A/N: Chapter nine... chapter nine... chapter nine... I hope you're enjoying and please review. Do you like the edited version of the story?

Also I have a facebook account now for my fanfiction updates and comments so if you want to add me then feel free! Just search for Twombie Awdur.

"I love you."

Severus stroked Jessica's hair back from her face. It had been several days since the Ministry of Magic debacle and he had thought she would have snapped out of it by now. He spent most of his time by her side, whispering soft words of love and comfort in her ear while sometimes begging her to wake up. Order and Rebel members popped in and out of the house during the first three days to check if she was awake. Eventually Severus had banned them from the house. Dumbledore had visited and he offered to revive her with potions and spells but Severus had politely declined. He wanted Jessica to be okay on her own terms or she never would fully come back from Sirius' death.

All those visitors and Severus just kept saying the same things. She would be okay. She was sleeping it off. He would let everyone know once she was awake. He was fine. He wasn't worried because it was just shock. Time and time again he gave the same answers until everyone was banned from his home to give his daughter the rest and quiet she needed. All those times he had wanted to say the words that were dancing at the end of his tongue; he wanted to unleash his selfish fury. He wanted to scream at them and scream at Jessica but he hadn't, he couldn't do that to her even though he was so angry.

He hated himself for being angry but he couldn't help but resent that Jessica had felt so strongly about Sirius' death. She hadn't just been upset – she had been devastated. It was almost like she was in a coma because of it and he hated her for that. He hated himself for hating her. He had raised her. He had been there for every tantrum; every fever; every diaper. He had been her hero when she had fallen and scraped her knees and he had been her mentor when she had needed guidance. He had been the one who had sobbed when he had to send her away to a school overseas because she needed the necessary training. He had been the one who had to be hard on her so that she could save the brat "chosen one" and he had been the one to tell her it may cost her everything – including her life.

He wiped his eyes and stood up, moving to the window. He glared at the house next door in the hope that his very thoughts would send it up in flames. He clenched his fists. Sirius had seen her for only a handful of times since Potter had saved him and her she was, completely broken about his death. He let out a shaky sigh and turned to leave the room to make some tea. He stumbled and raised a hand to his chest, catching his breath as he saw Jessica sitting up hugging her knees.

Jessica didn't look up as she said quietly, "Sorry, I never meant to scare you." Severus lowered his hand and resumed his stoic posture, "its okay. I just wasn't expecting you up so soon." Jessica stared at the blanket covering her feet, squeezing her legs softly, "How long has it been?" Severus moved to sit in the chair beside her bed, "A few days. I think it's been about five." Jessica nodded and they sat in silence for a moment. Severus watched her and he felt his anger subside. He couldn't hate her because she was his. He reached out and stroked her hair gently, "Do you want to talk about it?" Jess sniffed and rested her nose against her knees, the cute way she had when she was young, "Do you hate me?" Severus was taken aback by the question that he had never before been asked. Severus took a deep breath and said quietly, "of course not Jessica, why would you ask such an absurd question?"

Jessica looked up at him with tear filled eyes and when she spoke her voice cracked, "Because I know you and you looked at that house like you look at your students and I know it's... it's my fault isn't it? I messed up and Potter's dead and it's my fault." She started to sob. Severus couldn't stop himself from wrapping his arms around Jessica and burying his face in her hair. She curled up against him and sobbed into his shoulder, "I'm sorry dad. I tried so hard and..." she shook in his arms, "I tried! I tried so hard and I failed you." Severus stroked her hair, "Oh my darling child, you didn't fail me. You didn't fail anyone. Potter is fine, he's at Hogwarts. I'm not mad at you." Jessica lets out a deep shaky breath and says quietly, "but you were mad. I saw..." Severus's shushes her and rocks her softly in his arms, "I was really mad but not at you, not because of you." Jessica nods slowly.

Severus didn't care how much time passed, he simply held his daughter and rocked her until her breathing was calm and her tears had stopped. He let her go gently and stood, "I'll go put the kettle on for some tea" he said gently, fussing over her blankets. Jessica leaned back against the pillows and looked out the window, "He's dead." Severus didn't look up but he nodded as he tucked the blankets around her. Jessica hugged herself, "I just froze. I wanted to follow Potter and I wanted to make sure he was okay but..." Severus swallowed and said quietly, "But he's dead. Sirius... your biological father is dead." He tried his hardest not to sound bitter because she was upset. Jessica looked up quickly and shook her head, "No... No dad he... well he was my biological father but he wasn't my father." She said quietly. Severus looked up at her.

Jessica wiped her eyes and said quietly, "I just... I wanted to know about my mom and he was the only one who could tell me what she was like. Losing him was like..." She looks away. Severus sat on the bed, "Was like losing her?" Jess snorts and says, "I'm weak. I'm pathetic. I'm supposed to be the one who helps Potter defeat the Dark Lord and I flake because someone who I didn't know my whole life dies." Severus takes her hand and squeezes it softly, "You are a strong young lady Jessica. Don't ever think that you're weak and pathetic because you have taken on far more than most people take on at your age and you have done an amazing job so far." Jessica stares at his hand over hers and nods. Severus asks quietly, "Why didn't you ever ask me about your mother Jess?" Jess shrugs, "I always thought you'd get upset. I know you hated Sirius so I don't even want to imagine what you thought about my mom. The only thing I know about her is that she was a Pureblood."

Severus' nods and says quietly, "She was an amazing woman. Not unlike yourself in a lot of ways, she loved breaking the rules and she was great at everything she did." Jess looks surprised as she looks up at Severus before she asks quietly, "Did you know my mom?" Severus smiles and replies, "Know her? We were practically best friends in school. Then she started seeing your father and we had a few fights but we stayed in touch." Jess looked surprised before saying shakily, "how come you never told me?" Severus looked up into her eyes, "Because I need you to be focused. I need you to be hard. I need you to be able to do anything and sacrifice anyone, including me, in order to see this through." Jess swallowed and said quietly, "I do try to..." Severus cut her off and said, "But I will tell you everything I know and answer every question." Jess' eyes widened and swallowed as he continued, "on the condition that you promise me that after I do this you go back to that house and you confront everyone and you make them respect you. They do not get to pity you because you froze or because he's dead. You see this through Jess okay?" Jessica nods and sits up, crossing her legs and watching him intently.

Severus took a deep breath and started, "She was absolutely gorgeous. You look just like her. She had long black hair and her eyes were beautiful..."