The Ties That Bind

The Ties That Bind

Part 1, The First Rise

By Laura ([email protected])

Chapter 2: A Penny For Your Thoughts

"The Slytherin Common Room is down this way," Jeff Rin announced as his counterpart and the First Year Slytherins followed. Jeff was a tall, skinny 15-year old with a nearly balding head. He was the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, with the position of Beater. His twin sister Julie also attended Hogwarts and was a Prefect as well, and, to the amusement of many, was also a Quidditch Captain and Beater but for Slytherin's great rival, Gryffindor. Their father Adam Rin, the Minster of Magic, said at home they get along famously...until someone mentions Quidditch. Their opposing house placements never seemed to cause them problems either. Jeff and Julie never really interacted at school except when it came to all things Quidditch. And Jeff didn't need to protect her from the Slytherins who picked on her either. He dared them to pick on his sister. They would always end of up going to Madam Promphey's, whimpering, tail between their legs (and the tail was sometimes actually there).

The female Slytherin Prefect wouldn't have been Jessica's first choice. As a matter of fact, it would have been one below her last choice. It was her cousin, Maria Ziners. The daughter of the American Secretary of Magic, Maria was tall for her age, voluptuously shaped, with blonde hair and puckering red lips. All around, she looked like she stepped out of a fashion magazine. She though was intensely jealous of Jessica's position on the Dark Lord's list of priorities.

"The password is 'dragon skin.' Do not breathe this password to anyone. Gryffindor would sell their parents for a chance to get in here and hear all our Quidditch secrets," Jeff said with a small smile.

Some kids chuckled, some didn't, and some made some nasty remarks on the Gryffindors.

* * *

"Marcus, you scoundrel," Brittany giggled, hitting him on the shoulder as he kissed her neck. Marcus Potter growled playfully. "We're at work," she tried again, seeming to lose a little of her fight. The couple had found a few silent moments in Marcus's personal office, and he wasn't about to waste them doing work.

"So?" He asked against her mouth before he took possession of it again.

A second later, Marcus decided if there was something that acted as a cold shower such as his son walking in on Marcus making out with his wife, it was a knock on his office door. He and Brittany jumped apart, quickly working at straightening their clothes, Britt having a little more to do than Marcus. He smiled at that, and she smacked his shoulder again. He went over to sit behind his desk before shouting, "Who is it?" Britt sat at the chair across from him. Both had trouble fighting guilty grins.

"Ar-Arth-Arthur Weasely," came a meek, nervous voice.

Brittany gave Marcus a confused look. He just shrugged. Both knew who he was, but both thought it odd that a grunt in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department would be seeking out an Auror of Marcus's status.

"Come in!"

The smallish, red-haired man poked his head in. He looked between wife and husband before asking quietly, "Is this a bad time? I could come back later."

Marcus suppressed a chuckle. "No, it's a fine time." He gestured towards the empty seat next to Brittany. "What can I do for you today, Arthur?"

Arthur took a tentative step towards the seat, wringing his hands, stopping, wringing his hands again, and finally coming forward to sit.

"Um...uh, Sir--"

"Marcus, please."

Arthur nodded before hesitantly starting again. "Marcus," he seemed a little more at ease...not much, but enough to start talking without stalling every two seconds. "I believe that you, uh, know Jessica Ziners...um...Daniel Montgomery's niece?"

Marcus nodded.

"My wife, Molly, is her Godmother. Well...We're really worried about her, and we were, uh, wondering if you could...help."

Marcus and Brittany exchanged a look before Marcus asked, "Perhaps, you could explain your worry...what it might be about."

Arthur looked down a long time before he spoke again, but he didn't look Marcus in the eye right away. "Jessica spent the week before Hogwarts started with my wife and me and our two sons. We had suspected something before, but it was...pretty much confirmed for us during that week."

"What was confirmed?" Though Marcus was starting to feel that he may already know...

Arthur looked Marcus in the eyes at the tone of voice but looked away when he spoke again. "Well, it really was...unintentional. Molly walked in on Jessica...in the bathroom. Jessica had her shirt up...and was working on spreading an ointment over her back...There were fresh wounds across her back."

"What did they look like they were from?"

"Molly said it looked like her skin had cracked apart...she said it sort of looked like a spider web of bloody lines."

Marcus and Brittany's eyes flew to each other. Marcus had to force himself to continue with Arthur. "Did Molly question her about them?"

Arthur nodded. "Jessica took a minute to respond to Molly...but ended up telling a story about the others kids in the States...they were goofing around and poking each other with the...br..." Arthur looked up in the air as he tried to remember the word, "...brand...branding iron at the ranch. They never actually touched each other with it until Jessica tripped and fell with her back on it and had trouble getting off...She asked Molly not to tell her dad because he didn't know, and she didn't want to get in trouble for goofing around with such a dangerous object."

When Arthur fell silent, Marcus asked, "But you didn't buy the story?"
Arthur shook his head, but he seemed hesitant to continue.

"What do you think really happened?"

"I think...I think her father...is...hurting her." Arthur misinterpreted Marcus's look in another direction. "I hesitate to make such a strong allegation," Arthur went on quickly. "And I wouldn't otherwise but I feel Jessica and her brother may be in danger. Her brother is probably in immediate danger."

Marcus nodded but still did not look at Arthur.

"Jessica is very daring and seemingly fearless...which you probably already know...but I can tell you...she is not that way around her father." Arthur took a deep breath and then spoke quietly. "The only other person that seems to scare her more than her father is her Godfather."

Marcus finally made eye contact with Arthur. After a minute of unintentional awkward silence for the man, Marcus nodded. "Thanks for your input, Arthur."

Arthur stood slowly, his movements nervous. "I'm sorry, Sir. I don't m...I don't m-m-mean to cause trouble, and I wouldn't either, but I'm really worried about Jessica and Casey."

Marcus nodded and looked Arthur square in the eye. "So am I, Arthur. I don't want you or Molly talking about this to anyone. I'll do what I can, but I won't promise how much that will be."

"If Jessica and Casey end up needing a place to stay away from the States, Molly's and my house are always open to them."

Marcus decided to put Arthur's mind at ease a little by telling him that he believed him. "Arthur, if I were to have my way, Casey would be at your house tonight."

Arthur's face relaxed a little. "Th-th-thank you, Sir. Thank you very much."

As soon as the door was securely shut behind Arthur, Brittany spoke. "When someone gets spider webbing from an injury, it's from a Crucio, Marcus."

He didn't respond.

"Marcus, you don't think...I know Jeffery Ziners doesn't have the most pleasant personality in the world...but he wouldn't do...Marcus? A Crucio to his own daughter. No one is that cold hearted."

Marcus looked up at Brittany. "You've been an Auror too long to put anything past anybody."

"Don't tell me you seriously think..."

"You see Jessica Ziners when she's over here. You don't see her in the States and most of all, you rarely see her around her father. Arthur's right. She's actually timid. Can you even imagine Jessica Ziners timid?"

