Yeey! New chapter! *-* Sorry it's been a while, extremely busy with life *sigh*
But here it is! Enjoy! :) (oh and thank you Munrun for your review! I'm going to try and update a little faster :3)
The Impending Freedom
Jessica crossed out another day off the calendar that hung on the kitchen wall. Everyone was more than ready to leave Headquarters and head back to the castle - in fact, she'd caught Harry daydreaming about it many times already. During one of those times, Jessica had been in the middle of ranting about her sister. "Harry, are you listening?" Jessica asked, glaring slightly, but Harry didn't respond. With a sigh, Jessica stood up. "Do these trousers make my bum look big?" Jessica asked, and when Harry hummed in response, he earned himself a poke to the forehead - which finally brought him back to the real world, feeling slightly confused.
"I've got our booklists!" Hermione said, rather excitedly, as she burst into the kitchen. "The others are upstairs in Ron's room."
"Took them long enough." Jessica said, with a small smile. She glanced at the calendar again before following Hermione up the stairs. Not long now... Three days... She could handle just three more days locked up, couldn't she?
"Only two new ones for us... Standard Book of Spells Grade Five, by Miranda Goshawk, and Defensive Magical Theory, by Wilbert Slinkhard." Harry read from the list, as Hermione and Jessica walked into the room. Then, with a sudden crack in the air, Fred and George apparated right beside Harry. Harry was so used to this happening by now, that he didn't even jump in surprise.
"We were just wondering who set the Slinkhard book." Fred said.
"Because it means Dumbledore's found a new DADA teacher." George added.
"That's definitely taken a while." Hermione said, shaking her head.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"We overheard mum and dad talking on the extendable ear a few weeks back." George said, with a smug smile on his face. "Apparently Dumbledore's been having trouble finding anyone to do the job this year."
"Well, obviously..." Jessica snorted, and Harry looked over at her, confused still. "Quirrell's dead, Lockhart lost his memory, Remus got sacked, unfairly, but still... And then, of course, there's Moody, who spent most of the year locked in a chest." Jessica listed, and Harry seemed to finally grasp the idea. As Jessica had been speaking, she noticed Ron seemed a little too quiet - normally he would've voiced out his opinion by now, but he was just sat, staring at the piece of parchment in his hand. "You okay there, Ron?" Jessica asked, making everyone's attention turn to him.
"Go on, what's the matter?" Fred asked, impatiently, moving to Ron's side and leaning over his shoulder. Fred's mouth fell open almost immediately. "No freaking way!"
"What?" George asked, moving to Ron's other side. "No way!" Harry, Jessica and Hermione stared at the twins, waiting for one of them, or perhaps even Ron, to explain what was happening. "Prefect?"
"How is it you made prefect?" Fred asked, his mouth still hanging open.
"What?" Hermione gasped.
"That's amazing!" Jessica beamed - finally some good news within the household. It's really what everyone needed.
"Where's the badge?" George asked. Ron mumbled something, but it was obvious he was still shocked. Fred, who seemed to understand part of Ron's mumble, moved round the room and found the envelope in which the letter had arrived. He tipped it upside down and a red and gold badge fell onto his hand.
"There's been a mistake right?" Fred said, snatching the letter from an unmoving Ron.
"Well, that's a bit mean, don't you think?" Jessica said, rolling her eyes, and silently hoping Harry and Hermione would agree with her, but both stood there, silently.
"What? No!" Fred said and turned to face Harry. "We thought it'd be you!"
"Winning the tournament and all." George added.
"Yeah, but I guess you've caused too much trouble mate!" Fred grinned at Harry, but his face fell almost immediately after. "Urgh, mum's going to be revolting." Jessica glanced at Hermione as she moved over to where she'd left her own letters and pulled out an envelope.
"I've made prefect too." Hermione said, though she didn't seem as excited as most would've expected her to be. "It's definitely surprising."
"No it's not." Jessica said, rolling her eyes. "You're first in our class, Hermione."
"Not that, I mean... Not that it's surprising, or anything, but..." Hermione stopped talking as Ron looked at her, his expression falling slightly.
"Well, it's my name on the letter. Take it up with Dumbledore, if you've got a major issue." Ron said, coldly.
"I've not got an issue, Ronald." Hermione said, measuring her words. "You've done loads of... And you, you're really-"
Mrs Weasley entered the room that exact moment, and it was clear that everyone was beyond thankful for it. "Ginny says the booklists have arrived." She said, as she dropped a basket of clean laundry onto the floor. "If you give them to me I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you're all packing."
