Chapter 20: Wheels of a Dream
Yes, the wheels are turning for us, girl.
And the times are starting to roll.
Any man can get where he wants to
If he's got some fire in his soul.
-Ragtime
"Sir…" Jessica asked slowly, looking around the room. It had been around seven years since she had been in this room, last time; she had been in her last year at Hogwarts. She had got her twenty-fifth detention that year and Professor Dumbledore has requested she come up to his office. He asked her if everything was okay. She remembered remaining silently, staring straight into his eyes, and nodding her head once or twice. When she left, she nearly broke down; those eyes had expressed more than his words had.
"Ah, hello Severus, Jessica and I see you brought Jane," he answered looking directly at Jessica the whole time.
"Sorry sir, I didn't have the heart to wake her, and I couldn't just leave her there," Jessica rushed to explain. Dumbledore smiled kindly and gestured them to two seats in front of his desk. When Jessica sat down, Jane stirred in her sleep. She lifted her head slowly.
"Santa Claus?" she asked quietly, blinking her eyes.
"No, sweetie, this is Mr. Dumbledore, he was mommy's old teacher and he visited you while you were in the hospital. He was the nice man who brought you the lemon drops."
The little girl nodded in understanding and jumped down from her mother's lap and looked around the room. "Jane, please, don't touch anything!"
"She's fine, curiosity isn't a sin," Albus said softly, smiling at the tiny girl. She smiled back before walking over to a Phoenix and gazing up at it.
"I've asked for you two, because Snape informed me that you are planning on leaving, Miss. Monroe." Jessica shot a glare at Snape, her lips curling in disgust in such a perfect imitation of Snape.
"Sir, I can't live my life relaying on Snape and the hospitality of Hogwarts. I was planning on leaving two days from now and searching for a job and a new home," she explained.
"I understand, that's why I was wondering if you'd like to teach Arithmancy next semester. Professor Dribble is in need of a nice long retirement and if I remember' you scored an outstanding on your O.W.L.S and, even when you failed all of your N.E.W.T.S, you scored the highest in Arithmancy," Dumbledore explained. Jessica blushed at this. "Sir…I don't know what to say…" she trailed off, honored to be offered the job, "But I haven't study Arithmancy since I was pregnant with Jane."
"I think you'll find it'll come right back to you quickly enough," Dumbledore reassured. "And I'll even have a housing arrangement in the castle by tomorrow for you and Jane."
At the reminder of her daughter, she looked around quickly; ready to see some kind of disturbance. The little girl was sitting on the floor staring up at the phoenix. "Sorry, sir, she loves birds, can't have owls around when she's awake…" Jessica trailed off, watching her daughter.
"So, Jessica, will you accept my invitation?"
"Sir, I would be honored…" Jessica went silent, blushing, never thinking that she could make anything of her life after her previous mistakes.
"Wonderful!" Dumbledore smiled down at Jane, "the place should be ready tomorrow, so, by dinner Friday, you may go to the third floor, second corridor and there should be a brown door across from a painting of a unicorn and a fairy." Snape sneered at the description of the painting, but Albus just smiled.
"I assume you'll like two bedrooms?" Albus asked, still smiling.
"Please," Jessica nodded.
"Very good….very good," Albus grinned, looking down at Jane.
"Such an intelligent thing," he pointed out, as Jane run her fingers over the ruins of the headmaster's pensieve. Jessica nodded.
"I shall hope to see you soon, Miss. Monroe, and good luck."
"Thank you, sir," Jessica replied, nodding at the Headmaster and walking out, taking Jane by the hand as Snape sulked behind them.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstance, would I ever say I own the world of Harry Potter or the lyrics from Ragtime. I'm just a teenage writer who loves Harry Potter and is determined to finish this story.
A/N: Thanks to all of you who reviewing, I most likely don't thank you guys as much as I should, I love all of your reviews. Also, the idea, if you guys have any song suggestions, I'll use them! Hope you guys liked this chapter!