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

~*@*~

Jessica stood there staring at the place Professor Snape had just been standing. She couldn't believe what had just happened really happened. He had thanked her. He had THANKED her. She must be going insane, hearing things like that. No way had he just thanked her. Especially for that! perhaps that was an impersonator and the real Snape was tied up somewhere, tortured within an inch of his life. should she report this to McGonagall or Dumbledore… or perhaps she should just leave it. I mean, no one could be worse that the real Snape right? Her mind was in a jumble and didn't realize he had come to stand before her until he spoke.

"What was that about?" he asked, his voice breaking into her muddled thoughts. She turned a pair of confused eyes to him.

"So you heard it too?" she asked him. Harry nodded. He had given the cloak to Hermione and Ron and hidden into the shadows to wait for Jessica.

"I heard him thank you," he answered. Oh, God, she wasn't losing her mind. He had thanked her. Harry wanted answers.

"Why did he thank you? What did you give McGonagall for Christmas? And why would he thank you??!!" he asked. Jessica turned beet red. Oh boy, how was she going to explain this to Harry?

"Umm… I err, gave her a book on Kama Sutra," she said, her voice low. It wouldn't do for someone to over hear their conversation. Harry just looked confused.

"What's that?" he asked. Jessica groaned inwardly. She wished she could just shrug it off, but Harry would hound her for answers. He was annoying in that kind of way. She motioned for him to come closer. He obliged. She whispered in his ear. He turned as red as she was.

"What the hell!!!" he cried, his voice echoed through the corridors.

"Shhh!! Harry, you'll get us in trouble!" she hissed.

"What on earth made you give her a book like that?" he said, much softer this time. She shrugged.

"It was a joke. I didn't think she'll apply it," said Jessica. Then the meanings of her words sunk into their minds.

"Ewwww…" they said in unison. Jessica visibly shivered. But Harry had begun to see the lighter side of things began laughing. It wasn't long before his laughing caught on and soon the two were on the floor laughing themselves into stitches.

"Did you read it first?" he asked, thru fits of laughter. Then, he blushed red. What a question to ask!!

"Why? Do you need pointers?" she teased. He blushed redder, and quickly got up.

"Get up Stanford! You shouldn't be here in the halls after bedtime," he said, putting on his serious prefect tone. This only caused her to laugh harder. She found his embarrassment quite entertaining and wanted to bait him even more. She held up a hand for him to help her up and when he pulled her up, she lightly grazed her lips across his chin before running off towards the tower. It was enough to cause Harry to heat up and the images going through his mind of their earlier conversation of her giving him pointers didn't help the matter either. It took him a while and thoughts about Filch, homework, Filch, detention, and Filch to cool him down enough for him to run after her without embarrassing himself further.

@----}-----[

Minerva sighed. Today had been especially tiring. Longbottom had managed to transfigure her table into half a monkey, so she had spent half the lesson trying to chase it. Then there were the many homework's she had assigned to various forms, one more abysmal than the other. And now, she had to leave her warm, cozy room and head towards the cold potion dungeon. Although she was very much infatuated with the Potion master, she still resented having to go down to the dungeon, especially on a chilly night.  She arrived at the green anaconda and recited his password. The snake slithered to form a door and she wrapped her fingers around the doorknob that had appeared, gasping lightly at its cold touch. She tentatively pushed open the door. It swung open and Minerva dropped the sheets of paper she had been holding, her hands covering her mouth, muffling her scream. Severus pushed the girl away from him, his eyes fixed on Minerva, his features pleading. But she didn't hang around. Minerva lifted her skirts and ran, halfway through changing into a tabby cat as she ran up the dungeon stairs. Severus turned to the girl, who was casually buttoning up her blouse.

"Get out!" he hissed. She just smiled smugly at him. She picked up her bag and left.

@------}-------[

"Whoa!!" Ron breathed as they left potions class. Harry had loosened his tie, and ran a hand through his hair. Even Hermione seemed a little unsettled. Only Jessica seemed somewhat normal.

"Was it me, or did Snape seem a little nastier that before?" he asked. A few Slytherins passed him, including Malfoy. They too were pale as they walked away. Never in the history of Hogwarts had Snape given a Slytherin detention. In today's lesson he gave three.

"No, he's still the same bastard he's always been," said Jessica, nonplussed. She was used to being at the receiving end of Snape ever since she had told him he couldn't teach, so today's lesson was nothing out of the norm for her.

"That's because he's got a personal vendetta against you," replied Hermione cattily. Even she hadn't been spared from Snape's sharp tongue which was highly unusual as she never did anything wrong.

