DISCLAIMER: I do not own the world of Harry Potter. Although I wish I did...sigh All hail the omnipotent one of Potter Verse!
A/N: AH! I will be able to get this knocked out no problem! WEEE! but I do ask that there please be an increased amount in the amount of reviews I have recieved. Make it be known that I will not post chapter 8 until I get about five to ten reviews. If you don't like it say so...If you like it say so...I want to hear your oppion.
Chapter 7: The Return To Hogwarts
It was hard for Jaina to return to the house that night; she didn't know how she would tell everyone that she had lost the twins. Jaina walked into the house and met three very scared Gryffindors as soon as she walked into the kitchen. " Hey! Calm down...I'm walking, right?" All three nodded. " I'm alive right?" Again they nodded. ''It's late I'm going to bed.'' And with that, she headed upstairs.
As she closed the door to her bedroom, Jaina striped off her shirts and sighed heavily. Jonas' death was still weighing heavily on her mind. They had been a dream pair for the longest time, even when they were just flirting back and forth as stupid teenagers. She sighed and fell onto the bed, her mind going back to the day that Jonas finally confessed to her what had been on his mind for the longest of times.
Jonas was looking quite odd as he paid for the tickets to go into the Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He offered his arm to the brunette beside him and she smiled gaily, and took the proffered arm. They were still quite young, one at seventeen while the other was a mere sixteen years of age, but they were both far older than they're years let on. When outsiders looked at the two, they saw what could be described as the happiest people in the world, just caught up with themselves and how in love they looked. But on the contrary, Jaina and Jonas were no where near that level of affection. In fact, they treated each other like best friends often do.
But today was different for Jonas, he had incidentally fallen head over heels for the young woman beside him, and he very much wished her to be aware of his feelings. They enjoyed many muggle spots, such as Space Mountain in Future Land, and Jaina dragged him all the way over to Frontier Land just to ride Big Thunder Mountain. When lunch came around, they settled at the Cosmic Cafe in Future Land again, for it was the only place the two could agree to go to find chicken stripes.
Jonas sat quietly though, all the while, looking at Jaina as she happily munched on the healthy amount of greasy food she was currently eating. It's about time she gained a bit of weight...he thought, all the while drinking her in. Her hair, in the current lighting, looked like garnet strands of silk, cascading over her shoulders and around her face, framing it beautifully. The ass length hair flowing over and down her shoulders curled gently under as if cupping her magnificent cleavage. Such a lovely set of assets at my favorite size...C's...He thought perversely, a sly smile splitting across his handsome mug. Her eyes, he hurriedly looked up as she spoke to him and he dove right into them. The opaque pools that were yet to be delved into by anyone. The mysteries that lurked in those eyes were her most appealing feature he had to admit. " Actually, I was about to ask if you would like to hazard Splash Mountain with me." He said sweetly.
Jaina smiled and looked down, her shy smile giving his loins a slight stirring as he gazed upon her lips as she told him she was terrified of high places. Those lips, oh how he had longed to feel those lips against his for the longest time. They were lush, red by nature, and so full that he was sure if he kissed her roughly, they would be swollen under his ministrations. Yes, he desired every bit of her, but yet he respected her enough to keep his distance. The most appealing thing to him though, was the innocence she clung to. The virgin before him was his ward. He was to protect her, asked by Albus Dumbledore himself to play muggle for a few years and to protect her while teaching her to protect herself at the same time. And he had done that, though only now he wished to have her for his own. They were still teenagers' yes...but hormonal teenagers. There had been many a time when Jaina had caught him beating the bush, or when he had heard her in the shower' Getting a thorough massage' from the shower head setting.
Their luncheon finished, Jonas pulled Jaina back to Frontier Land to ride Splash Mountain. Once on the raft and seated cozily in there, Jonas put a comforting arm over her shoulder. " You realize Jaina...We've known each other for quite sometime...And I have been wondering..." he began nervously as they reached the mouth of the rather steep drop off.
Yes?" Jaina replied, looking at him. She was smiling.
I was wondering if you'd like to take another step in the direction of boyfriend, girlfriend..." Jonas replied. He wasn't able to really get an answer as Jaina whimpered, looking over the people in front of them at the steep incline. Before they dropped, and to prevent his eardrums from being split in two, Jonas grabbed her face and pulled her into a quick kiss that he tried to hold as they went down the plume.
