(Year three goes by fast with the exception that Jackie tells Sirius everything)
Confessions Part 2 Chapter 9
For the duration of the summer Jackie spent her time thanking her gods that her mother, Chelsea was not pregnant again with Jimmy's fourth child. Chelsea dreamed happy when the doctor told her she wasn't, she even hugged him. He had just stared at her and dismissed her perplexed; Chelsea acted sad when she told Jimmy after she had returned home.
Dorea Potter had to sadly tell her son that his father, Justin Riddell had moved away from London and out to Scotland for a vacation home during the summer. James wrote his father once a week and Jackie always got it first; she burned the letters hoping with no trace of them, James would hate their father as much as she does.
For the third year of her magic schooling Jackie went to Diagon Ally with her mother and sisters, they were three years old now and could speak fluently and were gorgeous young girls. On her birthday Jackie Cross visited the shops and her mother got her a birthday present as well, new gloves for when she played Quidditch. Peter was there when she arrived, she pushed her mother from the shop before she could enter; she doubted that Peter would put the pieces together but if he was here, James, Sirius, or Remus might be as well. He turned when she heard her and squeaked in surprise and welcomed her to join him as he searched for his books.
"You really look up to Sirius and James don't you Peter?" she asked as he spoke of nothing but them.
"Remus too!" he added, she smiled and nodded. "I was at James' the other day; he's real upset over his father not returning his letters." He muttered, Jackie frowned.
"Peter, look, Jim- Justin- I babysat for him last year. He left sure, he gets the letters I'm sure but with Rebecca being ill again, he's has a lot on his mind." She said as they paid for their new books and left the shop together. He asked how she knew Rebecca Riddell was sick, "She contacted me, wanted to tell me about the girls, Jamie and Jodie are growing so beautifully." She smiled and stopped suddenly, "Er, I have to go this way. Sorry Peter," he shook his head signifying it was no big deal, "Thanks, er, I'll write you okay?" he smiled and nodded. She hugged him quickly and left to go down the steps to a shop. Her mother was sitting at one of the tables, waiting for her.
Boarding the train a few weeks later Jackie got the trunk on alone and got on, Gyn was asleep again. She didn't want to stay home this year she decided; summer went by way to fast and she needed to get out of the house for the next nine months. Her hair was longer now; her eyes were still violet; her skin was tanned and pretty to look at. She was given jealous glares by a few Gryffindor girls and a few other girls from Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and even Slytherin. She realized she was becoming pretty and smiled at this thought. She nodded at herself and looked up when she heard someone's name being called.
"Angel!" she wanted to scream when she recognized the man who yelled it, it was the vampire she defeated along with Hydro and the others on the cliff. "Angel!" he yelled again, a few girls looked over, the seventh years giggled when he looked at them. He grinned and walked towards them, but their mother's pulled them away from the man. Jackie went onto the train and pulled out her invisibility cloak and pulled it on, she closed the door to her compartment and went over to the two men talking. They looked around the students, they weren't wizards otherwise she would have seen their wands by now.
"Shut up Spike," Angel muttered. "Where are they, the humans with the demons inside them?" he asked, he was talking about her and James and Sirius probably.
"The girl was over there, they're from Salem, who knows where the bloody hell they went now."
Angel sighed, "They are not from Salem, I'm sure of it Spike. You probably dreamed what happened to you Spike, go home and don't drag me here again." Angel was handsome with an angelic face and figure, broad shoulders and a real father figure. His eyes were brown and dark brown hair covered his eyes and creped down his neck. He wore a short coat and jeans with sneakers and a light coloured shirt underneath; Spike wore what he had been wearing before at school.
Spike just shook his head, "No you bastard, I swear it; they did magic, real magic and the girl… she used water magic!" he blabbed, Angel glanced at him disapprovingly. Spike suddenly gabbed Angel's arm and pointed at Remus, "see there, he's a werewolf, you know that don't you?" Angel nodded as they watched Remus. Jackie slipped over to her compartment again and pulled off the cloak and stuck it back in her trunk; she jumped off and Severus grabbed her as she did.
"Sev!" she gasped thinking it was Spike.
"Hey, what's the rush?" he asked as she pulled her back onto the train, she made an excuse. She saw Spike looked at her, she looked away and she knew he saw her looking at him. Angel kept him from going any further.
"JAMES!" came Remus' voice, she turned around and saw her brother and boyfriend as they came onto the platform; she wondered how the vampires found the platform let alone how they got on.
