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…
ALSO: Doesn't it say somewhere that seventh year students are allowed to do magic out of school??
~*@*~
"Mum, I'm home!" Jessica cried out as she entered the cute little apartment she called home. From the kitchen came smells of mutton stew, baked bread and the sweetest of all, her mum's floral perfume. Mrs. Stanford came out of the kitchen to greet her only child.
"Oh, baby, I've missed you so much. Let me have a look at you," she said hugging Jessica tightly then pushing her at arms length to get a better look.
"Well, you look healthy enough. Still a little scrawny, but healthy," said Mrs. Stanford. But what she didn't say out loud was how Jessica was holding herself. She had lost her slumped shoulder look, her forehead was furrow free and she looked happy. Mrs. Stanford had thought Jessica had lost the will to be happy when her father left. Her little baby was happy again. Quickly, Mrs. Stanford wiped a tear from the corner of her eyes.
"Mum, why are you crying? I'm not that big a nuisance," said Jessica laughing at her mother's emotional side. Playfully her mother smacked her.
"That's what you think. It was actually peaceful around here," she retorted back.
"Go freshen up, dinner should be ready by then."
Jessica nodded and walked down the corridor to the end room. Her room. Her sanctuary. Her return home was finally complete. Putting down her suitcase at the foot of the bed, her gaze swept across her room. It was still as it was when she had left it, almost six months ago. And just as welcoming.
"How nice to be home again," she said softly to herself, the headed to the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later, she had washed her face and changed to clean clothes. Quickly pulling her hair up into a ponytail, Jessica went to join her mum in the kitchen.
"Hey, mum, need help?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe. Her mother looked up from the lamb roast.
"Yes, please help set the table then we can bring out the food," her mum said. Without another word, Jessica launched back into her old routine, before she had gone to Hogwarts. Even after six months, her body responded as if she had never left home. It wasn't long after when the mother daughter were seated and Jessica had already polished a bowl of mutton stew and asking for a second helping.
"Oh dear, I forgot the salad dressing," her mother said. Mrs. Stanford would begin all meals with a 'healthy' helping of Caesar salad.
"Don't sweat it mum," said Jessica quickly and whipped out her wand.
"Accio thousand island." A clear bottle containing the dressing came flying out of the kitchen and onto the table.
"Darling, I thought we agreed no magic at the table," her mum chided. Jessica shrugged.
"Mum, I'm a witch. I should be grateful for my gifts and not be hesitant to use them," she preached. Her mother just stared at her. Jessica… admitting she's a witch?
"Alright, who are you? What have you done with my daughter?" Mrs. Stanford said pointing her spoon at her daughter's face. Jessica laughed. Well, that was unexpected, she supposed.
"Mum, don't be silly. I've had a change of mind, that's all. Some people convinced me that being a witch isn't so bad after all," she said. Mrs. Stanford watched her daughter's eyes grow dreamy and her motherly heart swelled with happiness. Her daughter was in love, that is so cute.
"What's his name?" she asked softly.
"Harry Potter," Jessica answered then clasped her hand to her mouth. Oh my god! Where did that come from?
"Harry Potter?" Mrs. Stanford's eyes widen. Oh my, my…
"Mum, why? Please don't tell me he's a wanted criminal," said Jessica a little in despair at being so easily manipulated by her own mother. Why not, he's too good to be true anyways. Mrs. Stanford laughed.
"Sorry dear, I was just surprised that your first crush isn't named Spike or Hawk or other animal names. This Harry sounds like a decent boy," said Mrs. Stanford inwardly shaking in disbelief. Trust Jessica, possibly the only witch, to NOT know who Harry Potter is, and frankly Mrs. Stanford wasn't about to tell her. This one Jessica can figure out by herself, it's about time she got involved with her magical side, Mrs. Stanford thought.
"He is. Too decent sometimes. But it's not only him, Mum. My roommate, Hermione Granger, she's a real brick, and her boyfriend Ron isn't half bad either," Jessica gushed. It was like someone had finally broken the dam and water was gushing furiously out from it. Jessica couldn't stop herself, as she began telling her mum all about Harry, Ron, Hermione, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Neville and everyone and everything else in Hogwarts. She even told her mum about the giant squid in the lake. Throughout the entire time, Mrs. Stanford didn't say anything but just soaked in her daughter's happiness, wonder and the joy of restored faith in people, friends and magic. All the things Jessica had lost the day her father walked out the door to never return. The day she became a 'mudblood'. The day she turned her back to the world.
