Author's Note: I'm sorry I didn't mention this before, but as this fiction is set during the Chamber of Secrets, there is a fiction preceding Mistress of Slytherin. It is called Journey to Passion. That fiction will include all of the details pertaining to Jessica and how she became involved with Snape. I hope that you'll read it before continuing with Mistress of Slytherin!!! It didn't receive a single review stating that it was a waste of time, so I can guarantee that if this fiction sparks your interest, Journey to Passion will as well! Thanks! … and enjoy! ~ Lara
Chapter One – The New Professor
It was already the first of September.
Silhouetted on the dark horizon, high on the cliff over the lake, stood the many turrets and towers of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Its spotless corridors, classrooms and dormitories hadn't been as sparkling clean as they were now since the previous September 1st. Each painting and suit of armour stood or hung gleaming in the empty, moonlit corridors. The professors had all prepared classroom lessons necessary to educate the witches and wizards of tomorrow.
The unique and exceptional professors of Hogwarts had all congregated at the Head Table overlooking the four House tables stretching down along the vast length of the Great Hall. They were all chatting amongst themselves and were eagerly anticipating the arrival of their students – all exceptionally eager, except for one.
Professor Severus Snape was hardly the one to look forward to the beginning of a whole new year of teaching at Hogwarts. It was almost easier to look forward to a Death Eater's meeting than it was the first of September. Condemned to teaching at the acclaimed school of witchcraft and wizardry for the last eleven years and what for he thought would be eternity, Professor Severus Snape, Master of Potions, Head of Slytherin – dread the first of September more than any other day of the year.
Snape hated every day of the school year, but each less and less as every new day meant it was one day closer to the last day of classes. The last day of school meant two months of either time of solitude, or time spent in the company of the one person in his life who he considered a true friend. Even more than a friend, she was his adherent, his conscience, his soul deep desire, and oddly enough, she was determined to be the bane of his existence.
Her name, Jessica Van Eden.
Snape had met her the previous school year, on Halloween night to be exact. After practicing medicine in the Muggle world for six years, Jessica had been taken into the safety of Hogwarts for protection from the Death Eaters who had murdered her mother, Espiranza Van Eden, the daughter of Albus Dumbledore's youngest sister, Guinevere de Marquis. Not only was Jessica the grandniece of the famous and powerful Albus Dumbledore, but also the undisclosed and illegitimate daughter of the world's most feared dark wizard, the villainous Lord Voldemort.[1]
With a renowned and quite remarkable pair of emerald green eyes like her mothers', skin like ivory and a long, dark curtain of silky hair, it took no effort for Severus Snape to melt in her tender embrace. In fact, that was precisely where he had spent most of the last two months. With Headmaster Dumbledore's permission, Snape had taken Jessica back to her native London, then on to Paris, Rome and then Athens. They had returned to Hogwarts with enough time for Snape to prepare for the coming school year, but to his utter pleasure, they had returned with not quite enough time to meet this years new professors – the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor particularly.
"Come on now, Severus," Jessica whinged as she squeezed his hand and practically dragged him along the wide, open corridor. "He simply can't be any worse than the last one, can he?"
Snape glanced over at Jessica and rolled his eyes, bearing a look of doubt. "One cannot compare the likes of a babbling imbecile to someone as smug and self-righteous as Gilderoy Lockhart," he said, slowly sounding Lockhart's name out as if he had a mouthful of dirt. "The Headmaster's decision to appoint that supercilious son of a Bludger as the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor is incomprehensible! I find it both insulting and humiliating to think that the Headmaster believes he is the most worthy and knowledgeable contender."
Jessica quietly cleared her throat and ran her hand up and down along the sleeve of Snape's black robes. "Well, I'm quite certain his expertise in the area of the Dark Arts exceeds that of Potion making. He doesn't have the patients you do, Love. He's quick, eager and risky it seems. It's rather obvious he has an absence of caution, care and precision."
Professor Snape bent his brows together and looked down his shoulder into Jessica's emerald eyes. "And just how might you know so much about him?" he asked irritably while making a face that made Jessica think he really did have dirt in his mouth.
