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
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Okay, no S/M fluff here, but yes very naughty language! My poor nana would squirm in her grave hearing such words… so I guess rating goes up in this chapter… ummm…. M15+, okay?
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Jessica scanned the library for any signs of her. Harry and Ron had been monitoring her movements the whole day and had reported that the suspect was last seen in the library. So, the library was where Jessica found herself. But she still didn't understand why she had to do it. She still didn't know of the Slytherins involvement, or she would have refused out right. As it was, she argued with Harry that there was a better chance of getting the girl to open up to someone less… abhorrent, but then Harry argued back that Jessica had a better chance of making her angry and people tend to blurt out the truths in fits of anger... So the decision was unanimous, Jessica would go in.
One more glance around the library and Jessica finally spotted her. She was at the furthest corner of the library, away from the crowd. Excellent, Jessica thought. That way they won't be interrupted. She patted her robes, and felt the solid shape of the tape recorder. Reaching in she pressed record. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to the girl and stood in front of her. Maybe she didn't realize Jessica's presence or maybe she was hoping to ignore it but it was a couple of minutes before she looked up to Jessica. Jessica had put on her best 'I'm a bitch' face.
"What do you want, Stanford?" she asked warily.
"Just wanted to look at the face whose gonna get Snape sacked, isn't a crime is it?" Jessica replied, an evil smirk on her face. Midget Fallston responded with an equally mean smirk.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish, eh Gryffindor?" she responded, moving to lean against the back of her chair, and crossed her arms across her chest, the lazy smirk still on her face. Jessica snorted. How typical. She may not know this Midget Fallston very well, but from what she saw before her, the girl was incredibly arrogant and egoistical. Excellent, egoistic people are always insecure. She'd have this girl confessing in no time.
"Hey I ain't complaining about that, but honestly girl, having sex with him, you're standards are low," continued Jessica putting on a disgusted face. Fallston lost her smile.
"I didn't screw him. He was making me do horrible things and yes, it was a set up but only because I needed to have a witness to back up my claims, it was the only way to stop him," she hissed. Jessica pretended to look confused.
"That's not what I heard. I hear you're an easy entry," Jessica said, setting the bait. Fallston took it.
"Damn you, Stanford. I told you, I was forced!" she hissed again. Jessica put on a 'yeah right' look. That caused the Slytherin girl to bristle even more. As Jessica had assumed earlier, Fallston was beginning to feel threatened and insecure. It won't do to have anyone think she was cheap. She'll be blurting out the truth in no time.
"Look bitch, I told you it was a set up to get him to stop doing such horrid stuff to me and maybe other girls. Pansy Parkinson was supposed to walk in on us and then go running to Dumbledore. To have McGonagall stumble in instead was a bonus," Fallston said. She was clearly proud of she had done. Such arrogance.
"You're trying to tell me that you and Parkinson set up Snape. That slut licks the ground Snape walks on," scoffed Jessica.
"No, she was only a pawn, she had no idea,"
"Look, whore, don't make excuses. You wanted to get into Snape's greasy pants and when you got caught, you made up the whole story right? Just admit it. Of all people Snape. Woman, you are cheap," said Jessica, her tone even more disgusted. That broke the camels back. Midget Fallston bounced up from her seat, her eyes blazing, the intense anger clouding her judgment and guiding her words.
"Listen to me, bitch. I set the whole thing up. The bastard was giving Slytherin a bad name dating that old hag McGonagall. He has to go. I'll tell you this, if McGonagall hadn't walked in that moment, he would've thrown me out by my ass. Idiot. Turning down this hot body coz he's loyal to an old woman," Fallston spat. Jessica nearly boxed the girl's ears, for all the horrid things she was saying about Professor McGonagall. But she restrained herself. As for Midget Fallston, her eyes had widened in shock at what she had just revealed. Jessica shook her head at the other girl before breaking into a pitying smile. She reached into her robes and pulled out the tape recorder, and pressed the stop button. Fallston had turned a deathly white.
"Thanks for the confession, Fallston. I'm sure Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic would like to hear this," she said smugly. Fallston swore heatedly and flipped her wand up to Jessica.
"Put the wand down, Fallston," said a menacing voice from behind Jessica. She turned and saw it was Harry. Then from behind the bookshelves behind Fallston, stepped out Hermione, Ron and (surprise, surprise) Draco and Pansy, all four wands drawn out to Fallston.
"You're the embarrassment to Slytherin, not Snape," Pansy hissed, her ears stinging at how Fallston nearly used her as a pawn in her evil game. Fallston dropped her wand and sank dejectedly into her seat. Jessica picked up her wand and passed it to Hermione.
"Funny to see you here Malfoy," said Jessica, her tone amused as she watched Draco and Pansy yank Fallston to her feet, Pansy none too gently as she managed to sink her nails into the other girl's arm.
"I didn't think you cared about my safety,"
"Don't flatter yourself, Stanford. I'm here because I want to prove Snape's innocence. It's called loyalty, ever heard of it?" he said. Jessica just smiled.
"Thanks Malfoy, Pansy" said Harry in a strangled voice. Ron looked a little green at the idea of thanking Draco.
"Don't get used to it, Potter," returned Malfoy. But Pansy, gloating quietly, graciously nodded with a grin.