"Did you see Malfoy's face when Snape gave him detention and took off twenty points from Slytherin," said Ron. They smiled at that.

"He's probably in an extra foul mood today," said Harry and brushed the subject aside. However, he was forced to bring it up again, when they left transfiguration class. Professor McGonagall had deducted a total of fifty points from the Gryffindor seventh years and she practically slaughtered the Slytherins for reason that even Snape wouldn't pick on.

"Do you think it's a coincidence?" he asked, as they sat around the table in the Gryffindor tower, each struggling with the tons of Transfiguration work she had assigned to them. Ron looked up.

"What is?" he asked. His hair was seriously tangled and he had a smudge of ink on his cheek.

"That Snape AND McGonagall are in a foul mood," Harry replied. The girls stopped writing and looked at him.

"Do you think they're fighting?" Hermione speculated.

"Maybe she realized what a jackass Snape really is and is angry at herself for deluding herself," answered Jessica. She still didn't like Snape for taking 100 points from her, so she had zero sympathy for him.

"Jessica, seriously," said Hermione. Jessica sighed and placed her quill down.

"All right. I'd agree that they must have had a fight," she said.

"Then its up to us to sort things straight," said Hermione.

"WHAT!!" the three cried at her. Several heads turned to look at them, shaking in disapproval. Jessica lowered her voice.

"Are you insane?! No way!! It is none of our business!" hissed Jessica. The boys agreed with her. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Don't you see, unless they sort things out, we're going to suffer," she replied.

"Herm, I'll have to go with Jessica. This isn't out problem. Besides they'll sort it out in their own time," Harry said. Ron nodded vigorously. The last thing he wanted to do was interfere in the lives of his two professors. It made his stomach churn just to think about it. Hermione sighed and conceded defeat.

But, when the next day came, things had gone from bad to worst. During breakfast, Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall were missing and according to the buzz from the Slytherin table, one of theirs was absent too. It seems that the four had left to London. Why they had gone was anyone's guess. The answer, however, came later on in the day. Jessica and Hermione were walking around the school grounds, enjoying the warm spell when Lavender and Parvati came running up to them. They stopped in front of the two girls and took deep breaths.

"Have you heard?" panted Parvati. Hermione and Jessica were bewildered.

"No, heard what?" Jessica asked.

"Snape is being put to trial," breathed out Lavender. Hermione and Jessica exchanged looks? Trial?

"For what?" Hermione asked, really shocked.

"Well, one of the Slytherin girl, sixth year I think, has filed a report of sexual abuse against him," Lavender answered.

"According to her, he's threatened to fail her if she doesn't … umm… give him sexual favors. That's why they were missing the whole day today," interrupted Parvati. The two girls gasped in horror.

"But what does that have to do with McGonagall?" asked Jessica.

"She caught them together two nights ago," Lavender said. The four girls just stared at each other. In a way, they couldn't believe it. Was Snape really capable of such a thing? He was evil yes, but was he that evil?

"Do the boys know?" suddenly Hermione asked. Lavender and Parvati shrugged.

"C'mon," Jessica said and pulled Hermione into a run, Lavender and Parvati close behind.  They found the boys in the Great Hall and by the look of their shocked faces, they too had found out.

"I can't believe it," said Harry, as the two girls sat beside them. Lavender and Parvati had gone to look for Dean and Seamus.

"I know," Hermione replied. They sat in silence.

"No!" Harry suddenly cried. The three jumped in surprise.

"I won't believe it!"

"Harry, this is a very serious accusation. She wouldn't have done it if it weren't true," Jessica tried to reason with him. But he was adamant.

"No! I know him. And no matter how horrible he is, he would never do something so… so licentious. Besides, he would never hurt McGonagall," Harry said the last bit softly. An image of a nearly dying Snape flashed through his head. He had just taken a curse that was meant for Harry and with what they had thought was his last breath he had told Harry to tell Minerva how much he loved her. of course he had survived, being too stubborn to die, but that matter was left unsaid between the two.

"Oh no, that's right. She had found him. It must be terrible for her," gushed Hermione.

"Who is it anyways?" Jessica asked. She had forgotten to ask the other two girls.

"Midget Fallston, sixth year," answered Ron. Just then, Professor Vector entered, her face grave. All the teachers were wearing solemn faces the whole day.

"Hermione, Ron. Professor Dumbledore would like you to see him," she said. The two nodded and said goodbye before following the Professor.

