Hey guys, here's the next chapter for you, hopefully longer than the last and has some flashbacks in it.
Jasmine leant on the rail of the verandah letting the breeze blow her hair around her face as she was lost in thought. George was playing with the twins in the back yard and Elaine was asleep so Jasmine had a chance to just think... most of her thought revolved around her father who she had never spent much time with. The one summer that she spent entirely with her father was the best summer of her life. It was a year before her father died so she was glad that she had spent that time with him.
As she remembered that summer she thought about how protective her father had been when he found out about her and George dating. That resulted in a very humourous arguement between her mother and her father...
(A/N: writing in italics will most likly be a flash back)
Jasmine and Sirius walked into the kitchen to see the red haired family greeting Remus and Elaine. Ginny saw Jasmine over Ron's shoulder so she waved and Jasmine smiled and waved back.
"We didn't expect you guys this soon," Sirius said in amusment. "But still, the more the merrier. Right Jazzy?"
"Right," Jasmine agreed. Sirius ruffled her hair affectionatly.
"Jasmine!" Ron exclaimed when he heard her voice. He turned and looked at his blond haired friend. "How are you?"
"Great," Jasmine replied tilting her head towards her dad. Ron nodded in acknowledgment. "How are you mate?" she asked him.
"Eh, I'll tell you later," he replied with a glance at his parents who were talking to Sirius and Elaine.
"Bill's gonna be here tonight," Mrs Weasly told Elaine. "Would you like help with the lunch dear?"
"That would be lovely," Elaine replied. "Jasmine, can you show everyone where their rooms are?"
"Yes mum," Jasmine replied. She gestured to the door of the kitchen, Ron, Ginny and Fred walked out while George walked and stood beside Jasmine.
"Hey George," she said and hugged him.
"Hey Jazzy," he laughed. "Did you only just notice me?"
"You were busy talking with Remus," Jasmine replied and kissed him on the cheek. "Come on." She saw Sirius staring at her, he had seen her last gesture of affection and now had a curious look upon his face. Jasmine blushed and took George's hand and led him out of the kitchen.
Later on Sirius and Elaine were in Sirius's childhood bedroom talking. Jasmine had walked downstairs to get some drinks for herself and Ginny when she heard her parents arguing.
"Why didn't you tell me she had a boyfriend?" Sirius demanded.
"I didn't really find a chance and there were more important things to discuss in letters," Elaine snapped in reply.
"Hey, there's no need to get defensive."
"Then don't you raise you voice at me," Elaine replied. "I also didn't tell you because I knew you'd be like this. Sirius, I know you love Jasmine so much but I was afraid that you'd be worried."
"How do Molly and Arthur feel about their son dating a Black?" Sirius asked sarcastically.
"They don't mind at all."
"That's a surprise."
"What's wrong with you?" Elaine asked.
"Molly doesn't like me so why should she like George dating my daughter?" Sirius asked. Jasmine heard bed springs creak and relised that Sirius had sat on the bed and she heard him sigh.
"Sirius," Elaine murmured. There was another creak as Elaine sat down beside her husband, probably with her arm around him. "She spent thirteen years thinking that you're a mass murderer, that would make somone edgy."
"But Remus-"
"Remus was you friend at school," Elaine reminded him. "Just remember honey, that people believed that you were working with Voldemort so just give them a chance to warm to you.
"I'm sure that you and George will get along fine and you'll find that he really likes Jazz a lot so, just give him a chance."
"Alright, but if he hurts her then I hurt him," Sirius said in a joking tone.
"There's my real husband, I'm going to go and make sure those girls are asleep," Elaine said. Jasmine rushed back to her room before she heard the bed springs squeak. Jasmine jumped into bed and looked across at Ginny. 'Go to sleep' she mouthed. Ginny nodded and they lay down on their pillows as Elaine opened the door a bit and looked in.
They heard the door close and Elaine's footsteps fade.
"I thought you were going to get drinks," Ginny said when they sat up and looked at each other.
"I was but then I heard mum and dad talking," Jasmine replied. "Dad was upset that mum hadn't told him about me and George." Ginny giggled and rolled her eyes.
