The Daily Prophet

The London Flat was where Jane and Sirius lived before going into hiding. It was a two story townhouse. With two bedrooms. Sometimes Sirius would come here to keep up with the house and keep appearances. Jane had apparated directly into the living room. It was of course decorated with Gryffindor colors. Sirius wanted nothing less. She heard the crack of the house elves behind her. She knew it probably wasn't the best idea for her to bring the two children with her when everything was so unknown. But she couldn't just leave them alone. That thought made her feel even worse.

She kept her wand out and sprinted up the stairs. "Sirius!" She called desperately as she ran. She checked both rooms and didn't find him. She came back downstairs and looked around. She felt the eyes of the house elves as she stopped and stared around the room. At least this place was safe from any immediate harm. But with still no sign or word from her husband she began to be overcome with fear.

"Mommy?" Now awake Jazlyn spoke in a soft curious voice. Even at just two years old she could tell something was wrong. "Want daddy."

"It'll be ok, sweetheart." Jane tried to soothe her child. She wasn't sure if she was trying to reassure her daughter or herself. All she knew was right now She didn't want another tantrum like yesterday because Jazlyn "NEED see Un Pongs and aunie Lily".

A tap, tap, tap on the window made her spin around, wand gripped tightly. An owl was outside trying to come in. She opened the window and the owl flew in, perched it self on a chair, and stuck out its leg. It was one of the Daily Prophet owls. She took the Paper, paid the owl, and it flew off.

The cover made her blood freeze over. The words "He-who-must-not-be-named vanquished?" Glared at her mockingly at the top. The title should of given her joy and hope. But the picture accompanying the article crushed that immediately. It was the Potter's home in Godric's Hallow. The side where she knew Harry's nursery was had a gaping hole like it was blown apart. Rubbish was strewn all across the yard.

"No!" She cried.

Late in the evening of Halloween reports came from residents of Godric's Hallow. Each of them saying there seemed to be a break in at one of the houses. The house belonged to Lily and James Potter. It appears that he-who-must-not-be-named had tried to attack the family. There was no sign of the Dark Mark above leaving us confused and stunned about what might have happened. Albus Dumbledore was among the first on the scene and recovered the Bodies of James and Lily Potter...

She sank to her knees staring at the paper she couldn't keep reading. Not James. Not Lily. Not Harry. Where was Sirius? Hadn't he gone to check on them? Did something happen to him too? A burst of light filled the room. A Phoenix patronus bared down upon her. For once it did not fill her with the warmth and hope a patronus usually brings. Albus Dumbledore's voice came as it opened its mouth.

"Mrs. Black your presence is requested at the Ministry of Magic at once."

And the patronus turned and flew away. Dumbledore's voice grave and without the usual reassurance. He also referred to her as "Mrs. Black" not Jane or Miss Jane as he usually did. She was confused and wished for the comfort of her old headmaster. Instead she felt like the first time she had been sent to the Headmaster's office after she and James got caught messing around a little too much with the others, waiting to be scolded.

"Mommy?" Jazlyn asked again.

"Mistress?" Came the concerned voice of Popskey.

"Take them to Mary," she addressed the house elves before turning to her daughter, "It will be ok, Jazzy. I'll see you soon. Mommy has to run an errand and she'll be right back. Be good for your aunt Mary, ok? Mommy loves you."

She kissed her daughter's and a still sleeping Avalon's forehead. She grabbed the flu powder and threw it in the fireplace. The ministry was already bustling with life. People frantically going from department to department. She heard three things that kept swarming through her ears. "The Potter's—" "their son—" and now Peter Pettigrew—" "Sirius Black did what!?" To her that last comment was the loudest and most frequently heard. What was going on? What did he do? For some reason she could never hear what they said happened. Only ever the reaction and it wasn't good.

She spotted Dumbledore and his eyes weren't twinkling. They were staring out as if trying to read her for the first time.

"Professor! What's going on? Is it true? It can't be! Are they gone? Where's Sirius?" She started frantically as soon as she reached him.

Dumbledore took a look at Jane's face. Fresh tears streamed over already dried ones. Eyes full of nothing but fear and confusion. In all the years he'd known he had never seen that look of terror on his usually calm and regal student. At first he thought she must have known. She had married the man after all. The way she always looked at Black with complete and irrevocable love. While most had regarded him as an unreachable pedestal or a book that was written in runes impossible to decipher, both she and James Potter always seemed to read Sirius Black like an open book. Black always seemed to be a wild card but to Jane Potter (now Black) he had always seemed so predictable. If he was so predictable to her she had to have known. Dumbledore knew there was a traitor in his ranks and he knew there was a high possibility that there was more than one. But that look on her face. There was no way she knew. She had been fooled too.

For once Dumbledore didn't know what to say. He did not want to be the one to break her further. He reached out an arm to place on her shoulder to try and console her. But before he could say anything there was a loud bang and maniacal laughter filled the atrium silencing all conversation. Teams of aurors and hit wizards swarmed to the source of the sound. But it was unnecessary, the person seemed to be complying for the most part.

Jane's head whipped around at the easily recognizable sound. The rest of the world seemed to disappear as she caught sight of her husband's hysterical face. She did not know the world saw him as Voldemort's right hand man or the height of a dangerous dark wizard. She took one look at those eyes full of wretched emotions and saw a man broken almost beyond repair.

"SIRIUS!" She cried and tried to rush forward. But Dumbledore had gripped her arm with a tightness she never would have expected from such an old man.

"SIRIUS!" She broke free and started forward again when a second pair of strong arms wrapped around her middle from behind.

She struggled in the new person's grasp. Flung herself around hitting and stepping on the person who wouldn't let her go to her husband. But she didn't care.

"SIRIUS! SIRIUS! SIRIUS!" She wouldn't stop sobbing out.

The sound of that awful laughter stopped for the first time since being apprehended at the sound of the young women's voice. A voice that was held in a special place of Sirius Black's heart. He looked to the direction of the voice and immediately caught sight of his beautiful Jane struggling in his old friend Moony's arm. He knew she wouldn't be able to break free of that werewolf grip.

He reached out and tried to step towards her.

"Not so fast, Black!" Came the rough voice of some

Auror that Sirius didn't really care to identify right now. They grabbed his arms and pushed him forward.

Silence rang throughout the Ministry as Jane's sobs stopped when the group of aurors and hit wizards dragged Sirius passed her. He faltered and locked eyes with her. She could read the words he couldn't seem to say.

I'm sorry, My Jane. I love you.

The aurors dragged him forward again and they lost eye contact. He turned away and closed his eyes. For the third time in 24 hours guilt, shame and regret overwhelmed him. All Jane saw was his retreating back and the group of wizards pulling him.

"NO! NO Sirius! Let me go! Where are you taking him!? let me go! SIRIUS!"

She struggled against the arms again. Two more witches rushed to her and one of them shoved a potion down her throat. She stopped screaming and just sobbed as the potion caused her to pass out in Remus Lupin's arms.

AN: i wrote instead of study ... oops I hope you enjoy...