"Or we could go ourselves?" Jessica said, her hopes picking up ever so slightly, but she knew the answer that would immediately follow...
"Nonsense, dear, you should all get things done. The sooner the better." Mrs Weasley said, and Jessica frowned. "Ron, I'll have to get you more pyjamas. These are at least six inches too short, I can't believe how fast you're growing!" Mrs Weasley said, studying Ron's height. "What colour would you like?"
"Get him red and gold to match his badge." George smirked.
"Badge?" Mrs Weasley said, absently, as she rolled up a pair of maroon socks and placed them on Ron's pile of clothes.
"Ron's a prefect." Jessica said, with a wide, cheery grin on her face. Mrs Weasley looked up from the clothes pile, instantly, dropping a shirt she held in her hand that belonged to either Fred or George. Ron nodded and held up his badge, and Mrs Weasley shrieked.
"I don't believe it! I don't - Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!" Mrs Weasley beamed.
"What are we, next-door neighbours?" Fred said, dumbfounded.
"Oh, wait until your father hears about this!" Mrs Weasley continued, not paying Fred much attention, and throwing her arms around Ron. "I'm so, so proud of you! What wonderful news... Oh, you could end up Head Boy! It's the first step!"
"Okay, let's not get ahead... Mum, come on, mum, get a grip..." Ron said, struggling to pry his mother's strong arms off of him. Fred and George were both making loud retching noises behind the two.
"Alright..." Mrs Weasley said, finally letting go. "We gave Percy an owl... What will it be?"
"What?" Ron asked, surprised - and Fred and George also stopped their ministrations to pay attention to what was happening.
"Well you deserve a reward, don't you?" Mrs Weasley stated. "How about a new set of dress robes?"
"We bought him some." George said, rather bitterly.
"A new cauldron? Charlie's old one's rusting through..." Mrs Weasley wondered.
"Lila actually got him one a few weeks back." Jessica said, and Ron nodded.
"She saw it and thought it looked horrendous." Ron added. He then glanced hopefully at his mother, who was waiting eagerly for Ron to ask for a present. "Mum... Do you think I could have a new broom?" Ron knew this was a far-fetched gamble, because brooms were rather expensive, and he realised his mother had thought that too, seeing as her expression fell slightly. "Not an expensive one or anything." Ron added, quickly. "Just... Just a new one, for a change..."
"Well..." Mrs Weasley hesitated. "Well, of course you can! I'd better get going if I've got a broom to buy then! I'll see you all later... We'll have a celebration tonight, how does that sound? Now, don't forget to finish packing, all of you! Ron... My Ronnie, a prefect!"
"Sorry if we don't kiss you, Ronnie." Fred sniggered, after their mother left the room.
"Shut up." Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"Or what? You'll put us in detention?" Fred teased.
"Now that would be funny." George snorted.
"Well, he will if you two don't watch out!" Hermione spat. Fred and George both laughed at this, and with a crack - they disapparated. "Urgh! Those two... Honestly!" Hermione said, frustrated. "Don't you pay attention, Ron, they're just jealous."
"No... They're just being them." Ron said, with a shrug. "Then again... They've never had their own brooms - let alone brand new ones." Ron grinned. "Wish I could go with mum and choose..."
"Might be able to convince her of that, now that you're a prefect and all." Jessica said.
"Yeah..." Ron nodded, and suddenly, he eagerly ran out of the room.
"Well... I need to pack." Jessica said, immediately realising there was a strange aura within the room, something which she'd much rather avoid. She closed the door behind her as she left, leaving Harry and Hermione behind.
"She's been in a better mood." Hermione said, still looking at the door. Harry didn't respond, however. "Harry?"
"Well done, Hermione." Harry said, nodding to himself. Though, he silently wondered why it didn't seem like he was the one talking. "Prefect. Brilliant. Great."
"Thanks... So, I was wondering... Could I borrow Hedwig so I can tell mum and dad?" Hermione asked. "They'll be so pleased... I mean, 'prefect' is actually something they'll understand about Hogwarts-"
"Yeah, that's fine, Hermione. No problem." Harry said, waving a hand.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, concerned.
"Nothing!" Harry snapped, suddenly, and Hermione stared at him, surprised. "Nothing." He repeated, in a slightly calmer voice.
"Alright..." Hermione sighed and walked over to where Hedwig was, and held out her arm for the owl to jump onto, which she did. "But feel free to talk if you want." Hermione added. "We were on Jess's case for doing the exact same thing a while back, can't have you falling into the same bad habit too."
