7. Revelations

Jade sat alone in the chilly kitchen, clasping a mug of tea for its warmth, although she could not bring herself to drink it. Anxiety and nausea had kept her awake throughout the long, disturbed night. Eventually, as the pale grey light of dawn filtered through the dark curtains, and birds began twittering outside, she had given up on sleep and come downstairs. She usually made sure she was up before the rest of the house, as no one apart from Harry had yet realised that she was sleeping in Sirius's bedroom, which had been left closed since Lupin had gathered his personal belongings. Jade frowned painfully as she recalled the unpleasant scene that had resulted in her seeking refuge at Grimmauld Place. In the weeks after Sirius's death her morning sickness had intensified, and her housemates at the wizarding residence had soon reached the correct conclusion as to her condition. They had made it very clear that an infant in their house would interfere with their studies and social lives. They had gone so far as to imply that Jade was promiscuous, and should be ashamed of bringing an illegitimate child into the world. Her face burned with rage at the memory and her fingers clenched around her hot mug.

Slowly, the house grumbled into life. Jade greeted people absently in a dull tone as they wandered sleepily into the kitchen, making coffee, tea and toast. Her stomach lurched unpleasantly at the smell of the eggs Mrs Weasley was cooking on the stove. She nibbled unenthusiastically at a corner of her dry toast. The front door kept opening, and muffled whispers were heard as the members of the Order arriving for the meeting crept past Mrs Black's portrait. The seats around the long kitchen table began to fill up.

Jade's hands were shaking slightly against the now cold mug of tea, and she hid them under the table. She felt nervous and apprehensive. Her grief for Sirius was still so raw she feared she might break down entirely at the mention of his name. An intensely private person, she dreaded the exposure of her intimate relationship with Sirius, and the attention and speculation that would be aroused by the news that she was expecting his child. Jade was also plagued with worry and uncertainty about her future. She knew that Sirius had sent to Gringotts for his will in order to amend it as soon as her pregnancy had been confirmed, but they had not hadn't had an opportunity to discuss his decision in those few days before...

If she couldn't remain at 12 Grimmauld Place, Jade truly did not know where she could go, and it seemed that the loss of her job was imminent. She hated the thought of being confronted once again with the prejudice and scorn that others had already shown her. She sighed as she remembered Sirius's reckless kiss on that long ago morning, and the spiteful gleam in Snape's eyes when she and Sirius had encountered him in the kitchen.

Harry shot her a sympathetic glance as he walked past with Ron, and Jade smiled bleakly, taking courage for his sake. They shared a bond of mutual pain that no one else could comprehend, and Jade's heart bled to see the agony in his eyes. She had been moved beyond words by Harry's response to her request that he be named James' godfather. She was carrying Sirius's child. Bringing his son into the world was the most awesome thing she would do in her life. She sat up straight, resolutely, just as Dumbledore strode into the now crowded kitchen, carrying a single roll of parchment. Everyone hurried to their places; then the room fell silent as Dumbledore took his place at the end of the table. Just one seat was empty. Mr Weasley, who had been counting out chairs, scanned the room, perplexed.

Severus Snape swept through the door, his cold black eyes glittering almost exultantly. He marched straight to Dumbledore, saying in a low, urgent voice, 'Professor Dumbledore, I have devised a plan. All might not be lost. When Narcissa Malfoy takes possession of the Black family inheritance, I shall be able to...'

He broke off as Dumbledore raised a hand to silence him. 'Not yet, Severus. We must first read Sirius's testament.' Snape took his seat reluctantly. Jade's glance met his cold, calculating stare for an instant. His eyes held no grief.

A solemn silence fell over the gathered people as Dumbledore broke the seal on the scroll. He unrolled it and Jade caught a glimpse of Sirius's familiar heavy black scrawl dashing across the thick parchment. For a moment it was as if she was watching Sirius's hand move again, the muscles taught in his forearm as he wrote. As if he was right there, beside her as he once had been. A stab of longing pierced her. She took a deep breath, trying to concentrate on the long preamble of legal jargon Dumbledore was reading out...

'I, Sirius Black, being of sound mind, hereby declare that this is my final will and testament.'

'This document is dated less than a week before Sirius's death,' Dumbledore observed solemnly, rubbing a hand over his creased forehead before continuing.

'The covenant binding the legacy of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black' – Jade could almost hear Sirius's bitter sneer echoing behind Dumbledore's calm voice – 'stipulates that in the event of the current owner's death, the property, 12 Grimmauld Place, it's contents, and the house-elf bound to serve the Black family, shall fall to the inheritance of the nearest living relative of the House of Black.'

