Jane Black wasn't sure why she woke but she could tell that something was wrong. She grabbed her wand from her bedside table and turned over to wake her husband.
"Sirius!" She whispered.
She looked and found he wasn't there. Something was definitely wrong. Sirius was never up this early and if he was he wasn't exactly quiet about it.
Ever since Sirius became her cousin's secret keeper, he had moved his own little family into hiding to one of the small cottages Jane's family owned to be kept safe. James Potter, in return, was their secret keeper. It was supposed to be the perfect plan. Jane knew neither James nor Sirius would rat each other out. But that didn't help ease her worries now. In times like these anything could go wrong.
She crept out of bed, slipped on a robe, and swiftly went out of the room. With her wand out in front of her she made her way to the nursery. She quickly and quietly threw open the door. She found her usually early riser two-year-old daughter still fast asleep. She looked at the crib next to Jazlyn and breathed a small sigh in mild relief. The Potters' two month old, Avalon was still there asleep as well. Jane wasn't sure what she would've done if something had happened to the newborn James and Lily had trusted her with for the weekend.
While Jane was happy to see the two little ones safe for now, something was still off. She shut the door, placed a protective spell on the room, and headed to check the downstairs.
"Sirius?" She called again when she didn't see anyone.
The house responded with an eerie silence. She crossed to the front door and peeked out. Seeing nothing she headed to the kitchen to boil herself a pot of tea. This war is driving me crazy, she thought. Sirius must have gotten antsy all cooped up and snuck out. It was typical of him to do so. But it didn't stop her from fretting every time. It also didn't stop her from hexing the living daylights out of him every time he returned.
As she had placed the kettle on the stove she saw a piece of parchment stuck to the window. She pulled it down to read it.
My dearest beautiful Jane,
Ever since Jazlyn's tantrum I have felt as if something is wrong. I know you have felt it too. I have spent the evening with worry as I'm sure you could tell. Mostly I worry for Wormtail, Prongs, lily, and Harry. It's been a week since I have heard from Wormtail and that deeply concerns me. And you know why I always worry for our Prongs and his family. I also haven't heard from Moony in a month and while I am deeply worried for him as well I know he has been away on Dumbledore's orders.
I have decided that I must check on them. I know, you can curse me out later. But I simply couldn't bear the panic that has been creeping in me all day anymore. I plan to be back before you even notice I'm gone. If I am not, worry not, my love. I will be back shortly.
With all the love in the world, your doting husband,
Padfoot
Jane scowled. He must have left as soon as she was asleep. Which was pretty early yesterday evening considering she hadn't been feeling well recently. Realizing that it has probably been hours since she left made her sick with worry. She promptly shut off the stove and rushed to the bathroom to throw up.
"I'm gonna kill him." She picked herself off the floor.
He's been gone for hours, HOURS. There's no way something didn't happen. She paced around the kitchen for several minutes muttering to herself angrily about Sirius's Recklessness. He could be killed, or captured, or tortured, or worse. She didn't know what worse was but she had a feeling she was about to find out. Making up her mind she called out to her two house elves.
"Mischieven! Popskey!"
There were two cracks and two elf's appeared in front of her.
"Mistress! Mistress! It's been so long! Are you coming back?"
"Mistress! What can Popskey and Mischieven do for you? Where is master Sirius?"
At that last question she scowled again, "I wish I knew."
Louder and more assertive She gave them strict instructions.
"You are going to go to the nursery. Each of you are to grab one of the girls and apparate with me to the London flat. Be alert. If anything happens or goes wrong you are to bring them to Mary Macdonald right away, have Mary signal the order for help, understood?"
"Yes mistress Jane!"
With a crack they were gone and so was Jane.
