THE NAME OF THE ORPHANAGE NOW!”

***
Elizabeth ran towards the girls toilets. She was keen on not getting involved; if she turned against the school she’d have to pay for it if things went wrong, if she turned against the Death Eaters, she’d never be able to join the Dark Lord. She reached the entrance to the bathroom but heard voices inside. She hid to see who it was. “Granger and Weasley,” she muttered as she saw them walk away carrying what looked like fangs.

She was sure the Dark Lord would be pleased if she brought them to him. She’d be even more rewarded if she took Potter to him. She silently followed them as she heard crashes and explosions all over the castle. She saw Potter standing outside of the Room of Requirement. She stood hidden from sight watching everything. She saw another Weasley, a woman, and an old man exit the room. Then Potter and his friends walked in followed shortly by Malfoy and his friends.

Elizabeth stood perfectly still waiting for the moment to strike. She heard screaming from afar but was completely unmoved by it. She didn’t have anyone she cared for out there so it didn’t matter who died.

For years she’d known the people who were out there dying. That didn’t matter to her at all. She knew that everyone else would be worried about someone. For example Potter would be worried about the Weasley girl because they were in love or some tosh like that. She snorted at the thought.

She’d never felt love for anyone other than herself. Sure she’d gone out with guys but only as a way to entertain herself. She liked the attention from guys; she liked to feel the power she had over them. The closest she’d gotten to liking a guy was during her 4th year. She had asked Fred Weasley to go with her to Hogsmeade but he had refused saying “I have something to do with my brother.” He never gave her attention like all the other guys which made him more appealing to her, but that day in Hogsmeade, she saw Fred snogging some Gryffindor girl. She was outraged and swore he’d regret ignoring her one day.

She wondered if Fred was out there... dying maybe. She hoped not because she wanted to have the pleasure of hurting him herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Granger and Weasley coming out of the Room which looked like it was on fire. Potter, Malfoy and one of Malfoy’s friends were missing. She waited a few moments when Potter and Malfoy flew out of the room.

She was about to make her move but then she saw Fred Weasley and another red head fighting off a couple of Death Eaters. Soon the Death Eaters were knocked out. Fred was talking to the others and laughing. She stepped out of her hiding place, her pretty face emotionless as she pointed her wand at Fred who was a pretty good distance from her, and muttered Avada Kedavra, followed by a spell to make part of the wall explode. She’d have Potter trapped between the debris.

“Hey Sheville, what do you think you’re doing here? Oh Merlin! Is there anyone trapped in there?” Colin Creevey asked, looking concerned. Elizabeth looked at him in boredom. She flicked her wand and he was dead, flying out the window.

“Good distance, why didn’t you throw the Weasley boy too?” sneered a voice from behind her. She turned and was about to kill whoever it was but saw the face of the woman she had been researching. Elizabeth hesitated for the first time that night. Was she standing in front of her mother? “Follow me.”

Elizabeth nodded and followed her obediently. They walked into one of the few rooms that was still left standing. Alecto was in there fighting a pink haired woman. Bellatrix smiled as she recognized Tonks, her niece. Elizabeth pointed her wand at the pink haired woman and she flew out the window, already dead. Alecto grinned but that didn’t last very long as Bellatrix flicked her wand and she too flew out the window.

“You just killed your cousin! I knew it was you! I didn’t have a doubt about it when I saw you kill the Weasley boy! You have your father’s talent!” Bellatrix said putting her thin hands on Elizabeth’s shoulders. They were very similar except Elizabeth was far more beautiful.

“So you’re my mother?” Elizabeth asked coldly as she clenched her wand. Bellatrix nodded. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now.”

“I didn’t know you were alive. Your idiotic aunt lied to me saying you were born dead. You were born in Azkaban, no one except my sister Narcissa and her husband Lucius knew I was pregnant. They had to pull all the strings they had left to keep it quiet. Narcissa told me you were born dead, and then she sent you to a Muggle orphanage!” Bellatrix said, scowling angrily, “I only found out a few weeks ago. I went to the orphanage to find out where you were and what your name was. After that I killed every single one of those filthy Muggles there”.

“You killed everyone?” Elizabeth asked, still emotionless. Bellatrix nodded. “You saved me the trouble of going to kill them myself. Bellatrix, is Rodolphus my father?”

“No, he isn’t,” Bellatrix pulled Elizabeth into a hug. She whispered in her ear laughing slightly; “My dear girl, you are the only daughter of the greatest wizard of all time. Your father is the Dark Lord!”

“I’m the Dark Lord’s daughter?” Elizabeth asked, finally looking surprised. She looked excited. Bellatrix nodded as she looked at her daughter. She looked a lot like her father. She had the same cold eyes that he had, and she had the same glorious smile. She was absolutely gorgeous. “Does he know about me?”

“No because I didn’t know you were alive but I will tell him right now,” Bellatrix assured her. “You just keep yourself safe until I come back... I wish you hadn’t had to grow up where you did; I swear that Narcissa will pay once your father finds out”.

“I’m sure she will mum” Elizabeth said with fake sweetness. She was thrilled to know she was a pure blood and even more ecstatic knowing that her father was Lord Voldemort. But she couldn’t easily forget about having to grow up in that filthy orphanage, being treated like a piece of garbage. Someone had to pay whether it be her mother for being stupid, or her aunt. Bellatrix hugged her once more. “I’ll wait for you and my father... I still have a lot of questions to ask”.

“I’ll be back as soon as the Potter brat is done with,” Bellatrix said as she ran out. She turned back to smile at her daughter not knowing then that it’d be the first and last time she’d ever see her.

***

James sat on the porch of his house watching the rain pour down heavily. The weather agreed with his mood. He’d finally finished school and had been home for two days and still hadn’t been able to talk to his mother. Last year he had arrived home determined to get the answers he sought and yet... his mother always found a way out of it.

He saw a figure walk calmly towards the house. Jesse climbed the steps smiling; his blonde hair was sticking to his face. He was completely soaked. He had a parchment in his hands which, unlike him, was dry.

“Why didn’t you put that charm on yourself as well?” James asked in boredom.

“I like walking in the rain. It feels good,” Jesse shrugged. “So dude, I’ve been doing the final count on our lists and the score is in”.

“I won by three didn’t I? Let’s just face it I’m much better looking than you are, not to mention charming and smooth-”

“Egocentric, big headed and self centered,” Jesse added and James shrugged. “I must say I thought you were going to beat me but apparently it was a tie!”

“That is not possible! I was ahead of you by 3 a week before graduation!” James said looking at the list. Jesse laughed, pushing his wet hair out of his face. “You cheated!”

“Yes I did cheat... but not on you. Look at the last three names on my side of the list,” Jesse said, pointing out the names. James snorted and Jesse laughed. “Broom closet amigo, it is a lifesaver. The bad thing was that Sandra caught me with Jill in the closet and went completely mental. So I told them both that it was over and well let’s just say it hurt quite a bit.”

“What about Morgan O’Riley? She’s way too aggressive and crazy, hell when I dumped her I was close to never being able to do my... you know” James said scowling, “I don’t believe you got away just like that.”

“HA! I told her I was going to be a Muggle priest, that I had a calling to help Muggles through religion. Since she’s Muggle born she was cool with it and called me Father Jesse before I left,” Jesse and James laughed. “I was thinking that now that we’re free we can take a year off to travel around before we settle down to be adults.”

“I dunno Jess, I don’t think our folks are going to be ok with your idea,” James shrugged and sighed. Jesse looked at him strangely. “What?”

“James since when do we do what our parents tell us?” Jesse asked pushing his blonde hair back again. “Have you talked to your mum about Sirius Black yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Dear Merlin James! You are such a pansy when it comes to your mum! You have a right to know the truth about your dad! You have to ask her directly and don’t take no for an answer! You’ve waited this wave out way to much bro. Anymore waiting and you’ll completely miss it!” Jesse said, looking serious. It was rare to see Jesse with a serious face. His hazel eyes looked at James with concern. “So on to lighter matters, how are we going to break the tie?”

“We can go into town for that. There are babes everywhere,” James replied, slightly distracted. They sat on the porch talking about their bet until their parents arrived.

“Mate do it now before you wuss out again. I’ll take my parents and the blonde elsewhere,” Jesse whispered to James. He simply nodded. “Mum, dad, other two betties... I cooked dinner!”

“You cooked? All by yourself?” Kristina asked smirking, “Please tell me you didn’t burn the house down...”

“Hardy, har, har mother. You’re just so funny! Now I see where I get my wonderful sense of humour from!” Jesse replied, rolling his eyes, “I’ll show you, I cooked pizza all by myself!”

“I want to see! Last time Jesse cooked he blew up my oven!” Erin said, bouncing up and down laughing. Jesse scowled at her. “It’s true! It went KABOOM!”

“We’ll be right over, I just need to have a word with my mum,” James said as everyone walked out. Jay looked intrigued yet slightly uncomfortable.

“What is it hon?” Jay asked sitting down next to him. James took a deep breath and dug into his pocket.

“I want you to tell me about my dad.” James said in a very low, even tone. Jay flinched slightly and stood up.

“We can talk about that after-”

“No mum! I want to talk about it now!” James said standing also, “I’ve been accepting ‘later’ all of my life! I’m tired of it mum! Tell me... is Sirius Black my father?”

Jay’s face went pale. Her eyes were wide with fear. She sat down slowly not taking her eyes off her son. James slowly pulled out a picture from his pocket. Jay took it and saw it was her first year Defense Against the Dark Arts class. There, smiling up at her, were the faces that haunted her.

“Where... how?”

“Professor Newport was the teacher during your first year at Hogwarts remember? Well ever since I got to that school he had been saying that I reminded him of someone but he has a terrible memory for names. But after a prank Jess and I pulled last year he remembered he had pranksters like us, James Potter and Sirius Black,” James said quickly. He could tell how upset his mother was, but even though it killed him to see her upset he kept going. “By the look on your face I’m right. Sirius Black is my father.”

“Do you know anything else about him?” Jay asked anxiously. She knew this day was going to come but she didn’t feel ready to face it.

“I know nothing other than his name” James said sighing. His mother was looking at him with anger and resentment, “Don’t look at me like I’m the bad guy here! Mum I’ve spent my entire life not knowing who my father was. I deserve to know! I’ve been patient and I never pestered you about it because I know it’s painful for you but I need to know!”

“You honestly don’t want to know kiddo. I wish I didn’t know, I wish I could forget it all!” Jay said as tears began to well in her eyes. “You might as well sit down kid.”

“I met your father my first day at Hogwarts. We were sorted into the same house at Hogwarts. I met him because he became instant friends with my friend and neighbour James Potter. Years passed by and I didn’t like him. He was a rude, egocentric, womanizing pain. The only reason I put up with him was because James was my friend and Carmel, my best friend, was dating James.” Jay said looking at the picture in her hands. “He began to change a lot once he started dating a girl with whom I got along with well but then became really close with. Rebecca Adams changed Sirius so much.

“Things happened so fast those last two years at Hogwarts. Carmel was killed during my 6th year. I was completely devastated; I felt so alone the summer before my 7th year. But everything changed when I began to hang out with James and his friends. I think James knew how I felt after her death.

“That’s when I became closet to Becca and Lily. James and Lily got together that summer and Becca was still with Sirius, who no longer annoyed me. I don’t know exactly how it happened but I started dating Remus Lupin...”

“The dude that was here the night you guys were attacked?” James asked before he could stop himself. He didn’t want to interrupt.

“Yes that’s the one. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were the ‘coolest’ gang Hogwarts had ever seen. They called themselves the Marauders. I was dating Remus and boy did I ‘love’ him. He was my strength when my mum was killed. He was what kept me strong during that difficult time. We were united by a tragedy. He’s a werewolf...” Jay heard James gasp in horror. “I understood what he felt. I had lost my sister to a werewolf. But I learnt that love isn’t always enough, even when it’s holding you together. One night after Remus almost attacked me, he decided it was no longer safe for me to be with him. He cheated on me to push me away. I felt hurt, betrayed and heartbroken. Sirius was there for me and he saw how much pain I was feeling, so he got into a fight with Remus about it. Sirius didn’t let me wallow; he didn’t let me drown in my own misery. He made me get up and keep going no matter how much it hurt to do so. We helped each other deal with the loss of the only father figure either of us had ever known.” Jay said as tears began to spill onto her lap. She flicked her wand as pictures came flying from her room. “He was still with Becca of course and I didn’t see him as anything other than my best friend. Sirius was the only one who could make me laugh during that time.

“Graduation came along and we were all happy about finishing school. During the party Death Eaters attacked us. Rebecca was killed by Vol-... You-Know-Who,” Jay snarled. James was a little frightened by his mother’s reaction. “We were all crushed but it was nothing compared to how Sirius took it. He locked himself in his flat to try to drink himself to death. I tried to help him. I’d pick him up at random bars in the middle of the night; I’d make sure he ate something. I did everything I could to save him, just like he had done for me.

“When he found out that Lily and James were getting married, he seemed to finally wake up again. He was the Sirius we all loved. We began spending a lot of time together; we were going to play a song for Lily and James at their wedding, so we began to spend even more time together locked in my flat or his. That’s when I realized that I was completely in love with him but I could never tell him and risk our friendship! Plus he would always love Becca. One night he went to watch my band play without me knowing, he heard a song I had written for him. He ran onto the stage and kissed me like I’d never been kissed before. We were together after that. We loved each other, or that’s what I thought...”

“That all sounds like a happy ending mum. What happened? Why isn’t he here with us?” James asked after a long silence.

“James and Lily were going to have a baby. I promised them that I’d name my first born James as they named their child Harry. You-Know-Who was after all of the Potters. Dumbledore, our headmaster, friend, and head of the Order of the Phoenix, told us that he was after them. They hid themselves as best they could using the Fidelius charm. They chose Sirius as their Secret Keeper, believing that they’d be safer trusting the secret with him than with anyone else.

“I went to check on them on Halloween. I wanted to give Harry a bag of treats since they were locked inside. When I arrived the house was shattered, Sirius was... he was standing over James’ body. He betrayed them! He sold his best friends out to HIM! I could have killed him myself but a house elf named Dotty got in the way. He was later caught and sent to Azkaban. I came here pregnant and alone- I was terrified! Erin took me in, AJ and Kristina received me with open arms, helping me in every way possible. You were born and I’ve never been happier.” Jay said, taking a deep breath. “You’ve been my reason to keep going, the only thing that’s right in my life. You are MY baby, only mine not his. I didn’t want to tell you because I wanted to spare you the pain that came with the truth.” She looked him straight in the eyes. “I’m so sorry...”

“Why are you apologizing mum? The only thing you did wrong was not telling me all of this sooner.” James said calmly. His grey eyes grew darker. Jay noticed how unusually calm James was. “Thanks for telling me mum”.

“Are you ok hon? I know it’s a lot to take in...”

“I’m fine mum, just hungry,” James said shrugging. He forced a smile and took his mother’s hand. “Let’s go before Jesse eats everything.” He smiled at her again; “I’m fine mum, really I am.”

James could hardly concentrate that evening. He laughed at jokes, made a couple himself, and pretended like nothing was wrong, but he was far from being alright.

“What’s up mate? You look off,” Jesse said as they cleaned the kitchen. Their parents were talking about the shops over in the family room. James shook his head. “Don’t lie to me dude, I know you better than the back of my hand.”

“Are you still planning a trip to England?” James asked calmly. There was something about his eyes that scared even Jesse.

“I dunno mate, you’re the one that told me it was a bad idea,” Jesse hesitated. James arched an eyebrow. “What? You did!”

“Since when do you take what I say seriously?”

“Since when are you so keen on going to England?”

“I just think that you’re right, we should travel before we settle down. I not only want to go to England that’s just one of the many places. How about after that we go to China?” James said with false enthusiasm. This time Jesse was the one to arch an eyebrow. “What?”

“I don’t buy it James. I don’t buy your act one bit. If you want me to back you up then you have to tell me what the hell is going on!” Jesse said, putting the last dish away. “Mum, dad, other betties, James and I are going to a party in town”.

“With whose permission?” Kristina asked, smiling. Jesse rolled his eyes. “Alright but be home early or I’ll lock you out. And no drinking please.”

“Jess hold on a sec” Jay said as James had ran over to his house for the keys to his Jeep. “Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid... he received some err... bad news tonight. That might make him more reckless and dangerous than usual.”

“Don’t worry Jay, he’ll be fine,” Jesse grinned and walked out. The rain had finally stopped but there was still a lot of wind. James was in the driver’s seat waiting for Jesse. He climbed in, his hair a blonde mess. “How about I drive?”

“I’m fine Jesse, relax,” James said, taking off a little too fast. The Jeep sped across the empty road. Jesse stared at James as he drove. His eyes were a very dark grey. It wasn’t only the colour that worried him but the way they looked both angry and helpless.

“How about you slow down mate, the road is pretty slippery,” Jesse said in a slightly anxious voice. “Seriously James, stop! Whatever Jay told you... it’s not completely helpless”.

“I’m the son of a murderer! My father is a traitor!” James snarled. His eyes were glued to the road but his foot stepped down on the gas even further. “My father sold his best friends out to one of the darkest wizard’s in history! Remember that bloke we learned about in history of magic? Well my father worked for him!”

“And killing yourself is going to fix that how? Think about your mum bro! We’ll figure something out! Just calm down!” Jesse said, patting him lightly on the shoulder. James slowed the Jeep down and parked on the side of the beach. He got out, went to the back of the jeep, pulled out his surf board and ran towards the shore. The ocean was in turmoil. The wind was freezing as James took his shirt off leaving only his wet suit on. “James you can’t surf that! The water is freezing! You’re mental!”

The waves were crashing angrily against the shore. James looked around him, the dark sky, the angry waves, the cold air; it all seemed to describe what he felt.

“He’s out there Jess; he betrayed people who loved him, people who would have given their lives for him. A kid is out their without parents because of him! I’m not going to just sit around and do nothing! He has to pay for everything he’s done! He has to pay for all the years my mum has suffered and all the tears she’s shed for him!” James shouted as he walked into the water. It was like knives stabbing his body but he felt alert and awake, “I’m going to make him pay,” James muttered to himself as he paddled out into the raging ocean. “For everything...”

***
A/N: Well after a bit of a rough patch I'm back. Sorry it took so long but I had a few minor problems that were resolved thanks to the help of some good friends. I want to dedicate this chapter to Lauren . Thanks for all your help and for agreeing to be my new beta! You're amazing kiddo!

Thanks to everyone who sticks by me even though I'm the world's dorkiest writter! Thanks everyone!