A collective gasp of intense dismay hissed around the table. Snape's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, reflecting a glint of power.

'I therefore bequeath my heritage of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black' – the sneer was triumphant this time – 'to my son, James Magellan Black. I appoint Jade Magellan as trustee of this legacy until our son attains his majority, whereupon he shall be awarded full custodianship of 12 Grimmauld Place, on behalf of the Order of the Phoenix.'

There was a stunned silence. Each pair of eyes swivelled from the parchment in Dumbledore's hands to Jade. The room was so quiet that the ticking of revelation registering in each person's thoughts was almost audible. Sirius and Jade were lovers. She is having his child. The Headquarters is safe. A baby named James...Jade looked at Remus; he was grinning, though she could still see the sorrow hidden behind his tired eyes.

Snape muttered something under his breath. His voice was too low for Jade to hear the words, but his spiteful tone was unmistakable.

'What did you say?' demanded Ginny.

'Are you addressing me, Miss Weasley? I did not hear you refer to me as Sir or Professor,' Snape replied in a venomous voice, glowering at her.

'I don't think this has anything to do with you being my teacher, Snape. What did you say?' Ginny repeated, dangerously.

Goaded, Snape snarled back, 'I said, "once again, Black's lack of responsibility has saved the day".'

Ginny's chair crashed to the floor behind her as she stood up violently. 'How dare you?' she yelled, her eyes smouldering, her fists clenched; she was practically spitting with rage.

'Ginny!' squeaked Mrs Weasley faintly.

'Apologise!' roared Harry, kicking his chair out of the way as he rose, his anger thundering before him.

'Sit down, Miss Weasley, Mr Potter.' Dumbledore's voice was firm.

Harry regarded Jade, appalled at Snape's vicious attack on his godfather, and his audacious judgment of Sirius and Jade's most private affairs. Jade shrugged, sighing heavily. Snape's reaction had been even harsher than she had anticipated, but after the response of her housemates, she had not expected the news to be particularly welcome. You're used to being alone, she reminded herself, biting her lip and willing the tears from her grey-blue eyes. The cherished time she had shared with Sirius had been made to appear so sordid; the child miraculously growing inside her to seem like a careless mistake. Her eyes welled up again as she thought desperately, 'it wasn't a misake! It wasn't. This wasn't supposed to be possible, but I want it so badly now. I want this child more than I've ever wanted anything...'

'Severus, you have gone too far.' Dumbledore's blue eyes were cold and sharp with anger. 'Do you not remember the circumstances of Miss Magellan's arrival at Hogwarts?'

Jade buried her burning face in her hands, praying that Dumbledore would not go on. Let them think what they liked about her...

As if reading her thoughts, Dumbledore said, very quietly, 'Miss Magellan, it would be better for them to know the truth...you have nothing to be ashamed of.'

Despite her reticence, Jade knew he was right. Sirius always told the truth. She nodded slowly, her face still curtained by her dark hair.

'The Messengers sent to tell Miss Magellan's parents of her acceptance at Hogwarts informed me that they had been banished from the house. When Jade failed to arrive at Hogwarts and I discovered that she had been admitted to a Muggle institution, I grew concerned. I invoked a protective charm over her, to the effect that if she were ever in mortal danger, she would immediately be transported to Hogwarts.'

Jade couldn't raise her head. Mrs Weasley's eyes brimmed with tears. Ginny was still glaring at Snape, frowning thunderously. Hermione's mouth had fallen open in horror, and a tear trickled down her cheek. Harry, still standing, stared at Dumbledore aghast, realising what he meant...

'When Miss Magellan appeared in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey summoned a Healer from St Mungo's to examine her. The Healer deemed it necessary to inform Miss Magellan that while she would make a full recovery from her physical injuries, the heavy dosages of Muggle drugs with which she had been treated would exact a lasting toll; she would never bear children. This news means that a mysterious and powerful magic has been invoked...truly, a miracle has taken place.'

Turning to Snape, Dumbledore continued. 'Severus, I had hoped you would not carry your hatred for Sirius past the grave. Your resentment will destroy you if you cannot control it. You may leave us now; the next meeting of the Order will be convened tomorrow.' Snape stalked from the room, his plan – his moment of heroism – thwarted, his hatred as poisonous as ever.

Shaking, Harry picked up his chair from the floor and sat down, his eyes filled with tears of anguish and rage.

'Miss Magellan – Jade,' Dumbledore said gently. She raised her head, wiping her eyes, and Dumbledore smiled kindly at her. 'May I be the first to offer you my congratulations, and fervent wishes for your health and happiness? I believe I speak for everyone in this room when I say we will do everything in our power to support you and your child...James,' he added quietly, his ancient blue eyes filmed with tears.