They talked all evening, any previous thoughts of going shopping had disappeared, and this amused Mrs. Stanford too, for Jessica loved shopping. However, Jessica had to stop in the middle of her tirade when another big yawn engulfed her. It was her fourth or fifth yawn.
"Bedtime darling, you can continue tomorrow. We have three weeks to talk," said her mother finally. A little reluctant, but Mrs. Stanford left no space for arguments. So, she kissed her mum, and went to bed.
@~~}~~
When Jessica woke up the next morning, the sun was high in the sky. Her mum had left for work ages ago. She stretched lazily then swung her leg onto the floor, her body following suit. Lazily, she walked towards the kitchen and fixed herself a cup of hot chocolate (it was winter) and sat at the kitchen counter, sipping her drink. In the peaceful silence of her home, Jessica couldn't help think about her dream. Maybe it was being home again, but last night, after along time, her nightmares started again. It was a recurring dream that had haunted her nights for so many long years and had only recently receded into hiding. But it seemed the ugly head had begun to surface again. She didn't wake up in cold sweat anymore but it was still a pretty horrid dream.
"Oh well, it would have been too much to ask for things to be all around rosy," she sighed into her cup, then drained the content in one swing. She then began planning her day. Mum will be home by lunchtime to go Christmas shopping so I'll take a shower then clean up the house… no, I'll clean up the house then take a shower, she thought as she washed her mug. But, Mrs. Stanford, being the queen of clean that she is, left nothing for Jessica to do. If their house had a mouse hole, that'd be spotless to.
So instead, Jessica decided to prepare lunch. There were still some stew and lamb roast left so she heated the stew and then added in the lamb roast, creating lamb roast stew. The sweet aroma soon filled up the room. The aroma was joined in by the smell of garlic bread. There weren't any frozen ones left, so Jessica had improvised by making the garlic paste with mixed herbs and spread it on some bread, which she then baked. Then she took out some strawberry jelly, strawberry Swiss rolls and whipped cream and made truffles. By the time her lamb roast stew, garlic bread and dessert were ready, her mum arrived home.
"Mmmm, what's that wonderful smell? What's cooking?" said Mrs. Stanford, hanging her coat before sitting at the kitchen counter watching her daughter move around the kitchen. Jessica placed a quick kiss to her mum's cheeks before rushing back to the oven to take out her bread before they became lumps of charcoal.
"It's nothing much, mum, just yesterday's leftovers with some alterations," explained Jessica.
"So are we still going shopping today?" she asked her daughter. Jessica's face lit up, if it was anything, Jessica loved shopping. She could stay for hours in a shopping mall, just wondering around, letting the bustle of people pass her by, and not caring what she was doing.
"Oh yeah, let's go to Starhill mum," she said. Her mum nodded and soon after lunch, the two headed to Starhill Mall. After so long of being away, at her old school till September and then Hogwarts, she felt overwhelmed by the size of the mall and groups of late shoppers alike. If God put in her heaven after she died, she hoped it was a huge shopping mall.
"So where would you like to start?" asked her mum. Jessica's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. She had no idea. She wanted to duplicate herself so she could be everywhere at once. There was so much to see!
Mrs. Stanford grinned mischievously.
"What would your Harry like?" she asked. Lost in her daze, Jessica fell for the bait.
"He loves quidditch but I don't… very funny mum, he's not my Harry, and I'm here to shop for a few people not just him," she said, giving her mum a 'we are not amused' look. That was the second time already. Her mum just laughed and planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead. It made her so happy to see her daughter madly in love with this boy, even if she denied it at every turn. Harry Potter. Who would've thought? And to think Jessica had no idea who he was. Well, knowing her daughter, she wasn't really surprised.
"Alright, darling. Why don't you scout around and meet me here in half and hour," she said.
"Where are you going?" Jessica asked.
"Polly's" her mum answered, raising her eyebrows. Jessica laughed. Polly was Mrs. Stanford hairdresser and Mrs. Stanford made it a point to visit her every time they went to Starhill, whether she needed a haircut or not. It wouldn't do at all to offend the lady. Jessica waved to her mum and headed off in the opposite direction.
