Chapter 2
Not too long after Jamie woke up did Pansy and Theo come back. Theo was able to calm Pansy down but tears immediately started to spill out the moment she saw her best friend. Pansy wanted to do nothing but yell and scream at her friend. She was angry and confused as to why the first time she was seeing her in almost two years was when she was laying in a hospital bed.
Theo wasn't quite sure what to say. He just sat back down in the chair by her bed and held her hand. After a bit, Draco asked her what exactly happened. As she ran through the events from that night, she started to get more and more upset. She started to cry because she couldn't stop it. She felt stupid that she couldn't stop it. Everyone tried to tell her that it was in fact not her fault but she didn't want to hear it.
“Were you able to see who these people were? I mean, anything you can remember?” Theo asked. Jamie instantly got tense and didn't know whether or not to say who she thought she saw. “Jamie,” Theo repeated to get her attention again,
“I- uhhhh..” Before she was able to get the courage to say ‘Death eaters’, Hermione and Harry walked back into the room. They both just stood there in pure awe that she was awake. They didn't think she would wake up so soon. “Stop looking at me like that.”
Almost in unison, both Harry and Hermione asked “What do you mean?”
“Like I’m dead, or dying.” The sarcasm in her voice made Draco crack a small smile. He knew she hated pity. She never wanted/asked for help from anyone. So, he could see very quickly that she was going to start to get irritated at everyone dotting on her. Even though she truly needs it at the moment.
Jamie paused and scrunched her brows together and then her eyes got wide. “Wait, I’m not actually dying, right?”
Harry and Hermione let out a relieved sigh and Harry softly chuckled. “No, you're not dying.” Harry paused as he looked at his sister. He could tell she was in pain but he was just happy that she was still acting normal. Or, so he thought. “How are you feeling?”
“Well, as I was telling Malfoy, my body hurts, I cant breath and these beds fucking suck. Other than that, I'm just brilliant.”
“Ouch, back to calling me ‘Malfoy’ already I see.” Draco said while he dramatically threw his hand onto his chest like he had been hit. “My feelings are hurt.”
Jamie begrudgingly rolled her eyes over to Draco. “Oh cry me a river. You'll get over it.” she looked back over to Hermione, whose expression was of nothing but relief. “So, I'm up. When am I able to get out of here?”
Hermione immediately tensed up again. She knew Jamie and she knew she wasn't going to like the answer she was about to give her. “Well, uhh…”
“Oh for Merlin’s sake Hermione.” Jamie hated hospitals. The faster she could get an answer out of Hermione, the faster she could get back to Romania and figure out where her dragon and the eggs went.
“We are going to keep you overnight to monitor you. If your oxygen levels keep going up throughout today into tomorrow,” Hermione took in a deep breath before continuing. “You will probably be discharged by noon tomorrow.” Jamie threw her head back into the pillow and instantly regretted it.
“FUCK!” She yelled as she grabbed the back of her head. Draco and Theo went to help her but, not to Draco’s surprise, she waved them off. Jamie took a deep breath before she lost her mind. She was in pain and even more irritated at the fact that she could not leave. She ran her hands over her face and groaned. “Ugh, fine. But I'm out of here tomorrow. I have to get back to the reserve asap. I don't know how many eggs they took and-”
Harry and Hermione gave each other worried, uncomfortable looks that the others saw. Jamie had no clue as she rambled about how the eggs were supposed to hatch soon. Pansy almost knew what the two former Gryffindor's were thinking was not good and that Jamie was not going to like whatever they were thinking about saying. She sat on the side of the bed and took her friend’s hands. “Lets give your body a few more days to recuperate before you throw yourself back into Gods knows what.” Pansy was able to keep her cool while Harry couldn't stop fidgeting, Hermione couldn't look Jamie in the eyes.
Jamie raised her brows as she noticed everyone's demeanor changed again. “For fucks sa- Why do you guys keep looking at me like I'm about to spontaneously combust?” The room went silent as everyone else looked at one another.
Pansy was quick to answer for everyone. Whatever was going to be said to Jamie within the next few days, or weeks even, Jamie wasn't going to like it. “Nothing darling, we are just.. In shock that you're okay, That's all.”