"Alright, Hermione." Harry said, irritably.
"I'll leave you to it then." Hermione nodded. Harry sat on the edge of his bed and picked up one of his shirts off the floor, as Hermione left the room with Hedwig. As soon as the door shut, he buried his face in his hands.
Harry had completely forgotten about prefects being chosen in the fifth year. He had been far too anxious about everything else to even remember such a thing. But if he had thought about it - if he had remembered - what would he have expected? "Not this." He mumbled to himself. Harry screwed up his face, which remained in his hands. He couldn't even attempt to lie to himself. If he had known the prefect badge was on its way, he would have expected it to come to him, not Ron. Did this make him as arrogant as Draco Malfoy? Did he think himself superior to everyone else? Was he really better than Ron? "No..." Harry said, quietly. But was that the truth? 'I'm better at Quidditch' Harry thought... 'But not really anything else.' That was definitely true... He was no better than Ron during lessons. They both usually left all their homework and assignment tasks for the last minute - and more than once had asked a teacher for more time to finish their work, due to pure laziness of doing it on time, like Hermione and Jessica managed to do. But what about outside of Hogwarts? 'Well they were there... Most of the time...' Harry groaned, irritably, and slammed his fists against the mattress. 'None of them helped with Quirrell... Jess did sort of assist against the basilisk... But none of them got rid of the Dementor's the night Sirius escaped... And, most recently, none of them had to take on the Triwizard Tournament... I did it all on my own... I did it... I am better... I am...'
"I think this is yours." Jessica said, entering Harry's room, making him jump up from his bed almost immediately. He felt a horrible feeling creep up inside of him. Why had he thought those things? That wasn't how he felt... In fact, it almost felt as though there was someone else inside his mind... Another side of him... "Harry, are you with me still?" Jessica sighed, and Harry looked at her, confused, as she held up a grey t-shirt, which looked old and a bit too used. "Yours or Ron's?"
"Mine." Harry said, taking a few steps closer to Jess, and taking the worn out t-shirt.
"Might want to buy some new clothes then." Jessica smirked.
"I'll keep that in mind." Harry nodded.
"You okay?" Jessica asked, furrowing her eyebrows. "Something seems off with you."
"Fine." Harry shrugged.
"Sure." Jessica said, rolling her eyes. "Well, since you're fine, you won't mind coming downstairs and helping Lila and I decorate the kitchen."
"And here I thought you were packing." Harry muttered.
"Yeah, well, it's about time we threw a house party in this place." Jessica shrugged, and grabbed hold of Harry's hand, dragging him out of the room before he could protest against the idea.
x.x
That evening Jessica finally decided to start packing. There was a very small part of her that was hesitant about returning to Hogwarts. She was truly afraid of what awaited them on their return...
If you believe Voldemort is waiting for you at Hogwarts -
Jessica punched her fists down against the mattress. "Stop." She said, clutching her eyes shut. There wasn't a chance she was going to handle a year at Hogwarts with that annoying voice making an appearance every now and then. She had O. to worry about this year - and nothing could get in the way of that. Nothing at all -
"You okay?" Anna asked, with a worried look on her face. Jessica snapped her head up at her voice, but soon looked away. "Jess, please, we need to talk about... About whatever this is." Anna said, almost pleadingly. "I don't even know what I've done."
"You and your big mouth keep talking about me and my issues to your two best friends. That's what." Jessica muttered, coldly.
"I don't." Anna said, taking a few tentative steps forward. "Okay, well, that's a lie. I did." Anna sighed. "But I was scared, and I had no clue what was going on with you - not exactly... And when they offered to help, I couldn't say no, and-"
"They offered to help you with mum, Anna, not with me." Jessica said, spinning round to face her sister.
You're not mad at her... Not really...
"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!" Jessica said, frustrated, clutching to the sides of her head. Anna furrowed her eyebrows and reached out to embrace Jessica - who, quite surprisingly, accepted the embrace without protest. "Tell it to shut up, please?" Jessica mumbled, clutching onto Anna like never before. Anna wasn't sure what was happening, but she stopped herself from asking. She didn't want Jessica pushing her away again.
"Isn't this a pretty picture?" Joshua teased, as he walked into the room, closely followed by a surprised Athos. "Where is the camera when you need it." Athos rolled his eyes at Joshua's words, but immediately took notice of Anna's expression. Something had happened. He was certain.
