𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 𝟼,𝟷𝟿𝟾𝟷

"Vixen, it's time to go."

"If I don't go, maybe he'll reappear."

"Jade, this isn't healthy. You've been cooped up in this room all week." Remus sighed leaning against the doorframe dressed in all black. "I miss them too, but we owe it to them to be there."

"Why is she in your room at Potter Manor again?"

"It's her safe place. It's where she would come when she had a nightmare or when she just didn't want to sleep alone."

"It still smells like him, Rem. I don't think I can do it." I choked out staring at my own reflection and the parchment in my hands. "I always thought I would die first, not my brother. Not my soulmate, and certainly not my baby."

"Adhara's here with me, Didi. I'll take care of her until it's your time. She looks just like you and Padfoot."

"I know, Vix... I never expected this to happen."

"Funny thing is, Bam Bam and I both picked out our funeral outfits just in case and both had speeches prepared for the eulogy... but I always thought he would be the one dressed up and not me."

"James, please tell me that's not-"

"It is. After she was taken and we rescued her, we had a feeling that something was going to happen and that someone was going to die. So... we bought a casket and planned our funerals just in case. It sounds wrong and disturbing, but it gave her peace of mind that at least I didn't have to plan an entire funeral from scratch."

"She seriously thought she was going to die first?"

"Yep. She always said that I can live without her, which is far from the truth... But I'm glad it was me. I don't want to think of what I would've done if I found Jade the way she found me. Hell, I'd probably be in a casket right next to her if I didn't have Harry to fight for."

"I'm glad she has Remus now to help her. She can't be alone."

"Remus promised me, Reg and Sirius that he'll take care of her if something happened to us. Now here we are... me watching my sister's soul die and can't do anything to help her."

"James-"

"I wanted her to wear yellow for the funeral, it was always my favorite color. It represents happiness... and she's my yellow. She wanted me to wear white because it represents peace and she always said I was the only one who could calm the storm in her mind."

"She looks beautiful in yellow, James."

"She really does. It's as if she's five again and wearing a huge yellow dress and daisies in her hair."

"You two really were soulmates."

"She was my sky, Lils."

"Jade-"

"I always wanted to die first... because I can't live without James, Remus. I can't live without my big brother telling me it's going to be okay and to protect me!" I cried out and threw a frame containing three pictures on the floor. "Why!? Why would he betray us? What did we ever do to Wormtail?"

"He betrayed us, Jade. It's his fault and we have to pay the consequences."

"I want them back, Remus." I sobbed and Remus rushed to pull me into a hug. "I want my family back. Right now we should be at Bam Bam's playing with Harry while Snuffles argues with Lily over how to decorate the nursery for Adhara."

"I won't let you drown, Vix. If you fall, I'll fall with you and we'll both get back up together." Remus assured swaying us back and forth and started to sing. "And my brother's back at home with his Beatles and his Stones... We never got it off on that revolution stuff... What a drag, too many snags."

"Now I've drunk a lot of wine and I'm feeling fine... Got to race some cat to bed... Oh, is there concrete all around or is it in my head? Yeah, I'm a dude, dad." I continued with a small smile and hugged him tighter as we both sang the chorus in unison.

"All the young dudes... Carry the news... Boogaloo dudes... Carry the news..."

...

"DIDI! MOONY!"

"There's my favorite little man!" I grinned crouching down to pick him up with ease and peppered his face with kisses. "My sweet Harry, I missed you so."

"There's my sweet boy!" Remus smiled kissing Harry's head. "Did you miss us, little one? Look what Didi and I bought you."

Remus pulled out a stuffed lion and Harry immediately made grabbing hands at it making us both laugh for the first time in a week.

"I say Gryffindor. That is if she fights Dumbledore after this."

"James, if Jade and Remus raise him, he's going to be a Slytherin. He was sassing you out since he learned how to babble and Sirius taught him the face and eye rolls."

"Let a man dream. I need him to carry my legacy!"

"Oh, shut up."

"All he does is cry for you both. Hasn't shut up in days." Petunia sighed walking up to us and I held Harry even tighter. "You know the deal, Jade."

"Give her a break, Petunia. Her brother is in a casket not even 10 feet away from her. Let her have this moment with him." Remus spat rubbing Harry's back. "Uncle Moony and auntie Didi are here, Harry. You're not going to spend another moment longer with those two after today."