I'd love some feedback please

“Congratulations dear, I heard you did amazingly on your N.E.W.T’s!” boomed Professor Slughorn as Elizabeth entered his office. She had a smile painted on her face. If her professor would have seen her correctly he’d have seen how hard she was trying to smile. “I know this has been a difficult year but you did extraordinarily well!”

“Thank you Professor, it really has been tough,” Elizabeth replied, trying to sound sad. The truth was that it had been annoying. After both her father and mother had been killed she was in a state of shock. It wasn’t that she was saddened by their loss. No she was sad because she never got to meet her father. He could have given her power; together they could have controlled the wizarding world. Instead she had to put up with a year of insults from other students because she was in Slytherin. After the Dark Lord’s downfall, the school was closed for reconstruction. Students had to take an exam to evaluate their level seeing as many students had missed a year of schooling. She had passed without even studying but her brain didn’t matter to anyone. The only thing anyone saw when they saw a Slytherin was potential danger. Not that she ever cared about what people thought, but she was used to being invisible and enjoyed it. “I don’t see why I even bothered sir. Now with all the discrimination against Slytherins, it will be impossible for me to get a job anywhere”.

“With your brains and good looks my dear you can do anything!” Slughorn grinned. Elizabeth wanted to roll her eyes at him but she simply continued looking sad. “What kind of career are you interested in?”

“I’ve always wanted to work in the Ministry,” Elizabeth said shrugging. “The Department of Mysteries has always drawn my attention but I know that it’s impossible.”

“Cheer up my dear girl! I can get you that job! I have many connections in the Ministry; I’ll talk to the Minister himself if you wish!” Slughorn said patting her shoulder lightly. She smiled at him. Everything was working out just as she thought it would. This is the reason why she had put up with Slughorn since her OWL year. He had the connections she needed.

“That would be great sir. Do you think he’ll hire me?”

“I think he will because they are in need of bright hard working people. The war last year left so many positions opened that I think he will receive you with arms wide opened!” Elizabeth grinned again as Slughorn continued to speak about how close he was to the Minister himself. “Why do you want to work in the Department of Mysteries? Don’t you think your talent would be wasted there?”

“I’m always up for a little bit of research; I find it exhilarating to be honest. It’s my dream Professor!” Elizabeth said with dreamy eyes. Slughorn looked happy to have been able to manage making her happy. “Thank you for your help sir. I will see you in a while for the end of the year feast!”

Elizabeth walked out grinning. She hadn’t felt so invigorated in a while. The Department of Mysteries held so many possibilities for her. She wanted to accomplish one thing and one thing only, but for that she needed the resources found only in the Department of Mysteries.
She’d never really wanted to work in the Ministry but she had to do what she thought was best for herself. She had no place to go tomorrow. Unlike all of her classmates, there was no one waiting to congratulate her for her outstanding grades. She didn’t have a house to arrive to.

She smiled as she remembered what she was going to do instead of finding a place to live. Her aunt Narcissa was going to get a hell of a surprise. She had to pay for the fact that her father didn’t know of her existence. She didn’t care that her mother was murdered. She honestly felt nothing for the woman except hatred. But it was different when it came to Lord Voldemort. She admired his accomplishments, she wanted to meet him. But he was dead so she had to find a way around that.

“I will bring my father back, I swear I will,” she muttered as she reached the place where her father had died, “Harry Potter will pay for what he did. They will regret the day they messed with the Dark Lord’s daughter!”

***
Jesse sat in James’ room waiting for him to get out of the shower. He had been a ball of nerves for the past 3 weeks. Every day he expected James to pack up the Jeep and tell Jay that they were going to travel around Australia, as soon as they were far enough he’d want to travel to England to murder Sirius Black.

So far they had been lucky; James seemed to be abnormally calm. They had even been looking into job opportunities in Sydney. That wasn’t what Jesse really wanted. He’d always wanted to travel to England. It had been his dream, but his friend’s sanity came before his dream.

Jesse couldn’t imagine what James was feeling but he knew his best friend quite well. James was planning something and Jesse wasn’t going to like it one bit.

“You look noodled dude,” James said as he walked into with a towel draped over his shoulder. His black hair was still dripping as he began to look for a clean t-shirt. Jesse lay back on the bed and shrugged, “What’s up amigo? Did you get dumped?”

“Right, no one dumps me, I always dump them!” Jesse said snorting. James laughed as he pulled a shirt over his toned figure. “I’m just thinking about stuff.”

“Jess you’ve been thinking too much lately, it’s bad for you.” James said he walked over to his desk. He grabbed some papers and threw them at Jesse, “I’m going to go there dude, I was wondering if you’d like to join me”.

Jesse sat up and looked at the paper. They were job offers in America, New York City to be more exact. He looked up at James with suspicion.

“Since when do you want to go to America?” Jesse asked skimming through the information. It seemed like a good opportunity but he knew there had to be a catch. He’d known James for as long as he could remember and he never quit once he set his mind on something. “I’m not buying in bro, I know you too well. What’s the catch?”

“There is no hidden agenda here Jess. I just need to get out of here before I do something stupid. I don’t think your parents will object, like you see it’s a good job. I’ve spoken to the person in charge, they say we have the job,” James said, grinning as he put on his trainers. “I assumed you’d be up to it so I sent your info along with mine”.

“I know you’re up to something James, I don’t know what but I will find out!” Jesse said sighing and getting up. James shook his head, “Don’t act like I’m being paranoid, I know you too well”.

“I think you’ve been watching too many Muggle shows and movies, they’re making you think things that will drive you to insanity! James said getting up and walking to the kitchen. Jesse followed and laughed.

“Well you know what our phrase is,” Jesse said as he grabbed an apple, “There’s a fine line between genius and insanity…”

“...We walk along that line like drunken men,” James finished with a laugh. Jesse nodded. “You know my mum used to say that a lot when I was young. She said it was a motto she had with a friend when she was younger, except for the drunken men part”.

“So have you really given up on England?” Jesse asked carefully. He looked at how his friend’s eyes became darker at the mention of this.

“For now I have. Let’s go man, we’re going to be late to pick on those chicks,” James said grabbing a jacket. “Are you cold?”

“No I’m just happy to see you… ok bad joke. I’m not cold, I love this kind of weather” Jesse said as he rolled up his long sleeve shirt. James shook his head, “One thing before we go dude, no matter what you end up doing I’ve got your back. I know you’re not telling me the truth about America but I’m just going to play along until you decide to let me know what’s up.”

“Wow Jess that was really mature.”

“Don’t get used to it. So is my date hot? If she’s ugly I’m going to pretend I’m sick, heck I might be sick if she looks dreadful. Anyway just giving you a heads up,” Jesse said running his fingers through his long blonde hair. The last few girls he’d been out with looked like toads. He wasn’t going to survive another date with a goblin like girl. “I dunno why I let you drag me to these stupid dates when I’m perfectly capable to getting my own dates”.

“Because blind dates are always very fun, alright when we get there I’ll let you chose which one you like best. We can switch names for the night if it comes down to it,” James said as they walked to the car. Jesse laughed but nodded. “I can be Jesse Smith for one night. It might lower my IQ but I’ll give it a shot.”

“Right, you know I’m smarter and better looking than you,” Jesse said smugly. Two girls walked by and waved at them. Jesse winked at them and the girls giggled, “Like I said I’m amazing!”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself to get through the day man,” James said rolling his eyes.

***
Ginny looked around as she walked into the Ministry. She was so nervous she couldn’t even stand still. It was finally her first day in Auror training. She had been looking forward to it ever since Harry and Ron had gotten in the previous year. Harry said he would be waiting for her in the entrance but she couldn’t see him. She sighed as she fiddled with a locket Harry had given her for their anniversary. Harry had told her that Sirius gave him that locket telling him to give it only to a girl he loved.

She smiled as she remembered that day. She was so deep in thought; she didn’t notice someone looking at her.

“Hello Weasley,” said a cold voice. She was brought back by the voice of Elizabeth Shaville. Ginny scowled at the sight of her. She didn’t really know Elizabeth well but she was a Slytherin. “I was wondering if you could help me.”

“Well you’ve got the wrong building then, the help you need is in St. Mungos,” Ginny snapped. There was no real reason for her to be rude to this girl but she didn’t like her at all.

“Nice manners, I suppose you feel it’s your obligation to hate all Slytherins right? Well we aren’t in school anymore Weasley. You need to get over those stereotypes.” Elizabeth replied calmly as she smiled in a friendly manner at her. Ginny knew she was being unreasonable but Elizabeth’s smile looked false to her.

“What do you need Shaville?” Ginny asked trying to keep her voice steady. Elizabeth grinned at her.

“I don’t know my way around here but I’m trying to find the Department of Mysteries. I was going to go ask the guard over there but then I saw you and I thought it’d be good to ask someone I already knew,” Elizabeth said with a sweet tone. Ginny looked at her suspiciously.

“Why are you trying to find the Department of Mysteries?” Voldemort had been very interested in the Department of Mysteries as well. Was Elizabeth working for him even though he was dead?

“I have a job there, well the training starts today,” Elizabeth replied ignoring Ginny’s rude tone. “I know you’ve been there before, it was in the Prophet some years ago. I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction”.

“Go on the lift and wait until it says Department of Mysteries. The lift is over there,” Ginny said pointing to the far end of the room. Elizabeth beamed at her.

“Thank you Ginny,” Elizabeth said again with a sweetness that made Ginny want to gag.

“No problem Shaville. Good luck with the job,” Ginny said as she really wished she would get fired. She would have to keep an eye on her. There was something not right about this girl. She looked normal enough except for the fact that she was annoyingly good looking. Her dark eyes and dark hair made her a boy magnet when they were at school.

Ginny watched her as she walked to the lift with a grace that truly reminded her of Voldemort. Maybe she was just imagining things but she even looked like Tom Riddle. Ginny shuddered as she remembered her encounter with him in the Chamber of Secrets.

“Are you ok Gin?” Harry asked as he placed his arm around her. Ginny looked up at him and smiled.

“I’m fine; I was just remembering something unpleasant. I just saw Elizabeth Shaville,” Ginny said as she took Harry’s hand. Ron was behind them.

“Oh the Slytherin babe that was in your year?” Ron asked grinning and looking around. Ginny turned and smacked his arm, “What?”

“Want me to tell Hermione that you referred to Shaville as a babe?” Ginny asked as she glared at her brother. He turned red and shook his head, “That’s what I thought.”

“But she is good looking though. What was she doing here?” Ron asked still looking around trying to see if he caught a glimpse of her. Ginny shook her head at her brother’s shallowness.

“Apparently she got a job in the Department of Mysteries. I don’t like her one bit. There’s something not right about her,” Ginny said as they walked onto the lift. Harry gave her hand a squeeze. “No Harry I’m not being stereotypical, it’s not just that she’s a Slytherin, it’s something about her.”

“She doesn’t seem like a bad person Ginny; you don’t like her because she’s in Slytherin and because she’s good looking,” Ron said rolling his eyes. Harry gave him a warning look. “What? If she was evil she would have liked Malfoy but I don’t recall ever seeing them together.”

“Ronald, do not ruin this day for me, what are you doing here anyway? I thought I was going to meet HARRY here, not you!” Ginny snapped. She was annoyed because she knew that Ron made a valid point. Ron grinned.

“Well Harry and I are in charge of giving you first year trainees a nice welcome,” Ron said smugly.

“Meaning we’re Glinda’s assistants for the day because her usual assistants are out on some special assignment,” Harry corrected him. Ginny was anxious to meet Glinda Andrews, the new Head Auror. She had heard great things about her from everyone in her family including Fleur, who didn’t like anyone.

They walked out of the lift into a room with several cubicles. Ginny looked around and saw the faces of several wanted Death Eaters pasted on the walls. She shuddered at the thought of so many still out on the loose a year after the war ended. She followed the boys to the end of the large room. Many of them turned as they walked by. She knew better than to think they were looking at her; Harry was the centre of attention everywhere they went. She smiled as she saw Harry’s awkward face.

“Have a seat, we have to go call Glinda; she never remembers the meetings she has to attend.” Harry explained and gave her hand a squeeze. She looked around the room and saw several people around her age. For some reason it reminded her of her first year in Hogwarts, except for the fact that everyone there was older and obviously more mature. She took a seat in the middle of the room and looked around.

“Is this seat taken?” a boy asked her. She smiled and shook her head. He obviously hadn’t gone to Hogwarts because she didn’t recognize him at all. “I’m Joshua McPherson”.

“Ginny Weasley,” she replied taking his hand. She noticed he had a strange accent. “You aren’t from around here are you?” She blurted out before she could stop herself. He laughed rather loudly.

“Nope, I’m from the great USA. Did the accent give it out or do I have a sign on my back that says ‘I’m a dumb American’ plastered on my back?” Joshua asked laughing again. Ginny couldn’t help but laugh.

“It was the accent that gave it off. If you don’t mind me asking what are you doing here? Don’t you guys have your own ministry?” Ginny asked smiling so the question didn’t seem so harsh. Joshua shrugged.

“I needed a new place and you guys seem to need all the hands you can get after that awful war you had last year. I figured it was time to leave my sweet home Alabama and explore new places!” Joshua said grinning. Ginny liked him; he seemed like a very cheerful guy. His sparkling blue eyes made him look like a child.

“Good morning people welcome to your first day in Auror training!” said a tiny woman as she walked into the room. She looked didn’t look much older than anyone in the room. She had light brown hair picked up messily into a ponytail. Her big brown eyes seemed to be taking everyone in. Harry and Ron walked in smiling, they took their place in the front of the room, “Everyone take a seat, I’m Glinda Andrews but everyone calls me ‘your majesty.” Everyone chuckled slightly. Ron snorted loudly, “Ok that’s not true but one can dream right? Anyway I am in charge of welcoming you. I’m sad to say that not everyone in this room will end up being an Auror. This is a very hard job even though I make it look easy.” She spoke so quickly that Ginny had to pay very close attention to every word coming out of her mouth. “Some of you will decide to quit, others will be kicked out given their lack of skill, and I say beforehand sorry people, no hard feelings. But some of you will manage to have the skill needed to be an Auror.

“Now I have to check if you’re all here. I will now tell you that the only one allowed to be late here is me because I’m special and because I’m the boss. Um Harry do you have the list? I think I might have left it-” Harry handed her a piece of parchment laughing. “Ah now what would I do without these two fellows who are unwillingly giving their time to help me? Everyone this is the great Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. They are my slaves for the time being. Everyone must be nice to my slaves or there will be hell to pay. So now for the roll call…”

Just then the door opened and two young men walked in looking exhausted. They looked at Glinda who simply stared at them.

“Can I help you…? Holly mother of Merlin!” Glinda covered her mouth. She looked at the boys wide eyed. The boys looked confused.

“Sorry we’re late but this city is confusing. It’s our first time here… are you ok?” said the blonde boy. Glinda was staring at the other boy. Harry was also staring at the dark haired boy. Ginny looked over at him and gasped. She suddenly understood why they looked so shocked. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

“I’m fine, find a seat gentlemen. Don’t be late again.” Glinda said when she regained her composer. Harry was still gawping at the dark haired boy. Ron didn’t seem to notice anything. “As I was saying before we were interrupted, I’m going to call out your name. When you hear it say present, if you don’t reply on time I’m going to assume you don’t exist.

“Abbot, Gerard… do you go by Gerry?” The boy nodded. “Black, James…” Glinda stared at the boy with the black hair again. He raised his hand and looked uncomfortable as Glinda continued to stare. “Do you go by the name Jimmy?”

“Actually I despise anyone who calls me Jimmy. James will do thanks,” James replied. Ginny gasped yet again as she thought she was hearing a ghost. Who was this boy and why did he look so much like Sirius Black?

Glinda continued down the list without any interruptions. Ginny recognized a few people she knew from Hogwarts but there were several people she didn’t know. She saw that Harry’s eyes didn’t leave James’ for a moment. James also looked at Harry quite curiously.

“Ok so let me start by giving you some warnings. As you know as Aurors, it is our duty to capture dark wizards. We don’t handle cases of minor infractions. We don’t have time for idiotic things like underage magic or misuse of magic. That is why there are departments for those types of things. Our main concern is to track down and capture the remaining Death Eaters. Many people believe that we are safe now that Voldemort…” There was a collective shudder at the sound of his name. The only ones that didn’t shudder were Ginny, Harry, Glinda, James and his blonde companion Jesse. The rest of the people including her brother shuddered, “Now really people you have to get used to the name. I will use it and I will force you to use it. Anyway people think that since Voldemort is dead that everything is safe and wonderful. There are still many Death Eaters out there. A lot of them are just as dangerous as Voldemort was”.

“What happens when we’ve caught all the Death Eaters?” asked Gerry Abbot. Glinda laughed and Gerry blushed.

“Well when we’ve caught all the Death Eaters then we’ll have to hunt down another group of dark wizards by another name. Look guys I think you’re all old enough to understand that Death Eaters aren’t the only evil wizards that have existed. There will ALWAYS be evil in this world. It is our job to make sure that evil doesn’t spread.” Glinda said looking at all of them with intensity. “I’m not going to lie to you guys, even if you do finish training there is a large chance that you won’t live very long. I’ve lost so many fellow co-workers that I think I lost count. It’s ok if you back out; it’s ok to be more concerned about your own life than the lives of others. Not everyone was made to fight evil. No one will hold it against you if you walk out now.” She looked around again. Ginny didn’t take her eyes off of her. “You will be taught things that you didn’t even imagine existed. All of your senses and all of your skills will be heightened beyond a doubt. We’ll push you to the limit of exhaustion and hell even beyond that, right boys?” She looked at Harry and Ron who nodded, “You will see things here that will make your skin crawl. You’ll want to go running back to your mummy’s house. If you don’t have a mummy, you’ll want to have someone pretend to be your mummy so you can go hide behind her. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to be here.

“Now enough scaring you guys. I’d like to know each of you. I will divide you into trios; the people who are in your team will be your best mates. They will be the only ones you can trust so get to know them. If one of your team mates drops out of the course you’ll have the short end of the stick. Now if both of your mates drop out then you’re screwed… ok no I’ll just throw you into another group where you won’t be trusted and will be mistreated.” Glinda said walking around. She grinned, “You should all see your faces, and it’s absolutely comical. Anyway today will be the easiest day of your training, all I want is for you to get to know the lives of your team mates. Then you will each tell me a brief summary of the person’s life. On your desk there is a paper with the names of the two people in your team. I am going to go get a muffin; Harry and Ron are in charge. If anyone does anything stupid you have permission to tie them up and throw them in the room full of rats.”

Ginny looked down and was surprised to see a parchment with two names.

“Who’s Ginny Weasley?” Jesse Smith said loudly. Ginny sighed and walked to the back of the room. She could feel Harry’s eyes on her but she didn’t look back at him. “Hello Ginny have a seat.”

