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

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

A/N: Warning: Snape/McGonagall appearance starting from this chapter, will get worse as story progresses, or as worst can be without increasing the ratings. Also be prepared for unorthodox reaction of Harry towards Snape and Snape's unSnapeish behavior

Just a note: This is a continuation of another fic I wrote earlier, that was… let's say the stepping stone of McGonagall and Snape's relationship… I didn't/won't post it coz it's about Charlie Weasley and my OFC (Julianna Montgomery) and that's not really hot stuff here. It takes place in fifth year for the dream team and they were kidnapped by Voldermort at the end of that year. You don't have to read that to understand this, but I do make some reference to it occasionally. Also, note that Julianna and Charlie are married and have a little girl, Lizzie… you'll meet them later in the fic… probably around Christmas… ^_^… that's all…

~*@*~

"I don't understand why I have to go. It's not compulsory, I'm better off staying here, where it's warm," Jessica snapped at Harry and Ron the next morning. Ron rolled his eyes and went to sit away from the scowling girl. She is impossible, he thought. As for Harry, he just sighed and tried again.

"Because, Jessica, it'll be fun. You do know what the term fun is right?" he asked then backed away a little at her dagger stare.

"Don't push it Harry," she growled. From the other end of the room, Ron released a frustrated sigh. She was coming because Hermione made her promise, but naturally she did not want to go, so she was sulking, which would result in a chain reaction and ruin all of their moods. And damn Harry and his last night confession that is preventing him from telling her to stay and not ruin their day.

"Look I don't know what happened… and I won't ask so don't look at me like that, but the thing is, things are different here, and whatever it was you faced in your old school it won't happen here," Harry tried again. Jessica just looked at him, very much unconvinced. Harry tried another approach, his last idea.

"Are you being ill treated here?" he asked. Jessica shook her head.

"Has anyone said anything nasty to you… recently?" he asked again. Jessica shook her head, sulking a little bit more as she knew where he was headed.

"In the last week have the people here ignored you or act like you're not there?" he asked. She shook her head thinking about the rather enjoyable chat she had with a few girls from assorted houses just the day before.

"In any way… any way at all, do the people here treat you like you were treated back in your old school?" he asked. She shook her head a third time.

"So by the process of deduction and reasoning don't you think you might actually enjoy this trip?" he asked. Jessica sighed.

"But Harry, I don't want to go to some flea market for the wand happy people of England. Why can't we go to London, with normal people?" she asked irritatedly, ignoring Ron's glare from his seat.

"Wizards and witches are normal too, Jessica. Just with different interest that's all," he answered, through gritted teeth. He was nearing the end of his patience. Jessica sighed again. She was being unreasonable, she knew it. But she had stayed away from everything magical that to actually go, voluntarily, into the heart of it all… was well incomprehensible. She turned to look at Harry who had turned away and saw that he was a little more than pissed. I suppose I could go, for his... and Hermione's sake. They have been nice to me and it wouldn't be fair that I shouldn't try to at least tolerate the life of being a witch.

"Oh alright. I'll go… happily," she said and for Harry's benefit she broke into a smile. He smiled back, very much relieved. Standing up she walked to the steps of the stairs leading up to the girl's dorm. If she had to do this let it be sooner and not later.

"Hermione!!!!!!" Jessica screamed from where she was standing. In the time that she and Harry had been arguing, half an hour had passed. What was she doing up there??

"Don't waste your breath, she probably can't hear you," said Ron. Jessica sighed and sat next to Harry. Minutes later Hermione came down. Jessica looked at Hermione's pretty blouse and pressed slacks and couldn't resist a quick remark.

"Hermione, we're heading into town, not Sunday school," she quipped. Hermione glared at her and took in Jessica's casual faded jeans and top with the words "girls kick ass".

"Sorry, I just didn't want to appear like I had come from the Woman's Rehabilitation for the Fashionably Challenged," she retorted, looking pointedly at Jessica's attire. Jessica hooted with laughter as the boys grinned at Hermione's remark.

"Now that's kicking some ass! You go girl!" she whooped. Hermione blushed a little and linked her arm into Jessica's. The foursome made their way towards Hogsmeade.

Once they reached Hogsmeade, the three wanted to go straight to Three Broomsticks but Jessica wanted to walk around first. See what the deal was with this town.

This place is amazing! She thought after a while of walking, as she pressed her face against Zonko's joke shop window. Inside she could see students rushing around picking stuffs all shapes and sizes. Some of them noticed her peering in and waved. She waved back, feeling warm and silly. She then headed to the next shop, Madam Sophie's robes and was awed at the varieties and colors of dresses and robes alike. Of course, she would never be caught dead in such garments, but that didn't stop her from appreciating its beauty.

