Summer Home of Hell Chapter 5

Way later into the year, around March or April
The next letter Jackie received it was from her mother in late March early April; it talked about her girls and how Chelsea missed her and begged for a response. Jackie never wrote back responding to her mother's letter. The Summer was coming up fast and so were the yearly exams for every student, but then the O.W.Ls for the fifth years and the N.E.W.Ts for the seventh years. Lucius Malfoy would help Narcissa study for her O.W.Ls and later they would disappear for hours at a time. Jackie was afraid of taking her BIG exams in fifth and seventh year; by then she and Sirius could have broken up; she could be dead, her mother and sisters could be in a coma and/or dead. Hundreds of things flooded Jackie's head when she thought of her fifth and seventh year. It's not like she wanted all of that to happen, but she couldn't help thinking it; and what of her and Severus? If Sirius Black and her did break it off, would she go to Severus and stay with him as Narcissa thought- and still thinks- they will? She was suddenly afraid of her own future. Lily told her not to worry about future but to make it a good one, people only get one. Lily Evans and Jackie became slight friends as well, they often studied and quizzed each other the day before a test or quiz that was scheduled for a class. James asked Jackie if she could try to make Lily consider him, the sister wanted to, but the Slytherin in her would rule and she wouldn't even bring James Potter up when they just talked about nothing. Severus often joined them, Lily and Severus were able to renew their forgotten friendship and Lily Evans was happie then she's been all year. Severus and Jackie weren't a match for her in class, but Jackie purposely got some wrong so Lily could get it right althought she never suspected her for faking a wrong answer.

The exams were easier then Jackie could ever think, mostly because she was one of the top five percent in her class of the four houses, Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, and Severus Snape joined her. Slavick's exam was the best score she received but then Flying came in first for James and she was fifth; she faked some stuff. Jackie hated bragging mostly because she never had reason too, but when it came time for her secretly find her scores from her teachers she loved every minute of it. The other students would have to wait for a while to find out. Sirius and Jackie continued their relationship from the beginning of the year without anyone finding out, although he told James and Remus and Peter that he might even love her; they teased him terribly about that. Jackie didn't know if she loved him back, she was afraid to know if she really didn't, she didn't want to break his heart.

That year, Slytherin won the House Cup, and also the Quiddtich Cup; Slavick was retiring after only one year and then the Potions teacher was taking over for Head of House and Dumbledore would spend only a few weeks finding Slavick's replacement. The ride home on the Hogwart's Express was a enjoyably one, Jackie visited Sirius, James, Peter, and Remus a few times every few hours; otherwise she and Severus was with their gang in their own compartment. They all wore muggle clothing home, Jackie's cloak and robes were packed away in her trunck under her seat. Gyn was resting in another compartment, lucky bird: he was asleep. Chelsea and Jimmy weren't there so she had to take her trunk out alone but as she was exiting the train station Jamie and Jodie came running towards her from a parked car in the darker part of the parking lot of the King's Cross Station. Jackie sat them up on the trunck as she pushed it on the cart to their car where their mother and father were waiting; Jimmy hurridly put her trunk into the trunk of the car and got back in before someone recognized him. Jackie had tanned greatly, her hair even got lighter and longer; Jamie and Jodie were identicle with large brown eyes, curly beyond belief blond hair and short for their age already. she hugged them a few times each and they asked if she brought them anythig, she pulled out a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, and three Chocolate Frog's for each of them. Chelsea smiled when Jackie handed her a Frog and Jimmy smirked when Jackie handed him a Drooble's. Only her mother thanked her, Jimmy just popped the gum into his mouth and blew bubbles, showing off for his tired wife.

James were coming from the station when they heard Jamie squeel when she got Dumbledore's card, the two girls were sitting on the hood of the trunk with Jackie standing in front of them giggling and kissing her cheeks over and over again thanking her for the sweets. Jackie grabbed both young girls around the waist and easily set them down and strapped them into their car seats, James and his parents, Sirius and his, Remus and his father, and Peter and his mother left to beat the traffic. Sirius smiled back at Jackie before he left, but was enjoying her sister's company for the first time in over nine months...

