December had started and with it, it brang the Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff lost 120 - 190. Not a big difference but enough to put Gryffindor in last place. The match was quite a disappointment as it only lasted thirty minutes.
"Can we talk?" Jade asked Draco after the match, it was just them walking around the grounds of Hogwarts, no one was nearby. Temperatures were getting lower and lower, so everyone preferred to spend some time inside in front of a fireplace instead of freezing outside.
"What is it?" Draco asked, concerned. He knew that look.
"Would you become an Animagus with me?" Jade asked and looked into his grey eyes, she bit her bottom lip nervously.
"What?" Draco exclaimed in surprise. "Have you lost your mind?"
"No, actually I..."
"Is that why you were asking McGonagall about it the other day?" Draco asked, interrupting her.
"She gave me the idea. Just hear me out, Draco!" Jade exclaimed. "I've read the process about a hundred times and I think we could do it. We'd be unregistered Animaguses and we could hide anywhere, no one would find us."
"Unregistered? Well, this just keeps getting better. Do you even know what we'd get if they find us?"
"Some time in Azkaban," Jade said as it wasn't a big deal.
"Yes, time in Azkaban, and that's the least of our worries! What if we end up being some exotic animals? I'm sure a Polar Bear walking around London wouldn't go unnoticed," Draco told her alarmed. "You can't choose what to be! Just letting you know in case you didn't have a club about that tiny little fact."
"Yes, I know. But you can have an idea of what you might be. I mean, McGonagall is a cat and her patronus is a cat."
"It's not always like that! Your Patronus can change with traumatic events and I can't even do a patronus! What if I end up being a lion or a cow, or some weird animal? A cat, like McGonagall is easier, you can walk around without getting attention," Draco said. "And that's if things go okay, what if they aren't? You heard McGonagall, you can end up being half human, half animal. I've heard it's extremely painful!"
"Nothing will go wrong! I've gone through it, thousands of times. I can get what we need in a day. Draco, this might be the answer we've been looking for! Peter Petergrew hid for twelve years, faked his own death and it worked. The only people who were able to tell that he was in fact not dead were the only people who knew he was an Animagus. So, we tell no one, we do it and run away."
"It sounds perfect when you say it like that but there are big risks and it takes so long to actually do it."
"But we can do it, I'm sure of it. We're capable of it."
"I think you have too much faith in our abilities," Draco told her. "And do you actually think we can keep it a secret? What if someone reads our minds or something of the sort?"
"Well, Aunt Bella did teach you how to keep your mind closed, didn't she?"
"Yes but I can't always do it."
"Look, I've got what I need for the potion and I can get the leaf of a Mandrake right now. We'll have a full moon in two days, so don't want to pressure you but you have either two days or wait until the next moon cycle to think about it."
"You are unbelievable, Jade! You aren't just asking me to go down the road with you, or to help you with homework or…"
"I know, Draco! I know! I wouldn't be pressuring you if this wasn't urgent. We can't wait much longer. We either do this now or think of something else. I truly do believe that this is the answer we have been looking for."
"Okay, fine! Give me one day. I'll tell you tomorrow."
"Okay."
"Jade? I know you want to run away with me and save the both of us but you might also consider the fact that it might be too late for me," Draco told her.
"If you really thought like that, you wouldn't act like we are a couple. You would push me away. You still have hope. I can't just abandon you, Draco."
Draco said nothing, he didn't have anything to argue with. Jade smiled at him and pecked his lips quickly.
"Think about it, okay?"
Now that Jade wasn't sick and was in full form, she decided to use the object Dumbledore had left her. It was quite late at night. All her roommates had fallen asleep but she couldn't, her mind was restless.
Jade followed the instructions she was given by Dumbledore and travelled to the first of September, 1991. Just minutes before the Sorting hat Ceremony.
She smiled as she saw her ten-year-old self, her brown hair reached just below her shoulders and she seemed proud and sure. She didn't look scared as most of her classmates. Draco was next to her with a smirk on his face. Both looked very confident and excited.
