The Story of Jessica Black

Chapter Three: Meetings

"Why don't we get on with our lesson?"

Jessica nodded. She reached to pull out her book, but Dumbledore stopped her.

"You will not need that today. Today I wish to give you a little bit of a practical lesson. You see, last year a student was killed by the use of an Unforgivable Curse. There are three . . ."

Jessica listened as Dumbledore taught her all that he could about the past use of the Unforgivable Curses, and what they did. Suddenly, just as Dumbledore was finished explaining Avada Kedavra, there was a strong but quiet knock on his door.

"Ah," he said, "Right on time. Come in!"

The door opened, and Jessica's breath caught in her chest. An extremely handsome boy of about fifteen with jet-black hair like hers, and shockingly green eyes had just entered. His eyes were laughing, but looked as though he had seen sorrow and was hardened to how mean the world can be. He smiled at Professor Dumbledore, and Jessica's heart leapt into her throat.

"Professor McGonagall said you wanted to see me, Professor Dumbledore, sir," he said in a voice that Jessica was sure she had heard before. Professor Dumbledore smiled back at the boy.

"Ah, Harry, you're right on time! Harry Potter, I'd like you to meet Miss Jessica Black. Jessica, this is Harry Potter."

Jessica and Harry shook hands. She couldn't get over how green his eyes were. Harry sat in the seat next to her, and Dumbledore began to speak again.

"Jessica, this is the boy I told you about. Harry is the only known person to have survived the curse Avada Kedavra." Jessica looked at Harry, whose scar was now visible through his bangs. She couldn't fathom . . . . that curse had killed her mother, Harry's family, and so many others . . . . why did this boy survive? Harry seemed to be questioning Jessica with his deep, green eyes when Dumbledore said, "And Harry, this is your god- cousin. She's Sirius's niece, and she has just been catching up with the rest of you. Now, are there any questions you have for me, Harry?"

Harry didn't hesitate. "Yes, actually. I have one," he said, although he sounded as if he had many more than just the one, "Why are you staggering the arrivals of the students?"

Dumbledore tapped his nose. "Quite a good question, Mr. Potter. We don't want to make our students an easy target for Voldemort, so we're bringing a few here one day at a time, so a few students will arrive each day for the rest of this month."

A look of understanding dawned on Harry's face. The three sat quietly for a moment, then Dumbledore said, "If you have no further questions, Harry, I would like to ask you to stand outside the door for a moment. Jessica and I have something else left to do, and I have a feeling we're going to need you in a moment." Harry nodded and left. Dumbledore turned to Jessica with his blue eyes twinkling more than ever. He stood from his desk and retrieved a battered old wizard's hat from a lighted case and set it on his desk. He smiled at Jessica.

"Now, when I ask you to, please place this hat on your head. It won't hurt. No harm ever came from trying on a hat. Well . . . let's not go into that one. I want you to clear your mind, or try to. Please put on the hat now, Miss Black."

Jessica timidly picked up the patched and frayed old hat and placed it gingerly on her head. It immediately began to speak - out loud! Dumbledore heard every word of what the hat said next:

"Hmm, I heard you were coming, Miss Black. I must admit, I was a bit nervous about where I was going to put you. But here, I see a great magical inclination, great talent, oh, my yes, great talent, and perhaps a little bit of fear. Fear of . . . failure. How interesting. I remember well your uncle's sorting, Miss Black, and I see much of him in you. But the greatest presence here is bravery. Yes, your mind is full of courage and daring. A slight disregard for rules, you'll want to watch out for that one, Albus, but I think, and Albus will probably agree, that the best place for you . . . is Gryffindor."

Dumbledore smiled. "You may remove the hat, Jessica." Jessica put the hat on his desk. As he went to put it away, Dumbledore said, "I had a feeling that you would follow your uncle. Harry will be one of your fellow Gryffindor fifth years. I believe you may want to stay in your dormitory now, so that you may get to know some of your house mates before term officially starts. Leave your things, they will be brought to you later tonight. I suggest you follow Harry back to Gryffindor Tower, as we don't want you to get lost twice in one day! Have a pleasant sleep, and be ready for more lessons tomorrow."

Jessica turned and went to the door. Harry was still standing outside the door when she opened it - right onto his forehead.

"Ouch! Blimey, what do you think you're doing, trying to give me a concussion?" he said, rubbing where she had hit him.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I . . . I was just sorted, and I'm in Gryffindor, and . . . ."

"And you need to get to Gryffindor Tower," Harry finished for her. "You're a fifth year?"

Jessica nodded. "Why'd you come so late? I mean, you've missed four years." Jessica shrugged. "I don't know," she answered as they walked down the stairs and back into the corridor, "I just got a letter saying that due to special circumstances, I was accepted late. Really late."

They laughed. Jessica thought for a moment whether or not to ask him a question she had been dying to ask since she found out Harry was her uncle's godson. She decided not to. She could find out later.

"How long have you known you're a witch?" Harry asked.

"A week and a half. That's when I got my letter."

"Then your parents aren't wizards?"

"No. Well, my mum was, but she was killed when I was about a year old, so I've never met her. My dad's a Muggle, though."

"Really? Sirius's brother's a Muggle?"

"My grandparents are Muggles. At least, I think so," she stopped for a moment, "I've never seen them. They still live here, in England. But, until now, of course, I've never been here. My dad's not too keen on coming. Misses my mum too much, I think. He likes America a lot better."

Harry was quiet. This was his godfather's niece, but they had so much in common. They both had parents who were killed by Voldemort, they both had never seen their relatives, other than the ones they lived with, and they looked quite similar. Looking at her now, in the moonlight that was starting to shine through the windows, he couldn't help but notice how much she looked like Sirius. He was just thinking of how pretty she was when he nearly ran into a portrait hanging on the wall in front of him.

"Watch out, young Potter, or we'll be sending you up to the hospital wing a few terms too early," said a fat lady in a pink gown in the portrait.

"Sorry," mumbled Harry, slightly embarrassed that he had been staring at Jessica. Jessica, on the other hand, was thoroughly amazed that the portrait was talking. She walked right up to her and said, "I'm Jessica Black, and I've never seen a portrait that could talk before."

Surprisingly, the Fat Lady scowled at her. "Did you say 'Black?'" she asked. Jessica nodded. The Fat Lady made a funny noise, something like a "Hrmph," then turned to Harry.

"Password?" she asked impatiently.

"Mandrake root," he said. The portrait swung forward, and Harry stepped through the hole that it revealed.

"Come on," he said to Jessica. She climbed in after him.

The room that they came into was huge, with a roaring fire in the fireplace, big, squashy red chairs and couches around it. As she walked around, taking it all in, Harry said, "This is the Gryffindor common room. The dorms are up that staircase over there, on the right. At least, the girls' are. There should be a room labeled 'Fifth Years.'"

"Thanks," Jessica said as Harry began to head up the staircase on the left.

"I'll see you in the morning."

Jessica watched him walk away. He was incredibly handsome. She never would have thought that she would meet a guy that cute in England. She looked around one more time, then decided to go up to bed.

She found her room quickly, found a seemingly unclaimed bed, changed into a waiting nightgown, and went to sleep.