Hello again.

Figured I'd bring the whole thing with the diary back up again, despite it being during the 'Christmas Eve' chapter. There will still be an actual Christmas chapter, but that'll be next time.

Don't own Harry Potter

Riddles

Jasmine rubbed her eyes blearily as she heard Bellatrix call up to her. "Jasmine! Time to get up! Unless you don't want to go Christmas shopping for your friends!"

That snapped her awake quick. "Coming!"

A quick change later, she was eating breakfast alongside Bellatrix and Moony. She had also taken to wearing a more silvery copy of her normal outfit (at least for the moment). "So where are we going?"

"Well, I was thinking, first Diagon Alley, get some magical gifts, then out into London proper for non-magical ones." Bellatrix told her. "I know you could just simply wish for them, but it's usually a good idea to at least look around first. See if you can find something that they might like first."

Jasmine nodded. "Okay."

"Though, if you want, we can get the others to join us." The woman offered. "It's a Saturday, and it's not like you have to tell them who gets what anyways."

"Um, can we do it without them this time? Just the three of us?" Jasmine asked, biting her lip cutely.

Bellatrix couldn't help but smile fondly as she nodded. "To be honest, I would prefer that as well. I just didn't want to keep them out if you wanted them with us."

That got a warm and deep hug from the girl, which Bellatrix reciprocated in silence for a few minutes before they finished eating.

Putting on a cloak, Bellatrix opened the door and led Jasmine outside, the pair heading to Diagon (Moony in Jasmine's arms, as per the norm). Though they did have to momentarily stop for Jasmine to take care of a customer who wanted to know the best, yet affordable, place to go for a present for his wife (the guy was looking for jewelry, by the way).

Of course, when they did arrive at the Leaky Cauldron, they found Sirius there as well. "Hello, cousin! Pup! Come to do some shopping?"

"Starting here, at least." Bellatrix answered. "Doesn't mean we'll actually find something here instead of London proper."

Sirius shrugged at that. "Your choice. Mind if I tag along?"

Jasmine looked up at Bellatrix in confusion, only to quickly turn towards Moony. "You sure, Moony?"

The two adults looked at her before she said "We're gonna need him, Mommy."

"Are you sure?" Bellatrix asked, now concerned, which only grew at Jasmine's serious nod. "Okay, then."

All three were on guard until they nearly made it to the bank, when a hooded man jumped at them, clearly drunk. "Die, blood-traitors!"

Even Jasmine had to deadpan at him as Sirius and Bellatrix immobilized the man, though the mood quickly changed when Umbridge showed up. Starting with "Who's the toad?" from Jasmine.

Umbridge sneered at the girl. "Like I should deem you worthy to know my name, filthy freak. Especially after your guardians attacked this man."

"How dare you!" Bellatrix's anger instantly went inferno. "Not only do you defend a drunkard who attacked us while calling us blood-traitors, but you dare to call MY DAUGHTER A FREAK IN FRONT OF ME!"

For once, Sirius made the smart decision and restrained Bellatrix. "Calm down, Bella. They are nothing but the words of an insecure coward who only feels good about herself by degrading others."

Umbridge looked indignant at that, only for Jasmine to add "Moony says 'It's probably because her mother read one too many 'Frog Prince' stories as a child and turned one into a husband.'"

Umbridge's face turned purple with rage while the crowd laughed at her expense, allowing Jasmine and Co. to quickly slip into the bank.

Bellatrix was still upset at the other woman when Sirius said "Now we know why I was needed."

However, both could've sworn they heard Jasmine mutter to the toy, "How could our trip in the lake with Professor Miggy caused that?"

XXXXX

Unfortunately, things weren't quite as calm as they would've liked when they came back out. People were still muttering about what had happened. Thankfully, though, they had a much more pleasant thing to divert their attention to quickly enough, in the form of a familiar family of red heads. "Arthur! Molly! What a surprise! And who's this young lady with you?"

"Hello, Sirius." Arthur replied happily. "Nice to see you again. And this is our daughter, Ginny."

Said girl smiled somewhat shyly at Jasmine, at least until Jasmine turned Moony to face her. "First Hermione, now Ginny. What is with you in their breasts that I should stay away from?"

Sirius wasn't the only one who stumbled at that, though Bellatrix was the one who said, "Moony, you mind holding off on that kind of talk until at least a few years from now? We really don't need this right now."

Jasmine looked up and stared in confusion at most of the group blushing. "Are you guys sick or something?"

"We just heard something we didn't expect, pup. No need to worry." Sirius told her, which she seemed to accept with a shrug. Bellatrix sent him a quick grateful look for that.

Their attention was diverted when Narcissa and Remus came up to greet them, the two sisters hugging warmly. It was they that also noticed something about the Weasleys' purchases. "Why are you getting school supplies now?"