Jaina sighed again, and sweetly brought her fingers to her lips at the memory. She still had the photo to, and had asked for the negatives to turn it into a wizard Photo. It was a great shot at that, she thought as the picture lay in one of the three trunks they had packed for her. " I'm trying Jonas...I will learn to love again though, I promise..."
The trio decided to go to bed as well, when George came into the kitchen." She lost the twins...Jonas died...His body was found when her wands were retrieved, and she was raped by two or three men...I'll be at Hogwarts helping her out...Please don't try to coax anything out of her." He pleaded softly. The three nodded and went up to bed.
Jaina and George left for Hogwarts in the morning. They reached Hogsmeade with plenty of time to spare and George treated her to a quick breakfast at the Three Broomsticks. Jaina ate rather wolfishly and fought George over the bill that was given.
" Forge... I must insist! If you spoil me too much I'll never be able to ward off the Headmistress!" she exclaimed. She pulled the bill to her before George grabbed her hand.
" No Jaina, I must insist on this...I haven't been on a decent outing since my Hogwarts days and I am not going to allow a beautiful young and single woman to pay for a meal that she so clearly should not." George replied seriously. " Come now Jaina... If you and I continue to bicker like this, McGonagall will be rather irked with both of us. Don't you think?" He risked looking into her garnet orbs this time. Gods...I could get lost in their he thought rather numbly. Sirius and Remus would both have at him if he so much harmed one hair on her head. But he couldn't help himself. He had been rather entranced by Jaina for sometime now. His blue eyes reached into hers, only to see the numbing pain from the deaths that she had experienced so recently. " I also wanted to take this time to apologize for misjudging Jonas the way I had. He gave his life for you, even though he felt his was forfeit to you anyway." The night before had not been an easy one for Jaina. In fact, it had been the only time that he had really seen her emotionally upset. Nightmares plagued her dreams last night and she couldn't get a peaceful moment's restdue toseeing the twisted smirk of Lucius Malfoy looming at her from the darkness that lurked when she closed her eyes.
"If you are sure George...I must get to Hogwarts soon...I not only need to see Minerva, but Poppy as well." Jaina replied. The rest of their trip from Hogsmeade was a quiet one, but it passed by quickly enough. Jaina felt relief upon walking through the gigantic doors again, like in her child hood. She traced the path, by memory, up to the office where Minerva now lay refuge. " Catnip..." She whispered to the gargoyle, trying to suppress the giggle that bubbled from within at her choice of password. " Minerva?" She called out, looking around. It had changed much since she had been here seven years ago, upon leaving for her Wiccan training. She felt a small lithe cat rub against her legs and smiled and set the cat in the headmistress' seat. " If I didn't know any better, Minerva, I'd swear you had actually gotten a hold on some catnip."
That cat took a human form, which was laughing through the whole transformation. " Jaina, it's been seven years, and as of yesterday your life took a drastic turn, and yet you still have that wonderful sense of humor. My child it is so wonderful to see you."
" Ailar...it is a pleasure to see you as well. Now...I do believe we had a discussion upon us. You are aware that I have put Severus into hiding, yes?"
"I am my dear. Goddess you look exactly like my niece. Shame Rebecca was killed so young. She would have been so proud of you. " McGonagall said, her eyes shining slightly. " But there was something else I did want to talk about...And no it is not regarding the young and handsome Mr. Weasley downstairs. In fact, I would like to make you an offer, even though you are a first year teacher here, but we have none that would like to fill this position."
The last few days before school started went by quickly. The trio took the night bus to King's cross station on September 1st to board the Hogwarts express. Instead of Harry taking a compartment by himself and waiting for Ron and Hermione to finish with their prefect meeting, Harry was head boy this year so he was going to the meeting too. Hermione was head girl of course so she had three rolls of parchment prepared for her speech.
" Prefects, please do keep in mind that you were appointed not to gain favor with the teachers or your friends, but you were given the responsibility to stand up to them and enforce the rules if you need to. I will not, however, put up with any rivalry spats with the houses this year...Slytherins. Potter, Weasley and myself will be open to you should you have any problems with Gryffindor. Let's try to work together this year. I've seen quite a bit of bloodshed this summer, let's try to leave the rest for when we truly must." Hermione finished, finally.