'James Sirius,' intoned Harry softly, his voice still trembling. '...Yeah, anything we can do to help...'

Ginny and Hermione nodded in agreement. Mrs Weasley had burst into tears. Lupin, seated next to Jade, stroked her hand sympathetically. 'Jade, he said, 'anything I can do... really. I am always here if you need me. Congratulations!' His blue eyes filled with a joy that was almost drowned in sadness, but he was smiling nonetheless.

Jade weakly returned the smile, saying quietly, 'Thank you, Remus...' Crookshanks leapt softly into Jade's lap and curled comfortingly there.

Jade felt too overwhelmed to speak. In a few moments she had experienced the agony of having her deepest pain and intimacy laid bare in front of a room full of people, followed by the warmth and comfort of love and acceptance far beyond her wildest expectations. She felt as if she had come home.

After a long moment, Dumbledore said, 'There are just a few further points we need to cover.' He picked up the parchment again and read, 'My personal estate, contained in Gringotts vault 711, is to be conferred to Jade Magellan, Harry Potter and Remus Lupin accordingly...' More legal jargon and figures followed.

'Finally, Sirius has made some brief personal addresses,' declared Dumbledore. 'Remus – Moony – loyal friend, I never told you how much I valued your belief in me. Thank you. Harry, it is only fitting that you should be named godfather to James. I will never forget how happy your parents were when you were born and how honoured I was to be your guardian. Jade, your love gave me freedom and made me a better man. I will love each of you, always.'

There was a profound silence. Sirius's words seemed so rushed and urgent, and yet so poignant, as his love and loss echoed from beyond the veil.

Since the Order meeting had been postponed until the next day, Fred and George suggested a trip to Diagon Alley. Somewhat surprisingly, Mrs Weasley smiled indulgently, and nodded. 'Off you go. You all need to get out for a bit.'

'There's a park at the end of the road where we can play some Quidditch,' Fred suggested, tentatively.

'Yeah, Harry,' added George encouragingly. 'We've got some Back-spinning Bludgers we want to try out on you.'

'And a Souped-up Snitch.' Fred grinned.

Harry hesitated. Playing Quidditch seemed too normal... Yet, suddenly, he could almost feel the wind tearing through his hair, the oblivion of flying, of going so fast there was no room in his mind for anything but speed and space. Anything that would distract him from the raw, searing pain inside him. He ran upstairs, grabbing his and Ron's broomsticks and wrapping them in his invisibility cloak for the walk to Diagon Alley. 'Coming, Hermione?' he asked as he dashed back down the stairs, frantic to get outside, to be anywhere but in this dark, oppressive house crowded with hollow memories of the grey-eyed man who had been there just weeks before, and left such emptiness and longing in his wake.

'Yeah, let me just get a book to read while you're playing. Jade?' Hermione asked hesitantly. 'Do you want to come?'

'Thanks,' Jade shook her head, smiling wryly. 'I think I'll just stay here and have a sleep on the bathroom floor.'

Hermione grimaced sympathetically, patting her shoulder in a motherly manner. Mrs Weasley was calling her from the kitchen. 'Hermione, could I ask you to pick up some things from the Apothecary's while you're there?'

'Of course,' said Hermione willingly, leaving Jade in order to hurry to the kitchen.

'Hurry up, Ginny!' called Ron, also impatient to be out of the desolate house, as Ginny wandered slowly down the stairs.

'Where's your broom, Gin?' Harry asked.

'Um, actually I'm going to stay here...I've got to write a letter...'Ginny mumbled vaguely, turning and wandering back up the stairs again.

'Mental,' muttered Ron, giving Harry a perplexed look.

Harry shrugged. 'Let's go, then.'

'Onward, intrepid discoverers!' declared George.

'Forerunners of Quidditch as never played before!' added Fred, seizing the invisible bundle of brooms from Harry, and narrowly missing swiping Mrs Black's portrait as he led the way through the front door.

From her bedroom window, Jade saw Ginny sitting in the courtyard, Crookshanks curled beneath her chair. The sun burnished her copper hair as she bent earnestly over a piece of parchment, biting the end of her quill.

A semblance of normality had returned to 12 Grimmauld Place by dinner that evening. Arthur Weasley, Bill, Kingsley, Mad-Eye and Tonks were engaged in an animated discussion of strategies for the Order. Mrs Weasley kept glaring at them, and they automatically lowered their voices, before remembering that Dumbledore had lifted the ban of secrecy for underage members. Then they would resume conversing loudly, banging their fists and goblets by way of emphasis.