“I don’t really have a choice do I? I’m Ginny,” Ginny said looking at the two boys. They were smirking at her, “What are you smirking at?”

“I like redheads,” Jesse said, winking. Ginny laughed and shook her head.

“You see the guys in the front of the room? The red head and the guy with glasses, well that’s my brother and my boyfriend. Both of them are very jealous, just thought I’d warn you.”

“Burn dude!” James said laughing. Ginny turned her attention to him. He looked so much like Sirius but younger. “Oh you’re doing the staring thing too. What do I have something on my face or am I just so hot that even your boyfriend wants me?” Ginny couldn’t help but laugh again. “Don’t worry Ginny; even if I were gay he’s not my type.”

“Good to know, but come on guys we have to get to know each other before Glinda comes back,” Ginny said taking a piece of parchment from her bag. The boys burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?”

“You don’t have to write it down, I’m pretty sure you can remember some amazing facts about us without having to write it down,” Jesse said shaking his head. Ginny had to admit that boy guys were very good looking and charming. “How about we start with you, James and I know each other very well so we need to get to know you”.

“Lucky me, I get to work with two idiotic Aussie surfers” Ginny muttered. She recognized the accent.

“How stereotypical can you get assuming that we surf? Not all people from Australia surf you know,” Jesse replied putting his hands behind his head. James snorted.

“I know you surf because of the way you speak, that and the lightness of your hair, not to mention the perfect tan you can only get on the beach,” Ginny said rolling her eyes.

“Wow that was impressive. Now let me try to figure you out due to your general appearance. You’re the only girl in your family, you have more than one brother; you’re a quidditch player… if I were to guess what position I’d guess Seeker. You went to Hogwarts and were the most popular girl in your year,” James said looking at her with scepticism. Ginny smirked, “You have a temper problem like most redheads do and you’re feeling very tempted to call your boyfriend over to have him kick our butts. But you’d never do that because it’d be a sign of weakness.”

“That was pretty good but let me correct you on some things though. I do have more than one brother I had 6 older brothers. I do play Quidditch but I’m a Chaser not a Seeker.” Ginny said tossing her hair back. “I wouldn’t call Harry over not because I don’t want to be weak but because I can kick your butt myself.”

“Who got burned now?!” Jesse said laughing. Ginny rolled her eyes. “I have a question; you said you had 6 brothers. What do you mean had?”

“One turned into a sister… I’m kidding. I lost my older brother Fred last year. I don’t want to talk about it though,” Ginny said shrugging. Jesse smiled sympathetically. James simply stared at Harry. “I thought you said he wasn’t your type.”

“He looks really familiar… is he Harry Potter?” James asked still looking at Harry.

“Yeah he’s Harry Potter, you guys have heard of Harry Potter in Australia?” Ginny asked looking at the boy carefully. They both shrugged but Jesse looked uncomfortable. “Wow he’s gone international then, how about instead of rambling about my boyfriend, you tell me about yourselves.”

“We’re not done questioning you. Like I said James and I already know each other very well. How old are you Ginny? Why are you here? What is your pet’s name? What are you brother’s names? Just tell us everything,” Jesse said looking at her like if she was an interesting specimen. Ginny scowled, “Aw now don’t get mad, you’ll have a chance to interrogate us and you will find that we aren’t just idiotic surfer babes.”

Ginny spent the next 30 minutes telling these two strangers a brief summary of her life. She left out things that they would never find out unless they asked someone close to her. Mainly she stuck to events that almost everyone knew about like the Chamber of Secrets and the events at the Ministry. The loved to hear about Dumbledore’s Army and both wanted to go pay a visit to George at his joke shop.

“It’s too bad Fred died, it sounds like we would have gotten along with him. In the words of a great muggle musician ‘only the good die young’.” James said smiling at her. Ginny couldn’t help liking him even though there was something very sad about his eyes.

“Now it’s my turn to ask the questions. Hopefully I’ll have enough time before Glinda comes back,” Ginny said stretching her arms out. She smiled at them, “I want to know where you were born, how old you are, the name of your parents, what school you went to… everything!” Ginny was very curious about James’ parents.

“I’ll start with the basics. I was born October 31st in the beautiful Queensland, Australia.” Jesse began as he rambled about school, his parents and surfing. Ginny found herself laughing at a lot of what he was saying. He obviously wasn’t an idiotic surfer but he knew how to play the dumb blonde part when he wanted to.

“What about you James? I now know way too much about Jess but I don’t know anything about you yet except what Jesse has said about you,” Ginny said interested. She needed to find out if he was related to Sirius. Everyone seemed to be related to the Blacks somehow but he looked so much like Sirius it was scary.

“My life isn’t very interesting to be honest. I was born in Queensland at my mother’s aunt’s house. My mum is both my mum and dad since I have no father. She’s best friends with Jesse’s parents. I have a wicked cool aunt who is a crazy Betty,” James began to say in a monotonous tone. He told her about his aunt who he called ‘Blondie’. He spoke about his mother but seemed to do it with a lot of caution. He told her a lot of different things and yet there was nothing real about what he was saying. She looked over at Jesse and found that he looked worried for the first time that day.

“I’m missing something here, why did you come to England? I hear that Australia is amazing, so why leave the waves? You do realize that we don’t have killer waves around here right?” she asked beginning to get annoyed with how reserved James was.

“Jess has always wanted to come to England ever since we were kids. I have some business to tend to here so we figured why not come here and do what we were going to do over there.” James said calmly. Jesse nodded, “Plus we can always go to the beach during our free time. I hear that there are some nice spots in the South of France.”

“The fun has arrived people! So let’s see just how much you’ve gotten to know about each other. I’m going to ask random question to random people so let’s see how you do!” Glinda said as she walked back into the run talking a mile per minute.

“I don’t know your father’s name James, what if she asks that?” Ginny whispered. James’ eye grew colder.

“Then tell her that her guess is as good as mine because I have no clue,” James said coldly.

The day flew by, before Ginny knew it, it was time to go home. That day had been a blur. Glinda walked out of the room yelling assignments as she left. Harry walked over to her while Ron followed Glinda out. James and Jesse stood there whispering to each other.

“Do you guys have a place to stay?” Ginny asked as she took Harry’s hand. She had heard Jesse mutter something about not having anywhere to sleep.

“Actually we do-”

“Don’t be stupid James we don’t have a place to stay and we have very little money,” Jesse said cutting him off. James glared at him.

“We’ll figure it out.”

“Sure we’ll just send an owl to mum and dad, have them send money to us,” Jesse muttered angrily. James looked like he wanted to murder Jesse.

“Guys you can stay at my house. There’s plenty of space, I don’t mind.” Harry said looking at James. Ginny knew Harry wanted find out more about James and was taking advantage of the opportunity.

“We don’t want to be a nuisance, well at least I don’t. Jess is one by nature. He was deprived of oxygen as a child,” James replied rolling his eyes but he looked controlled.

“The same thing happened to Ron, anyway I’m not taking no for an answer,” Harry said smiling. “I’m not joking when I say I have the space. Did you just arrive to the city? Do you have any belongings with you?”

“We left our stuff with the dude at the front desk. He said he’d keep an eye on them… not that we’re worried about our stuff.” Jesse snorted; James grinned and shook his head. Ginny and Harry looked confused, “We kind of made it so our stuff is safe… very safe”.

“They are going to get along great with George,” Harry shook his head. “Well I just have to go check in with Glinda and we are off. Oh Ginny can you go find Hermione? She’s with Kingsley working on something”.

“Sure, we’ll meet you at the fountain,” Ginny said kissing Harry’s cheek and walking out. Jesse and James awed at her. “Don’t make me hex you!”

They walked around the Ministry for a while not really speaking. Jesse was staring around in awe at everything and everyone. James looked like he was lost in thought but Ginny didn’t make notice of it.

“Ginny!” Hermione said as she walked towards her. She embraced Ginny as if she hadn’t seen her in years. “I’ve been looking for you… um who are your friends?” Ginny held back a laugh as she saw Hermione looking at both boys up and down.

“These are my two pains in the butt, my partners in Auror training, James Black and Jesse Smith. They’re going to be staying with Harry for a while,” Ginny said as the boys shook Hermione’s hand as she was looking at James and suddenly gasped.

“I seem to be having that effect on all women today. I know I’m just down right gorgeous but your making me blush,” James said looking at Hermione with interest. Hermione regained her composure and rolled her eyes. “It’s nice to meet you Hermione. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Good things I hope. Ginny can I have a word in private for a second?” Hermione said as she dragged Ginny by the arm to the end of the hall. “We’ll be right back I promise.”

“That was subtle ‘Mione, they’ll never know we’re talking about them,” Ginny said, sighing impatiently.

“He looks so much like Sirius! It’s like looking at a picture of Sirius when he was younger! Is he related to him somehow? Where did these guys come from? Why on earth are they so good looking?” Hermione whispered in a rush. Ginny snorted, “I need to know now because I hadn’t told you but I’m staying with Harry for a while. My parents went down to Australia again, they want to invest in some business there that they liked while living there last year. I didn’t want to stay alone so I asked Harry if I could stay with him”.

“I dunno if he’s related to Sirius, I guess it could be possible since everyone seems to be related to the Blacks. Jess and James are best friends, they are from Queensland Australia and they are good looking because they are surfers,” Ginny replied calmly. Hermione looked over at them nervously, “They’re good guys, a lot like the twins actually. You don’t have to worry about them.”

“I’m not worried about them; I’m worried about how Ron will react,” Hermione said making a face. “Ok let’s go.”

“We should tell the folks dude… oh hey girls,” Jesse said when he saw them. He ran his fingers through his hair and smiled. “Are you done talking about us?”

“Actually we were talking about girl things like make-up and hair,” Ginny replied.

They walked back to the large fountain in the middle of the entrance. The guys went to get their stuff and came back laughing. The security guard was cradling an injured hand. It looked like it was the size of a balloon. She shook her head; it appeared to be an interesting start to a new phase in her life.

***
A/N: Well this chapter is longer than others. I guess it's to make up for my long absence. Honestly things have been really weird lately and ever since I finished Once Upon a Dream i kind of stopped writing but I'm back! I liked this chapter for some reason. Thanks to Lauren for her help and a big thanks to Jesse though he doesn't read for the phrase
I'm kind of behind on replying to feedback but I'm working on it!

Feedback please

“Harry do you know anything about this kid? I mean come on you saw how much he looks like Sirius!” Glinda said as they walked into her office. Ron was digging through some folders and Harry stood watching them. “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice it because I saw your expression.”

“He and his friend are going to be staying at my place for a while. Apparently they don’t have anywhere to stay. Today was their first day in the city,” Harry replied calmly. Of course he had noticed the resemblance between James and Sirius. Even the name had made him suspicious. Sirius had never mentioned anything about a James Black. Ron found what he was looking for and handed it to Harry, “James Andrew Black, born in Queensland Australia to a Jacinta White the 20th of July. There’s nothing in here about a father or any other relatives except for his aunt Erin Green.”

“What a colourful family I suppose. I do remember Jay; she was 3 years above me when I was in Hogwarts. Hell of a Quidditch player,” Glinda muttered. Harry had never seen Glinda so curious about anything. “I guess we’ll just have to find out. See this is why I told Kingsley that it wasn’t a good idea the whole international acceptance even if the kids are brilliant!”

“Why are you so worked up about this Glinda?” Harry asked thoughtfully. She looked over at him and grinned. “You do know that curiosity killed the cat right?”

“Actually it was the dog that killed the cat. His name was Curiosity. So technically the dog still did it no matter what his name was.” Glinda replied smiling. She took the information from Harry’s hands. “I was friends with Sirius during my time in Hogwarts. I just was shaken up by what this boy looks like. It was like seeing my friend again. I’m alright though, I have some things to finish up here, and you guys can go home. I’ll see you guys in class tomorrow.”

Harry walked down the familiar corridors thinking about Sirius. His godfather had been dead for many years. If he would have had a child then he would have told Harry about it. He would have included him in his will instead of leaving Harry with everything. He arrived at the fountain and saw that James was talking to Ginny and Hermione. Jesse was no where to be seen.

“Where’s your mate?” Harry asked after he said hello to Hermione.

“I dunno he said he had seen something and wanted to examine it closer. Knowing Jesse that something was tall, blonde and beautiful,” James said shaking his head. Harry grinned at how much he looked and sounded like Sirius. It was like having his godfather back somehow.

“Actually she was tall, black hair and very beautiful!” Jesse said skipping in. He was grinning from ear to ear.

“You have to be careful here mate, girls here are more complicated than they are in the down under.” Ron pointed out as he took Hermione’s hand. She elbowed him slightly.

“Let’s go before Father Jesse gets in trouble,” Ginny said and James laughed. Jesse blushed and scowled as everyone else was confused. “I’ll let Jesse tell you that story, and it’s quite amusing actually.”

They arrived to the house laughing at Jesse’s stories. Everyone looked smiling as they entered the gloomy house.

“Wow Harry your taste in interior decorating really sucks,” Jesse said looking around. Harry laughed silently as he saw Kreacher enter the room.

“Master Harry, you is bringing company sir,” Kreacher said bowing at Harry. He nodded at the elf. “Master should have told Kreacher to make a better dinner!”

“Don’t worry Kreacher; they aren’t picky about what they eat. Hermione, Jesse and James are going to be staying here with us ok?” Harry said to the house elf, which seemed to be very interested in James, as everyone was. “Are there rooms ready for them to stay in?”

“Yes master, there are two guest rooms ready for use,” Kreacher replied bowing again. He had changed a lot since Harry had given him the locket but still muttered to himself once in a while. “Kreacher wonders if the two sirs are mud-bloods like the other one.”

“You do realize we can hear you right little elf dude?” Jesse asked looking at the elf strangely. Kreacher looked at him with suspicion.

“He knows Kreacher’s thoughts. Kreacher thinks he might be evil,” Kreacher muttered. “I is not knowing what you mean sir.”

“Kreacher, can you please bring us some tea please, that is if it’s not too much of a problem,” Hermione requested smiling kindly. Kreacher glared at her.

“Mudblood friend of master thinks she could tell Kreacher what to do!” Kreacher muttered.

“Hey elf, stop with the insults and get out of here before I kick you,” James growled. Harry was surprised to see that Kreacher obeyed silently. Kreacher never obeyed anyone but Harry unless he wanted to. “Is the elf insane or something?”

“He lived here alone for a very long time. He was mistreated and has a few trust issues.” Harry informed as he led them to the kitchen. That was the only room of the house he enjoyed being in. The rest was still slightly gloomy, “Other than the fact that he insults Hermione and Ron under his breath, he’s a good house-elf. Makes some good food now and cleans quite well.”

“Well like I said before Harry, you have some strange likes when it comes to decoration. I wouldn’t be surprised if suddenly a vampire jumped out at me,” Jesse said looking around the kitchen. Harry laughed.

“I didn’t decorate it; I inherited this place and haven’t had time to change it a lot. It’s a lot better than when I first arrived here.” Harry shrugged.

“When this was headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix we did a lot of cleaning. There were some really nasty things here,” Ron said shuddering. Harry laughed remembering how a pair of robes had tried to strangle Ron. The conversation was light as they sat down to dinner. They talked about the Order and things from their time in Hogwarts. James and Jesse told them about their life in Australia. Harry could see how James was beginning to feel more comfortable around them. His eyes weren’t as cold as before.

After dinner Ron, Hermione, and Ginny gave Jesse the grand tour of the house while Harry and James were talking about Quidditch. Harry was glad to be able to have a moment alone with James. Kreacher came in and continued staring at James.

“Hey elf dude stop staring at me, I’m not a bloody painting! Go find something to clean,” James said exasperated. Harry expected Kreacher to mutter something and not obey but he simply bowed. “I’m sorry for treating the little dude like that but I’m kind of getting annoyed with the staring. Why are you still here? Go on!”

“Kreacher was born to serve all of the Black family, even if they are the son of the young master who broke mistress’ heart,” Kreacher muttered as he walked out of the room. James looked confused but scared. Harry’s eyes opened up widely.

“What is he on about? He has to obey me because my last name is Black?” James asked shaking his head. Harry nodded, “Whose house is this?”

“It’s my godfather’s, Sirius Black… what?”

“Do you know where he is? Where is that filthy traitor?!” James said bolting up and pulling his wand out. Harry stood up confused, “HOW COULD YOU FORGIVE HIM AFTER WHAT HE DID TO YOUR PARENTS?! WHERE IS HE?”

“What are you on about James? He didn’t do anything to my parents-”

“HE WAS THEIR SECRET KEEPER! COME ON HARRY HE’S A MURDERER AND A TRAITOR! THERE’S NO REASON TO PROTECT HIM!” James bellowed angrily. Harry couldn’t help but notice how much he looked like Sirius. “THIS IS THE ONLY REASON I’M HERE. I WANT TO MAKE HIM PAY FOR EVERYTHING HE DID! FOR ALL THE BLOODY PAIN HE CAUSED MY MUM! FOR ALL THE PAIN HE CAUSED ME!”

“He was your father?” Harry asked stupidly. James shuddered at the word.

“That cowardly excuse for a man is no father of mine! He’s just the sperm!” James growled. Harry stared at him. His grey eyes looked murderous. He knew that look because Sirius got that look when he was going to do something stupid and reckless.

“James, Sirius is dead. He died a while ago,” Harry said quietly. James’ face went blank.

“Someone beat me to it then…”

“Don’t say that, stop saying those things about Sirius. He was a great man, he deserves respect,” Harry snapped before he could help it. James glared and pointed his wand at him. “What are you going to hex me for telling you the truth? Sirius was one of the greatest men I’ve ever met! H-He was the closest thing to a father figure I had that I can remember! He was my dad’s best mate!”

“And he betrayed him! Are you stupid or did Voldemort hit you in the head?”

“Sit down and listen will you! You obviously have been misinformed on the matter!” Harry said icily. James stood there a moment with his wand pointed at Harry. Neither of them moved.

“Expelliarmus! What the hell James!” Ginny yelled as James’ wand flew in the air. James simply sat down. “What in the name of Merlin’s socks is going on here?”

“Don’t worry Ginny, it’s just a misunderstanding.” Harry said sitting down. He didn’t take his eyes away from James. “You have to listen to me carefully James. Sirius didn’t betray my parents, Peter Pettigrew did.” Harry began to tell James the truth about Sirius. He told him everything, even how he was murdered. James simply sat there staring at him with a blank expression. Harry blinked back tears as he remembered his godfather, “He was a great man and honestly I don’t think he knew about you.”

“So he wasn’t evil? Jay didn’t know he wasn’t evil,” Jesse said after a moment of silence. James continued to stare at Harry.

