welcome to the panic room

[Jackson Davies]

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” The crickets were chirping in the night and Jackson turned his head to gaze at his friend, thinking about the question for a moment before fixing his eyes back on the stars above them. He didn’t know exactly what direction he wanted his career to take, he just knew that he wanted it to be something worthwhile. “I want to be someone great,” he said after a few moments, a small smile playing on his lips. Matteo just laughed. “That’s all?” He gave an affirmative nod, knowing as soon as the words slipped off his tongue that that was exactly what he wanted. Nothing less and nothing more, just to be great. Matty let out a heavy sigh, looking back to the sky. “I want to work with creatures.” Jackson snorted. “Yeah, big guy, I know.”

---

“Jackson Davies,” came a booming voice from high up on the benches of the courtroom. Steeling himself, he stepped forward, cuffs wrapped around his wrists. In the crowd there was a sea of unfamiliar faces and Jack had never felt more alone. He was directed to a chair in the middle of the room and forced to sit down, the chains clanging together with the movement, echoing against the walls. There was no escaping his fate now. “You stand accused of casting an Unforgivable curse. How do you plead?” He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching, and simply glared at the wizard speaking. There was no use denying it, but they weren’t going to catch him admitting it, either. The room was silent for a few moments before witnesses were called to the stand. One by one, they spoke of how twisted he’d become, the attack on Valentine’s day, how the original attacker showed signs of being Imperiused, and, lastly, how Avery caught him red-handed with the Cruciatus curse, the last spell his wand cast. They wanted to know where he learned it all, but Jackson kept his lips sealed. In fact, he hadn’t spoken a word since he’d been caught and arrested. There was no point, his fate was sealed the moment Avery took his wand.

---

“Honey, you have to slow down!” His mother laughed as he pulled her along the cobbled streets of Diagon Alley, eagerly looking for Ollivander’s. “I want my wand!” he replied excitedly, giggling as his father lifted him up and started to carry him in the right direction. “Alright, alright, we’ll get there just be patient.” The old man was waiting for them when they arrived, smiling coyly at the young boy. “Ahh, you must be Jackson Davies.” Jack nodded happily. “I think I have just the wand for you.”

---

He watched as the court picked up his wand – hawthorn, dragon heartstring, eleven inches, slightly springy - and he flinched as they snapped it in half. They had used a spell to determine that he, indeed, used the Imperius curse and Sectumsempra. Jackson’s heart lurched at the sight of his broken wand, remembering the moment he received it. It was the first wand they tried out, a warm breeze passing through the shop as soon as he grabbed it. Ollivander had told him he’d never seen a more perfect match, but he was sure that he was just saying that.

---

“Jack, I can’t tell you how sorry I am.” Jackson, with dead eyes and hollowed cheeks, slowly looked up from his meal at his best friend. A deep scowl marred his features and he just shook his head, returning his attention to pushing his food around on his plate. He wasn’t hungry - he couldn’t eat even if he wanted to. Matteo sat down across from him, concern written all over his face. “Jackson, please. Don’t shut me out, I just want to help.” He snorted bitterly, not bothering to look up again. “Don’t, Cappello. Just. Don’t.”

---

“For use of the Unforgivables and committing hate crimes against a werewolf, we hereby sentence you to life in Azkaban.” Jackson tried to swallow past the lump in his throat, but his mouth was so dry that there was nothing there to swallow. Please, Vader, help him. The guards started to come toward him, wands at the ready, and he started to panic. This was it, he was going to prison and never escaping. For the rest of his life, he’d have to relive the moment his family died over and over and over again. Tears started to well in his eyes and, for the first time in days, he spoke, “Please, don’t!”

Just as the guards had reached him, grabbed him by the arms, one bystander stood from their seat. It was an old man wearing dark robes, but those eyes… They seemed so familiar. Suddenly, huge gusts of wind appeared in the courtroom, whipping through the crowd and throwing the guards back against the walls. "Diffindo!" The cuffs fell from his wrists. Jackson, realizing what was happening, just started to laugh. His laughter got louder, more hysterical as a whirlwind picked him up and he felt himself be transported away. Before he knew it, there was a hand on his wrist and he folded in on himself from his belly button, being Apparated to a safe location.

They landed just outside the Delano’s residence, the old man’s face was morphing, turning back into the beautiful witch who called him her own. Jackson kneeled in front of her, tears slipping past his eyelids and trickling down his face. “Thank you, Vader,” he said devotedly. Her fingers touched his chin, tilting his head back so she could look at him. “Jackson… You’re free.” More tears started to flow from his eyes and she reached into her pocket, procuring a small black wand with a cat engraved on the handle. “This is for you, use it wisely.” Slowly, he rose from his spot, taking the wand with his right hand and inspecting it. It was an old thing, stubborn he could tell, and quite beautiful. He wondered who it had belonged to, but didn’t ask any questions. Instead, he looked back to Vader with sparkling eyes. “I won’t fail you.”