Brittany took a minute but ended up shaking her head.

"I can say I seriously think he's right because it's not the first time the thought of Jeffery Ziners abusing his daughter has passed through my head. I am going to act on Arthur's story even if the only thing I end up being able to do is just talk to people."

Brittany nodded. "Well, I seriously hope you're wrong. But I can tell you one thing."

"And what's that?" Marcus asked.

"If you're not and I get my hands on Jeffery, I'll tear him to pieces."

Despite the grim situation, Marcus laughed, not doubting his wife for one minute.

* * *

Jessica smiled at her incoming package. It was breakfast, and everyone was receiving their first mail of the school year, but a lot of eyes were on her large barn owl and her even larger package. Every eye was curious except for Jessica. She knew exactly what it would contain. As soon as it landed, she gave Milo a treat but didn't watch the bird leave as she took one last bite of her breakfast and hurried off to the Slytherin House with the package in tow.

Even though she was alone in the Slytherin Common Room, she ran up to the girl's dormitory and into the first year's room practically losing the package as she hopped on her bed. She tore at the light, breathable wrapping. She was glad that he had covered it well while allowing it to breath. She didn't want everyone to really connect the item with her quite yet.

Jessica smiled at the large, cranky, ginger cat as it hissed at her before she set the cage down to find the note that she knew he would attach.

Jessica-

His name is Crookshanks. He should suit your purposes just fine. Just show him a "piece" of the recipient, and he'll find them. It only works with the one person and yourself. You know the rest.

I hope your school year started off fine. Remember that if you have any problems, I'm here.

Marcus Potter

Jessica had sent an owl to Marcus while she had been at the Weasely's. It was there that Jessica had thought of the perfect solution to the problem of her and Lily being friends and in being in different houses. Jessica had been even more worried when Lily had made it into Gryffindor House. There was no way they could even accidentally talk without it being mean in nature. She was very glad Marcus came through on her request for a Magical Messenger. They were very rare and very expensive. She hadn't been sure that even if Marcus could get his hands on one that he would get it for her. She paid him of course, but Marcus would have been very curious about its use. He seemed to be okay with the request and though his compliance worried her some, she decided she was just eternally grateful he had come through for her.

Jessica went to grab the needed items to start her secret communication with her best friend.

* * *

"First class, Potions."

"With the Slytherins," Sirius Black said on a cringe.

"Are they bad?"

James and Sirius both nodded at their shy, brown-haired housemate and new friend.

"There's a feud between Gryffindor and Slytherin," Frank Longbottom explained. He was another brown-haired housemate but was much more boisterous than Remus.

"All the Slytherins and their parents are really into the dark arts," Sirius furthered explained. "I mean, really into it and not in defending it."

"Who's teaching Potions?" Frank asked.

James looked at the schedule again. "Professor Rum. Never heard of him." He looked questioningly at Frank and Sirius, whose parents were as involved in the major magic community as his were. Both shook their heads.

As they walked into the classroom, they found their fifth house member being dangled upside down in midair by a spell initiated by none other than Lucius Malfoy.

"Let him down, Malfoy," James warned.

"Make me," Lucius gave him an evil grin.

But a quiet, commanding voice came from the doorway, cutting off any answer James might have had. "Don't temp me, Mr. Malfoy."

It was Stephen Medley, a friend of his father's, James noticed. A man pushed him aside however, which caused Malfoy to quickly lower Peter Pettigrew. The man was aging and a little on the heavier side, but James had a feeling he wasn't one to be messed with easily. As he walked to the front of the room, he asked, his back turned to Stephen, "Did you need something, Professor Medley?"

If Stephen was insulted by the dismissive tone, it didn't show. "Nothing that cannot be handled after class." With that, he left.

Roll call quickly came. After each name, Professor Rum looked up and into the eyes of each of the students. James knew that he wasn't the only unnerved by that. When roll call was finished, Professor Rum didn't even smile at the class as he looked it over. "In case some of the less intelligent have forgotten already, this is Potions. I am Professor Rum, and I will be your teacher, at the very minimum, for the next five years. I don't expect them to be pleasant ones, and you shouldn't either.

"Many of you will not take Potions seriously, and that will be your first mistake. We will not be performing any fancy wand waving in here. That includes you, Mr. Black." Rum's eyes latched onto Sirius's. Sirius's wand dropped from his hand grip under the table to the floor. So did Sirius's jaw. "Five points from Gryffindor," Rum said before moving on as though nothing had just happened. "Potions are a much more deadly sport, for everyone notices a wand but no one ever suspects an innocent looking liquid."

* * *

"Now here is a course I might be at least HALFWAY interested in," Jessica commented on her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Who cares about DADA? We get the major points in Potions," Narcissa said.

"Think about this, Narcissa," Jessica said quietly but loud enough for the whole group of girls to hear as they made their way to the DADA classroom. "We get to learn about how the other side defends itself against us. That would greatly please...him." The girls were confused a second before they realized exactly who Jessica was talking about. They all nodded greedily, eager to find any way to please their Dark Lord.

Jessica inwardly rolled her eyes.

When they entered the room, the girls found that they had arrived well before the boys. Although Jessica had seen the DADA professor, Stephen Medley, a few times on prior visits here, she hadn't ever personally interacted with him. From a reconnaissance her father had paid to be done on a lot of the better Aurors, she had learned that Stephen Medley had attended Hogwarts sometime after her father (she thought that maybe it was a year or two after the Weaselys had started attending), that he had received his Auror's license with the highest of markings on his final exam, that he had been an Auror for a few years before answering Headmaster Michaels plea for a DADA professor with, at the very least, some experience, and, lastly, that though he might have become a teacher, he hadn't stopped working as an Auror totally. In short, he was unmarried, childless, and was annoying to the Dark Lord, with an official title of "thorn in side." Chances of him knowing her and already having a preconceived notion? Highly likely.

And the idea of what that preconceived notion might be was confirmed when he threw her a suspicious glance. She dismissed it by adding it to the list of other suspicious looks she had received since childbirth.

Medley went through roll call and through his praise of the subject before explaining DADA. Jessica figured that if she were some other kid with some other father, Medley might be kind of cool.

But she wasn't.

* * *

James glanced at Lily Evans at she did her homework with a small curly haired girl. So this was the Muggle friend that Jessica had talked about. He had known since as long as he had known Jessica, that she had had a Muggle born friend from the Muggle world who knew nothing about Jessica's magical powers until, what? A week ago? What a weird coincidence. Anyhow, Jessica had asked him a favor, and he would do his best to perform it, not that keeping an eye on her would be a hard task.

When a cat followed Frank Longbottom in and then ran up to Lily did he get a little alerted. It was not that he thought her in any danger; it was just that he thought he recognized the cat...

Lily nearly jumped out of her skin when a cat jumped in her lap. It was a fat, yellow cat that purred furiously as it rubbed against her.

