Journey to Passion

Chapter Six - Formidable Abilities

On Sunday morning Jessica found herself preparing for her guided tour several hours before her guide was even due to arrive at her door. Unable to sleep past the crack of dawn, Jessica sprang out of bed, showered, had breakfast and spent considerable time preparing for the afternoon awaiting her. Snape had promised Jessica a tour of Hogwarts followed by a private lunch in his own chambers. He was expected to be by her quarters any moment now.

Just as she had dozens of times already that morning, Jessica sat down at her vanity and glanced at herself in the mirror again to ensure that her negligee would fit the likings of the Potions Master. She wore deep, dark green robes again, knowing that his favourite colour wrapped around her body drove Snape's senses wild. She knew that he was especially attracted to her, so Jessica allowed the décolletage to dip slightly lower than usual, allowing her ample breasts to expose just enough cleavage to warm her heart when Snape looked at her.

The sound of soft knocking on the oak door quickly drew Jessica's attention. Feeling only a little disappointed that it wasn't Severus on the other side of the door, Jessica let out the breath of air she didn't realize she'd been holding and stood to greet her first visitor.

"Come in, Uncle Albus," she called as she made her way to the door.

With a slight creak, the door cracked open and Albus Dumbledore casually made his way into the open room. He smiled under his snowy white beard and looked at his grandniece through his spectacles. "My dear Jessica," he began as he smiled. "You look absolutely lovely today." When she reached him, Dumbledore put a hand to Jessica's blush cheek. "Absolutely lovely," he emphasised.

"Thank you, Uncle Albus." Jessica placed her arms gently over his shoulders and gave him a welcoming hug. The long thick hair coming from his beard brushed against her skin and tickled her neck. "It's good to see you again. How was your morning?"

"Oh, quite splendid," he answered cheerfully. "I was delighted to have Severus drop by my office this morning after breakfast."

"You spoke to him?" Jessica exclaimed a little more excitedly than she had intended. A little embarrassed of her odd infatuating behaviour, Jessica turned her head away for a moment and brushed the fanatical smile off her lips. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to sound so-"

"Don't be silly, my dear. I quite enjoy seeing you in such high spirits. Your need for a piece of happiness is quite overdue." Dumbledore nodded slowly and smiled at Jessica's keenness. "Yes, Severus and I spoke for some time. As it was a matter concerning you, I thought it would be best to speak to you today before you see him."

"He's due to arrive any moment now," Jessica told him. "What is it about me that you and he spoke of?" Feeling very anxious to hear what it was that was making her uncle feel so delighted, Jessica led Dumbledore over to the maroon leather upholstered couch and sat down with him. She cupped her hands in her lap and watched him intently. "Did you tell him about my mother or father?"

Dumbledore settled himself into the couch and sighed as he crossed his legs. "Oh no, most certainly not," he assured. "Only you have the right to explain the legacy between your parents."

"How can I?" Jessica questioned. "I don't know who my father is."

"No, you don't," Dumbledore agreed and nodded his head. "However, a name is not significant at this time. It's what you know about him that will help Severus understand your inheritance."

Jessica wrapped her hands around her arms to warm herself. A fire was burning in the corner of the room, but Jessica could barely feel the heat coming from it. "Then you haven't told him about my abnormalities either?"

"Gifts, Jessica," Dumbledore corrected. "Your magical abilities are not abnormal. There are plenty of witches and wizards who possess the same talents as you do, dear. There certainly isn't another witch or wizard who possesses as many abilities as you, but they are all out there. Those abilities are neither abnormal nor unwanted. Unusual or uncommon, yes; but certainly not abnormal. I don't want you to feel like all of this is a burden to you, Jessica." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at her and tilted his head in her direction. "Do you understand?" he questioned.

Slowly, Jessica nodded her head and fixed a small smile on her face. "Yes, I understand uncle," she assured. "It's just so overwhelming at times. I just wish I could wake up one morning and be rid of it all. Then perhaps they'll leave me alone."