At the Cross home, a week later Jimmy came into his older daughter's bedroom at six in the morning and woke her up smiling, when she opened her eyes and smiled back at him... fear gripped her around the throat and then that fear hit her over and over again. Jimmy beat Jackie with his fist twice for stealing his wand, another three times for never returning it, kicked her five times for talking back to him the day when he and Becca came to visit the school. Then beat the shit out of her for anything else she had done but he forgot about it. Chelsea tried to answer her daughters pleaing yells for help but Jimmy closed and locked her door before she could do anything. Jamie and Jodie screamed for Jackie but all they could hear were the painful cries and slaps and kicks from Jimmy wore boots, not shoes. After almost twenty minutes he was done finally leaving Jackie bruised, bloody, and almost with three broken bones in her leg where he kicked her ten more times because he felt she deserved more. Crying didn't work for her, it pained her to cry. Chelsea slapped Jimmy for what he did, then ran as he chased her around the house and finally caught up with her in their room. The door was closed and the sound of rape came from behind the door; Jackie's young twin sisters said they were exercising; she asked how they knew that and they said that 'daddy and mommy exercise alot'. Jackie cried for them, not for her, but for them knowing that they've already been started watching their mother get beaten and raped by Jimmy Cross.

A hour later ALL of Jackie's bruises and cuts were visible, Chelsea was asleep in her room and Jimmy was downstairs reading the paper and watching the news and sipping coffee. His three daughters were upstairs in the eldest's room. Jamie and Jodie carefully crawled into Jackie's bed to comfort her and they said that love cured everything. Jackie only smiled and passed out; dried blood was in her hair and stained on her clothes and sheets and pillow. Jamie and Jodie didn't mind.

Later that day, there was an knock on the door and Jackie had been up so she answered it, first she peeked to see who it was. It was a middle aged woman, dark hair and pretty; Jackie wanted to tell her to leave their house or risk rape. Instead Jimmy hurried to the door and pushed Jackie out of the way, they spoke about their son and Jackie knew she was talking about James; that was his mother! She said that James told her and Charlus everything about getting a late birthday present, along with his three best friends; Jimmy nodded and said he could take them now. Dorea agreed and called for James and his friends from the car, she said they couldn't wait anymore and Jimmy laughed. Jackie wanted to cry, she had a black eye, her cheek was yellow it was so badly bruised, her thigh had a pure black foot print, her arms had Jimmy's bone knuckles imprinted in the skin and her arms were bruised to the point it hurt to use them. She walked with a limp; her back felt broken, but it wasn't; although it does have about thirteen cuts and bruises on it. Her stomach hurt. Jimmy glanced at her and sighed.

"James!" he cried as his son got to the door.

"Nice house Mr. Riddell."

"I thought your last name was-."

"I changed it Dorea, that name is gone, forever." he said trying to make a point to her, she got that he didn't her to say it and didn't really care. She shrugged and kissed her son and left.

"Bye dad!" James called to Charlus, Jimmy smiled at him and led them right away into the kitchen, but Jamie and Jodie came down the stairs.

"Daddy, daddy, daddy!" they chorused. Then they saw their four boys, "who are them?" they asked together.

James smiled at his half sisters, he wasn't told about them when Justin and Rebecca came to visit, but then Rebecca nearly tripped coming down the stairs, before she said anything thankfully she saw James, "Justin where's the other one?" she asked him fearful. He stretched his arm behind his neck and pointed at Jackie behind the door.

"I don't know sweetie, how are you feeling?"

"Are you feeling well Mrs. Riddell."

"Just call her Rebecca and you like James' brothers so call me Justin or dad, either one is good to me. They all smiled, "Girls take these four into the kitchen and get them something to drink." then he added, "James if you could please actually do the pouring, they are less then a year after all." James chuckled and nodded, he followed his half sisters into he kitchen. All four thought the twins looked familiar. Jackie prayed they would remember them from the photos she's showed them and the day they came home from Hogwarts.

After making sure Peter was all the in the kitchen, Jimmy picked up Jackie and carried her upstairs. He dropped her- not set her down, but dropped her onto her bed; she yelled out but he pressed his hand over her mouth quickly. "Say or make any noise and you get a beaten again, got that?" he threatened, she cried as she nodded and lay comfortably. She'd have to wash her sheets today as well.

Jimmy came into the room just as Jamie said Jackie's name, Sirius smiled at her name. "You know her better then we thought then," he grinned.

Jimmy lied quickly, "her very generous father kindly- er, volunteered her to babysit for us a few times a month this summer. Her father and I went to school together, I mean Hogwarts. Girls, go check on your mother-."

"I'm right here Ji-Justin." she tried to giggle but couldn't and it came out as a painful squeek. Remus smiled not realizing why she couldn't even laugh. She put her hand ontop of his head and kissed all four of them.

"Why didn't you tell me I had two half sisters?" James asked them, they looked at eacher and said that they wanted to surprise him, at least Justin said that; Rebecca wanted to tell them the truth about everything. Seeing and hearing her daughter nearly getting beaten to death was enough for her. Becca left to go check on Jackie.