For once, Jamie had nothing to say. She just squeezed Pansy’s hand and let off a small grin. “Well, I guess one more night won't kill me. At this point, it can't get any worse.”
April 20th, 2003 (Easter Sunday)
Jamie was about to lose her mind. Staying at the Burrow for a week wasn't not the ideal situation for her. She loved Molly with all her heart but man, the woman was smothering the poor girl. “Mum, it’s been over a week! I'm fine!” She was even more irritable than when she was in the hospital. Seven days without smoking, drinking and dabbling in the muggle herb that Charlie introduced her to. A solid week of nothing to take the edge off. Draco and the others have been in and out of the Burrow to see Jamie, except one particular person that she was eager to see.
“Jamie Lily Potter, those things will kill you!” Molly scolded and she ripped the unopened pack of cigarettes out of Jamie’s hands.
“MUM?!”
“Don't you start with me young lady. Hermione said no smoking. Your lungs are-”
“Still healing and I don't want to cause any more damage to them than I already have. Yes mother, I was there for the conversation.” Jamie sarcastically spit out, which she immediately regretted.
Molly took a deep breath and sighed. She knew Jamie was having a hard time. But, Molly was doing what Molly did best. Taking care of others. “Dear, why don't you go for a walk. Everyone else will be showing up within the hour.”
Jamie rolled her eyes as she slowly got up out of the dining chair. She was still sore, but nowhere near where she was. Jamie turned around to Molly and almost all of her anger and irritation dissipated. “I’m sorry. I know you're just trying to help, mum..”
“Oh my dear, you have nothing to be sorry for.” Molly immediately pulled Jamie in for a hug and rubbed her back. “Go on. I have everything else taken care of.”
Jamie scoffed and smiled at the same time. “Fine. But if I miss Harry proposing to Ginny I’m telling everyone that you were the one to tell me to go outside.”
“Oh you!” Molly jokingly scolded as she shooed her daughter out the door. Just as Jamie started to walk towards the field, CRACK.
“Well well well. Isn't it the most famous dragon tamer of our generation.” Jamie instantly recognized the male voice and she whipped her head around.”
“BLAISE!” Jamie yelled as she ran towards him. She threw her arms around his waist and squeezed him hard. “What the hell are you doing here?!”
Blaise chuckled as he squeezed her back. “A little snake told me you were losing your mind here. So,” As Blaise was talking, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a little baggy with green stuff in it.
“Oh Godric thank you! I need- wait, what is-” She answered her own question when she opened the bag and smelled nothing but skunk. “First of all, thank you. And second, Charlie is a snitch.” She huffed as she shoved the baggie into the back pocket of her jeans. Out of all her friends, she hadn't seen Blaise the longest.
“Well, he was the one to tell me that you were going absolutely mental. I just made an educated guess on what you needed.” Said Blaise as he smirked. “Happy Easter by the way.”
Jamie smiled up at Blaise. She was just happy to see all of her friends again even though she knew that in the back of her head, she had work she needed to be doing. “Happy Easter, Blaise.” It didn't take her long to rip open the pack of cigarettes and started walking while Blaise followed. “Come on. If I get caught, Molly won't hesitate to ground you too.”
Blasie scoffed at her comment. “We are adults in our early twenties..?”
“Do you think that's going to stop Mrs. Weasley?” She scoffed back. “She threatened Theo the other day when he kept eating the cookies before dinner.”
“Good thing I have to leave here soon then.” Blaise smirked as Jamie proceeded to smack his arm. “Ow! Come on now, I just brought you gifts!”
“And for that, Mr. Zambini, I'm eternally grateful.” Jamie’s sarcastic tone and almost perfect curtsy made Blaise snort.
“And since when did you become so lady-like?”
Jamie shrugged as she put a cigarette in between her lips. “Honestly, not sure. Last Tuesday?” She muttered as she snapped her fingers to light the cigarette. While she hated the pain of inhaling (and cursing her mother for being right) she felt the tense stress she's been having melt away.
