A/N: Haha! Did I not follow through on my promise to bring you more soon? Hehe, I think I'm just as eager to know what happens next as you are. Anywho, enjoy. Reviewer thanks at the end (as usual).

Oh, and a brief warning, I use a curse word in this chapter. There, just thought I'd give you a head's up. It's not even that bad, I'm just not sure whether you guys care or not.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine, blah, blah, blah, blah, BLAH. smirks at the group of lawyers who are pouting because they now have no legitimate excuse to sue her Ha. Take that.

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Chapter Twelve: Deliverance and Reparations

Jessica could not find the right words. As she searched for the appropriate thing to say, Dumbledore smiled at her.

"You had us quite worried last night," he said. "And it seems you've worried Madame Pomfrey as well, since she came and fetched me. May I ask why you screamed out Mr. Potter's name?"

"I-I," Jessica said, choking on her words. "I had a nightmare." She tried to look away from Dumbledore's eyes, and found that she couldn't.

"Tell me about this nightmare," he said. Jessica hesitated, trying to find the right words.

"It was dark at first, and I couldn't see. But then, I saw this fire. I moved closer to it. There was a group of people standing in a circle. They all wore black robes and masks covered their faces. There was a man inside the circle. He had white skin and red eyes." Alarm flashed through Dumbledore's eyes as she said this.

"Voldemort," Dumbledore muttered. Jessica stared. Aside from Harry, no one she knew dared to use that name. Perhaps Harry had learned not to fear it through Dumbledore.

"Professor?" she asked. "D-do you want me to go on?" Dumbledore met her eyes again and nodded.

"The man, I mean, Voldemort told one of the men in the circle that it was thanks to the man's son that this could happen. Voldemort said that they had not killed someone because they were waiting for a girl. Then he stared looking around and-" Here Jessica choked on the words again, remembering the fear which had petrified her. She felt Dumbledore's hand grip her shoulder once more and she calmed, reminding herself that it was only a dream. "He saw me. And he smiled. I tried to move, but I was too afraid. He raised his wand and ropes came out of it and tied my hands and feet. The circle of people moved out of the way and I saw someone at Voldemort's feet. It, it was Harry."

Again, alarm flashed in Dumbledore's eyes, but in another moment it was gone. He smiled at her again. "Well," he said softly. "It was only a nightmare, yes?"

Jessica frowned and said, "But it seemed so real. And, how could I have a nightmare about Voldemort, and know what he looks like, when I've never seen him?"

Dumbledore, however, did not answer. His eyes had become fixed on her necklace. Jessica looked at him, confused, then, almost protectively moved to put her hand over the necklace. Dumbledore lifted his hand in a gesture for her to stop and she lowered it again.

"May I ask where you found that necklace, Miss Banks?" Dumbledore asked. His eyes, though still kindly, were keen and penetrating again.

It did not even occur to Jessica to try and lie to him the way she had lied to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "I did not find it sir, it was sent to me."

"By who?" Dumbledore asked quickly.

Jessica swallowed. "That's the thing sir," she said. "I don't know who sent it. I-I got it for Christmas and there was no name, just a note which said that it had been my grandmother's."

"I see," Dumbledore said. "Would you mind taking it off for a moment please?"

"Oh, um, of course," Jessica reached to undo the clasp and started to undo it, then found herself instead refastening it and setting her hands in her lap.

"Jessica, I would like it if you would please remove you necklace. I only wish to look at it." Dumbledore's eyes bored into hers as she reached up to undo it once more. This time her hands refused to even start undoing it and she found herself dropping her arms to her lap once more only a moment later.

"Take the necklace off, Jessica," Dumbledore's voice was very soft now. Jessica reached up to her neck, and her hands dropped before they even got there.

"I can't take it off," Jessica whispered, fear creeping into her voice. "I can't, Professor."

Dumbledore sighed. "I thought as much. Have you ever tried before?"

Jessica thought back. "Only, once when I first put it on. I wanted to take it off because it would seem too showy, but, I changed my mind. I don't remember why."

"May I attempt to remove it?" Dumbledore asked.

Jessica nodded. Somehow, she now had a very bad feeling about the necklace she was wearing about her neck. Dumbledore's hands touched the necklace and began to unclasp it, and Jessica gasped as a sharp jolt of pain shot through her. Dumbledore continued to remove it, ignoring her cry. The pain came again, twice as strong as before, but then Dumbledore lifted the necklace away from around her neck and as quickly as it had come the pain was gone. Jessica opened her eyes, for she had closed them, to find Dumbledore's eyes on hers once more.

"I apologize," Dumbledore said, "for not warning you. I suspected that such a thing might happen. I also suspected that if I did warn you, you would not be willing to let me remove it."

"You were right," Jessica said. "What exactly was that?"