Eventually, she had finished scouting most of the shops and was heading towards an old inn, which had a sign that read Three Broomsticks on a half rotting wood stuck above the front door.  She had promised to meet the three there and she was running late. In her haste, she didn't see the person in front of her and collided with him. She was about to smile and apologize when she looked up into a pair of icy blue eyes that she remembered being describe to her, just last night. Well, if it isn't Mr. Greasy silver hair, sharp, ugly pointed face himself. The words mudblood and Hermione's angry face came into her mind and Jessica lost her humor and glared at him.

"Watch it Stanford," he snapped. Obviously her reputation preceded her, as she knew she had never been introduced to him before.

"Me? You're the blind one with hair grease dripping into your eyes!" she retorted, her tone just as mean. Draco's ears turned red, his eyes narrowed down to slits. The girl had a lot of nerve! Does she not know who he is?

"You'd better watch your back Stanford, not all of us are scared of your lousy attitude," he threatened. He didn't scare her a bit. In fact, as she looked at him, she felt a sense of incredulity. Where did this guy get off from being so arrogant? All this coming from a guy who needed the security of two brainless morons. She could have laughed at the absurdity of his threats. And well, she did.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked.

"You! Look at you! So scrawny and yet has the cheek to threaten me!" she guffawed. That remark really made Draco's ears sting. He had been working out and thought himself to be quite a muscle man. So to hear himself being called scrawny by a girl scrawnier than him really pissed him off.

"You're lucky we're in public, or I'd have punched you," he hissed, his face stating to turn red.

"You don't have the guts, Malfoy, without your moronic goons to back you up," she spat. Draco had turned from red to purple, and a vein was throbbing visibly in his temple.

"Don't push me, Stanford," he hissed again. Jessica squared her shoulders and looked at him defiantly.

"Bring it on, Malfoy," she said. The sudden look of doubt and fear in Draco's eyes disgusted her. Now she really wished he'd hit her so she could give him her special knuckle sandwich. Or maybe he'd walk off, so people would know what a chicken shit he really is, she thought. Unfortunately, neither of the two happened, for at that moment, Snape and McGonagall happened to pass by and saw the two glaring at each other.

"Is there a problem, Ms. Stanford?" asked Professor McGonagall, her voice crisp with a tinge of warning to it. Jessica relaxed her pose and turned to the two Professors. She could see the two were holding hands, poorly hidden within the fold of their robes.

"No, Professor, Draco and I were just exchanging views about the weather." she said sweetly.

"Draco thinks that the winter will be even more bitter this year but I disagreed and told him that spring was going to make winter run with its tail between its legs,"

Draco knew understood her subtle insinuation and his face became a deeper shade of purple.

"Is that right, Mr. Malfoy?" asked Snape. Jessica looked back at Draco, her smile still sweet but her eyes throwing daggers his way. Draco hesitated. If it were only Snape, he would have ratted on her but with McGonagall's presence, he'd just get into trouble too. So reluctantly, he nodded.

"Well, if that's all to the matter, very well then. Ms. Stanford, I believe Mr. Potter is waiting for you at the inn," said Professor McGonagall. Jessica looked pass her and saw Harry coming towards them, his face worried.

"Thank you, Professor. Good-bye Malfoy, hope you get the frostbite on your backside tended too," she said then walked of before either one professors could comment on her remark. She met Harry halfway down the road.

"What happened? What did that git do to you?" Harry asked urgently, his brow furrowed deeply. Jessica felt a little tingle creep down her spine.

"Don't worry about it, Harry. Its all taken care off," she replied, feeling very much like spring had come. She linked arms with Harry and pulled him towards three broomsticks.

"So, what's today's special?"

"The same for the last 100 years, butterbeer," he answered.

"Butterbeer? What's that?" she asked.

"Well it's kinda like melted butterscotch, sweet, like your temper," he said, unable to resist a dig. Well he received a dig too, an elbow into his ribs.

"Funny, Potter," she said, smiling though. He sighed.

"Are we back to last names again? I kinda liked the sound of my name on your lips," he whispered the last bit into her ear, his warm breath chilling her spine.

~*@*~

By then, they had already reached Three Broomsticks, and Harry was helping Jessica remove her jacket and hanging it on the coat rack, next to his. Hermione and Ron sat looking at the two making their way to the table, Harry's palm resting lightly on the small of Jessica's back, gently guiding her through the throngs of people, mostly Hogwarts students.

"See, I told you he liked her," she said to her boyfriend.

"Herm, he doesn't like her, he loves her," he replied, sighing loudly, his fingers absent-mindedly caressing her fingers.

"And you don't like it?" she asked, slightly disturbed by his resigned tone.

"No, of course not," he answered.

"So what's the problem?" she asked again. He just shook his head.

