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??
~*@*~
Mrs. Stanford flicked through her court documents but her eyes were focused on her daughter. Jessica had been pacing up and down the living room for the past five minutes, and every time she passed the hallway mirror, she'll stop to check her reflection. There, she did it again. So that brings it to a total of five times. Five times of checking herself in the mirror, and this coming from a girl who thought ponytails were already too stylish. Mrs. Stanford smiled a little. Well, that has obviously changed. She knew for a fact that Jessica had spent nearly half an hour in front of the mirror styling her hair, and had refused to go nearby any windows, in case the wind messed up her hair. Now it hung loose pass her shoulders, black as night, with the ends tucked in.
"Honey, you better not move too much, or your hair might go flat. Wouldn't want Harry to see you with flat hair now do we?" said her mum, unable to resist the urge. Jessica fixed her mum with an evil glare.
"Mum! I told you, I want to make a good impression on everyone, especially Ron's parents! I am not trying to impress Harry," she said. Which was partly true, she reasoned to herself. Her mum didn't say anything but kept that annoying smile on her lips. Jessica resumed pacing but then changed her mind and sat down, careful not to lean on the backrest, in case it made her hair go 'flat'. What's taking them so long? She thought and looked at her watch, then tenth time in a space of five minutes. Ron said he'd be here by 10, now its 10.02, she grumbled to herself.
DING DONG!
Jessica flew from her chair to the front door. Stopping briefly to check her reflection, she opened the door and smiled. Harry, Ron, Hermione and a man she didn't recognize were standing at the door. Hermione threw her arms around Jessica.
"Jessica! I've missed you," she cried, hugging Jessica tightly.
"What are you talking about? It's only been two weeks," she scoffed but hugged Hermione just as tightly. When she let go, Ron introduced her to his dad.
"Hello, Jessica. Heard a lot about you these holidays," he said pleasantly. There and then, Jessica knew she was going to like Arthur Weasley.
"Nothing bad I hope," she said, looking sideways at Ron. He just grinned. As if Harry would let him slander the good name of Jessica Stanford.
"A glowing report I assure you," laughed Mr. Weasley, and then looked passed Jessica's shoulders. Oh, mum!
"Mr. Weasley, guys, this is my mum," she introduced. Mrs. Stanford stepped forward.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Weasley," she said, shaking hands with him
"The pleasure is all mine, and please call me Arthur, Mrs. Stanford," he said.
"And I'm just Monica, then," she replied good-naturedly. She then shook hands with Ron and Hermione, and when it came to Harry, her hands shook a little.
"Hello, Harry," she said, wonder and disbelief written all over her face. Jessica looked at her mum in surprise.
"Mum, what's with the star-struck look? Its just Harry not Tom Cruise," she said then disappeared to her room. Mrs. Stanford rolled her eyes.
"Please forgive her. Sometimes, I think she lives on another planet," apologized Mrs. Stanford.
"So, she has no idea, then?" said Mr. Weasley in wonder. Who woulda thunk?
"No, and lets keep it that way, please?" said Harry pleadingly. Mr. Weasley made an action of zipping his lips. Mrs. Stanford just smiled. Jessica came out holding a tote bag, which she placed on the sofa.
"Jessica, would you like help with your trunk?" Harry asked. Jessica shot him a grateful look and Harry could feel his insides melting.
"That would be fantastic!" she replied, before disappearing back inside. Hermione grinned at Ron.
"Harry," she said in a singsong voice.
"How come you've never offered to carry my luggage before?" she asked. Harry blushed red.
"Maybe if you dyed your hair black…" suggested Ron. Harry blushed harder. He was going to kill the two of them. Not waiting for anymore of their remarks, Harry quickly disappeared down the path Jessica had gone.
"Oh, please, do sit down. Coffee?" said Mrs. Stanford. Really Monica, where are your manners? What would Arthur think of you? The three declined coffee and sat down, but Mrs. Stanford remained standing.
"I'll just go check on Jessica and Har~"
"NO!" cried Ron and Hermione simultaneously. The two adults looked at them in surprise.
"Err … we would… like you to tell us about Jessica instead, she's very secretive and we know almost nothing about her," said Hermione quickly. Ron nodded vigorously in agreement. Naturally, Mrs. Stanford didn't believe her, but she trusted Harry and her daughter, so she sat down and answered selectively some of their questions.
@~~}~~
Harry stepped into Jessica's room and saw that she was sealing her trunk shut. She smiled when he came in.
"Wow, I never imagined your room to be like this," he said.
"What did you imagine?" she asked her heart pounding. He thinks about my room??
"Well, I'd just thought it'd be… I dunno… black wallpaper, black bed linen," he explained looking around her room Jessica laughed.
"Actually, I would've if I could, but my mum and I had reached a compromise," she said.
"If I didn't decorate my room black, she won't have the walls painted pink," Jessica continued. Harry laughed.
"Pink? That would be out of sorts," he said.
"Yup, but I got a little of my own by making the entire room white," she said smugly and glanced about her room from the white washed walls, to the white carpet to the white dressing table and stool in the corner and the white bed sheet.
