Disclaimer: Do not own the Wonderful World of Harry Potter… is not making any money from my writings… DO NOT LIKE that Rowling has killed Sirius Black and have chosen to pointedly ignore that certain fact, allowing him to make an appearance here…

Note to readers: your reviews are welcome in only these types of formats: praise, gushing, skepticism, flames, anger, denial, repulse/disgust, and I suppose constructive criticism can be entertained as well…

A/N: Wow, I am touched by all the reviews, you guys have been very encouraging, thank you… abt Jessica, yes I realize she is a bit of a bitch, but I ask you to give her time… maybe this chapter will change your mind…

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Next thing she knew, she was being shaken awake. She turned to smack the person shaking her, but when she saw Hermione's smiling and chirpy face, she groaned and dove deeper into her duvet. It wasn't a dream. She really was in Hogwarts and the most annoying creature to walk the earth was her roommate.

"Jessica, wake up. Breakfast is over and you have twenty minutes before transfiguration," said Hermione. Jessica threw her duvet over Hermione's head.

"All right already, I'm awake… geez, why are you so chirpy?" she growled and got out of bed. Hermione lifted the duvet off her head and ran to the mirror to inspect the damage done to her hair. Jessica rolled her eyes and walked into the bathroom. Ten minutes later, she walked out, fully dressed and Hermione was sitting patiently waiting for her. She smiled at Jessica, but it wasn't returned.

"Well, come on, you wouldn't want to be late for Professor McGonagall's class," she said. Jessica picked up her books (wizard education syllabus are the same all the world around, just in different languages) and walked out the door, Hermione tagging along.

"Hey Ron, Harry, thanks for waiting," chirped Hermione and she pushed pass Jessica to give Ron a quick kiss. Jessica rubbed her temples, the sight in front of her making her stomach churn. She gave a small smile to the two boys, who returned the smile as half-heartedly as her. If it hadn't been for Hermione, they would've left a long time ago.

The four left the tower and started for transfiguration class. Jessica lagged at the back, but then Hermione pulled her in front. And she nearly croaked when Hermione made her sit right in front with her. Why doesn't she just tape me underneath the teacher's nose? Or glue me to the blackboard? She thought wanting to sob. She was sitting right in front of the class… like a nerd! Forget the plague; what she wanted was a knife to stab herself.

Professor McGonagall walked in briskly and almost immediately, class began. Each student was given a pink (again) ribbon and a green snake (stunned, of course) and were told to morph the two together, the outcome should be a pink snake. All around she could hear students swooshing their wands around and saw some ribbons turn green, the ribbon become rubbery and one kid even managed to strangle his snake. Geez, these people could make stirring water look like an impossible task. Jessica looked down at her snake and said a silent prayer of thanks that the snake was stunned. No one or thing, no matter how ugly and poisonous deserved to be turned pink.

Ms. Head Girl over there had already turned her snake pink, and was now helping the red head. His snake either had a ribbon head or his ribbon had a snake tail, take your pick. Wonder if Ms. Head Girl would have a fit if I accidentally turn her pink, she thought and snickered softly. But when she saw Professor McGonagall turn a sharp eye towards her, she quickly picked her wand up. That woman could hear a pin drop in a room full of stampeding elephants, she thought and flicked her wand, muttering under her breath. Her ribbon and snake overlapped each other and in a split second spark the two morphed to make a… pink snake. Mission accomplished she thought smugly putting down her wand.

"Very good, Ms. Stanford," said Professor McGonagall as she inspected her pink snake. Jessica shrugged. She didn't really care.

"Wow, Jessica. You did that in one flick, almost as good as me," said Hermione, her disbelief irritating Jessica. Where did this woman get off from being so up herself? She thought, her brow furrowing deeply.

"If Atlantis can go crashing to the bottom of the ocean, then so can you," she retorted back. Hermione visibly shrank back and Harry had to put a restraining hand on Ron. Jessica could feel the animosity vibrating towards her. Hell, if looks could kill, she'd be sprawled on the floor with 20 daggers stuck in her back.

"Ms. Stanford, if you wish to remain in my class, then it's best you remember I do not appreciate such scathing remarks," Professor McGonagall said, her eyes glinting dangerously.  Why is there one in every school? All teachers should be subjected to a dose of 'chill out' serum, with booster shoots every two hours, she thought. But Professor McGonagall wasn't finished with her.

