Jamie Black and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 2

The Leaky Cauldron

Hermione saw me first. "Jamie!"

I grinned at her happy expression. "Hi there."

I sat down between her and Ron. Harry smiled. "Jamie, you got my letter?"

I nodded. "Yeah, so what happened that stopped you from responding to my present?"

I wasn't angry, just curious. Knowing him, it would either be highly dangerous or amusing. Ron burst out laughing and Hermione frowned. My grin widened. "What is it? Now I have to know."

Harry rolled his eyes before explaining that his Aunt Marge pissed him off.

I snorted. "What else is new? You're temper is horrible."

Harry glared and Hermione said. "Your temper can get just as bad."

I shrugged, sticking my tongue out a her. "So, I usually have a good reason."

Harry replied. "So did I. Anyway, I sort of…blew her up."

I looked at him in alarm. " You killed her!?"

All three of them looked at me shocked. Ron said quickly. "No, he means like a balloon."

He was trying to hold in his snickers, but I didn't. I burst out laughing, Ron joining me. Hermione was giving us disapproving looks. " It's not funny! Harry could've gotten into trouble."

Harry looked confused, like he was thinking about something. I shrugged. "It was accidental magic. I think anyone could've gotten off for that. Emotion powers magic."

Hermione raised her eyebrows, impressed. " How do you know that?"

I smirked at her, leaning back in my chair. "Simple, it's common sense. Plus, it's not like Harry asked about his punishment."

Harry flushed a bit, a slight guilty look on his face. "Actually…"

Ron winced in shock and I blanched. "What!? Harry James Potter!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Seriously, Jamie?"

I leaned closer to the table. "OK, I get it if your in trouble you get punished, but if you can get away with it, don't ask."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Now you sound like Fred and George."

I shrugged. "It's good advice."

Hermione asked. " So, what did you do during the summer?"

I frowned, I much rather be at Hogwarts than the Orphanage. "Nothing as exciting as Egypt and France."

They both smiled and proceeded to tell me about their vacation. I could tell that Harry was listening too. I know that Harry vacation was horrible, worst than mine. Those Dursley's better hope I don't meet them.

I stretched my arms. "I'm going to get ice cream."

They had empty cups. I walked in, waiting in line for mine. I ordered vanilla. After paying 16 Knuts I walked back over to them. I leaned back in my chair, eating. Harry was staring at me.

I asked. "What is it? Do I have something on my face?"

He winced in surprise, avoiding eye contact with me. "No…sorry."

I decided to ignore his strange behavior. It was like he was studying me. I said. "Hermione, I'm staying with you and Ginny."

Hermione smiled happily. "Really, that's great!"

Harry replied, smiling again. " Excellent! So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"

Ron sounded pleased as he said. "Look at this." He pulled out a long thin box that I recognized. "Brand-new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we got all our books-"

Ron pointed at a large bag next to his chair I had no doubt had his books. Ron laughed. "What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two."

I burst out laughing , grinning at them. " Yeah, same thing happened to me."

Hermione said. "It's not funny."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is too. I bet he hated me almost as much as Snape."

Ron snorted. "Mate, Snape doesn't hate anyone more than you."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I don't know, I might be tied with you."

I replied cheerfully. "Nope, the greasy prat hates me more."

Ron and Harry laughed as Hermione frowned at me. I knew she never thinks ill of a teacher, but we all hated or disliked Snape. I decided to move the conversation to a better topic. "Hermione? What are you taking?"

I was looking at her bulging bag filled with books. Harry also looked. "What's all that?"

Hermione replied. "We'll, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I? These are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Ruins, Muggle Studies-"

I exclaimed. "What? Why?"

Ron was thinking the same thing. "What are you doing Muggle Studies for? You're Muggle-born! Your mum and dad are muggles! You already know all about muggles!"

Hermione said excitedly. "But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view."

I raised my eyebrows, taking in what she said. Then I laughed loudly, shaking my head with a wide grin. I got a couple of stares from people passing by. "Seriously? I really don't get you sometimes."

Harry asked. "Are you planning on getting any sleep this year, Hermione?"

Me and Ron snickered, but she ignored us. I was almost always in a good and happy mood. Only when I was angry, rarely serious or very upset did I stop being cheerful. I learned at a young age that being upset doesn't help at all so I choose to be happy and carefree most of the time. I like joking around so it works.

Hermione told us. "I've still got 10 Galleons. It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some extra money to get myself an early birthday present."

Ron asked, innocent look on his face. "How about a nice book?"

I snorted, smirking at Hermione. "Or some more school supplies."

Hermione glared at us, but said. "No, I don't think so. I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol-"

Ron took out Scabbers from his pocket. "I haven't. Errol's a family owl. All I got is Scabbers. And I want to get him checked over. I don't think Egypt agreed with him."