"I've read some of his books," Jessica retorted. "Haven't you?"
"Of course I have," Snape hissed, his uncanny words slipping off his tongue reassuringly. "Know your enemies better than your allies," he advised again in his low, velvety voice that was both delight and torment to her ears. "Did your uncle not teach you that?"
"Gilderoy Lockhart is NOT your enemy, Severus!" Jessica assured in the most confident tone she could muster. "Where do you get such an idea?"
"Straight from his published work," Snape said. Jessica watched as his pace quickened and his long strides became even longer. Even as his anger and frustration escalated and his pace became heavier, Snape still moved smoothly and soundlessly while his cloud of black robes billowed dramatically behind him in his wake.
"I began by reading 'Voyages with Vampires,'" he continued. "A rather catchy title, I suppose. Nevertheless, I felt that it would be in my best interest to continue familiarizing myself with his accomplishments should he and I ever cross paths. Rather ironic now, I say." He cocked an eyebrow and looked shrewdly at Jessica.
Jessica returned his glare with a harsh look of her own. "You're worrying for nothing, Love."
"I am not worried," Snape retorted sharply. "You know damned well that I will not lose any sleep worrying about that bloody imbecile."
"Then stop getting so uptight about meeting him!" Jessica demanded rather sternly. "You've put it off long enough. Now is the time to forget about all the things you've read about him and start paying attention to the real thing. Perhaps then you'll figure out why he got the job, and you didn't."
Snape's heavy footsteps came to a sudden halt, his outstretched hand grasped Jessica's arm tightly and spun her around to face him. Glowering down at her, Snape angrily flickered his gaze back and forth between each of Jessica's emerald eyes and his brows drew together in a menacing scowl. He held Jessica's arms tight in his hands as his black, empty eyes bore into her.
"Don't you dare look at me that way Severus Snape," Jessica said without even flinching under his intensity. With one swift motion she freed herself from his grasp and took one step back. "You know I don't mean that to insult you. The point I'm trying to make is that there is a good reason my uncle chose Gilderoy Lockhart instead of you, and the sooner you find out what that reason is, the better. You'll most likely have a better chance at the job next year," she said more softly.
Snape relaxed the muscles in his face and even let the corner of his mouth turn up into a half smile. He lifted his hand back up to Jessica's arm and affectionately began to rub her where he had grabbed her. "Perhaps I will just have you find out everything for me," he suggested teasingly. "Merlin knows that would be an easy task for you to pull off."
An odd smile appeared on Jessica's face. Her cheeks turned pink and she sighed bashfully. "That it would be," she agreed. As if there were only clouds beneath her feet, Jessica dreamily began walking down the corridor leading to the Entrance Hall, her fingers lazily trailing up along his chest. "It might take a couple of days, but I think I would thoroughly enjoy such a mission. What sort of girl wouldn't jump at the idea of gradually warming up to Gilderoy Lockhart?" Jessica reached her hand up and tickled just beneath his chin with her fingertips. "I could have him surrender to my warm embrace in record time." Jessica then taunted him with the starry twinkle in her eye. "Before you know it, he'll unleash his guard and confess each of his deepest – and perhaps even his most intimate - thoughts, and all without speaking one word. And then-"
"Enough!" Snape bellowed and stopped again. He pulled Jessica's hands away from his face and gave Jessica the sinister look she had already grown quite accustomed to.
"It was your idea!" Jessica reminded.
"You know perfectly well I did not mean it like that!" Snape assured. "I was only-"
"Kidding?" Jessica said first, knowing that Snape would never admit to trying to make a joke. She cocked her left eyebrow and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Was the seemingly humourless Severus Snape trying to poke some fun at me?" Jessica teased as she slowly pushed herself up against him. She ran her fingers along Snape's sides and began to tickle him under his ribs.
Snape grunted in irritation and tried to push Jessica's bothersome hands away. "Stop it," he pleaded softly. Jessica moved her hands further down his body and began poking just above his waist.
"Let me hear you laugh," she said with a smile.
"Absolutely not," Snape hissed. "I do not find this amusing."
"Pretend you do," was Jessica's request. "Come on, just a little giggle."
