Chapter Ten: Journey to the Past

Somewhere down this road
I know someone's waiting
Years of dreams
Just can't be wrong
Arms will open wide
I'll be safe and wanted
Finally home where I belong
Well, starting here, my life begins
Starting now, I'm learning fast
Courage see me through
Heart I'm trusting you
On this journey...to the past

-'Anastasia' The Movie

Snape had decided not to join in the decorating of the Christmas tree, but watched as the Christmas tree was soon covered in lights, handmade ornaments, sugar cookies and popcorn strings. Jessica had her hair tied back in a stubby little French braid, her cheeks flushed from laughing. Snape was awakened from his thoughts as Jane called out his name. "Mister Snape, can you help my put the star on?"

Snape got up from the couch and shot an uneasy look at Jessica, she made a small gesture telling him to pick her up. Snape placed his pale hands on her waist and lifted her up so she could place the star on the top. It looked like the only store bought thing on the tree besides the lights.

Jessica clapped her hands, smiling, "Beautiful!"

Jane giggled, as Jessica ran over to her and flipped her over the shoulder, "The Tickle Monster is here!"

Snape watched as the two ran throughout the flat, laughter echoing. Snape pulled a sugar cookie in the shape of an angel off the tree. The cookie smiled up at him, as he placed it back on the tree, he couldn't eat it.

After Jane had gone down to bed, Jessica placed a cup of coffee in front of her and Severus. They sat there in silence for a long while, he could tell Jess was nervous about something, biting her lip and wringing her hands. When the clock finally chimed midnight, Jessica stood up, "Well…Good night!" she stood there for a minute but turned away and walking to her bedroom. Snape placed their glasses in the sink in the kitchen and walked to his bedroom.

He stripped down to his faded grey boxers and crawled into his makeshift bed. He looked down at his forearm, where the faint Dark Mark sat, waiting for the Dark Lord. Snape sighed, his fingers trailing over it. He wondered what would happen if Jessica ever touched it. Would she get mad, would she shrug it off, would she relive her parent's death…again?

Snape sighed, as a memory came over him, something he had buried in the back of his mind. It was two days ago in the year 1973:

Snape's nose barely touched the large dusty book, one that had necessary knowledge for what would be on the Potions O.W.L.S. He sat in the Great Hall, which was clearing out as the students rushed to the train station to return home, to celebrate their pathetic Christmas with their love-sick families. A few scarce students sat in the Hall who would be stay for Christmas at Hogwarts. Finally only Snape, Shawn and Fiona sat at the Slytherin table. Shawn was a first year, a future ladies man. He was well-known with the other house, except Gryffindor, of course. Fiona was the a distant cousin of Bellatrix, the notorious female Slytherin; her parents died when she was five in an potion explosion and she had stayed at the castle every year since her first year. It was rumored that she stayed here over the summer too.

A tiny girl ran full speed into the Great Hall, she stopped and looked around. She had brown braids trailing down her back and wore a muggle red skirt and black sweater. Snape looked up at her soft steps; she looks towards him and smiled, Severus tried to smile back, but it faltered when he noticed it was meant for Shawn, five seats down from here. Snape rolled his eyes, he should know by now that no girl would even look his way, much less a cute Ravenclaw first year. Her name was Jessica, if he remembered correctly. She raced over and dove on top of Shawn as the two laughed like mad.

"See ya later, Athena!" he laughed, as the tiny girl raced from the room. Under her muggle clothes, Snape noticed how asymmetrical she truly was. Snape shrugged it off and returned to his books, worried about the upcoming O.W.L.S that June.

Author's Note: HAPPY EASTER….unless you didn't celebrate Easter…then happy spring. Here in Maryland it DID NOT feel like spring.

Prncssanime: YOU ROCK! Thanks for every review! I love them all…..Just had to say that….

Disclaimer: Once again I only own Jessica and Jane and the plot…it belongs to J.K.R, I don't' even own the song…okay!?!