"Neat. Is she yours?" Alice Bolmond asked.

Lily started to shake her head but stopped when her hand touched something other than fur. A note suddenly appeared on the cat's side closest to her. It was in an envelope addressed to her.

"Uh...yeah, I guess so." Lily looked at her homework then back at the note then at Alice. "Can you watch my stuff for a minute? I'll be right back."

"Sure," she smiled.

Upstairs, Lily slowly and neatly opened the envelope, trying to figure it out in her head. Was this how they usually did it in the magic world? She didn't know.

The letter ended up being from Jessica.

Dear Lily,

This is Crookshanks, a Magical Messenger. He will be our link to each other. You just write a letter to me, put it in an envelope, press it to Crookshanks side (it doesn't matter which side), tap your wand on it and say, "Hidea-Mora." The spell does two things: hides the letter from everyone but me (until I pull the letter off of Crookshanks) and it signals Crookshanks that it's time to come back to me. This will only work between me and you unless I cleanse the cat. I, as the owner, am the only one with that power.

You cannot tell a soul about this cat except to claim it as yours. I will claim it as mine. If it is found that we both own identical looking cats, we will claim that as well, that they are identical looking but not one and the same.

Now, how was your first day at school? Mine was as good as could be expected.

Your Friend,

Jess

* * *

Jessica was on her way to the library after supper in a relatively quiet hallway when she heard a loud crash. She turned and saw the boy from the other day bending over to clean up the things that had fallen out of his bag. She walked over to help him. He had most of the books picked up but was looking despondently over at a spilled inkbottle. Jessica made short work of that with a flick of her wand. This finally caused Severus Snape to look up at her.

"Thanks," he said quietly. When she looked him back in the eyes, he quickly stood up to break the contact. She followed him up. He looked her in the eyes again and was held. That must have been when he noticed. Her eyes were...different, to say the least.

Wow, Severus thought. Her eyes were beautiful. They changed colors as he watched. First blue then green then brown then to black, gray was next, to which blue followed, starting the cycle over again. Severus realized then that he was staring and turned to continue his way to the library. Unfortunately, she followed him. Severus tried to move to the other side of the hallway--trying at least something to alleviate that feeling in his stomach, which seemed to intensify after looking into her eyes for much longer than necessary. The girl just followed.

"I'm going to the library too. Maybe we could study together."

"Maybe not," Severus responded.

She chuckled. "Well, how about I study at the same table as you. We don't even have to talk."

"I'm not sure you could manage that," Severus mumbled.

She laughed but quieted quickly. "I've been known to accomplish greater feats. My name is Jessica Ziners, by the way."

Severus didn't offer his name, and he was surprised that she didn't ask.

He was even more surprised when she did as she said she would. They were both silent all evening, and when Severus packed up his things, she did the same, just as silent. She remained silent all the way back to the house.

* * *

The next day they had the lesson that Severus was dreading most. Flying. It was made even better, Severus thought sarcastically, that he had been placed next to Jessica Ziners, his self-proclaimed buddy. What topped the cake was that James Potter and Sirius Black were across from them.

After greeting, roll call, and their lesson on the importance and dangers of flying, they were to call their brooms to the air.

"Stick your right hand over your broom and command, 'Up,'" Madam Hooch said as she demonstrated with her own broom. It came up on the first try. When it was the kids turn to practice it, Severus was about to command his broom when his voice caught as he listened to Jessica say a soft, "Up." The broom went up so hard, it drove her hand up higher. Jessica turned to Severus. He looked away quickly so as not to be caught staring.

"Up." Nothing. "Up." Still nothing. "Up!" It looked like it heard him that time, but it still didn't obey. Severus sighed. "Up. Up. Up, up, up, up! Urgh!" Sirius and James, both, who were now holding their broom, gave a snicker at Severus.

Jessica dropped her broom. "You have to feel for the broom's power," she said quietly holding her hand over her broom as though she were actually feeling something. She stopped suddenly. "Up," she said a little louder this time. The broom flew up so hard she yelped.

"Madam Hooch," Sirius Black suddenly yelled. "Ziners is cheating."

"Oh, brother," Jessica muttered as Hooch walked briskly over to stand between Sirius and Jessica.

"Why do you say this, Black?"

"Watch her call her broom up."

"Ziners," Madam Hooch said, turning her hawk like eyes on Jessica. "Call your broom up."

"Up," Jessica said quietly. The broom flew up, but Jessica seemed to grab it harder so it didn't bounce up as much after it hit her hand.

Hooch turned to Sirius. "Don't waste my time, Black. Five points from Gryffindor."

Jessica had to keep from bursting out laughing. Ha, the snot got what he deserved.

When she turned back to Severus, he was moving his hand around, similar to what she had done when trying to teach him. Jessica turned a little so he wouldn't know she was watching, but she made sure to keep an eye on him in her peripheral vision. Finally, he said a quiet but strong, "Up." It came.

Jessica smiled.

* * *

"What's next?" Bertie Magal asked as the girls came in from their flying lessons.

"Transfiguration," Calista Andrews answered.

"I'll have to meet you guys at the classroom," Jessica said.

"Where are you going?"

"Somewhere," Jessica murmured as she made to walk away from them.

"But where?" Narcissa persisted.

Jessica gave them an incredulous look. "If you must know," Jessica leaned in close. They leaned close to her excitedly. "I'm going to use to the toilet."

They all glared at her. She laughed and cut off from them to enter a nearby bathroom. She entered and thought she was alone until she heard someone crying in the last stall. Jessica crept in a bit and was just going to go to the bathroom quietly but her conscious got the better of her.

"Hey," Jessica called softly. "Is everything alright?"

"Alright?" The girl shrieked. "Alright?! Nothing is alright!" Jessica gave a startled jump when a ghost flew out of the last stall.

"Uh, sorry," Jessica replied. "I didn't mean to upset you further." And, in an attempt to get the ghost's mind off her problems, she said, "My name is Jessica Ziners. What's yours?"

"Myrtle, but why would a Ziners care?"

"I take it you knew my dad?"

"I went to school with a Jeffery Ziners," Myrtle said, seeming to calm a little under the unusual amount of attention she was receiving.

"Yeah, he's my father. You must have known my mom then too. Madeline Montgomery."

"Madeline?" Myrtle seemed to perk up a bit. "She's your mum?"

Jessica nodded with a smile, but the pleased Myrtle didn't stick around long.

"Madeline was always so nice to me...unusual for a Slytherin. But those boys she hung out with, Jeffery and that Tom Riddle! Madeline married that dreadful Jeffery?!" Myrtle started screaming when she realized it. She started zipping through the bathroom, turning all the faucets on before working on the toilets. She flew out of one toilet, drenching Jessica. She then flew at Jessica, and though Jessica knew logically that it couldn't hurt her, she started backwards. That, and the shock of when Myrtle flew through her, caused Jessica to stumble backwards and fall onto the hard ground, knocking the wind out of her and giving her a temporary shock.