"Auntie Jade!" Bill, Percy, Charlie, and the twins yelled running up to us. "Hi, Remus!"

"My boys!" I smiled as they hugged my legs nearly knocking me over. "Okay, calm down, lads. I have a one year old with me."

"Jade, it's so good to see you!" Molly smiled holding a newborn girl and I hugged her. "I wish it was under better circumstances."

"So do I, Molly. Thank you for coming."

"Auntie Jade, why are they closed?" Percy asked pointing at the caskets and I sighed passing Harry to Remus.

"Do you know who's in there, Percy?" I asked and he nodded. "Who?"

"Jamesie. Mum told us to not ask questions... I'm sorry."

"It's fine, sweetheart. I can never be mad at you." I smirked ruffling his hair and heard Petunia scoff. "Yes, Petunia?"

"Can't believe my freak sister associated herself with this circus and married that Potter boy when I told her-"

"If you still say she's your sister, where were you at her wedding? And where were you when she was fighting a war and making sure you and your parents didn't die. As far as I'm concerned, I was more her sister than you ever were. And, by the way-"

"Jade, that's enough." Minnie scolded pushing me away. "There's a time and a place, and it's definitely not in front of your brother's casket."

"Then make sure that bitch shuts up before I rip her tongue out and feed it to her husband!"

"And certainly not in front of the children! I know emotions are high, but James and Lily definitely wouldn't want to see you act like this!"

"Lily, maybe. But me? TEAR HER TO SHREDS AND TAKE HARRY, JADE!"

"James, it's our funeral!"

"So? If it weren't for Peter, our bodies wouldn't be as cold as ice right now, Sirius wouldn't be screaming his lungs out in Azkaban like he's currently doing... honestly Pads, I can't even hear myself think over here!"

"Good point... wait after the service, Jade. Then, you can tear her to shreds and take my son."

"See? I knew you would come around eventually."

...

"Jade, it's time for your speech." Remus whispered snapping me back to reality.

"Can you do it?" I asked pointing at Harry who was currently sleeping in my arms but Remus shook his head and took him. "Fine!"

I stood up and made my way to the podium taking out the parchment from my pocket and put on my glasses.

"A letter to my other half,

I rewrote this letter last night, so bear with me. It's not the same one I wrote that night sitting across from you under our tree in Potter Manir.

I still remember the first time I knew we were soulmates. It was around Christmas and we were chasing each other around the Manor until I tripped and cut my head on the marble table in the dining room. Instead of calling Mum or Dad, you took me to the bathroom, cleaned the blood off my forehead and put some gauze on. Afterwards, you said 'your big brother will always be here to make the ouchies better'. We were five years old when this happened.

Then came the night we were sorted. You are the embodiment of what a Gryffindor is. Your loyal and brave, but you also have a heart that's bigger than the entire world. You never casted me out because I was a Slytherin and didn't think twice to fight anyone if they picked on me because of it. When the entire world turned their back on me because of who I was, you taught me to embrace it and to be proud of it.

And I am proud, James. I'm still proud that I'm your sister and that..." I trailed off glancing at Remus for help with tears in my eyes. He immediately passed Harry to Minnie and rushed to my side. "I can't do this."

"It's okay, Jade. You're doing so good." He whispered holding my hand and I nodded shakily. "I'm right here."

"You're doing great, Didi. Keep it up."

"And that I have the absolute privilege to call you my big brother.

You taught me to love, to laugh, and to see the world through different eyes... through your eyes. And it's beautiful, James. You always saw the world better than I did.

Mummy always said that you and I were the day and the night. You were the sun and I was the moon, like Apollo and Artemis or Seline and Helios... But you always said that it was too different and too far. So, I became your sky because you said the sun needed a sky. And whenever a cloud passed over the sun, you would say that I was giving you a hug.

I could use a hug from you right now.

At 21 years old, I never thought I'd have to say goodbye forever and let you go. Especially not after losing my daughter days after you were taken from me.

Because you didn't just die, James. You were taken from me in the cruelest way possible.

And now you can't tell me things will get better. Now, they'll be no more laughs over ice cream at the crack of dawn or skipping rocks over a lake at sunset. Now, I can't go to your room whenever I can't sleep because you're not there anymore.