"Father's are meant to be protective," she told Jasmine, who smiled and nodded.
"I know, I just didn't think I'd get a dad like that." Ginny and Jasmine started laughing because the thought of Sirius and his mass-murderer reputation did not suit him being protective.
A smile came to Jasmine as she remembered that, there were so many good times with her father but the only memory that was bad was her first argument with him, a few days after she heard her parents arguing. Her mother had gone to the ministry to talk with Fudge and Jasmine was cleaning out the attic with her father, Ron and Hermione.
Jasmine, Ron and Hermione walked up the stairs to meet Sirius in the attic the clean out some of the junk and evil creatures hiding up there.
"So how did your dad take it when he found out about George?" Hemione asked, (she had only arrived that morning).
"He took it... not so well," Jasmine replied.
"Well that's fathers right?" Ron asked. "They're meant to be like that aren't they?"
"Not my dad, he's a dare devil," Jasmine told him. "I didn't think he'd be like this at all." Jasmine sighed and reached up to tie her hair out of her face so that it wouldn't get caught in anything while they were working.
"I'm sure he'll warm to George soon," Hermione said in a reassuring voice. Jasmine gave her a half-hearted shrug as they reached the door. Jasmine pushed it open and they three friends walked in. Sirius was examining an old chest of drawers when they walked in and shut the door.
"What's that dad?" Jasmine asked as she joined her black-haired father.
"I think it has some nasty things in it... could be anything so we had better leave this one alone," Sirius told her. "We need to clear out those boxes of mine and Regulus's things." He pointed to a large pile of boxes in the corner.
"Regulus?" Hermione asked as Sirius and Jasmine exchanged disgusted looks.
"My little brother," Sirius replied. "My idiot of a little brother. We used to be close but he got sucked into the pure-blood mania and I lost him. He's dead now, I think Voldemort killed him or ordered him to be killed."
"I'm-" Hermione began but Sirius held up his hand.
"I hated him as much as the rest of my family Hermione, don't be sorry," Sirius told her.
"Your mother is noisy," Ron said as the portrait of Wulburga Black started shreiking again.
"That's nice for her," Sirius replied. Jasmine giggled slightly but caught her father's eye and stopped. Sirius's grey eyes weren't alight with happiness as they usually were, they were steely and cold. Jasmine was worried as they started empting boxes, most things being thrown into a sack by Sirius to be thrown away.
He pulled out a book out of one of the boxes and flipped it open, an affectionate smile appeared on his face.
"Jazz, I want you to have this," he said handing it to his daughter. Jasmine blinked and took it, she flipped open the cover and saw a picture of seven people in colourful and beautiful dresses and dress robes. She saw James and Sirius standing beside each other. In their arms in front of them was Elaine and Lily. Then there was Remus and Rebecca below them sitting on chairs and on Remus's other side was Peter. They were all laughing and occaisionally looking around at each other with smiles.
"That's our Christmas Ball in seventh year," Sirius said. "Just before Rebecca was killed." Sirius's voice cracked and he took a breath.
"When did you make this?" Jasmine asked.
"Your mother put it together for me," Sirius replied. "She put pictures of all seven of us in there."
"What's it doing in here? I thought you ran away to James's when you were sixteen."
"I did, I have no idea why it's here," Sirius admitted. "I think Regulus stole it when we were going home for summer." Sirius's tender smile was replaced by a thoughtful look. Jasmine turned the page and found a picture of three girls sprawled on the ground together, and one of four boys in a lake splashign each other and laughing.
"This is beautiful," Jasmine murmured. She raised herself onto her knees and kissed her father's cheek. "Thankyou daddy," she whispered. Ron pulled something out of another box and looked at it.
"Sirius," he said.
"Yeah?"
"Who is this?" Ron asked. Sirius looked up at the picture that Ron was holding up.
"That's my cousin Andromeda, disowned for marrying a muggle born," Sirius replied. For a few more minutes they cleaned in silence until Jasmine finally got up the courage to question her father.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Jasmine asked, moving towards her father to help him move some boxes.
