A Black Rose In A White Bush

A Black Rose In A White Bush



In a London flat, there lived two people: a mother and her daughter. The mother, Jessica, worked a part-time job at a business firm and earned more than enough money to take care of her daughter and herself. Sarah, her daughter, was a beautiful little girl. Today's date was July 11,1992 and it was Sarah’s second birthday. She was sitting on the floor surrounded by piles of brightly color paper.

She didn’t care about the gifts at the moment, all she cared about was the wonderful colors that they came in. She was currently playing with the bright green paper and a matching ribbon that had been wrapped around a book about animals. Jessica was sitting on the floor next to her, smiling as she watched her daughter play with the ribbon and paper.

“Purty, Mamma!” Sarah squealed as she put the ribbon in her mother’s hair. Jessica laughed and put some ribbon in Sarah’s hair, too. Jessica looked up, still smiling, as there was a sharp knock at the door.

“I’ll be right back, sweetie.” She stood up and slowly walked to the door, avoiding the piles of paper that Sarah had spent time in organizing to her hearts content. She looked out the peephole and stared at the man that stood there. He was tall, blond, with a slender build and completely dressed in black. She frowned, not recognizing him, and opened the door.

“May I help you?” she asked politely. The man's eyes bore into hers and he grinned.

“I do think that you can, yes.” Before Jessica could ask him what she could help him with, he shoved her back into the house and down the hallway roughly. He pushed her down onto the floor next to Sarah, who had stopped playing with the ribbon in her hair and was looking at the new person curiously.

“Who dat, Mommy?” she asked.

“I don’t know sweetie. Just be quiet.” She whispered, picking up her daughter and holding her to her chest.

“Well, little girl,” the man said mockingly, “I’m an old friend of your Mommy's. I’ve just come to say 'hello,' and see how she’s doing. And then kill her.” He pulled a butcher knife out from his coat, seemingly from a pocket that wasn't there, and forcefully pulled Sarah away from Jessica. He held Sarah by her hair as Jessica screamed and lunged after he daughter.

The man elegantly moved the knife across her throat, seeming to barely even touch her. Jessica fell to the floor clutching her neck, her hands quickly becoming bloody, trying to breathe.

“Mommy!” Sarah screamed and tried to break free, the man clutching her hair tighter. He pulled a wand from his pocket, banishing the knife effortlessly and transfiguring a piece of brightly colored paper into a noose. The noose slipped over Jessica's head, tightening around her neck, causing her to grip the rope, letting her blood flow freely to the floor.

“Wingardim Leviosa.” He aimed his wand at the noose, rising her weakening body with it towards the ceiling and swiftly make the rope catch on a the sturdy light fixture. Sarah stared at her mommy as she now hung there limply. Her eyes were nothing but pools of water.

“You, little girl...” the man whispered, “You, I will let live. But your mother had to die.”

“W-why?” she choked out, her mind unable to wrap itself around the pale and still bleeding figure in front of her.

“Because she’s a filthy mudblood.” he said nastily. With a crack he vanished, making Sarah flinch and cry. She ran to the corner and crouched there, trying to hide. She stared up at her mommy's lifeless body, gently swaying back and forth.

~

Sarah awoke with a start, her heart pounding in her ears as threw the suffocating covers off of her. She didn't notice Draco lying in bed next to her as she ran out of her room to Severus’ room and flung the door open. She saw him sleeping on his bed and ran over to him, crying softly.

“Sev... Sev, please wake up…” her voice cracked as she shook his shoulder and he sat up somewhat groggily.

“What? What is it?” he reached for his wand blearily.

“Sev... please, let me sleep here, please. I can’t be alone...” Severus looked down at Sarah and sighed. He moved over and patted the bed, lifting the covers up for her.

“Come on. Do you want to talk about it?” he asked as she settled down in the covers. She shook her head as she snuggled against his chest, her arms wrapping tightly around him, still crying. Severus rubbed soothing circles on her back and simply held her, unable to do anything else.

He looked down a few minutes later and saw that she had fallen asleep. He closed his eyes and quickly followed her.

~Morning~

“Remus, I’ve asked Sirius under veritaserum and he doesn’t know how Sarah can be his daughter or how Lily can be the mother. He just doesn’t.” Remus looked away from Albus’ eyes and stared at Sirius.

“Is that true?” he whispered.

“Yes, it is, Moony. I swear.” Sirius stared into Remus’ eyes, willing Remus to believe him. Remus looked away and rubbed his eyes.

“I’m sorry for doubting you, Sirius. I just... lost it. I’m sorry.” Sirius nodded and walked over to Remus, wrapping his arms around him tightly.

“That’s ok, Moony. I probably would’ve done the same thing.” Remus nodded, holding him just as tight. He looked over to Albus.

“What are we going to do to try and get Sarah to talk to Sirius?”

“I’ve arranged for a time today for Sarah and Sirius to get together and talk. Just themselves and no one else. Does that sound ok to you, Sirius?” Sirius nodded his head in agreement and Albus smiled.

“Excellent. I will tell Sarah this morning at breakfast. See you two later.” Albus stood as Sirius changed into Padfoot; the three of them moved to the door and Albus walked them to the front hall.