"There is no problem," he replied. How was Ron going to tell her that he was the problem? Honestly, he had nothing against Harry and Jessica dating, the thing was Harry was his best friend but he and Jessica were just acquaintances. They were civil, but not friendly to each other. And he knew why. She was still sore at his hostility before and he was sore because he knew he was wrong. I mean, she's still a sore to be with sometimes, but it's become much better and he should extend his friendship as well, just as Harry and Hermione were doing. He could fix it, but that would mean saying sorry to her. Was he man enough to do just that?

"Hey, you two, look what the cat dragged in," said Harry. Jessica playfully pushed him.

"Hi, Hermione, hello Ron," she said, beaming at Hermione and nodding slightly to Ron.

"Hi, what took you so long? You were supposed to be here 15 minutes ago," chided Hermione good-naturedly. Jessica and Harry exchanged a bemused look.

"Jessica had a little run in with Malfoy," he said. Ron frowned.

"What is that idiot up too?" he said.

"Oh, nothing. Don't worry, I set him straight," she replied then quickly changed topic.

"So, where do I go to get an infamous butterbeer?" she asked, looking around. Students and teachers alike had completely drowned the drink counter.

"I'll get it for you, I'm gonna get one for me too," offered Harry. She smiled at him and watched his back retreat into the crowds.

"So what have you two been up to?" she addressed the two in front of her. Hermione waved her hands about.

"Oh, y'know… nothing actually, I've already had two butterbeers," replied Hermione.

"Two? And you don't need a leak?" Jessica asked in wonder. Hermione's eyes widen.

"Oh my, now that you've mentioned it, I do need to go to the bathroom. Excuse me," she said and got up. There was an uncomfortable silence between her and Ron after Hermione left. She always had a feeling that he didn't like her, so she always felt awkward around him. C'mon, Ron, this is a golden opportunity practically thrown onto your lap. Ron cleared his throat.

"Jessica…" he began. Jessica turned her black eyes towards him. Running his hand quickly through his hair, he decided to get straight to the point.

"I'm sorry," he blurted. Jessica's eyes widen in surprise.

"Excuse me?" she asked, stunned by his out burst. Ron breathed in deep.

"I'm…. err I apologize for behaving badly around you. Can we start again at being friends?" he asked, waiting for her to reject his offer and tell him to sod off. It never came. Instead, she smiled at him and held her right hand out.

"Hi, I'm Jessica Stanford, it's a pleasure to be your friend," she said, smiling widely. Ron searched her eyes for a moment looking for signs of sarcasm. Nothing. Her eyes were clear and sincere. He received her handshake.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ron Weasley and am equally pleased to be your friend," he replied. The two grinned at each other before bursting into laughter. Whatever traces of animosity left had finally cleared in the wake of their new friendship. When Hermione and Harry returned to the table, both at the same time, they could feel a difference. The air was lighter and carefree. Harry knew that Ron had settled his problem with Jessica and he knew Ron had done it for him. Hermione could feel that the tension building up inside Ron had finally been released and he was at ease with himself again. Unable to resist, she wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed him. It took much of Harry and Jessica's gagging noises to finally pull them apart.

~*@*~

"So where do we go next?" asked Jessica, sipping her butterbeer.

"Jessica, you just came in," said Harry.

"Oh, Harry stop being such an old man," she quipped. Ron snickered slightly, but stopped when Harry glared at him.

"How about Honeydukes?" he contributed.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Possibly the best shop in the whole Hogsmeade," said Hermione but was opposed by the two boys.

"Herm, the best shop would be Zonka's Joke shop," argued Ron.

"No way, Quidditch Galaxy is the best shop!" differed Harry. That resulted in a minor argument between the two boys.

"Presenting living proof that boys never mature," Jessica muttered. Hermione laughed and nodded.

"I agree, especially wizard boys, the worst lot," she quipped.

"So are we on for Honeydukes?" Jessica asked. Hermione's face brightened.

"Oh yes, you'll love it. The Sugar Quills are to die for! And the Licorice wands too," gushed Hermione.

"It's a sweet shop? My mum will have a fit if she knew I was pigging out on candies. She's a health freak," said Jessica, smiling fondly, thinking of her mum. It'd be great to see her again in two weeks time.

"Serious!? My parents too! Of course, they're dentist, so that makes them even more anti-sweets. The more reason for me to love Honeydukes!" laughed Hermione.

"No way! Poor you, and I thought I had it bad!" laughed Jessica as well. Suddenly the boys stopped their bickering and turned to the girls.

"What are you two talking about?" asked Harry.

"Oh, we were just comparing notes on which kindergarten would be the best for you babies," quipped Jessica. The two boys blushed, and grinned stupidly at each other.

"Funny, Jessica," was all Ron could think to say.

So, after finishing their respective butterbeer, the four made their way to Honeydukes. The crowd inside the shop had lessened as most students were in Three Broomsticks. Harry (Ron had pulled Hermione to the far side of the shop) began showing Jessica all the various sweets, and Jessica eyed them all with wide eyes.