"Shut up, Joshua." Jessica sniffed, releasing herself from Anna's arms. She immediately went back to packing, ignoring the stares from her brother and father - knowing all too well they were both curious as to why she was crying in the first place.
"Is this a bad time?" Joshua asked - the teasing tone still lingering in his voice.
"Shut up, Joshua." Anna said, much firmer than Jessica, and rolling her eyes. "Why haven't you started packing yet?"
"Because with a wave of my wand, it will be packed within ten minutes - at the most." Joshua said, smugly. "And come on, as if I really need to take everything with me." Joshua added, rolling his eyes. "For all we know, we'll be back here within a month, due to some stupid threat by Voldemort, or something."
Jessica stopped moving at this and Athos sent Joshua an angry glare. "You two aren't coming back before Christmas." Athos said, knowing Jessica's mind was trying to find the right words to use in that moment - most certainly angry ones.
"Yeah but-"
"Just shut it, Joshua, seriously." Anna said, throwing a pillow at her brother - which he caught, easily.
"Alright, alright." Joshua chuckled.
x.x
It was early morning when Anna shook Jessica awake. The youngest Selwyn stirred, but barely moved. Anna heard a slight mumble - something along the lines of "five more minutes, please?" but Anna shook her again. "Come on, Jess." Anna whispered.
"What?" Jessica whined, and twisted round within the sheets.
"You need new robes." Anna said. She looked over at Joshua's bed when she heard him mumble something, but she soon realised he was still fast asleep. "Dad asked me to take you to get new ones."
"I don't need new ones." Jessica said, with her face buried in her pillow.
"Well, I would've thought you'd at least want to go out shopping." Anna said, a smirk growing on her face.
"Wait..." Jessica said, her head popping up. "Are you being serious?"
"Would I joke about shopping?" Anna asked, innocently.
"Like... Seriously, serious?" Jessica now sat up - and Anna saw her excited for the first time in a long time.
"Yes." Anna laughed. "Now, get dressed, brush that hair of yours, and I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast."
Jessica wasted no time in getting ready. She found some decent clothes and rushed to tame her practically untameable curls. Her hair was getting a bit too long now... Perhaps a good cut would do it some good? She ran her fingers through her dark locks and stared at herself for a few more seconds, before shrugging to herself and heading out of the room. Her father was already downstairs having breakfast, unsurprisingly.
"Good morning, sweetheart." Athos smiled as Jessica walked into the kitchen. "Anna and Charlie are headed to Diagon Alley for the day, thought you'd enjoy the shopping opportunity."
"Anna... And Charlie?" Jessica repeated, frowning slightly. Jessica rushed to her father's side and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, making him raise an eyebrow questioningly. "Do I really have to tag along on their date?" Jessica said quietly, glancing up at the giggling pair over by the kitchen sink.
"It's not like that." Athos chuckled. "And you need new robes."
"Since when do you know whether or not I need new robes?" Jessica asked - mimicking his previous gesture of raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"I simply guessed." Athos shrugged slightly. "Now, eat your breakfast. The sooner you leave the more time you'll get to spend trying stuff on."
"Can I get a new cauldron and a few quills too?" Jessica asked, eyes glistening in excitement.
"Get whatever you want, sweetheart." Athos smiled and kissed her cheek. Jessica squealed in response and skipped to the cupboards to hunt down the cereal box.
Charlie had turned out to be much better company than Jessica had initially expected. The first thing the three did, upon arriving, was eat some ice cream - because Charlie had insisted it was best to get everyone's energy up before shopping. Jessica didn't even think about protesting - it was ice cream, after all. Charlie had then successfully managed to convince Anna that Jessica was more than capable of shopping alone. Now, Jessica knew this was because the two were clearly out on a date, and Charlie was expecting some alone time, but this also meant Jessica had the freedom to do whatever she wanted, without being under the constant watch of the Order. It was the freedom she'd been craving all summer.
"Can we meet up in two hours? Just so that I know you're still alright." Anna said, worriedly.
"Yes, Anna, we can." Jessica said, rolling her eyes, but smiling. "We'll meet for more ice cream in two hours."
"Sounds perfect to me." Charlie grinned - and the two wandered off and Jessica went after a new set of robes.
Jessica had been alone for a total of ten minutes when she spotted Pansy Parkinson searching for a new school skirt. Jessica spun round, a little too quickly, hoping to avoid the Slytherin, and ended up crashing into someone - "Oh, crap, I'm sorry." Jessica mumbled.
"Is it me, or did you shrink over summer?" Jessica looked up and glared. Draco smirked.
"You're a dick." Jessica spat.