As they walked, they talked about seemingly almost nothing. Just catching up. Blaise talked about his new position with the Tutshill Tornados. Jamie talked about all the different dragons she took care of. After all these years, Blaise could never actually wrap his head around what Jamie actually did for work.
“So, you’re basically a glorified dragon nanny?” Blaise taunted while Jamie proceeded to throw him a scowl before laughing at the comment herself.
This is why Jamie loved her friends. They were all just as sarcastic as she was. She could joke, laugh and honestly at times, be complete idiots together. While her eighth year at Hogwarts was hard on her mentally, she had new friends to help pick her back up after the war. And she did the same for them.
Before Jamie could come up with a comeback, they heard Molly yelling for them to come in. “Well, that’s my cue to leave.” Blaise stated while stretching his arms out.
“Do you have to? I’m going to lose my mind if I don’t get out of here.”
“Now now, don’t say that.” Blaise cooed, patting Jamie on the head like she was a small child. Dramatically, she swatted away Blaise’s hand. “I know you’ll hate yourself if you miss the scar head proposing to Ginny.”
“You know he has a name.” She retorted. “But you’re right. Hopefully in a few more days I’ll be out of here.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Well if it were me, I’d stay for a while before you go running back off to Romania.”
“JAMIE LILY POTTER!”
Jamie groaned and with a flick of her wrist, the cigarette was gone. “I’ll think about it.”
Almost immediately, a cheeky smile spread across Blaise’s face. “Good. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, yeah?”
“I will see you tomorrow.” He replied before he apparated away.
April 23rd, 2003
Easter and Harry’s marriage proposal went off without a hitch. While Jamie was eager to get back to Romania, she was content with spending time with her friends and family. She was finally not sore and everything was healing up nicely. She figured since she was better, she could start getting things together to head back to Romania.
Jamie was in her own world while she packed up her stuff. She was able to convert one of Arthur’s muggle radios to be able to play music from her iPod. Everyone was fascinated by the piece of muggle technology. Ginny, of course, was more interested in the type of music Jamie listened to. “They sound angry.”
“What do you mean, Gin?” Jamie asked while she continued ripping through drawers in her and Ginny’s room. “I mean, it's Linkin Park. That's just kinda how it sounds, I don't know.” Jamie giggled while turning the music down.
“They are yelling a lot. Don't get me wrong, I like it. It’s just-”
“Different?” Jamie chuckled while plopping down next to Ginny on her bed.
“Hah, yeah.” Ginny said while laying back and snatching up the little black looking rectangle. “How do you even get music on this anyways?”
“Oh, you just hook it up to a computer.” Ginny looked at Jamie like she had three heads. When Jamie left for Romania, she integrated herself more into muggle society. To her, they weren't really any different from them. Besides, they had some pretty cool gadgets that Jamie had no issue with purchasing. “Speaking of,” Jamie said while laying back with Ginny. “I'm going to get you guys a computer as a wedding present I've decided.”
Ginny laughed and shook her head. “How would I even use it? How does it work? What does-” Ginny kept rambling off questions until Jamie promptly covered Ginny's mouth with her hand.
“This is why you have a fiancé who was raised in the muggle world to teach you all these things.” Jamie let go of Ginny's face after she swatted her hand away. “Plus, it could really help with your quidditch stuff.”
“Wait, what do you mean-” Before Ginny could finish, Molly came into their room. “Sweetheart, can you please come downstairs?” Jamie and Ginny looked at each other with confusion and almost worry. Whenever their mother asked them to come downstairs, that usually meant that both of them were in trouble.
“Oh Godric, what did we do now?” Jamie dramatically drawled out while sitting back up. Once she saw the look of worry wiped across Molly’s face, she knew it wasn't good.
“Nothing dear. We just need to talk to you.”
“Um, alright... I'll be down in a second.” Jamie was unsure of what “we” meant. Ginny gave her a just as confused look and went downstairs.
Once they got to the living room, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Pansy, Arthur, Charlie and Molly were all sitting or standing around the coffee table. “Oh, hey Pans,” said Jamie while looking around to all the unsure, worried eyes looking at her. “What's going on? This looks like an intervention.” Jamie chuckled while sitting down next to Pansy on the couch.