"Jackie Cross!" Severus called he paused when he saw she still right there. He grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the train and walked her to their compartment.
Ten minutes later the train was leaving finally and Jackie told Severus about Spike and Angel, he didn't believe her and she'd probably waste her time and energy trying to convince him anyway so she didn't press and muttered she probably dreamed it and thought it real. He had laughed at her and they began exchanging summer stories with the others in their compartment….
They arrived at the school after dark and she went in with Severus and a few other Slytherins, Peter had caught her eye and waved at her. She waved back. Sirius looked around to see whom he was waving at after Jackie got into her carriage.
The sorting went by slowly and the feast was faster then water flowing through a strong current but the food was excellent as usual. Before bed Jackie went to the kitchens, her house-elf friends greeted her; she only accepted the hot chocolate.
Try-outs for all four houses was soon after the first of October, Jackie tried to get Severus to try out but he refused implying that he didn't want to make a fool of himself in front of James Potter. She was part of the team so she got to decide with them if the person got on or not. After over four hours they had a full team of seven again, not including Severus Tobias Snape. Halloween came by fast with the occasional letter from her mother or father and even her sisters sent in coloured papers with their names scribbled at the top; she had them saved on beside her bed. That Christmas she went home for Christmas and came back more depressed then ever, Chelsea was sick, really sick and her sister may have caught the disease.
She walked on the ice one day and James saw her in the window as he walked down it, he went to go see her with Remus, Sirius was already there. She was crying and they could still hear her. "Justin and Jimmy are the same person Sirius," he shook his head.
"No, they aren't." he said shaking his head again.
"He's killed them all, slowly they'll die one by one and then he'll have me and my sister, Jamie and Jodie Cross all to himself. Chelsea is sick and Jimmy is doing who knows what to her. Sirius James is my brother, Dorea didn't want a liar and a con to be in contact with him last year, that's why Jimmy never got any of the letters, I agreed with Dorea."
"You made sure Justin never got the letters, why, what does he do to you; lock you in your room for a few hours." He joked; she frowned when she got to leave. He hurried after her sliding on the icy lake. "Jackie please, I didn't mean it like that. Please tell me, I love you, you know that."
She nodded and he hugged her, "James and I are half brother-sister. Dorea got pregnant with him three months before Jimmy met Chelsea; he was born in March and me in June." He let her go and stood in front of her, holding her hands. She had broken down finally; Sirius had also seen her from a window and hurried down to her. "Jimmy is a murderer Sirius; he killed me himself last summer. I was in the hospital because of it," he shook his head again.
"No you and your friend were-."
"Jimmy beat me for stealing his wand, lying about it and getting rid of the damn thing. He beat me for a lot of things a week after getting back from school. He- he- He rapes Chelsea and Jamie and Jodie know about it Sirius, they're only three years old and they've already seen a rape taking place. Jimmy told them they were exercising." She sniffled, he hugged her again.
He asked her, "You and James are really brother and sister aren't you?"
"I already told you this before, remember 'Let my brother go!'" he smiled and hugged her again. "Dorea is protecting him from someone much more dangerous then even Voldemort and no body realizes it unless if they live through it for thirteen years. I'm the younger one and I just want to protect him and my sisters." He nodded again and kissed her nose, he wiped her tears away and asked if she wanted to tell James and Remus and Peter. She nodded, "They need to know, the paths that Jimmy has in place for James and me could get on or both of us killed; all of us need to be prepared." She said and Sirius nodded.
"What if I asked my mother if she could take Jamie and Jodie for the rest of the year? She'd love having those two girls around the house," Sirius Black added.
"Sirius-."
"Come on Jackie, it's no problem, really." He assured her; she smiled and kissed his mouth quickly.
"Thank you," she told him and he nodded and walked hr back up to the castle.
For all the Quidditch matches Slytherin and Gryffindor had against each other, Gryffindor always won. But against Slytherin and Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, the snake won. Also finally in spring James confronted Jackie and Remus together about him being his older brother and Remus being a werewolf. They were in the library together doing work. James approached them finally and demanded to know why Remus was always gone each month and why Jackie never told him he was her older brother, by only three months too! They stared at him flabbergasted and said nothing for awhile until he asked again, Remus started to get up but James sat down and said he knew that Lupin was a werewolf, he figured it out and Sirius had his own stupid theories but the werewolf one made more sense. Jackie just looked down and Remus automatically thought she told them.
"You told them!" he angrily asked her standing up; James and Sirius looked at each other as Peter came over.