There's no more twin birthdays, completing each other's sentences or twin telepathy. There's no more inside jokes or random dances at three in the morning because you get a rush of adrenaline while I just want to sleep.

We were opposites, but yet the same person... the same soul.

And now, there's no more Bam Bam and Didi. Now, it's just Jade who has to learn how to live without her soulmate.

I wanted to protect you the way you always protected me. And I thought I did that until October 31st. Now, my godson doesn't have his parents and I feel like it's my fault.

If you were here, you'd tell me to focus on the positive and hold close our memories together. That's exactly what I'm trying to do and I'll keep trying until all I feel is happiness when I hear your name or see a picture of us.

I hope you're still taking care of me from the afterlife, Bam Bam. After all, I'll always need my big brother to take care of me. Whether I'm five or a hundred and twenty years old, I'll always need you.

But if I had to choose a sibling in the next life, I'll always pick you.

I love you, Bam Bam. And I hope I made you proud to call me your sister.

Written with love and a broken heart,
Your soulmate."

"I love you more, Didi. I'm so glad I got to call you my sister."

...

"Remus and Jade, what brings you to-"

"My brother is six feet under with my sister in law and my daughter next to him. I wonder who's to blame, Albus? I came here for you to legally give me my godson and I'll be on my way."

"Not the first name! She's ready to kill, Lily!"

"Read him to filth, Jade! Only Remus and you have my blessing to raise my son!"

"Our son."

"I birthed him. He's my son."

"Jade, you must understand this. Lily was the one who gave her life for Harry. Therefore-"

"So James' sacrifice meant nothing!?" Remus interrupted. "James died that night too, Professor. Not just Lily. Both of my best friends are dead because of Peter and you still can't see reason!"

"Remus, I understand you're upset. But Peter was not made secretkeeper, it was always Sirius." Dumbledore sighed and I scoffed.

"Sirius was with me the entire night! He was with me during Order meetings and making sure my pregnancy was going as smoothly as possible. And when he wasn't with me, he was with James and Lily or Marlene. My husband loved my brother as his own, and James loved him back just as much. Does that sound like a traitor to you, Albus?" I asked crossing my arms.

"Then how do you explain that all three of them are dead?"

"I'm going to kill him!"

"James, how!? You're dead!"

"I'll make sure he never sleeps again. And I'll find Marls in the great beyond and drive him mad!"

"That's a good place to start. I'm in."

"Because you failed to protect them! You didn't protect Marlene from the Death Eaters and now her and her entire family are dead! You have no idea what I had to do to comfort Dorcas who's dead now, by the way. You failed to protect my brother and his family from Voldemort... and you failed to protect me. I won't let you do the same to my godson."

"Here's James' will, Jade. Even if I wanted to, I can't give you-"

"Why do you have that and I don't? I'm the last member of the Potters, except for Harry. He kept this in a safe in his house under a protection-"

"Professor, you wanted to see me?" I heard Snape's voice and Remus tensed grabbing my arms.

"Don't you dare-"

"YOU STOLE MY BROTHER'S WILL!?" I yelled lunging for Snape but Remus held me even tighter. "And who the hell told you can be a teacher after what you've done?"

"He was a spy, Jade. I needed him to-"

"No! Regulus was the spy! My little brother was the spy and now I can't find him! He's missing and I blame you because you never wanted him in the Order because of who he was!" I interrupted breaking free of Remus' hold and stormed up to Snape.

"Jade, I lo-" I interrupted Snape with a slap to the face and Remus had to pull me back again.

"DAMN, THAT HAD TO HURT! GIVE HIM ANOTHER ONE FOR ME, DIDI!"

"James!"

"Don't restrain her, Moony! Let her finish it!"

"Jade Amelia Black!" Minnie yelled rushing inside and held me back as well.

"He stole James' will, Minnie. They're both to blame!" I cried and she gasped.

"Albus, is it true?"

"Minerva-"

"Is it true!?"

"It is." Dumbledore sighed hanging her James' will.

