Chapter Five: Hogwarts and the Sorting


The rest of the summer was a blur for Jessica. There were some things she did remember though such as flying lessons. She had finally found out what Quidditch was and she was eager to learn how to play. Jessica loved flying. It was hard to be depressed when she was soaring like a bird above the ground. Harry and Ron had both told her she was a natural.

Another thing she remembered was study sessions with Hermione. Though these had a tendency to be boring Jessica found that she understood most of it immediately. Near the end of August she was halfway through fourth year. Jessica remembered Harry and Ron's reaction when they learned of her incredible progress. The two of them had exchanged a glance and then Ron had said, "Harry, we've got another Hermione in our midst." Harry, Ron and Jessica laughed over this but Hermione had only looked indignant.

By the time September first rolled around Jessica was quite used to living with the Weasleys (who had appointed themselves her guardians in her grandmother's absence) and she felt reluctant to go.

On the last day of August Jessica received a letter from Hogwarts that read:


Dear Miss Banks,


Enclosed is a permission form for Hogsmeade. Third years and above are allowed to visit the village. You may have Mr. or Mrs. Weasley sign it considering the absence of your grandmother.

When you arrive at Hogwarts please go with the first years so that you may be sorted into a house.


Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress


Jessica got Mrs. Weasley to sign it but she had been forced to agree that she would stay with someone at all times. Jessica had rolled her eyes at that. She liked the Weasleys, she really did but sometimes she thought they took their role of her guardians a little too seriously.


September first dawned bright and clear. Everyone was up early packing their Hogwarts things because no one (except for Hermione, who would have slept in if it hadn't been so noisy) had bothered to do it the night before. After everyone was certain they had packed everything Mr. Weasley somehow called some taxicabs to take them to King's Cross Station. (How he managed this Jessica was uncertain because she hadn't seen a phone in the Weasley's house.) Jessica grew more and more nervous on the way there but she just chatted with Harry, Ron and Hermione until she felt better. They arrived at King's Cross with plenty of time to spare. As they made their way to the platform Jessica pulled out her ticket (which had arrived with the Hogsmeade permission form) and studied it. She looked at the platform number and then blinked. Wait a moment, Jessica thought. There must be some mistake. Platform nine and three-quarters? She looked up as the group stopped. There was a Platform nine and a Platform ten but there was no Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

"Fred, George, you go first," Mrs. Weasley said. Fred and George ran at the wall and as Jessica watched they disappeared into it!

Jessica shouldn't have worried. Harry, seeing the startled look on her face, explained it to her.

"The wall's not really solid," he said. "You just walk through it. Here, come on, I'll show you." He walked at the wall and Jessica followed him. He disappeared into it and Jessica followed him through. There was a second of darkness and then she was through. Looking ahead of her she saw a gateway with a sign on it that read Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. There was a scarlet steam engine that read The Hogwarts Express. Jessica smiled. Suddenly she didn't feel so scared.

Jessica pushed her trunk after Harry. They waited for Ron and Hermione and then all of them went onto the train to find an empty compartment. Once everyone's luggage had been put up they all went out to say their good-byes (or, in Hermione's case, they stayed on the train to study).

"Have a good year," Mrs. Weasley said to Ron as she pulled him into a hug, which he pulled out of.

"Mum!" He said in exasperation. Mrs. Weasley just smiled and turned to Jessica.

"Be careful," was all Jessica heard before Mrs. Weasley pulled her into her hug too. Jessica, unlike Ron, hugged her back. She and Eliza had always hugged before they'd said good-bye but they hadn't when they had split up in Diagon Alley... Jessica shoved these thoughts into the back of her mind before the tears could form. She gently broke out of the hug.

"I will," Jessica said.

"You do remember what we said about not going anywhere alone, don't you?" Mrs. Weasley said.

"Yes, I promised didn't I?" Jessica said with some exasperation. She didn't need to be reminded every ten minutes. She'd given her word and she'd do her best to keep it.

The train let out a whistle.

"Hurry, the train's leaving any moment!" Mr. Weasley said. Harry and Ron hurried off towards the train but Jessica held back a moment.