“Why didn’t that Lupin guy tell my mum all of this?” James muttered.

“Lupin went to see you? He knew you existed?” Harry asked taken back by the sudden information. It stung to think about Lupin. He made a mental note to go see Teddy.

“I don’t think he knew about me until he went to see my mum. I didn’t know anything at the time… so he wasn’t evil?” James whispered. Harry thought he was talking more to himself than anyone else.

“He would have been thrilled if he’d have known you existed.” Harry said looking away for a moment to wipe his eyes, “He never told me much about his past but I could tell there was something that made him sad. I don’t think he ever got over your mother… Jay White… oh dear Merlin I knew I recognized that name! Come with me!”

“Do you think we should follow?” Harry heard Ron ask as he and James walked out. Hermione told him something that sounded like no.

Harry walked slowly to the room he now used as his own. It used to be Sirius’ room when he was young. He opened the door and found that Kreacher had cleaned up his clothes and other thing he’d left on the floor. James looked around and arched an eyebrow. He then walked over to the wall where a picture of the Marauder’s hung. Harry walked over to him.

“I know this is going to sound cliché but I know what it feels like to learn a sudden truth about your parents. I grew up thinking my parents were muggles, my aunt made me believe my dad was a bum without a job who died in a car accident because he was drunk.” Harry said softly, “I’m sure it’s not the same but at least you had your mum and your aunt right?”
“I wanted to… murder him for the pain he caused. I wanted him to feel what I felt, the pain I felt when I wondered if it had been my fault my dad ran out on us. I wanted him to suffer for every tear my mum shed for him, the years I spent hearing her screaming in her sleep then waking up crying.” James said as his grey eyes turned glassy. “Now I… I don’t know how to take this news.”

Harry patted his shoulder and walked over to the dresser. He remembered seeing a stack of letters the other day addressed to a Jay White. He looked until he finally found it. He saw the ghostly handwriting of Sirius.

“I think he tried to send these to her, your mum that is. I haven’t read them.” Harry said handing him the bundle of letters. James took them in his hands and looked at them; he then looked back at the picture. “The guy in glasses is my dad, he and Sirius were best mates. The blonde guy you know is Remus and the ugly one is Peter. They were the Marauders when they were in school. Padfoot, Prongs, Moony and Wormtail were their nicknames.” Harry smiled as he walked over to the nightstand. He took a tattered book in his hands and sighed. His photo album had some new pictures in it. He’d found some more pictures while he looked through Sirius’ room. He opened it, “I assume that’s your mum right?”

“Is that your parent’s wedding?” James asked and Harry nodded. His parents were standing there beaming at the camera. They were standing next to a pretty girl with dark hair and Sirius. “That’s my mum… it’s crazy how much you look like your dad.”

“It’s crazy how much you look like yours. That’s why everyone has been staring at you. It’s like seeing Sirius again but younger than when I knew him.” Harry replied flipping the page. There was a picture of his dad with Sirius and two girls who he didn’t know who they were.

“That’s Carmel… my mum had a picture of her. She dated your dad until she was killed.” James said pointing to the short girl with big eyes. Harry hadn’t known that. “That I think is Rebecca Adams. She was Sirius’ girlfriend before my mum. She was killed by Voldemort.”

“How do you know all of this?” Harry asked surprised that James knew more than him.

“My mum ended up telling me some things about her Hogwarts life.” James shrugged. “I’m sorry I reacted that way down there. It’s just… a lot to handle.”

“I probably would have reacted worse. I do have a question for you… are you named after my dad?” Harry asked looking at a picture of his dad with the pretty girl with black hair he knew was Jay. Had she also been his dad’s girlfriend?

“Your dad and my mum knew each other since they were infants. They were very good friends. She named me after him and after your grandfather. James Andrew… and for some strange reason she gave me my dad’s surname.” James said sighing. Harry saw a tear roll down his face, “She must have really loved even though she thought he was evil. She must have been in pain!”

“I’ll give you some time to read and look through the pictures. I’ll be downstairs,” Harry said patting his arm and standing up, “He missed your mum James, he tried to find her.”

Harry walked out and wiped his eyes. He felt so bad for Sirius, he never knew he had a son, he felt horrible for Jay; she always thought the man she loved murdered her best friends. He felt terrible for James; he knew what it was like growing up without a father. He knew what it was like growing up without knowing who your parents really were. Now James had to deal with the death of the father he never knew.

“Are you ok Harry? You look like if you just met a dementor.” Ron said as Harry walked into the kitchen. He nodded and looked at Jesse.

“Where’s James? Is he ok? He hasn’t jumped off the roof has he?” Jesse asked a tad bit anxious.

“He’s making his peace with his father. He’s not ok,” Harry said as Ginny wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her closer to him, “But he will be.”

***
“Very good Miss Shaville, you seem to be a natural at this,” Christopher Latham said as Elizabeth demonstrated a spell he had just taught her. Elizabeth beamed at him and he looked at her in wonder. He wasn’t bad looking but Elizabeth knew better than to go after the guy who was training her. “This wraps everything up. You’re free to go home.”

“Thank you sir!”

“Don’t call me sir, call me Chris please,” Chris said smiling at her. She couldn’t help but notice that he had a very appealing smile. It made her smile which was weird.

“Ok Chris but you must call me Elizabeth or Lizzie.” Elizabeth said with her best alluring tone. He grinned and nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow Chris.”

“Try to be on time please, I’m going to give you the tour of the department!” Chris said excitedly. She smiled and nodded. She was never late and would never be late.

Elizabeth walked very smugly to the lift as she thought about her day. She had made excellent progress, not only in class but also with the Weasley girl. She knew Ginny was still suspicious of her but now there was a little seed of doubt in her. She had to make them believe that she wasn’t evil even if she was. Elizabeth laughed as the lift stopped on the main floor.

“I hear that when you laugh alone you’re remembering your evil deeds,” said a blonde boy that was near the lift. She looked at him and smiled. Tall, blonde and handsome just the way she liked them. “Now you should probably share the joke so I don’t think you’re thinking about all the evil you’ve done.”

“A little bit of evil fun never hurt anyone,” Elizabeth replied smoothly. The guy ran his fingers through his long blonde hair and laughed. His hazel eyes were staring at her intently. “What makes you think I should share the fun with you?”
“I’m up for any kind of fun. Well as long as it’s with someone as stunning as you,” smooth and handsome said. Elizabeth had never encountered a guy who was so straight forward without being disgusting. His accent wasn’t from around here. He had a perfect tan which couldn’t be from England.

“Who are you? I don’t think we’ve met,” Elizabeth said taking a step towards him. He didn’t move back nor did he look confused like most guys did when she purposely used her charms against them.

“Didn’t you know; I’m your knight in shining armour. I’m here to sweep you off your feet.” The guy replied smirking at her. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She’d heard that one before but never so elegantly used. “Ok seriously I’m Jesse Smith, and you are?”

“Not a damsel in distress but certainly interested,” Elizabeth replied smirking back at him. He laughed, “I’m going to leave my name for the next time we meet. I have to run. Until we meet again charming knight!”

“Bon voyage fair maiden,” Jesse waved as she walked off smiling. She was amused by this guy. She didn’t have time for flings but she certainly was going to make an exception for him. He was too good-looking and bright to pass up. She walked out to the streets of London; her smile disappeared from her face. She had been putting off a visit to her aunt’s home but she couldn’t anymore. She closed her eyes and Disapparated. She then stood in front of a large manor. There were peacocks on the lawn as she walked in through the gate without calling first. She banged on the door as she wasn’t in the mood to break the door down. A blonde pale woman opened the door.

“What do you- oh my… no it can’t be!” Narcissa Malfoy stuttered as she caught a glimpse of Elizabeth. She tried to close the door but Elizabeth rolled her eyes and flicked it open with her wand. “Y-you’re not welcome here!”

“Now that’s no way to receive family Aunt Narcissa! Oh you’re scared because you’re home alone eh?” Elizabeth smirked. She was right to think that Draco and Lucius were out. She was very skilled in the art of Leglimency. “Well you’re right to be scared dear auntie. You didn’t possibly believe that I wasn’t going to find out that it was you who gave me to the Muggles right?”

“I-I… how did y-you find out who I was?” Narcissa asked shaking from head to toe. She reached in her robes swiftly and pulled her wand out. Elizabeth rolled her eyes at the stupidity of the woman who was related to her. She flicked her wand easily and caught Narcissa’s wand.

“I met my mother before she was killed. Now since I couldn’t make her pay I think I’ll have some fun with you,” Elizabeth said staring at her with hatred. She had been mistreated all her life because the woman before her gave her away. Elizabeth began to think about the times where she was hungry but there wasn’t much to eat, or when she was cold but they only got a thin blanket each. All of the suffering she had endured was because of Narcissa Malfoy. She had to pay. “So tell me auntie why did you leave me at a muggle orphanage? Couldn’t you have left me at a wizard one? Crucio!”

Narcissa screamed in pain. Her small body was twitching like mad on the floor. “I-I did it f-for you!” Elizabeth lifted the spell. “Y-you would have been in danger in a wizard orphanage because of your mother. S-So many p-people hate her!” Narcissa gasped as she lay panting on the floor.

“Now I’m supposed to believe that you were only caring about me! Crucio! You know that’s a load of crap Narcissa!” Elizabeth snarled. She was enjoying seeing her aunt wither in pain. It’s the least she deserved after what she had done. She lifted the spell again, “You did it because I was a burden, and you didn’t want to have to explain to people that your sister had a child with the Dark Lord, crucio!”

“W-W-What did you s-say?!” Narcissa managed to say when Elizabeth lifted the curse. “I-I didn’t k-know that y-you were h-h-his daughter!”

“Well doesn’t make much of a difference does it? You still abandoned me and now you’re going to die because of it! Crucio, of course I’m going to enjoy torturing you before I kill you.” Elizabeth said laughing as Narcissa’s eyes were beginning to roll to the back of her head. She wondered if her curse was very strong or if Narcissa was weak. She let that one go for a minute. She lifted it. Narcissa was still breathing but it looked like she wasn’t very conscious. “Now, now auntie, if you pass out then that won’t be very fun!” Elizabeth tried a curse she created during her Hogwarts days. This curse causes the person to bite their tongue literally off. It was quite amusing to watch Narcissa bite herself as she tried to scream. Soon Elizabeth saw something fall out of Narcissa’s mouth along with a lot of blood, “Very good auntie dear! Did you like that one? I created it myself!”

Elizabeth tried another curse that she had created. That one caused the person’s bones to break several times. All of the bones in the body would break like if the person had jumped off a sky scraper.

“Wow, I had never used that one on a person. I must say it’s very effective!” Elizabeth said laughing as Narcissa tried to scream. Her blonde hair was full of sweat and blood, her pale face was smeared with blood but she could no longer move. “Now I want to let you know before you die that I’m going to kill your dear Draco. I’m going to murder him in a worse way than I did to you! I’m going to wait until he’s finally happy with his life and then I’m going to take everything away from him. Then I’ll be merciful and I’ll kill him! Now don’t you wish you wouldn’t have left me at that orphanage?” Narcissa couldn’t move but Elizabeth saw the desperation in her eyes. “Bye, bye auntie Narcissa! See you in hell! Avada Kedavra!”

***
A/N: Hahaha Lizzie is so like her mommy and daddy! Except... raging hormones.. hahaha! I liked this bit too because it's like I want to hug James but also smack him hahaha. I'm sorry I'm not being coherent. So thanks to everyone who still reads! You all rock my socks off . Big thanks to Lauren who rocks and that's it! Remember that I do read all the feedback and it inspires me

Feedback please

James sat in the dark room for a while before he could move. He had been staring at a picture of his father as his mind was racing. He had been wrong, his father wasn’t a murderer. He had loved his mother and didn’t know about James’ existence.

Ever since he could remember he believed his father had hated the thought of having a child and that’s why he ran off on his mother. Now he saw that it was his mother who had ran but with a good reason. He wondered how it was that his mother hadn’t heard that Sirius was innocent.

He saw on the bed and began to open letters. The first one was dated a few years ago.

Dear Jay,

I hope this letter finds you wherever you are. I don’t know if you’re alive, if you got married… I dunno what became of you but I just hope that this finds you.

Please read this, don’t throw it out! I am innocent! Let me explain to you what really happened that night.

I convinced James to make Peter the secret-keeper at the last minute. I figured everyone would go after me and that way Peter would be safe. The Death Eaters had already gone after me once, I knew that I might not be strong enough to resist them again; it’d just be safer if Peter was the secret-keeper. Now I see what a complete idiot I was. We didn’t tell you mainly because I didn’t want to put you in danger. I would rather die than put you in any sort of danger! I figured if you didn’t know anything than you’d be less likely to be attacked.

That stupid rat Peter betrayed James and Lily. I arrived at their house because Peter wasn’t in his hideout. There wasn’t any sign of struggle so I knew something was wrong.

Then you got there and I wasn’t able to explain to you what happened. I wish you would have killed me but Dotty would have never allowed it. I was hurting so much because of James and Lily’s death and because you left without an explanation. I kind of snapped and went after Peter myself. I cornered him in a muggle street. He kept up his charade and screamed something about me being responsible and then before I could attack, he blew the whole street up and disappeared into the sewers.

I’ve been in Azkaban ever since. There hasn’t been a moment since you left that I haven’t thought about you. I know you have every right to believe that I’m lying to you but I’d like to prove it to you. Please come back. I still love you with every fibre of my being.

Jay I’m sorry for everything, I’m sorry for being stupid enough to trust Peter Pettigrew. I’m sorry for not informing you of the change. But mainly I’m sorry because I know you’ve been hurting and I don’t want you to hurt.

Please let me explain to you in person.

Love you always,
Sirius

James went on to the next letter as he wiped his eyes.


My dearest Jay,

I hope you did get my last letter; I sent it with the best owl I had available. Yet you haven’t come back. I know you don’t believe me Jay and I don’t blame you but please just give me the chance to explain.

I’m in hiding right now because the Ministry is after me but if you were to arrive at Hogwarts I’d be there in an instant. Please tell me you’ll meet with me!

You should see our godson. He looks so much like James except he has Lily’s eyes and her temper too. Harry has shown that he’s a really amazing kid. You should come meet him, I’m sure he’d love to see you even though he doesn’t know anything about you. I figured it’d be best if you told him about yourself.

Imagine how amazing things will be when I’m cleared of all charges. We can have Harry living with us! We’d be able to give him the home he’s been denied all these years!

I miss you everyday but I hope that one day soon we’ll be able to see each other again. I bet you’re still as gorgeous as the last time I saw you!

Please Jay, I’m begging you, come back. Let me know you’re alive, that you’re ok. I don’t care if you’re married, I don’t care about anything! I just want to know that you’re ok! I’m sorry for everything Jay. Please remember I’ve never stopped loving you.

I love you
Sirius

The letters continued on and on. He always begged her to come back to England. He always asked for forgiveness. He just wanted the woman he loved to come back to him. James read about what his father did during his years of hiding. His letters told his mum about what he was doing, what was going on with Harry, about people they knew. It was as if he didn’t care that Jay never got any of these letters. James could tell that Sirius had been miserable without his mum. He began to tell her how useless he felt being locked up in this house again. How it had brought back memories of all the horrible things he’d lived here. With each letter James read, he began to understand his father better. He finally reached his last letter.

Dear Jay,

I’m now sure that you never got any of my letters. It was stupid of me to think that you would.

Today Dumbledore came to tell me that they had found out that your father died. Interestingly enough I didn’t feel sad for him because I still remember vividly how he blamed you for your mother’s death. He died because he was a drunk, I don’t blame him for trying to drown the pain through alcohol. Sometimes I feel like going back to that. I’d like to feel the numbness I felt when I was trying to drink myself into a grave. I know that I’d never get that numbness again.

When I was trying to feel nothing when Becca died, you come along. You never let me go fully numb because you were there. You were that little light at the end of the tunnel. You pulled me out of that sea of despair. I know I failed you in the worst ways but one thing I will never do again is go back to drinking myself senseless. You deserve better than that, Harry deserves better.

When Dumbledore came to tell me that, he also handed me a pack of letters. He said he’d found them in your dad’s house. I guess you made it so that if any letters tried to reach you, they’d go there. I should have known that you’d be that brilliant. You can’t blame a guy for trying right?

I’ve tried every possible way of finding you but it’s all failed. The only one who knows where you are is Dotty.

She has been working at Hogwarts ever since I was placed in Azkaban. She’s very old but I was still selfish enough to summon her. I asked her to find you knowing that she’d do anything for me. That elf is the best. She left for several days and came back with a sad smile on her face. She told me that you were alive and well but that she couldn’t get close to you. She said that you had some sort of protective spell that not even her magic could break. Poor Dotty kept telling me that she tried very hard to get close to you, to talk to you but she couldn’t.

So you did get married again. Dotty saw you with a man, a surfer guy. She said that you had a child with you who called you mum. Dotty didn’t get a good look at the boy but she said that you looked happy with him. I’m happy for you Jay! I’m sure you’re an amazing mum. I always knew you’d be a great mum because you’re you.

I hope that guy treats you right. I hope he makes you so happy that you forget the past. It hurts so much that it wasn’t me who could do that for you but the only thing that matters is that you’re happy. I only want you to be happy.

If you ever do read this I’m sure you’d be thinking “Wow Sirius Black actually matured”. Trust me love, I didn’t do it on purpose. Things just got completely messed up. I never pictured my life this way but I have to make the best of it. Right now I’m satisfied with knowing that you’re happy and that Harry is safe.

Do you remember that night that you found Remus with Jessica? (Sorry for bringing it up) I was remembering that I stayed there with you while you cried. I felt very helpless as I heard you think it was your fault he had done that to you. You cried yourself to sleep and I lost it. I went to scream and punch Remus and then I went back. You looked so defenceless as you slept. I knew right then and there that I had to protect you somehow. I vowed that I would never see you hurting so much and I tried my best to keep you from hurting in that way. I hope you can forgive me for breaking that vow even if it was involuntarily.

I was thinking of that night I first kissed you. You look so amazingly hot on that stage. It was fate that you decided to play that song. While you sang I kept thinking of all those moments we shared together. One of the ones that stood out the most to me was when we were playing Quidditch one day and I said something stupid to you. You flew towards me, yanked the beater’s bat out of my hands and knocked me off my broom with it. I dunno why I remember that so clearly, I guess it’s because after I was on the floor with blood rushing from my nose, you took off your shirt and handed it to me to stop the bleeding. I made a comment about your body and you kicked me then walked away. Such a charming girl I swear!

