Jade
had no idea what to do. She did know that she wasn't going
to inform the Ministry of Sirius though. But was he a mad man? She
had Owled Remus immediately the next day, telling him everything. But
Remus shocked her with some horrific news in response. Black had
broken into Hogwarts, and had slashed the Fat Lady when she wouldn't
let him enter the common room.
But
he seemed so calm, so normal when I saw him! Jade thought
to herself. Was she making excuses for herself like Patrick had
suggested?
So
how did she feel now? About Sirius? About Patrick? Jade needed a
break from the both of them. She wanted Remus to come home for
Christmas, but he needed to stay at the school because Christmas was
a full moon and Snape had to give him his potion. So Jade would be
alone. Again.
Jade
woke up Christmas morning tired and grumpy. She threw on a housecoat
and slippers, and made herself a cup of green tea. She had presents,
she noticed. One from Remus, one from Dumbledore, and one from...
Patrick.
She
opened his first, wondering what it was. Jade had sent him a simple
Christmas card and a singing tree ornament.
Jade
laughed when she saw what it was. He had sent her the same thing!
Except he also sent her some chocolates too... guaranteed to not melt
in her hand.
Jade
finished her tea and got dressed, in a much better mood than when she
woke up. Her house had a working TV. Because she lived in a small
village, she was the only witch around for miles, giving her the
freedom to use muggle device and magic. Every Christmas Jade spent
her time watching old Japanese kung-fu movies with voice- overs while
she got drunk. Usually though, Remus came over for a nice lunch.
So
Jade sat on her couch, in sweats, wrapped in blanket drinking, eating
fried food she picked up from a store down the road, watching
Japanese movies, thinking to herself how the movies should be funny,
but weren't, when a soft rapt fell upon the door.
"What
are you doing here?" Jade whispered as she opened the door
wider, to let Sirius inside quickly.
"I
don't know." His voice was scratched. "I just... didn't
want be alone today, again."
It
was pouring rain outside, and Sirius was soaked. She dried his hair
with her wand and gave him her blanket.
"Have
you been drinking?" Sirius asked, sniffing the air.
"A
little." They sat down together, and Jade put the film back on.
"I
shouldn't have come here." Sirius said, once the movie had
finished and Jade got up to put in its sequel.
"Why?"
"You've
sworn to tell them if you've seen me."
"I
won't."
"And-
I shouldn't have come at all." He got up and took off the
blanket.
"Sirius?
What's going o-"
"We're
over. I didn't want it to end, but we've been over for a long
time now. And I don't think we can be friends either. I should stay
away from you."
"Sirius
Black, what the hell are you talking about, 'you should stay away
from me'?"
But
he vanished. And Jade's bad mood came back very quickly.
Sirius
watched her from her window, in animagus form. She was crying as she
opened another wine bottle. She had someone else now, and coming back
into her life was a mistake. Merlin, she was beautiful!
Sirius
Black ran in animagus form, soaked to the bone. He didn't stop
until he found shelter a considerable distance away from Jade's
home. He needed to get into Hogwarts again. He needed to get
wormtail.
Jade
worked harder and faster than ever before, she knew it would not be
long before Voldemort returned to power, and when he did, she would
ensnare Lucius Malfoy into the hands of the dementors. Spring had
come and gone, summer was on the doorstep. And still she had heard
nothing of or from Black.
It
was like all was waiting for something. The public people felt it
too, drawing in breath and holding, waiting for him to make his move.
In
May, Jade and Patrick had a talk.
They
had been casually seeing each other, but it was time for Jade to
straighten herself out.
"Patrick,"
She said, reaching across her kitchen table and putting her hands
over his.
"You're
a really great person, and I always feel comfortable around you.
You're a laugh, a really great guy, but I feel as though I've
been deceiving you all this time."
"It's
ok." He patted her hands and smiled. "I understand how you feel
and why. I was there once."
Jade
smiled at him, happy he was so accepting.
"I
guess I was hoping you'd get over him. But I guess that you can't
really get over someone you love. Especially when you still have a
chance of being with them."
"Thank
you." Jade whispered.