There were only seven students left when Jade was finally called by McGonagall, she sat on the stool and McGonagall placed the hat on her head, after about only ten or fifteen seconds, the Sorting Hat shouted "Gryffindor."
Ten-Year-old Jade looked terrified for the first time, her smug look vanished instantly. McGongall went to grab the Sorting Hat but Jade grabbed it by its sides, refusing to accept the decision.
"I can't be in Gryffindor, there must be a mistake!" she exclaimed. "I must try again."
"Miss Lias, the Sorting Hat has made its decision, it won't change it. Now please go to your table."
Jade, pale as ever before, sort of walked and sat next to Lavender Brown. She noticed that the little girl didn't eat dinner and was in some sort of trance. No one talked to her, they just kept glancing at her.
The next morning, little Jade got a Howler from both her parents. Ron was the only one who approached her and tried to be nice but Jade was too confused and sad, she left the Great Hall and was followed by Lexion, who was now in fourth year.
"My sister... a Gryffindor?" he said with disgust. "You've embarrassed all our family!"
They had a row in the hall, which had to be stopped by Professor Snape. Lexion was mean and hurtful but Cass was still nice to her. Cass actually had to drag Lexion away, he was outraged and Jade was on the verge of tears.
After that scene, Jade spent almost two hours in Snape's office, begging him to accept her in Slytherin and to have a meeting with Dumbledore but obviously, her pleas were unsuccessful. She left when Snape threatened her to take points from Gryffindor and to give her detention.
Eventually, Ron and Jade did become really good friends. Harry, who always hung out with Ron, didn't like her as he thought she was just like Draco but had no choice but to be around them.
Speaking of Draco, Jade still spoke to him, but their bond wasn't the same. He had distanced himself from her but was never mean to her. The twins and Pancy were a different story though. They were mean to Jade every chance they had.
Jade fast-forwarded to Christmas. She hadn't been disowned yet but she was mistreated verbally and all the things her father said to her were very hurtful, her mother wouldn't even look at her.
Jade kept fast-forwarding to important events. At the start of 1993 Jade and Harry started to stand each other and became friends. She also played her first quidditch match when Alicia Spinnet got terribly ill, but still wasn't part of the team.
Some months later they started their third year and Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban. That Christmas Jade ran away from home, after her father used Crucio on her and called her a blood-traitor and finally disowned her. She went to hide in the Cathedral of the town where she lived and was rescued by some Aurors and Dumbledore.
She stayed the last few days of the Christmas holidays with Ron's family, which was where Dumbledore had taken her after finding her. And at the end of that school year she went to live with Sirius Black.
It was when Raven changed her last name to Lestrange, hoping the name would somehow help her. She sent Jade money monthly and letters telling her she would always care about her. Finley Lias had no idea of any of that, he had completely abandoned her and didn't care about her anymore.
She started her fourth year being Jade Leonie Lestrange and that was also the year she officially joined the Quidditch team. That Christmas Jade spent it with Sirius, who gave her a tiny box as a present. She opened it and saw a piece of paper. Adoption papers.
"What is this?" Jade asked, she grabbed the papers and started reading them. "Adop…You want to adopt me?"
"Do you want to?" Sirius asked. Jade's eyes watered and she nodded at him.
Jade happily accepted to be adopted by him. She stood up with the paper in hand and went to give me a big hug, wrapping her arms around his neck. Sirius held her tightly against his chest and he also felt like crying from happiness.
For the second task of the Triwizard Championship the champions were supposed to recover something important for them. Jade was shocked to see that she was the person Harry had to save. Later, as they made their way back to the castle, Harry confessed his feelings for her and asked her to be his girlfriend.
Funny enough in that reality Ron was also her first kiss. During their third year, the twins invited them and some other people to play 'spin the bottle', and Ron had to kiss Jade or they would have to take one puke pill. Both chose the kiss. It was awkward as everyone was watching them. There were at least twenty-five people there plus the spectators.
The ties and the arranged marriage between her and Cassius hadn't been broken until people found out she was dating Harry. Finley had disowned her, but she was still a Lestrange and the Perseus family didn't mind that she was a Gryffindor. But they later agreed that it was better for everyone if the arrangement was had convinced them that Jade was a lost cause and it would only bring shame to their family as she had done to his family.