"Mommy it hurts," she was able to whimper when Chelsea sat next to her. The last time Jackie called Chelsea 'mommy' was when her wrist was broken the first time.

They cried together, Jackie hated her father even more now and still didn't regret stealing his wand. Justin called Chelsea down to the kitchen as she was abou to leave the room she noticed that Jackie had gone cold. Her body had shut down, technically she was dead; she sobbed and disapperated taking Jackie to a muggle hospital. She lied to the doctor that she found her, the doctors thought the young girl was jumped and beated for money or something. Chelsea called Justin and told him that he killed her finally, he felt guilty for only a moment then never again.

He hung up the phone and turned to his remaining daughters, what fun they will have when they're older. He frowned when they asked where mommy and Jackie were, "Was she supposed to be here today?" James asked, he and Sirius were taking a drink of lemonade when Justin said.

"Jackie and a friend of hers were jumped near their house, they're in the muggle hospital. Rebecca was called; that's where she is now." the two boys spit out their drink and all turned to Justin.

"What! Is Jackie okay?" Sirius asked jumping off the stool. Justin nodded and asked if they've given it any thought to what broom they wanted. James didn't care about that anymore, his best buds girl was almost killed.

A week later Jackie was released from the muggle hospital, Severus had come to see her when she responded to his letter; her mother and father were at home for the day. Chelsea had to take care of the girls and Jimmy was at work. He wanted to cry when he saw her bruised face; she told him she'd have to use a cane for awhile and he left and came back with one for her. She barely went outside because of how she looked, her back hadn't heald yet, her face was always sore and it was painful to talk with a bruise on her law bone. She also wrote back to Sirius when he wrote her in mid June, she wrote what Jimmy told her to write: she and a muggle were jumped by older boys and she didn't see their faces. Her friend was alright, she used a cane and would be for a while.

It wasn't planned when Sirius and his three friends went to Diagon Ally and saw Jackie there as well, Sirius sighed and frowned with anger when he saw how much pain she had to have been in at the beginning when she was in the hospital. Severus was with her at least, helping her get everything for their second year. But he went over anyway, "Jackie?" he said, they turned to him. She smiled but it seemed like it hurt. She looked worse up-close. "How are you feeling now?" he asked her, James, Remus, and Peter followed, they all couldn't believe that such a nice girl had gotten what she had.

"Sore, but doing alright. Severus met me here and has been helping me a great deal." Sirius smiled at Severus and he actually returned it, "How are you four?" she asked them. Her cane was dark blue with her initals engraved in it.

James told her that Justin Riddell got them their brooms yesterday but had to do the actual school shopping today, she nodded. "We all got the same broom, we'll let you use it when we get back to school. I promise," she smied again, again it looked like it hurt.

"You don't have to, the school ones are just fine I don't plan on joining Slytherin team anyway."

"You're really good though," Peter said remembering the day she helped him.

She looked at Remus, "Are you ill Remus, you seem pale." he smiled. Trying to change the subject, Sirius recognized it well.

"I've been well enough, better then you, I see though." Jackie chuckled and agreed.

Severu stood up, "I'll be back in a while, okay Jackie?" she nodded and he left to go get their books.

Sirius tried to get her to remember what the boys, who jumped her, looked like, she couldn't remember. "I had severe head truama and temporary mind loss, but I regained what I lost. Jamie and Jodie came to see me every other day, Mother came as well. Always when I was asleep though, she always did have bad timing."

At that point, Charlus and Dorea Potter came from a shop and came over, Dorea clasp her hand to her mouth, "My goodness child are you alright?"

"Settle down mother, she's fine." James said taking her hand and then introduced his mother and father to Jackie, they shook hands carefully so they didn't hurt her. "Do you need anything Jackie?" she asked her sitting down next to her, Jackie blushed.

"I'm fine thank you Mrs. Potter, but really I'm alright." Charlus smiled at her and Sirius helped her to stand up, they parted as she went to go find Severus in Flourish and Blotts. Sirius kissed her before leaving to go catch up with James, Severus hadn't seen that and even if he had he wouldn't have done anything. "Severus you're the greatest you know that?" he laughed and nodded, they both laughed at that. He offered his arm and she took it as they left, the shop keeper held the door open for them; they had stayed for an extra few minutes while Jackie told the keeper about the attack when he asked her about the bruises and cane she had to use at eleven years old. They both thanked the young keeper as they left and he went to take her home since they were done.

