Jacob Walker was born with a 1-in-a-million form of dwarfism that doctors said would kill him by age 5. Now 10 years old, he’s helping other kids with low self-esteem
I have been shook to the core by this recent chapter so I decided to write a little blurb of Donna and Jacob Walker being reunited, only for him to leave again.
Spoilers for HPHM ahead so read with caution or don’t read at all Bc it jumps straight into the spoiler... sorz
Things to know before reading:
• Ben and Donna are best friends who have crushes on each other
• Merula and Donna are hella close by now and have even admitted feelings for eachother by the time they enter the vault
Once Merula reminded Donna that her brother was in the vault, she didn’t hesitate to run into the vault portrait. She pushed the betrayal in the back of her mind. She pushed the image of Merula hurting to the back of her mind, all so she could find her brother. This was the moment. She’d step into that vault and face the truth — whatever the hell that might be.
Donna froze before entering the vault. Would she find him dead, like Rakepick said he was? Like Merula mad half the Wizarding world had said all these years? Or would he be alive? And if he was alive, would he be the same as she remembered him? Would he be one of good guys? Or another Rakepick waiting to happen.
“What are you doing Walker?” Merula asked weakly from the ground. “Donna... go save your brother.”
Donna glanced back at her friends before gaining the courage needed to step into the vault. As she as she did, her eyes scanned the many potraits that hung inside.
“Jacob...?” She asked tentatively. “A-are you in here...”
“Belladonna...?” Donna heard from behind. “Is that... is that really you?”
She turned around, seeing her older brother for the first time in six years, standing inside a portrait. He was alive. His hair was much longer than the last time she had seen him and he looked more haggard and beaten than usual — but he was alive.
Donna ran to the portrait, placing her hands where his where pressed against the portrait. I’m that moment, she knew this was her brother. All doubts that he wasn’t who she remembered vanished as he looked at her with that same look of love and annoyance that only an older brother can look at his little sister with. He was really here.
“Jacob...” She hiccuped. “You’re —“
“Alive, yes! Now get me out of here pipsqueak — push that,” he pointed behind them, causing Donna to chuckle through the tears and push the center of the vault like he instructed.
Jacob fell forward, and before he could hit the ground, Donna was right there to catch him. “I-I really thought I had lost you,” she cried.
Jacob wrapped his arms around her, pulling his little sister into the tightest embrace they had ever shared. “I’m a lot harder to get rid of then that, Bellie.”
Donna rolled her eyes, pushing out the embrace and rubbing the tears away. “Prick, you know I hate that name.”
Jacob smirked. “Exactly... blimey have you grown.”
Donna smiled. “You haven’t,” she joked, referring to his height... or lack there of. “You’re hair has — you should definitely wash it.”
Jacob rolled his eyes, shoving his sister playfully. “Prat. Not as if there’s a shower in portrait world.”
Donna smiled. She wanted to hold onto this moment for all eternity. Her brother was back. This summer he would come home and the Walker family would be close to fixed. Dinner would no longer be silent and sullen but filled with the joy and laughter it use to be filled with. She would no longer have to listen to her mother cry herself to sleep. She would no longer have to watch her father drink himself to death. Everything would be as it was.
Charlie and Bill ran in then, prompting Jacob to push Donna behind his body in a move of protection.
“Stay back!” He shouted. “I don’t need a wand to knock you out!”
“Heel, Cobbler,” Donna said, moving from behind him. “They’re my friends — Bill and Charlie Weasley. They helped me get to you.”
Jacob looked from Donna to the two red headed boys before relaxing in stance. “Hope you don’t expect a thank you - you lot did take six years.”
Donna rolled her eyes, smiling fondly. “That’s his unique way of actually saying thank you.”
“No it’s not,” Jacob said.
“I definitely see the resemblance,” Bill said. “That attitude is definitely Walker Attitude.”
“Is she okay?!” Merula said, running into the vault. Her expression relaxed as her eyes landed on Donna, who stood happily next to her brother.
“Merula, what are you doing?” Donna asked, running to grab her arm to steady her. “You should be laying down.”
“And miss the chaotic family reunion?” Merula asked with a smirk. “Unlikely.”
“I tried to stop her,” Ben said, following in. “She wouldn’t listen to reason.”
“Blimey Bella — how many witches and wizards does it take to break one cursed vault,” Jacob said. Donna knew he was purposefully sounding like a prat, but his tone made him sound like he was just a prat in general.
“Rakepick apparently wanted insurance,” Bill muttered through gritted teeth. “Thought she could offer us as dragon food... I’m sorry I put you in danger Charlie..”
Donna cringed, feeling the betrayal like a punch to the gut. She should have seen it coming and scolded herself for being so stupid. But she was blinded by her words and caring gestures. Donna felt like a fool for trusting in her — allowing her to be a mentor to her....
“Rakepick?!” Jacob asked, his voice a scary kind of assertive. His tone alone was enough to shake them all to the core. “Where the bloody hell is she. I swear I’ll —“
“Jacob, she’s gone,” Donna said. “S-She left....”
Jacob shook her head. “I have to find her.”
“We will,” Donna said. “And we’ll make sure she pays for what she did - but right now —“
“No,” Jacob said with harsh certainty.
Donna stumbled back at reaction, hurt by his rejection.
“...No...?”
“There’s no ‘we’ in this, Belladonna,” he said. “I started this - and I’m going to end it.”
“But — but Jac... I-I can help you. W-We can find Ivy —“
“Ivy isn’t in any of the vaults!” Jacob snapped. His voice shaking the vault around them. “I was manipulated by Rakepick and R and.... I’m doing this on my own Donna - you’ll just get in my way.”
Donna blinked back the tears the prickled and stung in her eyes. She wasn’t liking where this was heading.
“Reed, you cant possibly be —“
“I’ll see you soon Bellie.” His voice list any harshness, filled with the kind of softness he reserved for her and her alone. “I promise.”
“Reed Jacob I swear don’t you—“
As Donna stepped forward, Jacob apparated out. Donna tried to catch him before he could fully leave, but Bill held her back.
“Let me go!” She screamed, thrashing in his arms.
“You’ll get splinched, Donna,” Billa said, holding tightly.
“I don’t care!” she cried, pushing harder against Bill’s grip. It wasn’t until Jacob was fully gone that Bill let go of her.
She collapsed to the ground where Jacob had stood a few seconds before.
“No!!” She screamed, slamming her fists on the ground. “No, no, no!!”
She punched the ground with every ‘no,’ the many portraits shaking as she let out a loud cry. He couldn’t be gone. Not when she had just gotten him back. Not like that. Not as if she didn’t mean anything to him.
Merula and Ben quickly made their way to her side, Ben reaching her first. He put a hand on her shoulder as he bent to his knees. “I-I’m sorry Donnie...”
“H-he can’t....” Donna mumbled, leaning her head on Ben’s chest.
“I-I knew he was a prat,” Merula said softly, biting her lip.
“Donna,” Bill spoke softly. “We should... we should find a way out of here — tell Dumbledore about Rake—“
“Don’t say her name,” Donna seethed.
“I’m sorry...” Bill said.
“H-he’s right though,” Charlie spoke. “Merula doesn’t look too good....”
Donna sniffled, wiping her cheeks before accepting Ben’s help to stand up. Her eyes glued onto the now empty portrait. When she found her brother again, she would bash him in the balls.
