Lady Black (Sirius Black's Daughter)

Strange illnesses

Disclaimer : all characters and places belong to J.K. Rowling except for Jane Black.

It had been a few weeks since the first task and Charlie's departure. I have started taking sleep potions again.
I have tried for a couple of nights to sleep without them but the memories would just come back and I would wake up kicking and screaming. It's a good thing I can cast a muffliato spell.
I think Lucius' taunting at the world cup just opened up my past to me and since I've never really processed it my unconscious is trying to do it now. Stupid brain.

The first few nights went okay with the potion. I would wake up well rested and not be sick not even a little bit. Then it became a bit bad. I would wake up with my head spinning. But that always only lasted a few minutes and then I would be fine again.

Yeah today it has become horrendous. I can hardly stand let alone walk. After ten minutes I decided to just bite my tung and get through it. I had classes to teach!

I skipped breakfast, knowing that I wasn't going to eat anything anyway and made my way to my classroom. The nausea came back and I sat down on my desk.
Just hold on Jane. Everything will be fine.
By the time the class entered I had put on a brave face and started my lesson. It was Ginny's class.
"Good morning everyone. Have you all finished your essays?" They nodded and started passing it to the front. I collected it and put it on my desk.
"Now today I am going to teach you about the history of Gringots. As you all know Gringots is a wizarding bank runned by goblins. There are lots of vaults and the oldest vaults have extra protection." I saw someone raise their hand and nodded at him to speak up.
" What kind of protection professor?"
" Well some vaults are protected by dragons and on your way you have to go through a potion which makes any false appearances dissapeare. Now the oldest vaults are usually owned by purebloods and -" I was hit by a wave of nausea. Oh damn not in front of class. Oh Jane don't throw up in front of them. Do something!
" I want you to look up everything you can find about Gringots and write down some questions. Class dismissed!"
They didn't move they just looked at me. Some seemed shocked of the abrupt ending, some seemed worried and some were just curious.
" Are you alright? " Ginny asked.
"I'm fine, Ginny. Now everyone class dismissed! " they still didn't move and I felt another wave of nausea coming. Oh god.
" Everyone out now!" I bellowed. They took their stuff and hastily left.

After the last person was out, I closed the door and transfigured an ink bottle to a bucket.

I threw up. It was horrible. I've never felt so sick in my life! I charmed the bucket so it would never be full. And just stayed there on the ground until someone opened the door and the twins walked in with wide eyes. I was about to console them and tell them I was fine when I threw up again. Oh I hate being sick!
The twins looked at me, worry written all over them and nodded at eachother. Fred left and George came to me and rubbed my back.
"Ginny came to get us. We were in the middle of transfiguration but she looked so helpless Mcgonagall let us go. Why didn't you tell us you were sick?"
" I'm fine Georgie. It'll pass. I'll be better in no time!" I tried to smile reassuringly but it came out more as a grimace.
George rubbed my back some more and held my hair back which I now notice was a pale brown. Not a minute later Fred walks in with Poppy.
" My dear, Jane what happened? "
I shrugged.
" I'm fine Poppy. See I'm all better." I said while standing up. I immediately regretted it and took hold of George's arm to steady myself. I looked back at Poppy and she conjured a stretcher. Before I could object George had scooped me up and put me on it. I groaned but seeing Poppy's glare stayed put. She moved me to the hospital wing and started examining me after she send the boys away.

"Jane do you know what might have caused this?" I was going to lie. There is no way in hell I'm going to tell her I'm basically a dreamless sleep potions addict 'cause of the nightmares of Lucius torturing me.
" I probably just ate something bad last night or so. I'll be fine." She gave me a disbelieving look and sighed. She isn't going to let this go anytime soon.
" I think it's best you stay here tonight Jane, until we figure out what it is." I shook my head at her. I'm not staying here. Nu uh. Not gonna happen.
"I'm fine. I don't feel sick anymore and I have classes to teach so I'm just gonna go." I wanted to stand up but she just pushed me down again. After struggling for a while I just stopped.
Ten minutes later she went to get something from her little office and I took my chance. I was just around the cornor of the hallway when I heard her yell my name. Whoops, I quess I'm not a good girl.
I made my way to my class and started my lesson seeing as everyone was already there.

The next couple of days the same thing happened basically every morning with the difference that I just apparated to the bathroom to throw up and then come back to my class to teach. The effects of the potion usually ended after a few hours so by the time my second class ended I was always fine again. The students however seemed worried about me. It's not every year they have a teacher that interrupt her classes to be sick for a few moment and then come back to go on as if nothing happened. Oh well if I can live with it then they can to.

George's POV
It was breakfast and again there was no sign of Jane. She hasn't been to breakfast in two weeks and Ginny told us she still gets sick during class. We wouldn't know because we only have her in the afternoon and then she always seems fine, a bit tired and pale but fine otherwise.

"George?"
" Huh what?" I look around to see who called on me when Harry says my name again.
"George do you know what's going on with Jane?" I shook my head. He sighed.
" Perhaps I should tell Sirius. He's her father. He might know what's up."
If it were anybody else I would agree without a second thought but this is Jane. She doesn't even speak to her father anymore. I locked eyes with Fred to see what he's thinking. He nods at me and I know we agree. He answers Harry.
" Jane is probably going to be mad at you for telling her dad but we agree that it's our last resort." Then suddenly Ginny pipes up.
" What if we ask mum? We can tell her what we know and perhaps she knows. Maybe Jane is just ill or something. "
I beam at my little sister sometimes she has such good ideas. Fred takes out some parchment and begins to write.

A dew days later we get an answer.

Dear Fred & George
I get why you're worried but I'll handle it. I am going to talk to Sirius about it 'cause her symptoms give me an idea of what's going on. Now I don't want to spread false suspicions so I'm first going to talk to Sirius and perhaps Remus about it. Don't worry too much.
Love Mum

This letter is absolutely worthless. And she's going to tell Sirius which is exactly what we wanted to avoid. Jane is going to be so pissed at us.