"Still no word?" she asked Mr. Weasley softly.

"No, I'm sorry, nothing new," Mr. Weasley said sadly.

"Oh, well, I'd just wondered, that's all..." Jessica trailed off. She had almost been expecting his answer.

"Jessica, come on!" came Harry's shout. Jessica looked over and saw the train was about to start moving. She dashed towards it. She jumped on just as it started to move, which threw her off balance. She stared to fall backwards. Harry grabbed her arm.

The two of them fell forwards into the hallway. Jessica landed on top of Harry. For a moment she stared into those green eyes and she felt compelled to kiss him. She leaned forward and to her surprise so did Harry. Their lips touched. Jessica felt a jolt and then they kissed.

Moments later they broke apart. Jessica felt as though her head was spinning. She looked down at Harry and then she smiled. It was the happiest smile she'd smiled in months and her face, which had been dark and serious ever since her grandmother's disappearance, lit up.

"Oh, uh, sorry," Jessica said, suddenly realizing what an awkward position they were in. She got up and helped Harry to his feet. Though he had a serious expression on his face, his eyes, like Jessica's, were shining with happiness.

"Jessica, I er, have something to tell you," Harry said. He took a deep breath and then he said, "I really like you, Jessica."

Her heart rose and she smiled again, "I really like you too, Harry." She leaned forward and kissed him again. After they broke apart she asked, "Can we, I mean I guess, can we consider ourselves together? You know, like, boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Yes," Harry said. Jessica wanted to scream for joy but instead she just smiled again. She felt so happy.

Harry returned her smile. Then he said, "You know, Ron and Hermione are probably wondering where we are."

"Right," Jessica said and the two of them walked to the compartment where Ron and Hermione were waiting.

"Where were you?" Hermione asked curiously, not even bothering to look up as the two of them walked in.

"Jessica had a bit of trouble getting on the train on time," Harry explained. "She sort of had to, jump on."

Ron looked amused as he said, "Jessica, jump onto the train? Never!"

Jessica smiled before sticking out her tongue at him.

"Very mature," commented Hermione from her seat.

"I know," Jessica said. "Aren't I?" She laughed.

The train ride was pleasant until about halfway though. Harry and Jessica had been exchanging looks and smiles the whole time and it seemed to be irritating Ron.

"What is with you two?" he asked finally. Jessica had been waiting for him to ask for hours. "You've been giving each other these looks the whole time. Is there something you guys aren't telling us?"

"Ron, I imagine they've decide to start dating," Hermione said. She looked over at them. "Honestly, I'm surprised you two didn't get together sooner."

"Is she right?" Ron asked, in what seemed like shock.

"Yeah, Ron, she's right," Jessica said. "We're, we're going out now."

"Well, I always knew you liked scum, Potter, but I'm amazed that you would stoop that low," said a cold drawling voice that Jessica recognized.

Draco Malfoy walked in flanked by two extremely large boys on either side.

"You never change," Draco said, looking around the compartment with a scornful expression on his face. "You're always hanging out with the worst of people."

Jessica felt hatred rising in her and she retorted before she could stop herself. "Honestly, Malfoy, I don't know how you can possibly judge others when you are the stupidest ugliest guy-um, excuse me-boy that I have ever met." Ron and Harry stared at her, they had never seen her this mad before.

"Shut your mouth you little Mudblood lover," Draco said angrily.

"Why should I?" Jessica demanded. "Because you told me to? I don't think so. Now get out."

Malfoy glared at her angrily but she just returned his gaze and refused to back down.

Finally he looked away muttering, "I'd watch my back if I were you." He turned to go.

"Malfoy, if you were me, I'd kill myself," Jessica said coldly. Malfoy acted as though he hadn't heard her and stomped out, his little bodyguards close behind.

"I hate that kid," Jessica remarked casually as she sat back down, but she was shaking with barely suppressed rage. He had called her scum; he had dared to... Jessica tried to quit thinking these thoughts but she had trouble. If there was one thing she had a problem with it was being insulted like that. She had been forced to put up with it all though elementary school and she hated it.