“I hope to be seeing you soon, Remus, Padfoot.”

“Us, too.” Remus and Albus said their good-byes while Sirius merely barked his. Albus smiled as he turned and walked into the great hall, up to his place at the head table; ready to have his breakfast.

~1988~

“Lily, I don’t know what to do! I’ve tried everything, but I just can’t get pregnant!” Jessica exclaimed sadly. “I don’t care if it’s just a one-night stand that causes me to get pregnant, just as long as I can have a baby! That’s all I want.” she stared at Lily while she held her newborn son, Harry, in her arms. Lily smiled sadly back.

“Jessica... I think I know how to get you pregnant, and I know you don’t care if you’re the actual gene mother. So, what we could do is...” Jessica leaned forward excitedly, willing to do anything, anything, if only to have a child.

~

Sarah was sitting at the Slytherin table next to Draco; he had his arm around her waist, and was holding her close to him. He knew about her nightmares and how they’ve been getting worse.

“Sarah, you need to eat something, please? Just for me?” Draco pleaded for the thousandth time this morning.

“Or why not for your father, hm, Sarah?” Sarah and Draco looked behind them to see the Headmaster standing there; Sarah scowled and turned back around, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Is there something we can help you with, Headmaster?” Draco asked politely.

“Why, yes, I do believe there is. If you could make sure that Sarah is in the Astronomy tower around 11:30 this morning, that would be wonderful.”

“But, what about her classes?”

“She’s been excused her afternoon classes, so not to worry, Mr. Malfoy.” Draco scowled this time as the Headmaster walked up to the Head table, taking his usual seat.

“Well, since you’ll have your morning classes, let me walk you to them. C’mon, Sarah.” Draco stood up with Sarah and they headed off to the DADA classroom.

~

Jessica was lying on a bed in a muggle doctor's office. She was wearing one of those weird gowns and had her hands resting on her stomach. She looked at Lily, who was sitting next to the bed in a chair. They bother looked at the door when the doctor came in.

“And how are we this morning?” he asked in a cheerful voice.

“Nervous,” they replied in unison; the doctor grinned.

“Well, that’s how everyone feels. So, my name is Doctor Morrow, but you can call me Rob. Now the procedure we’re going to do today, many other women have, so it’s perfectly safe. Do you have any questions before we begin?”

“Yes. Does it hurt?” Jessica asked nervously.

“Well, according to all my other patients, no. So I’m going to go with that.” Jessica nodded, and grabbed onto Lily’s hand. “Just tell me when you’re ready.” Rob held up a long needle. Jessica closed her eyes.

“I’m ready.”

~

“Draco, I’m not going. End of discussion.” Sarah stormed out of their room and into the living room of Severus’ private chambers. Draco followed her.

“Sarah, the Headmaster told you to go, so you have to, even if you don't want to because he’ll just think of something worse for you to do if you don’t. Please. Just go and see what he wants. What if he talks to Sev about it and you still have to go? Just go and be the bigger person, so you won’t be forced to later.”

Sarah glared at him with her hands on her hips.

“Why do you have to be right all the time? Why can’t I be a spoiled brat and not go?”

“Because you’re not a spoiled brat, Sarah, and you know it.” Draco moved over to her and hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry, but you have to go.” He placed a small kiss on her head and let her go. She grumbled and walked over to the door.

“Fine, I’ll go. But that doesn’t mean I’m doing this of my own free will.” Draco sighed as she slammed the door after her. He moved back into their room and closed the door behind him. He flopped onto the bed and prepared to skip his afternoon classes to wait for Sarah to get back. ‘When ever that is…’

~

Six weeks after the visit to the doctor.

“Lily… what if it didn’t work?” she was nervous.

“Jess, you know it did ‘cause you’ve been having morning sickness. Lets just get the final result from the doctor, all right?” Jessica nodded and rested her head on Lily’s shoulder. She didn’t move when the doctor came in.

“Good morning, ladies.”

“Good morning, Rob.” Lily greeted. Jessica grunted and Rob smiled.

“So I hear that you’ve been having morning sickness and the test is back confirming that you are indeed pregnant. Congratulations.” Jessica looked up at him uncertainly.

“Are you serious? I’m – I’m pregnant?” she turned to Lily. “Did you hear that? I’m pregnant! Oh, Lily!” Jessica squealed and threw her arms around Lily. She smiled and hugged her back.

“Now, I hate to interfere here, but I need to make sure that you’ll come in every 4 or 5 weeks for regular checkups. You can come in anytime between checkups if you need to, and the checkups will get closer and closer together as you get further along. All right?” Jessica nodded. “Now, you two are dismissed and I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

Jessica and Lily waved good bye to Rob as they made their way out of his office.

“Oh, Lily, can you believe it? I’m actually going to have a baby! I can’t wait!”

“Well I think you’ll be singing a different tune in a few weeks and you get those damned mood swings. I swear they drove me insane. More so that they did James! You’ll be crying over the stupidest of things. Have fun.” She finished sarcastically and Jessica grinned.

“Then I’ll be sure to give you a front row seat to my mood swings.”

They giggled as they walked down the busy London streets and to a safe point where they would apparate back to Lily’s house.