His rat was thin and whiskers were dropping down in what looked like rat depression. I shrugged, finishing my ice cream. "Maybe it was the heat. I know I hate the heat. Speaking of pets, maybe I should get one."

Harry asked. "You want an owl too?"

I shrugged. " It can't hurt, that way I don't have to wait to write to you guys."

Harry nodded, chuckling a little at what I was insinuating. "There's a magical creature shop just over there. You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione and Jamie can get owls."

We all followed Harry to a place called Magical Menagerie. I heard the annoying sound of a bunch of owls screeching. As we walked in, the place was filled. Owls, toads, and all sorts of stuff. A witch was dealing with a wizard customer. I said. " I'll stay and look around."

Hermione asked. "Are you sure?"

I nodded and they walked up front. "Yeah."

As they walked up front, I looked at the different animals. I couldn't find one I wanted. I didn't want a toad nor did I want cat. I never really like them that much. But I didn't see a owl I would want. Then it happened. I was kneeling on the floor by an owl cage.

A big ball of fluff crashed into my chest. I yelped, falling on my back. I heard a bark and grinned. A puppy!

Also I heard. "No, Crookshanks, no!"

I looked up surprised to see a large orange cat jump on Ron's head, I snickered. The puppy licked my chin and I laughed. I walked to the front counter as Harry and Ron ran out after Scabbers. The witch looked worried as she saw the puppy in my arms. Hermione was holding the big cat from before.

"I'm sorry about him."

I grinned. "Don't be, how much do you want for him?"

Hermione exclaimed. "We're only allowed to have a cat, toad or owl!"

I smiled wickedly. "Well, Ron has a rat so I can have a dog."

The witch said. "That puppy is not for sale."

I pouted. "Why not?"

"The puppy is part of a litter of puppies from my dog."

I pleaded. "Please, I'll take good care of 'im!"

She looked at what I know was a earnest expression and sighed. "Fine, but I won't charge you."

I gave her the widest grin I could muster. "Thank you. Thank you!"

Hermione paid for her cat and I followed her out. "I can't believe you got that dog."

I smiled, happier than usual. "One, it's a puppy. Two, it's fine."

She smacked my arm and I laughed, my dog giving out a bark. He was resting in my arms. We went to Ron and Harry.

Ron gaped. "You bought that monster!?"

I snickered. Hermione beamed. "He's gorgeous, isn't he?"

Harry had a look of disbelief and I chuckled. "More like it looks like he was hit by a frying pan."

Hermione snapped. "Jamie!"

I smirked at her. Harry asked. "So, you got a puppy?"

Ron raised an eyebrow. "Are those allowed?"

"You have a rat."

He shrugged. "True."

His eyes went back to her cat. "That thing nearly scalped me!"

Hermione cooed. "You didn't mean to, did you Crookshanks?"

As they argued, I was walking with Harry and wondering what name my puppy. Hermione already has a predetermined name for her pet. Blackie was no good, my last was Black, it was too close.

Harry was laughing at me. "Why are you making those facial expressions?"

I sulked. "I'm trying to name my puppy."

He still was laughing and I pushed him. "Aw, shut it Potter!"

I couldn't keep the grin off my face. My puppy was sleeping. He had dark black fur, the same color as my hair. Though the eyes were strange, they were a bright blue. I loved him already though.

We walked into the Leaky Cauldron . Mr. Weasley was reading the Daily Prophet. He smiled when he looked up. "Harry, Jamie!"

I smiled back. "Hey, Mr. W."

Ron snorted and Hermione sighed. We walked over to him and he set down his paper. He was a tall man with balding red hair like all the Weasleys. He was kind though. Harry said. "They still haven't caught him, then?"

I looked at what Harry was looking at and froze. Mr. Weasley said grimly. "No. They've pulled us all off our regular jobs at the Ministry to try and find him, but no luck so far."

Ron asked. "Would we get a reward if we caught him? It'd be good to get some more money-"

I spoke up. "Mr. Weasley, can I see that?"

He looked at me sadly. "Jamie…"

I frowned. "Please."

With a sigh he handed it to me. As Mr. Weasley told Ron how a thirteen year old wizard wouldn't catch Black, but some people called guards of Azkaban would. I looked over the picture, clutching my fingers tightly around the edges.

I saw some of my features in his face. His hair was black, but I couldn't see the color of his eyes, but I remember what John told me. That a criminal was out there with my name and had the same coloring. It made me a bit sick, this guy was my father. I'm certainly going to be at the Orphanage until I'm 18 or 17 since that's the wizard age for adults.

