Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter characters, objects or plot line ect.
Lucius didn't look pleased. He turned away from his wife and the Flint couple, Narcissa tried to reach him, but he moved his arm. Marcus went red, and Jane looked concerned. Marcus went to approach Lucius, then had second thoughts. Jane stood up and silently, put up one finger to Narcissa, to ask her for a moment with her husband. Narcissa nodded, and took Marcus with her. Jane cleared her throat, and raised her head. Lucius still refused to look at her, but he did communicate with her, which Jane found quite hopeful.
"You couldn't wait, could you?" he asked.
"It wasn't like that, these things happen, sometimes to those who have to security. I don't consider this a curse Lucius, I'd like to think you don't either," replied Jane.
Lucius finally turned to her. Although he looked quite angry, at the same time, he looked concerned in a fatherly manner.
"What of your exams? Have you thought of that? Jane I remember your OWL results, you are a clever young woman, I had hoped you'd do well with your NEWTs also," he said.
"And I will. The exams are in May, I'm not very far along. I will only be five months by then, I can complete the NEWTs, then with Dumbledore's permission, I'll leave," added Jane.
Lucius looked at Jane with disbelief. Jane raised an eyebrow at him, as if the plan she had, didn't have a single flaw to it.
"You seriously think he'll allow that?" he asked.
"He has no choice. My family is my business, I'll leave after the exams one way or another, with or without the old man's blessing," she replied.
"Jane, he knows who you live with, and he doesn't like it. He will also suspect you of turning to the Dark Lord. He won't let you go without a fight," warned Lucius.
"He fights me, he damages two lives. I'd call his bluff, he wouldn't have it in him, he's gone soft in his old age. Dumbledore fights dark wizards, not pregnant witches," added Jane.
Lucius turned his head in thought. Jane could see it in his cold grey eyes, Lucius was impressed with her thoughts and ideas.
"I underestimate you sometimes, you are a very bright witch...with your heart in...the wrong place for death-eaters," he added.
"Lucius?" asked Jane, with shock in her face.
"I can't let you put your family in danger. Listen to me, I shall place a large amount of money in your joint account, I want you, to get out of England, away from this war, it's going to openly start soon, I can sense it. I won't have you in fear of your lives, I've been there, I still am, and I don't want it for you," replied Lucius.
Jane was flabbergasted at the idea. She had trouble making sense of what he was planning, and tried in vain to change his mind. She tried to reason with him, by taking his arm in her hand.
"Lucius!" she began.
Lucius took her arm, a little tighter with his own hand.
"Jane! Do not argue. I have decided, and if I mean anything to you, you will do as you're told, and that is the end of it. Do you understand me?" he asked.
Jane didn't looked at him as she nodded, Lucius raised her tear stained face to his, and looked kindly at her.
"Bring Marcus and Narcissa into the room, they have to be told," he added.
Jane wiped her eyes, and tried to change her voice, as she called for the other Slytherins. Marcus, however paused as he noticed a change in her voice. When he saw her, he looked at her, then at Lucius quite angrily.
"What did you say to her?" he asked.
"Sit down, both of you..." ordered Lucius.
"Lucius? What's going on?" asked Narcissa.
Marcus wrapped his arm around Jane, who was forced to hear the plan for a second time. When Lucius had finished, Narcissa looked at him like he was insane, and Marcus looked at him very differently, but said nothing, unlike Narcissa.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked.
"Darling..." began Lucius.
"Don't 'Darling' me! It's all very well protecting them, their family, but what about us Lucius? What about our family?" she asked.
"Jane is part of our family," argued Lucius.
"With all due respect Jane, you are not! Her maiden name is Gibbs! Not Malfoy! You over do you're duty to her Lucius!" shouted Narcissa.
Lucius glared at her.
"Maybe to you, but her father trusted me. He told me to raise her as my own, I did, a little late, but I did. Jane is the daughter I didn't have, that's why I'm doing this. Marcus is my son-in-law, the baby is my unborn grandchild, nobody can sway me otherwise, not even you," he said calmly.