"And you're mouthy." Draco said, teasingly. "Nice to see you're alive and well, by the way, considering you've clearly ignored everyone all summer." Draco added, rolling his eyes.
"I've been busy." Jessica lied. "And it's hard to ignore if you don't write at all."
"I've sent you at least twenty letters." Draco said, his voice much lower than before. Jessica stared up at him, surprised. She definitely wasn't expecting that response. "But... It doesn't matter." Draco sighed. "How've you been?"
"Fine." Jessica said, simply.
"Sure you have." Draco said, shaking his head.
"Look... I still have lots of stuff to buy and-"
"You haven't even tried that on." Draco said, nodding to the pile of school clothes Jessica had picked out for herself.
"I've changed my mind about them." Jessica lied, again. Draco raised an eyebrow at this.
"Really?" He asked, clearly not believing her words, making Jessica groan irritably.
"Oh, hello there Jess." Pansy said, as she approached the two, and Jessica made a foul face which made Draco smirk. "And Draco, sweetie, glad you're back from Greece. Can you wait while I try these on?" Pansy said, holding up at least ten skirts. "And maybe you can tell me which one looks best?"
"Unfortunately Pansy..." Draco began, and casually draped an arm around Jessica's shoulder, pulling her closer to him, and almost making her lose her balance. "Jess and I have plans... We've both been ridiculously busy all summer, so we thought it would be nice to catch up." Draco patted Jess's shoulder as he spoke. "Isn't that right?"
Jessica glared up Draco and tried her very best not to scowl at him. Instead she gave Pansy her fakest smile. "Yeah... Maybe next time?"
Draco unwrapped his arm from Jessica's shoulder only after they were a good distance away from Pansy, and Jessica kept scowling at him the entire time for it. "Surely that should've earned me at least a 'thank you'?" Draco said, smirking.
"Thank you." Jessica said, rolling her eyes. "But now that you've thrown yourself into this, you're taking me shopping." Jessica said, smirking evilly up at him. She grabbed hold of his hand and dragged him towards the cauldron shop.
"I'd really rather not." Draco mumbled.
"Your own fault for trying to avoid Pansy Parkinson." Jessica said, teasingly.
"I'm sorry? I was simply helping you out." Draco said, sneering in his usual manner.
"Oh, please!" Jessica said, stopping on the little shop step - making her the slightest bit taller. She looked up at Draco and tilted her head slightly. "Why exactly were you avoiding her?"
"I wasn't-"
"You're easy to read once you know all the tricks." Jessica smirked, and Draco glared at her. That was normally something that was said about her - never the other way round. "She doesn't still have a crush on you, does she?" Jessica asked, innocently, obviously knowing the answer. She then gasped, feigning even more innocence. "You're not still letting her believe that you like her, are you?" Draco rolled his eyes at this. "Goodness me, Draco Malfoy, I never knew you were capable of such things."
"Alright, alright. I'm avoiding her." Draco said, rolling his eyes again. "So what's your situation?"
"Your big mouth." Jessica frowned and Draco snorted. "It's your fault she knows about my... Little issue..."
"You mean you being the Heir-" Jessica threw herself forward so violently, that Draco lost his balance. In an attempt of not falling over, Draco tripped on his own two feet, falling backwards onto the pavement, but having grabbed hold of Jessica's arms as she viciously threw herself onto him, she fell also. They were a right tangled mess on the ground, and many people passing by began whispering about the indecency of the situation. "What did you do that for?" Draco whisper-shouted at her, glaring at her - and then suddenly realising just how close their faces were. Jessica was still, eyes wide, clearly shocked that they had fallen in the first place.
"I'm sorry..." Jessica whispered. She was clutching onto Draco's shirt without realising, and for a slight moment, she allowed her eyes to fall upon his slightly parted lips.
"Are you enjoying the view from up there?" Draco asked, his lips - which Jessica was still staring at - forming into his signature smirk.
"Just get off me!" Jessica groaned, pushing against him to pick herself up.
"You're the one on me, love." Draco said, sitting up on his elbows as Jessica clumsily got back on her feet.
"Surely someone who practices Quidditch all the time should have better balance." Jessica spat, irritably.
"And surely someone who doesn't shouldn't be that strong." Draco said, raising an eyebrow. "Believe me, love, I'm just as surprised as you are."
"Stop calling me that." Jessica glared.