"You knew?" the three asked at the same time, she stood up too.
"I made a promise Remus, I kept it, James figured it out on his own and yes I am your sister; Jimmy deserves a lot more then death and that's what I say deal with it: our father is a bastard and should be shot and killed." she turned to Remus, "Just think of this as a good thing; Remus, they're your friends; they figured it out like I had last year. We both know you can control it, you never killed me that night, remember-?"
"I never can you know that-."
Sirius interrupted, "Wait! he attacked you last year?" Jackie sighed and sat down crossing her legs and bringing her arm up to rest her head on her hand, she looked bored but wasn't. Sirius turned back to Remus, he stepped away when he thought Sirius was going to hit him but he didn't.
"Quiet!" the librarian snapped as she hurried over to them.
"James you have the final game to get to anyway, hurry." Jackie finally said….
James won his team the Quidditch cup but Slytherin won the house cup that year.
That summer Walburga Black took Jamie and Jodie Cross in as her own grandkids and also brought Jackie to live with them as well. The two little girls shared a room and Jackie got one next to Sirius' bedroom, his younger brother tormented them saying that they were making out late at night when everyone was asleep. Of course they didn't but they did sleep in each other's arms for four nights a week. They ended up calling Sirius and Regulus' mother, Grandma Black; she loved that and when she met Jackie for the first time, she knew her son made a good decision in choosing her above all others. She was drawn to the girl right away. Orion Black, Sirius' father, had gathered the girls from their home while Jimmy was out, Chelsea told the girls they were going to live with friends and would be safe there. Chelsea liked that her eldest's boyfriend loved her enough to do that for her sister's whom he believed were the girls she babysat and James' sisters. James often came over with Remus, Peter was often busy or couldn't come over; he spent time with his sisters and his future brother-in-law. Walburga didn't tell them but she added Jackie onto her will, Black family members had short life spans was the family myth.
Walburga and Orion Black raised the two little girls, as grandchildren and Jackie couldn't be more like family already. Mrs. Black already added her onto the family tree as Sirius' wife; Regulus was jealous of his older brother for the first in his life. Jackie spent time with the boy and found that hey had a lot in common, including that since he started last year they were both in Slytherin but barely talked, now they were living together. Sirius liked that his future wife and his younger brother got along; they spent a while each week talking over dinner talking about Quidditch or the Slytherin house or Salazar even. Being Slytherins they had to know about Salazar, the founder of their house. Jamie and Jodie also started gaining weight, then Walburga began controlling their diets so they didn't gain too much; every Saturday Jackie made the two girls breakfast while everyone slept in. They were used to getting up early for daycare and in Jackie's case, she got up early for Hydro and Hydra- for Water Walking. The smell usually woke everyone else up; Sirius was first always, now the two of them would be going into their fourth year and Regulus in his second. The girls were four years old and her mother was probably doing okay, Jimmy have already tried everything to get his girls back, including Jackie, butt he Ministry can't do anything. By wizardring law, the girls went on their own, they weren't forced so they can't remove them from the Black residence. Walburga and Orion treated Jackie like the daughter they never had and like the girls like grandchildren as was said before.
When school started again, everyone had found out by then that Jackie Cross and James Potter were brother and sister by their father, Jimmy Cross. Severus wasn't happy about it and Jackie understood that, so she kept her distance from him. Jackie also met Dorea and Charlus Potter at the train as well, they got along great and they invited her home for Christmas; they added that Jamie and Jodie could be there as well. She thanked them and began daydreaming about her life as it clearly was laid out before her: family, marriage, her own family, and living with her husband until they die together. She loved what she saw. She couldn't wait until they had grandkids and then great-grandkids and finally the funerals. She wasn't looking forward to the dying part but the things that came before was high in mind and she didn't want anything more then those things.
While on the train ride, Severus usually looked at her; Regulus sat with them interested in Severus' perspective on Death Eaters. Lucius and Narcissa had married over the summer, Jackie went of course and met Severus there; being family Sirius and his parents and brother had to go and since Walburga is high on pure-blooded family members she practically made them go. Sirius also found out that Cissy had named Jackie Cross Godmother to any children they have, he wasn't pleased about it, but got over it quickly. Narcissa's maid of honour called in sick and Jackie had to step in for her, Sirius smiled when he saw his girlfriend walking down the isle, although it was with Lucius because that was what the main would have done if she would have came.