I stared at the snarling man in disbelief. Was insanity hereditary? I shook my head, I wasn't going to go crazy. Plus, I never really wanted to kill someone. We'll, Shape and Malfoy don't count.

I looked up to see Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Percy and Ginny were coming downstairs. Mrs. Weasley's arms were filled with shopping bags. She put them down on the counter next to her husband.

Mrs. Weasley saw what was in my hands and took it away. "No need to read that nonsense, dear."

I nodded, but didn't say anything , my mind was reeling. Normally I said something back, most likely in a joking matter. But now, I had nothing. Ginny couldn't even look at Harry. I couldn't help, but grin in amusement.

Percy stiffly walked up to Harry, shaking his hand. "Harry. How nice to see you."

I could see Harry fighting a grin. "Hello Percy."

I didn't even try, I laughed, snickering at his pompous expression. Harry stopped shaking Percy hand and Percy stared at me, a disapproving frown on his mouth. "Jamie, it's…nice to see you."

I gave him a mock serious look, bowing my head. "Yes, it is quite the outstanding day, isn't it?"

I grinned at him and Fred and George came over. Fred elbowed Percy out of the way, bowing deeply. "Harry! Simply splendid to see you, old boy-"

George took Harry's hand, shaking it. "Marvelous! Absolutely spiffing."

Mrs. Weasley fixed the tree of us with a stern look. "That's enough now."

I gave her a bow, sent her one of my innocent smiles. "I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley. I gave you my humblest apologies."

Mrs. Weasley fixed me with another stern look and Fred shook her hand too. "Mum! How real corking to see you-"

She cut him off and I said. "Mr. Weasley? Do you know where my room is?"

Hermione said she'd show me and I followed her, my puppy now awake. I saw two bunk beds and a cot across from them. I smiled. Mrs. Weasley must've brought it for me. She really was too kind, it's why I got mad when Malfoy or some stupid idiot went insulting Ron's family.

My puppy jumped on the cot and I said. "Hermione. You can go down."

Hermione said. "Jamie, none of us care then your father is Sirius Black. We're still your friends. Ron and Harry think the same."

I smiled again. "Thanks, I'll be down in a little bit. One of you guys get me when dinner is ready."

She looked hesitant, but left. I didn't want to be moping around my friends. That's just how I was. I laid on the cat, my puppy on my chest. I frowned in thought. "Al?"

I shook my head as he growled. "Yeah, that's no good. Uh…Max?"

I sighed as I got another negative growl. I tried thinking up a good name. I suddenly said. "Ah ha! Leo!"

He cocked his head to the side and barked a couple of times, licking my face. I laughed as I moved him away, wiping dog drool from my face. I grinned at him. This is the best. Better than a rat, cat, toad or owl.

Harry was at the door, hanging on the door jam. "Hey, dinner's ready."

I got up, dropping Leo to the floor. "C'mon Leo!"

He gave a bark, darting downstairs. Harry raised his eyebrow. "You named him Leo. Why?"

I shrugged as we ran after him downstairs. "I dunno. I felt like it."

I sat between Fred and George, Leo in my lap. Everyone else was at the table and Leo was calmly sitting in my lap. The food was good, that's for sure. We had five different courses. It's the best I've eaten in a long time. The Orphanage gave us what they could or wanted to.

Fred and George were the only ones to know I got a puppy except for Harry, Ron and Hermione. The twins didn't say anything to me about my father and I happy about that. At least I wasn't losing my friends, that would've been the worst.

Fred asked, as ate the last course (which was chocolate pudding). "How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?"

Mr. Weasley replied. "The Ministry is providing a couple of cars."

I raised an eyebrow. Percy asked. "Why?"

George said. "It's because of you, Perce. And there'll be little flags on the hood with HB on them-"

Fred cut in. "For Humongous Bighead."

I muttered with a snort. "I thought it meant Horribly Bossy."

George nudged me with a grin as everyone snorted at what we said. Percy said with as much dignity as he could. "Why are the Ministry providing cars, Father?"

Father? Who calls their Dad that? I think he's the only Weasley that does. The person I heard call their Dad Father was Malfoy and nobody wants to be compared to Malfoy.

I noticed Mr. Weasley ears go red, like Ron's did when he was under pressure, angry or embarrassed. "We'll, we haven't got one anymore and I work there, they're doing me a favor-"

Mrs. Weasley cut in. "Good thing too. Do you realize how much luggage you've all got between you? A nice sight you'd be on the Muggle Underground…You are all packed up, aren't you?"

I quirked a grin at the thought of the muggles reaction to all of us. Percy said in a voice filled with grief. "Ron hasn't put all his new things in his trunk yet. He dumped them on my bed."

Mrs. Weasley told Ron to take care of it while Ron set Percy a glare. I smirked and waggled a finger at Ron as people dispersed from the table. "Now Ronnie, make sure you go it correctly." I gave a cheeky grin.