Marcus looked up, at the news that he was part of Lucius' family. Jane smiled at his loyalty to her, but Narcissa didn't take it well. She slapped Lucius, and stormed out of the room. Lucius ran his hand down his face, where his wife had struck him. Jane got him a wet flannel to help with any swelling, and Marcus began to pack for them, as they decided they had better stay elsewhere for the rest of Christmas.
"Where are you going?" asked Lucius.
"The Leaky Cauldron, before we manage to completely destroy your marriage," replied Marcus.
"He's right Lucius, you need time with her, it's all very well saving us, but Narcissa is your family too, she's your wife," added Jane.
"For my sins. Alright, but be careful, both of you. Look after each other, and the baby. If by some miracle we all live through this, I'd like to see you again," said Lucius.
"You will, I'm coming back," said Jane.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," ordered Lucius.
"I'll see you again, if you'll see me, I'm not lying to you," said Jane.
Jane's tone had been so full, of determination, that Lucius couldn't argue with her. She spoke as though it was fact, two and two was four and Jane would see Lucius again. Marcus and Jane left Malfoy Manor for the last time, as far as Lucius was concerned. He watched them go from the window, with a drink in his hand and spoke to himself.
"If you turn up, while this war is still on, Merlin help you Jane," he said.
"Merlin help us all," he added.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Marcus waved to Jane, as once again she went on the Hogwarts express, with other pupils, going back to Hogwarts. To her surprise, Sasha joined her in a compartment, causing her to turn away from Marcus in surprise, at the sight of her dark haired friend.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Begged and badgered dad to go home for Christmas, mainly so that I could see you on the way back. Surprise!" replied Sasha.
Jane smiled and turned back to Marcus, who found himself waving at two Slytherin girls, before the train vanished from view. Sasha and Jane sat down, Sasha grinned at Jane, who was still surprised to see her.
"So, good Christmas?" asked Sasha.
"That word is banned, completely and utterly banned!" replied Jane.
"That good? Do tell, my ears are yours," added Sasha.
"Do you want, the good news? The bad news? Or the news you really don't want to hear?" asked Jane.
"The order you just said it all in," replied Sasha.
"Lucius, accepts me and Marcus as part of the Malfoy family, the bad news is, he's arranged for us to do a runner, and his wife smacked him, and the news that you don't even want to know is, I'm pregnant," added Jane.
Sasha went silent. Jane knew she'd be taking it all in, because she had a low opinion of Lucius, and always assumed he had a smooth family life, along with the news that her only friend was expecting. Jane waited a few moments more, even had time to get food from the trolley, until Sasha finally spoke.
"You wrecked his family, then started your own, how is that fair?" she asked.
"I didn't ask him to do what he did, I couldn't argue with him and I tried, Narcissa didn't like the idea..." began Jane.
"The full idea being?"
asked Sasha.
"He's giving us money, to run and raise the
family, out of the influence of the Dark Lord and death-eaters.
Lucius doesn't think, I'd suit as one, I don't have the right frame
of mind or something I think he said," replied Jane.
"I can't wait for you to tell my father and Dumbledore," said Sasha.
"I'm not going to and I'd like it if you didn't," added Jane.
"Are you mad? Stupid question, they have to know, you can't play in that...condition," said Sasha.
"Life will be lived as normal. When was the last time I got hit? Catch the quaffel, dodge the bludger, I always have and I'll be damned if I stop now, especially as it will be our last match as we lost, again to Gryffindor," said Jane.
"And the exams? Jane you'll be huge by the end of them..." began Sasha.
"Then I leave. Straight after the exams, I'll pack my things and go. I'll be gone before anyone notices I'm pregnant," added Jane.
"Well it's a better plan than joining and suicide," added Sasha.
"It wasn't suicide, it was accepting the fact, he wouldn't like me telling him I wasn't interested," corrected Jane.