In early July Sirius wrote her another letter and she sent a page full response, this time she wrote what she wanted to say, although she didn't write about the family secrets; she wrote about her sisters, mentioning them by name and about her mother. Severus also wrote daily.
At Severus Snape's house he was also getting beaten by his father, leaving his room with bloody knuckles Severus suffered from bruises and a fractured finger when they were bent back. His mother could do nothing because she was always at work when he did this. Tobias Snape was cruel and best friends with Jimmy Cross. Jackie often begged him to tell her why he wanted his father dead; she had met him on the platform and he seemed wonderful. He assured her that he wasn't. Finally she gave in and told him that Jimmy beat her, Jackie left tear stains when he responded 'mine too.' Severus knew that Jimmy had nearly killed her in June and not some gang of muggle boys; they met once more and he told her about Tobias and his mother when they met and how she kept her witch magic a secret until after they were married. Jackie cried on his shoulder.
Something that Jackie Cross didn't even tell Severus was that she was in contact with Narcissa Black; Cissy often came over when the girls were down for a nap and her mother was also asleep and Jimmy at work. The first time Narcissa came over, Jackie told her the truth about her and Severus's abusive fathers'. She wanted help and advice, she needed to protect her sisters.

"I'll ask my father to keep tabs on your father and Severus' father, I promise. You need to stay alive for my future children," it was all Narcissa could really say so Jackie just smiled, noddedm and thanked her greatfully. Black left soon after she arrived as the girls started to wake up.

For the rest of the month of July Jackie slept and healed while in bed or on the couch with her sisters as they watched movies and television. Jackie helped Chelsea in the kitchen, but was usually thrown out by her because Chelsea didn't want her injured daughter helping her... Jackie still had the cane even on her brithday. She received a card from her grandparents in Berlin, and her other set of grandparents in Northern Ireland sent her a broomstick. She sent them the shortest but greated letter thanking them. 'THANK YOU GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER, I'LL TRY OUT FOR MY HOUSE QUIDDITCH TEAM, BUT NO PROMISES. OKAY?' they responded stating they had laughed when they read it and wished her luck for her second year at Hogwarts in a few weeks. She kept her broom in her room and only flew on it at night when Jimmy was asleep and snoring loudly; he would either take it away or take away and keep it for himself.

James and Sirius had come back since their first visit; she staied on the couch but curled up and under a blanket with Jamie and Jodie asleep next to or on top of her. She had cried out the first time on thei birthday in June when they thought that Jackie was playing. She had screamed but as usual Jimmy was able to come up with some stupid excuse for the scream of the unknown girl in he house.

The second time they thought they saw Jackie, but Jimmy agreed. "She's babysitting right now, er, Rebecca and I had just returned; she's resting right now actually." he said grinning, he called Jackie down. she stared when she saw it was her half brother and boyfriend, "Come down here Jackie. Were the girls good today?" he asked her.

"Uh, sure. JJ! no don't do that!" she said and hurried into the livingroom. In late August she didn't use her cane anymore even though she was supposed too. Sirius walked into the room with James, "They're my half sisters, did you know that?" he asked her and she nodded frowning.

Jodie laughed as she entered the room, "Jackie is our sister too James, silly goose!" they froze or at least Jimmy did.

"She just means that since I've spent so much time with them-," Jimmy crossed his arms impressed that his daughter was abe to lie so convinsingly. "I'm like an older sister," she finished she glanced at Jimmy and he nodded.

"Are you feeling better?" Sirius asked her, she smiled and nodded. "JJ, JC go pick up your room please then head outside to burn off the energy you somehow had been given." they ran from the room and raced up the stairs.

"They do what you say, that's impressive." James commented, Jimmy leaned against the wall his arms still crossed. Jackie only said that maybe she is their older sister since the listen so well to her.

Jimmy stepped forward, "Jackie I'll take you home. James and Sirius and I have a luncheon date that we must get too."

"Of course, my father is probably ready to call the Ministry right now anyway." She muttered, Sirius walked her to the door and he kissed her lightly on the forehead. "I've missed you," she whispered. he nodded and kissed her again on the forehead.

Jackie made it clear that she babysat for the Riddell's and since Sirius and James had never really heard Justin's girls' names they had no reason to think they were Jackie's sisters, Jamie and Jodie Cross. They just thought she though of them as sisters like the Jamie and Jodie that she talked about all the time and had received a letter about from Chelsea. Their second year started on the first of September and they were excited to the bone, even if Jackie's mother was forcing her to use the cane still!

While writing about Jimmy beating his eldest daughter I was thinking about Daughtry's song, Over You and how the two were better off without eachother around and if you've ever seen the video for his song... it's really good, but sad at the end. Try imagining that song playing while Jackie is almost killed by her father... Hope you like the story so far, thank you very much for reading it!