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Chapter Twenty-Five: The End
It took some time, but Draco eventually settled into life at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. In fact he was a whole lot more helpful than anyone expected. Harry was revelling in the fact that he never had to return to Privet Drive and he was quickly becoming good friends with Draco. Ron was still bitter about his break-up with Hermione, but he and Draco tried to get along. Three days after they arrived Hermione showed up causing quite a bit of tension between the group. However, things settled down and they became a very close bunch.
Remus took Jaide to see the old warehouse that they had visited constantly during the summer holidays. It was very dilapidated and it saddened Jaide to see the place that held so many happy memories falling apart. She was cheered up, however, when Remus took her to visit Jeremy, their old party friend. He still lived in the same rundown apartment and hadn't changed one bit, apart from the fact he'd stopped doing drugs. She enjoyed her time reliving past memories although she anxiously waited for the day when Severus would come to Number Twelve.
Jaide was sitting in her bedroom, looking at old photos of the Marauders when she heard a very longed for voice float up the stairs.
"Where is she Lupin?" Severus said impatiently as he entered the Headquarters.
Jaide squealed and jumped up, running down the stairs and throwing herself at him, nearly knocking him over.
"Hello Jaide." He gasped, "Must you jump on me like that?"
"I missed you. Why did you take so long?"
"I said I'd be gone for a week."
"And that was at three in the afternoon on Wednesday. It is now four thirty Tuesday so that means you've been one week, an hour and a half."
Severus shook his head exasperatedly, "Will you please let go of me, I have very important information to discuss."
"Well fine then. Don't act excited to see me or anything. I'll just go back to my room then."
"You know I'm excited to see you, but there are people around."
"Don't be silly Sev." She kissed him.
"Happy now?" he smirked, "Lupin, go and get everyone and tell them we must have a meeting to discuss what I found out."
Remus nodded and headed off to gather as many members as he could find, leaving Jaide and Severus alone.
"What have you been doing exactly Sev?" Jaide asked curiously.
"I was making sure the Dark Lord wasn't going to kill you."
"What do you mean?"
He sighed, "He was quite annoyed that two of his deatheaters gave someone the Dark Mark. Only he is allowed to do that."
"So, what did you tell him?"
"That you were a deatheater." Severus prepared himself for her anger.
"WHAT! Oh my god. This is brilliant."
"I'm sorry, it was the only… huh?"
"Now I can be a spy just like you." She grinned.
"No way. It's too dangerous."
"Did you think I was going to sit around here doing housework for the duration of the war. Either way I'm going to fight, only spying is probably safer than duelling deatheaters."
"It is safer, unless you get caught."
"Well, I will just have to avoid that."
"I can't talk you out of it can I?"
"No chance Sev."
"So Severus, what have you found out?" Remus asked
"As you know, the attack on Hogwarts was not organised by the Dark Lord. Unfortunately he is not angry enough to kill Bellatrix and Narcissa. He decided that instead they will just have to stay in Azkaban."
"So he's not going to break them out?"
"No."
Tonks interrupted, "What about Jaide's Dark Mark?"
"Luckily I managed to convince him she's a genuine deatheater. He won't kill her now."
"Does this mean you're going to be a spy Aunt Jaide?"
"Yup, it's going to be totally fun."
Severus scoffed, "Fun."
"Are you sure Shadow. We could hide you here if you didn't want to do it." Remus suggested worriedly.
"And what, I sit around doing chores just like Sirius. I don't think so Moony."
"But it'd be terribly dangerous. What if something goes wrong."
"I'll be fine. You don't have to look after me anymore Moony. I'm a big girl now."
"I know, but you're still like a cub to me."
"What are you two on about?" Tonks looked confused.
"Oh, sorry. I'm an unregistered Animagus. My animal form is part of the pack Remus formed with Sirius, James and Pettigrew."
Remus nodded, "Peter was the smallest but Jaide was the youngest so she became the cub of the pack. Sirius and I always looked after her."
Severus coughed loudly, "As I was saying, it would appear that everything will work in our favour with regards to the Hogwarts attack. The Dark Lord has destroyed the Book of the Shades, probably to avoid anyone repeating Lucius's actions, Bellatrix and Narcissa will rot in Azkaban and Jaide is safe."
"Excellent." Remus smiled at Jaide, "Perhaps you should go and tell Draco that his mother won't be bothering him anytime soon."
"Of course, do you know where he is?"
"I think they're up in the attic."
"Thanks Remmy." She ran out of the room, followed closely by Severus.
"Draco!" she called as she ran up the stairs.
He appeared at the top of the stairs, brushing dust and cobwebs from his jeans.
"What is it Aunt Jaide?"
"I have some good news. It's about your mother."
Draco's smile faded, "What about her?"
"She's been sentenced to life in Azkaban… and Voldemort is so angry at her that he won't be breaking her out."
His eyes widened, "Really, what about Aunt Bella?"
"Same for her." She grinned at him, "Finally free of your horrid family huh?"
He smiled back at her before running back into the attic yelling, "I'm free, I'm free!"
She turned around and headed back to her room, nearly bumping into Severus who was also headed there.
"I'm guessing by his joyous screams that he is happy with the news."
"Obviously."
"So, everything turned out for the best, everyone wins." He scowled.
"Oh really, and what did you win?" she grinned slyly.
"You." He smiled and kissed her, hoping that he'd never have to lose her again.
The EndAN: And they all lived happily ever after, through the epilogue right up until the sequel.