He made sure his parents weren't looking before sending me a rude gesture. I just laughed. George and Fred left a while ago and I'm full. I see the leftover chocolate pudding in my lap, letting Leo have the rest. He lapped it up.

When I was in my room with Leo lazily laying on his back next to me, Ginny and Hermione were in the room, making sure everything was packed. I knew my stuff was, even if it wasn't neat. There was a knock and I saw George head look through. I know you'd think it would be hard to recognize them from each other, but I've been planning prankd with them for 2 years. We all used their closeness to our advantage.

George grinned. "Hello, little ladies. We need to borrow a Miss Jamie Black."

I grinned, a good prank is exactly what I need. "Here, I am."

Hermione frowned. "Jamie…"

Ginny just smiled. "I'm sure she's fine."

I said. "Good. Thank you my kind lady."

I bowed my head in a dramatic fashion, gaining a giggle from Ginny and a reluctant smile from Hermione.

As I walked out, I noticed Leo was asleep again. Fred was next to George and showed me Percy's Head Boy badge. I snickered as I listened to their plan. They were going to charm it to say something else. As we debated what charm to use, I heard the name I've been dreading since seeing that name in the paper. I whispered. "I'll be right back."

They both sent me identical strange looks, but nodded. I crawled noiselessly to where I saw Harry crouched and to where I heard the voices of the Weasley parents. I heard them say Sirius Black. I stiffened. Harry was so focused on them that he didn't notice me next to him.

Mr. Weasley said. "Molly, they say Sirius Black is mad, and maybe he is, but he was clever enough to escape from Azkaban, and that's supposed to be impossible. It's been 3 weeks and no one's seen hide or hair of him, and I don't care what Fudge keeps telling the Daily Prophet, we're no nearer catching Black than inventing self-spelling wands. The only thing we know for sure is what Black is after-"

"But Harry and Jamie will be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."

"We thought Azkaban was perfectly safe. If Black can break out of Azkaban, he can break into Hogwarts."

Mrs. Weasley asked. "How do we even know Black's after them-"

I heard Mr. Weasley bang his fist on the table. "Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't report it in the press because Fudge wanted to keep it quiet, but Fudge went to Azkaban the night Black escaped. The guards told Fudge that Black's been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the same words: 'He's at Hogwarts…he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged, Molly, and he wants Harry dead. If you ask me, he thinks killing Harry will bring You-Know-Who back to power. Black lost everything the night Harry stopped You-Know-Who, and he's twelve years alone in Azkaban to brood on that…"

Mrs. Weasley asked. "What about Jamie? He didn't say anything about her, did he?"

I heard him sigh loudly. "He might've not of said anything, but I don't doubt he has a plan to bring her to his side and kill her if he doesn't."

I clenched my trembling fists, feeling myself get physically sick.

Mrs. Weasley replied. "Well, Arthur, you must do what you think is right. But you're forgetting Albus Dumbledore. I don't think anything could hurt them at Hogwarts while Dumbledore's headmaster. I suppose he knows about all this?"

"Of course he knows. We had to ask him if he minds the Azkaban guards stationing themselves around the entrances to the school grounds. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed."

Mrs. Weasley asked. "Not happy? Why shouldn't he be happy, if they're there to catch Black?"

"Dumbledore isn't fond of the Azkaban guards. Nor am I, if it comes to that…but when you're dealing with a wizard like Black, you sometimes have to join forces with those you rather avoid."

Mrs. Weasley asked. "If they save Harry and Jamie-"

Mr. Weasley replied. "-then I will never say another word against them. It's late Molly, we'd better go up."

I noticed the end of the conversation, but didn't want to face Harry. I couldn't. I snuck backwards, passing Fred and George and sneaking in my room. I saw that Ginny and Hermione sleeping and I was happy for that. I noticed Leo eyes watching me. I laid on the cot and Leo curled into my side. I couldn't help, but think about what I heard.

The thing that made me fell the worst was that my dad was coming to kill one of my best friends and wanted me to go to the dark side. I knew that would never happen. I know I was only 13, but I rather die.

I just couldn't believe he was my father. I wished Remus was here, but I wouldn't see him for another year. At least at school, I could write to him. I made a vow to myself, I would not let my father, Sirius Black hurt or kill Harry. I knew this year would stressful.

Everyone's reaction to our relation. I remember last year with the whole Harry being the Heir to the Chamber of Secrets. It was stupid. I was protective over my friends.

With worry in my chest, I curled closer to Leo and fell into a restless sleep.

Wow, there it is. Thank you for the reviews. Here it is hope you like. I don't know anything about a updating schedule. As I'm working soon, going to college.