Snape constantly slapped her hands away from touching him anywhere she knew he was ticklish. "Enough!" he bellowed once again. Snape took a firm grip around each of Jessica's wrists and then strode up to the edge of the corridor and barred her up against its cold, rough wall. He fastened her hands up above her head and bore his dark, hollow eyes into her. "What has gotten into you, Jessica? Why are you behaving like a… child???"
Jessica stared back at him for a moment and then lazily let her eyelids fall shut. She moaned in a way that made Snape's entire body shiver with delight and then relaxed her hands until he finally let her go. "And what's wrong with a child's behaviour?" she questioned. "Why should only the children have all the fun with you?"
Snape opened his mouth to speak, but before he could voice a single syllable, Jessica had stretched her neck upward and planted a warm, ardent kiss on his lips. Her boldness took him by surprise, as he was quite prepared to start lashing out at her for asking such ridiculous questions. Appalled at how good her kiss made him feel when all he wanted to do a moment ago was scold her, Snape tried to resist Jessica's affectionate endeavour. His hands pushed back on her shoulders, but his lips refused to pull away from her kiss.
Snape knew Jessica was not ignorant to the fact that he was partial to most of his students, but her mockery was what angered him most of all. Although, as Jessica coaxed him into a deeper kiss, the enthralling feel of her soft, moist lips stroking against his compelled Snape to bend his head down and indulge in the full sensation of her sweet kiss. His hands stopped pushing her away and quickly began to gather her into a tight, passionate embrace.
Jessica closed her eyes and readily opened her mouth, inviting him to a taste of her intimacy. She leaned forward and let her body melt into his as her hands came down and began groping at his chest as if trying to make way through his robes to the bare flesh beneath.
"You must stop doing that," Snape murmured after finally backing away from their kiss. He brushed his hands down along the front of his robes as if to wipe away every trace of Jessica's fervent hold. Jessica watched him pull his cloak around his body and then bend his knees slightly as he gave a subtle tug and the front of his trousers, which felt considerably tighter than they had before Jessica's kiss.
"I stopped doing that for six months," she reminded and tried to ignore him as he regained his composure. "You nearly lost your mind," Jessica continued. She reached up and straightened Snape's white collar before moving on with him through the Entrance Hall.
Although it was a six-month period he would never forget, Snape did not like being reminded of the loneliness and despair he suffered while Jessica lay in a death-like coma for the last half of the previous school year.[2] Jessica could feel Snape's despair accumulating. As much as he hated thinking about the many weeks he spent grumping at her bedside, Snape also needed to remind himself of how lucky he was to have Jessica back. She was his single ray of light shining through a glut of black clouds. He felt that his life was nothing but an empty, desolate existence without her.
Snape looked affectionately at Jessica, studying the tiny gold trimmings she had weaved into her locks of dark hair. The golden flowers matched the golden embroidery in her gown perfectly. As much as he hated seeing her dressed in scarlet and gold, he couldn't keep the flames in his heart from warming his entire body. However, he couldn't bring himself to admit how beautiful she looked this evening.
"Why are you wearing that blasted colour?" he asked.
"What's wrong with wearing scarlet dress robes to dinner tonight?" Jessica asked. "I seem to remember it was Gryffindor who last year won the House Cup."
"My point exactly."
"Oh stop it, Severus. If you're so concerned about representing your own House, then why don't you wear a touch of green instead of that dreadfully depressing colour all the time?"
"You know why not."
Jessica shrewdly raised her eyebrows. "And I also know that Minerva isn't too concerned about wearing her colours either. I already saw her this evening dressed from head to toe in dark green robes."
"Out of habit I suppose," Snape said with a touch of renewed pride in his voice. "It has been a long time since any House but Slytherin has been awarded the House Cup."
"Then perhaps you should have returned her gesture by wearing her colours as long as Gryffindor prevails," Jessica suggested even though she knew such a thing would never go over with Snape.
"I hardly think so," he said. "And don't think that you should have bothered either just to be polite. Your efforts will probably go completely unnoticed."
"I doubt that," Jessica whispered under her breath. "Besides, I'm going to dinner with you as your escort, not as your House mascot," Jessica assured.