The wedding was enormous and even the Minister of Magic at the time was there, Dumbledore had been invited by the Black family, but he didn't show up. Severus was invited as well by Lucius; he came and glared at Sirius and Jackie the entire time, the entire Malfoy and Black family pitched in for the funding and it really paid off; the doves actually formed hearts in the sky and even a famous Quidditch player came by on his broom and gave Narcissa the snitch that won the game not even a week ago. James wanted to be there, but had to go and visit his own grandparents that weekend so he had to miss the wedding; Sirius showed him photos and in one it was of Regulus and Jackie smiling as they talked about something. Jackie said she didn't remember what it was, Sirius had just chuckled and kissed her and went back to looking through the ones he stole from the pile when Orion made him go with him to go see Lucius and Narcissa's new house. Malfoy Manor is what they called it. Mr. And Mrs. Malfoy wanted o hold off on the family for just a few years; Jackie personally didn't want them to have any kids. They'd be selfish, cruel, spoiled because he would come from two very wealthy families. Lucius was also trying to get on the Hogwarts school board as well; when or if that happened, he could do whatever he wanted to control what students got in or not.
In their first week of classes for their fourth year, James got Lily to talk to him! He was thrilled, he acted like he was in charge of everything after that. He and his Quidditch team practiced a lot and eventually beat Slytherin in their first game of the season; that time Jackie really was trying to win for her team. Brother- sister rivalry made it a hell of a lot more fun for them. Her captain after that had her working every other Sunday, she didn't mind but when it started getting cold she did. Her mother sent her a letter in November asking her how the game went, she admitted she lost to James Potter, but added that she was practicing more and more now so she can get better. Family during a training- practicing game between Slytherin an Gryffindor, Jackie won. James congratulated her and walked back with Remus who looked back at her as she began speaking with Regulus who had been there as well.
Jackie Cross also continued her training in the water magics as well. Hydro and his sister, Hydra always called her Cygnus and Jackie knew from living in a house where an entire room is dedicated to family members... there was once a man name Cygnus and his Animagus was a swan. Jackie figured hers would be as well, she wanted to know. She brought up the idea at breakfast and knew right away that the wheels and kinks had started working in her brothers head: is he, Sirius, and Peter could transform into a animal they and Remus could go out at night when its the full moon and do whatever they wanted. It was a completely brilliant plan, except for one thing: it was difficult and the only Animagus they knew of was Professor McGonagall whom transformed into a gray tabby cat. It was also illegal to become an animal, under seventeen years of age.
"Why would it matter to you?" she asked them, Sirius shrugged as he picked at him food. She moved to Remus' other side. "Think about Remus, when they're their animals, whatever they may be, and you're different... they could control you, help you control it. It's a completely brilliant plan!" she said, James laughed at her enthusiasm. "C'mon on guys, you know you can do it, Peter if you need help, hello James, Sirius, and Remus won't just let you sit in the dark! You know it and they know they'll help you if you ask."
"It's against wizard law Jackie, Sirius talk to her." Remus muttered hoping nobody is paying much attention to her that well. No one was except for Severus who pretended to be talking with Regulus who was really doing all the talking.
Sirius turned to her, but she kissed him quickly and continued, "Don't say anything. I'll even join you in this, please! James you're my brother, Remus and Peter and Sirius are your best friends and Remus might hurt himself if he gets too out of control. It's not like you haven't before guys," she added. They all turned to her.
"What are you on about Jackie Cross!" James snapped, but trying hard not to grin or laugh. "We good little angels."
Right then Angel and Spike came back into her head and she frowned, and then shook them out. Sirius put his hand on her back and she smiled at him. "It's fine, he just helped me remember something..." then quickly added, "That- I should probably do later..." she droned on for a moment, then turned to see Severus' back still to her and she turned back to her brother and friends. "The ventures to the Forbidden Forest, come on James everyone knows about that." She muttered lastly, "I'll get a teacher to sign a slip to get us into the Restricted Section of the library; I'll even find the spells to get us on our way. Just think this time next year we'll be the only fifteen year olds with the brains to turn into complete animals!" she said smiling again, Sirius laughed and pulled her over to him and she sat on his lap when he pushed away from the table. She kept her arm around behind his neck and looked at James, "Big brother, I know you want too; think of it as an adventure. Or do you already have some big thing in mind?" she asked, they all shook their heads. "see, it's a perfect match: something to do that's dangerous and yet still fun. James you're animal can be a lion, or a- even a zebra for all we know, Sirius, Peter same goes to you." She paused, "By the way if you do get that zebra lion mix match, don't kill the each other okay, because I hate funerals." She said, someone called her name and she looked up. No one was there looking trying to get her attention so she turned to Sirius, he kissed her.