What would she get for Harry? Quidditch was out of the question. Did he play any other sport? Soccer maybe? Hmm, no. A shirt? He would look amazing in a dinner shirt wouldn't he? Jessica Stanford!! Cease your thoughts immediately! We are here to shop for your mum, Hermione, and other people's present, so stop thinking of Harry only. Jessica could feel herself blush and quickened her pace. In that half an hour she knew what she was going to get for her friends. Her friends. Who would've thought? Me, have friends. But she did and that's all that matter. She met again with her mum and together they bought presents for Jessica's friends and Mrs. Stanford's friends too.
@~~}~~
That night, Jessica and Mrs. Stanford were up to their arms in wrapping paper and scotch tape, but finally, all presents had been wrapped and ready to be sent. Mrs. Stanford phoned a few of her friends asking for a favor and before long, several owls came flying into their apartment. Jessica tied two presents to one owl that would deliver to the Burrow where she knew Harry and Ron would be. She had given Ron a gameboy, magically altered so he could still use it at Hogwarts and Harry an embroidered Gryffindor lion, (which she made herself, thank you very much… oh alright, with a little help from magic as well) that had been charmed to roar softly, with the words Captain in gold thread at the bottom, so he could iron it on the front of his quidditch robes.
The second owl carried Hermione's gift, a book called 'A well flavored gentleman', real smutty, with a half naked man on the cover, (Herm's gonna flip!) and a t-shirt that said 'get out of my face' on the front and 'get off my back' on the back. She knew Hermione would probably never wear it or read the book, but it wouldn't do her any harm. Loosen those tight nerves of hers. For Neville, this she had purchased in Hogsmeade, a new and improved remembrall that instead of turning red, would show what the holder had forgotten. She even got a present for Professor McGonagall, a book on the 1000 pleasures of Karma Sutra and stressed in her Christmas note that she hoped Professor Snape enjoyed the gift as well. She'll pay dearly for that though when school reopens. Scrubbing toilets bowls till she's 30 no doubt. Now all she had to give was her mum's present but that will have to wait till Christmas morning.
*@*
The week passed quickly and before long it was Christmas Day. Jessica bounded out of bed; way before the first bird woke and ran into her mum's room. Then like a little girl, she jumped onto her mum's bed and woke up Mrs. Stanford by jumping on the bed.
"Mum! Wake up! It's Christmas!" she yelled. The mother-daughter sat up on Mrs. Stanford's bed and exchanged a kiss, a hug and presents. They had realized many years ago that there wasn't any point really going outside to the living room. It was much warmer inside the room, and once the presents had been open, the two could crawl back into Mrs. Stanford bed and fall asleep again. Mrs. Stanford would receive her presents from her fellow colleagues, some clients and friends, but Jessica would only receive presents from her mum and occasionally her dad. But she normally threw those presents away unopened. This year, however, she was wrong. Just shortly after thanking her mum for the beautiful watch, encrusted with diamonds, and black topaz, owls (one of them a familiar snow white) started swooping into Mrs. Stanford's room; dropping presents all shapes and sizes onto Jessica's lap. Jessica was so surprised; all she could do was just stare at the pile on her lap.
"Jessie, hurry, open them!" her mum cried, feeling excited. More excited than her daughter, it would seem. With trembling hands, she opened a large and square present. She read the card.
To Jessica, Merry Christmas. No more doubts okay? Love, Ron and Hermione.
It was a photo album and on the cover was engraved 'The Book of Friends'. She opened it and waving at her were pictures of Harry, Ron, Hermione. She flipped the pages again and there were also pictures of other Gryffindors and non Gryffindors alike, all of them smiling and waving at her. The last few pages were pictures of her also with Harry, Ron and Hermione, at Hogsmeade (when did they take pictures?), in the common room, at the quidditch pitch and in the school hallway (these pics were compliments of Colin Creevey). And on the very last page was a huge picture of Harry. He was winking and smiling suggestively at her. Jessica laughed, blushing and a tear trickled down her cheeks. She quickly wiped it, but her mum had seen it and pulled her for a quick hug. She then passed a much smaller package to Jessica. It was from Harry.
Jessica, it's not much, but it suits you, hope you like it, love Harry.
"Love Harry? I though you said you two were just friends," teased her mum.
