A/N: A long awaited chapter. Hope I haven't lost any readers. Please note
that I am also working on another story, "Marooned", as another fan
fiction. So my writing time will be split up even more now. Anyway,
enjoy!
Whispers of the Staff Room*********
Jessica smiled to herself as she watched the teachers around her whispering to eachother anxiously. Often one would look over at her. She would stare calmly back until they turned away to whisper again. It was a relief when Mr. Scots finally entered the staff room.
Silently he made his way to the chair next to Jessica, not making eye contact with anyone. He sat down without saying a word. At last Ms. Manor called order and the meeting began.
"All right, first order of business. Severus, what is the meaning of this?" she said, gesturing towards Jessica.
Mr. Scots looked Ms. Manor directly in the eye and said coolly, "I asked Miss Jessica to come. I believe it would be in her best interest, and ours, if she had a better understanding of where things stand." When the woman looked puzzled, Mr. Scots said softly, "She knows."
Silent chaos broke loose. Ms. Manor's eyes were wide eyed, while the teachers around began to whisper again.
"You-you told her?" Ms. Manor forced out, trying to control her shock.
Mr. Scots responded casually, yet coldly, "For your information, she figured it out herself." Jessica smiled to herself again.
Ms. Manor's eyes got even bigger. She leaned over to Mr. Scots, trying not to let Jessica hear. "Why didn't you cast obliviate? She could go tell somebody. We can't let it get out that-"
"I have a job for her." He spat, glaring at the flustered witch. "Besides, Dumbledore said to not make a scene. How would it look if one of the top students suddenly couldn't remember her ABC's?"
"He's right, Minerva," someone else spoke up. Jessica looked over to see Ms. Hill, the geometry sub. "Such would not go unnoticed. Besides, I have serious doubt that Miss Jessica is a spy." She caught Jessica's eye and gave her a small wink.
Ms. Manor sat back, defeated. When the whispering had settled down, she attempted to start again.
"Has anyone heard from Dumbledore yet?" she said, giving Jessica a wary glance.
Mr. Luke answered, "No, but he said that he would only contact us if there was dire need."
"I see. Also, everyone, be sure to note the class trip is in two weeks and- "
She was interrupted by a sudden noise. It was a shrill buzz-like ring that sounded like a broken telephone. Many sat up, startled, including Jessica. Mr. Luke hurriedly stood up and walked over to a plant in the corner of the room. Jessica then realized that the sound appeared to be coming from it.
Watching Mr. Luke intently, Jessica wondered what the ringing was for. Was it some kind of alarm? A warning? Or did the plant usually make such a noise? Then she noted that she hadn't remembered seeing the plant there before.
The strange behavior of Mr. Luke drew her from her wondering. He began to kick the plant's pot, five times exactly. Suddenly the plant disappeared. But Mr. Luke did not walk away. Instead he bent down and picked up a small piece of paper that had appeared in place of the plant. Opening it, he began to read. A worried frown appeared on his face. Then handing it to Ms. Manor, he went over to the closet and started pulling out coats.
Ms. Manor finished reading the letter, then looking at Mr. Scots, said, "We have to go."
Mr. Scots snatched up the letter and read. Then he stood up and passed the note on to another teacher to read. While everyone was occupied with reading the message, Mr. Scots bent down and whispered to Jessica, "Get your coat. We're going to see Dumbledore."
A/n: Hehe..cliffy!! Happy summer!
Whispers of the Staff Room*********
Jessica smiled to herself as she watched the teachers around her whispering to eachother anxiously. Often one would look over at her. She would stare calmly back until they turned away to whisper again. It was a relief when Mr. Scots finally entered the staff room.
Silently he made his way to the chair next to Jessica, not making eye contact with anyone. He sat down without saying a word. At last Ms. Manor called order and the meeting began.
"All right, first order of business. Severus, what is the meaning of this?" she said, gesturing towards Jessica.
Mr. Scots looked Ms. Manor directly in the eye and said coolly, "I asked Miss Jessica to come. I believe it would be in her best interest, and ours, if she had a better understanding of where things stand." When the woman looked puzzled, Mr. Scots said softly, "She knows."
Silent chaos broke loose. Ms. Manor's eyes were wide eyed, while the teachers around began to whisper again.
"You-you told her?" Ms. Manor forced out, trying to control her shock.
Mr. Scots responded casually, yet coldly, "For your information, she figured it out herself." Jessica smiled to herself again.
Ms. Manor's eyes got even bigger. She leaned over to Mr. Scots, trying not to let Jessica hear. "Why didn't you cast obliviate? She could go tell somebody. We can't let it get out that-"
"I have a job for her." He spat, glaring at the flustered witch. "Besides, Dumbledore said to not make a scene. How would it look if one of the top students suddenly couldn't remember her ABC's?"
"He's right, Minerva," someone else spoke up. Jessica looked over to see Ms. Hill, the geometry sub. "Such would not go unnoticed. Besides, I have serious doubt that Miss Jessica is a spy." She caught Jessica's eye and gave her a small wink.
Ms. Manor sat back, defeated. When the whispering had settled down, she attempted to start again.
"Has anyone heard from Dumbledore yet?" she said, giving Jessica a wary glance.
Mr. Luke answered, "No, but he said that he would only contact us if there was dire need."
"I see. Also, everyone, be sure to note the class trip is in two weeks and- "
She was interrupted by a sudden noise. It was a shrill buzz-like ring that sounded like a broken telephone. Many sat up, startled, including Jessica. Mr. Luke hurriedly stood up and walked over to a plant in the corner of the room. Jessica then realized that the sound appeared to be coming from it.
Watching Mr. Luke intently, Jessica wondered what the ringing was for. Was it some kind of alarm? A warning? Or did the plant usually make such a noise? Then she noted that she hadn't remembered seeing the plant there before.
The strange behavior of Mr. Luke drew her from her wondering. He began to kick the plant's pot, five times exactly. Suddenly the plant disappeared. But Mr. Luke did not walk away. Instead he bent down and picked up a small piece of paper that had appeared in place of the plant. Opening it, he began to read. A worried frown appeared on his face. Then handing it to Ms. Manor, he went over to the closet and started pulling out coats.
Ms. Manor finished reading the letter, then looking at Mr. Scots, said, "We have to go."
Mr. Scots snatched up the letter and read. Then he stood up and passed the note on to another teacher to read. While everyone was occupied with reading the message, Mr. Scots bent down and whispered to Jessica, "Get your coat. We're going to see Dumbledore."
A/n: Hehe..cliffy!! Happy summer!