Days had never felt so long for Jade, it had only been a few days since she had come back from Hogwarts but it already felt like a month. She only wanted to go back to school already.
She didn't know why but Death Eaters had been more busy lately. She had seen some of them around, including the siblings that were in the Astronomy Tower the night Dumbledore was murdered.
Jade hadn't even been able to see Draco once since they were back. Not because he had the Dark Mark now, but because his Manor was being used as Headquarters for Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
Jade felt sick thinking Voldemort and many of his followers were only five minutes away from her house. Some even had gone to her house to talk to her parents. She could hear them but she never dared to get too close.
Finley and Raven were away at the Malfoy's everyday for hours, Rabastan, who was now a permanent resident at the Lias Manor, left with them.
Jade was almost invisible now, nobody really paid attention to her, which in a way was good, but now she couldn't even see Draco. She couldn't just show up at the front door and she couldn't apparate as she didn't want anyone to know that she had learnt and there were many protective spells around the manor now, so even if she tried, she wouldn't be able to do it. She needed the right spell to bypass the protection and only the Death Eaters knew it.
Back at the station, the day she got back to London, she wondered what to do. She felt as lost as last year, maybe even more, but before she could make up her mind, she saw a blond guy waiting for her. He smiled and waved as he approached her and took her trunk.
She didn't know why Cassius was waiting for her at King's Cross. She wondered if she was going to stay with him again but no. It was mandatory, no matter the age, that every student had an adult to pick them up. No exceptions. And of course that her parents didn't bother to go for her, Cassius did.
They apparated just outside her house, so they didn't have a lot of time to talk. She invited him over but he had to go back to work.
It hadn't been easy these last few days, Jade kept having nightmares with the Astronomy Tower. She couldn't close her eyes without seeing a green flash and at times she heard her own voice muttering the killing curse.
One rainy day she walked down to have breakfast at almost 11:00, as she had really bad and restless nights with all the nightmares and intruding thoughts, she usually woke up late and thankfully she didn't have to do much. It was something she had never done in her life and at the time, minus the nightmares, she was enjoying the change of pace.
Still wearing pyjamas and her hair being a mess, she walked to the dining room. She was busy looking at the tips of her hair while she waited for her breakfast, and when she looked up she saw a thin figure standing in the centre of the hall.
She gasped as she covered her mouth with both hands. Her eyes got wide. She wanted to move, to speak but she couldn't. She was paralyzed. She shook her head in disbelief... it couldn't be... could it?
No. It couldn't. He couldn't be there, standing right in front of her. She must have taken too much of the potions for the nerves that she had needed from time to time for the last two years.
"Yes, it's me," the young man said to her.
"How?"
"Doesn't matter, Jadie."
Jade wanted to hug him and never let go. What could she say? She was thrilled to see him and wanted to tell him so many things but her mind was blank. A part of her still couldn't believe it. Maybe if she did hug him she would find out if he was real or not.
Jade took a few steps to approach him. He didn't look the same. His blonde hair was now longer and dirty and dull. It had always been shiny and pretty. And his eyes. They were empty, they even showed a little of madness at times.
"What are you doing here?" Jade asked, scared. "You shouldn't have come. This is the first place they'll look for you."
"I know... But I needed to see you," he said with a sad smile.
Lexion gave a quick hug to Jade. Jade could feel all his bones and for a moment she held on to him. She had her brother back and she didn't want to lose him again. Lexion pushed her away quite forcefully, knowing they didn't have much time.
"Aurors will be here soon, you never saw me," Lexion said. "Our parents are on a trip in Spain if they ask about them. Celebrating their anniversary. You haven't heard from them in days."
"Where are they?"
"Can't tell you," he said quickly.
"What's going on?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Why risk it? Coming here, I mean."
"Because I know that I could trust you. Because you can lie without even trying. And because I missed you. Gotta go now," Lex said in a rush. "Bye."
With a pop he was gone. Jade felt a mix of happiness and sadness, of hope and grief. Of uncertainty and satisfaction. Her brother was out of Azkaban and he had come to see her, she only wished he could have stayed longer, hug him again. She also wanted to know a bit more about what was going on.
Three minutes later, a house-elf appeared in front of her with a less audible pop. It wasn't Ilvie. it was a much more older house-elf that normally assisted Finley.
"Mistress Jade," he said to her. "Aurors have come to ask some questions."
"Let them in, I'll be waiting in the living room."
Jade put herself in a more acceptable way but kept her pyjamas on, so they would think she had just woken up, which was true.
Five people came into the room. One woman and four men. The youngest was only twenty years old and she still remembered him from Hogwarts. He was a Hufflepuff. Jade politely greeted them all.
