'MAYBE I WOULDN'T HAVE, IF YOU HAD BEEN AROUND TO TRY AND HELP!'

'I'm your what?' Harry interjected, at a normal volume, still trying to catch up.

'WHAT, LIKE YOU WERE?! YOU WERE MEANT TO BE THEIR SECRET KEEPER, SIRIUS! WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT, EH?!'

'THE RAT CONVINCED ME!'

'YOU STUPID MUTT!'

'Enough,' said Dumbledore calmly, though the two paid absolutely no attention to him.

'FAT LOT OF GOOD YOU WERE, LOCKED UP IN BLOODY AZKABAN!'

'FAT LOT OF GOOD YOU WERE, RUNNING AWAY!'

'I DID NOT RUN AWAY!'

'Enough!' Dumbledore said loudly, standing up. As he did, the office door crashed open, revealing Lupin, Professor McGonagall and Snape.

'Sirius?' Lupin took a step into the room, shocked to see the best friend that he thought he had lost standing in front of him, his face red with anger. Sirius turned to look at him, revealing the woman standing almost nose to nose with him. 'Jessica!'

The woman smiled at the sight of him, for the first time since she had appeared, seemingly out of thin air. Harry noticed how young she looked when she smiled, and how white her teeth were against the deep crimson of her lips.

'Remus! Darling, you're missing the party, get in here!' She walked around Sirius, not even bothering to look at him, and ran into Lupin's surprised arms. He seemed as shocked as Sirius to see her there, but nowhere near as angry, as he held her by the shoulders to look at her, and his face split into a wide grin. He looked past her to Sirius, and his eyes creased.

'But, how, Sirius? We saw you fall, Bellatrix's curse hit you square in the chest.' Sirius looked questioningly at him, completely unaware of what Lupin was talking about. Jessica, however, waved off Lupin's questions.

'We can get to all that in a minute. Snivellus! How nice of you to join us!' She had moved away from Lupin and had planted a kiss on Snape's shocked face, leaving a red lip imprint on his pasty cheek. 'And, Minnie too! Oh, aren't we ever so popular!' At a mention of her name, shocking Harry, McGonagall broke into a smile and shook her head amiably at her. Jessica grinned, and walked back to Dumbledore's chair and sat down, this time with both feet on the floor. Snape seemed to be trying to take the look of shock of his face, and replace it with one of malice, but to Harry's amazement, a subtle blush reddened his sallow features.

'Jessica, I do not wish to rush you, but Harry has had a long night. Madame Pomfrey will probably be wishing to have a look over him in the hospital wing presently…'

'Oh, yeah. Sorry.' She looked over for the first time at Harry, and smiled sheepishly. Harry eyes brushed over features, trying to pinpoint any similarities between the two of them. Maybe in the way her nose curved, or something, he supposed. Dumbledore, however, had immediately recognised a similarity between them; their tempers, which could erupt without warning.

'Why don't we all sit down?' Dumbledore asked, conjuring another three chairs around the desk and gesturing to those standing to take a seat.

'Some tea would be good too, Dobs,' Jessica said casually, which was immediately followed by a loud crack!

'Mistress Jessie! Mistress Jessie! You is home!' Dobby jumped up and down in glee, his tea cosies wobbling dangerously on his head. 'You have come back to see Dobby! Dobby has missed you so much, Mistress Jessie!' The house elf threw his arms around Jessica's legs into a tight hug and then leapt back. 'Mistress Jessie ask for tea? Dobby will be right back!' And with a second crack! Dobby disappeared.

'You know Dobby?!' Harry said in utter disbelief. 'How?'

But, before she could answer, Dobby had returned, floating a heavily laden tray complete with a teapot, a large plate of biscuit and jugs of sugar and milk. Alongside the tray, seven cups and saucers appeared, floating towards each person residing in the office.

'Dobby brought your favourite biscuits, Mistress! Dobby still remembers!' He said excitedly, his ears bouncing while he hurried to fill her cup with tea. When he was done, he turned, 'And Master Harry! You is meeting Mistress Jessica!' Dobby was so happy, tears seemed to be streaming from his eyes and he almost dropped the teapot. Jessica reached over and took it from him, placing it onto the tray now sitting on the desk.

'Thank you, Dobby. Listen, go back to the kitchens and I'll come visit you as soon as I've finished with this lot, okay?' Dobby grinned toothily and nodded. He threw his arms around her legs once more, backed away and disappeared.

'You know Dobby?!' Harry repeated, staring at the spot where Dobby had been standing.

'I'm sure he's going to want to be the one to explain it all, so I'll leave it to him. We've got a lot of stuff to talk about as it is.' Jessica looked across to Harry once more, and smiled, her eyes shining brightly.