"We are mum, he was just being sweet," she answered and continued to open the present. She gasped and slowly, her heart pounding hard against her rib cage, took out a beautiful necklace of white gold. A pendant hung on it, a prancing lion and in the middle of its torso was a diamond, no wait, a ruby, no it's a sapphire, emerald… oh my stars! The diamond was enchanted to change colors. Jessica quickly put it around her neck and smiled widely at her mum. Mrs. Stanford was just too shocked to say anything and handed the next presents to Jessica. Neville had given her hair ribbons made from shiny scales (I transfigured it by myself [Neville]). She made a mental note to NEVER wear it. Another large parcel made its way to her lap. That was a joint gift from a few of her seventh year house mates. It was a big glass globe with Hogwarts sitting grandly inside it, surrounded by silver foils that fall upon the castle like shimmering rain when shaken. The last was a postcard wishing her Merry Christmas signed by Minerva McGonagall and Severus Snape. The postcard had a picture of a beach on it, and Jessica couldn't help picture McGonagall in a bikini and Snape in Speedos. She shuddered inside. And that was it. By normal measurements, one could say it was little considering it was Christmas but to Jessica it was plenty. But then her mum pulled out another parcel and handed it to Jessica. Jessica felt as if a rain cloud had covered her sun. Without a second thought, she grabbed the present and threw it across the room. What did he hope to prove anyways, by giving her presents?
"Jessica," her mother sighed, her tone wary.
"Mum," replied Jessica, her tone defensive. Mrs. Stanford just shrugged and motioned for Jessica to shower, as the morning had advanced and they may be expecting guests later. Mostly Mrs. Stanford's friends which on other Christmas days would irk Jessica, for Mrs. Stanford had a large range of friends, consisting of muggles from her line of work and wizards and witches, friends made when her grandaunt had been alive. But on this Christmas morning, Jessica lost her frown and with a huge grin, she leapt off the bed and waltzed back to her room. Mrs. Stanford sighed again, picked up the slightly crushed parcel, and placed it in her dressing table drawer.
*@*
"Merry Christmas, Susan. Please come in," said Jessica pleasantly. It was mid day and so far, visitor's muggles and wizards alike had been coming and going in a constant pace. And each and everyone had been caught by surprised by Jessica's pleasant and polite behavior. Gone was the surly and unfriendly girl and in its place was a sociable girl. Their newest and hopefully last visitor was no exception.
"Merry Christmas, Jessica. How are you?" she asked, masking her surprise well. Jessica smiled and fondly fingered her pendant.
"I'm fine. And you?" she answered politely, and handed Susan a glass of punch. Susan received the punch graciously.
"And how do you enjoy Hogwarts?" she asked. It had been like that all day. Non magic folks would ask her, how was the Woman's Royal College and the magic folks, in a much hushed voice, would ask her how was Hogwarts. And she'll answer both questions with the same answer.
"It's great. I love it," she said. Susan warmed at Jessica's praise. She too had been a Hogwarts students and still wishes she hadn't had to leave.
"Wonderful, I thought you might like it. Here, this is for you," she said and passed a paper bag to Jessica. Jessica looked into the bag and squealed.
"Sugar quills! Oh, thank you so much, Susan! I'd better go hide these, mum would never approve," said Jessica jokingly. Susan laughed at her joke. Jessica quickly went to the kitchen just as Mrs. Stanford came out of her room.
"Hello Susan, Merry Christmas," said Mrs. Stanford. The two exchanged quick air kisses and sat down, facing each other.
"Well, Monica, I was just talking to Jessica just now. I have to say, I'm very impressed," said Susan. Mrs. Stanford laughed.
"You're telling me. I must thank you Susan, if you hadn't persuaded me to send Jessica to Hogwarts…" she began, but her voice shook a little.
Mrs. Stanford's best friend placed a hand on Mrs. Stanford's hand.
"Nothing has to be said, Monica. I'm glad things have become better for Jessica. I was once in that school too and if anyone can get through to her, it would be Albus Dumbledore and his students," she said and the two exchanged smiles.
The day passed quickly and it was nightfall. Reluctantly Jessica headed for bed. She was dead tired, but didn't want to go to sleep. It wasn't much that she didn't want the day to end, but more of her nightmares. No matter how great she felt during the day, her nights were full of dread. How could she fight something that was to deeply engraved inside her heart?