"As my escort, don't you think you ought to have complemented me as the Head of Slytherin?"
"Perhaps I would bother to complement your colours if you actually wore something to complement. Honestly Severus, you look absolutely boring."
"And you look like a perfect turncoat, dear," Snape retorted mockingly.
"If my clothes really bother you that much, I have no doubt that you can change their colours in the blink of an eye," Jessica said in a rather injured voice.
"That I could," Snape agreed. He stepped a little closer to her and leaned his head down to her ear as they walked. "Or I could remove them completely," he whispered in a threatening voice so full of sincerity, Jessica could feel his temptation wrap tight around her like a coarse blanket.
"You wouldn't dare," Jessica hissed at him.
Before Snape could say anything back, they stepped into the Entrance Hall where the caretaker, Argus Filch was giving the floor one last cleaning.
"I don't know why I bother," Filch said without looking up at the couple. "It'll only be another hour before those filthy kids arrive, then I'll have to start this cursed job all over again." Jessica concealed a giggle while Snape grumbled in agreement with the caretaker.
Neither of them said anything to each other until Snape reverently opened the doors to the Great Hall for Jessica. "Go on," he said blandly and stepped aside.
With a tiny smile, Jessica nodded graciously and stepped into the Great Hall. Snape swept in behind her and the door closed shut behind them. Their bodies were warmed the moment they stepped inside. The sea of floating candles lit and warmed the Great Hall, and just above them hung the long, scarlet and gold banners marking Gryffindor as last year's winner of the House Cup.
Jessica looked up at the banners and smiled as she pointed up at them. "Next year when we do this, those will be green and silver."
"Really?" Snape said, rather wearily. "Is that what Sybil told you?"
"No."
"Good," he said a bit more readily. "Then perhaps you stand a chance at being right. I will of course be expecting you to dress accordingly for the occasion."
Professor Sybil Trelawney was seated near the end of the staff table right next to the gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid. She very rarely joined the rest of the professors in the Great Hall for meals, but for special occasions, she was sure to be spotted among them.
"Jessica, dear!"
The chatter stopped almost immediately and both Jessica and Snape looked up when they heard the eminent voice of the Headmaster who was rising from his chair in the middle of the table. His hands were raised in front of him and his gleaming smile made Snape feel like his humble entrance wasn't inconspicuous enough to go unnoticed, as he had hoped it would.
"Oh, doesn't she look lovely in those colours," Jessica heard Professor McGonagall whispering to Madam Hooch from behind the table. They were both smiling at Jessica when she turned her head to look at Snape who – judging by the scowl on his face – had obviously overheard McGonagall as well.
"You are both just in time," Dumbledore said as he made his way down from the table. "Jessica, my darling, you look absolutely radiant tonight. A splendid choice of colours I might add." He took both of her hands with his and then leaned forward to place a single kiss on her cheek.
"Thank you, Uncle." Jessica gave the Headmaster a hug and then stepped aside so that he could greet the Potions Master accordingly. "Completely unnoticeably, aren't I?" she whispered disdainfully as she moved back.
Snape barely managed to put a scornful look on his face before the Headmaster's booming voice claimed his attention.
"Severus, welcome," Dumbledore began, "I don't believe I've seen you since before your departure. How did you enjoy the holiday?"
"It was adequate," Snape assured in a hushed tone, "except for the inconvenience of Muggle transportation," he said and tossed a rough look at Jessica, who had insisted they restrict themselves to travelling by ground transportation from city to city.
"Well, you can't have expected to Apparate or fly by broomstick with Jessica, she hasn't learned either method yet," Dumbledore said with a chuckle.
"And she probably never will," Jessica added, looking convincingly at Snape. "Muggle transportation is perfectly adequate, and probably far more enjoyable than soaring hundreds of miles up in the thin, bitter cold air on a tiny stick between my legs."
"The constant bickering was a nuisance as well," Snape muttered under his breath. He slowly crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes.
Like she usually did, Jessica ignored Snape and allowed Dumbledore to usher her over to the end of the table where a tall, blonde man wearing aquamarine dress robes was standing, giving a lively speech to the attentive professors surrounding him.
