(Disclaimer; JK Rowling own some of these characters)

Chapter Two: Detention.

The Great Hall of Hogwarts once again filled with the hustle and bustle of energetic students, after its long summer in silence. Hundreds of Candles floated effortless amongst the clouds on enchanted ceiling. The professor's well rested, sat deep conversation along the teachers table.

Argus Filch the schools caretaker stood at the two large entrance doors, with his newly acquired kitten, Mrs Norris, firmly tucked up in his arms.

Professor Dumbledore raised his hands silencing the noisy chatter; Filch opened the grand doors, letting in a relatively small trickle of excited and anxious first year students.

Since a minor attack, by a handful of Death-eaters, in the grounds of the school late last term, the number of Muggle-born students and new enrolments had dropped. Muggle parents needed to know their child would be safe, but for some the risk was becoming too great as the Death-eaters targeted 'mudbloods' as they branded the witches and wizards born to Muggle families.

Dumbledore looked over his half-moon glasses at the apprehensive group of first year students, as they stood collectively before the sorting hat.

His disappointment was clearly evident as he lifted his head to look around the Great Hall at some of the empty spaces. Not even the sorting hat had a song in his heart as he went directly into the task sorting the youngsters.

With everyone seated Professor Dumbledore stood yet again, "I warmly welcome you all and sundry to another important and I may say a very safe year at Hogwarts". He paused for a second time, letting his gaze look over the Great Hall and the sea of faces looking up towards him.

"Now more than ever it is imperative, that we put aside any and all petty bickering or long held grudges, new bonds of friendship need to be forged if we are endure and rise above the growing uncertainty that surrounds us all," he said, choosing his words carefully, so as not to alarm the younger students.

Clearing his throat he continued "That is why this year we will be holding a Yule ball for all students".

Loud and eager conversations quickly broke out across the Great Hall as enthusiastic students discussed and contemplated the unexpected coming event, but Professor Dumbledore was far from finished informing them about the ball, a hitch lay ahead, that some students wouldn't be happy about, especially the close-knit Slytherin house.

Raising his hands, the Hall again fell silent. "The point of this Yule ball is to bring unity and understanding amongst all students, which is why I have decided that you will only be permitted to attend the ball if you are accompanied by a student from a house other than your own".

"Oh What!" James Potter protested loudly, as he quickly glanced across the table to Lily Evans and then back up to Professor Dumbledore. His intention immediately, on hearing about the ball, had been to ask Lily, but Dumbledore's final words had put an abrupt end to that idea.

His gaze quickly turned to the Ravenclaw table as Jessica giggled loudly at his reaction.

"Shut up Ciappara" he snapped.

"As if Lily would ever go with you" she taunted back to him.

It was well known James had a crush on Lily, ever since late last year, he had gone out of his way to show off in front of her, not realising or bothering to understand, that his annoying behaviour was only serving to distance himself more from her.

Molly O'grady leaned back towards the Ravenclaw table, "So who are you thinking of going with Jess?" She asked.

"Hmm, I don't know, what do you think Lil?" Jessica asked.

"How about, Nigel Aubrey?" Lily teased.

Jessica pick up a bread roll throwing at lily, "No way, he picks his nose in potions" she said glancing over to the Hufflepuff table.

"Who are you going to ask?" Jessica leaned back questioning Remus as he sat next to Lily, listening in on their conversation.

"I'll probably give it a miss" he said quietly, but not quiet enough that James didn't hear.

"No way Moony, you're going, even if Padfoot and I have to find you someone to take" James informed him.

"Merlin help you, Remus, if they pick out someone for you" Jessica said with a laugh, bringing a smile to Remus' lips, but not to James or Sirius, her taunts irritating them further, especially James.

Come the end of dinner, the Great hall was now virtually empty, as the first years, escorted by the Prefects were taken to their respective common rooms.

Jessica sat over on the Gryffindor table with Lily and Molly, her two closest friends, a slight distance along the table sat, James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, deep in whispered conversation over a book they were all pouring-over.

As Dumbledore approached them, he paused, looking intently at the two groups, each deep in their own important conversations.

"Jessica Ciappara, I'd like to see you in my office".

"Yes Professor" Jessica politely answered, as she raised an uncertain eyebrow to Lily and Molly, "Maybe he missed me" she joked as she stood up to follow him.

"Sirius Black, my office" Dumbledore ordered.

"Professor?" Sirius questioned, just as bewildered as to why Professor Dumbledore required his presence.

"My office, now" Dumbledore repeated before leaving the Hall.

Following his orders, Jessica and Sirius made their way down the corridor to Dumbledore's office, closely tagging along behind was James and Peter.

Professor Dumbledore straightened his robe as he settled himself into his chair, before looking over his half moon glasses, at the two fifth year students standing before him, stoking his hand down over his lengthy white beard, he surveyed them for the longest time.

Jessica looked across to Sirius; both bemused as Dumbledore seem to deliberate over what he was going to say.

"If this is about me hexing Wilkes on the train then-:"

Dumbledore raised his hand silencing Sirius as he broke the growing silence with an unprompted confession, "We shall get to that Sirius" he said glancing only briefly at Sirius before returning his gaze to Jessica.

