Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Harry Potter.

JACKIE'S DIARY

Early September 1979

It's early morning, just getting in some quiet time before Alexander wakes up. I can't believe he's over a year old already. I also can't believe I'm pregnant again. I'm far too old to be. I know that, thanks to Tom, I appear to be in my late forties, early fifties, but my body and mind know they're much older than that.

I know he was trying to give me something to take care of with Alex, but I don't think he planned for another child. And I don't think I can survive another pregnancy. I'm so tired as it is, and I get sick so often. But will happen to Alex, to this new baby, if I die? Tom could never take care of a child, nor do I think he wants to.

I couldn't leave them with him anyways. He's not the man I married. Sometimes I doubt he's even human. God only knows what he would do with them.

I need a plan to get them away from him. I couldn't save myself, God help me, but I can save my children.

Narcissa Malfoy is expecting. Her baby will arrive only a few months before mine. I can go with her. She'll have similar feelings about her child being around this violence. She'll understand. Severus Snape will necessary as well. He's the only reason I made it through the first pregnancy. After this one is born, I'll have to find some place to hide them. Perhaps I could contact Dumbledore? Maybe Snape can help there. He may be a double agent, but I often get the feeling he does really believe in Tom's mission.

I may just pull this off. Tom's gone so much and both Narcissa and Severus are sworn to keep my confidences by Tom. The hardest part will keep Tom from knowing I'm pregnant again. He can never know.

Jackie closed her diary and looked up at her son. She loved him so much. He was such a cute and sweet baby. She could not take the chance that Tom would have his way and raise him in his insane beliefs. Alex smiled at her and hissed something. She grimaced, hating that he was a Parselmouth. It brought a lot of unwelcome guests into the house. She got up and picked him up out of his crib.

"No matter what happens, know that I love you and your little sibling more than anything," she whispered to him. He smiled again and laid his head on his mother's shoulder. Oh Tom, she thought, why did you do this?

May 21, 1980

"She's beautiful," Narcissa cooed, handing the newborn girl back to Jackie. Jackie held her daughter, Danielle, as she slept. She was beautiful, but more importantly she was safe. Only Narcissa and Severus knew of her existence.

Alex stood next to his mother's bed, looking curiously at the bundle in his mother's arms. She motion for him to come closer, and he obeyed.

"Alex, this is your baby sister. Her name is Danielle. Will you help Mommy take of her?" He nodded his head, still mesmerized by his new sister. He looked more and more like Tom everyday. He had her hair, eyes, and complexion, but she still saw Tom in his face and even in his moods.

"What are you going to do now?" Severus asked. He had been working on something over in the corner of the room. He approached her, handing her a potion.

"I'll stay here a while longer and recover. Then I'll go visit a friend and stay there until Tom returns, which is when he expects me back. I'll leave the children there, and tell him some story of why Alex is not with me," she explained, her voice pained.

Leaving her children was going to take all the strength she had. As much as she wanted to disappear with them, she knew she couldn't. She feared Tom would come looking for her, but figured he would believe a story about Alex dying tragically.

"You may still here as long as you like," Narcissa offered.

Jackie smiled at her, "Thank you, but I fear if I stay here too long I will put you and your son in danger. Also, he will be suspicious if Severus keeps disappearing."

They nodded and left her and her two children alone. Alex had crawled up onto the bed and was sleeping next her. Snape had made enough of the potion that she would be fine without his continued help. It would help her recover faster and then go visit an old friend from school. She and her family lived on the coast. Her friend did not know of her marriage, so she would never be able to tell anyone who Alex and Danielle's father was. It would be a beautiful, calm place to stay. She leaned over and placed Danielle in the crib next to her.

She was going to do this. She was going to save her children.

X X X

Jackie did manage to save her children. Tom never questioned her story of Alex's death. However, leaving her children took its tool. She was alone and had no one; Tom grew even more distant and cold. Her health declined, and by October of 1981 she was hanging onto life by a thread. She was not worried; her friends had strict instructions in case of her death or other events. When Tom's soul was ripped from his body she died. He had died her life to his in hopes of keeping her alive longer, but that magic was not strong enough to keep her alive. Her final thoughts were of her children, and how happy she would be if they lived full, happy lives.

What do you think? I know not the best ending, but it sets up the sequel (so it's not really the end!). This should be up soon; the title is "Children of Evil REVISED." CoE was my first story ever (so it's really, really bad), so I'm fixing it up and using it as a sequel for this. Please check it out (the Revised one, not the original cuz the original is bad)! Remember: you don't have to wait for updates for a while because I've already written several chapters (yay!) Actually I have the first 5 chapters done and am working on the sixth. The first chapter was uploaded shortly after this.

As always, I love reviews. And if you stick with me through the sequel, I promise I will do a much better job at updating (However, finishing a story within a year is a huge accomplishment for me!). : )