He stopped in mid-sentence, with his hands in the air and watched as Dumbledore approached with Jessica by his side, and the subdued Potions Master a few steps behind him. Jessica recognized the man immediately when he parted his lips to bare a famous, glimmering, ear-to-ear smile that was accompanied by a tiny chuckle.
"Ah," Lockhart began excitedly and pointed at Jessica. "Don't tell me, Albus. This is the lovely grandniece you've been telling me about, Jessica Van Eden."
"You're absolutely right," Dumbledore confirmed. "Jessica, allow me to introduce you to our new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor –"
"Gilderoy Lockhart," he finished for the Headmaster in a gallant voice and outstretched his hand towards Jessica. "Please, call me Gilderoy." He gently picked Jessica's hand up and raised it to his lips. "Enchante, mademoiselle," he said before bowing down to touch her hand with a kiss.
"Enchante," Jessica repeated. "I am delighted to meet you, Gilderoy."
"Please, the pleasure is all mine, I assure you. Your uncle has told me a great deal about you." He chuckled again and then released Jessica's hand. He stood at his full height and puffed his chest out admirably.
"Has he?" Jessica glanced sideways at Dumbledore and smiled, wondering exactly how much he had told Lockhart about her. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled behind his half-moon shaped spectacles and then he subtly backed away and rejoined the professors at the Head Table. "I am in no doubt he's probably led you astray," Jessica continued.
Lockhart flashed another toothy smile and his cheeks seemed to flush. "I truly hope not. In fact, I would indeed be honoured to hear more about you… first hand. Perhaps we could have a quiet dinner in my private chambers some day soon." Lockhart winked his eye and smiled dashingly at her.
"Perhaps," she told him, although Jessica knew Snape would never grant her permission to stand for one moment alone behind closed doors with Gilderoy Lockhart. "I am particularly interested in hearing more about Year with the Yeti. Fascinating. Truly fascinating."
His chuckle sounded with an abundance of false modestly. Jessica peeked over her shoulder at Snape and watched him lazily roll his eyes. "It was indeed a interesting year, but not nearly as exciting as I intend to make this year at Hogwarts."
"Do you plan to write about your experience here?" Jessica asked curiously.
"Absolutely, my dear," he assured promptly. "And I also intend to include every detail about the personal relationships that will surely blossom… and I do hope to include many, many details about Hogwarts' most intriguing, lovely young witch. As much as your uncle has told me about you, you still remain a mystery to me. After finally meeting you in person, I wonder, how it is that a charming young lady such as yourself, is still a bachelorette?"
At this, Snape took one step closer to Jessica and crossed his arms irritably. His eyes bore down into Lockhart's, but Lockhart was too preoccupied with Jessica to notice the Potion Master's severe glare. Jessica could feel Snape's fury beginning to overwhelm and knew that it wouldn't be long before he stepped between them.
"Well Professor Lockhart-"
"Gilderoy, please," Lockhart insisted.
"Gilderoy," Jessica said and forced a pleasant smile onto her face as she corrected herself. "As I was going to say – if my uncle truly did share very much about me, you would not be wondering such a thing, I am sure."
"Nonsense!" Lockhart tossed his head back and laughed. "What sort of wizard in his right mind wouldn't fancy having a lovely bride like you?"
Snape stepped up so close to Jessica, she could feel the warmth of his breath wafting on the back of her neck as his fuming temper prepared to erupt. "Perhaps there is no such wizard who dares to accept a particularly notorious, malevolent wizard as a father-in-law," he said very quietly.
Jessica's head cocked around so quickly she felt as if she'd pinched a nerve somewhere in the back of her neck. Her eyes narrowed into a mean scowl as she watched Snape step up beside her and gaze warningly at the new professor.
Lockhart's eyes widened in a baffled sort of way and his bottom lip began to quiver as he tried to find the words to say. "I, uh, I b- b- beg your p- pardon."