'Jessica, you had better start talking.' Sirius demanded. He had moved his armchair closer to Harry's, and put one hand on his shoulder.

'Start at the beginning, if you will,' Dumbledore added.

'Can't I just go over at happened tonight?' She said with a groan, dramatically throwing her head back like a toddler about to have a tantrum. 'Like you said, Harry is tired and it's been a long night for everyone. I mean, Sirius died and everything and…'

'What!?' Sirius said with a bark, his eyes wide, Harry moved uncomfortably as the hand on his shoulder turned into a vice-like grip.

'Just the events of tonight will suffice for now, Jessica. But, we will need to talk about what else has happened.' Dumbledore nodded his head; a prompt for her to begin speaking.

'I heard through the grapevine that tonight was the night that they were going to get into the Department of Mysteries to get the prophecy. I heard the Dark Lord was going to use Harry to get it. I knew that if Harry was going to get into deep water, there would be no stopping Sirius. After all, the man will risk his bloody life at the drop of a fucking hat. As soon as I heard, I made for London. Got there too late to stop them going in. Found the red headed boy, I guess he's one of Arthur's…'

'Ron,' Harry interrupted, 'his name is Ron.'

'Fine, I found Ron covered in the brains in one of the rooms and threw a couple of stunners at them, which got the majority off. I guessed that Harry would only have left his friends if the death eaters were getting close to the prophecy. Then, a bunch of the Order of Phoenix ran past, and Sirius was in the middle of them.' She turned to Sirius then, who was staring at her intently. 'You're an idiot for going there. You know that Lestrange has it in for you, and that she'll do anything to get at you.'

Sirius opened his mouth at this, as if he were about to argue, but Lupin reached out and put his hand softly on his arm, a silent message to stop himself.

'I accioed Sirius out of the group and stunned him. I had a little Polyjuice on hand so took a few of his hairs. I may have pulled a few too many, so look out for a bald spot, Pads.' Predictably, Sirius immediately put his hand up to his hair and she sneered at him.

'I took a death eater out, one of the thugs always hanging around Malfoy. Goyle, I think his name is.' At Harry's nod, she continued, 'I used imperius on him- and don't give me that look, Minnie, sometimes it is necessary- and forced the potion down him. He was the one you saw die, and fall behind the veil. I got Sirius back to Dumbledore's office and left him here to wake up. I didn't see the rest of the battle, but I went and checked on your friends, Harry. Did what I could to help the bushy-haired girl. I think she was the only one seriously injured.'

'Don't worry, Mr Potter. Miss Granger is in the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey thinks she will be waking up within the next few hours,' Professor McGonagall assured him, when a look of alarm crossed across his face.

'And everyone else? Ron and Ginny? Neville and Luna?' Harry looked around to the headmaster, who was smiling and nodding.

'Everyone is just fine, Harry. There were no fatalities on our side, especially as we now know about Sirius being safe,' Dumbledore intoned, reaching across and patting his knee.

Harry breathed deeply, and began to feel fatigue set in. He thought of how comfy a fresh pair of pyjamas would be, and how warm he would be in bed. As his eyes began to droop, Dumbledore rose from his seat, followed quickly by Snape, McGonagall and Lupin. Jessica remained in her seat, looking with her head tilted at Harry. He looked so much like James, it was scary. With his eyes almost closed, he reminded her of the way James would fall asleep in front of the fire at home when he was a child.

The headmaster continued, 'I think it is best that Harry goes to find Poppy right about now, Professor McGonagall.' As she nodded, and went to take Harry's arm to lead him out of the armchair and down to the hospital wing, Sirius interjected.

'I'll take him,' he announced, putting his arm around Harry, who stood sleepily next to him.

'I'm sorry, Sirius, but I must insist that you are not seen walking about the castle. Minerva will ensure he gets there safely. Perhaps, it is best that you go back to Grimmauld Place for the night, and return tomorrow, to see Harry. Remus, will you?'

Lupin took hold of Sirius' arm, said a quiet 'goodnight' to Harry, threw a smile at Jessica, and began to walk towards the doorway. But, Sirius stood his ground, staring Dumbledore down.

'I'm staying with Harry. Even if it's just as his loveable dog curled up next to his bed.' In the background, Jessica snorted into her hand, trying to hold back giggles, throwing a glance at Snape who was smirking. Sirius ignored her, and continued to look at the Headmaster.

'If you must, Sirius. But, please walk down to the hospital wing in your dog form. Your presence may not be particularly well appreciated by some members of staff. Mr. Filch, for instance.' Jessica snorted even louder this time, which was echoed by Lupin, although he covered his with a cough. Harry began to shuffle towards the door, no longer caring who came with him, just longing for a bed to sleep in. Sirius silently followed, changing into his animagus form as he went.