You know, I’ve had a lot of time to be alone lately and I found that guitar you gave me. I’ve been playing a lot and I came up with a song just for you. The last song I’ll ever write. It seems like a good way to end this letter.

I hope that someday someone sees these letters and gets them to you. I think we would have been happy together. We were really made for each other Jay. You kept me grounded and I helped you not to take things so seriously. I wish your son would have been my son too. I dunno if I would have been a good father but I would’ve tried my best!

I love you Jacinta (don’t scowl at your name, it’s pretty). I will always love you. Until my heart stops beating, it’ll always beat for you. You will always be the girl who knocked me off my broom and gave me her shirt to clean the blood.

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do..
I will be strong I will be faithful
'Cos I'm counting on a new beginning.
A reason for living.
A deeper meaning.

I want to stand with you on a mountain.
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever.
Until the sky falls down on me...

And when the stars are shining brightly
In the velvet sky,
I'll make a wish
Send it to heaven
Then make you want to cry..
The tears of joy
For all the pleasure and the certainty.
That we're surrounded
By the comfort and protection of..
The highest power.
In lonely hours.
The tears devour you..
I want to stand with you on a mountain,
I want to bathe with you in the sea.
I want to lay like this forever,
Until the sky falls down on me...

Oh can't you see it baby?
You don't have to close your eyes
'Cos it's standing right before you.
All that you need will surely come...

I'll be your dream
I'll be your wish
I'll be your fantasy.
I'll be your hope
I'll be your love
Be everything that you need.
I'll love you more with every breath
Truly madly deeply do...


Be happy,
Sirius

James sat there with tears in his eyes. His father thought he had been AJ’s son and not his. He died thinking his mother had moved on and was happy for her even though it hurt him.

He looked at the picture of his parents with the Potters on the day of their wedding. If only things had been different. Harry and he would have grown up together. His mother would have been happy. He would have been happy.

He stood up and ran down to the kitchen. Everyone stared at him as he stormed in.

“Harry can we summon a house elf from Hogwarts? I want to know if she’s still alive. She can tell us more about our parents.” James said taking a deep breath. “I’m not ready to tell my mum I’m here and not in America. First I want to know more.” He knew that was what Jesse was going to say.

“Kreacher, can you come here for a second please?” Harry asked. The house elf walked in bowing.

“What can Kreacher do for Master Harry?”

“James has a question for you; I want you to do what he asks ok?” Harry said patting the house elf on the shoulder. James could tell there was a lot of resentment in the eyes of the house elf.

“Kreacher, I know you don’t like me because I look like my father but do you know if there is a house elf at Hogwarts named Dotty? She’s probably very old by now, maybe she’s dead.” James said wishing with all his might that she wasn’t dead.

“Why is you needing Dotty sir? Kreacher is the Black’s house elf, not Dotty!” Kreacher said looking outraged.

“I only want to ask her a few questions. I know you’re the Black’s house elf. You do a very good job as the house elf Kreacher. I just need to talk to Dotty.” James said trying to control his impatience. Kreacher disappeared with a pop. “He didn’t look very happy. So he has to obey me because of who my dad was?”

“He has to obey anyone who is a true Black.” Harry said sitting back down. James took a seat next to Jesse. “Are you ok mate?”

“I dunno yet, I’ll let you know when I know,” James replied putting his head in his hands.

“For what it’s worth we all really cared about Sirius. He was a lot of fun and a great man.” Ginny said smiling sympathetically. He was sure that none of them had expected that when they woke up that morning. They heard a pop and a wrinkled house elf appeared in front of them. She was staring at James with a frightened look.

“You… you is dead sir! Sirius Black sir you is dead!” squeaked the house elf. It looked like she was going to pass out. “Dotty must be going crazy. You is not here!”

“Dotty calm down, this isn’t Sirius,” Hermione said kneeling next to the elf. There was a look of compassion and concern on her face. James couldn’t help but notice that.

“But Miss he is looking just like Sirius Black! I is knowing Sirius Black, he is him!” Dotty said pointing a shaking finger at James. There were tears falling down her face. “This is morbid joke being played on Dotty. Harry Potter sir, why?”

“This isn’t a joke Dotty. I’m not Sirius Black. I know I look at lot like him but look at me closely. I have come of my mum’s features too.” James said, kneeling next to Dotty. She studied his face still looking afraid. “My name is James Black. I think you know my mother, Jay White…”

“You is boy I saw! But you is not looking this way when Dotty sees you!” Dotty said still staring at James.

“Puberty kind of changes a guy a lot Dotty.”

“You is Sirius Black’s son? Miss Jay is not married to other man?” Dotty said covering her mouth. James smiled at her, “Dotty is breaking master’s heart with a lie!” Dotty broke down in tears. She was sobbing. Her frail body shook.

“You didn’t know Dotty. No one can blame you for thinking that. You didn’t see my face. Don’t cry,” James said as he hugged the elf. He was never very kind to house elves. He never felt the need but this tiny elf was different. There was something different about her. “I didn’t call you here to torture you, I would just like for you to tell me more about my dad”.

“Is Miss Jay here?”

“No, she’s still back home”.

“I is sorry for crying sir. You is looking so much like Sirius Black that it is taking Dotty by surprise. Kreacher said not what you is wanting. He only said that Harry Potter sir needed me,” Dotty said still with tears rolling down her face. Harry walked over to her and led her to the table. She looked at James and Harry together. “You both look like your fathers sirs. It is almost like seeing the young masters again”.

“You knew my parents as well?” Harry asked taking a seat next to James. He had seen this elf a few times but had never spoken to her.

“I is knowing your parents very well. Miss Lily was my Becky’s best friend,” Dotty said wiping her eyes.

“Who was Miss Becky Dotty? We don’t know very much of the story,” Hermione said kindly as she handed Dotty a handkerchief.

“Dotty belonged to a great wizard family. The Adams was my family. They was the best wizards Dotty is knowing. I is being born there, Dotty’s mother served the family before Dotty was born. Dotty took care of her masters. One day the masters brought home a baby. They was very busy peoples. They is not having time to take care of a baby. Dotty knew it was being her job to take care of the baby. Dotty was loving mistress Becky very much.” Dotty said as she smiled a toothy smile. Her wrinkled face wrinkled even more. “Miss Becky had only her Dotty to care for her since masters worked much. Miss Becky grew up all alone. She is not having many friends. For safety matters her parents is telling Dotty she is not allowed to go play with kids. But she had her Dotty to play with her. When she is going to Hogwarts Dotty knew that Miss Becky would have friends. Miss Becky taught Dotty to read so she could write to me. Miss Becky would tell her Dotty about her new friends. She is having a friend name Lily Evans. Miss Becky was happy!

“As Miss Becky grew, she was closer to Miss Lily. Miss Lily would come to the house so Miss Becky wouldn’t be alone. Dotty loved Miss Lily very much. During the Miss Becky’s 5th year she began to write to Dotty about a young sir. Sirius Black sir had caught the attention of Miss Becky. Dotty knew he must be special for Miss Becky to like him. One day he is coming to the house with James Potter. They is both making Becky laugh when she is fighting with Miss Lily”.

“Why did she fight with my mum?” Harry asked intrigued. James knew Harry didn’t know very much about his parents so he was taking in every word Dotty spoke. Dotty shrugged.

“Dotty is not knowing. I is only knowing they fought and the sirs made Miss Becky laugh. Dotty could see Sirius Black sir liked Miss Becky as well. During their 6th year at Hogwarts my masters was killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! Dotty was very sad, Miss Becky was devastated but Sirius Black was being there for her. He helped her during that time. They is becoming boyfriend and girlfriend not long after that. Miss Becky loved Sirius Black very much so. James Potter and Lily Evans was not very friendly to each other but were kinder when Miss Becky and master Sirius were together.” Dotty said blowing her tiny nose. “James Potter met a girl that Miss Becky became friends with. Miss Carmel was kind to Dotty and Miss Becky loved her. But she was killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s followers. Miss Becky was very saddened. She cried often but had her friends. They was all sticking together. Then what Dotty never thought would happen, happened. Miss Lily and Mr. James got together. Miss Becky is telling Dotty how happy she was being for them!

“During their last year they all became good friends with Miss Jay. She, Miss Lily and Miss Becky was best friends. They was inseparable. Dotty had never seen Miss Becky so happy!” Dotty said smiling again. But her face suddenly changed. She frowned and began to cry again, “They was happy until Miss Becky was killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! Dotty wanted to die too. Miss Becky was the only thing I was having. She was Dotty’s family! Miss Becky wanted Dotty to serve her friends. I was not wanting to, I was wanting to die to be with my masters. But I is doing as ordered. I served Miss Lily, Miss Jay, Mr. James and master Sirius. Sirius Black sir was trying to kill himself when Mistress Becky died. Dotty understood the young sir. He was missing her too much.

“Miss Jay didn’t allow master to die. She helped him get better. Dotty was mad at first when Sirius Black and Miss Jay spent so much time together. It was as if Miss Becky hadn’t existed!” Dotty said shaking her head. James felt a little uncomfortable. He was the product of that time spent together. “Dotty was wrong. Miss Becky wanted Sirius Black to be happy. And he was. Dotty went to serve the Potters when they is getting married. I is loving Miss Lily very much. She was Miss Becky’s best friend, they was almost like sisters! The Potters had a baby and I was excited! I helped Miss Lily with the baby. Harry Potter sir was a cute baby. You was not whiny. You was a quiet happy baby.”

“You knew Harry as a baby? Was he a big pooper?” Ron said laughing. Hermione nudged him as Harry shook his head. “I can just picture the little midget with glasses!”

“He was not pooping much sir. He was burping a lot,” Dotty said smiling at Harry. He blushed slightly. “I is going into hiding with the sirs when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was after them. Dotty went out and did what they is not able to. Miss Lily was always so kind to Dotty. She is treating me like a part of the family.

“That night I went with Miss Jay to buy Miss Lily something she needed. When we is arriving the house was in pieces. Dotty heard that the masters changed their secret-keeper from Sirius Black sir to Peter Pettigrew. He is a bad, bad wizard.” Dotty said as her face made a small scowl. Everyone was scowling as they heard the elf talk, “Dotty is seeing Sirius Black sir standing… he was next to Mr. James. Miss Jay thought Mr. Sirius had done bad things. She was thinking he betrayed the masters. I is knowing he didn’t but she is not listening. She took out her wand and was going to attack Mr. Sirius! Dotty was not going to let her! Mr. Sirius hadn’t done it so Dotty ran and protected master Sirius. Miss Jay is not attacking Dotty. Miss Jay liked Dotty but she left. Master Sirius was very upset.” Dotty sighed as she wiped her eyes again, “He is leaving Dotty there alone. Dotty is taking the bodies to Headmaster Dumbledore. I was not letting the bad wizards get my masters! I is taking them to Headmaster who told Dotty she should stay in Hogwarts”.

“Thank you for that Dotty, for not letting the Death Eaters get my parent’s bodies,” Harry said taking the tiny elf’s hand. Dotty nodded.

“And I must thank you for not letting my mum kill my dad. Thank you for caring about him,” James whispered taking the elf’s other hand. She began to sob louder.

“Your father was a kind man. He was special! Dotty loved him very much! Dotty looked for Miss Jay everywhere. I is going to Australia to see her and I didn’t get close. I couldn’t! I is seeing her with a man and a boy. I-I is thinking…” Dotty’s voice trailed off. She took her little hands and hit her head, “Dotty is stupid!”

“No Dotty, you did so much for my mum and my dad! I’m sure my dad would have thought the same thing if he’d had seen my mum with AJ. They are best friends so of course you would get the wrong idea!” James said taking her hands and not letting her hit herself.

“My dad is like that, Dotty. He looks like the cool surfer dad type,” Jesse said grinning at the elf. She looked at him gratefully.

“I is glad you is calling me sir. I is having something for Miss Jay!” Dotty squeaked and stood up as fast as her tiny legs allowed. She suddenly disappeared.

“I like her, she’s a righteous little elf chick,” Jesse said smiling. Dotty returned carrying a guitar, “Master Sirius is telling me to give it to Miss Jay. I is keeping it till I saw her but Dotty is old. I is going to die soon so you is having it. Master Sirius would have wanted you to have it! You is after all his son!”

James took the smooth blue guitar in his hands. He touched the strings softly. His mother had taught him to play when he was younger, no wonder she had begun to cry when he played his first song.

“Thank you Dotty, this is amazing!” James said putting the guitar on the table and hugging the elf. He whispered as he hugged her, “I’m sorry you’ve lost everyone you’ve cared for. Even though I don’t know you well I care for you. I know my mum cares for you.”

“You is too kind sir. You really is like your father,” Dotty said patting James’ face softly. She turned to Harry and then back to James, “I is seeing two of the Marauders again!”

“Well we can call Lupin up and then it’d be the good Marauders,” James said smiling. Dotty’s ears twitched as she stared at Harry with a startled expression. “What?”

“Remus… he was killed last year in the battle,” Harry whispered. It looked like if it hurt him a lot to say those words. Hermione was crying and Ginny looked close to tears.

“I-I…”

“I think we have to tell your mum dude. She looked like she was tight with him.” Jesse said also in shock. He was probably remembering just like James the time they had met Remus. Dotty nodded.

“Miss Jay was very close to Mr. Remus for a time.” Dotty said looking uncomfortable. Her wrinkled face looked somehow older.

“Dotty I think you should go get some rest. I think this has been draining for you.” James said, still shaken by the news. Dotty shook her head.

“I is glad to do this! I is glad to help the young masters! I is serving you and Harry Potter sir like I is doing with your parents!” Dotty said getting up and bowing.

“Don’t do that Dotty, you’re like a part of the family!” Harry said smiling at her. She smiled with tears in her eyes.

“Consider all of us your family Dotty! You aren’t alone,” Ginny said smiling kindly. Everyone nodded and Dotty cried some more.

“I is coming to see you often if it is ok with yous.” Dotty said looking around.

“You’re welcomed here anytime you’d like, please come see us regularly!” Harry replied hugging the elf. James smiled; apparently he wasn’t the only one who was drawn to the elf. She waved and disappeared.

“Is Harry Potter freeing Kreacher and bringing Dotty?” Kreacher asked looking troubled. James couldn’t help but laugh and Kreacher glared, “You really is like the young master!”

***
A/N: Oh man I know I've been MIA forever but I've got an annoying job and all the responsiblitiies of a grown up! I swear its terrible" But I'm posting now so that you guys dont think I've forgotten about this fic! The evil parts are coming I promise! There will be more Lizzie parts . This chapter is cute I liked it and I love James now. The song is "Truly madly deeply" by Savage Garden. Old song but love it!

Remember please leave your thoughts.

Truly Madly Deeply

Feedback I know I don't deserve it but I'd love it

Chapter 9
"Late"

Jesse rubbed his eyes as he sat up a bit disoriented. It was dark and the room was not familiar to him. He saw a sleeping James with his mouth hanging wide open. Jesse remembered what had happened the night before and where he was. He stretched like a big lazy cat and ventured out to find the shower.

After he was ready, he walked down towards the kitchen still a little lost seeing as he did not know his way around the house. The smell of freshly baked goods was making his stomach rumble.

“I thought I was the only morning person here,” Hermione said as she was scribbling away on a long piece of parchment. Jesse shrugged and sat down staring at Hermione. He noticed how she didn’t seem to like the attention. “What? Do I have something on my face?”

“Actually you do, it’s called ink,” Jesse said smiling. Hermione rubbed her face thoroughly, “What are you writing?”

“It’s an essay for one of my classes,” she said as she rolled up the parchment. “So how are you enjoying England?”

“Well I can’t say I’ve enjoyed it much because I was too busy trying to keep my friend from becoming a murderer but I know I’ll enjoy it because it’s been my dream to come here since I was a little kid,” Jesse said as he poured a cup of orange juice. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
“How did you know he’s my boyfriend?” Hermione asked blushing.

“He was very territorial about you with the glares and the looks. We get it you’re taken. So I do have a question.... how well do you know the girls at the Ministry? I figure you must know her because she does seem about your age,” Jesse smiled as he remembered the girl at the ministry.

“Um I know quite a few girls seeing as I was prefect at Hogwarts but not everyone that works at the Ministry went to Hogwarts. Who did you meet or why do you ask?”

“I ran into a girl yesterday, very pretty and clever. She was coming from one of the lower levels of the ministry. Look loan me some parchment and your quill,” Jesse said stretching his hand. Hermione handed it to him and he began to sketch. He was talented with the quill.

“Wow I didn’t know surfers could draw,” Hermione said as Jesse drew. He snorted and continued. Hermione began to skim the newspaper. “Guess it’s just another stereotype. This girl must have caused quite an impression”.

“Do you recognize her?” Jesse said handing her the parchment. Hermione laughed and nodded. “What’s her name? Stop reading and tell me?”

“Elizabeth Shaville she was in Ginny’s year. Not very popular, because she was a Slytherin, I had no problem with her but she’s kind of strange,” Hermione said shrugging. She began to read the paper again and gasped. Her face was pale and her eyes were wide, “Oh dear Merlin how horrible!”

“What’s wrong Hermione? Did this moron do something to you?” James asked walking into the kitchen with Harry. Hermione shook her head and stared at Harry.

“Why must you always think the worst of me?” Jesse said folding up the parchment and putting it in his pocket. “Tell them that it’s something you read and not something I did”.

“Read this Harry! I can’t believe it! I mean she was a complete hag but who would do this now that there is peace?” Hermione said handing Harry the paper.

Malfoy Murdered
Yesterday afternoon a hideous murder occurred to one of the oldest wizarding families. Narcissa Malfoy maiden name Black was brutally murdered in her home. As we all know the Malfoy family was a strong supporter of You-Know-Who, given that fact the Ministry is having a hard time finding the person responsible.
Ministry officials claim to have been a burglary gone wrong yet there was nothing missing from the home when the Ministry arrived. “Mrs. Malfoy’s face was frozen in a state of fear,” a neighbour of the family commented. “They weren’t very loved around here. She was always very rude to us”.
An inside source from the Ministry commented on the death: “I don’t see why anyone is surprised. We all know the Malfoy’s are bad news. They have many enemies out there. I say good riddance! They should now do us all the favour of finishing off the other two!”
Narcissa was also the sister to known Death Eater Bellatrix Black who was known for her mass murders. It seems like someone out there is trying to rid the world of the Death Eaters who are left out there.
When asked about the murder Draco Malfoy did not wish to comment. When we asked Lucius he swore and insulted this Daily Prophet reporter. This leads us to believe that maybe this might be just the beginning of the end of Death Eaters as we know it.

Harry seemed to take this article to heart. Jesse didn’t understand what was going on. Black... was this woman related to James? By the sound of it she wasn’t a good person so what was all the ruckus about?

