𝕒𝕤𝕡í𝕕𝕒 | shield

The Beginning of the End

September 2nd, 1978

It was a cold day in the English Countryside. Summer was quickly falling away, leaving behind grey skies and wilting flowers. It was like an omen, Sally Jackson thought wryly, trekking up the muddied path.

She glanced over her shoulder instinctively. Her forearm tingled; they were drawing nearer. She could only hope her friend, Mary McDonald, had given her the correct address.

She swallowed thickly as the wind picked up. Her hair swept into her face and around the bundle of blankets cradled against her chest. Percy stirred in his sleep, fussing, and Sally gently rocked him, picking up the pace. "Hush, my love," she whispered. "You'll be alright."

As she climbed over the next hill, the mansion came into view. Sally breathed a small sigh of relief, arms tightening around her child. It was beautiful: red and brown bricks, windows and plants of all kinds at the base of the walls. It was modest and homely, much like Sally's own home. Mary was right, Sally deduced. This was definitely Potter Manor.

It wouldn't be long now, she knew. They'd already killed her parents, and her brother lost his life giving her time. Only the thought of her child's safety kept her moving ahead of grief's clutches. Even so, she knew she was next. The Jackson family was no friend of Voldemort's; not after all the secrets they had given.

The wind whistled in warning. Sally gulped down her fear and kept going. She couldn't stop. Not now.

In an instant, there was a crack!

Sally stopped short, wide-eyes facing Severus Snape — her ex-best friend. His beady eyes locked onto hers, and fear cut into her chest. He hadn't changed since she last saw him.

Next to him stood a shorter woman with long blonde hair and pointed features that Sally recognized from school at once: Narcissa Black. Just as dangerous as her sister Bellatrix, only a little... calmer. Sally stepped back, holding Percy to her chest with one arm and drawing her wand with the other, pointing it at the Death Eaters.

Death Eaters like her, her subconscious whispered.

Sally swallowed thickly, but her wand did not waver. "Get out of my way, or I'll kill you."

Sev sneered and Narcissa giggled. "How dare you, you traitor!"

"Oh Severus," Narcissa teased, "she won't do it."

"Expeliarmus!" Sally shot back, but Snape blocked her with a wave of his wand and shot one back, which Sally barely dodged.

She fell back, panting hard, and Percy stirred in his sleep. She shushed him hurriedly, but it was too late: he was awake.

"Just turn yourselves over, Sally, and He will spare you," Snape drawled. Sally didn't believe him for a minute.

At that moment, Percy chose to cry. He wailed as though he knew what was at stake: his life, and hers.

"Hand over the child," Snape continued, "the Dark Lord can sense his power."

Sally won't pretend she didn't notice Narcissa's frown.

"I will not give up my child to him!"

"He will get him either way," Snape said. "Just make it easier, Sally. Come back to us, and you will be forgiven, and Percy will be spared."

"Never."

Severus raised his wand, and Sally did too. She clutched a wailing Percy close to her chest, preparing for the worst. However, the shot never came.

Sally opened her eyes —when had she even closed them?— and looked down the path at the Death Eaters. To her surprise, Narcissa was holding Severus' wand wrist in a vice-like grip. Her face was no longer playful and taunting, but cold and certain. Severus and Narcissa locked eyes, and Sally barely heard her words. "He's just a boy, Severus. He's a baby."

"And? He has power that the Dark Lord desires!"

"He's a child!" Narcissa said firmly, before turning back to Sally. "Deliver him to his family. Then run. We will catch you... but your son will be safe." 

After a long moment of silence, Sally let out a shaky nod. Percy calmed somewhat. "Okay. Thank you, Narcissa."

The blonde nodded, before grabbing Severus' wrist once more and disappearing with a crack!

Breathing quickly, Sally took off at a sprint up the driveway to the front door of Potter Manor. The building was beautiful and welcoming, but Sally knew she couldn't stay. She stopped before the door, a simple red one with a peep-hole and a fancy handle. Sally breathed shakily as she pulled Percy from her chest and looked down at him.

He was perfect. A perfect baby. He looked back at her with the greenest, purest eyes. She could only hope he would grow up to be better than she was — better than their family. She hoped he would have courage, he would surely need it with Poseidon as a father. But whoever he would be, she would always love him all the same.

Sally Jackson leaned forward and kissed Percy's forehead. She forced her tears back as she placed him on the doorstep. She left a set of envelopes beneath his blanket: one for Lily and James, one for Severus and Mary, and the last one for Percy himself. She could only hope that he would forgive her when it was time.

The sun was setting and the cold seeping in. Sally knocked firmly on the wooden door before turning and sprinting down the garden. She heard the tell-tale sound of hinges and a gasp of, "Percy!" from Lily Potter, and then, Sally Jackson had disappeared with a crack!