His head nodded sympathetically. "I know, Dear, I know."

Dumbledore stood up and went to the table next to him. He picked up an empty teacup and saucer and poured a hot cup of tea from the kettle for Jessica. When he brought the steaming cup over to her, he sat back down next to her and put a hand to her arm. "You're nearly freezing, go on and drink up before Severus comes."

Jessica smiled as she accepted the hot drink and thanked her uncle for it. He went sat back into the couch and adjusted his spectacles. "When you feel the time is right, I want you to tell him about the abilities you possess."

"I suppose I'll have to," Jessica said. "But there's something I don't quite understand."

"And what is that, my dear?" Dumbledore asked curiously. His eyes squinted slightly as he listened to her.

"It's strange, really," she began. "The first three times I met him, I couldn't sense him when he was near me. He practically snuck up on me every time, and normally I get a feeling when there's someone around me. Even when I ran right into him in the dungeons, I didn't know he was there until I heard his voice."

"That does sound a bit odd," Dumbledore agreed. "However, I think there's nothing unusual about it. You have a very difficult time sensing my presence when I am near."

"Very true," she continued. "Although half way through our conversation in the garden last week, I all of a sudden started picking up on his emotions. Ever since then I've been able to sense him coming near the Hospital Wing, then disappearing shortly afterwards. I thought I was losing my mind, but then one evening when I felt he was near I peeked my head out the door just in time to see him leaving again."

"Lost the courage he had to speak with you I suppose," Dumbledore guessed.

"Yes," she told him. "There were many things he felt as he was walking away, but not one of those feelings was pleasant. They were all frustrating, painful emotions."

Dumbledore nodded as he came to understand why Snape would make so many attempts to confront Jessica and then walk away from it all. It was a classic Severus Snape battle between his yearning to become noticed and yearning to remain unnoticed.

"Dearest, this may come as no surprise to you, but Severus' purpose of seeing me this morning was to ask my permission to court you."

"To court me?" Jessica repeated after swallowing a half sip of tea. She felt quite surprised that Snape would want to bring the Headmaster into the middle of their growing relationship. "What did you tell him, Uncle?" Jessica set her tea aside and leaned her arms forward over her lap as she anxiously awaited his answer.

Dumbledore's hands went up in front of him and he shrugged. His bottom lip curled downward and then he smiled. "I saw no reason to deny him the privilege. I don't think that just because of who I am to you gives me the right to decide who you can or cannot involve yourself with. After all, Severus is a grown man who's well in his prime, and you've reached an age where thoughts of marriage and starting a family ought to be surfacing. Regardless of what I think, the choice is ultimately yours. If you feel that Severus is worthy of your love, a courtship might be in your best interest." He paused for a moment. After leaning over towards Jessica and pulling his spectacles down his nose, he peered at her eye to eye and lightly pat his hand on her knee a couple of times. "But for what it's worth, I think the two of you will make a marvellous pair." Dumbledore winked at her and took his hand away.

Jessica cupped her chin in her palm and gently tapped her fingernails against her cheek as she pondered. She looked out the window as a couple of birds flew by and then remembered the small souvenir Severus had given her yesterday. The green handkerchief he had let her keep was sitting on top of her dresser next to the window.

Jessica smoothly extended her hand out towards the dresser and in the next instant she had the handkerchief in her grasp. Dumbledore had watched the small piece of material soar all the way from the dresser into her hand. He then smiled as he watched his grandniece look at Severus' initials in the corner once more.

The memory of watching Snape smile for the first time as she wiped her tears away played again in Jessica's mind. She loved thinking about that moment. So far it had been the only time Snape hadn't felt angry about one thing or another. At that particular moment just before their kiss, all he had felt was pride and happiness.

