-1Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Sorry!

A.N// I really should have updated this story more. I'm really sorry for not doing so.

P.S. This chapter is dedicated to my friend Alyssa (the actual Alyssa in the story). Please get well soon!

CHAPTER 4

Alyssa paced in her room uncontrollably; how was she going to hide Jessica from Sirius until she could figure out how to remove her cat ears? Sirius was bound to find out sooner rather than later what with Alyssa constantly going in and out of their mothers' room. It was late at night and all Alyssa could do was worry but want to jump for joy knowing that her best friend was alive once more.

Jessica, too, was awake but not for the best of reasons. She laid in the stiff bed where her friend had tucked her in as memories flood her mind, both good and bad. She sighed as the memory of her death came into view but thankfully pushed it away with the thought of how wonderful it would be to get to speak with Sirius in the morning.

But, unfortunately, that thought soon left too when a chill rushed up her spine; hadn't Mr. Black died in this room? Hadn't Mrs. Black laid in this same exact spot night after night after her poor husband had died? And hadn't Mrs. Black herself died in her sleep in the same spot she was in right now? Her eyes darted open as she remembered that all she was questioning was true. She let her mind and heart race threw all the possibilities until both her mind and eyes got weary.

A ray of light entered the dusty lace curtains and danced across her face as a small breeze entered threw the cracked window. Jess stirred as she let her eyes flutter open against the welcoming sunlight. She pushed herself into a sitting position just in time to hear a very light knock on the door.

"Come in!" Jess said with an obvious pep. Alyssa entered with a plate of breakfast for her. As she crossed the room, laid the plate on her lap, opened the window, and sat next to her friend, she spoke,

"I still can't believe that you're here!" Jess smiled at her,

"Me neither. One minute I was chillin' with Jesus then the next I was on your kitchen table!" Alyssa looked utterly bemused,

"YOU WERE HANGING OUT WITH JESUS?!" Jessica giggled.

"Of course not! I was actually just floating in a wide nothingness. It was very peaceful though. I was allowed to watch everyone and anyone I wanted whenever I wanted! It was pleasant to over see my nephew, Harry grow up so far, but I think it's going to be even more of a treat to see him up close and personal and being able to give him real guidance instead of saving him from afar." Jessica started to eat her toast.

"Wait…what do you mean 'saving him from afar'?" Alyssa's eyes narrowed.

"Well," Jessica swallowed her food, "I have been watching over him since he was a baby. I sent Lily and James to that graveyard last year for him. I also called Fawkes to him when he was in the Chamber of Secrets in his second year. Other than that, it's not a big deal; just a Quidditch match here and there." Alyssa looked absolutely stunned.

"So all this time…" She looked down thinking hard. "All this time you've been gone, you were really there saving him?" Jessica smiled and nodded. "But….how? Why?" Jess looked down at her plate and smiled,

"What can I say? He was, is and always will be the son I never had." Alyssa smiled, noticing the empty plate. She stood up and took it off her friends lap than said,

"I'll be back later with lunch. Please take it easy on yourself." She was at the door when she remembered something, "Oh, and if you hear young laughter or whatever downstairs, it's just the Order and their kids, 'kay?" Jessica nodded reluctantly and Alyssa left. The door clicked quietly behind her and Jessica sighed then looked out the window; the sun was disappearing behind dark rain clouds.

Jess threw off the blankets from her lap and started to rub her legs; there was definitely feeling there because of the immense pain coursing threw them. She looked around the room to take in the sights and suddenly noticed something of great interest; a book case. She smiled and quietly clapped her hands together. Her magic may be rusty but her determination was sharp as ever. She pushed her hand out in the direction of the book case and mentally focused in on which book she wanted. As it began to tremor, she narrowed her eyes. It lifted off the case shakily and glided wobbly over to her then fell with great weight onto her aching legs.

"Ouch," she murmured but didn't let that stop her mental celebration. Her achievement gave her newfound hope and great determination to fulfill her biggest ambition to date; walking. Jess moved the book to the bed and picked up her pained legs and rest them over the edge of the bed. She smiled, thinking that walking would be as easy as her magic was, and attempted to stand. Little did she know, walking and magic were two totally different things; while the latter of the two required little work, walking seemed to still present a major issue to her. She fell to the floor with a great thud and smashed her chin upon landing. "DAMN IT!" She let slip. As she covered her mouth, the door opened a crack.

Alyssa poked her head in and gasped upon seeing her friend sprawled out on the floor. "Get your ass in bed now!" Jess sighed,

"Now if I could, do you think I'd be laying here right now?"

"Oh yeah. Sorry." Alyssa replied sheepishly. She walked in and helped her friend back into bed. "Now stay put okay?" Jessica nodded. "I mean it!"

"Alright, alright! I promise I'll stay in bed!"

"Good." Alyssa smiled and walked out of the room once more. Jessica threw the blankets off once more and pushed her legs towards the floor. She was able to move some of her toes, which would come in handy soon as she started to try to get all of her other toes working. By lunch time, she had gotten all of her toes working and one ankle.