"Or what?" Draco tested, but Jessica simply groaned again, making Draco chuckle. "You never fail to amuse me, Selwyn." Draco finally picked himself off the ground and nodded towards the shop door, making Jessica stare at him confused. "I thought you were making me take you shopping?" Jessica groaned once again, but still walked into the shop, and Draco still followed.
Standing not too far from the shop, Pansy Parkinson scowled at the pair as they entered the shop. "Pansy! Come on, we're going to be late!" Millicent Bullstrode said, as she tugged on Pansy's arm. "Come on! What's gotten into you?"
"Tell me something, Millie..." Pansy began, still staring at the shop, spotting Draco by one of the windows. "How well known would you say Jess is around Hogwarts?"
"Uh... Quite a lot? Why?" Millicent asked, confused, and trying to understand where her friend was looking.
"I wonder how they would feel if they knew how much of a potential threat she is." Pansy said, a small smirk forming across her face.
x.x
Jessica barely slept the night before her return to Hogwarts. She was up most of the night, fiddling with her wand, reading parts of her new school books and, when she was bored, staring at the dusty ceiling. "Jessica, it's three in the morning. Get some sleep." Athos had said, as he headed into their room. At that point, Jessica was lying on her stomach, with her new DADA book. "I will not hesitate to slip you a sleeping potion." Athos said, quietly, as he sat on the edge of her bed.
"Way too excited to sleep." Jessica grinned.
"Should I be offended that you're this eager to leave me?" Athos asked, dramatically clutching to his chest.
"Never leave you!" Jessica said, mockingly, playing along with her father's nonsense. "Really, seriously, cannot sleep. At all." Jessica sighed, dropping onto the bed once again, this time facing upwards. "How's the Mansion looking?"
"Still in ruins, my darling." Athos said, smiling ever so slightly. He took notice of Jessica's frown and chuckled. "Your grandfather and I are very busy people, sweetheart."
"And Rome wasn't built in a day... Blah, blah." Jessica said, rolling her eyes.
"It'll be done for Christmas." Athos said, ruffling Jessica's hair.
"Do you promise?" Jessica asked, sitting up again. "Because I wouldn't mind having to be around the Order during Christmas if we're back at home. I mean, as long as no one has to share a room with me."
"Not even Hermione?" Athos asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, obviously Mione's an exception, dad." Jessica said, rolling her eyes.
"Please, stop talking." Joshua mumbled, sitting up on his bed and lazily throwing a pillow in their direction - which landed at the end of his bed.
"Alright, good night, sweetheart." Athos said, getting up off her bed and kissing the top of her head, and giving her a slight glare - which she returned, but still complied and dropped onto her bed, in an attempt to actually sleep. Athos walked over to Joshua's bed, and made a move to kiss the top of his head also.
"Ew, dad, seriously?" Joshua groaned, dropping onto the bed. Jessica raised an eyebrow at her father, who simply chuckled.
"I forget he's moody when he's tired." Athos said.
"You forget he's just moody." Jessica smirked.
The following morning, while everyone was getting up and having breakfast, Jessica was fed, dressed and sat by the front door with all her things, patiently waiting for someone to allow them out. "Are you seriously going to spend the next hour sat there?" Hermione asked, as she walked down the stairs. If it hadn't been from the dim light erupting from Jessica's wand, she wouldn't have noticed her hidden behind her large trunks.
"Yes." Jessica grinned.
"Should I dare attempt asking why?" Hermione asked, clearly amused by her best friend's giddiness.
"Just excited is all." Jessica shrugged. "So, hurry up and eat breakfast, so you can get your things and come wait with me."
"Oh, doesn't that sound like fun?" Hermione said, teasingly, but she still left and headed down to the kitchen.
Jessica was feeding Brownie her fourth treat when she heard a rather loud thud. Standing, rather abruptly, she found Ginny fallen on the floor. "Ow..." Ginny mumbled, and Jessica, concerned, rushed towards her.
"Clumsy much?" Jessica said, helping Ginny up.
"Fred and George's stuff tripped me up." Ginny said, frowning, and Jessica nodded knowingly.
"FRED! GEORGE! THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT!" Mrs Weasley began screaming.
"And, of course, mum is going to lose her mind over it." Ginny laughed.
"Yes... I'm definitely content to be heading back." Jessica nodded and pulled a face, and Ginny nodded in agreement.
"You okay?" Ron asked as he and Harry carried their luggage down the stairs.
"Yeah, fine, might just bruise slightly." Ginny said, with a shrug. She blushed slightly, when Harry looked over at her, rather concerned. Jessica smirked at this.
"Subtle." Jessica nodded, after Ginny had left to head down to the kitchen.