"Jessica, are you all right?" Harry's concerned voice pulled her out of her angry thoughts. Jessica looked at him, her anger fading. Malfoy's whole intention had been to piss her off. She wasn't about to let him have his way.

"I just hate that kid," Jessica said. The rage that had been behind these words before, however, was now gone.

"I don't think there's a person in this compartment who doesn't," Harry said. Jessica looked at Ron and Hermione and both of them nodded. She looked back at Harry and he smiled at her.

"I'm sorry," Jessica said. "I lost it. I just wasn't going to take that from him."

"Are you kidding?" Ron asked. "Apologizing for telling off Malfoy? I've never seen him retreat from a girl...well, except for once." He threw a glance at Hermione.

Hermione smiled. Jessica sat down next to Harry. He wrapped his arms around her and she smiled, laying her head against his shoulder.

I just want something to go right for a change, Jessica thought. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"I know," Harry said and Jessica realized she'd spoken aloud. "But you're going to Hogwarts, right? So there's one thing that's gone right."

"And we're together," Jessica said, her voice drowsy. She hadn't slept well the night before. She'd had bad dreams; the dreams that had been dominating her sleep since Eliza's disappearance.

"That too," Harry said, and Jessica could hear the smile in his voice. She smiled to herself and soon she had drifted off.


"Jessica?" a voice said softly.

Jessica moaned and slowly opened her eyes. She was in the train compartment. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. She'd slept well but for some reason she felt even more tired than before. She looked behind her at Harry, who smiled.

"We're going to be there in a few minutes," Harry said. "You should change into your uniform."

"Right," she said with a yawn. Jessica stood up and stretched. She grabbed some robes out of her trunk and went to go change.

After changing into her robes she opened the bathroom door-and ran straight into some one. Picking herself up off the floor, she looked to see who she had run into.

It was a man who looked about twenty or so. He had short blonde hair and lively hazel eyes. He looked very athletic and Jessica found herself thinking that he must be very strong.

"I'm very sorry," Jessica said. Her shyness, which hadn't been around ever since she'd met Harry, came back. "I didn't see you, I-"

"It's all right, it was my fault," said the man, interrupting her. Though his voice was serious his eyes weren't and Jessica got the feeling that he was laughing, but not necessarily at her. "Are you a student?" Jessica nodded. "Really? What's your name?"

"Jessica Banks," she said. She wished this man would stop talking to her. She wanted to go back and sit with her friends.

"Nice to meet you, Jessica," he said. He stuck out his hand and Jessica shook it. "I'm Byron Chettersburg." He started to say more but was cut off by a voice, which echoed throughout the train.

"The Hogwarts Express will be arriving in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be carried up to the school separately."

"Sorry, I've got to go," Byron said quickly, and he hurried off down the corridor.

Jessica walked off in search of Harry, Ron and Hermione but she couldn't find them. The corridor had suddenly become very crowded and people were giving her dirty looks as she pushed past them. Finally she gave up and just moved with the crowd, making her way towards the doors as the train slowed. When they had stopped she climbed out and started looking around for Harry and the others. She didn't see them anywhere and as the students began to leave she sighed and walked over to where a tall man was saying, "Firs' years over here! Don't be shy!"

The man was gigantic; Jessica had never seen anyone so big. He was huge. He looked down at Jessica as she walked up and he smiled at her from under his long black beard.

"Yer Jessica, aren't yeh?" He asked. Jessica nodded. "Dumbledore said yeh'd be comin' this year. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds here at Hogwarts. Welcome to the school."

"Thank you," Jessica said, politely. She liked Hagrid. Despite his imposing appearance he seemed very friendly.

When Hagrid was certain that all of the first years were there, he led them down what seemed to be a steep narrow path. Several of the first years tripped and Jessica, who had a very good sense of balance, helped them back up. It was very dark and despite herself, Jessica shivered.

"Yeh'll be gettin' yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts jus' round this bend here," Hagrid said as the path opened up to a huge lake. Across the dark water on a mountain was a huge castle with many turrets and towers. Jessica could not help but gasp like the first years.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing toward a tiny fleet of boats. Jessica hurried over and got into a boat. No one joined her; apparently the fact that she was three years older than they were intimidated the first years.

