Jessica mounted her horse an hour before the sun came up. Her short brown hair was spiked up by the cool wind running across her toned body. She closed her purple eyes to breathe in the morning air before opening them and snapping into her role as commander. She went through the camp and talked to a few of the men, but most were busy getting ready for the long march ahead. She paused at the newbie station, her mouth turned up in a satisfied grin. Severus Snape was wearing plain brown robes that would be uncomfortable long before noon. A rope held it closed, but she could see a thin shirt and a pair of cotton pants underneath. He was barefoot. The Professor didn't know it yet, but he was the student now. He was nobody here unless he worked for it. She eyed him a moment later before looking at a man in charge of the newbie.

"Balen, make sure you give him a heavy load. He will need to learn quickly if he is to be of any use. When we take breaks, teach him how to use a bow. Something tells me he would be a good bowman."

The man grinned and began to add more to the pack he was making for Snape. Severus glared at her and was about to say something, but she trotted away. When they left, she headed the group for the first two hours. Her 2nd commander Cadman led the group. She slowly made her way back until she reached the youngest children and mothers. Among them were some of the new men.

"Jessica!" one of those men called out, staggering as he did.

She looked at him before grinning. "Charlie? Is that you?"

"You remember me! Gods, Jess. I thought you were dead. Hell, I thought I was dead," the redhead chuckled, shifting his pack.

"I could never forget a Weasley," she laughed. "And you are dead, in a sense. We live here until Voldemort is dead. His followers come here when they die. The men he doesn't want dead or who are not killed properly are sent to his wand. This is another world, or dimension. We are trying to find a way to get home. Until then we fight for the Order here."

"You look older, Jess. How long has it been? 3 years?"

She nodded and pointed to his caretaker. "Finian there was 43 when he came into this world. He has reached the body peak of 26 here. You will either stay your age or get a little younger. I was 19 when I came here and stopped at 21. Time is different here. You say I've been gone for 3 years. In fact, I have been here for almost 13."

"What?" he paled.

She laughed and shrugged. "I have been through 13 years. But my body hasn't. A few people, about 70, who were innocent, are now in their 30s. It is quite remarkable. We believe it will be that way in the real world if we can get back in time."

"So do people die here?"

"Yes and no. I could be killed plenty of times, but appear randomly somewhere in the desert until I no longer have the energy to stay alive. One can only die so many times out here. Some have died after being killed twice. Others have been killed four times yet still live."

"Have you ever been killed?"

She chuckled. "Killed? No. Wounded? Almost fatally. It is interesting to know you could die, but know you will continue."

"Wow. But not everybody comes here?"

"Not everybody."

"Can we use magic here?"

"Using magic can drain your energy to the point of death," she quietly responded.

"Aye, Jess would know," Finian smiled at her warmly.

"What? You almost faded?" Charlie looked between the two.

"I healed a group of my first warriors when they were about to fade. As a result I was out of it for two weeks, half fading. But I managed to pull myself back together."

The two chuckled, leaving Charlie to shake his head in wonder.