"Get out!" Myrtle screamed. "Get out of my bathroom, you dreadful Ziners!"
Jessica angrily pushed herself off the ground. "Fine, you ghastly old twit!" As Jessica turned to exit the bathroom, the cost of her careless name-calling caught up with her. She earned another drenching of water and another Myrtle through the chest, the shock causing her to stumble out of the bathroom...

...and straight into a large stomach.

Jessica was dazed for a second and would have fallen if it weren't for a pair of large hands grabbing her shoulders. Jessica backed away quickly then.

"Damn idiot of a girl," Jessica growled as she shook herself off. She looked up into the face of Rubeus Hagrid. "Sorry about that, Hagrid."

"T'at's okay." He gave her a smile. When he looked her in the face, she noticed shock register on his own face. "O', dear m'. You look just like 'er."

"My mom?" Jessica asked.

Hagrid nodded.

"Thanks," she smiled. "You went to school with her, didn't you?"

Hagrid nodded. "With both yer parents."

Jessica nodded to him before looking at her clothes. "This kind of sucks. I have to get to class. No time to change."

"Miss Ziners? You look like you just fell in a toilet."

Jessica rolled her eyes at the headmaster as he approached.

"Actually, the toilet seemed to fly at me," she replied before gesturing towards the bathroom. "I had a run-in with a ghost. Goes by the name of Myrtle."

"Oh, yes," Dumbledore nodded. "Attended school awhile back. I remember her."

"You should put up an 'out of order' sign or something. She's a danger," Jessica said while trying to wring out her robe.

Dumbledore nodded. "Good idea." He cast a spell and a sign appeared on the door. Dumbledore then cast a glance at Jessica as she tried wringing out her hair. "And while I'm at it..." Another spell and she was dry.

She gave him a brilliant smile now, any trace of annoyance at his earlier humor gone. "Thanks, Professor." Jessica glanced around at the emptying corridor. "I better get to class. Bye."

The two smiled at her retreating form.

* * *

Transfiguration was the subject that Jessica had the least training in. She could do the basic transfigurations on objects, but she, as of yet, had to learn to do it on humans. She knew that that would not come until she had a better part of Hogwarts under her belt, so she settled into her seat next to Severus Snape to wait the next five or six years for the really interesting stuff.

When the cat pranced in, Jessica smirked. While she herself had never really met or interacted with Professor McGonagall, she did have quite the conversations with her son, Michael. After his own schooling at Hogwarts, he had moved to America and received his Auror's training. He still made frequent visits to his mom, who was widowed when Michael was only five years old.

But, from her conversations with the man, she had learned about his mother, the cat.

The cat did a strange thing though on its way to the desk. It stopped and sat next to Jessica, looking at her curiously.

Jessica, having gotten quite sick of the staring already and still upset from her earlier encounter with Myrtle, snarled. "Get up to the desk, you old witch." The cat didn't move. "I know it's you, McGonagall. Don't think I'm stupid. Don't ever assume I'm stupid."

Severus heard everything and gave her a curious look. Jessica motioned to the cat. "The Transfiguration teacher can transfigure. Imagine the rarity of that."

That got McGonagall to change back real quick.

"Ms. Ziners, 20 points from Slytherin!"

Jessica looked at her fingernails as though bored. "Ah, who cares? We'll gain 'em back anyway."

"Would you like me to add more?" McGonagall warned.

"I'm already on their death list for the 20 points," Jessica gestured to her classmates. "What would more matter?"

"Thirty more and a detention would matter. Come see me after class."

Jessica smiled at Severus. "Two days and detention already. I'm just plain good."

"You're a pain in the ass," Severus murmured.

"He speaks," Jessica whispered in amazement. He didn't even look at her.

* * *

Jessica waited in her seat until everyone left. She had to wait even longer before McGonagall would even look at her.

"Ms. Ziners, I will not tolerate sarcasm, smart alec remarks, or talking back in any form in this classroom."

"Get use to it," Jessica replied.

"Get use to detention. You just added another night."

"I'm taking a collection. All the detentions you got for the price of one run-in."

Seeing she would not get her to respond by detentions, McGonagall said, "You will report to Professor Medley tonight for your detentions. I can guess how much you're going like him already," McGonagall finished with a mutter as she filled out the slip.

As Jessica walked up to get the slip from her, she said, "It doesn't matter how I like him or ever would like him. Just like you, he won't give me a chance."

Jessica turned to walk out of the room.

"You gave up your chance with me," McGonagall said.

"No, I didn't. I never had it to give up."

* * *

"She is a smart alec," McGonagall said as she stalked right into the teacher's lounge.

"Who is a smart alec?" Stephen asked, looking up from his work.

"She just had a class with the First Year Slytherins. Take your pick," Professor Sprout said from a table over.

Medley grinned and chuckled.

"Jessica Ziners," Gary answered the original question from his own corner of the lounge.

"He's psychic too," Stephen replied.

"I am, but I didn't use that particular skill just now," Gary said not once looking up or pausing from his work. "It just took simple deduction, Mr. Medley, a skill you seem to be lacking in this building."

"Get over your ego," Medley started to retort but stopped when Dumbledore walked in. Medley angrily went back to his work.

"Stop being so moody, Stephen," Gary said as he finally looked up from his work. He looked over to McGonagall. "Might I ask as to why Miss Ziners's ever present wit has annoyed you so, Minerva?"

"Urgh," Minerva growled as she stomped over to a table. "You'll hear all about it as I had to give her two nights detention. Stephen, I gave those detentions to you."

Stephen nodded. "That's fine."

Gary gave Stephen a long hard look. Stephen felt it bore into his back until he could no longer take it. He turned to Gary. "What is it this time? I'm not good enough to handle an 11-year old girl?"

Gary shook his head. "It's not...oh, well, never mind. I have to go." And, on that note, Gary gathered his things and made his exit, Stephen staring at his back curiously.

* * *

Jessica was walking back from the owlery when she ran into Professor Rum.

"Miss Ziners, a word if I might." He didn't wait for an answer; he just moved into an empty classroom. Jessica followed calmly. "Sit," Gary ordered quietly, pointing at a seat before sitting across from it. Jessica slowly sat, her curiosity building.

"What is it, Professor?"

"I know you don't like Professor McGonagall or Professor Medley, most of all because you have a great suspicion as to what they think of you."

"Suspicion? I know what they think of me. I know I don't have your talent, but I don't need that to see the suspicion on their face. They're waiting for one false move to point me out as the enemy, whether the move ends up being real or imagined. They prosecuted me and pronounced me guilty even before I ever attended here."

Gary let the girl have her say before he had his. "You know that you cannot have either of those two as enemies. They are good people, and you know that. It'll take them time, but they will come around. I'll see to that. But I heard about your incident with McGonagall, and your subsequent punishment. Jessica, you know the dangers of your anger. One false move, one loss of self-control..."

