Title: Solving a Riddle Author: Gin MacGreggor Feedback: I take constructive criticism surprisingly well. 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.

' ' is thoughts " " is speech

************

Chapter 5

"Not in a Billion Years"

Harry Potter had entered the main chamber, slimy and filthy as Jessica herself. Tom turned to her momentarily.

"Go over with the Mudblood--I've got a bit of unfinished business to attend to. Stay out of the way." She nodded, obeying him.....as he went over to the Potter boy. Jessica felt Hermione's limp hand. Cold as ice; was she dead yet?

Tom had set the overgrown snake after Harry, and proceeded to stand there, mouthing it instructions-a bird had flown in and gave something to him. She didn't see what, it was too far away. But whatever it was, Tom was not amused.

"YOU MAY HAVE BLINDED THE BASILISK, BUT IT CAN STILL HEAR AND SMELL YOU!" he roared, echoes bouncing about the chamber's disgusting walls. Potter had taken off into one of the pipes again, snake hot on his heels. Maybe now...

"Tom?" she tried to sound more confident than she felt, "He can't hurt you, can he?" I can't tell her the truth, thought Tom. But how can Potter figure it out anyway? If she's got it with her.

"Do you have the book, Jessie?" 'Whoops.'

"Uh..." 'Where was it?!'

"I..." 'Oh my Gods! I just had it right here!'

"I think...I think I dropped it!" she wailed, immediately getting up to search the murky waters near the entrance to the main chamber. "No! Just stay..." 'I'm so stupid! I'm....'

She suddenly remembered the wand clutched in her hand.' DUH. I'm a WITCH.'

"Accio diary!" Jessica called out. Nothing happened.

"Damn it! ACCIO DIARY!" Again, nothing.

She ran over, tugging on Tom's sleeve... "Why won't it work? Why?" "I don't--" "Looking for this?"

Potter staggered out of one of the pipes, bleeding badly...with the diary in one hand and a sword in the other. Okay, where the devil did THAT come from? Tom's glance shot over to the boy, pure fury in his orange eyes.

"The basilisk! How..." "Yeah, it's very dead over there--" he gestured to the huge entrance pipe, "Very handy hat. Gave me this sword."

"But you're still going to die." Jessica didn't know why, but she just started yammering. "Basilisk poison is quick. you'll be dead in less than a minute!" Harry was--smiling? He set the sopping book on the floor beside Hermione and....

"NO! STOP!"

'No! Please, don't do it!' she thought frantically, in hysterics. Harry drove the sword through it.

Jessica was screaming her head off as Tom gave her one last pained look and burst into one big explosion of light. Jessica immediately went after Potter, scratching and beating and--

Everything went black.

************

The first thing Jessica saw was a window. Bright sunshine, trees swaying in the summery breeze. 'Good Lord, my head hurts.... where am I? Oh- -I bet the Cactus Potion blew up. I must be in the hospital. I need to tell Tom, I bet he's worried....' She slowly sat up, noticing no one else in her ward.

Groping around in her bag, she got out a quill, inkwell, and the-- 'Where's the diary?' She heard voices outside the door, so she tossed it all back into her bag. The doors opened and three people came in. Albus Dumbledore, a tall, beautiful blond woman, and (she recognized him from her mother's parties) Mr. Malfoy. 'What in Merlin's name is going on here?' she thought wildly.

"Oh, Lucius...is this her?"

"Yes it is, Narcissa. So, we will be taking care of her for the time being, Albus?" asked Mr. Malfoy.

"That's right. If you'll excuse us a second, I think she needs a bit of a fill-in." replied Professor Dumbledore, thoughtfully.

"Surely. We'll be outside with her things." The headmaster turned to face her.

"Hello, Miss Sabrahilde. I'm glad to see you're up and at it."

"Headmaster? Where's--"

"Lord Voldemort is far away right now. Don't worry. We have received information that you were under the Imperious Curse during this mad ordeal. No punishment will be given. Older and more experienced wizards have been fooled by Voldemort..."

"I don't mean to interrupt, sir, but..."

Jessica thought briefly about that time on the roof, she'd felt so safe and almost...loved. "Can the Dark Lord ever come back?"

The old man looked very thoughtful for a second. "Yes, I do believe it's possible. Ah!"

Jessica ignored the fact that the headmaster was filching some of her Bertie Botts, nearly squealing with delight. She could only think of how they could bring him back. He could come back! But then--

"Um, Professor Dumbledore? Where will I go for the summer?" He spat out the horseradish flavored bean in a nearby dustbin.

"You've been unconscious for about two days. I hate to break such depressing news; but your mother has died during this time. It seems as though a curse backfired on her." Jessica felt happy with the previous news, but with her mum gone....She felt like a million dollars! As Terrie would say, in any case.

"Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy have agreed to care for you over the summer until you find a permanent home. Perhaps you know their son, Draco?" She nodded, having heard of the boy. He was the Slytherin seeker.

"Well, the feast has started. I think you might want to dress and get down to it?"

"Of course, Headmaster." He left, leaving a small box on the table. It was a package from Terrie. Inside it was a muggle radio, with a note attached.

************

Dear Jessica,

I'm so sorry I opened my big, fat mouth! I hope it all worked out for the better, though. Anyway, here's something for you. I know, muggle items won't work within Hogwarts, but I've enchanted it to play anyways. It gets most of the stations right out of London! I hope you like it.

Your friend,
Terrie

************

She smiled slightly, setting the note down and turned the dial, just like she learned to do in Muggle Studies in third year, to a popular station.

"...Could you take my picture....'cause I won't remember...."

She liked this song, having heard it before with Terrie. Suddenly, the sadness hit. 'I wish I could've got his picture before, but I'll never forget. I won't.'

Jessica wiped her eyes and tossed on a uniform, heading for the End- of-Term Feast. The food wouldn't taste near as good, nothing would.

'At least I've got a family for a while. And, I'll be with him someday. I swear.' After the feast, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy (and Draco) came to collect her from the train.

"So..."said Draco, when their 'parents' were out of earshot. " What was the Dark Lord like? Was he nearly as frightening as most people think?" Jessica smiled inwardly.

"Not at all. He's...." She found she was at a loss for words. "...a good ballroom dancer."

She laughed at his disbelieving _expression. This might actually be fun for a change, having a family like them. Jessica smiled, a real smile this time, and took one last look at the gorgeous Hogwarts sunset.

'I'll never forget this, not in a billion years.'