“This might sound like an insensitive and not to mention stupid question but who was this Malfoy lady?” Jesse asked as he looked intently at Harry. “Um the paper says she was a git so why so blue mate?”

“This woman saved my life. No matter what the circumstances were she saved my life. Who could have killed her?” Harry asked as he sat down.

“Well by the looks of it the possibilities are pretty extent. Death Eaters aren’t what you would say loved right?” James asked shrugging. He looked at the picture of a very uptight looking family.

“This woman was your aunt,” Harry said shaking his head. James frowned.

“Wow I guess my family is as loved as a I thought. They want to do us all in!” James said shaking his head. “Do I have any relatives that are alive?”

“We’ll take you to meet Andromeda and Teddy. They are the best type of people around,” Hermione said as Kreacher began to serve breakfast. “On a brighter note, guess who’s at Hogwarts?”

“Hagrid!”

“No”

“Sprout?”

“No”

“McGonagall”

“Nope”

“Michael Jackson!”

“What the hell Jess he’s not a wizard! How many times do I have to tell you?” James said laughing. “Just tell us Hermione before he gets started on his ‘Madonna is a witch’ theory”

“Neville is at Hogwarts but as assistant to Professor Sprout!” Hermione said smiling. The conversation then turned to Hogwarts. James seemed very interested but Jesse took the opportunity to think about her. Elizabeth. He had to see her again. It seemed like That was all he could think about.

“Jesse... are you there? Come on mate we’re going to be late!” James said hitting Jesse in the head. Jesse scowled and stood up, “I don’t know what in the world is wrong with you. What’s with the thinking before breakfast? Dude sometimes I really question your sanity”

“Says the bloke who tried to surf a hurricane,” Jesse muttered shaking his head. James shrugged.

“I think Jesse got hit by cupid’s arrow,” Hermione giggled as they walked towards the door. Jesse rolled his eyes but silently agreed. Elizabeth was not like any other girl. She was special.

The day went by far too slow for Jesse. Of course he loved the Auror training. It seemed like James and he had finally found what they were very good at. It was exhilarating and enticing but he wanted to see her again. It was like if she cast a spell on him.

After training ended James went with Harry to talk to some person about something that didn’t interest. He couldn’t be bothered with all their boring talk.

“Don’t get lost, we’ll see you in the lobby in 30 minutes,” Harry said as they walked away. Jesse rolled his eyes again. He knew exactly where he had to go.

He ran towards where he’d seen her the day before. He was so distracted thinking about her that he didn’t see a tiny girl and ran right into her.

“Where’s the bloody fire? Inconsiderate jerks all around! I swear people seem to forget all about their manners,” said the small red head. Jesse snorted and helped her pick her parchments up.

“It’s called and accident, haven’t you ever heard of them?” he said handing her the parchment. She glared at him in a way that startled him. It was as if she had slapped him without the need of touching him. Her crystal blue eyes were full of anger, “Whoa there Thumbelina, I didn’t mean any harm. No blood, no foul, no?”

“I’m late because of you!”

“Wow I got you pregnant just by running into you? I’m good!” Jesse said laughing and helping her up, “Aw come on Red laugh it’s a joke. Come on smile. Remember princesses are never late, everyone is just early”

“If you say so ‘dude’, now if you excuse me I’m off. I’ll let you know if it was a boy or a girl,” the girl said walking away rolling her eyes. Jesse laugh and could have sworn he saw a ghost of a smile on the girls face.

“You sure have a certain charm with the ladies,” said a cool voice from behind. He turned and saw her. He smiled, “Are you glad to see me charming knight?”

“Indeed fair maiden. I was actually looking for you,” Jesse said walking towards her. She smiled very slightly, “So how are you today Lizzie?”

“You did your homework. I’m impressed,” she said laughing. Her laugh was musical. She tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder. “How’d you find out?”

“I have my ways. How about I take you to dinner?” Jesse asked in a smooth voice yet he was nervous. He had never felt nervous with a girl.

“I dunno, I am kind of busy and you are a stranger,” she said grinning. “Why don’t you ask Janey; she might be free and after all you are going to have a child together”.

“You mean Thumbelina? Are you jealous Lizzie?” Jesse asked tweaking her nose. Elizabeth laughed again. “Go to dinner with me”.

“I’ll think about it and I’ll let you know,” Elizabeth said tweaking Jesse’s nose. He scowled, “See you charming Jesse”.

“Au revoir fair Lizzie,” Jesse said as he watched her walk away with such grace that it was hypnotic. “She has to be mine”.

**
“Do you have any leads?” Harry asked Kingsley Shacklebolt as he showed the Daily Prophet.

“It was such a perfect crime that there could be possibly hundreds of suspects. We all know the Malfoy’s aren’t very popular people. The only sure thing we know is that it was personal. The word ‘Vengance’ was written above the fireplace with her blood. The killer cut off a finger and wrote on the wall with it,” Kingsley told Harry. Ron looked disgusted but Harry looked troubled. “If there’s any leads I’ll tell you Harry but right now we have bigger things to take care of to be quite frank. We have some left over Death Eaters to capture”.

“I understand Kingsley but these seems really strange to me,” Harry said staring at the paper.

“This seems really familiar for some reason. I can’t quite put my finger on it,” James said quietly. Kingsley looked at him.

“Oh yes Kingsley the real reason why we came was so you could meet James Black. He’s Sirius’ son,” Harry said introducing James. It was slightly strange for James to be present as the son of the man he had grown to hate.

“I didn’t know Sirius had a son,” Kingsley said surprised

“He didn’t either. It’s all been a shock but a pleasant one,” Ron said smiling at James.

“Well it’s nice to meet you. Your father was a great man and a dear friend,” Kingsley said nodding to James. Everyone seemed to be oddly fond of his father; James wished we could have met him. They continued to talk about the things going on in the Ministry but James was no longer paying full attention. What Kingsley had told them about the Malfoy murder was really bugging him, not only because this woman had been related to him but because the scenario seemed so familiar.

“We have to get going, James’ friend Jesse is probably waiting for us. I’ll come by tomorrow with that information you asked for,” Harry said as they walked to the door. They said their goodbyes and walked out. They walked towards the entrance and bumped into Ginny and Hermione.

“Where’s Jesse?” Hermione asked as they continued to walk. James shrugged, “I love how you worry about your friend who just so happens to be in a foreign land. He could have been kidnapped for all you know”.

“Or he could be hitting on British girls who will probably drool at his Australian accent,” Ginny said rolling her eyes. James laughed and nodded.

“Or he could simply be sitting by the fountain like a good boy waiting for his moronic friends to show up,” Jesse said from behind. Hermione was so startled that she accidentally hit him in the face. “Ouch! Don’t ruin the face! I need it!”

“I’m sorry but you scared me!” Hermione squeaked. They all laughed like mad as Jesse rubbed his face. He joined in laughing. “By the look on your face I’m guessing you saw Elizabeth”

“What Elizabeth?”

“Elizabeth Shaville”

“The evil hag from my year?” Ginny asked making a face. Jesse scowled. “No offense Jesse but she was a really evil girl when we were in school”.

“She’s the complete opposite of evil though. We’re all evil in school. Hell James and I were probably considered the spawn of Satan by people at school,” Jesse said frowning. James knew that look; Jesse was on the verge of getting angry. He never got angry so James knew it’d be very bad.

“How about we go visit my living family,” James suggested as they came to a stop.

“Yeah because visiting your dead family would be scary,” Jesse pointed out. His face was calmer now. James smiled at Jesse hoping that his friend wasn’t heading towards disaster.
***
Jay sat close to the shore staring at the horizon. She knew one day James was bound to leave but she never thought she’d feel so alone. She thought that by working all the time she wouldn’t have time to think but she was wrong. Since James was gone she had done nothing but think of the past. Jay sighed as she drew thoughtlessly in the sand.

“Jay you’re really starting to depress me!” Kristina said as she popped down next to her. Her long brown hair was swaying with the wind. Kristina’s brown eyes were full of concerned. Jay knew her friends were worried about her but no matter how much she wanted to pretend everything was ok it wasn’t. “Do you normally draw ‘SB’ in the sand?”

Jay looked down at the sand and saw ‘SB’ written several times. She took a handful of the sand and threw it. Her dark eyes grew misty.

“Jay talk to me please, we need to know how to help you but you need to tell us what’s going on! Is this about James? Is it about Sirius? Jay you need to trust us”.

“You don’t understand. I’m fine Kristina, please leave me alone. I’ll be fine,” Jay said turning her face away from her friend. She knew she was being rude but they just couldn’t understand.

“I know we can’t understand exactly what you’re feeling but when you’re ready to let us help you, call us. We’ll always be here for you,” Kristina said giving her shoulder a light squeeze.

Jay buried her face in her knees like when she was younger. While James was growing up her only thoughts were about him, about giving him a future, of not letting him find out who his father was. She rarely had time or energy to think about how much she still loved Sirius, how alone she was. Now she seemed to be haunted by him, the memories of what had happened were so vivid. It seemed like just yesterday and not years ago. Her life would have been so different, she jsut couldn’t understand why it had to be this way.

“Jacinta get up right now,” Erin said as she stormed out. Jay ignored her aunt and continued to stare out at the ocean. Erin pulled out her wand and made her stand.

“Leave me alone Erin, don’t make me hex you because I will,” Jay said glaring at her aunt.

“Look I’ve had enough of this. There is a lot I’ve kept quiet over the years letting you live how you pleased but not anymore. There is a port key in the house that will take you directly to Hogwarts. I’m not asking you if you want to or not. It’s time that you stopped running away from the past and face it so you can live! I’m tired of you moping around everywhere when there is a life you can be living! I will not sit around and watch you waste you life crying over what could have been instead of acting on what could be!” Erin said pushing Jay in with a flick of her wand. She reached in for Jay’s wand. Jay tried to break the charm but couldn’t. “You are going home and you’re going to learn about everything that happened while you were hiding. You are going to visit your mother’s grave and beg for her forgiveness and hope she isn’t too disappointed in your cowardness same as Andrew’s grave. You will talk to Lupin and let him tell you everything. You’ll thank me one day. Now there are your bags, I’ve packed enough and your wand will be in the bag. We can do this the hard way or you can be a good girl and go on your own. What will it be?”

“Why can’t you just mind your own business? I didn’t ask for you help ****!” Jay snapped glaring furiously at the surfboard in front of her. It gave off a blue shine about it.

“The hard way it is. I’ll see you as soon as you’ve taken all those skeletons out of your closet!” Erin said pushing a bag on Jay and tossing the surfboard at her. Jay felt a familiar pull behind her navel and soon she was spinning without being able to stop.

“Hello Miss White, I’ve been expecting you,” said a stern voice Jay recognized immediately. She was lying on the floor in front of Professor McGonagall. “You sure haven’t changed very much dear. But please do get up from there. Take a seat”


***

A/N: Long time no post but I made time to write and this was all I can come up with. Next chapter should be good! I'll try to get to it very soon1 Thanks to those who still read


Feedback if you can

Chapter 10
"Dead people day"

“Harry it’s a pleasure to see you! And so early too, don’t you have work?” Andromeda said as she opened the door for them. There was a giggle in the background. “Teddy just woke up, come on in. Oh and you brought... Merlin’s beard!”

“We brought Merlin’s beard? I didn’t know we had it,” Jesse said as Andromeda stared at James like if she had seen a ghost. “Honestly by the way everyone reacts you’d figure James is hideous”.

“Jesse for once in your life, shut up!” Hermione said trying not to laugh. “Don’t be scared Mrs. Tonks you aren’t seeing a ghost”.

“But he looks... Sirius?”

“Actually he’s quite the joker really,” Jesse said before he could stop himself. Ginny turned and smacked him hard. “Ouch! Grow a sense of humour!”

“He’s Sirius’ son, James,” Harry explained as they walked in. Andromeda couldn’t stop staring at James. It had been years since she last saw that face. Now that she looked at him clearly there were mild differences between her cousin and this young man but the differences were very subtle. James looked at her with the same air of amusement that Sirius used to when they were younger.

“I know my cousin and I grew apart with the years but I think I’d know if he had a son,” Andromeda said picking up a blue haired baby from a play pen and handing it to Harry.

“Yeah you probably would have found out if he had known I existed,” James said shrugging. He smiled at her, “So your family huh?”

“This is so weird; it’s like going back in time. Hi I’m your err aunt? Ok I’m more like your family but who’s your mum?” Andromeda asked looking at him carefully. James grinned and that brought a memory back to her, “Jay, oh my word your mum is Jay?”

“Yeah, you met her?”

“At Harry’s parent’s wedding well not wait I met her at Sirius’ graduation, terrible night that one. But yes I remember because at the wedding Sirius looked so happy with her,” Andromeda said smiling. She waved her wand and a dusty album floated towards her. “My Nymphadora was the flower girl at the wedding”.

“I didn’t know that,” Harry said as he looked at pictures of a young Tonks wearing a pearl coloured dress with a red ribbon. Her hair was a flaming shade of red. Andromeda’s eyes filled with tears as Teddy poked the picture and laughed. His hair became the same colour as young Tonks. There was a picture of a young couple all dressed up and grinning waiving at the camera. “Mate I do get why everyone has been reacting that way to you. Look”

Andromeda saw the look in James eyes as he saw a picture of his parents. His grey eyes were just as expressive as his fathers. “Your mother was a really charming type of girl. She had to have that spark to be able to control Sirius. Wild one your father, he had just spent months locked in his flat. You’d never guess by how he looked that day”.

“Where is Nymphadora?” James asked innocently. The room went completely quiet. Andromeda’s tears began to spill onto her lap. “Oh... I’m sorry. I didn’t know”.

“It’s ok; my little girl was lost during the war. Her and her husband fought bravely against You-Know-Who. Teddy here is the only family I have left,” Andromeda said sadly. “Well we do have more family but you wouldn’t want to meet them. My sister Narcissa... she was murdered. It’d been years since I last saw her but... I dunno. Sorry James but you landed in one of the most complex wizarding families”.

They continued to talk about the past. Andromeda liked James; he was so much like Sirius that it was almost frightening. He and his friend had her laughing like she hadn’t laughed in a while. She was almost sad to see them go.

“We stopped by before going to the Ministry, after training there just isn’t time. But we really do have to get going. We’re already a couple of hours late,” James grinned at her. She shook her head.

When they were saying their goodbyes an owl flew in. There was a howler for Harry there. He opened it as Teddy clapped his little hands calling the owl to him.

“Harry I need you to come as fast as you can to Hogsmeade. I have something important to tell you. Please come immediately for I fear my life is in danger! Ask at the Three Broomsticks for me.”

“Who’s that from?” Andromeda asked as Harry looked startled.

“Slughorn, let’s go guys,” Harry said as he handing Teddy to Andromeda. All of them vanished as fast as they had arrived.

***
“Professor I-I umm hi,” Jay said as she stood up from the floor. She couldn’t think, she had to get out of there before it all came crashing down on her. She couldn’t take this type of pain. “I have to get back. Nice to see you Professor you look great... where is the surfboard?”

“Your aunt mentioned you might want to get back to Australia so I got rid of it. Please sit down Jay,” Professor McGonagall said as she took a seat behind the headmaster’s desk. Jay simply shook her head. The memories were already starting to flood her mind. “I see you haven’t changed very much dear. You’re still very stubborn”.

“I can’t stay here Professor... it’s I-I no I just can’t sorry,” Jay said trying to find the Floo Powder.

“Call me Minerva and you won’t find it Jay. You first need to listen to the whole story before you can leave,” Minerva said but Jay kept looking. Her eyes were very out of focus. She didn’t seem to understand. “Albus can you handle this since she doesn’t seem to hear me?”

“Jacinta take a seat please. After you hear us you are free to go,” said Dumbledore’s voice. Jay froze in her tracks and looked around. Dumbledore was dead, Remus had told her. “Over here. In the portrait, there you go. It’s good to see you Jay”.

“So it’s true then, you’re dead?”

“Well I’m dead but I’m still here aren’t I?” Dumbledore said smiling pleasantly. “Minerva may I speak to Jay alone? I think she’ll listen to me since I’m dead”.

“Of course, I have to see why Slughorn wasn’t at breakfast. I hope to see you here when I get back Jay,” Minerva said walking to the door. Jay watched her go feeling uneasy. Talking to a portrait was the strangest thing she had ever done.

“We searched for you Jay, for a very long time,” Dumbledore said after a moment of silence. Jay looked at the face of a Dumbledore who was far older than she remembered. His eyes were still piercing in the portrait. “We never gave up looking for you but not even I could find you. I contacted your aunt several times and she said she hadn’t heard of you since your graduation day”.

“I didn’t want to be found. Now my aunt turned against me and sent me here against my will. I’m not a child to be forced to do things,” Jay snapped feeling angry.

“If you aren’t a child, don’t act like one. Erin was right in sending you here, you need some light shed on you and I will be the one to do it. Dead and all I still feel responsible for you, I should have informed you about everything. Maybe I should have gone seen your aunt person so she wouldn’t be able to lie to me,” Dumbledore said looking saddened. Jay glared at him, “Please just listen to me. Go down to the forest in the clearing there is a small black stone in clearing where the Marauders liked to sit. You’ll know what stone I mean when you see it. When you have it, come back up here”.

“You want me to go down to a clearing that will bring back many painful memories and find a rock? There are a lot of rocks!” Jay snapped wishing she were back on the beach. “Why would I go down to the forest, because the portrait of a dead person told me so?”

“That seems like a good reason. This dead person still knows a little. Please just go. You’ll understand soon. The stone has a crack in it,” Dumbledore said smiling at her pleasantly. Jay stood up and ran out the door. “Oh the password to the office is Albus”.

Jay tried not to look around as she made her way to the entrance. It was good that the students seemed to be in classes already. She walked across the Entrance Hall like she had so many times when younger. She remembered Carmel and her racing towards the door every Hogsmeade trip. As she stepped out to the grounds she remembered spending a lot of time out there with Rebecca and Lily.

She walked to the clearing she knew so well. Remus had shown it to her when they were together. She and Sirius had spent a lot of time sitting there when they were trying to avoid James finding out his dad dying. How she wished she could see Andrew again.

She looked around trying to see if she saw a stone but just like she thought it was full of stones. She kicked the tiny pebbles towards the lake and sat down. What was Dumbledore playing at? Was he really trying to give her a hard time? Why was she even listening to him?

Jay picked up a stone that had been set loose when she kicked the pebbles and was going to throw it but then looked at it. It was a polished stone with some scratches on it. There was a distinct crack in it but what made Jay look at it was the certain draw there was.

She stood up and walked back to the castle slowly.