"What do you mean princess?" Sirius replied setting down a full box and pulling the flaps up.
"There's something wrong, I know there is." Jasmine gave him a peircing look, Sirius sighed, she was too much like him.
"Jazz, just drop it." He was keeping his voice low so Jasmine lowered hers too but her grey eyes remained fixed on her father's, their stare growing intense.
"No, dad, really, tell me. Is this to do with what I heard you and mum talking about last night?" Sirius looked surprised and in spite of himself he let out a half smile.
"You are just like me," he told his daughter. Jasmine tilted her head.
"I know," she replied. "So tell me what is wrong." Sirius shook his head. "Dad, I know this is about George so talk to me." Jasmine was growing irratated, her voice getting louder.
"Keep your voice down Jasmine," Sirius barked. Jasmine looked taken aback, her father had never snapped at her before. She huffed and folded her arms.
"I'll raise my voice if I want to!" Jasmine snapped. "If you have a problem with my boyfriend then talk to me about it!" Jasmine was now standing up, a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"Fine then!" shouted Sirius. He stood up and glared at Jasmine too. "One, he's too old for you-"
"He's only two years older than me!"
"He's of age and you havn't even done your OWLs yet! Two, he's far to reckless, you could end up being hurt because of his stupidity-"
"Ok One, George isn't nearly as reckless as you! And Two, he's not as stupid as you were at that age either. He wouldn't go running off to find death eaters just to fight someone. Three-"
"Jasmine Isabelle Black, do not talk back to me!"
"I will if I want! You can't tell me what to do!"
"I'm your father I can do as I please!"
"Yeah and that's the kind of thinking that stopped you from being able to be a father to me! All those years in Azkaban and now you come back wanted to tell me what to do? Forget it!" Jasmine turned on her heel and stormed out of the room. She slammed the door and stomped down the stairs cursing under her breath. She heard the door to the attic being pulled open and heard footsteps.
Jasmine stopped in front of her grand mother's portrait and turned to face her angry father.
"You will not speak back to me without being punished young lady!" Sirius shouted at his daughter. The curtains in front of Wulburga's portrait opened and she started screaming and shouting out insults. Mr and Mrs Weasly, Bill, Fred, George, Ginny, Remus, Kingsly and Elaine ran out of the kitchen to see Jasmine and Sirius yelling at each other and Mrs Black screaming insults at them.
"If you have a problem with who I date then I don't give a f-" Jasmine started.
"GO TO YOUR ROOM!" Sirius shouted across her. Jasmine glared hard at him, her eyes brimming with tears and stormed past him up the stairs.
Ron and Hermione moved aside as she ran past them. Sirius was breathing heavily and his eyes were stormy, a sure sign of danger. "SHUT UP YOU HAG!" he roared at the portrait. He pointed his wand at it and the curtains slammed shut. He noticed for the first time the people standing and staring at him. He shook his head and then went up the stairs. Elaine and Remus glanced at each other and walked up.
"Who will you go to?" Elaine asked.
"Jasmine, she won't yell at me to 'eff' off," Remus replied. "Good luck with Padfoot."
Jasmine was filled with not only her memories but her father's and mother's. Before her mother died she had given Jasmine a chain with a blue crystal on it and a purple crystal. She had been told that they were soul stones. One was her father's and one was her mother's and Jasmine wore the chain all the time and was filled with the memories of her parents always.
She started thinking about when Remus had come up to calm her down. She had not gone to her bedroom as she had been told to but had ran up to the attic and started looking at the pictures of her parents and their friends.
There was a knock at the door and Jasmine looked up. She hurriedly wiped the tears from her face and took a shuddering breath.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"Remus, can I come in," was the reply.
"Sure," Jasmine mumbled. The door opened and Remus walked in and sat beside her. He raised an arm as an invitation for Jasmine to lean on him which she accepted.
"Now are you going to tell me what that fight was all about?" he asked. Jasmine took a few deep breaths and nodded.
"He doesn't think that George is good enough for me and he said some mean things," Jasmine replied.
"Like what?"
"He said that he was too old for me, said he was reckless and would end up getting me hurt from his stupidity..." Jasmine trailed off with some muttering and Remus rubbed her shoulder.