"I know--and, kaboom, everyone knows I'm something different, and that's more dangerous than it could be comforting to me."

Gary pointed to Jessica. "I know you know that. I'm just not sure you remember it all the time. You must. Especially this evening with Professor Medley. He knows something is different about you. If anyone figures it before due time, it will be him. You must be careful."

But Jessica had only heard the first part. "Yeah, about this evening with Medley. Can't you get me out of it? Maybe make detention with you? You can put me through the mill a couple times over. I know how bad you can make it. Please?"
Gary shook his head. "I've never had a kid beg for detention with me before, but, no, I can't. Professor Medley's suspicious enough. If I do that, that's cause enough for him to get Professor Dumbledore to question me. I know Albus is holding back because he knows whatever it is will come out eventually."

Gary was looking off, deep in thought, but he looked back when Jessica asked her next question. "Are you sure Dumbledore doesn't know already? He's already suspicious. He's probably researched on what it could be."

"Probably has researched, but, no, I don't think he has found you yet. I had a hard enough time finding you, and I had some place to start."

Jessica shrugged before giving a half nod of her head. "I suppose." She stood up. "Is that all?"

Gary nodded. "For now, yes." Jessica nodded before turning and walking away. When she was by the door, Gary said, "Remember to watch your temper."

"Yeah, yeah," she nodded, not stopping a minute in her escape.

Gary sighed. She didn't listen to him. He wondered again why he taught. He hated teenagers.

* * *

Dear Lily,

Two days, and I've got detention. It's from McGonagall. She gave it to me with Medley. Urghhhhhh! It sucks. Narcissa Black (a girl in my house--she's Sirius's cousin) says that I deserved it, but I told her where she can shove her opinion.

I lost points too. Everyone is kind of miffed at me. Oh well.

Bertie Magal says that we have to get going to supper. I'll write more

later.

Your Friend,

Jess

* * *

"Lily, your cat's back!" Alice snickered as the large ginger cat sauntered in behind Frank Longbottom.

Lily smiled as she picked the cat up and brought him close to cuddle her neck. She was careful to keep her hand on Crookshanks's back so as not to activate the note.

Frank sat down across from the fire with a thump.

"Where were you?" James asked as he, Sirius, and Remus packed up their things to go to supper. James glanced at Lily to see her bring the cat up to the girl's dormitory.

"Talking to McGonagall. I saw a notice on the board," he gestured lazily towards the notice board. "They want someone to start training in as the new announcer for Quidditch. I thought I would try it out."

"Cool," James said. He glanced at his friends, but then noticed Lily coming back down the stairs, nix the cat, and a big smile on her face.

"What?" She asked with a giggle when she noticed him staring.

"Nothing," he shook his head. When James looked back at his friends, they were both giving him a knowing smirk. "Oh, shut the bloody hell up, the both of you." He took off out of the entrance.

"What is with him?" Alice asked.

Remus and Sirius both laughed but didn't say anything as they left.

"Frank, you coming to dinner?" Alice asked as Lily and she started towards the entrance.

"I suppose I really should," he said, then gave a dramatic sigh as he stood up and followed the girls out.

* * *

Dear Jess,

You won't believe this boy. He's the one you described to me, the one you told me to sit next to on the train. James Potter, but you probably knew that already. Anyway, he gave me a funny look today, but it wasn't bad. It was just kind of weird.

I've made a friend already. Alice Bolmond. She's real nice.

Urghh!! I do not like Narcissa Black. She is so mean to everyone except Slytherins. You should hear Sirius talk about her! I've never heard someone talk like that before.

I'm sure Professor McGonagall is really nice once you get to know her. Just give her a chance.

I'll talk to you later!

Your Friend,

Lily.

* * *

Marcus was waiting patiently out in the hallway. After hearing that Minister Rin was in a mood, Marcus decided that he would give Amelia Black, one of Rin's assistants, his weekly report on this Voldemort situation. Unfortunately Amelia was in Rin's office. Marcus was waiting for her to come out so he could judge who might be in a worse mood and go to the other.

"Hello, Marcus," a voice said quietly as he leaned on the wall next to the Auror and across from the Minister's office. Marcus nodded without saying anything or looking at the man next to him. It was Michael Snape, the Head of International Magical Cooperation. They had an easy professional relationship and respected each other a lot. Marcus liked him, and Michael liked Marcus. It was good for office politics.

"Waiting like I to see who is in the better mood?" Michael asked quietly.

Marcus gave a small smile. "Yea."

Michael chuckled. After a minute, he spoke again. "Your son...James is it? He's school age now, isn't he?"

Marcus nodded. "Yea. He just started his first year at Hogwarts. Gryffindor House."

Michael laughed softly. "Exactly like you and your wife. My eldest boy, Severus, just started too, though he took after Rebella. Slytherin House."

Suddenly, Marcus stilled. "Longbottom's eldest just started as well. Frank. Gryffindor House, like the dad."

Marcus's tone was curiously light and casual, but anyone watching closely would notice the tensing of the two men. Michael, by far the taller one, hid it better than Marcus.

"Ziners is there too," Marcus added quietly.

Before much further could be said Amelia peeled out of the office, followed by a more calm, slithering Ignatius Malfoy. Amelia, storming off in rage, nearly slammed the door in Malfoy's face. He caught it easily. "Now, Amelia," he said in silky tones. "You shouldn't show such a temper."

Amelia spun on him. The sight was somewhat funny; the blonde haired witch nearly a foot shorter than the Malfoy his son would look exactly alike when he grew older.

"You slimy piece of...urgh!" She said poking him in the chest. "One of these you will get yours! I will make sure to sit front row to watch it!" She spun around again and started to storm off as, laughing, Ignatius turned to his own office next door. Amelia almost stormed past Marcus and Michael but stopped. Without facing them, she said, "Come to my office."

They both followed her. Michael hesitated a minute outside the door and looked about to allow Marcus to attend his business first, but Marcus motioned him inside. "You might as well get wind of this now because you may later at a worse time."

Michael nodded and went in, shutting the door behind him.

Amelia sat down at her desk, slowly exhaling a long breath. "Is this about your Voldemort case?" She asked after a minute.

Marcus nodded. "Yea." He looked at Michael. "This doesn't leave the room, okay?"

Michael nodded. "Doesn't leave the room," he agreed.

"I have reason to believe that this Voldemort character has been slinking around in America, gaining some more troops. I sent my top guy there. Presently, he's following a lead. I'll inform you of what he gets." Marcus turned to Michael again. "I don't believe this is going to cause much of a problem in the way internationally; I'm on pretty good terms with their Magical Law Enforcement over there. But I thought I'd warn you."

Michael nodded. "Thanks. Who's the guy over there, if I may ask? It might be important for me to know."