“Oh come on Sandy you know you want to go out with me,” a redheaded boy said to a blonde girl as Jay walked across the entrance hall. She couldn’t help but look at them. “You can’t stop staring at me”.

“McPherson you just got me detention and you think I want to go out with you? Your head really must be full of hot air! I’d never go out with such a moronic piece of hippogriff poop!” the girl snapped at him. Jay couldn’t help but laugh at the insult.

“Wow Sandra Reeves you are so bad! Calling me a hippogriff poop! Why I’m hurt!” the boy replied laughing. “You’re going to enjoy detention with me”.

Jay walked away remembering how many times she had see similar situations with James and Lily. She remembered how many times she had called Sirius names like those. A pain was going through her chest. She couldn’t stay here, she needed to go.

“I found your stupid stone, can I leave now?” Jay said putting the stone on the desk. Dumbledore grinned at her pleased.

“Well now I’m sure you’ll be interested in this. I have one last question to ask you, if you don’t want to listen to me, who would you listen to?” Dumbledore asked.

“What kind of moronic question is that? What are you going to tell me that it doesn’t matter who I say you can bring them here to make me listen?” Jay snorted shaking her head. She pushed her black hair out of her face. Dumbledore nodded. “Fine I’d listen to Andrew or Carmel. Can you bring them here to talk to me?”

“Are you sure you want them to tell you?” Dumbledore asked seriously. Jay nodded. “Take the stone and turn it in your hand three times thinking of Carmel and Andrew. Trust me”.

“Sure because I’m supposed to trust talking portraits,” Jay muttered as she took the stone. She did as was instructed and to her surprise two people appeared. One was a messy haired man who was grinning at her widely, the other was a short girl with big aqua coloured eyes. “Wha-”

“Your face is classic Jay dear. I wish I had a camera right now,” Andrew said as Jay sat down very slowly. “I reckon talking to the dead has been the thing today huh? The official dead people day”

“Well if she weren’t so stubborn we wouldn’t have to be here but like always Jacinta White is a pigheaded git,” Carmel said shaking her head. Jay gawked at her. “What you’ve never seen a spirit before?”

“But you guys... what is this stone?” Jay turned to ask Dumbledore. He smiled at her, “Ok, a deal is a deal I’m listening”.

“I think you should tell her Mr. Potter because honestly I might try to come back from the dead to kick her butt! Poor James having to grow up with his dad because of her,” Carmel said frowning. Jay glared at her, “It’s true and you know it”.

“That is not my fault! I didn’t make Sirius betray James and Lily! It’s not my fault!” Jay cried. Carmel rolled her eyes.

“Ok let’s start with the first thing Jay; Sirius did not betray Lily and James. Peter did, Sirius was innocent,” Andrew said firmly. All the colour drained from her face. He was telling you the truth; he would never do that to James. They were like brothers”.

“B-but I saw...”

“No you didn’t. Sirius convinced James to make Peter the secret-keeper at the last moment. He didn’t want to tell you because he didn’t want to put you in danger,” Andrew replied calmly. Carmel nodded looking at her friend kindly for the first time. “Sirius spent 13 years in Azkaban for a crime he did not commit but never did he stop thinking of you. When he escaped her looked for you. He did everything in his power to find you. It wasn’t until he sent the house elf to find you did he learn that you were alive”.

“What house elf?”

“Dotty, she went and she found you except she saw you with a guy and a child. She thought you had moved on and forgotten all about Sirius,” Carmel said sadly. Jay shook her head. Tears began to flow from her dark eyes.

“I was never able to forget him! How could I? The guy is just a friend! James is his son!” Jay said standing up. “I have to find him; I have to tell him about his son! I have to apologize!”

“It’s too late dear. Sirius is... he’s dead,” Andrew said frowning. Jay shook her head. Over the years she wished a great many things regarding Sirius but never once had she wanted him dead. “He died three years ago. He was murdered by Bellatrix”.

“No, please no. Not him! I-I...”

“He died trying to save Harry, he died a hero. I know this is hard Jay but you have to pull yourself together,” Andrew said soothingly. Jay shook her head and continued to sob. “We need to tell you what has happened he-”

“I need to talk to Remus! He should have forced me to listen!” Jay said between sobs.

“Err... well Remus is also dead,” Carmel said softly. Jay looked up horror struck. “Jay you know I was never one who was good with the words and stuff so if you want I can go ahead and tell you who else is dead. I’ll make it fast,” Jay sobbed. Her whole body was shaking, “Your dad is dead, Nymphadora, Remus’ wife is dead. Moody is dead, Bellatrix dead, Voldemort dead, Peter that stupid rat dead, Snape dead... he turned out to be good well besides the whole killing me. But yeah they all died”.

“I don’t think you should have dropped it all on her like that,” Andrew muttered shaking his head. Carmel shrugged, “Death made you less sensitive dear”.

“Nope, I just know my best friend very well. If we give her all the information at once she can deal better than if we gave her bit by bit,” Carmel said sighing. Jay continued to cry like mad. “I do have a message for you from Sirius; he wants you to go to his flat in London. There’s something there”.

Jay dropped the stone from her hand and Andrew and Carmel disappeared. The pain she felt was far worse than any memory. If she had only listened... if she had only believed in him.

“I’m sorry Jay, I’m truly very sorry. I’d say that I know how you feel but I don’t think that’d make you feel better. Try to remember that there are two young men who still need you. You can help Harry get to know his parents as his godmother that you are. James needs to know his father as well,” Dumbledore said softly. Jay felt sick. “Take the stone but be careful not to become dependent on it”.

“Professor I... I’m sorry,” Jay muttered as she walked out of the office.

***

Elizabeth picked up her long dark hair. She was very annoyed but she had to go through with it. She approached the man smiling.

“Hello Professor, how are you?” Elizabeth said batting her long eyelashes. Slughorn’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“H-how did y-you find me?” he asked clutching his wand. Elizabeth rolled her eyes. The empty hotel room smelt like if a rat had died in it. “Don’t you dare do anything to me? I know your secret; someone is on their way to see me!”

“Who let me guess Harry Potter? Aw my dear old man, you are utterly predictable. I’m not going to kill you... yet,” Elizabeth grinned and disarmed him with one flick of her wand. Slughorn took another step back. He was against the wall. “Now there are two ways we can do this Professor, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way. It is your choice”.

“I-I won’t say anything! Modify my memory but don’t hurt me!” he pleaded.

“I actually need you, I don’t know how you found out but it’s a good thing you did. You gave me a motive to take you. Now shut up and let’s go,” Elizabeth said stunning him and taking his hand, “It’s like apparating with a mammoth”.

***
“Madam Rosmerta, have you seen Professor Slughorn? We really need to find him,” Harry asked as they walked into the pub. Madam Rosmerta smiled at him and then saw James and gasped. “Yes, yes he looks like a young Sirius Black. You can be scared later but it’s really important to find Professor Slughorn right now”.

“He told me that he was staying at a hideous inn at the end of town. You’ll find him there,” she replied still staring at James. He rolled his eyes.

They walked quickly towards the place that she had indicated. Ginny, James and Jesse had gone with Harry while Ron and Hermione went to inform Kingsley of the howler. When they walked in they saw it was empty, or so they thought.

“Harry mate look!” Jesse said seeing someone on the floor behind the front desk. It was an elderly man who had a look of fear on his face. His eyes were opened and hazy. Jesse walked over to him and gasped, “Dude he’s dead”.

They ran up two flights of stairs looking for Slughorn. They ran into 4 other dead bodies on the way. When they arrived to the room they saw it was empty.

“What’s that?” James asked pointing at a mark on the wall. Ginny covered her mouth as not to scream. It was the figure of a skull with a snake come out of its mouth. Beneath it there was a note.

THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AGAIN POTTER, YOU HAVEN’T WON
***


A/N: Well look I posted faster hoping that this way people will start reading again. Honestly I'll keep writing even if the only person who still reads in Kathleen why because she's wicked cool! So well here it is. Not my best chapter but I think it'll do. I was starting to loose the thread of the story so I had to go back and re-read. That inspired me to bring back some of my favorite characters so next chapter will be full of dead people too .

Thanks to whoever still read and well feedback please

Chapter 11
"In the arms of an angel"

Jay walked down the streets of London in a dream like state. Tears were still falling like cascades from her cobalt eyes. She didn’t really need to think about the directions because she had never forgotten them. As she reached a building that hadn’t changed much since she last was there, she knew it was finally time for her to meet the ghosts she had run from so many years.

She walked up to the door of the flat pulling out her wand and muttering the secret word she had Sirius had set up so many years ago.

She stumbled into the dusty flat feeling her heart drop to her stomach. The paint was peeling off the walls. The furnisher was gone; there was only a table and two chairs left. There were several bottles of firewhiskey thrown about. Jay walked into the familiar bedroom expecting to see nothing. To her surprise, everything in there was left intact. The bed was exactly where she remembered, the walls were exactly the same. There was a thick layer of dust on everything but it was as if she had travelled back in time.

SPEND ALL YOUR TIME WAITING FOR THAT SECOND CHANCE FOR A BREAK THAT WOULD MAKE IT OK

Her heart ached as she saw a picture of the two with their guitars smiling and waving at her. The picture had been taken by James.
THERE’S ALWAYS SOME REASON TO FEEL NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND IT’S HARD AT THE END OF THE DAY I NEED SOME DISTRACTION

“Why did it have to be this way?” Jay muttered as she sat on the dusty bed. She looked up and saw a picture of all of them back at Hogwarts. She took it in her shaky hands. Lily was grinning as she gently shoved James who was making a face, Rebecca was giggling as Sirius poked her in the side, and Remus shook his head as Jay jumped on him. “I’m the only one left, everyone abandoned me”.

OH BEAUTIFUL RELEASE, MEMORIES SEAP THROUGH MY VAINS LET ME BE EMPTY AND WEIGHTLESS AND MAYBE I’LL FIND SOME PEACE TONIGHT

She was attacked my endless waves of memories, Jay could almost see Sirius jumping up and down on the bed trying to make her get up. She remembered the endless arguments they had here which ended in her throwing something then kissing and fixing things. Jay could vividly see Sirius bringing her breakfast; she could still see his nose full of flour with a proud look on his face because he had cooked.

She took out the tiny stone, she held it tight in her hands and whispered, “I need to say sorry, I need to see him again”.

“You don’t need to apologize for anything love,” said the voice she had long to hear for years. She looked up and saw the grey eyes of the love of her life. She reached her hand out and tried to touch him. Her hand went right through, “Being dead kind of does that to you”.

IN THE ARMS OF AN ANGEL FLY AWAY FROM HERE FROM THIS DARK COLD HOTEL ROOM AND THE ENDLESSNESS THAT YOU FEEL

“I should have believed you Sirius, I’m sorry! I should have told you about James! If I hadn’t been so bloody stubborn he could have gotten to know you! You could have seen him grow up,” Jay sobbed as she fell to the ground. She cried for all of what could have been, “Sirius how could you ever forgive me?”

“It’s not your fault Jay; things happened this way and there is nothing we can do to change it. I don’t blame you for anything. In fact I want to thank you,” Sirius said sitting on the floor next to her. Jay stared at his handsome face. She longed so much to touch it, even if it was for a single second.

YOU ARE PULLED FROM THE WRECKAGE OF YOUR SILENT REVEIRE YOU’RE IN THE ARMS OF THE ANGEL WILL YOU FIND SOME COMFORT HERE?

“Thank me for what?”

“For teaching me about life, thank you for raising our son to be such a good man,” Sirius said smiling at her slightly. “Jay I wish I could make this pain go away. I wish I could wrap you in my arms and hold you until you didn’t hurt anymore but I can’t”.

SO TIRED OF THIS STRAIGHT LINE AND ANYWHERE YOU TURN THERE’S VULTURES AND THEIVES AT YOUR BACK

“I don’t think I can handle this anymore, it’s just too hard. I’ve lost everyone Sirius, the only thing I have left is James and for how long? He’s out there leading his life. I’m so alone,” Jay looked at the picture in her hands. She saw the beady little eyes of Peter Pettigrew, “Wormtail ruined our lives. Not only did he take Lily and James away but he took you away. How do I know who to trust anymore?”

“I know you’re hurting but remember what you told me when Rebecca died? Do you remember how you nagged me and told me I had to keep living? You still have our son to take care of, not only him but our godson!” Sirius said moving to sit in front of her. She looked up at him; it hurt her not to be able to touch him. “Life goes on my love with or without you. You’ve always been the strongest woman I’ve ever met. I know that you’ll find a way to deal with all of this”.

THE STORM KEEPS ON TWISTING KEEP ON BUILDING THE LIES THAT YOU MAKE UP FOR ALL THAT YOU LACK

“How can I deal if I’ve been running away from dealing for nearly 20 years?”

“Well it’s time to face the truth. You have to toughen up!” Sirius said grinning. Jay sighed deeply, “It’s ok to be sad love, it’s completely normal to be sad because I’m completely worth crying over”.

“I feel like such a hypocrite, I feel like I have no right to cry,” Jay said resting her chin on her knees.

DON’T MAKE NO DIFFERENCE ESCAPING ONE LAST TIME IT’S EASIER TO BELIEVE IN THIS SWEET MADDNESS OH THIS GLORIOUS SADDNESS IT BRINGS ME TO MY KNEES

“Jacinta White, look at me,” Sirius said in a stern voice. Jay looked up at him. She knew his face so well, he may look older but he was still the same man she fell in love with so many years ago. She could see her son’s face in him. “You did nothing wrong do you hear me? I need you to stop blaming yourself for everything and just concentrate on moving on. I love you and not even death will be able to change that but you’re bloody ****ing me off with all this guilt! If anyone to blame then it’s me for not trying hard enough to find you and forcing you to listen! Now I’m going to try to crack another ego filled joke and you have to react to it the way you normally would… aren’t I the sexiest looking guy in the spirit world?”

“You mean pig… yes love you are,” Jay said smiling as yet another tear rolled down her pale cheek. Sirius smiled sadly, “I just need… I need to tell you… I love you. I see you in our son. James is so much like you it’d seem like if you raised him. In school I kept getting owls from his Headmaster telling me about all the pranks he pulled. He makes as many ego jokes as you do… and he has your eyes”.

IN THE ARMS OF AN ANGEL FLY AWAY FROM HERE FROM THIS DARK COLD HOTEL ROOM AND THE ENDLESSNESS THAT YOU FEELYOU ARE PULLED FROM THE WRECKAG E OF YOUR SILENT REVEIRE

“Good looks run in the family. My dear sweet Jay, I promise I’ll see you again and when I do I will hold you tight and never let you go,” Sirius said trying to touch Jay’s cheek. She smiled, “In the mean time, live your life as best you can because you’re living it for the Marauders. Go meet Moony’s kid, give Harry a hug for us. But most of all remember you changed me. You were my life saver when I needed one, you made me a good man just by loving me the way you do. You really were my once in a life time. Promise me you’ll have happy times again, promise me you’ll laugh and you’ll sing, and promise me you won’t shut anyone out because you’re scared. Just because my life is over doesn’t mean yours is. I’ll love you forever and always”.

“I don’t want you to leave,” Jay cried. Sirius smiled.

YOU’RE IN THE ARMS OF THE ANGEL WILL YOU FIND SOME COMFORT HERE?

“You can’t cling to this love. You have to let me go for a while. I know it’s hard because I’m irresistible but you can do it,” Sirius said standing up. “My guitar is in the closet, give it to James for me. Tell him his dad is proud of him”.

“Watch out for us my pig,” Jay said also standing. Sirius laughed his bark like laugh.

“I always will,” Sirius said as Jay let the stone fall.

YOU’RE IN THE ARMS OF THE ANGEL WILL YOU FIND SOME COMFORT HERE?

***
A/N: Alright this chapter is very short but honestly I just couldn't write it. Let me explain why. Its been almost a year since I lost someone very dear to me.
The thing is that the situation with Jay and Sirius is very similar to the one I lived except for the whole child part. I truly cared about him and he helped me in so many ways. I just have a hard time talking about him and honestly I'd give anything to just see him one last time. So I guess I dedicate this chapter to my pig. He was a member of VTM and he read my fics and I was a jerk. This is my way of saying sorry...

Sorry if the chapter is not what you expected but like I said I wasn't able to write properly.

The song is Angel

Remember feedback

Chapter 12
The witch didn't burn

Harry sat at his desk with his hands over his eyes. He had been helping the best aurors in trying to find Slughorn but so far it had led to a dead end. He needed to think.

There was some connection between the Malfoy murder and Slughorn’s disappearance. Harry knew that but no one else seemed to believe so. He and Ron had been going over the case time and time again until Ron said he needed food. Now alone in their minuscule office Harry began to go over the pictures that were taken at both places.

“Wow you can almost smell the smoke coming from your brain. Dude you need to relax,” James said from the door. Harry put on his glasses and smiled at him, “Am I intruding?”

“Actually I’m supposed to be taking a break because according to Ron I’m becoming insufferable. I reckon he blames the thinking,” Harry said nodding at Ron’s chair. “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

“Well I am but we had an exam and I finished so I was allowed to come visit my famous friend,” James said sitting down. He looked at the pictures in front of Harry, “It’s the same handwriting on both messages”.

“That’s what I thought but no one seems to believe that they are related,” Harry said sighing. James nodded at the pictures, “Go ahead. Maybe you’ll see something I don’t”.

“Slughorn was a potion’s professor correct?” James asked as he looked over the pictures and information. Harry nodded.

“He was also the head of Slytherin at Hogwarts. Plus he has a lot of influential friends and some information about Voldemort that might be dangerous,” Harry said thinking of the horcruxes. James looked up at him curiously. Harry knew he could trust James like he trusted Sirius. He told him about the horcruxes. “You see how dangerous that information could be in the wrong hands?”

“I guess your right. Voldemort was one bad cookie,” James said looking thoughtful, “You destroyed them all right?”

“All of them or else he wouldn’t have died,” Harry replied sighing. James nodded, “What are you thinking?”

“Well, this is someone who wants Voldemort back at all costs. Either they want Slughorn for information about Voldemort or they want him for his knowledge of potions,” James said looking very grave. Harry didn’t understand, “Dude there are some potions that can do terrible things. I’ve read some that try to raise the dead except they don’t raise the dead the way they were before. They come back as something evil”.

“Voldemort coming back as something evil? I can’t believe that,” Harry said rolling his eyes. “So you think they weren’t aware of the information Slughorn could have?”

“I doubt it. You said Dumbledore said that Voldemort didn’t share that information with others and I doubt you have so there’s no way they could have known,” James replied nodding. Ron came in with a large bag. “Are you feeding an army?”