"How was your holidays?" he calmly asked her.

"It……. It was all right, sir" she hesitantly answered, as she considered where this conversation was going, hopefully not in the direction it usually took.

"Nothing to report?"

"Report?" Jessica questioned nervously, her cheeks flushing with colour as she glanced at an intrigued looking Sirius. Not that she was unaware of what Dumbledore was referring to, it was just a conversation she would rather not have in front of Sirius Black.

"Malaki?; Jessica" he reminded her, "No, 'accidents' or injuries this time".

Jessica closed her eyes momentarily as she swallowed hard, she was accustomed to Professor Dumbledore checking on her welfare, but this was not the time or place, she wished to discuss her violent stepfather.

"No there's no problem" her voice barely audible.

Looking over his glasses, that were perched on the end of his nose, he scrutinized Jessica's reluctant body language, as she stood silently with her head lowered, her clear message, that she didn't want to discuss the subject.

Turning his attention to Sirius, Dumbledore cleared his throat, "I am certain you were going to explain to me, why you used a Furnunculus curse on our mister Wilkes, but what ever the reason, you know the rules on using such a curse on any student" he said looking sternly over at Sirius.

Jessica couldn't suppress her giggle, at the thought of arrogant Slytherin, Adrian Wilkes covered in painful boils, over the years she had many unpleasant run-ins with Wilkes and his menacing gang of Slytherin's.

"Do you find this amusing?"

"Ahem… no Professor" Jessica quietly answered, clearing her throat as she tired unsuccessfully to hide her smirk.

"I believe the trophy room could do with a bit of a polish up".

Sirius groaned but accepted his punishment, "Yes Professor".

"That is for you both" Dumbledore order looking at Jessica.

"But… But I didn't do anything" she gasped disbelievingly.

"Well then, I suggest you don't look at it as a punishment, look at it rather as one of life's lessons" Dumbledore explain to a more than disgruntled Jessica.

Jessica stormed from Dumbledore's office to find Lily and Molly waiting at the bottom of the spiral stairs, a comfortable distance away from James and Peter, for Lily.

"What happened?" Lily questioned, seeing the none too happy look on her friends face.

"I have detention" Jessica snapped, before turning her attention to Sirius as he came down the stairs behind her, "This is your fault".

"Me?" He question, "What did I do?".

"You just had to curse Wilkes with boils, didn't you" Jessica stated, her efforts to express her anger, failed as she smiled again at the thought of Wilkes.

Mystified, Lily looked back at Jessica, as Sirius, James and Peter, in their own odd sense of humour, celebrated Sirius's detention, "What does that have to do with you?"

"Search me" Jessica muttered, shaking her head as they moved off towards the Trophy room, "Perhaps Dumbledore didn't see the humour of the situation".

"Well that's understandable, no one should be cursed with boils" Lily answered as she looked over at Sirius.

"It was Wilkes" Jessica said, excusing Sirius's actions.

At the grand staircase, Jessica and Sirius headed up to the third floor trophy room as the others made their way to the Gryffindor common room.

The large wrought Iron gates opened as the descended several small steps into the vast room. Sirius sat himself down on a chair, content to sit back and watch as Jessica flicked the end of her wand producing a large purple feather duster on its tip.

"This is your detention too" Jessica snapped looking over her shoulder at Sirius as he continued lounging back on the chair, fiddling with a mirror.

"Alright, don't go getting your knickers in a twist" he said smirking at her, before slipping the mirror into his pocket. Sirius wasn't accustomed to sharing his detention with a girl, normally it was both he and James, or him simply on his own, not that he minded or wasn't comfortable with a girl, he had spent time with several at school, just not on detention and not her.

"I don't get my knickers in a twist" Jessica retorted as she moved from one cabinet to the next one.

"What was Professor Dumbledore asking you about Malaki for?" Sirius questioned as he moved over near her, his gaze taking in the sight of her out-stretched body as she reached for the upper most shelf.

"It was nothing!" Jessica said rather defensively, noting his reaction she softened her tone, "I think professor Dumbledore is going a bit barmy"

Sirius wasn't buying her excuse, raising his eyebrow as he looked over at her, but deciding to leave it for the moment. "Here let me get that" he offered as she struggled replacing the hefty house cup back on its lofty ledge.

His offer surprised her; he always seemed like such an arrogant Pratt, especially when he was with James, but now seeing him alone he seemed somewhat different.

"Are you going to Bellatrix's wedding at Christmas?" she tentatively asked as he stood so near to her.

"Not if I have any say in it".

"Lucky you, I don't get a say at all, to my mother it's a social highlight, all the pureblood families together, what an occasion" Jessica sarcastically responded.

Sirius gave an annoyed groan; his family and all their tosh was something he'd rather not discuss with anybody.

But his reaction didn't go a miss with Jessica, both were yet to understand that they knew each other better than they realised.

Not wanting to touch on any prickly subjects just yet, Jessica prattled on about anything that popped into her mind, Sirius didn't seem to mind as he listened and added his own small talk.

Filch came down to the Trophy room an hour later relieving them of their cleaning duties.

Both headed off in different directions, to their respective common rooms, both of them had learnt just a little more about each other.

Thanks.

Nik.

R & R