"I love you Jackie, but you're talking crazy. We're just fourteen, we can't do advanced magic like that."
She laughed at him, "I love you too, but seriously- if you all try hard enough you can be Animagi by June." She said and got up out of his lap, kissed him quickly before departing outside to see Hydro and Hydra.
James grinned after his sister, "My sister is really happy about something. Do you think it's really about the Animagi thing?" he asked them. They shrugged but also were looking at Sirius, "Something you would like to share with us Sirius Black?" James asked him, he shook his head looking completely innocent.
He looked out at where his girlfriend had disappeared as James pulled out the map they made last year. They had used several spells, but finally got it down just right to where they could find almost anyone.
Sirius often used it in the morning to find out where Jackie was, he always felt guilty about using the map to spy on her but came to terms to find that it was for her own good. In case she got into trouble they would know and they could also help her right away. They watched as Jackie's name was hurrying down to her spot on the lake, they watched for a moment longer and behind them Regulus Black got up and disappeared down to his Common Room. Severus got up behind them and went to his Common Room as well.
Peter sat back, "I say we do it!" he said cheerfully, Remus looked at them all.
"No, I'll be better if you stay away from me when I'm different. Please James, I don't want to get out of control and you get hurt." James laughed, now he had no choice…
… "I'm in."
"Me too." Sirius said and Peter nodded, Remus begged them as James put the map away.
If they had been watching for a minute longer they would have seen another name appear on the map:
Jimmy Cross
Jackie thought she heard someone behind her, but when she turned there was no one behind her, Hydro confessed that he though he heard someone too. Hydra only shook her head.
"Okay so they might go for it, or might not; I'm not sure, but if they do I'll just go to the library and help myself."
"You mean sneak in after dark!" Hydra yelped, Jackie nodded.
"Okay so what about- JIMMY!" Hydro yelled, Jackie frowned and turned when Jimmy grabbed her by the throat and threw hr out onto the lake. There he saw her new gift as she landed on the surface.
"JAMES!" Jackie screamed as loud as she could.
"He won't help you, he hates you. Where are my daughters?"
"I'm right here!" she yelled, pointing at herself as she went over to him. He pulled out his newer wand and pointed it right at her; she pulled out her own wand and held it at her side though. He growled at her to come closer, she didn't move. Her side would have a bruise on where she had somehow hit against something.
"Go get them Hydro, now." She mouthed; he nodded and flew off. Jimmy saw him going but assumed he was going home to hide. He smiled and Jackie smiled back at him.
"Get over here little girl, now!" he yelled, she shook her head.
She told him plainly, "You have no control over me Jimmy, and I have a real family now. My sisters are safe from you and you'll never see them again!" she yelled at him. He asked where they were, he knew Jamie and Jodie were with the Black family but he didn't have the slightest clue on where the house was. "I'm not telling you, you'll have to kill me first Jimmy Cross," she snapped. He moved to cast a spell.
"Avad-." Jackie yelled and covered her face as Jimmy was blasted forward from behind. James hurried forward down the steps, as did Sirius and Remus. Hydra told Jackie to use her own magic, "Oh right." She muttered remembering, she looked down at the water under her and moved her hand forward just like how Hydra taught her last year. The waved gathered speed and strength. "JACKIE!" he yelled as the waved crushed down on him getting them all wet, Peter yelled out and Jackie hurried over to them. She dried them off and turned to see James getting up again, he had hit his head but was alive nonetheless.
He pointed at James, "See what she almost did to me, son? She almost killed me."
"After all the time you nearly killed her, I don't care if she does the same to you. You can burn in Hell Jimmy." He yelled and Sirius grabbed Jackie's hand, "Stay away from me and my sisters." He added.
Jackie followed Sirius, back up to the castle, "Why can't we just get rid of him now?" she asked finally.
"I'm not murdering him Jackie." James muttered, his hands were shaking.
"James," she said, "You know that's not what I meant. What if we put him in a huge bubble and drop it out in the middle of the lake?" she offered, Sirius said he'd starve; Jackie shrugged and took his hand tighter. James turned to her.
"Listen Jackie, please…" she nodded. "Jimmy is a horrible man- I know that. But being who we are doesn't mean we get the right to kill without punishment." He said.
She nodded, "You're the eldest James." She said and he nodded and led the way back to the castle.