Knowing he could trust Michael, Marcus answered. "Tom Riddle. He's a little annoying but a damn fine Auror. Very powerful."

Amelia was rubbing her eyes tiredly as the men conversed, but at the mention of Tom, she shuddered. "That man gives me the creeps."

Marcus nodded. "I know. He gives me the creeps also, but it makes it easier for him to go undercover in the places he goes. He blends in real well with Voldemort's kind."

"How dangerous do you deem Voldemort to be anyway?" Amelia asked. "He hasn't killed anyone."

Marcus held a hand up. "He hasn't killed anyone that we know of."

"So we're spending all your time on this one man?" Amelia asked, seeming to become her usual, loud, commanding self. "Marcus, if its praise you want, you've got it and not only from my corner. I've heard Minister Rin mention more than once that you're one of our best Aurors, maybe thee best. I don't want you of all people, spending all your time on a man that may or may not have committed a murder. Granted, finding him is important, but we could put another Auror on the case, not someone that could be going up for Crouch's position."

Marcus would normally quietly defend his unpopular opinion, but sometimes it just got to him. His next words were spoken vehemently. "I don't want to be Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia. I like the field too much. Anyway, that is not why I'm going after this guy. He may have committed one or two murders by now, but that's not where it will end. I just know, deep down in my bones, that it may get much worse...it will get much worse if I don't stop it."

A silence ensued. After nearly a minute, Michael spoke up. "Are you just going after Voldemort then?"

Marcus looked at him for a minute, as though startled he was still in the room. After a second, Marcus shook his head. "I know he's got more than himself doing his dirty work. I want everyone."

"Do you have any prospects?"

Instead of answering, Marcus gave the tall, imposing figure a curious glance. "You aren't actually one of my enemies, thinking I'm chasing after nothing all that important, a man that is not a problem for me of all people, surprised that I am wasting such time and making it the sole focus of my work?"
Michael gave a slight shake of his head. "I think you know what you're doing." And in Michael's eyes, Marcus saw a glint of an earlier conversation, an explanation of Michael's feelings or maybe a confirmation. "Do you have any prospects?" He asked again.

Marcus nodded. "A number, actually."

"Any here?"

"In England?" Marcus asked incredulously.

"In the Ministry."

Marcus gave him a surprised look. "Exactly how long have you been thinking about this Voldemort problem, Michael?"
"Long enough to wonder about some people," he answered simply.

Marcus seemed to absorb that thought before asking, "Who are your prospects?"
The answer was quiet. "Ignatius."

Marcus glanced at Amelia. She was staring at Michael in amazement.

"I thought you two were friends," Amelia said.

"Presently so. Doesn't mean I don't see him for who he is. Lately I've been beginning to wonder if I know who he really is." All this was said while Michael looked at Marcus, his arms crossed.

Finally, Marcus answered the unspoken question he felt from Michael. "Yes, Ignatius is on my list of suspects. He's at the top of that list as a matter of fact. I've got very little evidence of him, but it's more than I've got on most of the list.

"But that stays between the three of us. Not even Tom knows of my suspicions of Ignatius."

Amelia and Michael nodded.

* * *

"Stop humming."

Stephen was amazed when she actually stopped. She continued putting his instruments in alphabetical order in his office with a compliant attitude. Stephen wondered if she was doing this calmly just to unnerve him.

Suddenly a curious thought struck him, and he quickly decided to voice it, "Jessica, have you seen any of these instruments before?"

She nodded. "So far I haven't run across one I haven't seen."

"Why do you know them?"

"My uncle and Riley Haderson. Mainly Riley though. Casey...he's my brother...Casey and I hang out in the Training Barns a lot. The Training Barns are the training and workout facilities for the American Aurors."

"How old is Casey?"

"Ten. Here's small for ten, and that worries me. He'll be--probably be in Slytherin, and you can imagine how that will turn out. He's kind of clumsy too."

Clumsy...it rolled around in Stephen's head for awhile. She's was worried for her small, clumsy brother. Hm. "He'll grow out of it eventually."

"Probably not. My grandma--my mother's mom (she died a bit ago)--said that she thought Daniel stole all the height in the family, and that both Casey and I are doomed to be short for the rest of our lives."

Stephen laughed. This caused Jessica to turn to him. "Hey, I believe it. The Montegomerys reek of magical power. I believe something like that could happen to us.

"The thing with Casey though is he won't let them pick on him. He's learning a lot of spells before he comes here so he can defend himself."

Stephen nodded. "But he has to be careful."

"He's always careful. The cautious one of the family. He has to be, with his clumsiness and all."

"Being clumsy, you can't be careful," Stephen said.

"Now you sound like my father. Anyhow, I think I got this alphabet thing done and everything is polished. May I go now?" Stephen nodded and went to get up to see her to the door. Halfway there, Stephen tripped over a loose shoelace and then over his trunk. "Now, I'm the one who's being clumsy," he murmured with a self-depreciating grin. He saw Jessica grin that frown at something behind him. He turned to see a dementor.

"Expecto Patronum!!!!" She shouted with such fierce intensity that for a split second Stephen wondered about that voice coming out of a simple 11-year old girl. In the next millisecond, he wondered about his sanity as he saw a corporeal patronus in the form of a Tiger come out of her extended wand. He turned to defend himself against the dementor when he saw it change to a Bogart. Jessica immediately shouted, "Riddikulus!!" The Bogart changed into...wait he should recognize that person...but then the person quickly changed Lucius Malfoy singing and dancing about like a girl. Jessica giggled, confirming that this was indeed a little girl casting these spells.

When the Bogart was taken care of, Stephen turned to look at the girl. The smile fell off her face before she looked at him a long minute in utter horror. When she moved it was to take off running like the hounds of Hell were right on her tail.

* * *

Gary was just about to turn in for the night when there was a series of desperate knocks on his office door. He halted when they stopped and was not going to answer, but they started again, nearly loud enough to wake the Slytherins down the hall.

"I'm coming," Gary growled and went to the door with a candle. It was Jessica Ziners, and she was shaking something fierce.

She burst into his office. Gary shut the door behind her as the words rushed from her lips. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do it, I really didn't. But it was there, and I just did the first thing I knew! But then it turned to a Bogart, and I realize I'm an idiot to think a dementor would be in here, but I wasn't thinking again because I got rid of the Bogart. I'm sorry, Professor. I was real good until he tripped, and there it was!"

Gary had set down the candle on his desk. When she finished, he gripped both of her shoulders to guide her to the seat across from his desk. She sat down, but he didn't think she even realized she was in his office right now. When he knelt beside her and looked her in the eyes, he realized there were tears in them, tears and utter panic.

"First thing you do is calm down," he said soothingly.