"Forward!" shouted Hagrid and the fleet of boats glided across the water. Jessica let her hand trail in the water for a bit, but soon pulled it back out as it was going numb. She looked up at the castle and wondered if Harry was there already. Probably, he didn't have to sail across the lake.

"Heads down!" Hagrid called as they approached a curtain of ivy on the cliff face. She ducked her head along with everyone else. It became dark again as they sailed down some tunnel that seemed to be going underneath the castle itself. They then reached some underground harbor and everyone clambered out of their boats onto rock and pebbles. After checking the boats Hagrid led them up a stone passageway onto damp grass right under the shadow of the castle. They went up a short flight of steps to a massive oak front door.

"Everyone here? Right then." Hagrid lifted his hand and knocked three times on the door to the castle.

The door swung open at once. A tall dark-hair witch in emerald-green robes stood there with a very stern expression on her face. Jessica thought to herself, Better not make her mad, she looks like one of those really stern people. Jessica had the ability of being able to sense a person's character. She'd developed it in elementary school when her few friends betrayed her. It had been useful, she knew who to trust and who not to, but sometimes she wished she'd never developed it.

"The firs' years Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said.

"Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here."

She pulled the door to the castle open wide. The entrance hall was so big that it would have taken a tower to reach the ceiling and it would have taken several houses the size of Jessica's own to cover the floor.

They followed McGonagall past a door on the right behind which it sounded liked hundreds of voices were talking. Jessica guessed this would be the Great Hall. Harry had already told her a little bit about the school.

She led them into a small chamber off the entrance hall. Everyone crowded in. The first years stood closer together than they probably would have done normally, but Jessica stood by herself in a corner.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your House dormitory and spend free time in your House common room."

Jessica tuned out. Harry had explained this all to her the day before. Before she knew it McGonagall had left and returned saying, "We are ready for you now."

She led them, in a single file line, into the Great Hall. Jessica felt the entire schools' eyes on her and she looked around. She spotted Harry waving to her from the table on the far left. She looked forward with a smile on her face. The line stopped and Jessica looked up to where the Sorting Hat (Harry had told her about that too) sat on a stool.

As the hat started to sing, Jessica's ears started ringing and she shook her head, trying to make the sound go away. As the hat finished the whole hall broke out into applause and the sudden, loud noise seemed to take care of the ringing. Jessica clapped with the others but felt slightly disappointed. She hadn't gotten to hear the hat's song; Harry had said they were very clever.

She still, however, knew what the Houses were and what kind of person went where. She wanted more than anything to be in Gryffindor, after all, that was the House Harry was in. And she believed she was brave, at least, to a certain extent.

"Now when I call your name you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," said Professor McGonagall; she was now holding a rather large roll of parchment. "Banks, Jessica!"

Jessica took a deep breath and stepped out of line, walking purposefully to the front of the hall. Some how, by sheer dumb luck, she had ended up at the back of the line. As she walked forward she heard people whispering.

"If she's a first year then I'm a troll."

"She's really cute, do you think I should ask her out?"

"Don't get too hopeful, I hear she's Potter's girlfriend."

Jessica was shocked. How had the whole school found out so quickly? Then she remembered. Draco Malfoy knew and she was willing to bet he'd told all of his friends, who, in turn, had told the rest of the school.

Jessica reached the stool and put the hat on top of her head and it slipped down over her eyes, blocking out the rest of the school.

"Hmmm, very difficult," whispered a voice in her ear. "You've got a great mind. A bit of a temper, yes. And plenty of courage, oh yes, plenty of that. Which House to send you to though?"

Jessica began thinking as hard as she could, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin.

"Not Slytherin? But really, that's where you belong, even if only for your family."

NO! Please, anything but Slytherin, even Hufflepuff! Just NOT Slytherin!

"Well, if you're sure," the hat said. "GRYFFINDOR!!" Jessica knew the hat had shouted this last part to the hall. Breathing a sigh of relief, she pulled the hat off her head and ran off to the Gryffindor table, which had exploded into cheers.

