(Disclaimer: JK Rowling, owns all that is Harry Potter)

Chapter 50: ~ Azkaban ~

Standing before the two imposing wizards, she felt powerless, no longer able to hide the truth, Jessica glanced at Remus, his arms folded, and the expression on his face was one of growing impatience. Sirius, on the other hand looked totally perplexed as to what was going on.

"The whole truth, about what?" he questioned Remus.

"What Jessica and Harry have been up to" he briefly explained as he glanced over to Sirius, "Seems they weren't content with you being put in here, they decided to go to the Ministry and use the Orb to change what happened in the Mysteries Department".

Sirius looked over at Jessica, as she anxiously watched his reaction. "Harry read the book on the Orb, that you gave him" she said, lowering her head as she prepared to divulge the truth to them both.

"We …. We didn't go to the Ministry to save you from this appalling place" she started, her gaze fleetingly surveying the cold, filthy surrounds. "We went to save your life".

"What?" Remus questioned, frowning at her, as Sirius stood, astounded at what little he understood of the situation.

"Sirius didn't fall back hitting his head on the arch, he …..he actually fell through the veil when Bellatrix hit him with the curse".

There was a long, and to Jessica, a painful silence as both wizards looked at her, both Sirius and Remus seemed lost for words, a state that wasn't going to last.

"Do you know what you have done?" Remus harshly questioned, as her revelation jolted him.

"Yes" Jessica answered, barely above a whisper, as her eyes filled with tears.

Sirius sat back down on his tattered old mattress, his shackles rattling as he brushed the hair back from his face as he tried to make sense of what he had just heard.

Jessica dropped to her knees next to him, "I'm sorry I …… I just couldn't live without you" she softly uttered, as her hand brushed over his head.

Sirius' expression was unreadable as he glanced at her, "You risked your lives, to save me" he said as he embraced her. Jessica trembled in his arms, tears flowing freely, a sense of relief engulfing her, finally they knew the truth.

All of Jessica's seemingly incoherent babbling of late suddenly made sense to Remus; as he listened to her tell Sirius the entire story of the last few weeks, since his recapture. After all she had been through, Remus found himself understanding her actions, wouldn't any of them do everything in their power to save the ones they loved.

"What are we going to do about Wormtail?" Remus asked; bringing Jessica and Sirius back to the reality of the current situation.

"He has been frequenting the Devils arms in Dun's" Jessica said as Sirius helped her to her feet.

"How-: …. No, on second thought, we can discuss how you know this later" Remus said tiredly. "I'll get the Order onto it when we get back to the Burrow.

"The Burrow?" Jessica questioned

"I don't want you staying at Grimmauld place alone, so Remus has arranged for you to stay with Molly and Arthur, just for a little while", Sirius explained, leaving out a few minor details.

"But I…." Jessica stopped as she glanced up at him, his concern for her welfare, clearly apparent in his eyes.

"It's no time for you to be left alone" Remus added.

"But I won't be alone, you will be there won't you?" she questioned Remus, her concerns growing as she looked at him.

"Albus has a job for me" he answered hesitantly, "He wants me to spy on Greyback and the others in the wolf pack"

"What" Jessica glanced from Remus to Sirius, her apprehension rapidly growing inside her "No!... no he can't ask that of you, it's too risky".

"We can talk about it later" Remus told her as he glanced over to the door.

A loud clattering of keys and the heavy iron door opening signalled their time with Sirius was at an end.

"Don't go doing anything else risky" Sirius said as he cupped her face in his hands, his lips coming down kissing her good-bye, till next week.

"We'll get onto this as soon as I get back to the Burrow" Remus reassured Sirius as he gave him a friendly pat on the back.

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Molly rushed around the Burrow, making up beds, and sorting out sleeping arrangements as she prepared for the extra guests. Nicole would be sleeping in with Ginny, whilst Harry would as always be bunking in with Ron. Remus would in all likelihood be staying tonight, after dinner was no time for him to be leaving.

Pulling a camp bed out of the attic, Molly rearranged Percy's empty room, putting up a blanket between the camp bed and Percy's bed as a bit of privacy for Jessica; they would for one night only have to share the room.

Outside was a hive of activity, as Ron and Harry helped Bill set up a long table; with all the guests they were having, the tiny table inside the Burrow was just too small and extremely squashy.

Nicole sat on the door steps watching the amusing sight of the three of them as they tried to unfold the stubborn legs of the extensive table, Harry cursed loudly as Ron dropped his end over balancing the corner that dropped onto Harry's foot.

Bill had had enough of trying to do it the 'normal way', pulling out his wand he flicked it at the table; its legs effortless sprang from underneath, quickly snapping into place allowing the three of them to rest it down on all six legs.

"Now the chairs" Bill said smiling over to Nicole who was still giggling at their table antics.

A loud crack drew her attention to the small garden shed a few feet away, Bill pulled out his wand again as the door open and Fred stepped out.

"Nice to see you too Bill" he said dusting a cobweb from his jacket as he looked at the wand pointed menacingly at him.

"A little warning next time brother or it could be a painful welcome you receive" Bill told him, with such important guests they weren't taking any risks, even with Dumbledore's protect charm over the Burrow.

Standing up, Nicole straightened out her light summer dress, before quickly running her fingers through her hair as Fred walked over to her.

"There's my girl".

Taking her in his arms he placed a tentative kiss on her lips, his eyes glancing into the kitchen.

"Where's mum?" his lips mumbled against hers.

Nicole glanced back through the Kitchen door, "I think she's still upstairs making the beds".

"And Jess and Remus?" he murmured, again against her lips, causing her to laugh as his lips tickled her.

"Still at Azkaban…Why?" she asked curiously.

"Hmm, you mean we are alone?" he whispered in her ear.

"Not quite dear brother" Bill said slapping him on the back as he stood on the steps behind them.

"Don't you have a date with Fleur, or something?" Fred asked somewhat irked at his brothers eavesdropping.

Bill gave a hearty laugh at his brothers evident annoyance before disappearing inside with Ron and Harry their job only half done.

Fred was growing more frustrated by the day, as time alone with Nicole was proving an extremely difficult task. Since their first meeting on Harry's birthday last year, they were never given a moments privacy. At Grimmauld place it was impossible with a house full and Sirius constantly keeping an eye on them, at Hogwarts, between classes, owls and Dolores Umbridge it proved another impossible cause. Now in his own environment he may just get his chance if he could manoeuvre things in his favour.

Seizing the opportunity he took her by the hand, quickly leading her away from the Burrow.

"Fred Weasley, where do you think you are going?" Molly called from the back porch.

"Nowhere now mum" he growled angrily, only making it a few feet from the door.

"You just get yourself in here and help your brothers" Molly ordered, "Speaking of brothers, where is George?"

"He's still at the shop, he will be here shortly" giving Nicole a smug grin, he stopped and looked at his mother, "He will be only too happy to help you".

"Oh, no you don't, Fred Weasley, you get up her now!".

Knowing fully well what was on his mind and other body parts, Nicole turned his face towards her, her smile softening his scowl, "I'm here for the whole week" she said grinning before pressing her body against him, her lips leaving a more than satisfying promise as she kissed him.

R&R (thanks)

NIK