"Where are your parents?"
"Away on a trip," she said simply. "Why? Did something happen?"
They didn't reply, the woman just gave Jade a piece of parchment stating they had permission to search the property. Jade actually wished that her parents would be home now. She didn't know how to deal with that sort of situations.
"Is this necessary?" she asked, annoyed.
"I'm afraid so. Where exactly are your parents?" A man in his forties asked as three of the aurors, including the woman left to search the place.
"Spain," she said quickly and casually like it wasn't a big deal. "They are celebrating their anniversary. Why?
"Have you seen any of your relatives, Rodolphus or Rabastan Lestrange?"
"No," Jade said.
"What about Lucius Malfoy?"
"Lucius? No!" she said with a chuckle. He was in Azkaban. The question was ridiculous.
"And Lexion Lias?" the young Auror asked.
"How could I? He is in Azkaban, isn't he?" Jade said and her voice broke, her eyes filled with tears. She looked away and pretended to wipe a tear.
"What about his wife, Olisca?"
"Eh, I haven't seen her since last summer I think," Jade told them. "Can someone tell me what's going on? Did something happen to my parents? To Lex?"
"Have you seen Bellatrix Lestrange?"
"Tell me what's going on first," Jade demanded and the eldest Auror sighed.
"You don't set the rules young girl," that same Auror exclaimed annoyed. "Have you seen Bell...?"
"This is my house! I'm answering your questions out of courtesy, nothing else. You might have the right to search my property but I have the right to not answer your questions. So I would appreciate if you can hurry up and leave."
"There was a breakout from Azkaban an hour ago. Every Death Eater captured last year has now escaped," the ex-Hufflepuff Auror said, earning glares from the eldest Auror. "We believe Lexion Lias might have returned here."
"He escaped?" Jade asked in fake horror.
"I'm afraid so. Are you all alone here?"
"I'm with the House-Elves," Jade said as it wasn't a big deal. "I can take care of myself."
"It's not that... We believe not only Lias might try to come here but also your uncle Rodolphus and your neighbour Lucius Malfoy among other Death Eaters and we need to capture them again and obviously it isn't safe for a young girl like you."
"This young girl fought many Death Eaters last year," Jade said angrily, forgetting she should be careful with her words. The Daily Prophet mentioned Harry Potter and his friends had been at the Ministry last year, but not specific names were written, so people didn't really know she had been at the Ministry that night. Some Aurors and some important people, like the Minister of Magic, did know she had been there though. "All the ones that escaped right now, were in Azkaban because we fought against them."
"Yeah... and would you still be here if your friends and Albus Dumbledore wouldn't have helped you? You weren't alone there, but you are right now right here."
Jade's heart skipped a bit. That was the first time she had heard his name since the Hogwarts' Express and it brought horrible quick flashbacks. Jade blinked and tried to keep those flashbacks blocked.
"Anyway, we don't think you are safe, all alone. And with the possibility of Death Eaters coming here makes it all worse."
"Do you think my brother or uncle would harm me?"
"Do you have any other place you can go?" the female Auror said, as she walked into the room.
"No."
"A friend's?"
"What about my parents? If they come back and I'm not here they would freak out and I'd be in so much trouble."
"Well, we will put several enchantments around the house, so as soon as someone gets in, we'd be notified and come straight away. We'll also leave a note, to explain the situation to your parents, just in case."
"Do I have a say in this?"
"You are still underage with parents out of the country with a fugitive and dangerous uncle and brother, so no."
"My brother is not dangerous!"
"With both parents out of the picture and with no way to locate them or communicate with them, and with no relatives that can actually look after you in a safe environment, we have no choice but to take your custody in a temporal, but indefinite amount of time. The Ministry is in charge of you now."
"That's ridiculous! I'm not five! I'm very capable of taking care of myself!" Jade exclaimed, outraged. "My relatives are not a danger to me and none of them is stupid enough to come here knowing you'd be looking for them, you are wasting your time!"
"We'll have two Aurors watching your house for two days, after that, if you don't find another place to stay or if we don't find the place suitable, we'll choose for you," the eldest Auror said. "Miss Lias, thanks for your time."
The aurors left and as she was told, two stayed behind. But it was hard to notice they were there. They hid. She thought her house was too big for two aurors, even if they had put protection charms all around it, but she wouldn't say that to them.
"Where are my parents?" Jade asked a house-elf.
"They didn't say, Mistress Jade."
"Did they say anything at all?"
"To look after Mistress Jade. Nothing else."
Jade kept looking out the window every now and then for the next few hours, mostly checking and thinking about what the Auror said to her. She had to leave her house in two days if her parents weren't back.
Where would she go?