As she neared the table several boys gestured for her to sit next to them but she ignored them, walking over to where Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting.

"I'm glad you're in Gryffindor," said Harry.

"Me too," said Jessica. She looked at the golden goblets and plates and suddenly realized how hungry she was. "When do we eat? I'm starving."

"As soon as the Sorting is done and Dumbledore starts the feast," Ron said.

Jessica looked up at the staff table. A few of the teachers she knew because Harry had described them. Then she realized that there was someone at the staff table who she already knew. Byron Chettersburg was sitting up there with the rest of the teachers!

"Was Defense Against the Dark Arts spot the only one empty?" Jessica asked Harry.

"Yes," Harry said, taking a look at the staff table himself. "Why?"

"Then that must be what Byron is teaching!" Jessica said to herself. When Harry gave her a curious look she proceeded to explain how she had met Byron.

"You ran into him coming out of the bathroom?" asked Ron. "Jessica, first you have to jump onto the train, then you run into the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and knock him over. You must be very clumsy." Ron in fact knew this was not the case, as she had not been the least bit clumsy at his house.

"Well, you know I try very hard Ron," Jessica said, deciding to go with it. "It does take a great deal of work to be as clumsy as I am." The last student was sorted into a house and Dumbledore rose. "Finally," Jessica muttered, "I'm starving."

"Welcome to all of the new students!" Dumbledore said. "I have an announcement or two that I believe I should take care of before all of you are too befuddled by the feast. Firstly, I would like to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Chettersburg." Jessica heard several people over at the Slytherin table snicker at his name. She glanced over and saw one of them was Malfoy. Somehow it did not surprise her. "And also I would like to mention that, taking into account what happened at the end of last year, I have placed several extra protection spells over the Hogwarts Grounds. In any case, I would strong urge you to not wander about on your own. Now that we have that out the way, let the feast begin."

Jessica looked at Harry. He was staring at his plate with that haunted look in his eyes. Jessica had seen that look several times over the summer. It showed up every time someone spoke of Voldemort. Jessica wondered what had happened last year that could make Harry feel so bad every time it was mentioned.

"Harry, are you going to eat?" asked Ron, who was currently stuffing himself.

"I'm not hungry," Harry said softly with a shake of his head. He was still staring at his empty plate.

"But Harry-" Jessica started softly.

"I said I wasn't hungry," Harry insisted. He stood up abruptly. "I'm going for a walk." He strode out.

"Harry!" Jessica called after him. He ignored her and kept walking. Jessica now stared down at her own plate. Had she done something wrong? Was he mad at her?

She served herself but did not do more than pick at her food. After nearly ten minutes had passed Harry's owl Hedwig landed on the table. Jessica reached out a hand and took the letter.

"It's for Harry," Jessica said. She stood. "I think I'll go give it to him."

Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance but Jessica didn't see them. She walked out of the hall, holding the letter.

Outside the Great Hall, Jessica realized that she didn't know which way Harry had gone. She looked around, wondering where he was. It was then that she noticed the front door was slightly ajar. She walked over to it and peered out. She couldn't see much; it was very dark. She pulled her wand out of her robes and whispered, "Lumos."

Stepping out into the night she shivered. It was chilly and drizzly out and she wished she had her cloak. Looking around she felt lost. Jessica looked around for some hint of which way to go. The water on the grass glistened as the light from her wand hit it. It was then that she noticed there was a place where the water did not glisten on the grass. It was a footprint. Jessica could not help but smile. She slowly followed the footprints, holding her wand low to the ground so she wouldn't miss any. Eventually she found her way to a stadium, which she assumed was a quidditch stadium. She looked around. She spotted Harry sitting against the wall nearby. She approached him slowly.

"Harry?" she asked tentatively.

Harry turned and looked at her. He sighed.

"Yes?" Jessica bit her lip at the curtness of his answer.

"Hedwig brought a letter for you, Harry." She held out the letter. Harry reached out, took it and stuck it inside his robes.

"Thank you," Harry said. "I'll read it later." He looked at her. "You should go back inside. You're missing the feast."