"In the events of mine and my wife's untimely death, we both declare my sister Jade Amelia Potter-Black and her husband, Sirius Orion Black the Third, the responsibility to raise our son, Harry James Potter. If by some circumstance they are not able, we pass the responsibility to our dear friends, Remus John Lupin and/or Peter Pettigrew. For there is nobody we trust more with the care of our son than our best friends." Minnie recited and sighed softly. "Albus, it's written right there. Jade has the right to raise Harry, as does Remus."

"That's right. So give me my godson, Albus!" I demanded.

"Jade, Lily's love was what saved Harry. That protection can only stay if he stays with someone he's related to."

"He's my blood, Albus. He's my brother's son, which makes him my nephew! Not to mention he's my godson as well."

"Professor, Lily saved Harry, I understand that. But we can trace the protection back to James. We found his body on the staircase which means he sacrificed himself so Lily and Harry could get out. They both gave their lives for Harry." Remus spoke calmly forcing me to sit next to Minne. "I don't see the reason of him being raised by Petunia Dursley of all people."

"James only sacrificed himself for Lily, if anything. No one else." Snape butted. I gripped Dumbledore's desk tight and Remus widened his eyes.

"You fucking take that back. James sacrificed himself for his son and Lily. We all sacrificed everything for this war that we didn't even want to get involved in!" I defended.

"And what have you ever sacrificed, Jade?"

"I gave my whole life! I was willing to lay down my life to make sure my brother and Lily could have a family! He threw me out like a pig for slaughter and I took it because I hoped it would protect my family!" I snapped standing up and Remus sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "What the hell have you ever sacrificed, Severus?"

"The love of my life! She married him."

"BECAUSE YOU CALLED HER A MUDBLOOD! You treated her like an object, like some fucking prize! My brother may have been an asshole, and by Merlin, was he an asshole. But he always treated Lily like an equal. He never belittled her because she was a muggle-born and didn't even dare to question her abilities."

"Point is, Harry should come with us, Professor. We would do anything to protect him, even if it means moving to America and leaving everything we know behind." Remus butted and I nodded frantically. "Just please give us the opportunity to raise our nephew. It's what James and Lily wanted."

"Albus, I'm not one to beg, but I will literally get on my knees and beg if that's what it takes to raise Harry. And for me to put my pride aside is a huge deal. I'm a Potter by blood, after all. And we're known to have big egos." I said crossing my arms.

"Oh Merlin... she'd do it too."

"I don't want her to do that. I want my sister to slap the shit out of Snivelus again!"

"And strangely so do I."

"Jade, I'm afraid I can't do that." Dumbledore said calmly and Minnie immediately stood up next to me and Remus.

"Albus, it's her own flesh and blood. I'd rather have them move out of the country to raise Harry and never see them again, than to have him living with the Dursleys." She defended and I smiled smugly.

"Minerva, on James' will it says Jade and Sirius."

"It also says Remus."

"And the role of a godparent is to raise the godchild if something happened to the parents. Whether the other godparent is present or not." I pointed out stepping closer to Dumbledore. "I'm not asking for Sirius to be released from Azkaban. I'm not asking for a time-turner... I'm asking for that sweet angel who deserves to be raised by people who love him."

"Jade, you automatically inherit everything from the Potters and Blacks. What more could you possibly want?"

"My nephew! I don't care about the money or properties, Albus! I'll gladly give those up and live on the streets if it means I can raise Harry!"

"I'm afraid that is something I cannot do, Jade. I'm sorry."

"Fine! Then at least give me and Remus a job. It's the least you can do for us after you sent literal children to fight your war."

"We're not accepting professor applications at the moment and you two don't have any experience." He pointed out and Remus scoffed.

"The war we fought wasn't experience? What was it, then? A field trip to Hogsmeade?"

"Albus, you don't want to make an enemy of me. I know things about you that, if they got to see the light of day, you'll be sent to Azkaban faster than you can say Voldemort." I smirked grabbing James' will. "And I will get Harry back, even if it's the last thing I ever do."

"Kidnapping works."

"JAMES!"

"What!? They'll move to America and everything will be fine!"

"I think she chooses to do this legally. You don't want Jade in Azkaban next to Bellatrix."

"You're right... the dementors will kill themselves."

"Not to mention that she has Regulus to worry about now."

"Where the hell is he, Lily? I haven't seen him since Jade went missing."

"I wish I knew, James. I just hope she finds him alive."

"So do I."