"Harry?" Jessica said softly. His face was ashen. He was taking this hard.

"Jessica, I can't explain, but I think he's been set up. No way would he do such a thing. I know him Jessica, and he may not agree, but I know what kind of a person he is and he definitely not a man who would do such a thing. I'm not saying I like him, coz he is an asshole at times, but I won't believe he did any of it," he strained as if trying to get her to agree with him. But Jessica was a little skeptical. She had only seen the bad side of Snape and really wouldn't put it pass him. Harry caught on to her thoughts.

"You think he did it don't you?" he asked. Jessica blushed with guilt.

"Harry, honestly I don't know. But…" she didn't know how to continue.

"Harry if she had been in any other house, then yes maybe I'd be a bit dubious. But she's a Slytherin. Why would she frame her own head of house?" Jessica said. Harry had no answer to that. But when you're thrown into a life and death situation with someone, you tend to find out a lot about him, and Harry knew whom Severus Snape is. Sex maniac he is not.

"It time to return the favor," he said softly.

"What?"

"He saved my life once and though it may not be much, but I'm going to find out what really happened and clear his name," said Harry, determination flickering through his green eyes. He was going to even the score between them, for it did irk him a little to think he owed Snape something.

"And how do you propose to do that?" she asked. Some of the fire died in his eyes.

"I have no idea," he answered and dropped his head into his hands.

@----}------[

Jessica watched him pour over a huge textbook, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. It had been nearly three days since they had heard of the news. Snape was back but suspended so he spent his days in the dungeons. Transfiguration went on as normal, and Professor McGonagall was her old self again, except when she would accidentally let her guard down to reveal a sad and beaten down woman. Jessica frowned. Why wasn't Hermione and Ron helping him? She thought. She had no idea that Ron had forbid Hermione to help Harry as he figured that Jessica wouldn't stand to see Harry suffer alone and change her mind about helping him, and in the process bring them both closer together. He figured that as they reunite the two lovers, they'd find their own love as well. Or it could have been that Draco, who had agreed with Harry, had agreed to help as well and he and Pansy were in their own common room, thinking ways to clear up this mess. Well whatever the reason was, Ron had guessed right about one thing. Jessica couldn't stand to see Harry so frustrated and went over to him.

"Need help?" she asked. He looked up and smiled broadly.

"I thought you'd never ask," he replied. She sat in front of him.

"Why are you working alone, anyway?" she asked. Shouldn't the Slytherins help also? it was their house master.

"Um… no one else offered," Harry answered. He didn't want to tell Jessica about Draco and Pansy in case she flat out objected to helping, and Merlin knows he would do anything to spend time with her. Jessica nodded at his answer and left it at that.

"So… what are you searching for?' she asked. He shrugged, he didn't know either.

"A potion or a spell, I guess, that would make the girl reveal what really happened," he answered.

"Like a truth serum?"

"Yeah, I had thought of that, but its too difficult to make, even for Hermione,"

"Not to mention, illegal. Is there an alternate?"

"Not that I can find,"

"How about those quills that automatically write was a person says?"

"I thought of that too, but it tends to exaggerate what it writes, so it's not reliable. Trust me, I know. What we need is something like a tape recorder. Like in those muggle detective stories."

"So why don't you use that?"

"Hello, earth to Jessica. Electronic gadgets don't work in Hogwarts,"

"Only those that work on batteries and radiate strong wavelengths," she replied. Harry looked up at her, wonder on his face.

"What?" he asked.

"I realized that the magic only interferes with a strong frequency, like televisions and radios, especially when a satellite is required and also the Daniel cell in a battery. If the two are absent, then it can work. That's why Ron's gameboy works here. It doesn't work on batteries and it emits minimal frequency," she explained. Harry face brightened up.

"Jessica, you're a genius!" he cried.

"I know," she preened. But then Harry looked confused.

"If it doesn't work on batteries then…"

"It's powered by a little random magic, which has to be refreshed every three months." she explained.

"So you could do the same thing to a tape recorder as well?" he asked.

"Yeah, its simple enough," she replied.

"Excellent," he cried. But Jessica wasn't convinced.

"Hate to burst your bubble, but how are you going to get her to confess?" she asked. Harry's expression turned sly.

"That's where you come in."

A/N: Hmm, what are they up too, I wonder? And hey, before you flame me for Harry's reaction towards Snape, I did warn you… scroll upwards to the A/N: Warning…. You've entered at your own risk, I'm not responsible for any psychological trauma…

Hey, I just realized, three or four chapters more and we're done!