Disclaimer: I don't own much here, except Jess. If I did, I'd be a heck of a lot richer and living on something other than Earl Grey and Ramen noodles. All rights go to the proper people. You know who you * points to author and publishers * are Summary: What if instead of Ginny Weasley, another found Tom Riddle's book? A/N : This is the first one to be published here. Go me! Many thanks to moonletters (wickedkiwi) for helping a useless newbie like myself. Anyhoo, R/R.

Chapter 4

Under Pressure

Jessica missed the first class that day, trying to pull herself together. She wasn't really too shaken about the events of the previous night, she just needed a little time to formulate a plot...to get her ducks in a row. This was a great undertaking, joining the Dark Lord. This may turn out to be more dangerous than she expected, but hey...the only good advice her mother ever gave her was to "follow the power". Yeah, Mum's gonna be singing a different tune soon enough. She remembered something else, too...Dark Arts for Dummies. At first, she only checked it out for defense purposes; but now, it actually served a purpose. She fished it out of her trunk and tossed it into her bag for later. It didn't matter that she'd missing History, but she may need Transfiguration someday soon.

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"Falabad, Udah?"

"Here."

"Fitzgerald, Mariah?"

"Here."

"Garamound, Albert?"

"Here."

"Granger, Hermione?"

No answer. Professor McGonagall looked up, faintly surprised. "Has anyone seen Miss Granger today?"

Jessica looked up from her book around the class...Terrie was sitting next to one of the Weaslys...looking thoroughly troubled. She raised her hand. No! Don't do it! Don't tell...

"Professor?"

"You've seen her?"

"She... was in the hospital wing. A... jinx backfired on her." Oh...Good. I knew I could count on you, Terrie... Professor McGonagall eyed her suspiciously.

"Very well, then."

Roll was taken and the lesson was started. Professor McGonagall reminded the students of the dangers of the corridors, with the two new attacks... Jessica could barely concentrate on turning her beetle into a Brazilian nut. I wonder if she's going to rat me out? She can't! She was there, helping me do it! Heck, she came up with the idea of the diversion...

"Miss Sabrahilde? Would you mind sharing with us all your deep thoughts? Or would you rather demonstrate the transfiguring?"

"Oh, erm...Sorry, Professor..." She succeeded in turning the body, but it still scuttled around on short little legs.

"I'll need to see you after class, Miss Sabrahilde." Ick. Embarrassing.

"Oh, okay."

Chuh! What else could go wrong? The Professor drifted over to survey someone else's work, as Jessica slowly melted into the floorboards.

After class, she went up to the Professor's office and knocked. Much to Jessica's surprise, she wasn't angry or annoyed; but worried.

"Miss Sabrahilde, I'm sure you're aware that you are one of Slytherin's top students. Even though you are not in my house, I recognize brilliance when I see it."

The red-head stayed silent.

"I also recognize an over-stressed student when I see one. I've been watching you and you have been putting forth remarkable effort. There is no doubt in my mind you will ace the majority of your OWLs, but I don't think you need to be so hard on yourself. I've sent a request to Professor Snape to let you take the rest of this week off. That will give you today and tomorrow, plus the weekend to compose yourself. If you have any problems, feel free to speak with me or your house head."

Silence again...

"This is okay with you, Jessica?"

"Wha--Oh, yes. Very good. I...I needed a short break..."

Actually, it wasn't. She loved most of her classes and would especially miss Herbology; but why complain? It would give her some extra time to study up on the Dark Arts. As she made her way to the common room, she was stopped. The diary in her bag was burning hot! That meant Tom needed to speak with her immediately. She steered into the closest unused classroom and began writing.

"Tom! Are you okay?"

"I thought I might warn you, about that friend of yours. I don't like he, she'll tell. I can sense it."

"I don't think she will," she wrote, shaking her head to herself, "We've got her good and terrified..."

"Okay, just watch yourself. Big things are about to happen, Jessie. Big things, indeed. Just be careful whenever you're around Moaning Myrtle's toilet...better yet, come visit later. I want to show you something."