She bit her lip and nodded. Gary sucked in a quick breath. In that exact instant, she looked every bit her 11 years and not the adult that her mind seemed to function as. All these years with this power and the training to control it...And Gary had long suspected that there a training of another sort going on, one her father and possibly Voldemort initiated. He had suspected it upon her father's visits to him. While her father would go to London after his visits with Gary, Jeffery would leave her here for a bit. She would watch almost constantly over Gary's shoulder. He would teach her some things, but her knowledge on everything magical always surprised and astounded him. But, right now, none of that was in the quivering of her lip or the wet brimming her eyelashes. There was panic there. And fear.

"Okay, what happened? I'm assuming you just finished your detention with Medley."

She nodded and swallowed before trying to start over but slower this time. "I had just finished, and Medley was seeing me to the door when he tripped over his trunk, and it knocked the trunk open. Then I see this dementor coming out of it. I had just been thinking about something scary Uncle Danny had told me about a dementor, and I guess that's what made it come out."

"But you digress," Gary urged.

She bit her lip and nodded. It took her a second to continue, but she went on, "But I see this dementor. I get scared, but I shout what I was told to--" Suddenly, her eyes widened, but she was quick to hide it. "I mean, I shout what I read in a book, Expecto Patronum." When she paused again, Gary nodded to urge her to continue. "Well, the dementor turns into a Bogart." Gary did take note that she glossed over whether or not her patronus actually formed. By her advertence to the subject, he guessed that it had indeed appeared. "I shout to get rid of the Bogart. (Uncle Danny had taught me and Casey that one.) I handled the Bogart."

"And then you remember that Stephen is there on the floor," Gary concluded when she stopped. Jessica bit her lip and nodded again.

Gary nodded with a sigh and stood up. "Why don't you go to bed? I'll take care of this, but I will do so in the morning. He won't do anything either about it until everyone's had a good sleep."

Jessica looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears which were quickly cleared up by some quick blinking. She wiped the streaks off her face with the sleeves of her robe before scrutinizing him again. Her eyes were a chaotic gray, which Gary assumed to be the color that her body had chosen to express worry or fear.

"Okay, if you think so," she finally said. Worry, Gary decided.

She got up and gave him a weak smile. "Have a good night sleep, Professor. See yea in the mornin'." Gary smiled as her southern accent broke through. She grinned a little easier but didn't say anything more as she turned to leave.

"You as well, Miss Ziners," he said. She waved at him before disappearing into the dark dungeon hallway.

Gary went to bed not particularly looking forward to breakfast in the morning.

But, then again, he never did.

* * *

Stephen did not even so much as look at Gary during breakfast. The old crony was acting so nonchalant, but Stephen knew that he knew what had occurred last night. He was sure Jessica probably went and "reported" to him. The damn man knew so much already!!

It wasn't until they were walking out of the Great Hall that Stephen said something. "You know I'm going to have to report to Dumbledore that one of the students may be a danger to others."

Gary stopped but didn't look at Stephen right away. Both men stepped aside to allow others to pass by. Both teachers noticed that Dumbledore remained at the Head Table. He looked to be finishing breakfast still but both men knew he wanted to be on hand in case the situation warranted his presence, since it was common knowledge neither Stephen nor Gary got along very well.

After another long moment of silence, Stephen asked, "What? No denial of any danger Ziners might propose?"

Gary shook his head. "But, if you think about it, Severus Snape or Lucius Malfoy are both of equal or greater danger. So is James Potter, Sirius Black, or Frank Longbottom." As Gary finished off, he looked Stephen in the eye.

"An 11-year old child knowing a patronus?" Stephen hissed. "Gary, that's not simple danger."

"But if she were not here, where would she be?" Gary hissed loudly. The implication hit the young Auror easily. The Potions Master quieted when he said his next words, "I will handle the girl. But, listen carefully to me, Stephen. She is a Pandora's box you do NOT want to open."

Stephen, arms crossed, did not give any sort of acknowledgement to Gary's warning. "Why couldn't you tell us about her in the beginning?"

"The likelihood of her getting accepted here at Hogwarts would have been? Hmmm?" Stephen nodded sullenly.

"So you don't want me to say anything to Dumbledore?"

"I would be most appreciative if you didn't," Gary murmured.

"I don't like this."
"I know you don't."

Stephen looked down for a long time as he thought about it. Finally, he looked at Gary. "One toe out of line...and I'm not talking detention. I'm talking one move that makes me think she's uncontrollable, and I go see Dumbledore."

Gary nodded. "Fair enough."

Stephen walked past Gary and out of the Great Hall. The Potions Master stayed put.

"Gary?"
Gary looked over at Dumbledore. "Yes, Albus?"

"Is something wrong?"
Gary gave him a sardonic smirk. "I see no way in answering that without digging myself in a hole with you, so I'm just not going to answer it."

Albus chuckled.

"Was the secrecy due to Ms. Ziners?" The headmaster asked next.

Gary scratched his forehead as he walked up to Albus and avoided the headmaster's gaze. "You could probably safely assume any time that boy and I talk for any length of time it will be about that girl." Gary looked over at a chair at the edge of the teacher's table and held out his wand. "Accio chair." It came over to him, and he sat across from Albus.

"You look old, Gary," Albus said.

"Thanks," Gary nodded. "Now that you mention it, so do you."

Albus laughed. "How long have we known each other?"

Gary looked up in the air as he counted. "Seventy or so years."

"And we fought against Grindelwald together."

Gary nodded. "Yeah, those were the good days."

"The good days?" Albus asked curiously.

"The days when I wasn't disabled. The days when being a teacher was a choice for me, not the only thing I was capable of doing."

"Is being a teacher that bad?" Albus asked quietly.

Gary gave a thoughtful pause. "I just think it should be easier than being an Auror. Instead, they're the just same job but without the killing."

Albus laughed. "You could say that again."

Gary smiled at him. "Yes, I could. You should know after all. Going from transfiguring pin cushions to battling and beating Allan Grindelwald in the blink of an eye."

There was a long pause before Albus asked quietly, "Why did the Sorting Hat act as it did on Ms. Ziners head?"

Gary looked down at his hands. "Did you ask the Sorting Hat?"
Albus didn't respond. Gary knew that Albus knew that he knew that Albus had. Gary also knew that this was one thing that that hat would not divulge to his beloved Headmaster.

When Gary still did not speak, Albus said, "I also seem to remember a Welcoming Feast on a night in 1937 where I was a guest here. The Sorting Hat did the same thing then too. It was on the head of a small girl with the same golden brown hair as Ms. Ziners. The girl was Madeline Montgomery I believe, later to become known as Madeline Ziners."
Gary nodded. "I remember that ceremony quite well actually. My first year teaching."

"How does the Sorting Hat know them, Gary?"

Gary stood up. Before leaving, he gave Albus a grim look, "Let me quote what I'm guessing the Sorting Hat said. It's not my place to tell you, Sir. Good day."

* * *

She didn't look him in the eye. She didn't speak unless spoken to. She spoke in proper grammar. She did everything to perfection.