"So are you," Jessica pointed out gently. "And I'm not really hungry." She sat down next to him. Harry sighed again, staring out into the inky blackness of the night.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Jessica finally asked.

"Nothing," Harry said. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not, Harry. If you were, you'd be inside eating dinner." Harry didn't answer her. "Harry, you can trust me." He still didn't answer and the silence dragged on and on. Jessica sighed. What was she doing out here? It was cold, wet and Harry wasn't talking to her. She could be inside right now. Eating dinner and chatting with Ron and Hermione.

"Last year, the school had a tournament with two other wizarding schools. It was called the Triwizard Tournament and both this boy named Cedric Diggory and I were champions for Hogwarts. During the last task we both reached the cup at about the same time. I convinced him to take the cup with me. That way both of us and Hogwarts would still win." Harry's voice was very quiet. "The cup transported us to a place where Voldemort was waiting, though Cedric and I didn't know it at the time. He was killed by one of Voldemort's servants. The thing is," Harry said, "He wouldn't have died if I hadn't convinced him to take the cup with me. So, in a way, his death was my fault."

Jessica nodded very slowly. That explained the haunted look in Harry's eyes. He thought that Cedric had died because of him. Jessica could understand how he might think that but it wasn't his fault, not really. This servant of Voldemort, whoever he was, was the person truly responsible for Cedric's death.

"That night was also the night Voldemort came back," Harry said. "He used me to come back. He used my blood." Harry kept staring out at the darkness, as though the answer to the way he felt lay out there somewhere.

Jessica touched Harry's shoulder. He turned and looked at her.

"Harry," she said. "I understand. I do." She put her arms around him and enveloped him in a hug. To her surprise, he hugged her back.

They broke apart. Jessica looked out at the darkness.

"Are you sure you're not hungry?" Jessica asked him after a moment.

Jessica could almost feel Harry's smile through the darkness. "Actually, I'm starving," he said.

"So am I," Jessica said. She smiled. "Would you care to escort me back to the castle Mr. Potter?"

"Why certainly Miss Banks," Harry said. Both of them laughed and together they walked back towards the castle.

When they got back the prefects were leading the students up to their dormitories. Jessica and Harry followed them and Jessica thought, I'm going to need a map just to find my way to my room. The castle was huge and she had a feeling she hadn't seen very much of it yet.

At the end of a corridor they came to a portrait of a very fat lady in a pink silk dress.

"Password?" she asked them.

"Billywig," someone said and the portrait swung open. Everyone piled into the Gryffindor common room, a cozy, round room with lots of squashy armchairs. Looking around, Jessica spotted Hermione disappear up a spiral staircase.

"Well, goodnight Harry," Jessica said. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and followed Hermione up the steps.

When Jessica reached her dormitory she found her stuff was already there next to a four-poster that she assumed was hers. Completely ignoring the two, loud and somewhat annoying, other Gryffindor fifth years besides Hermione, Jessica changed into her pajamas and climbed into bed, slipping the photo album under her pillow when no one was looking.

When everyone else was asleep she pulled the photo album out from under her pillow. She turned the pages slowly, looking at the pictures of her young, carefree grandmother. Then she reached the page with Eliza and that boy. Jessica stared at him and watched as he laid a kiss on Eliza's cheek. The Eliza in the photo laughed and kissed him back.

Jessica closed the album. After looking at that photo again and again, she had come to the decision that that boy, whoever he was, had been Eliza's boyfriend. Jessica wondered if he had been her grandfather. If that was the case then she didn't understand why Eliza had never liked to speak of him. The way the two of them acted was almost similar to the way Jessica and Harry had acted on the train to Hogwarts. Jessica wouldn't have minded talking about Harry if someone else had asked about him.

Harry...he didn't know about the album. No one did. She hadn't told anyone. For some reason she didn't feel like sharing the album with anyone. She couldn't really think of a good reason why except for the fact that now it was all she had left of her grandmother.

Jessica slipped the album back underneath the pillow. She closed her eyes and maybe ten minutes later she had fallen asleep.