Weft of Power, Warp of Blood: A Tapestry of Desire

Chapter Seventeen
Revelations

Two hours after she got home, Jasmine sat on the porch, unable to sleep. It was well past midnight but Jasmine sat, facing the road, one toe pushing the rocking chair. She was still, other than the movement of her foot, waiting for word from Severus. Moonlight slanted over one of her knees, covered in a white lawn nightgown. The rest of her body was sheathed in shadow. Jasmine missed Sirius and was getting worried. She was still upset about not knowing about the night before and her mystery lover. Harry Potter’s disappearance and reappearance with that too-still boy made the day seem even more surreal, edging into frightening.

The galloping Sirius skidded to a stop at the gate, nosed open the latch and ran in, stopping several feet from the stairs. He stared at Jasmine, who stood immediately.

“Where have you been? I’ve been so worried,” she almost shouted. “Today has been awful and I didn’t know where you were! Don’t run off like that,” she commanded.

The dog dropped his head for a moment then approached her slowly. Jasmine reached out to pet his head but he intercepted her hand with a lick to her fingers. She could only smile. He was so sweet. That puppy kiss had made some of the tension leave her body. “Oh you,” she sighed, “you do know how to make it better, don’t you?”

Sirius closed his eyes and moved backwards, away from her and wuffled in his odd way. She watched, puzzled.

He bowed his head again and changed into human form. Jasmine gaped and opened her mouth to scream. Sirius rushed forward to cup his hand over her mouth. He pushed her back into the wall, holding one of her arms as she instinctively struggled. He endured being struck and clawed, but protected his face by burying it into her neck. He shifted his weight to throw her off balance and captured her other arm behind her back then pressed her body into the wall again. Jasmine twisted and struggled, trying to kick him, but her bare feet had little impact. She tried to bite his hand and he used his greater size to force her into being still against the wall of the house. Several minutes later, exhausted, she stilled. He didn’t move for another minute. Their heavy breathing was the only sound.

He lifted his head to look down at her. Jasmine’s blue eyes were wide and terrified. Worse, she was silently crying. His head fell backward and he looked at the ceiling for a moment, took a deep breath and looked at her again. His voice was croaky when he spoke.

“Jasmine, I know…” he said lamely. She growled. He continued on raggedly, “If I let you go, will you scream?” She glared at him. “You have to listen to me. I don’t have time to do this. I need you to shut up and listen for a minute.”

She stared at him, dazed and blinked several times. Sirius dropped his forehead to hers, still looking into her eyes, his breathing heavy. Then she knew. Last night, it was him. She went limp with shock. He supported her.

“I’m going to let your arms go,” he said gently before he eased back, his hand still over her mouth. Her arms dropped to her sides like lead. “I don’t have time to have the conversation we need to have. I have work to do, Jasmine.”

Again she growled.

He growled back and said, “Be quiet and let me speak!”

Her eyes widened.

“I am Sirius Black,” he said, quite simply – as though he was introducing himself.

Of course she had knew it and was devastated.

“I have been living in your home with Dumbledore’s permission – at his request,” he said raggedly.

She nipped his hand in her displeasure. He ignored it.

“I did not kill those people, I have never killed anyone.”

Rolling her eyes, she showed her disbelief.

“Would Dumbledore have allowed me to live here if I had?”

She looked into his eyes for a moment and knew that he was innocent of the murders. She shook her head in confusion.

“I made love with you last night- it wasn’t the first time, it was wrong but it is done. I will not say that I am sorry because in the end, I am not sorry for making love with you.”

She goggled at him; last night… and… when? The dream about the book! Jasmine shrieked into his hand and tried to slap him.

He caught her hand and pressed it against the wall over her head. “No,” he said firmly. “I can’t do this right now. We need to talk, but this isn’t the time. We will have this talk, but later. I swear.”

She glared at him.

He closed his eyes for a silent moment. “Jasmine, Voldemort is back. He’s alive, he kidnapped Harry tonight,” Sirius announced.

Jasmine stared; she felt dizzy.

Sirius released her mouth but kept hold of her hand. She licked her lips and panted, but remained silent, in shock; she was still crying, slow huge tears of fear and betrayal.

He said quietly looking down at her, “I have to go, Jasmine. There is a war coming and I can’t stay even to... I shouldn’t be here now. I had to see you,”

She could only stare up at him.

“I have to go,” he repeated, more to himself, “I need for you to take care of Buckbeak… to take care of Ari and yourself. Don’t go out, just… stay here. The wards will protect you.”