Stephen realized that the poor girl was terrified. Did Gary do this? Did he sit Ziners down and yell at her for last night? For some reason, Stephen didn't think so. No, as he watched the girl scrub the floor of the DADA classroom by hand, Stephen honestly didn't think so. The girl truly knew she did something that she shouldn't have.

Not show magical talent? But why? She was hiding it. Not very well, but she was honestly trying to hide it. Why?

Stephen, with his forthright nature, would have asked except that one thing Gary had said to him this morning still stuck in his brain. She is a Pandora's Box you do NOT want to open.

But then there was the other argument. There was an 11-year old girl sitting on the floor of the DADA classroom who was possibly stronger than him in magic. She had no place among the other regular 11-year olds. She was a danger.

But then there was another of Gary's points. If she were not here, Hogwarts could not have a chance to claim her rather than their competition: Voldemort. Or some other dark side at least. The fact that Gary brought this up was significant in and of itself. That meant that there was something more to her than creating a corporeal patronus at 11; there was definitely a dangerous quality to her. Again, Stephen thought, he was back to his original point: she was a danger.

But...here she was, truly sorry for having lost control of keeping her talent under tight wraps.

Yes, Stephen would wait, he thought as he went back to his office. He would wait, and he would watch. One toe out of line, one toe that wasn't under control, and he would go see Dumbledore. For now, though, he would wait. But he wouldn't stop trying to figure it all out. And wonder.

Because Gary wasn't merely keeping a secret like Stephen had once thought. No, this was much bigger and deeper than a secret.

Gary was trying to hide Jessica Ziners.

* * *

By the time Christmas Break came, the Slytherins were grossly ahead of House Points and Quidditch Points.

And, Jessica couldn't forget, enemies were decided. Jessica's own enemy was Sirius Black. He was always trying to out do her, and, of course, she out do him. Then, of course, there was Narcissa and Lily. Jessica had to laugh at Lily's anger at this girl, who took delight on picking on the Gryffindor girls...all except Lily of course, who could definitely hold her own furiously. Then, the biggest and baddest feud of them all: one James Potter versus one Lucius Malfoy. While James had a small nice bone in him, he was one cocky bastard. And, with Lucius, it was one cocky bastard against another. Jessica had to laugh at herself. She was treating this feud like it hadn't been expected.

She waited at the train station for the Hogwarts Express. Severus was next to her. Every since their jaunt to the library that night, to Severus's great annoyance, they had started to just "stand next to each other but not talk." She had initiated all prior contact until today. She had been waiting by herself when he dragged his stuff next to hers and sat on his trunk. Neither had spoken. He hadn't even looked at her since he sat down. She had sure looked at him though. He was kind of cute in a brooding sort of way. His hair was short and dark, dark black. Severus was also taller than most boys and had a leaner look about him. What she liked most about him was that he wasn't talking constantly about impressing the Dark Lord... nor was he even talking constant.

When Jessica looked away she saw Crookshanks waddling over to her. She looked across the platform at Lily. She had agreed to take Crookshanks over Christmas Break. What was she doing sending him over to her?

The cat jumped up into her lap. Severus glanced at it before looking back at his feet. Knowing that if Severus even actually noticed that she was taking a note from the side of a cat he wouldn't even much care, Jessica brushed a side of the cat and found the letter right away.

Have yourself a boyfriend there, Jess? was all that was written there. Jessica locked eyes playfully with Lily as she burned the note with her wand. Lily cracked up laughing but hid it quickly when she was questioned by nearby friends.

"Hidea-Ora," Jessica said near the cat's ear as she set her down. The command sent her back to the secondary owner. Jessica noticed that Severus glanced at her before quickly turning away. She laughed.

* * *

When they disembarked at Platform 9 and ¾, Jessica noticed her uncle towering in the back of the crowd. She knew that Danny Montgomery was probably the only human alive that could compete with Rubeus Hagrid in sheer size alone and remain a man. She smiled and waved at him. He gave her his large smile that always made her laugh and waved back. He would wait for her to come to him. His size tended to scare kids.

Jessica turned to Severus. He was starting to cart his things off in another direction. Jessica touched his arm, catching his immediate attention. She bit back a smile at that.

"Ah...," Jessica suddenly became uncharacteristically nervous. "See yeah after vacation, right?"

Severus glanced down before shrugging miserably.

Jessica paused a moment before saying, "If not, I could send that big thing over there after you. He's my Uncle Danny."

Severus looked over and back at Jessica with an incredulous smile. She nodded. "Seriously, he is."

Severus glanced back at Danny, who waved at him this time.

"Is he a giant?" Severus asked, looking back at her.

"No, just big. I'm serious though. If you ever need help, he can be there."

Severus nodded slightly before looking back at his feet again.

Jessica's hands went into her pocket as she went to study her feet too. She wanted him to say bye but was now guessing he wouldn't. Jessica's fingers touched a penny in her pocket. She always kept a penny in her pocket. She always had a penny there because her uncle was always giving them to her. A penny for your thoughts, he would say. She pulled it out, an idea floating into her mind.

She reached out and grasped a hand hanging at his side. It was surprisingly cold. Jessica unfolded his long fingers and refolded them, her fingers on the inside, the penny sitting now in his palm. She kept them that way as she spoke.

"A penny is also a piece of American money. In America, we sometimes say, 'A penny for your thoughts?'." Jessica let go of Severus's hand. He looked at the copper coin sitting in his palm. "That's a penny," she explained. "In exchange, you're suppose to give me your thoughts."

"Thoughts on what?"

"Thoughts on leaving."

Severus looked at her as though he didn't believe that someone was actually paying him for his thoughts. It was a long moment before he spoke again, "I don't want to go home. I don't want to go back to Hogwarts either. I hope that somewhere between here and home I find out what life after death is like." To Severus's surprise, she nodded in understanding. Before he could help himself, he pushed the penny back into her palm. "Your turn."

"I don't want to go home either. Hogwarts isn't so bad compared to home, but not what I want. I hope that between here and home my father and godfather kill each other, but I've learned not to hold out hope for that anymore. But my faith that one day my dad's stupid deeds will eventually catch up with him is the only thing preventing me from offing my brother and myself." Jessica paused for a minute and she and Severus just looked at each other in the eyes, before Jessica pressed the penny back into his palm. "Do you want to come back to Hogwarts...if only for my sake?" Jessica giggled a little bit.

Severus started to respond, feeling like the boy he was instead of the adult he was forced to be, when he heard a voice, "Severus, mother wants you to hurry up." Severus hesitated before glancing at his "perfect" little brother. Salazar, his namesake need not be mentioned, was good looking and charming. He left off smart because Severus sincerely doubted that trait in his brother. To Severus's frustration, Salazar smiled over at Jessica. He looked back at Jessica to see how she reacted to him. She merely nodded before smiling at Severus.

"Bye."

He nodded at her. It wasn't until he turned to follow his brother that he noticed that the penny was still in his palm.

To be continued...