Mrs Weasley had given Hermione a list of ingredients to purchase in Diagon Alley, for a potion she had always used to cure morning sickness, and was explaining the process of concocting it in great detail, as Hermione laid the ingredients out in front of her. 'So if I add the Pifflepods at midnight, then leave it to simmer until dawn...' Hermione mused.

'That's right,' Mrs Weasley confirmed, 'then stir in the powdered acacia-root, and the lavender essence just before you take it off the heat.'

Lupin was staring distractedly at the goblet in front of him. Although the full moon was over a week away, his eyes were heavily shadowed, and his face hollow. It looked as though he hadn't slept in days.

Fred, George and Ron were enthusing about the performance of the Back-spinning Bludgers, while lamenting the disappearance of the Souped-up Snitch, which was still zooming about somewhere over London, or possibly the Atlantic.

Hermione, who seemed to feel the need to prevent any awkward silences, had begun telling Harry, Ginny and Jade – or anyone who would listen – about the fascinating new Arithmancy book she had discovered in Flourish and Blotts. Harry was staring unseeingly out of the window, nodding absently now and then. Ginny was unenthusiastically pushing food around her plate with her fork, glancing frequently from the window, to Harry, to Jade, biting her lip as if she was on the point of saying something, but couldn't find the words.

Hermione paused, having run out of conversation and realising that her attempts at distraction were having little effect. Hesitantly, she asked, 'Jade, are you going to be able to manage with work, and everything...?'

'I think they've drafted my redundant letter already,' she said sardonically. 'I've taken so many days off now...But with being able to stay here, and the money Sirius left I'll be fine. He wanted me to stop working there anyway, and take up studying again after the baby was born.' Jade smiled, hearing Sirius's voice as clearly as if he were sitting beside her. 'For God's sake, woman! You should be writing your own books, not editing the rubbish other people produce. I think I should keep you at home and chain you to a desk for two hours a day...'

Hermione beamed at the mention of higher learning. 'What would you want to study?' she asked enthusiastically, latching on immediately to this new form of distraction.

'Don't laugh,' Jade said. 'But I was always really interested in History of Magic, you know, the political analysis side of it...I wanted to study it further after school, but...'

Just then, a large tawny owl swooped though the window, and dropped a letter in front of Ginny. Blushing, she tore it open, holding it so that no one could see the writing. Her hands seemed to be shaking slightly. Jade turned to talk to Harry and Hermione again, and when she glanced back at Ginny, it looked as though she was brushing away a tear.

Hermione had launched into a long explanation about strategies in the Goblin wars. Jade tried to concentrate, but dizziness was closing in on her. She took a sip of water and her stomach heaved again. Dropping her goblet, she rushed from the room.

There was an awkward silence. Mrs Weasley muttered something about wishing she had known to make a potion sooner.

'Er,' said Harry to Hermione, uncertainly. 'Do you think somebody should go check on her? Like...um...a girl?'

Hermione seemed mildly astounded that Harry had thought of this before her. She glanced at Ginny, and the two of them, Ginny still clutching her letter, went upstairs, closely followed by Mrs Weasley.

Jade lay limply on Sirius's bed, damp tendrils of hair clinging to her pale, clammy forehead. She held the blankets to her face, breathing deeply. A trace of Sirius's scent lingered there. She stifled a sob as she heard a tentative knock on the door.

'Are you okay?' Hermione whispered.

'I'll be fine,' Jade said wearily, breathing through her blankets once more.

'The potion should be ready in the morning. It really helps a lot – I used it with each of mine,' Mrs Weasley encouraged her fondly. 'Oh, the Rock Rose and the Clematis should go in right away. And I'd better shred the Impatiens. Hermione, don't forget the Pifflepods must go in at exactly midnight,' she reminded her in a bossy tone, and bustled off back to the larder.

'I'll get some fresh water.' Hermione picked up an empty goblet and headed to the bathroom.

Ginny sat down on the end of the bed. Jade noticed the letter clasped in her hand. 'Are you okay, Gin, you seemed...upset earlier?' she asked tentatively.

Ginny frowned. 'I broke up with Dean,' she said slowly.

'Oh my God, I'm sorry...I thought things were going well with him?' said Jade, looking at her with concern.

Ginny smiled sadly. 'They were. But I started thinking about you and Sirius...and how you never know when your chances are going to run out...Dean's sweet, and we have fun together...but I know he's never going to be the love of my life...I feel so bad, he's been really nice about it,' she glanced at the parchment in her lap, 'but he doesn't really understand and I know I've hurt him...'

Jade regarded her sympathetically. 'So, if Dean's not the one, then who...?'

Ginny started as Hermione returned with the water. She smiled ironically at Jade and shrugged. 'You know who.'