"Mum wasn't so pleased. She's just waiting for me to spill something on the bed," she said. Both of them looked at the bed and suddenly memories of the night before Hogsmeade flashed thru their heads, causing them to blush. Harry readjusted his pants quickly and pointed to the trunk, anything to take his mind off that incident.
"Err, you want me to take it out now?" he asked his voice slightly rough. Jessica just nodded. Harry easily picked up her luggage and walked out. Jessica took one last look around her room (but avoided the bed) and closed the door.
*@*
"Jessica, do you have everything you need? If you forget anything, I won't be able to owl it to you until two weeks time," said Mrs. Stanford. They were at the apartment lobby, and the boys had just packed Jessica's trunk into the car.
"Yes, mum, I have everything," sighed Jessica. Her mum had asked her seven times already. Finally, it was time to leave. Mrs. Stanford said goodbye to the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry (be patient, she's in denial but she'll admit she likes you too sooner or later… aren't you adorable when you blush!), before turning to Jessica. She hugged her daughter tightly and when they released each other, mother daughter had tears in their eyes.
"Be a good girl, Jessica and don't give Mr. and Mrs. Weasley any trouble," said Mrs. Stanford, then whispered to Jessica,
"You and Harry better behave yourselves too, don't do anything I wouldn't do y'hear?" Jessica stared at her mum. She looked around to see if the others had heard.
"Mum, what rubbish! We're just friends," she hissed back.
"Whatever, darling," said Mrs. Stanford. Jessica got into the Ford Anglia and with a last wave to her mum, they were off. They had just left the town area and entering the outskirts of London when Harry broke the silence.
"Jessica thanks for the embroidered captain badge. Did you make it yourself?" said Harry. By some cruel twist of fate, Hermione had ended sitting between the two, and Ron was at the front seat with his dad. Jessica blushed a little.
"Yeah, but that's nothing to the necklace you gave me, it matches anything I wear," she said. The others laughed.
"I don't know what to say except thank you," she said again, gently caressing the pendant around her neck.
"You could say you love me," Harry muttered without thinking. Oh shit!
"Excuse me?" she asked. What did he just say? Hermione and Ron heard what Jessica claimed not to hear and Hermione shot Harry an 'are you nuts?' look. Even Mr. Weasley looked at Harry through the rearview mirror, an eyebrow raised. Harry looked thunderstruck.
"Err, Jessica, thanks for the gameboy. Man, Fred and George are green with envy," said Ron quickly, calling Jessica's attention from Harry horrified look.
"Glad you like it. You can bring it to Hogwarts. It's shielded against any interference," she said, still a little unsure of what just happened by decided to wisely let it drop.
"And thank you, Ron and Herm, for the really nice scrapbook," she said. Hermione gave a lopsided grin.
"And I'm not sure whether to thank you or hex you," she replied fixing her a mock glare. Mr. Weasley perked up, along with the two boys. They suddenly recalled that Hermione had been very secretive about her Christmas present and hadn't told them what Jessica had given her.
"What did Jessica give you Herm?" Mr. Weasley asked. Hermione and Jessica exchanged looks.
"Err, a book," she replied hastily and Jessica smothered a laugh. Mr. Weasley was confused.
"Isn't that good?" he asked. A pink tinge crept up Hermione's neck.
"I guess it is. Thank you Jessica," she said, saying the last bit through gritted teeth. Jessica couldn't help it anymore and laughed. So Hermione hadn't told anyone about it eh? But she's most obviously read it.
"Glad you like it. It's an informative book, Mr. Weasley," she said to the older man. Mr. Weasley nodded approvingly.
"Good, maybe she could share some it with Ron," said Mr. Weasley looking at his cringing son. Hermione looked horrified, and that made Jessica laugh harder, much to the rest confusion. Well, he won't be cringing for long if she does go ahead with Mr. Weasley suggestions, Jessica thought.
They drove in silence for a while longer and reached the burrow just as the sun was disappearing into the horizon. Just like many others before her, Jessica fell in love with the house at first sight. And what made the view more endearing was in the garden; near the front door was a miniature pyramid with sand surrounding. According to Hermione it belonged to Ron's niece, and it's what muggles would call a play house, a gift from Ron's eldest brother.
"She's being spoilt rotten, that one," he said, but she could tell from his voice that he was one of those who loved spoiling her.
"Ron, your house it wonderful," she gushed, her eyes starry at she looked at the overly extended house. Ron beamed under her praise.
"Thanks," he said then went to help her with her trunk. However, just as she was about to enter, Harry pulled her aside.
"What did you give Herm?" he asked. He had been curious ever since Hermione had told him to mind his own business when he had asked what Jessica had given her. Jessica smirked. Should she tell? Why not?
"A book, called 'A well flavored man'," she replied.
"Is it what I think it is?" he asked, a lazy grin spreading across his face.
"Yep, all that and more," Jessica answered her grin matching his.
"Well, then this will be one lesson Ron won't mind learning," he said and Jessica laughed in reply.
A/N: Heehee, lucky Ron… Yay, we're at the burrow…