"Since you are done, you may go and help Mr. Longbottom with his," she added. Jessica turned and saw that he was the one with the strangled snake. Argh! God, strike me dead now! She grabbed her wand and half stomped to 'Mr. Longbottom'. Neville had grown much since then and had lost much of his baby fat but retained his fear for people. Right now he looked at her as if she was going to hex him. He stared at her, trembling slightly as she released the snake for its death grip, and looked at him. Jessica sighed and felt her 'compassion' gear shift in. Sighing slightly, she gave him a smile. A real smile, that went all the way to her eyes.

"Hi, I'm Jessica. Do you have a first name or should I call you Mr. Longbottom and keep things formal?" she whispered good-naturedly. Neville began to calm down.

"You can call me Neville. Sorry to bother you, but I'm really just a lost cause," he said apologetically.

"You're only a lost cause if you're six feet under and still a virgin," she whispered, and smiled again. This time he returned it confidently.

"Shall we try again?" she said and handed him his wand. However, after the third try, Neville had managed only to get his snake blown up and Jessica's face tinged with soot. He began to tremble again, convinced that this time, she really was going to hex him. Professor McGonagall had come running to them when she heard the explosion. The class had become quiet, not knowing what to expect. Was the weird girl going to hex Neville? Would she fling him across the room, or maybe rip him to shreds with her sharp tongue? Jessica did neither. She just stared at Neville, her black eyes unblinking. Professor McGonagall tried to ask her questions but she didn't answer. Her mind was reeling, the nuts and bolts in her head turning in motion.

"I got it!" she cried suddenly. Neville already nervous was only an inch away from wetting his pants when she cried out. Jessica's complexion had changed. Her face wasn't sullen and her eyes weren't dark and ominous. They were now sparkling and in her excitement, blood rushed up to her face, making her cheeks rosy.

"Professor, please, can Neville have another snake and ribbon?" she asked. Professor McGonagall was too stunned by the sudden change to ask questions and within seconds, she had whipped out another ribbon and snake. Jessica placed the two objects in front of Neville. Then she did something unexpected. She took Neville's wand and placed it into his left hand.

"Okay Neville, imagine a pink snake. Imagine you ARE the pink snake. Try again," she said breathlessly. Neville looked uncertain but decided he had nothing to loose. He closed his eyes and waved his wand, chanting the spell. The others held their breaths in anticipation. A spark zapped through the snake and ribbon and voila! A pink snake. Neville had done it.

"Stars and moon! I don't believe it!" he cried breathlessly. The class had begun to clap. Once she had been proven right, her excitement left her and her veil fell back over her face. The indifferent sullen, dark eyed girl was back. She crossed her arms across her chest and said flatly.

"Neville, you're wand hand is your left hand," she said.

"Only Mr. Longbottom could make a mistake like that and maintain the mistake for six years," said Professor McGonagall, slightly amused and very much relieved. The bell rang indicating the end of class. Without a word or a look, Jessica picked up her books and wand and walked out, her steps brisk. She squashed whatever feeling of elation she had. What's the point? They'd all forget about it by tomorrow and she'd be the freak kid again. As predictable as sunshine after a storm, Hermione came running up to her. She had forgotten or chose to forget the earlier incident.

"Jessica, wait! How'd you know that? I never knew," she said breathlessly, her two bodyguards not far behind. This woman has a skull as thick as an armadillo. How the hell is she the smartest kid in school? Jessica thought.

"You wouldn't since it can't be read out of a book," she replied. Her boyfriend opened his mouth obviously to give her a piece of his mind, but another body joined their small party.

"Jessica? Thank you," said Neville, looking down at his sneakers. Jessica felt her hostility leave her.

"It's okay, really. I'm glad we figured the problem. And that you're not a lost cause," she said smiling. He returned her smile, and then excused himself. Hermione was staring at her confused.

"For someone full of scathing remarks, you've shown Neville more compassion than the nicest person in school," she said. Jessica gave her a narrow look.

"I don't screw around with innocent minds," she said then walked off. Hermione wanted to go after her, but Ron put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"Forget it Herm. She doesn't want to be friends," he said. Hermione looked at Jessica's retreating back, and shook her head.

"No, Ron, you're wrong. I will break pass her brick wall," she said softly, as if making a promise to herself.

A/N/N: Okay so the Neville and left hand thing was a little unorthodox… but hey, it is a magical world… anything can happen… thanks for reading!!