"Which is suicide, as you were planning how you were going to die, anyway, I'm not happy about it, but you stand a better chance I suppose," said Sasha.
"Please say nothing to your father," added Jane.
"I won't, I still feel weird after telling him about you and Marcus," said Sasha.
"Thank you, so how was your holiday?" asked Jane.
"Well I'm not really to say, but I met someone, really interesting, funny and attractive in his own way," replied Sasha.
Jane looked interested. Sasha wasn't really the type to fall for someone straight away, not an average person at any rate, as she excluded Bulgarian seekers.
"Really? Sounds promising, will you see him again?" asked Jane.
"Yes I will, I know I will, even if it means doing so illegally," replied Sasha.
"Sasha Snape! Are you in love?" asked Jane.
"I could be, to make things better, I know he likes me too, I've seen him look at me, you know, the way Marcus looks at you," replied Sasha.
Jane smiled at her friend, she'd never seen her so happy, over a man in her life. It was a change she liked, but Jane was far too nosy for her own good.
"So, who is he?" she asked.
Sasha checked the door, before she sat back down, next to Jane and whispered the answer as an extra precaution.
"Sirius Black," she replied.
Jane turned to her friend with a raised eyebrow.
"As in the guy in The Quibber?" she asked.
"No! As in mass-murdering-raving-lunatic-not! Jane, if you met him...he's wonderful, he's charming, he's witty..." began Sasha.
"Your father hates him!" added Jane.
"I'll shut my face about you and your plans, if you shut yours about me and my plans," said Sasha.
"Agreed, but have you been flirting with him all Christmas?" asked Jane.
"Not so lucky, bloody Gryffindors left, right and centre. We weren't there often enough, but there were a few smiles and winks exchanged," replied Sasha.
"If you ever question my sanity again, I'll remember this," said Jane.
It wasn't long, before Professor Snape ascended upon Sasha and Jane, who both halted quickly and nervously, Sasha in-case he knew about her and Sirius, Jane in-case he knew that she was pregnant.
"Mrs. Flint, you're wanted in the headmaster's office, you've had ample time to talk to Mr. Flint," he said.
"Yes sir, password sir?" asked Jane.
"Nice try, he'll be waiting for you outside the office. Don't keep him waiting. Sasha! Common room, she already has a shadow," replied Professor Snape.
As Jane walked away to see Professor Dumbledore, she heard Sasha arguing with her father.
"You're a miserable, git sometimes!"
Jane found her way, practically marched towards the old man, and stood aside to get into the office behind him. As gestured she sat down, opposite a huge desk.
"Have you come to a decision?" he asked.
"Yes, we made plans over the holidays," replied Jane.
"And they are?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
"We will run," replied Jane.
"That is a very dangerous decision, dare I ask how far?" he asked.
"A different part of the world, obviously I can't tell you when or where, that would ruin the whole idea, but we will not be requiring your help, as yet," she replied.
"Very independent of you. A joint decision is it?" he asked.
"Does it matter?" asked Jane.
"Or a decision made by a third party?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
"The decision has been made, I will not fall for your educational guess work, may I be excused?" asked Jane.
"I won't keep you," he replied.
Jane went to leave, but paused at the door.
"I'm sorry, I can't show you the respect you deserve, but that's how it is," she said.
Jane left the office and went back to the Slytherin common room. She found Sasha in the girls' dorm, she stood up and Jane rolled her eyes.
"Ten points to Slytherin for discretion. I knew it was guess work how he knew everything, anyone else would have poured out their soul," she said.
"I'd keep a low profile if I were you, you don't want him having you watched, or you'll never escape," warned Sasha.
"If I kept a low profile, they'd keep an eye on me more. I'll become a celebrated keeper from now on, you wait..." began Jane.
"How much Madame Quisque have you drunk?" asked Sasha.
"Enough to stop the sickness and give the game away. I've got enough in my trunk for the rest of Slytherin females," replied Jane.