Alyssa had entered to see Jessica sitting in the same spot as she had left her. Alyssa walked over and closed the window to keep the rain from coming in and set a plate of lunch on Jess' lap. The two had another conversation about Jessica's death seeing as Alyssa was fascinated with the whole concept. After Jess finished eating, Alyssa gathered the plate and left after reminding Jess that she was still working on finding a spell that would replace her tiger ears with actual human ones. The door clicked once more behind her and Jessica immediately got back to work on her legs.

A few hours later, Alyssa came back into the room with a bowl of steaming stew for Jessica's dinner when she noticed that her friend was not in bed anymore. Alyssa gasped when she saw Jessica standing by the window watching the now setting sun not in the clothes she had first appeared in but now in a pair of skinny legged, dark jeans, a pair of black slip-on shoes and a blood red tank top that had the Gryffindor emblem on the front in the bottom left corner close to her hip. Jess turned and smiled,

"Hey, how's it going?" Alyssa placed the stew on the night stand and walked over to her friend.

"You can walk now?" Alyssa was completely shocked. Jess nodded happily. "That's amazing! I just learned how to get rid of your ears too!" Jess' eyes widened as Alyssa guided her into a leather arm chair and took out her wand. Alyssa said, "This may hurt so please try your best not to scream, 'kay?"

"Promise just please, hurry!" Glee took over her whole body as Alyssa cleared her throat. She started tapping lightly on the top of her head and muttering in a foreign language. Jess raised an eyebrow in confusion but had to let that expression go when a burning sensation started rushing to her head. She felt the urge to punch Alyssa, but resisted, remembering her friends warning.

A few moments later, Alyssa backed away and gasped. Jessica looked alarmed,

"What is it?" she said. Alyssa brought her hands up to her mouth, further terrifying Jessica. "WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED?" Alyssa rushed to the vanity mirror and picked up a dusty handheld mirror. She wiped it clean and rushed back to Jess, then handed her the mirror and backed away. Jess looked in haste at what Alyssa had done to her and couldn't believe her eyes; she had full human ears and no random ears sprouting from the top of her head.

Jessica jumped up and hugged her friend tightly; she was finally back to normal. Alyssa went back over to the night stand and picked up the bowl of stew and headed towards the door. Jessica followed her closely, expecting to be able to see everyone like she had hoped. Alyssa placed a hand on Jess' shoulder and said,

"Not yet. Maybe tomorrow. It's just that you're still pretty new to your feet and ears and…stuff so I think it'd be best if you just rested everything until it's all working right." With that, Alyssa left with no room for Jessica to debate. All she could do was sit around and brood about how unfair her friend was being. To be realistic, Jessica was as healthy and coherent as possible.

She crossed the room once more and sat back down in the large easy chair.

"This can't be happening!" She started. "This is serious bull!" She was fuming and ready to throw a loud and very noticeable tantrum when she got a better idea. She stood from the chair and walked to the door, placing her ear against it to listen for anyone walking by. She slowly and cautiously turned the door knob and checked to see if anyone was coming. When she knew for a fact that coast was clear, she stepped out of the room. She let the door give a little click behind her and headed off down the hall, tiptoeing all the way and constantly on high alert.

She reached the infamous creaking stairs and took a deep breath; she could only pray that everyone was laughing enough to hush the sounds of the creaking. She tiptoed down the stairs slowly, all while holding her breath. She slowly made her way towards the dining room where everyone was with her back against the wall when she heard her name being mentioned,

"I really do still miss Jess." It sounded like a much more mature version of Remus. She made it to dining room door, got on her knees and peered in, making sure no one noticed her. She smiled after seeing all her old friends assembled around the table and also all the young one's listening to the stories of bravery and courage that Jess had displayed in their "glory days."

She watched her nephew sit angrily across from a man with greasy hair and in black cloaks. Her eyes widened and pulse quickened as she realized it was Severus. Her hands twisted into fists as she gritted her teeth and remembered how he had let their son die. But all that anger left when she saw young Harry, whom couldn't have been more than 15 at the moment, fling a spoon full of peas at the Potions Master's face. It actually made her smile until she saw Severus pick something up to retaliate against young Harry. In one fluid motion, Severus threw it at Harry and as Harry winced, many Order members gasped and shrieked in horror and surprise.

Harry opened his eyes slowly to see a feminine hand grasping the slice of apple that his Professor was throwing at him and feeling the same type of hand on his shoulder. He looked up into her face and noticed how much they looked alike. He was mesmerized by the possibilities of her being related to him that it startled him to hear her speak.

Jess' eyes were staring Severus down who looked scared, shocked, and nearly moved to tears by her supposedly surprisingly cold expression.

"Don't you ever touch my nephew." Her face was fixed just like everyone else's was; just like stone. All she could do was stare but internally she was jumping for joy. This was the moment everyone would realize just how awe inspiring she could be.

But why wouldn't anyone break the silence?

END

A.N// YAY! Another chapter done! I really do love Harry Potter and all that stuff but I just gotta find more time to write about it! Oh well, I'll be doing a massive writing sweep soon. Until the next chapter……

-Jessi