"Shall we go see Professor Dumbledore now?" broke in Hermione. Fallston had been bounded by Draco (don't you think that's a bit too much? [Hermione]). It was an odd sight. Midget Fallston bounded up by green ropes, flanked by Ron and Draco, Hermione and Pansy in front and Harry and Jessica making up the rear. Harry, Ron and Draco had their wands pointed to her, as they marched her up to Dumbledore's office.
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"Listen to me, bitch. I set the whole thing up. The bastard was giving Slytherin a bad name dating that old hag McGonagall. He has to go. I'll tell you this, if McGonagall hadn't walked in that moment, he would've thrown me out by my ass. Idiot. Turning down this hot body coz he's loyal to an old woman,"
Click.
The tape recorder switched off for the second time that day. The first time had been when the five and their captive had marched up to Dumbledore's office, claiming Snape's innocence. Dumbledore had immediately called up the girl's parents who arrived by floo powder, and later joined in by Professor Snape, who looked haggard and very thin. There were dark rings around his eyes and strangely Jessica wanted to reach out and pat his hand, wanted to tell him it'll all be okay, even with Professor McGonagall. But she didn't. Instead, they sat around the tape recorder as it played the conversation between Jessica and Midget. (Jessica expressed her regret in using such vile language; but the Fallstons were very understanding about it). Then, Ron, Hermione, Midget, Malfoy, Snape, Mr. and Mrs. Fallston (who were apologizing profusely to Snape and Dumbledore) left for the Slytherin dungeon. It would be that Midget Fallston wouldn't be continuing her studies at Hogwarts. Minutes later Professor Dumbledore summoned Professor McGonagall, and although she had initially protested, he managed to convince her to sit and listen.
So there they were listening to the tape again, Professor Dumbledore looking with concern at Professor McGonagall who had slumped into her chair, her shoulders sagging, her face contorted as if she was trying to stop herself from crying. Jessica and Harry were still there, not knowing what to do or say, or if they were even excused. The tension was so thick; a knife could cut through it.
"Minerva?" Albus broke the silence.
"I'm fine, Albus. Relieved too. Severus is hard to replace… as a potions master," she added as an afterthought. Harry and Jessica exchanged looks. Minerva McGonagall inhaled deeply and seemed to be pulling herself together. She then stood up and was her brisk self again.
"If you'd excuse me Albus…" she began but was interrupted.
"Actually Minerva, I need you to pass this letter to Severus, reinstating him back as Hogwarts Potion's Master," he said, holding up a rolled parchment towards Minerva. She was about to protest but he cut her off.
"I have to go to the Ministry. Make sure all charges have been dropped," he continued. Minerva knew she had been beaten. She would have to face him.
"Albus, I can't see…"
"Oh Professor, you must! It'll all be okay again," suddenly Jessica burst out. Albus and Minerva looked startled. They had almost forgotten the presence of the two children.
"She's right, Minerva. You must see him," Albus said. Minerva sighed.
"It's more complicated than that Albus, Ms. Stanford. It goes down so much more deeper," she said softly and took the rolled parchment from Dumbledore's hand. She walked out, her steps not as quickly as they used to be.
"What did she mean by that?" asked Jessica once Professor McGonagall had left, turning to Professor Dumbledore.
"If Snap~…er… Professor Snape really loves her then he'll surely forgive her. He has to understand that it was tough on her, being the one to find them in … that situation, even though it really was a set up," she cried. She didn't know why but it seemed so important that they get back together. Maybe because Harry had worked hard to get this far to have it just fall apart around their ears.
"Jessica, I fear that what Professor McGonagall feels is more than betrayal. Just between us, Professor McGonagall gave Professor Snape her vote of confidence, and since she was the one who saw them, it was her word against Ms. Fallston," said Professor Dumbledore. Jessica and Harry were confused.
"Vote of confidence?" they asked simultaneously.
"Yes, meaning that she claims he was innocent so therefore he would have to stand trial. If she hadn't made the claim, then he would've been sent straight to Azkaban," explained the headmaster. Jessica did and 'oh' sound but Harry just thought of something. If McGonagall didn't think he was wrong, then she wouldn't have to apologize for misjudging him and therefore the two would have nothing to work out, because he probably won't bring up the topic. And that would mean, the two would just return to being only colleagues again. That would only accomplish half of Harry's mission. No, he wouldn't have it.
"Professor, we have to go. Thank you for explaining and for clearing things out," he said. The headmaster stared at him, his eyes twinkling. Harry wouldn't be surprised if Dumbledore knew what he was planning.
"I think that thanks should be said to you and Jessica. You two have done a great service to the teaching staff and to two hearts," he said. Jessica blushed under his praise but Harry shook his head.
"To the teaching staff maybe, but there's still work that needs to be done concerning those two hearts," said Harry. Excusing himself and Jessica, he pulled her out the door and down the stairs.
He stopped at the landing and turned to his right. His brow furrowed and he seemed to be chanting something. Seconds later, his face cleared and he took hold of Jessica's hand again and pulled her in the opposite direction, towards the dungeons.
"Harry, what's going on?" she gasped, running to keep up with his long strides. He quickly explained his theory to her.
"Are you nuts? What do you think you're gonna do? Sit on his sofa and watch them battle it out? Shall we get some pom-poms as well? That is assuming he'll let you in," she gasped. Harry didn't say anything for at that moment and shimmering object flew next to him. Grabbing it, he shook it open and draped it over himself and Jessica. It was the invisibility cloak. They then began to run and just managed to catch up with Professor McGonagall.