"He didn't mean them in a mean way Jazz. He just cares a lot about you and doesn't want to see you hurt. Don't forget that your dad knows how idiotic teenage boys can be," Remus whispered with a hint off amusment on his tone. Jasmine hiccupped and giggled slightly.
"I guess so..." she murmured. "Hey Remus, do you still love Becca?" Jasmine turned her grey eyes up to look at Remus.
"Of course, I never stopped loving her," Remus whispered. Jasmine opened the book in her arms and flicked through the pages and took out a photo.
"Here," she whispered. The young nymph princess raised her hand and let out vines that grew around the picture and across the back to create a flowered frame. She then traced her finger over it until there was a thin layer of ice over the top of.
"Do you have a spell to turn ice into glass?" Jasmine asked handing Remus the picture of Rebecca and him at their christmas ball in their seventh year.
"I do," Remus murmured. He took out his wand and tapped it and murmured the incantation. The ice turned into glass to protect the photo and preserve the vines and flowers.
"It's a gift," Jasmine said when Remus was about to hand it back to her. "Keep it." Remus hugged Jasmine and kissed her forehead.
"Thankyou Jasmine, it's beautiful."
The present time Jasmine was different to the Jasmine that had cried in that attic. She had seen so much more and had experienced more but she wanted to know what made her father come and apologise, so she touched his soul stone and searched his memory.
Sirius sat on his bed and stared at the canopy, still fuming from his fight with his daughter. There was a knock at his door so he sat up and saw Elaine standing in the doorway looking at him sadly.
"What?" Sirius asked. "She's the one who started it."
"I know honey but you should have just said 'I'm worried that you'll get hurt' and nothing else alright," Elaine replied. She came and sat beside him and the bed and took his hand between her two.
"I love you so much the way you are but sometimes I think you need to start looking before you leap," Elaine told him. Sirius sighed and took his hand from Elaine's and touched her cheek.
"I know and I'm sorry," he murmured.
"You should be apologising to your daughter, you really hurt her a lot." Sirius sighed and looked down. Elaine touched his face and made him look at her. "She's mad at you Sirius but she will never hate you. She loves you too much."
Sirius smiled and raised his arms. Elaine leant on him and Sirius held her, stroking her hair and enjoying the warmth of her body.
"Thankyou Elaine," he whispered.
"It's what I'm here for, to teach you to be a parent," Elaine replied. "When Voldemort comes into the open we can convince Fudge that it wasn't you and then you, me and Jazz can be a proper family." Sirius smiled and kissed his wife's head.
"I know, so I hope he reveals himself soon, then I can get out of here and help more." Sirius unwrapped his arms from around Elaine. "I'm going to apologise to Jasmine." Elaine and he stood up and walked out of the room. Elaine walked down the stairs and Sirius stayed where he was, watching her go. Then he began to climb the stairs when someone called him name. He turned to see George walking up to him.
"Oh..." Sirius murmured. He shufted uncomfortable when George stopped and looked at him.
"Um... Sirius-" George started but Sirius held up his hand.
"Don't say anything," Sirius told him in a kind voice. "Nothing that happened is your fault, it's mine for being an overprotective father and being stubborn because I seem to have passed that on to my daughter."
"Hey, it's ok I understand, I just wanted to say that my intentions are simply honourable," George told him. "And I hope we can get along since we're living under the same roof." Sirius laughed slightly and held out his hand.
"Of course, now I have to go and apologise to Jasmine, do you want to come and give me some support since you're brave enough to try and handle the fireball that is Jasmine Isabelle Black." George laughed and nodded so the two of them climbed the stairs.
Jasmine laughed at the memory and stared out across the horizon. She saw a pair of firgures walking up her driveway. As she peered closer she realised who they were and took a step back from the railing before leaping over it and running down the driveway.
"Harry!" she shouted. Before she flung herself into the arms of her childhood friend and "godbrother".
Well what did you guys think of that chapter? I hope you liked it and were able to have a few laughs at it, though it wasn't really that funny I don't think.
Ciao
Erin xxoo