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…

~*@*~

Dinner had come and gone and the four were in the common room. The silence that had enveloped the four at Hogsmeade was still working its rule. Jessica didn't know what she had said or done and she definitely didn't know what the others were thinking but no way was she going to put up with their silence. She had worked hard to get where she was. She had to fight and vanquish a lot of demons before she could give herself to the power of friendship. She wasn't going to give in to the silence. They were friends and one thing she learnt from them was that friends share. A burden shared is a burden halved.

"Alright, you three! I've had enough of this silent treatment. What the hell happened at that house?" she cried out suddenly. Three pairs of eyes locked onto hers, one wary, one angry and the other fearful.

"Forget it, Jessica," said the angry one.

"No, Ron. I'm your friend now, I have the right to butt into your life," she said adamantly. Her remark earned her a small smile from Hermione. Harry and Ron looked at each other as if contemplating something. But Hermione made the decision for them.

"Have you heard of Voldermort?" she asked quietly. Jessica's eyes widen in horror.

"Of course. He makes Hitler look like a boy scout. Why?" she asked, a chill running down her spine. Who hadn't heard of the wizard gone psycho killing muggles and wizards alike? Although his activities had only been reported in Britain, her mother, having a grand aunt who was a witch, knew of him and had lived in fear of him. Other children were afraid of the boogieman or the monster under the bed. She had grown up fearing him and it was also another reason for her to recline away from being a witch. What could the three possibly have to do with him?

"Two years ago he took us hostage in the shrieking shack, and nearly killed two people we loved dearly. It all happened in that house," said Hermione softly. Jessica was too stunned to say anything.

"Hermione almost died too," added Ron, equally soft. How will he ever get that image out of his head? How can he ever forgive himself? Silence. Hermione's words played in her head and the chill spread throughout her body. Someone wanted to kill Hermione… and Ron… and Harry?! She looked at them. Harry was staring at the fire, Ron was clenching and unclenching his fist but it was Hermione who moved her. Suddenly the head girl didn't look so confident and strong, but had curled a little, terror and vulnerability on her face. Someone had tried to kill my friends.

Blinking away her own tears, Jessica got up from her seat and went to Hermione. She wrapped her arms around the girl and squeeze tight. Hermione was slightly startled by Jessica's sudden show of sentiment, but recovered soon enough to return her hug.  They remained like that for sometime, before Jessica pulled back and wiped the two tears that had flowed down Hermione's cheeks. She reached across Hermione to Ron and squeezed his hands before returning to her place beside Harry.

Harry was looking away from her but that didn't stop her. She placed her head onto Harry's shoulder and circled her arms around his waist, one palm resting against the soft thud of his heart. His beating and very much alive heart, thought Jessica gratefully. Although he continued to not look at her, he placed one arm around her and pulled her closer to him. Hermione too had snuggled tightly against Ron, she was smiling and they both had relieved faces. It was like talking about that horrible night, even as briefly as a couple of words, had acted as a catharsis. They no longer felt the icy grip of fear in their hearts. Digging up the nightmare into plain view had caused it to… evaporate. Disappear. Hermione and Ron were no longer haunted. But for Harry, his nightmare was too deep to dig out, to dense to evaporate. His burden he'll have to carry with him forever, she thought sadly.

~*@*~

By morning, things were back to normal again and Harry was back to his teasing mode and Ron his sarcastic one.

Monday came and after breakfast, Jessica and Hermione bid Harry and Ron good-bye as they parted ways, the girls to Arithmancy and the boys to divination. [Why would anyone want to learn such rubbish? (Hermione)]. That week and the following week passed in a blink of an eye, before long Christmas holidays had rolled into view, and the four friends were exiting the train at Kings Cross station.

"Don't you just love the smell of Christmas?" gushed Hermione as she stepped of the train.

"I think that's the smell of charcoal and smoke," said Jessica dryly. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Jessica, stop being such a scrooge. You could at least pretend the air smells like Christmas," Hermione chided. Jessica gave her a 'whatever' look and grabbed her bag from the platform. Shortly the two were joined by the boys and the four made their way through the pillar and to the muggle side of Kings Cross.

Suddenly, Ron began waving madly, followed by Hermione and Harry. Jessica strained her neck over the bustling crowd to see whom they were waving at. It took her a minute but she finally saw them. A man and a woman. The man was robustly built, with flaming red hair not unlike Ron's and a huge grin on his handsome sun worn face. The woman was strikingly beautiful with wavy long auburn hair. Jessica noticed some men around her giving her appreciative glances. Were they Ron's parents? Seems a little young to be parents, she thought.

"Charlie, Jules!" cried Ron over the din. Ah, his brother… hmm, not bad looking at all, she thought and sub consciously ran a finger through her hair. She watched the two, Charlie and Jules, hug the three of them. The woman then fixed her gaze onto Jessica. Jessica was startled to see her eyes were a sea shade of green-blue. The woman smiled at her.

"Hello," she said. Jessica returned her smile.

"Jules, this is Jessica Stanford. Jessica this is my sister in law, Julianna Montgomery," said Ron. Julianna offered her hand, which was accepted by Jessica.

"Actually, it's Julianna Weasley now," said the woman, glowing slightly. The man, her husband most definitely, joined them.

"This is my husband Charlie," Julianna introduced. Jessica shook Charlie's hand.

"Hello there, are you coming to stay at our house too?" he asked pleasantly.

"No, I live in London," she answered.

"Jules, where's Lizzie?" asked Hermione.

"I couldn't bring her; she's at that age where she won't allow you to carry her and refuses to sit still. I left her with Molly, she's the only one who can control the little angel anyways," answered Julianna. Jessica heard the love and pride in Julianna's voice. She glanced briefly to the wall in front of her then quickly looked back. The clock showed it was two-thirty. She promised she'd be home by three to go for some last minute Christmas shopping with her. Quickly she said her goodbyes and decline Charlie's offer to drive her to London. With one last wave, she headed to the bus stand out side the train station and waited for bus 198 that would take her home to downtown London.

~*@*~

Harry sat quietly at the back of the Weasley Ford Anglia. The others were talking animatedly about something but try as he might, Harry couldn't seem to focus on the topic of conversation. His mind kept on drifting back to… where else? To Jessica. Only half an hour had passed since she left them at the train station and he already felt like she had been gone for a year. Even Harry himself couldn't realize the full potential of how much he missed her.

"What's up with Harry?" asked Charlie from the front. Julianna turned to look at him staring out the window unaware how the topic had diverted to about him.

"Harry is in love," said Ginny.

"How'd you know?" asked Ron, his eyes wide. He looked at Hermione but she was just as surprised.

"Oh please, everyone knows. The way he looks at her is just so obvious," she said, smiling at Harry. Harry would freak if he knew. The same thought crossed Harry's two best friends.

"It's actually very romantic," Ginny continued, sighing slightly. Although she had no regrets about only being friends with Harry, she did miss his romantic side. Colin was romantic too, and she loved him to bits, but Harry was more … gallant.

"Let me guess, Jessica Stanford?" asked Julianna. At the mention of her name, Harry snapped out of his daydream.

"What?" he asked suddenly sitting upright, a little dazed, and couldn't understand why the others began to laugh.

A/N: Heehee… poor Harry, sorry if it's a little short. If you are wondering abt the shrieking shack, scroll upwards to Just a note

Coconut-ice agent h/h: you're right… things won't be rosy and sweet yet…. Muahahahaha….