"Excuse me?" Harry asked, confused.
"Oh, nothing..." Jessica said, innocently.
"No... Not nothing." Harry said, furrowing his eyebrows. "I know that face. It's the 'I'm up to something mischievous' face you tend to have, nearly all the time."
"Moi? I would never." Jessica smirked. "But who am I to say anything, Harry? There are certain things you need to realise for yourself."
"Realise what?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing." Jessica said, again, innocently.
"She's up to something, basically." Harry informed.
"Isn't she always?" Hermione wondered. "Anyway, Mad-Eye's saying we can't leave unless Sturgis Podmore arrives, otherwise the guard will be one short-"
"Guard?" Harry and Jessica said, simultaneously, both indignantly.
"You need a guard, Harry." Hermione said.
"I thought Voldemort was lying low?" Harry frowned.
"Maybe he's going to jump you from a rubbish bin." Jessica smirked, and Harry rolled his eyes in response.
"It's just what Mad-Eye's said." Hermione shrugged. "But, I'm a bit worried, I must admit. If we don't leave soon, there's chance we'll miss the train."
"And no one wants Ron driving there again." Harry grinned.
"What about me?" Ron asked, appearing in the hallway also.
"We're not letting you drive to Hogwarts." Jessica stated.
"Why would I drive to Hogwarts?" Ron asked, confused.
"Well you've done it once..." Jessica said, waving a hand. "All I know is, I'm not missing that train. There is no way in hell that I will spend more time in this house than necessary."
"Jess, you really need to watch what you say. Sirius might be really offended." Hermione said, worriedly.
"He's won't." Jessica and Harry said, again simultaneously. They then exchanged amused looks. "And, thankfully, we won't have to return to this cooped up place." Jessica continued, proudly. Hermione's eyes widened at this. "Dad says Christmas can be at the Mansion."
"Finally... My room." Harry grinned.
"My entire house... I can't wait to have my big bed back." Jessica said, dreamily. "And I've said 'no' to sharing a room - unless it's with you, Mione, of course."
"Of course." Hermione grinned. Ron snorted and rolled his eyes.
"Alright, ladies, before you start hugging and kissing, I'm going to go get my broom." Ron said, heading up the stairs.
"And I'm going to find Crookshanks and make sure he goes into his box properly." Hermione said, following Ron.
"So... Are you going to explain yourself?" Harry asked, as their two friends disappeared from view. Jessica grinned at him, but shook her head in response.
x.x
Jessica could barely contain herself as she saw the Hogwarts Express pull into the platform. Remus had to place a hand on her shoulder to remind her to say goodbye to everyone, before finally allowing her to rush off amongst the crowd and board the train. Harry, Hermione and Ron were excited, but not as eager as Jessica had been, and instead of rushing ahead, they remained further behind, amused by their friend's childlike giddiness.
Jessica was quick to move along the small corridors of the train to find a compartment. Despite having rushed ahead of her friends, she still hadn't been quick enough to save them an empty compartment. After passing a few with at least three people in them, she finally stopped by one with a small blonde girl sat inside, her face hidden in her bag. Jessica shrugged to herself and opened up the compartment door. The girl looked up and smiled - and Jessica immediately recognised her.
"I know you." The girl said, softly. "You're Jessica Selwyn aren't you? Gryffindor." Jessica nodded at this. "I'm Luna. Luna Lovegood."
"Are you expecting many more people here or can I save it for my friends?" Jessica asked.
"Oh, you're welcome to join!" Luna said, dreamily. Jessica smiled and headed towards the window.
Harry walked rather closely to the train, trying to figure out where Jessica had ended up. "Over here Potter!" Harry turned to find Jessica, with her head popped out of the train door, waving her arms around rather frantically. Harry poked Ron in the arm, who was a few steps ahead of him with Hermione.
"Oh..." Hermione said, somewhat uneasily, glancing up at Ron. Harry furrowed his eyebrows at the two of them.
"Prefect's that way." Draco Malfoy stated, emotionlessly, as he passed them.
"Why?" Harry asked, already annoyed at the sound of Malfoy's voice.
"None of your damn business, Potter." Draco snarled. "Can you two just hurry up? You're the only Prefects who haven't boarded yet."
"Can't tells us what to do." Ron muttered.
"Actually, I've been asked to come find you two losers. So, hurry up." Draco said, rolling his eyes. He left, muttering a few words under his breath.