When they reached Hogwarts they heard the familiar voice of Hagrid calling to the first years so they could sail across the lake to Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny jumped into a carriage together. The conversation was kept to a minimum, but even then, Ginny tried to inquire what had happened the other day with Jaina.
" Ginny, that's something you'll have to talk to her about, but George'll get his knickers in a twist should you even mention the words pregnant, baby, or Jonas..." Ron finally said.
Harry and the others sat down, watching as tiny Professor Flitwick, the newly appointed Deputy Headmaster, floated the first year stool and sorting hat into range. Harry couldn't help but wonder what kind of song the hat would give this year.
However, they were not given time to brood on these thoughts as they heard the familiar ripping sound come from the hat's brim.
" However ragged and torn
My appearance to you must seem
I give you now a finer tale
Of the founders' dream
Whence long ago from prying eyes
A shelter we did find
Give the young the chance to learn
And in their studies mind
But times of old have passed to new
But the threat remains the same
And now it seems with three to one
We are as pitiless as rain
Still however you will find
That some aren't as they are
If you search this castle in its depth
That unity is not far
Heed me now, it'll do you well
For the future now looks bleak
For three to one cannot fight
The evil we dare not speak
We are all one
That soon you all will see
You needn't fear and
I'll tell you where you ought to be!" the hat sang merrily. There was a tumultuous applause, mostly from the Gryffindor table.
Harry glanced up as McGonagall stood up to give the start of the term bulletins, and Harry couldn't help but feeling that Dumbledore should be there instead.
" Welcome students, new...And older. Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts, a year that was slighted by the loss of our own, Albus Dumbledore. If you all would please raise your goblets, to Ablus Dumbledore, caring Husband, grandfather and guardian, and beloved headmaster and colleague... To Dumbledore!"
There was a monotonous voice that answered.
" Now to continue. As always, the Forbidden forest is off limits to students. Due to the events that took place last year at the closing of the year, there will be added auror security roaming the Hogwarts hallways in the evenings. As for the teachers this year, Professor Hagrid has taken a hiatus, and has appointed Professor Weasley in his stead, to be guided by Professor Grubby-Plank Teaching potions again this year will be Professor Slughorn, and this year, teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts is Professor Jaina Black. Do not be deceived by the Wiccan teachings that she has assigned the newt levels. Professor Black will also be taking over my old position as head of Gryffindor house."
The answer to that was as enormous as the applause that the hat had received.
Professor McGonagall smiled at Jaina and turned to the students. " I'm sure that there are four of us that want to eat here soon, so tuck in!" she said enthusiastically.
The whispers that followed were a little unsettling for the new DADA professor though.
" I don't believe it, she's got to last this year...There's no way that the one year curse will settle on her...The other's it was just dumb luck..." whispered Parvati as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny talked about other things outside of school.
" I hear she's one of the only Wiccan and witch crossovers in all of Britain...Those are rare...The ones who can do both types...They're supposed to be really strong and very skilled in Defense magic." Lavender replied.
Harry barely noticed the woman coming towards him now and finally noticed when Ginny moved away from him. " Professor, shouldn't you be up at the Head table?"
" I should, but I would rather get to know my house first...Patil...You have a twin don't you?"
Parvati was stopped dead in her tracks as Jaina spoke to her. " Yes...Padma...She's in Ravenclaw..."
Jaina nodded and turned to Seamus. " Finnigan...You're mother knew Sirius Black didn't she?"
" Mentioned it at one time or another yes...Was about shocked when the ministry cleared his name and announced that Pettigrew was still alive...Do you reckon that they're right Professor?"
" They are Mr. Finnigan...I've seen him with my own two eyes..." Jaina replied.
" What did you do? Just let him walk away?" Lavender exclaimed.
Jaina waved her hand at the girl. " I went to get at him, but he aparrated as I reached my hand to grab his cloak...He's the real reason why my father wound up dying you know..."
Dean Thomas leaned in close. " Who were you're parents, professor? Not meaning to insult you or anything."
Jaina waved her hand. " My mom and dad are Rebecca McGonagall and Sirius Black..."