Both Weasley adults beamed. "It was quite a surprise for us as well, but apparently both Ginny and Xeno's daughter, Luna are allowed to join starting the new term, right after the holidays. Xeno's already gotten her supplies."

Jasmine tilted her head. "Luna?"

"Luna Lovegood. A close neighbor," Ginny looked down. "and my only real friend."

Jasmine looked at her for a moment before pulling the girl in a hug, just as Narcissa examined the supplies with contempt, particularly a book. "And yet they don't give a boon to get her new supplies? At least according to what you said, they should be given some sort of leeway to help show their capabilities."

She put the book back in with the others, only Moony noticing a slight increase in the pages. "This certainly will not do."

"But-"

"But nothing! If there is anything our educational system can take a page from, it's actually helping those that either need it, or those that shouldn't be held back simply because of money or lazy classmates." Narcissa maneuvered the group to the nearest shop. "And it's only charity if this was during the normal time period for supplies, so don't start!"

Jasmine kept Ginny's attention as she introduced Moony officially, while at the back of the group, Remus whispered to Sirius and Bellatrix "I think something may be going on with Cissa. She's been a bit more tired than expected, even with certain...activities included."

"Not like we can do much right now." Bellatrix answered. "Just keep an eye on my sister, and if if worsens, get her to St. Mungo's and contact us."

"That's just it." Remus said. "Her energy suddenly just seemed to return when she started helping the Weasleys shop. As though what I mentioned never happened."

That got both Black and Potter to look contemplative at the thought, wondering just what it could mean.

XXXXX

"We're getting two new students at the start of term?" Hermione asked, incredulous.

"Seems so." Jasmine shrugged. "Their names are Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood."

"Sounds like Dumbledore's doing." Draco said after a little bit, getting them to look at him. "The Weasleys have always been pretty big supporters of the man, except when it could put their family in danger, and the Lovegoods, while good people, are known as a bit of a joke amongst a good many families, thanks to their constant talk about animals like Wrackspurts and Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. While I'm not saying that they aren't good people, there are some still out there that would find slight in the fact that the Girl-Who-Lived would be friends with Weasley and Lovegood instead of them."

Neville had to agree. "It's true, though most of those people are believers of pureblood propaganda, like Draco's old father, and would class them as 'blood-traitors' for caring more about muggle-borns like Hermione."

Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "Are purebloods related to one another?"

"In some way, shape, or form. Why?" Draco asked.

"Well, wouldn't it be better to call someone a blud-tray-ter if they sell out their family instead of beliefs?" Jasmine asked. "It would make more sense."

Both boys looked thoughtful at this. "Never thought of it like that, actually."

"Never thought of it like what?" The four turned to find Susan and Hannah joining them.

Hermione quickly explained. "They never thought about calling someone who would willingly betray their family, their flesh and blood, a blood-traitor instead of how certain families are called that for supporting muggle-borns like me. And that's two 'o's instead of a u, an I instead of a y, and another o instead of an e, Jasmine."

Both Hufflepuff girls gained thoughtful looks at that. "That would make sense, actually."

"Oh yeah!" Jasmine exclaimed suddenly, pulling out a pile of gifts from...somewhere, and started separating them between them. "Mommy and me got these for you guys."

"Mommy and I, Jasmine." Hermione corrected, collecting her own pile before giving the girl a hug. "Thank you, though. Sorry, but I only got a present for you. I'll be sure to get one for your mother next time, though."

"No problem." Jasmine replied, only to ruin the mood with "Really, Moony? Again with her breasts? You're just messing with me now, aren't you?"

It still got a round of laughter and blushes from the onlookers, though.

XXXXX

Ginny stared curiously at the diary she found in among the school supplies Narcissa helped her get. It was quite clear to anyone that the woman was very much a different person now. But still, why a diary marked 'T.M. Riddle?'

There was also the fact that she felt something within it's blank pages. But what?

Screw it. Ginny decided to just forget caution and write in it. "Hello."

The word faded away, and a few moments later, writing appeared in response. "Might I ask your name?"

"I'm Ginny Weasley."

"Ginny Weasley...nice name. My name is Teresa Riddle."

And boy do I have plans for you, girl.

All I'm going to say on Teresa Riddle is this: she'll play a pivotal role in the future, but isn't one of the bad guys like Voldemort.

And as for Umbridge, can anyone honestly people like her in canon are not like how Sirius described? Combined with her belief in the pureblood way, and you got a woman with some serious self-confidence issues. And as an adult, that usually ends up with the person being the very thing that most likely caused the issues in the first place.

And in regards to Moony's 'thing' with breasts: it's meant to just really be a running gag, as Moony's been her main protector/confidant for a while now. I wouldn't put it past the more embarrassing parents out to do something like that just to tease their kid.

Until next time. Please let me know what you think.