"I don't know where to start buying," she exclaimed, looking like a fox in a chicken pen. Harry laughed and picked up a peppermint cream.

"Here try this," he said and popped the sweet into Jessica's mouth, and 'accidentally' grazed her lips with his fingers. But she was too caught up in the taste and the funny jumping feeling in her stomach to notice. She grabbed a handful of those and placed it in her bag. Next, Harry took her to the sugar quills. Hermione did justice to the candy when she said they were to die for. Jessica grabbed two handfuls of the sweet. The next items to find their way into her goodie bags were an assortment of Ice Mice, Jelly Slugs, and Licorice Wands and of course, good old fashion chocolates.

"Are you sure this is enough? My arm hasn't fallen off yet," said Harry dryly, holding up her incredibly heavy goodie bag. He had relieved her from it, when at one point she had begun grabbing sweets with both her hands.

"Yes, that's enough Harry," she answered, smiling. The two made their way to the cashier. Behind the counter was a man whom could only be described as roly-poly. His cheeks had a pink tinge to it and Jessica thought he looked a lot like Santa Claus. The jolly man smiled when the two approached the till.

"Hullo Harry, how are you?" he man spoke.

"Hello Mr. Honeydukes. I'm fine. How's your rheumatism?" Harry asked politely. Mr. Honeydukes laughed.

"It's getting better, so I can definitely say it's going to get colder," he answered. He then turned to look at Jessica.

"Harry, aren't you going to introduce me to your beautiful friend?" he asked as he began to tallying up Jessica's purchases. Despite herself, Jessica blushed under his compliment.

"I'm Jessica Stanford. I just arrived this year," she introduced herself.

"Well, then, welcome to Hogsmeade. In fact, why dun you go pick up a big bag of Bertie Bott's over there. On the house, a welcome gift from me," he said. Jessica couldn't believe her luck.

"Are you sure, Mr. Honeydukes?" she asked, just in case she had been dreaming.

"I dun say things I dun mean, little lady. Go on, help yourself to a bag," he said, enjoying Jessica's delighted face. The minute she was out of earshot, Edward Honeydukes turned to Harry, his eyes twinkling.

"She your lady?"

"Not yet," was all Harry could say, as Jessica had returned with a big box of Bertie Bott's.

"Oh, Mr. Honeydukes, thank you so much," she gushed, paying the old man and hugging her purchases tightly to her chest. He laughed at her starry eyes.

"Your welcome, child. If I weren't three times your age, I'd give young Potter here some competition for your heart," he said. This time it was Harry's turn to blush. Before Mr. Honeydukes could say anything further, Harry ushered Jessica out the door. The two waved at the old man once more before exiting back into the cold and gloomy outside. Ron and Hermione were already outside. Jessica eyed Hermione's equally big goodie bag and couldn't resist.

"Hermione, do you know that gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins?" she asked. Hermione looked at Jessica's large bag.

"I'm sure you do, since they created it in honor of you," Hermione retorted back. Jessica smirked back in reply.

"You two will be wearing dentures by the age of twenty," said Ron, rolling his eyes at Harry. Simultaneously, the two boys reached out and took the bags from the girls, a gentlemanly act from the two unconsciously perfected over the years.

Next the four stopped by Zonko's Joke shop. Here only Ron purchased some items, saying that it was for Fred and George, but Harry whispered to Jessica to be careful anyway, just in case. That had been the last item on any of their shopping list so the four friends decided to spend the rest of the outing just walking and talking about nothing and everything. Only twice did they stop. First was at the post office, when Jessica remembered she had to write to her mum, as the school owls had been extra busy and were never available when she needed to use them. (Harry gallantly offered the service of Hedwig for future use). And the second was when the four passed in front of the shrieking shack. Jessica actually stopped and gazed at the old, rotting house, her head tilted slightly.

"Jessica?" Harry asked. Ron had pulled Hermione into a tight embrace.

"What is that place? It looks so … sad," she said finally, her voice no louder than a whisper.

"It holds a lot of memories, none of them good," said Harry, shuddering slightly.

"Can we please go!?" Ron snapped suddenly. Hermione had begun to shiver in his arms. With her still in his arms, Ron walked away, his pace fast. Jessica looked confused.

"Did I say something wrong?" she asked looking at Harry. Harry who had been staring at the house, turned to look at Jessica. Jessica gasped at the look of pain in Harry's eyes. He shook his head, but didn't say anything. He walked off, his pace as fast as Ron's. Jessica had to run to match his pace. No more was said as they reached the winged boars, guarding the Hogwarts gates.

A/N: Still more where that came from… but what you think so far? If you are wondering abt the shrieking shack, scroll upwards to Just a note