Not to the Malfoys... She thought staying with Cassius again would seem wrong so she didn't even consider the Perseus. Ron's? Probably not, maybe she could ask Olisca but to be honest she wasn't that close to her sister-in-law. Maybe she could ask Fayette. She could have some holidays in France and she knew Fayette was short of money and Jade had enough, she could do that.
That night she took a long bath, then got to bed feeling quite relaxed even when she had no idea where her parents were and she needed information of what was going on.
The next morning, Jade woke up early for once. She went straight to the dining room and asked a house-elf to bring her the Daily Prophet.
There on the front page, she read 'Azkaban Break Out.' With pictures of the newish Prime Minister and some Aurors.
'Mid-morning yesterday, eleven Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban. All of them were captured last June at the Ministry of Magic. Among them was Nott. Dolohov, Abery, Luciuis Malfoy, Rodolphus Lestrange and his nephew Lexion Lias, who had gotten a shorter sentence than the rest of them for being his first crime. The residences of all the fugitives are being surveilled, as well as their relatives...'
It was then when she heard the doorbell but she didn't even bother, she let one of the house-elves get it, it was probably one of the Aurors. Ilvie appeared in front of her just seconds later.
"Mistress Jade, a man is outside asking for Mistress Jade Lias."
"For me? Not my parents? Who is it?"
"His name is Arthur Weasley, Mistress Jade."
"Right, thanks Ilvie. I'll go."
Jade walked to the entrance and opened the big door to reveal in fact Arthur Weasley and a second man she didn't know but judging by his clothes, he was an Auror.
"Hello Mr. Weasley," Jade said with a smile. "Good to see you."
"Hello Jade, I overheard last night that a Lias girl was alone at home and the Ministry would relocate her for her safety. I couldn't help but volunteer to take you with me," Arthur told her. "You can grab some stuff and then I'll take you to my house. Molly is waiting for us."
"Uh, sorry. I'm confused. I thought I had two days to decide. And what about my parents?"
"They've been alerted that you won't be here for your safety. We understand Lexion might not be a threat to you but if he's got company... well, that wouldn't be good."
"Alerted?" Jade asked confused. "I thought you didn't know where they were."
"I'll tell you on the way home." Arthur briefly looked at the second Auror and Jade understood that he didn't want to speak in front of him, so she just nodded at him.
As if she was the prisoner, the second man followed her all the way to her room. She packed some clothes and important things then told some of the House-elves some instructions since no one was going to be home for a few days and then left with Mr. Weasley. They apparated close to the Burrow.
"Are you okay, Jade?" Mr. Weasley asked as they walked to his house. "You seem...tense?"
"Uh, I didn't think I would be welcomed here again."
"Yes, Ron told us a bit of what happened. Harry and you aren't talking, are you? Well, he's not here yet and I once said to you that you'd be always welcome. You don't need to worry."
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," Jade said. "Where are my parents?"
"They were found in Liverpool with Lexion's wife. They were taken in for interrogation. They might be in there for a couple of days. It's worse for them. Having two relatives that escaped this time and last time having three relatives... and well, they were Death Eaters. They just want to make sure they aren't part of anything."
"What if they are?"
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
"They really don't talk to me. Sometimes I hear whispers but nothing concrete and to be honest I haven't seen them since the night I came back from Hogwarts. So if they are part of something now, I really couldn't know."
"Have you seen Rabastan Lestrange? Or Bellatrix?"
"I saw Rabastan one afternoon. Bellatrix came over to talk to him but I really didn't see her, just heard her."
"What about Lexion?"
Jade stopped and looked at a little tiny pond close to them. She took a deep breath and looked at Mr. Weasley, who had stopped three steps ahead of her.
"Yes, he came before the Aurors did. Just said hello and left. Didn't say where to."
"Why didn't you say it before?"
"Four reasons," Jade said simply. "I only saw him for a second, I really don't know where he is now. I'd have been taken in and I didn't want that when I know nothing. Two, if I had spoken, my parents would have killed me, three, despite all, he's my brother. I know he's done bad stuff but I think it's not too late for him and four, I don't trust those Aurors, I trust you, that's why I'm telling you.""
"Well, thanks Jade."
"If you find him, can you please tell me?"
"Sure."
"Uh, how long am I supposed to stay here?"
"A week at least, probably more."
"More?"
"Well, they want you out of that house. Everyone is a Death Eater and they are worried about you. And if they raid it or something happens in there, they don't want you to be in the middle of it. And there are reports that there have been more sightings of Death Eaters very close to where you live. Anyway, Ron probably isn't up yet, but Molly made you breakfast and it wouldn't be bad if you could wake Ron up."
"Okay."