As Dumbledore told her, Sirius didn't die at the end of their fifth year and Jade was glad about it. He was a bit injured after that battle but nothing serious.
To be honest it wasn't a good idea at all to have Sirius' adopted daughter and godchild in the same house, unsupervised. Sirius didn't know they were dating and he seemed more like a teenager than an adult, so he didn't really think things could happen.
Jade couldn't bring herself to see what was going to happen afterwards and it would be weird and she felt like whatever was going to happen after that she should see it with Harry, so she went back to her own time.
She felt really tired that time. She was away a long time and now she was understanding how bad it could get if she got carried away and spent too long time travelling. Her legs were shaking a bit and she had little energy to even walk to her bed.
The next day Draco talked to her after lunch and agreed to her plan but said he could still change his mind at any moment because he wasn't completely sure about it. Jade nodded but was glad Draco was on board with the plan, partially, but he was.
That night Jade met with the D.A. members. It seemed like the Carrows had been using Crucio more often and just for fun at times, especially on people that weren't Pure-Bloods. Jade wasn't comfortable but they needed to practice how to break the spell if it was used on them.
After explaining to them several times how it could be broken, Jade stood in front of Ernie McMillan. She wouldn't make them use the spell on each other and have them do something so evil to each other, and she had already done it, so she was going to do it to all of them, even if she didn't want to. She just had to think of the Carrows to do it successfully.
Ernie couldn't break it. Seamus and Luna couldn't either. Ginny was close, Jade could feel it. Some other students couldn't do it either. The only one who could actually break it was Neville on his second try, everyone was impressed.
They practised all night, they even slept at the Room of Requirement as no one wanted to go out at midnight and risk being caught. Everyone was exhausted, they, for going under the curse for several rounds, and Jade, for doing it so many times, she had to really concentrate on her hate to achieve such a curse.
Jade and Ginny had decided to practice more than once a week even if it meant missing Quidditch practice. Ginny, Luna and Neville had been recently punished for something that they didn't want to share, Jade only knew they had broken into Snape's office and he caught them. Jade was a bit hurt that they didn't trust her enough to tell her.
That next day, Jade got two leaves of Mandrake. She gave one to Draco. At night, they walked outside to the Hogwarts Grounds, luckily without being caught, and when they saw the full moon, both of them put the leaf inside their mouths. They had to keep it there a whole month. Not swallowing it or taking it out even once. It was going to be tough, especially when they were sleeping or eating but they had to try.
"Remember, if you take it out for any reason, tell me. We have to start over," Jade told him, Draco nodded. We can't make a single mistake."
A few days later, Jade was surprised to get a letter from her parents, telling her that they expected her for Christmas. She honestly thought she was going to spend Christmas at Hogwarts.
Jade got a good-bye/Christmas present from Amycus, she got attacked from behind. It wasn't the Cruciatus curse but Jade had to admit it hurt, and especially her ego. Jade stood up and looked at him, knowing that he was looking for any excuse to not let her go home.
"Greet your parents for me," he said. "I might visit them, who knows?"
Jade glared at him. She casted a shielding charm on herself as she turned around and walked out of the castle. She wasn't going to let him catch her by surprise a second time.
She shared her compartment with Ginny, Luna and Neville. Jade noticed that Luna was acting a bit weird, like a different weird, not her kind of weird. She looked a bit sick and she actually threw up, Ginny cleaned the mess quickly with a spell and took her to the bathroom.
Nevile and Jade spent some time talking while the other girls were away. Neville was a bit scared for her but she assured him she was going to be fine.
When they were back, the four of them discussed what they could be practising for their next D.A. meetings, and other things, including Harry. Jade got a bit nervous as Neville brought his name up. No one noticed though. She couldn't help but have a few flashbacks of the brief kiss they shared last time they saw each other and knowing he had wanted that to happen for about a year, maybe longer.
After the train stopped, Jade quickly said her good-byes and got out of the train, to her surprise, her mother was there waiting for her. Despite being revealed that she was a Death Eater she was there, without worrying of being captured or recognized or anything.