"Maybe later...I need to have a word with Terrie. Bye."

"Goodbye, and don't forget what I told you."

Jessica shut the book and walked out into the open again, it was time to switch classes. But someone was running her way. It couldn't be her, could it? I mean, she was there, she helped...

"Jess! I didn't mean to, it just slipped out! Oh, I'm so sorry...See? He was talking to me, asking me funny questions, and I accidentally told him we saw her in the toilet last night..." The blond girl was clearly in hysterics...

"Terrie! Who? Who did you tell?!"

Jessica grabbed her shoulders, as if to shake her out of it.

"Har-Harry Potter and that Weasley boy..."

She unhanded the Hufflepuff immediately and did the one thing she could-- run full-tilt to Myrtle's bathroom. They could already be there! That Potter boy could speak the language of snakes. As for Terrie, she'd be dealt with later... The only person who was in danger now was Tom, and that would not do! She threw open the door, only to find the sinks already opened. I hope I'm not too late!

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She wasn't. No sign of anyone anywhere. She looked down into the deep, abysmal-looking pit. How long was it? Was there anything dangerous at the bottom? Well, who cares?! I'll just do it and-- Jessica took a deep breath and jumped. There wasn't anything but a huge tunnel. She slid down the foul-smelling, slippery surface, only to fly out of the tube and headfirst into a wall. It was a huge cavern! And what was this--It appeared to be a giant skin rotting on the ground. It had to be at least sixty feet long! Blimey! Is this where he lives?

"Tom?" she croaked weakly into the darkness.

"Tom?" A little louder.

"Tom, where are you!?"

The cavern started rocking violently, as if an earthquake was roaring through, Jessica fell over, landing on a sharp rock. She looked around wildly, wondering where this came from. The walls were lined with pipes. Mammoth ones, like the one she came in on.

Squelch.

Oh God. What was that? Oh shi---

That was all she was able to get out before a, a.....well....she didn't actually see what it was. Jessica was too busy shrieking and crouching into a ball on the floor to even notice the enormous snake thing towering over her. But out of nowhere, she heard a voice, speaking that funny language....

"Tom?"

"Jessie! Don't look yet!"

"Wha--"

"Don't move!"

She did as she was told, staying curled up in a ball...until she felt familiar arms around her.

"Tom! You're here...what was that, it nearly ate me..."

"Sh..It's the basilisk. I can control it, so you're safe. Just don't look at it..."

"SHE TOLD! SHE RATTED US ALL OUT!" The red-head was in hysterics now, screeching and cursing her head off...

"Hey,hey...I told you so...Don't worry, no one will believe her....Relax!"

"She....t-t-t-told Potter!"

Tom nearly had a heart attack.

"WHO?!"

"H-h-h-harry Potter! And Ron Weasly!"

Tom looked as though Christmas had come early.

"She told Potter? Oh, Jessie! That's wonderful!"

"Uh?" The poor girl was soaked to the bone and utterly clueless.

"Now...I can finish what I set out to do!" He resumed his normal tone.

"You've been trying to kill him? But why?"

"Long story, but I daresay it won't matter for long. The process is nearly complete."

He gestured over to a limp pile of black robes lying on the slime-caked floor a few feet away.

Granger?

"That's right. As she loses strength, I gain it. And soon, her little Mudblood self will be stone-cold dead. That solves both of our problems, doesn't it?"

Jessica nodded dumbly. The tales keep getting taller, she thought.

Just then, Tom stood bolt upright, a puzzled look about him....'Where is he?' said Tom, hissing. 'Go--go kill him. or leave him to me.' Tom mouthed the odd words, almost becoming one with the beast itself. And Jessica just laid there at his feet...

'How did I get myself into this?' She felt around for her wand....

'But...How am I going to get us out of it?'

Tom stood stock-still, looking horrified, but at the same time, a crazed look of delight spread across his eerie pale face.

"Potter," he said acidly."I hoped you would come."