Once Jamie was sitting, Charlie moved closer to her. The way he was behaving cautiously made her start to worry. Charlie took a deep breath before he started talking. “So, I talked to Kingsley and the Minister for Magic in Romania about the raid. While talking with them, there have been other raids around the world of dragons and dragon eggs being stolen.”
Jamie’s uncertainty quickly turned to anger as she thought of Vidar. “Okay? That's all the more reason we need to get back and start figuring out where they are all going.” She could feel that all eyes were on her and Charlie. The tension in the room was growing quite quickly.
“That's why I'm leaving tonight to head back and help the investigation at the sanctuary. The only thing is-”
Jamie slapped her lap and stood up quickly. “Great. I'm already packed. We can head out now and hopeful-”
Charlie put a hand on her shoulder which made her stop talking. The look on his face was nothing but guilt. “That's the thing, they uhh-” Charlie started rubbing the back of his neck. Everyone was looking at Jamie like she was a ticking time bomb, and they had good reason.
“Oh Merlin Charlie, just spit it out!”
“Kingsley and Mr. Codrin think it's best if you uhh..” Charlie started backing up. Jamie's face was getting red with anger and everyone was preparing for it. “For- for your safety, they think it's best if you stay here for the time being..”
Silence. You could hear a pin drop. Jamie’s breathing was getting faster and faster as her knuckles started to turn white. “My safety? What the bloody fucking hell do you mean safety!” There was no slow build up to her anger. She was immediately screaming at everyone in the room. “That's fucking bullshite Charlie! Even you bloody know that!”
Molly stepped forward to try and calm Jamie down but that wasn't going to work. Charlie grabbed her shoulders to try and keep her from losing it. “It’s not a secret that you have an unusual bond with dragons. People know that you have an easier time controlling them than others. They think that-”
“No, they don’t fucking think anything! They can’t just take my job that I WORKED SO HARD AT FOR THESE LAST FUCKING FOUR YEARS AND THAT I NEE-”
Pansy prompt stood up and stood in between her and Charlie. “You need to listen to him, Jamie.” Her unintentional snarky tone made Jamie turn her anger on to Pansy.
“Oh and what the fuck do you know Pans?!”
Pansy wasn't afraid to fight Jamie back. She was the only one that seemed to be able to at least try and get her to listen. Not sit back in the corner and cower with uncertainty. “This isn't just about the raids Jamie, you know that.”
“Shut the fuck up Pansy..” Jamie practically growled. Harry tried to hold her back but Hermione just silently shook her head and grabbed his hand to sit back down.
“No, I’m not going to fucking shut up because you're literally killing yourself there! I mean come on!” Pansy was now screaming at the same level as Jamie. They were so close that they were almost touching noses. Both of their eyes burning with anger. “YOU NEED A FUCKING BREAK!”
“OH FUCK OFF PANSY! THAT'S MY JOB AND THAT'S WHAT I DO!”
Pansy took a step back before she started beating the ever living shite out of her best friend. “Charlie told us.”
It stopped. The yelling. The anger. It all suddenly stopped as Jamie looked between Pansy and Charlie with fear and betrayal. “You fucking promised Charlie!” Jamie lunged for him before being pulled back by Harry and Ron. “YOU FUCKING BASTARDS LET ME GO!” Tears were continuously falling from her face as she struggled against her brothers.
“Jamie you were fucking spiraling! You were killing yourself with doing nothing but working after the fact, and you don't even-”
Jamie was able to break free from Harry and Ron, standing toe to toe with Charlie and poking her index finger into his chest. “That story wasn't for you to fucking tell! I DONT CARE WHO YOU TOLD YOU FUCKING PROMISED ME! It’s my fucking life and I’ll do whatever I fucking want with it!”
Before anyone got a chance to stop her, she ran outside and apparated away. Charlie groaned loudly while running his hands through his long, red hair. “That didn't end well..” he sighed while he leaned up against the house.
Still red faced, Pansy rolled her eyes at Charlie and crossed her arms. “No shite, dragon boy.”