Jasmine nodded and opened her mouth to speak but Sirius lifted his hand to gently cover her lips again, dropping his forehead to hers, looking into eyes. “No, if you say anything, I’ll stay and I don’t have time. I have to leave now,” he said in a harsh whisper. He fought with his need for her and lost. He removed his hand and buried his fingers in her tangled hair. He tilted her face to his and breathed against her lips, “Slap me next time.”

She twisted her head away from him, but she was easily recaptured. She stilled when his eyes met hers. He brushed his lips over hers in the softest of butterfly-light kisses before he deepened the kiss, pressing harder on her lips, parting them with his tongue. She resisted for a moment, unwilling to believe that this was happening to her, then slowly, she opened to him. He claimed her, pulling her closer in his arms, his mouth moving over hers in a desperate hunger. Her arms wound around his shoulders and she pressed into him, kissing him back. Tears slipped from her eyes and she clung, still utterly confused and becoming lost in him. He broke away from her lips and tugged her arms free reluctantly. He stepped back, she could only stare, lips parted and kiss swollen and her eyes welling with tears.

“We will talk,” he said firmly and strode to the gate.

Standing on the road, watching Sirius with ill-concealed hatred, was Severus Snape. They glared at each other.

Severus was the first to speak. “I’m going to kill you someday, Black.”

The other man looked at him and said quietly, “It wouldn’t be the first time you’ll have tried it, Snivellus. Now isn’t the time, though, and you know it. This forced little truce between us won’t last forever – you can try for a piece of me when you get back from your little appointment. You’re late.”

“Stay away from my wife,” spat Snape, ignoring Black’s offer.

“Your ex-wife,” said Sirius firmly, with a hint of a sneer, before turning his back and striding away, transforming into the dog just before he turned the corner.

For a moment Snape stared after the other man, a man he hated beyond all reason, then swept up to Jasmine. Holding one hand over her mouth, her other arm was wrapped protectively around herself. Her eyes were wide and she was still crying. She only stared at Severus through silent tears.

“What gave him the right to kiss you?” he demanded.

Her only answer was a quiet hic of breath, she vigorously shook her head. Jasmine seemed to hunker into herself as a protection from the answer.

He swore foully under his breath. Covering his face with his hands, his head fell back. Silently, he counted to twenty, trying to even his breathing and contain the boiling cauldron of hatred, fear, worry, excitement and love. His clenched jaw was testament to his battle not to rage at Jasmine. Finally, Severus took a deep breath to compose himself.

He took her into his arms and held her, his chin resting on the top of her head. It was a familiar position. He said in a deliberately soft voice, ignoring the boiling hatred for Black for his dearest friend’s sake, “I have to go, Jasmine. Voldemort is back. I know Black told you.” When she nodded, he continued. “I was summoned two hours ago but didn’t go. Dumbledore and I have a plan to make it work, though.”

Finally, she broke, whimpering once, it loosened the dam. She sobbed loudly and buried her face into his chest.

“I’ve come to see Arielle, to say goodbye, in case it doesn’t work.”

Jasmine shook her head fiercely against his jacket, not looking at him but clinging all the more.

“Yes, I have to. I’m going to do what I’m good at because I… I have to.”

She continued to sob, soaking his robes.

He tilted her face to look into his. “You are my best friend. I love you and I always will. You know me better than anyone else and you know why I have to go, Jasmine.”

His velvet voice calmed her – she, too, knew what Severus needed to do and why. It didn’t stop the terror edged worry, though. She quieted but the tears still fell.

He nodded and walked into the house, not stopping until he knelt by his daughter’s bedside. Severus stroked her cheek with one long finger and tucked her curling black hair away from her tiny face. He stared at her for a few minutes, memorizing every detail of her sleeping face then leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. He whispered, “I love you, little bit. I will be back to watch you grow up.” It was a hope and a promise to himself and to the sleeping child. They would win, they had to.

Soon, he was outside again. Jasmine hadn’t moved. Her arms were still wrapped around her body, but her tears had stopped. Great shuddering breaths had replaced them.

“I will be back, Jasmine, one way or another. I promise,” he said.

She nodded.

“Take care of Ari and take care of yourself,” he demanded quietly. Again, she nodded silently. He gave her one of his rare half smiles and walked down the path to the road. Watching her, he unbuttoned his sleeve and rolled it up, exposing the Dark Mark. He touched his wand to it and disappeared.

Jasmine collapsed into the rocking chair, tears gone and face blank. Her wide eyes were tortured. Moonlight slanted over one of her knees, covered in a white lawn nightgown. The rest of her body was sheathed in shadow. She sat, awake and still, until well past dawn. Her only movement was the pressing of her toes as she rocked.