5. November Rain

Jade's second birthday on Halloween wasn't as interesting as she hoped for. Celebrating with the families Greengrass and Malfoy let her be sure her parents had not sent her to the friends with most influence. The Dark Lord's return had stripped off their bravery and power. Jade was surrounded by cowards but at least they gave her freedom and didn't do much to find her a husband. Jade had a feeling she was finally allowed to find one herself while she was concerned her little friend wasn't writing anymore.

Astoria didn't even send her a birthday card and the last letter had been a month ago. Jade didn't write back just yet instead she read about Andromeda Tonks' death which Jade was sure of was a suicide to keep her secret.

Jade's article had been published this morning and Bellatrix Lestrange herself stormed into her office. "This is not true! How dare you? Lily Potter died for her son and this magic caused the Dark Lord's downfall... but never again!"

"Lily adopted Harry and has sworn to protect him with her life but it's true. Harry Potter is not Lily's son and I will prove it" Jade leaned over her desk and grinned.

"Why do you spend time with us again? I thought we are not good enough for you" Daphne eyed her younger sister. The younger blonde girl was playing with her gobstone and didn't say anything. Her wish to learn more about gobstones and Salem Institute was gone and instead she waited for Christmas holidays to accuse Jade to find out the truth.

None of this she told her sister and instead she quickly put away her stone before any teacher saw it.

It was cold in November and Harry and his friends didn't have any news from Dean or any other. They had lost their sense for time and travelled to wherever they could think of. It was not much they could do and they barely had enough food left.

Ron suggested to visit his family to get news and food for them and left for days. Hermione and Harry grew worried and afraid in his absense but they were not prepared for the news Ron brought when he came back. "Harry! Jade did it again! She wrote an article about your family! My mother cried over it and I... Harry, you have to read it!"

Jade looked around and wasn't much impressed by Hogwarts. It looked exactly like she had expected it. An old castle somewhere in nowhere. Jade had gotten an appointment with Severus Snape for an interview about her article and the fact she could give inside news on Rita's book about the life of Albus Dumbledore.

Professor Snape seemed interested and Jade was welcomed by Professor Trelawney who was a scared woman who didn't speak or look at Jade.

The headmaster's office was in a tower and Snape was already waiting for her. He offered her a seat and sent Professor Trelawney back to her class. Next he offered Jade sweets which she denied. "Which topic do you want to talk about first?"

"How about your gobstone magic?"

"What?" Jade was confused and didn't know how he could possible know about it. The first time in Britain she was speechless and let him talk. "Astoria Greengrass read a book about Salem and she always in seen playing with a golden gobstone. I asked her sister Daphne about this behavior and she told me about you"

"Of course she did"

"Misses Greengrass is a Hogwarts student and we don't mix Hogwarts and Salem magic. I want to know if her soul is still in one piece or if you did anything" Severus Snape spoke calmly and didn't seem to have any intention to talk about Harry Potter or Albus Dumbledore. This man had tricked her and Jade didn't like this. "I didn't harm Astoria. She is a good girl. A bit naive but she will grow out of it"

"I give you an advice, Misses. You will take your magical stone back and whatever you did to Misses Greengrass you will undo it" Professor Snape had nothing more to say and Jade left angry. She walked downstairs to the Great Hall where she waited for the students to leave their classes.

Astoria was allowed to leave early today. Professor Sprout told her somebody was waiting for her and she thought it was her mother but instead she saw Jade waiting for her and walked slowly closer before Jade grabbed her hand and led her out of the castle. "You know what Professor Snape thinks I did to you? Now give me my gobstone"

"I didn't talk to Professor Snape"

"No, but your sister did" Jade was still angry when Astoria returned the gobstone. The eyes of the blonde girl were filled with tears and Jade even felt a little sad for her. The golden stone lost it's shine in Jade's hand and changed to white. Astoria watched it and touched it in Jade's hand which made it turn gold again. "What just happened?"

"In Salem we have to return our stones before the final exams. It's not allowed to use them during the exams and... not all Salem witches learn how to use gobstone magic themselves. Only the best"

"You were one of the best wishes of your year?" Astoria's sadness was gone. She noticed it was raining all around them but Jade and Astoria didn't get wet. "Jade?"

"I did my NEWT's in four subjects and yes, I learned how to use gobstone magic. It's a special one year class outside the school. Astoria, I didn't take your soul. You had a piece of me with you" Jade wanted to put her gobstone back in her pocket but Astoria stopped her. "If it doesn't has a piece of my soul I want to keep it. Please Jade. Daphne won't see it again and won't tell anybody"

"You are a good girl" Jade ran her hand through Astoria's hair and the gobstone shine brighter. Astoria loved the golden colour and quickly put the stone in her pocket. "Why did you give me a piece of your soul?"

"I wanted to know if you are honest. Soul pieces know if you are honest or not and... I felt like you needed it and start asking questions before you turn into a coward like the rest of your family"Jade and Astoria felt the rain on them and the younger girl took Jade's hand to run back to the school with her. The rain had wet their clothes but Astoria didn't mind. She laughed and hugged Jade. "You are right, I don't know if I want to Draco anymore. He has no opinion on anything. He is a coward like so many of my classmates"

"You won't be a coward anymore. When you come home for Christmas we talk more about it. I have to go now and work on my article" Jade grinned when she left Astoria. The girl was still naive but she would be of use.

Ron didn't stop forcing Harry to read the article about Andromeda Tonks' secret until Hermione took the newspaper and read Jade's article out loud. "Harry Potter, to some still a hero, is boy who has grown up with lies. It seems to me his friends like Albus Dumbledore have brainwashed him so long until he finally accepted to be their willing puppy who would die for their lies. It all started with Lily Potter's spell of erasing Harry's real mother from his memories and it's time to tell the truth. Who is the mysterious woman that has been hidden from him?"

A picture of a muggle that didn't moved was in the middle of the article. Harry recognized her but didn't say a word instead he listened until Hermione had finished the article. "Harry Potter isn't the pure-blood good boy but in fact a half-blood that was raised a victim"

"Harry?" Ron stood next to Harry who shook his head. "This is not true. It can't be"