“No this is just for me,” Ron said grinning. James stood up and allowed Ron his chair back. “Thanks mate. Now how about you take a break from talking about You-Know-Who and we eat”

Harry chuckled as they began to eat some. They continued to talk about the possibility of Slughorn being taken for other causes.

“Where is the only place we know of where they study death?” Ron said between mouthfuls. Harry looked at him confused, “The Department of Mysteries you twat! Don’t you remember that large archway where Sirius- oh sorry mate”.

“Ronald you’ve always been such an insensitive git,” Ginny said as she walked in. They continued to talk but Harry was no longer paying attention. He had clearly heard voices in that archway. Could that be the answer?

Narcissa Malfoy was something personal but Slughorn was taken for information he had. What the person didn’t know is that they received more than bargained.

**

Elizabeth grinned as she read the article about Slughorn’s capture. She shook her head as she closed her paper. Slughorn had information, sure he was being a pain about giving her the information but he had it and she wasn’t going to give up so easy.

“Why the long face?” a smooth voice said from behind her. She smiled and shrugged, “I know, you miss me”.

“Actually I was just reading some very disturbing information in the paper,” Elizabeth replied sighing. Jesse sat in front of her and smiled sadly. “He was my Head of House at Hogwarts. It’s because of him that I’m here”.

“I’m sorry. There’s a chance that he’s still alive. There wasn’t any blood at the place he was staying,” Jesse said taking her hand kindly. She allowed it. He had strong hands, she’d always liked strong hands. Fred had strong hands. “Don’t worry, they are looking for him”.

“I know but it’s still sad you know,” Elizabeth said looking into those hazel eyes full of concern. “This isn’t our usual spot to meet”.

“It was a complete coincidence. I was looking for my mate but I saw you and of course I forget I was looking for him,” Jesse said smiling. He pushed his blonde hair back. Elizabeth grinned. “So when can we go out again?”

“Soon. Very soon,” Elizabeth replied standing. He stood as well. “I have to get back to work”.

“All work and no play...”

“Oh trust me Jesse, there will be some play,” Elizabeth said softly giving him a quick peck on the lips. He looked surprised. “It will be worth your while”.

She turned and headed back towards the Department of Mysteries. She knew she was teasing him but boy did she love that. She really wasn’t that interested in him but there was an attraction she couldn’t deny. Maybe it was the fact that he wasn't’ intimidated by her that made him appealing.

She walked across the almost deserted passages. She knew she shouldn’t wander around the Department of Mysteries but she couldn’t help it.There was something about the place that was enticing.

There had been so many changes since stupid Potter and his friends had been there during her 4th year. She headed towards a large archway.

Lizzie... Lizzie....

Elizabeth was stunned. Someone was calling her towards the archway. She slowly neared it. Who was calling her?

Lizzie... Lizzie...

She grew closer an closer to it.

“Miss Shaville! Don’t get any closer!” Christopher Latham snapped as he pulled her away by the waist. That seemed to snap Elizabeth out of her daze. She looked up at her “boss”. He glared down at her with cold midnight blue eyes. His dark hair was slightly out of place but he looked mad for the first time. “Do you know just how dangerous this archway is? Out of all the places to wander in this department you chose the most dangerous of all!”

“I’m sorry I just heard... I’m sorry,” Elizabeth said feeling stupid for following the voices. She wanted to be mad at that man but wasn’t able to. He was still holding her by the waist. Her hands were on his chest. He was about 10 years older than she was and yet she was very attracted. Even more than with Jesse.

“I know you heard someone calling you. If you’ve lost someone dear to you they call out to you. This archway is what’s left of the study of death. It isn’t something you can play with Elizabeth,” Chris said still scolding her. He had noticed he was still holding on to her but didn’t let go. “We’ve already had 3 people die because of this archway. That is why those studies have ended. It’s dangerous. Just don’t get near it again alright?”

“I won’t. Thank you Chris,” Elizabeth purred. She looked up at him with her best innocent stare. She knew it had an effect on him because his grip on her tightened. “To make it up to you, how about we get some dinner?”

“I’m not sure if that’s wise,” he said staring down at her. Her blood began to rush to her face but she loved the feeling. She had power over this guy. She smiling sweetly. “I guess dinner won’t be a problem...”

“We can leave after our shift is done,” Elizabeth said in a soft tone. He finally let her go but she didn’t step away. He led her back to the offices now being the one in the daze.

Elizabeth needed to have him eating out of her hand. Gather the information would be far easier if she did. Plus using men was always fun. Sure she had a clear thought of what she wanted but still that didn’t mean she couldn’t have fun doing it.

As she was getting reading to go change to her place very quickly someone stopped her.

“You’re Bellatrix Black’s daughter. I you look a lot like she did when young,” a woman with gloves said to her. Elizabeth clutched her wand knowing she wouldn’t be able to kill this woman here. “I know you want to kill me but hear me out first”.

“Not here. Come with me,” Elizabeth said leading her towards the aparation area. The woman still held on to her arm. Elizabeth apparated them to her flat. She looked over at the woman. She had chin length blonde hair and was wearing far too much makeup. “What do you want?”

“I know you killed Narcissa. Good riddance she was always such a whiner. The Dark Lord should have gotten rid of her long ago,” the woman said not taking off her long cloak. She looked old enough to be Elizabeth’s mother. “I knew your mother. I worked with her when we were in school. We were the Dark Lord’s spies at Hogwarts and we raised hell. I knew you were her daughter after the message you left at the Malfoy Manor. Your mother did that once when we killed the mother of an enemy. Cutting off the fingers and writing in blood was something your mother enjoyed doing. It’s what the Dark Lord liked about her”.

“You haven’t answered my question. What do you want? Give me one good reason not to murder you right now,” Elizabeth said pointing her wand at the woman. The woman smiled and removed her glasses. The sides of her eyes were burnt. Her pale blue eyes were tainted with red.

“Because we’re after the same thing. We both want the Dark Lord back. We want revenge and I can help,” she replied. She smiled in a way that Elizabeth found amusing. “If you murder me there are people who will send all the information I have to dear ole Harry Potter and he will find you before you can get the information from the Department of Mysteries about how to bring your father back”.

“Who are you?”

“Like I said. I’m someone who wants revenge. I’ve spent years in and out of the Department of Mysteries. I have ways of getting information about that archway. I have information about your father and even more, I have information about Harry Potter, James Black dear Merlin even about that Jesse Smith boy. I’ve been planning my return for more than 20 years,” she said in a cold dead tone. Elizabeth sat down and stared at her. Now that she saw her clearly the makeup was more like artificial skin. It was the type they used in the Department of Mysteries. This woman was burnt far more than anyone that Elizabeth had ever seen.

“Alright. We can work together but of course it’s under my conditions,” Elizabeth said walking to her closet. She opened it and it turned out to be a hidden room. Slughorn was in there gagged and tied. He opened his eyes when she walked in. “I’m sure you’ve met Professor Slughorn”.

Slughorn looked over at the woman and his eyes widen. It was as if he was seeing a ghost. He recognized her and yet he shook his head.

“It’s good to see you remember me Professor. Time goes by very fast doesn’t it? I was at the war at Hogwarts. I was taking care of some unfinished business. I saw you there sir,” the woman said taunting the gagged man. Elizabeth looked at her curiously. Slughorn tried to get away from the woman. “I can’t possibly look that bad. Sure I’m slightly burnt but hey blame Jay White for that one!”

Elizabeth removed the gag from Slughorn. He simply gawked at the woman.

“Did you know I was the one who murdered Remus Lupin and his wife? He owed me that much,” the woman growled as Slughorn stared at her wordlessly. “What’s the matter Slughorn, not to boastful now?”

“C-Celeste Carson.... b-but you’re dead!” Slughorn sputtered. Elizabeth looked at the woman who simply laughed. “Y-You burnt!”

“Burning the witch only works in muggle fairy tales,” Celeste sneered. She stood up straight. “I will be back after your date. Get ready to raise some hell Elizabeth”.

***
A/N: I'm like on a roll because I posted a chapter for this one too! I'm actually really fond of this fanfic because it's the second part of my first fic so the story is the same. So ding dong the witch isn't dead . Evil never dies sad I know. Anyway so yeah woooo I posted. I know there aren't many who read this but I'll keep writing even if only one person reads Thanks to those who still read for not giving up on this

Feedback to let me know there's someone reading haha

Chapter 13
The Godmother

Jay felt the familiar crunch of the leaves beneath her feet as she stared up at the house. It had been so many years since she had last stood there. Her hands felt eerily cold as she noticed how run down the house was, she looked at the old tree she used to play on. She remembered the hours she had spent with her sister playing under that tree. It seemed like a life time ago.

She wanted to force herself to go inside but images of her dead mother flashed in her mind with every step she took. She shook her head and looked around. The houses around weren’t very close by but they were close enough for her to see that not many things had changed. She sighed and walked away from those ghosts.

She began to walk down the paths she knew so well. These streets were full of memories. She had run down them with Sirius and James the night her mother was murdered. Remus had held her as she cried because of her father. She laughed as she remembered she had even chased an ex-boyfriend down that very street threatening to stab him with a drum stick.

She was deep in thought until she reached it. The grass was slightly over grown, the house needed new paint and one of the windows was cracked but it had hardly changed. It was like if time somehow didn’t pass by for the house. House seemed like such a short term for it. It wasn’t a manor but it was sure large enough to make you tilt your head back in awe.

Jay reached in to open the front gate and walked up the driveway. She recalled the days when the cement wasn’t cracked, when she would play basketball with James. She didn’t want to enter the house. Like her own house, she felt like it was too much. She walked around to the back of the house expecting the worse but she was quite surprised.

The clear lake was almost like she remembered it. Sure the top of it was covered with colourful leaves but it was still as remarkable as ever. There was a tree next to the lake where she went to sit. It was under that very tree where they had decided the names their children now had. Lily and James never did understand why she liked the name Harry so much.

She put her head on her knees and looked out towards the lake. She could clearly see the other side of the lake. It was a wooded area she had never been too. She wondered if that was also a part of the Potter’s property. Her head swarmed with memories as she stared off across the lake.

“Who are you?” an anxious male voice asked from above her. She was startled and took hold of her wand right away. She looked up and nearly fainted at the sight. “Drop your wand”.

“J-James?” she muttered as she set her wand down. The young man looked down at her kindly. He seemed to recognize her. It wasn’t possible for it to be James. It couldn’t be possible, “H-How... I-I...”

“I’m not James but don’t worry, I get that a lot,” the young man said sitting down next to her. She looked at him clearly. A pair of almond shaped green eyes stared back at her. She noticed his nose wasn’t as long as James’ nose. “My name is-”

“Harry!” she squeaked and hugged him. She felt the tears brim at her eyes as she hugged her godson. “Y-You look so much like him!”

“I really do get that a lot,” Harry said patting her back a bit awkwardly. She let him go to look at him better.

“I’m-”

“Jay White, I know. I recognized you from a picture,” he said when he saw her confused face. She smiled at him as tears began to trickle down her pale face. “I really don’t mean to be rude but what are you doing here?”

“It’s a very long story which I would love to tell you in a warmer place. I just really felt like coming back here. I spent a lot of time in this house you know,” Jay said wiping her face. Harry looked around, “I didn’t expect to see you here”.

“You activated an alarm when you came in. My friend set them up just to make sure no one decided to break into the place,” Harry said getting up. He offered Jay a hand, “I left work when the alarm went off. I really must be getting back. Why don’t you come with me?”

“I don’t want to intrude...”

“I work at the Ministry. Trust me, an intrusion is always welcome,” Harry said smiling at her. He was just as tall as James was. I’m guessing you know all about that”.

“Do I ever. I suppose a trip to the Ministry should be interesting. It’s not like I have something better to do,” Jay joked as she walked back to the front of the house with Harry. “The protective spells are still up then?”

“Yes, all but the muggle repelling charm which was never cast. I still don’t understand why but I left it that way,” Harry replied shrugging.

“Your grandparents were good friends with their neighbours. Speaking of which, I think I see one of them right now!” Jay said looking down the way at a man walking in front of the house. She ran down the way, “ROB!”

“Yeah- oh sweet heaven, is that Jacinta White I see there?” the man replied looking surprised. Jay gave him a tight hug. “I thought for sure you were dead somewhere!”

“If you consider Australia being dead then yes, I’ve been very dead,” Jay said laughing and taking his hands, “It’s so good to see you Rob! I never thought you’d still be living around here!”

“My folks bit the dust and left me the house. I live there with my wife now,” Rob said pointing at the nearest house that was a good walk away. “I’ve got to kids who are a pain in the side... who’s that? Oh my g-”

“Harry Potter, this is an old mate of your dad’s. Rob this is James’ son,” Jay said motioning Harry over. Harry looked uncomfortable at the way Rob was gawking at him.

“Mate you look like your dad! Of course with your mum’s eyes,” Rob managed to say while shaking his hand. Harry smiled. “I hadn’t seen you since you were in diapers.”

“That makes two of us,” Jay replied.

“I have to run, I’m late but please stop by, both of you,” Rob said looking at his watch. Harry nodded. “Jay, it was good to see you. It was so much nicer seeing you without a bloody drumstick in your hand as you chucked it at me.”

“You deserved it. I will stop by. I’m not here for very long but I will be sure to catch up. See if you can reunite the old band,” Jay said smiling. The waved goodbye to Rob and walked back up the way. Jay took Harry’s hand, “We’re off to the Ministry then.”

There was a crack and the familiar feeling of claustrophobia. Jay was a tad bit disoriented when they arrived to a familiar lobby area. People were scurrying about. Several of them stopped to stare at Harry who simply ignored them. Jay looked around and saw a very familiar fountain.

“That ugly thing is still around?” Jay said walking over to the fountain. She realized it was rather different that she remembered. “The fountain of magical brethren... but it looks different”

“That’s because it is different. It was rebuilt last year,” Harry explained and motioned to the gold inscription at the bottom of the fountain.

“I reckon it’s a hell of a lot better that all that ‘Magic is Might’ dung the Death Eaters raved about when Voldemort was in charge,” a woman said walking up to them. Jay looked up to see a girl she once knew. “It’s good to see you Jay”

“Do I know- Glinda!”

“Well it’s good to see you remember your old team mates!” Glinda said giving Jay a warm hug. Jay laughed.

“You weren’t very good so of course I remember you! Didn’t I yell at you several times for dropping the quaffle?” Jay said smiling at the woman. Glinda nodded, “Don’t tell me you work for the Ministry”

“I’m training a new batch of Aurors right now,” Glinda said smiling. She opened her mouth as if to continue.

“And she’s doing a great job of it. I’m sorry to cut this short but Jay and I have to get to my office quickly Glinda. I left Ron all alone and you know what happens when I do that,” Harry said nervously. Glinda nodded but looked at him strangely. He gave her a meaningful look. “We’ll stop by there later.”

“It was good to see you Jay. I’m Harry’s boss right now so I’ll order him to make you come see me later,” Glinda said smiling. Jay waved her goodbye and continued to walk. Harry stayed back a bit, “She doesn’t know her son is here does she?”

“No and I’m not going to be the one to tell her. He has to so keep it quiet for a while,” Harry said as he caught up to Jay who seemed to remember her way around.

They walked into the lift. Several of the older Ministry officials looked at Jay as if they knew her. She simply looked at Harry as if seeing her friends in him.

“Where the bloody hell were you Harry!” Ron snapped when they walked into the office, “Oh um sorry.”

“Ron, this is Jay White. Jay this is Ronald Weasley,” Harry said smiling and looking down at the pictures on his desk. There were more.

“Are you related to Molly Prewett?” Jay asked looking at him carefully. Ron nodded.

“That’s my mum. You know my mum?” Ron asked looking surprised.

“I met her on several occacions. Actually I knew your uncles quite well. Gideon and Fabian were great guys,” Jay said taking a seat in front of Harry’s desk.

“Ron, what are these pictures of?”

“That’s what I was waiting to tell you mate. Someone else has been taken. Chris Latham, the Unspeakable, he’s been missing for 3 days now,” Ron said pointing to a picture of a handsome man smiling at them. “Another Unspeakable went to look for him at his flat and found that message on the wall.”

“Is that written in blood?” Jay said going pale. She began to look at the pictures.

“I’m sorry but you can’t really be looking at those,” Ron said quietly.

“She can, she’s an Auror. She’s been one longer than Glinda has,” Harry said examining the pictures. The message was written the same way as before. He looked up at Jay who gasped. “They aren’t pretty”

“Dear Merlin! Narcissa Malfoy?”

“Yeah, she was killed in her home. There was a message written in her blood with-”

“Her fingers, they were cut off and used to leave a message,” Jay muttered looking at the rest of the pictures. Harry and Ron looked at her like if had nargles in her hair. “I’ve seen this before.”

“What do you mean?” Harry asked still in shock.

“That was how my mother was killed. She was murdered, and then her fingers were cut off to write a message in her blood,” Jay said putting the pictures down. She looked at both of them, “Bellatrix Black, well now she’s Lestrange, along with Celeste Carson, who is dead, murdered my mother.”

“Bellatrix is dead as well,” Harry said rubbing the sides of his head. Jay wrinkled her forehead.

“My mum killed her during the battle at Hogwarts,” Ron said sitting down.

“No one knew how my mum died. Dumbledore kept the Ministry out of it so there wouldn’t be any way of someone knowing her method of killing for personal reasons,” Jay said tucking her hair behind her ear. “Who’s blood was it that they found on the message for Slughorn?”

“We don’t know,” Harry said shrugging. “If you’d like we can go down there. He’s been missing for a week but the room is sealed off.”

“The most recent one, Chris Latham, do you have any information on him? Jay asked trying to think of where she had heard the name. Harry snapped his head up. “What?”

“Well James and I were talking about this just yesterday. Ron mentioned that the only place they study death is the Department of Mysteries and what a coincidence that a few days after Slughorn goes missing someone from that department is also taken by the same person!” Harry said standing up. He looked at Jay who was looking at him coldly. He realized what he had said.

“What James are you talking about Harry?” Jay asked in a very cold steady voice. Harry looked at her and smiled. “Where is he?”

“Where is who?” Harry replied looking confused. Jay looked at him and walked out of the office. She went directly to the room used for Auror training.

“I’m sorry to interrupt Glinda but can I speak to the idiots James Black and Jesse Smith right now?” Jay said opening the door and walking in. She saw two heads sliding down under the table. They were in a lot of trouble.


**
A/N: Hi! Well there are old characters poping up everywhere huh? I was talking about the story with my dad who just recently finished DH and I felt like writing this chapter. I've got the whole story in my head I just have to take the time to finish it and wel I think I'll finish up my other two fics so I can focus on this one. Thanks to those who read. Seriously I appreciate it.

Feedback is welcomed