"We were told we'd be required in a separate compartment... Some sort of meeting." Hermione said, worriedly. "I'm really sorry, Harry, but you might want to go meet Jess before she goes mental." Harry rolled his eyes but turned to head to where Jessica stood, frowning at their delay. Hermione and Ron glanced at each other, slightly confused by Harry's reaction, before heading to the other side of the train.
"Where are they off too?" Jessica said, watching Hermione and Ron disappear amongst the ocean of excited youngsters.
"Some prefect meeting." Harry mumbled."Come on, before we get left behind on the platform." Harry said, pushing Jessica inside the train by her shoulders.
"But I saved them seats!" Jessica whined, childishly.
Draco stood outside the prefect compartment, looking rather impatient, and blatantly grumbled when Hermione and Ron finally appeared. "You don't have to accompany us inside, you know?" Hermione said.
"I'm a prefect too, dumbass." Draco said, rolling his eyes.
"Only because you're Snape's favourite." Hermione muttered.
"Like you're one to talk, Granger." Draco said, pushing past Hermione and heading inside. Hermione glared at him as he did so.
"At least he's over calling you mudblood." Ron said.
"Are you defending Draco Malfoy?" Hermione asked, amusedly.
"Uh, no." Ron snorted. "Feel free to whip your wand out and teach him a lesson any day."
This compartment was much larger than the usual compartments, fitting the eight new fifth year prefects, eight sixth year prefects and eight seventh year's Head Boy's and Girl's. Joshua, being Gryffindor's new Head Boy, stood rather authoritively, with a smirk on his face. Hermione gave him a questioningly look as she sat down.
"Welcome back, kids." Joshua said, his smirk never faltering. "Dick, if you please?" Richard Klaus, a sixth year Ravenclaw and prefect, who absolutely despised being called 'Dick' or 'Dickie', frowned at Joshua, but still stood and handed out rolled up pieces of parchment for each new prefect. "Just read it, sign it, and we can get on with the fun stuff." Joshua said.
"Is this really necessary?" Stanley McMillan whispered. He had been appointed as Hufflepuff's Head Boy.
"Just shut up and don't give anything away." Talia Porter, Slytherin's Head Girl, murmured in response.
x.x
Remus and Sirius watched as the train disappeared from view. The Order members who had accompanied everyone to King's Cross began making their way to the exit, but Remus remained on the platform, unmoving, which Sirius noticed. With an eyebrow raised, Sirius nudged Remus on the arm. "We can't." Remus said, taking a deep breath in. He turned to face Sirius. "We can't do this. Not like this."
"Remus-"
"You are asking me to hurt these children, Sirius." Remus said, sternly.
"Athos knows-"
"Athos is lost." Remus said, his voice quiet but firm. "He won't admit it, because it frightens the hell out of him, Sirius, but he is indeed lost. A lot has happened, and I don't blame him in any way, but this isn't the way to solve things."
"It's not the best way, I'll agree, but we have no choice-"
"There is always a choice, Sirius, and I don't choose this! I will not lie to them! And I will most certainly not allow you and Athos to play dead!" Remus whisper-shouted, angrily.
"This isn't the time or place-"
"To hell with who overhears!" Remus said, waving his arms about, and earning himself a few stares from some passerby's. "Can't you understand how this will hurt them? All of them?"
"Of course I can, but-"
"You two really are like a married couple." Sirius spun round, immediately, at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. He was met with a child - at least in his eyes - in a suit. Dark hair... And an annoying evil smirk plastered on his face.
"Marcus Flint." Remus said, strongly trying to contain his emotions to himself. Sirius, however, glanced back at Remus as he spoke, before glaring, ferociously at the boy in front of him.
"You..." Sirius growled, and Remus grabbed hold of him by the arms.
"Now, now, let's not be rash." Flint smirked. "Tell your friend, Selwyn, that his wife expects to see him soon. They have a few things to settle."
"You tell that bitch 'over my dead body'!" Sirius spat.
"Sirius. Stop." Remus said, quietly.
"I don't think she'll mind that, actually." Flint said. "And you should listen to Lupin. If he's an animal that can contain himself, then surely you should be able to do the same." And with that, Flint disapparated. Remus let go of Sirius as soon as the boy left.
"I'm going to kill him myself." Sirius said, through gritted teeth.
"We should inform the Order." Remus said. "They will want to know that one of Voldemort's was lurking around." Sirius was still huffing and puffing, but he saw reason, and nodded in agreement.
oooooooooooh ~ the drama! the suspense! (at least, that's what I'm aiming for hahah)
Until next time! xoxo