"You've certainly managed to capture his heart quickly," Dumbledore mentioned. "Severus' need for affection is long over due. I can't tell you how pleased I am with how you've handled his manner."

"It surly wasn't easy," she said. The corners of Jessica's mouth tugged her lips into a smile and her eyes rolled playfully. "However, you're forgetting one thing, Uncle Albus. You've no need to tell me just how pleased you are. As difficult as you are to read, I can still read you, " Jessica admitted and smiled again. "Ever since I told you I met him in the Hospital Wing you've been anxious for a spark to ignite between the two of us."

Dumbledore smiled proudly and began to chuckle quietly. "Yes Jessica, I'm very happy to see that Severus has taken a special interest in you. Furthermore I have to admit that I wasn't expecting such an interest to develop so quickly. Such behaviour is quite unusual for Severus."

Jessica's gaze gradually fell to the floor. For the next few moments she was reminded of the fierce emotions that poured out of Snape's heart as he confessed the love he felt for her. The excruciating pain it caused him to say those ten simple, yet loving words was nearly unprecedented. If she hadn't bewitched him, he never would have spoken such tender words. There was something more that just the fear of losing her that had to be responsible for such fierce emotions.

"His emotions are growing stronger, Uncle," Jessica began in a soft voice only a notch louder than a whisper. "I tried my hardest to shield myself like you taught me, but other than the emotions I sensed from my father last summer, I've never felt anything so powerful before. It pained me to tears when Severus told me how he felt. I've never experienced the sensation of such love mixed with hate and anger all at the same time. If this is the way I'm going to make him feel every time we're together, I don't see how either of us will survive the relationship, especially if I continue to become even more sensitive to his emotions. Frankly, I don't know how I survived the summer. If it hadn't been for Professor Quirrell, I don't think I would have."

"If there's one thing you need to know about your father, it's that he will never intentionally endanger your life, Jessica," Dumbledore ensured. "At least not yet. Not until the intentions Lord Voldemort has for you are complete."

"And then I'll be as useless to him as my mother was," she quickly concluded. The anger that sounded in Jessica's voice was still just as intense as had been over the summer when she had first been brought to Hogwarts after witnessing the Death Eaters take only a couple of seconds to mercilessly murder her mother.

Dumbledore nodded his head patiently and closed his eyes for a short moment. Before speaking, he took a deep breath and lifted his pointer finger importantly. "Do you remember, Jessica, when I told you that Severus knows plenty about adapting to changes in one's lifestyle?"

"Yes," she answered softly. "I know what kind of changes he's gone through. He used to be one of them."

"One of who?" Dumbledore asked childishly, pretending not to know the blatantly obvious answer. He tangled his finger in the length of his silver beard and revealed a hint of a smile.

Jessica saw right through his act of ignorance and frowned at his unwillingness to be straightforward. "Come on Uncle," she said seriously. "I know you know exactly what I'm talking about. Severus said some things to me yesterday that gave me sufficient enough reason to believe that he used to be a Death Eater, just like my blood father."

"No," Dumbledore said immediately and raised his finger once again at her. His smile disappeared and the look in his crystal blue eyes turned serious. Jessica knew right away she had said something wrong. If she hadn't, Dumbledore's emotions never would have taken such a drastic change in such a short instant. "Severus was never anything like your father. There are many things your father did that Severus would have given his life to prevent from happening. In a sense, Severus has broken free. Your father will never break free, he'll never change, and he'll never demonstrate the paternal love and affection you deserve. He has chosen to reserve the vastness of his emotional commitments solely for the Dark Arts. He's dedicated his life to assist in the growth and strengthening of Voldemort. And as unique and as much as you are loved and cherished by others, your entire existence is evidence of that dedication."

"Severus doesn't know who my father is, does he?" Jessica questioned.

"No," Dumbledore's head shook. "No, I don't believe he does. He was still quite young when you were born. Until last summer, your existence has been kept secret from a vast majority of the remaining Death Eaters."