Raven didn't know Jade had learnt to apparate, so she told Jade to grab her arm and she apparated. Jade noticed they weren't home. They were outside of a big house. When she walked in she was informed it was Lexion's house, she had never been there before. She didn't even know what his house looked like or where exactly it was located until that moment.
She was surprised to see her brother there. He looked happier and smiled when he saw her. Olisca seemed happy to see her too.
For once, they seemed like a normal family gathering for Christmas. Olisca's parents were there too, drinking tea together. Everything was so peaceful and cheerful that people could forget that Lexion was wanted for escaping from Azkaban and that her parents were part of all the dark stuff that was happening at the moment.
Raven was putting up Christmas decorations with the help of two house-elves. Jade was allowed to rest as they knew she had a long trip. Lexion had a room for her, it even had a J on the door. She smiled, knowing that he cared about her. Maybe he didn't show it, especially when they were younger but it was the details and the little things that counted. She knew he loved her, probably more than anyone else.
The following day, Jade finally saw Finley, who didn't look happy as he had been told of what had happened between Amycus and her but Snape had also told him what he tried to do and he wasn't happy someone had attempted to kill his daughter and while she couldn't defend herself, so he didn't bring up the topic. Little did she know that Finley had made Amycus pay for what he had done to her while she was vulnerable in that room. No one could mess with a Lias and he had to learn that.
Before it got dark, Jade heard the doorbell and after a house-elf opened the door, she heard three familiar voices. Talbott, Amberie and Cassius Perseus.
Amberie joined Odette and Raven, while Talbott went to talk to Lexion, Finley, Olisca and her father. Leaving Cassius and Jade on their own. They walked out to the garden and saw the beautiful sunset of that day.
"What's going on?" Jade asked him. "Why are we celebrating Christmas?"
"I think your family is happy that Lexion is outside of Azkaban and they want to spend time together," Cassius told her. "Lexion and I are friends again. After spending time in prison he understood why I didn't join You-Know-Who with him. He invited my family and me to spend this time together."
"Why did you go to Bill Weasley's wedding?" Jade asked him out of nowhere.
"How do you even know about that?"
"Someone told me they saw you there."
"Fleur invited me. Believe me I was so shocked when I got the invitation. I did talk to her once but wouldn't say she is my friend," Cass said nervously. "Anyway..."
"Why did you go, though? She is not your friend and Weasley isn't your friend either."
"I told a friend and he thought it would be nice to go to a party, everything is so gloomy now," he said with a shrug.
"Is there something you need to tell me, Cass?" Jade asked, looking into his blue eyes. He looked away.
"No."
"Okay, I do need to tell you something, though."
"Go ahead."
"I received a weird letter a few months ago, it was in French. It was from a girl called Fayette," Jade said and Cass instantly got even more nervous and started to choke. "Do you know her?"
"Fayette you said? I'm afraid I don't."
"Hmm, weird. I thought that's why you were invited to the wedding," Jade said casually, Cass knew her well enough to not like that little act. He knew he was busted. "And I thought you promised her a monthly wage which she hasn't gotten recently."
"Don't be silly, Jade. Why would I pay a stranger?"
Jade couldn't take it anymore. She actually slapped Cass. Tears filled her eyes but she took deep breaths to control herself. Cass was shocked at her reaction. He couldn't believe what had just happened. In all honesty, Jade couldn't believe it either, it was just a reaction. It was all done before she could stop herself and realise what had happened.
"I consider lying even worse than what you did, I gave you the chance, Cass," Jade exclaimed but not loud enough for others to hear. "If my brother knew, he'd kill you."
"You won't tell them, will you?"
"Tell them what exactly? Hmm? What have you done?"
"A mistake," Cass said. Jade gave him a look but Cass didn't say anything else.
"Yeah and you keep making mistakes and you can't even tell me about it! What did you expect? That I'd never find out? Be a man and tell me your mistake. Tell me the truth, Cass."
"I got a girl pregnant, but you know that already, don't you? After that night… I regretted it immediately. I felt… wrong. It felt wrong."
