a/n Ahhh…on to chapter 4…I think…oh wait…this is chapter 5! Oh boy…good thing I'm just typing what I wrote…because I'm out of it tonight!
Oh yes…since I'm writing this after the fifth book you'll have to excuse the little similarities and at the same time totally forget the plot line of the fifth book.
All the stuff that slips in from hp belongs to jk rowling…happy people?
It was a young woman. She had long auburn hair that hung loosely at her waist. She wore a long pleaded skirt and a long sleeved shirt.
Jessica looked up and smiled lazily. Harry was suddenly sharply reminded of Draco Malfoy's lazy arrogant smile. It brought into sharp relief that Jessica really could have been put into Slytherin quite easily. However, her smile was slightly different than Malfoy's grin. Harry couldn't put his finger on it, but hers seemed less…less mocking.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize class had started, Kate," she said and sat down quietly without a further comment. The class gasped as one, but the young woman showed no signs of anger. The corner of her mouth twitched.
"We've already discussed this Jessica," she said, "Let's stick to the plan, shall we?" She walked to the front of the classroom and pointed her wand at the board. A name appeared in curvy writing on it.
"My name is Miss Kate Saratog, but all of you will call me Miss Saratog," she smiled and Harry noticed she had the same infectious smile as Jessica, "And as you might have guessed, I am Miss Freedman's older sister, step-sister to be exact. But, I will not expect anything less than the entire classes effort to do their best. I will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for this one year." She proceeded to explain the curriculum of the class and how things operated. She paced back and forth talking briskly as if all this bored her. But when she instructed them to take out their wands an intense fire lighted behind her deep blue eyes.
"If anyone can mange to disarm or hex me they will be excused from homework for the rest of the week," she stood alert waiting for someone to volunteer, but no one did, "So, who would like to go first?" And still no one spoke because the task seemed so simple and complicated at the same time. It would be easy to disarm someone who made no wand movements to protect themselves, but what did this new teacher have up her sleeves? Hermione had not raised her hand instantly like she did in every other class. Even Jessica was not trying to draw attention to herself, which went against her entire personality. Harry and Ron exchanged glances of astonishment; Ron's mouth was hanging open again.
As it turned out, no one was able to disarm Miss Saratog. Some spells riccoshaded off and bounced off the walls. Others hit with a bang or made no sound at all.
"Research the different methods of magical blocking and see if you can discover my method. Be prepared to present and explain your findings to the class on Tuesday. Good day."
"What a class!" Ron exclaimed as they walked down the stairs toward the Great Hall for dinner.
"It was very interesting," Hermione commented. Harry glanced at Jessica. She had said nothing since her conversation with Miss Saratoga. She walked briskly down the stairs and disappeared. They all stared after her.
"What's wrong with her?" Ron asked as they sat down for dinner.
"Maybe she and her sister do not get along well," Hermione volunteered.
"Well, they seemed to get along well enough in class," Ron said through a mouthful of potatoes.
"I don't think so, it looked like an act. Jessica wasn't herself at all…" Hermione trailed off into silence. Ron shrugged and continued to devour his chicken.
"Someone better go check on her anyway," Harry said. When no one volunteered he said exasperatedly, "Alright, I'll go but do you two have any idea where she could be?"
"Try the library," Hermione said off handedly. She was reading the evening prophet and not really paying attention.
"Mmf, mhn nuff," Ron managed to get out through his mouth crammed with food.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Right, I guess I'd better go."
First, he checked the library like Hermione said, it seemed like a logical place to start. After searching around the dusty volumes his eyes began to water and it became clear that she was not there. Even in the library Jessica seemed to stand out. Next, Harry tried the common room but she was not there either. He asked the fat lady if she had seen her.
"Jessica? Oh yes, that delightful artist! About fifteen minutes ago she came out with her sketchbook and pencils. Lovely child, she asked if she could sketch me later. Sketch me! Such a delightful child," she finished. Harry said his thanks and walked down toward the Entrance Hall.
'She likes to draw…where would be a good place to draw,' he thought. Harry glanced out the window and had to do a doubt take. There she was, sitting under a tree facing the lake. He ran out across the lawn and plopped down next to her. She jumped as if she had been in a trance.
"Harry!? What are you doing here?" she asked perplexed.
"I…I just wanted…to…to make sure," he panted, "that…you were okay."
"Of course I'm okay! Why wouldn't I be alright?" she asked.
"Well," he had regained some air in his lungs, "You seemed upset after the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson and we…or I was worried about you." She put her pencil down and gazed out at the lake.
"You noticed?" she said simply.
"Well, I…yeah," Harry said awkwardly, "You didn't act like yourself in class either." She stared out into the lake for a few moments. Harry did not know what to think. Had he offended her? Was she about to cry? Did she despise him now? Was she going to laugh at him for him mistake? Finally, she turned toward him and spoke.
"My sister and I just don't get along very well. She's my half-sister technically," Harry opened his mouth to object but she cut him off, "She tells people that we are step-sisters because she wants as little relational ties between us as possible. She is her father's daughter after all."
She said picking at the grass, "She doesn't want to be seen around anyone decent like me. My dad taught her well and she's evil to the core."
"But she seems so-" Harry started.
"Oh, she may seem all pretty and nice on the outside but that's just what it is, a shell," she shivered, "But that's not why I came down here."
"Why then?" Harry asked, "Why come out here by yourself?"
"I just…well…you should be able to understand," she paused thinking, "I just wanted to get away from it all," she said and raised her hands breathing deep.
Harry laughed, "Yes! Absolutely! I can totally understand. We thought you were super human! You seemed to stand it all with a smile on your face."
"Well, it does get to me. So I get away from it whenever I can," she said as she picked up her pencils again and started to sketch.
Harry leaned back, enjoying the quiet, "Hey, Jessica?"
"Hmm?" she said as she continued to sketch the sunset.
"What's your secret?" he felt her tense, "How do you get everyone to fall for you?" After he finished he felt her relax.
"Well, Harry Potter," she said, "That's for me to know, and you to find out." Harry sighed and gave up. She seemed so engrossed in her work.
So, he sat and watched the sunset, but he found his gaze wandering quite often to look at Jessica. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she sketched. Her deliberate, graceful strokes made the paper come alive. He saw how her hair shown in the sun and her eyes were alight with fire. The task at hand seemed to consume her entire being. Her intense gaze almost frightened Harry. It was similar to Miss Saratoga's fiery eyes but some how, Harry could not put his finger on it, but they were different.
As the darkness settled on the grounds, she closed her sketchbook and put away her pencils. Harry stood and they walked back to the castle.
"So," said Harry as they entered the Entrance Hall, "what were you planning to do about dinner?"
"Oh," she said rather distractedly, "I was going to grab a bite to eat in the kitchens," she blushed, "If you don't mind. I know students aren't supposed to and me being a prefect and all…"
Harry got the message and he raised his hand in mock promise, "I won't tell a soul and I've been to the kitchens loads of times before so it won't be a problem." Harry had never seen her blush before and it stirred an odd feeling in his stomach.
She smiled and hooked her arm in his, "Well, I guess we're off to see the House Elves!" (do you guys get that? Off to see the…wizard? Huh? Huh? Well I think it's hilarious. lol) Down the corridor they went, arms hooked and Jessica skipping to a strange tune she was humming.
a/n and that chapter is finally over! I'm tired…pooey…nothing much to say…need ideas for the next chapter because I only have a small one but it needs to be expanded. Buh bye people! READ & REVIEW!!!