While rubbing the back of her neck, Jessica saw Snape's chest rise as he took a long, deep breath. "It seems to me that you intend to write a book about her," he said. "If that is the case, you may want to look into her family tree before depicting her as the cherub of the wizarding world. After all, your attention to detail is quite remarkable. It would be a pity – and not to mention an embarrassment – to exclude such a vital portion of information."
"Severus, stop it!" Jessica whispered his way.
Ignoring Jessica, Snape brushed his shoulder against her and took one step in front of her to face his adversary and mustered a deep, penetrating look, scrutinizing Lockhart's every move. "Perhaps you should start by looking into the first three years of Miss Van Eden's life. That, I can honestly say, would be shocking news, surely an impressive bestseller."
Lockhart looked blankly at Snape for a moment, and just when Jessica thought he was going to turn as white as a ghost and keel over backwards, Lockhart's lips sprung into a smile and he pointed excitedly at Snape.
"Ah-ha!" he began. "Very good, mate. Very good indeed!" He stretched his arm out towards the Potions Master. "Gilderoy Lockhart," he introduced enthusiastically. "It must be an honour to meet me face to face."
A silence followed Lockhart's introduction. Jessica looked up angrily at Snape and saw his lip curling slightly. "This is our Potions Master, Severus Snape," Jessica announced once she was sure Snape had no intention to introduce himself. "He has been anxious to meet you, Gilderoy."
Snape released a heavy breath. "Anxious, indeed." He then reached his hand out and shook with Lockhart.
"Ooh, that's quite a grip," Lockhart said. He pulled his hand away rather quickly and Jessica looked down at Snape's white knuckles. "What a sport! I like that!" Lockhart recovered enthusiastically; although Jessica could see him tenderly rubbing the hand Snape had shook. "Wow, what a year this is going to be! You're quite an adventurer yourself, aren't you, Severus? You'll have to tell me all about yourself one of these days. I have met very few men in my travels like you."
Snape's left eyebrow curved slightly. "I somehow doubt that." The cruelty in his voice was brutally evident now, yet Lockhart didn't seem to realize that he was the target of Snape's bitter behaviour. Jessica could feel Snape's loathing for the new professor escalate with every passing moment and knew that if she didn't try to end the conversation soon, the grudge would only intensify.
"Well Gilderoy, I do hope that you'll enjoy it here at Hogwarts," Jessica said sincerely. "You certainly deserve it."
As she could have predicted – and had been counting on - Jessica's last comment earned her a particularly snide look from Snape, which she ignored. After the audacity Snape had to start talking about her like that, Jessica intended to ignore him throughout the duration of the evening. And, to ensure that it left a scar in his memory, Jessica had it in mind to devote her attention to someone who wouldn't try to demean her heritage.
"Why thank you my dear," Lockhart said full-heartedly. "And I do hope that you and I will have plenty of time to meet again. I do intend to write a book all about my experience teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts." He leaned a little bit closer to her and whispered into her ear, "I certainly look forward to dedicating an entire chapter to you, my lady. I hope that later this week you will stop by my chambers to arrange an interview."
"We'll see." Jessica smiled again and allowed for Lockhart to kiss her hand one more time. His lips were soft and warm and felt exceptionally gentle against her skin.
Lockhart winked as he backed away from her and then whipped his wand out from his aquamarine robes and muttered a quick incantation before a single red rose appeared in his hand. Lockhart bowed as he held it out for Jessica to take.
"Goodness," Jessica whispered as she hesitantly stretched her hand out, "it's beautiful, Gilderoy."
"But not nearly as beautiful as you are," Lockhart said in his most charming voice.
"What a lovely shade," Snape hissed derisively. "It matches your gown perfectly, and it is just as appropriate I might add."
Having missed their previous quarrel over Jessica's attire, Lockhart failed to hear the intended insult in Snape's voice. He just stood smiling, bearing his bright white teeth until Snape could no longer bear his company.
"Come along Miss Van Eden," Snape said and began leading Jessica away. "I will gladly help you find a place to put that."
[1] For details pertaining to Jessica's conception, see my fanfic titled 'Journey to Passion' chapter 6 and 17. To learn all about Jessica, just read the whole bloody thing. *wink*
[2] Jessica had been cursed in Chapter 16 in JtP.