Jessica nodded in understanding and pressed her head into the back of the couch. She lifted her eyes to the ceiling and took a moment to give some serious thought as to whether or not she wanted Snape to learn the name of the Death Eater who illegitimately brought her into the world of magic solely for the purpose of using her for the formidable talents she possessed in order to serve the Dark Lord.

Dumbledore interrupted her thoughts by standing up and looking down at Jessica judiciously. His head shook back and forth a couple of times before he spoke to her. "Because of who you are Jessica, you will be sought after by the dark wizards day by day until the time comes where your powers will no longer be of use to them. Therefore it will be necessary for you to remain by the side of a wizard capable of protecting you until that day. You understand that now, don't you?"

"Yes," Jessica softly said with a boldly affirmative nod. After all that had happened over the summer, Jessica now understood how necessary it was for her to have a wizard to protect her at all times.

Arrogantly believing that she could take care of herself resulted in a situation that only led to the cruel, cold-hearted murder of her mother, Espiranza Van Eden. Jessica's eyes fell to the floor and a memory quickly flashed before her eyes.

During the middle of the night, three dark wizards barged into her mother's home in London. Their presence awakened Jessica at once. However, as little time as it took for Jessica to realize that they were there for her, it was already too late. She opened her bedroom door in just enough time to see a Death Eater pull his wand from his robes and point it at her mother who had emerged from her own bedroom only seconds earlier. The bolt of blinding green light struck Espiranza's heart and sucked the life out of her in an instant. That was the last thing Jessica remembered before awakening in the presence of a masked Death Eater. She recognized her father's cold, malevolent voice immediately. Although he was weak, Jessica could still feel the emotions of sheer evil pouring out of him.

"I won't be around forever to protect you," Dumbledore continued, "I don't fancy the idea of it either. To restrict you to the grounds of Hogwarts for that many years wouldn't be fair." His hands rose in consideration and he shrugged his shoulders again. "Severus knows enough to know how to protect you from those who will never cease to hunt you. I would die a very peaceful man if I knew you had a man like Severus by your side."

"Is that what you told him this morning?" she asked inquisitively. Jessica stood up from her seat on the couch when she saw that Dumbledore was beginning to walk towards the door.

"Not exactly," Dumbledore replied. "But I'm sure he got the picture." A clever smile spread across his face and he winked at his grandniece as she walked at his side.

"And what did he think of your subtle hint?" Jessica asked.

Dumbledore stopped and turned around to face her. The smile was still spread across his jolly face. "You're the empath my dear, not me. Perhaps you can enlighten me once he has been indulged in your abilities."

"Perhaps I will," Jessica said. "I told him yesterday that I could sense his emotions," she confessed.

"Well I suppose that's a start," he told her.

A moment later, Jessica took a breath in through her mouth and held it as she remembered how she had used her powers to force him into expressing his true feelings. "Yesterday I did something to him that I shouldn't have," she admitted. "I bewitched him into telling me how he truly felt about me. The feelings were there inside of him and it was driving me mad that he wouldn't just admit that he wanted to be with me. I know I shouldn't have done it, it was awfully selfish of me, but I had to hear him say the words."

Dumbledore knew that deep down inside, Snape needed to hear the words, too. He also knew that it wasn't selfishness that drove Jessica into bewitching him.

"Of course I'm going to have to tell him what I'd done to him," Jessica continued, "but I'm quite certain he isn't going to be very happy about it."

"You know Jessica," he began with his finger held out in front of himself. "I don't want you to be afraid of telling him about any of the abilities you possess. As I said before, in the wizarding world these gifts are uncommon, but not abnormal. I can guarantee you that Severus won't stop feeling the way he does for you once you tell him."

She nodded in appreciation and then held her arms out to give Dumbledore a hug. "Thank you, Uncle." He squeezed her tightly and pat her back a couple of times. "Thank you so much."