" Wait a moment...I didn't realize that there were any of the Blacks left..." Neville said. " Gram said that Sirius was the last of them."
" To the public he was...But my mom never had the chance to tell him...She was murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange not to long after my first birthday..." Jaina said. She cast her eyes down at the comment and looked to the trio. " I'm sorry...I still have a lot of planning to do...See you all tomorrow morning..."
With that Jaina stood and left a few confused Gryffindors in her wake. She immediately left the Great Hall, a concerned Professor Weasley following close behind her.
" OOH Ron! Do you think that George and Professor Black are an item!" Lavender squealed.
Ron rolled his eyes at his ex-girlfriend." I can assure you they aren't. They're best friends in fact. Ginny and I've known Professor Black for quite some time...Gin, we were about five and six when we met her right?" Ginny nodded to this and returned to her conversation with Hermione.
The feast ended all to quickly and Harry and Hermione herded the students up to the dorms. They left with Ron not to long after for a meeting in the antechamber off of the Great Hall and all three came back in a slightly grumpier mood. It seemed that they each had to do a patrol of the hall with a teacher ever since Dumbledore's death and none was grumpier than Harry, having been paired with Slughorn for his first patrol.
" You realize Jaina and George weren't there don't you?" Hermione said. " Do you think she's been having complication's since her miscarriage?"
Ron and Harry both looked down at this. If they hadn't been holding that conversation, Jaina would still be expecting, Jonas would be alive and all three wouldn't have to deal with their burden, though Harry felt it was only just that they should feel this way.
At breakfast the next morning, however, Jaina was bright and chipper, having scheduled her seventh years first. " Gryffindor seventh years! Double DADA today...We have a lot to cover...Ronald don't you groan or I'll write to Molly...Don't think you want another howler on the second day of school again." she said playfully.
Harry and Hermione laughed at the incredulous look on his face and went back up to the common room once they had they're schedules in hand.
" I've always been intrigued by Wiccan magic...Normally, if the Wiccan battles against a witch or wizard, the Imperius and Crucio don't work on them, but if they enter a wizards duel, they are affected. And it'll only work if they have a wizard made wand in their hand..." Hermione said.
So that's why she came home the way she did...She entered a wizard's duel with a wizard made wand...Not her own, but her mums...Harry thought.
" That explains everything, don't it..." Ron began. " She had to have entered a wizards duel with a wizard's wand...What do you think Harry?" Ron replied.
" She did mention that she does duel with her mothers wand as well as the one she made herself. But would hers count as a wizard made wand?" Harry asked Hermione.
" She said she made it herself. It was made by hand...Some wands, like hers having four cores to draw from, take some magic to make, most likely used a wand, but she mentioned it was made entirely by hand. Which means hers is a Wiccan wand. Rowan branches are the most often used wood for their wands and they have to remove the branch on the day before the full moon, ask for the tree and moon goddess' blessing, then let the wand bask in the light of the moon for three days. Rowan branches are also favored in the healing arts, one of the main practices of the Wiccans. But Jaina's wand is very powerful, having a phoenix feather, dragon's heart string, unicorn tail hair and four sphinx claws...I would hate to see the curses that woman can pull off..." Hermione replied.
" And that Hermione, Harry and Ron, is why you each have just won thirty points a piece for Gryffindor..." Jaina replied, smiling as she walked up from behind them.
They jumped in their spots, Harry and the others giving her a wide smile. " Professor...We didn't realize that you would be on the seventh floor..."
Jaina blushed crimson and looked out of a window and down to the grounds where she saw George and Professor Grubby-Plank working together to ready their class for the third years. " The fat Lady didn't recognize me as the Gryffindor head of house...Still thought it was Minerva even though she's now headmistress. And besides...I needed to see George before I found he was down on the grounds readying his first class..."
" And what about you Professor...Do you have your first class set up?" Hermione asked.
" Of course I do...That's why I left the feast early last night, I needed to set up my syllabus for you're double DADA class this morning." Jaina said, smiling brightly and taking out her wand, she pressed it to her forehead, said something indiscernible and passed through the wall to who knew where.
" That was bloody brilliant..." was all Ron said quietly before they went down stairs for class.