"Because I told you she was a Mud-blood," Jade muttered. "That's why you regretted it."
"Because I knew it wasn't right. Because I knew I had failed you."
"You know what isn't right either? Abandoning your kid!" Jade said, outraged. "I can forgive you for what you did, even for lying to my face but not that. That's pretty low."
"I did that for three reasons," Cass said quickly. "One, yes I've been a coward and tried to pretend I didn't have a kid, okay? Sometimes, when I think about it, I still can't believe I have a baby. It's so unreal. Two, I was afraid of people finding out. My parents would die if they knew. Three, have you seen what they are doing to Mud-bloods? France is saved for now but they could link me to her and she would be doomed. He would be okay as I'm a Pureblood but he wouldn't have a mother."
"So you chose for him to not have a father," Jade said. "And Cass, your parents didn't abandon Xzander, did they?"
"My parents have conflicted feelings. They love him but also believe in pureness. I'm supposed to be perfect, have a perfect life, job, wife, kids... you know all about that. They wouldn't accept that their perfect son failed so badly. It's hard to explain because it contradicts how they act with Xzander but it's true. My parents want a perfect pure bloodline. I have to be what my brother can't be. I can't make a single mistake. They would… I don't even want to think about it. They don't pressure Xzander because they know they can't ask him to do those things, it wasn't his fault to be born like that. They actually feel guilty for that, so that's why they are kind to him…it's their guilt… but with me… that's a different story. I have to be perfect for our family, for Xzander and for me."
"Were you ever going to tell me?" Jade asked with tears.
"Yes... eventually, after we got married. If it meant keeping the secret for five years then so be it. Truth is Jade, that I do want to marry you. I accept that I'm not in love with you but we get along well and you are special to me. You do mean lots to me. I care about you and I didn't want anything to risk that."
"Right, you would tell me until then because I wouldn't be able to get a divorce, right?" Jade said and Cass looked down. "Cass, don't be that man. Don't abandon him. If you don't want people knowing he is yours, say you are his Godfather or something like that. "
"Jade..."
"If you don't help her out with the baby, if you aren't present in his life, if you don't play the role you should play in his life, I'm not marrying you," Jade said and she felt horrible, saying that. Was she even going to marry him if he actually did?
"Jade..."
"I'm being serious. There's a kid out there and he needs a father. Yes, he's not a Pureblood, so what? You should have thought about that before. It's not his fault, Cass. You said it yourself, it wasn't Xzander's fault to be born without magic, you understand that. So, you should understand that your baby has no fault in this. You do."
"I'm sorry," Cass said. "I never wanted this. I mean, I wanted to make you happy, not bring complications to our life. I wanted our lives…. Our marriage to be different from all those arranged ones, we could be happy. We could learn to love each other and be happy together. I never wanted this for us. I'm sorry."
"I know... it's not only me who you should apologise to though," Jade said. "And it's not only about words… You have to act and make up for it."
Jade walked inside, the sun was gone by then. The sky was almost completely dark except for a tiny deep red part on the horizon. Cass followed a few minutes later, he needed to process things. They didn't talk during dinner, even when Jade and Cass were sitting next to each other.
People around Jade were laughing, actually laughing. Lex even held Oli's hand for a bit. Finley was enjoying his conversation with Talbott instead of frowning all the time. That's what Jade always wanted. A true family. A happy one.
Jade decided to 'forget' for a little bit her conversation with Cass and pushed aside the fact that there were at least four Death Eaters in the room.
Weirdly enough that was one of the best Christmas Jade had ever had. For once she didn't feel left out and everyone was laughing and enjoying and they even got gifts. A part of her thought something must be going on but another part was enjoying this change. She didn't want to ruin the moment thinking there can't be true, genuine good moments.
Jade and her family stayed at Lexion's that night, they even shared a late-night dessert together by the fireplace, but the following day they went back to Wiltshire.
—-
Decided to post so soon and on this day, because today is Christmas and this chapter is about Christmas, by pure chance LOL.
So, I hope you enjoy and comment about the idea of Jade and Draco becoming Animaguses!
