Chapter Nine: Jessica's Answer

Harry didn't speak for a long time. He couldn't. His senses were in overload and he was having trouble breathing. His every nightmare, his ever horrible memory, it didn't even compare to this. He didn't even know what to feel except an immense pain and overwhelming shock. He never realized.
Eventually, Harry came to the conclusion that he wasn't angry with Jessica. How could he be? There was no way that she could have known what would happen. In her place, he might have tried the same thing. And whatever his grief, whatever his pain, hers could only have been a thousand times worse.
In hour passed. Jessica and Harry sat there, silent. Jessica so far past tears that she could no longer cry, Harry trying to handle his own overwhelming shock. Finally, Harry began to get a handle. Chandler. This all had to get back to Chandler. Harry opened his eyes and looked up at Jessica.
"Jessica. I don't know how to say this, but. your spell worked."
Jessica's eyes opened and she looked up at Harry. No, the look in her eyes was more haunted than Sirius' had ever been. And Harry could understand why. "What?"
Harry swallowed. "That's why I came. I met Chandler. Padfoot did walk again." Quickly, Harry explained about the boy and his invisible dog and how they had found the old London manor and how Chandler recognized his Dog in a picture of Padfoot. When he was finished, Jessica was crying. And she looked angry.
"Harry, if you think you can make it all better by telling me stories, I am very disappointed."
"I'm not telling you stories, Jessica. It's true." Then Harry remembered the tag in his pocket. Hurriedly, he reached for it. Yes, it was still there. Wincing at the power that sparked to his fingers, Harry pulled out the brass tag. "Chandler took off the collar so that I could see. He let me keep this. Padfoot was wearing it." Carefully, he set the tag into Jessica's outstretched palm.
Jessica was shaking as she stared down at the sparking piece of brass. Her eyes were wide and she looked at it as if it were a poisonous snake. Slowly, she closed her hand over it. Her eyes closed and she winced as it sent a powerful shock through her palm. Then she blinked and her palm opened again. The tag was gone.
In its place was an intricate golden wedding band.
Harry and Jessica both stared aghast at the ring. Tears were streaming freely down Jessica's cheeks, now. Harry had to work to keep his breathing steady. Could it be? It's not possible. is it?
"Jessica. how old is Chandler?"
Jessica didn't answer at first. Finally, she whispered, "He. should have turned 10."
Harry frowned. "That Patronus has lived for almost ten years. He dreamed of his dog every night and nothing harmed him. But, something happened. He said he hasn't dreamt in quite a while. And Dog is real." Harry paused. He was going out on a limb. "Jessica, I think the Patronus is dying."
Jessica frowned. "What? You said the Patronus is real now. How can it be dying?"
"Because a Patronus isn't supposed to be real. We shouldn't be able to pet it and scratch it and take off its collar. Chandler's invisible friend isn't the Patronus but something else, something that was caught when you cast that spell." There was a long pause. "I think Padfoot is still alive."