"I believe it was a lesser version of the Cruciatus Curse. The necklace seems to be designed so that the spell will trigger should the wearer ever gain the power to attempt to remove the necklace."

"Why would anyone curse a necklace like that, one of my grandmother's necklaces at that?" Jessica said, shuddering to herself at the thought that she had been wearing this necklace since Christmas.

"To ensure that its wearer never took it off," Dumbledore said. "You see, Miss Banks, this necklace also has a version of the Imperius Curse on it. This necklace was designed for the express purpose of influencing others and their decisions. You grandmother once wore it, that is true, but its true owner was none other than Tom Marvolo Riddle, whom you know as Voldemort. It is something which he created when he went to school here."

"But then, how did my grandmother come upon it?" Jessica asked. The thought that she had been wearing a necklace designed to control her was disturbing, but it did explain some things, such as all the fights with Harry. "If it was the property of Voldemort how did she get it?"

Dumbledore sighed again, then said, "I can see that I will have to tell you the full story. However, this is neither the time nor the place."

"But!" Jessica started to protest.

Dumbledore held up his hand and the protest died in her throat. "For now you must rest. You came very close to leaving us Miss Banks. When you are fully healed and rested, then I will tell you the story."

"Yes sir," Jessica said softly, disappointed that he wouldn't tell her. She wanted some answers now! Not later.

"I will take this," Dumbledore said, gesturing to the necklace. "It may be possible to remove the spells from it. If it is-"

"I don't want it back," Jessica said quickly. "I don't want to see it ever again."

"I suspected as much," he said. "Now, then, I will leave you to get some rest." He turned and walked toward the doors to the hospital wing.

"Wait, Professor Dumbledore!" He turned back and looked at her, his eyes inquisitive. "Please, Professor, when will I be allowed to have visitors?"

Jessica could have sworn his eyes twinkled at her. "Oh, quite soon I imagine. Perhaps in a few days if you rest up."

"Well, could you please let Harry know that, that I'd like to see him," she asked.

Dumbledore smiled. "Yes," he said simply, and he left the hospital wing. A few moments later Madame Pomfrey entered the Hospital Wing and seeing that Jessica was awake, hurried over and started examining her.

"Madame Pomfrey," Jessica said, as the nurse felt her forehead. "When can I have visitors?"

"I'll let you know when that time comes Miss Banks," Madame Pomfrey said quickly. She hurried over to a cabinet and took out three different potions bottles. She poured a bit of each into a cup and then handed it to Jessica, who downed it as quickly as possible, fighting the nauseating feeling that rose up in her stomach. Her stomach growled and Madame Pomfrey looked at her. "Are you hungry Miss Banks?" Jessica could have sworn that she heard a smile in her voice.

"Actually," Jessica said, "I'm starving."

"Could you manage some broth, do you think?" Jessica nodded and Madame Pomfrey conjured up a small bowl of it, which Jessica drank slowly. When she had finished with it, Madame Pomfrey handed her another potion.

"Dreamless sleep potion, Miss Banks," Madame Pomfrey said when Jessica gave her a curious look. "Dumbledore said you'd had a nightmare. He suggested that you drink it."

Without another word, Jessica downed the potion. She felt the familiar wave of tiredness sweep over her and she fell back into the safe oblivion.

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Madame Pomfrey would not let Jessica have any visitors for two days. Jessica spent the majority of those days in the blissful sleep which the dreamless sleep potion provided her with. Jessica found that, without the necklace, she slept better when not under the potion's effects and she awoke feeling more awake than she had in months. She felt less irritable and annoyed all the time and she knew that it had been the necklace all along.

It was almost amazing how quickly Jessica recovered from the hypothermia. Within two days she no longer felt weak when she tried to walk and she could stomach food again. Madame Pomfrey had even said that if she continued to recover at this rate she could be out of the hospital by the next day. Finally, late in the afternoon after hearing all of Jessica's pleas at least three times, Madame Pomfrey agreed to allow her visitors, as long as she rested quietly if she got tired. Jessica promised she would and Madame Pomfrey went to the door and opened it.

Harry walked in and stood in the doorway looking at her. She smiled uncertainly and he approached her carefully. Once he reached the side of her bed they both stared at each other for quite some time before either of them spoke.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Jessica said, quietly. She met his eyes, and saw that there was no anger in them. Tears welled up in her own. "I'm so sorry, Harry," she got out as the tears began to fall. Harry shook his head.

"It doesn't matter," he said. He looked away for a moment. "Maybe, I was a bit too hard on you and some of your faults. Maybe, I could have been a bit slower to judge." This time Jessica shook her head at him as he looked back at her.

"No, Harry, you were right," Jessica said. "I acted like a bitch and you had every right to try and make me behave. I-I, wasn't in control of myself, Harry."

Harry stared, confusion on his face. "What do you mean, not in control of yourself?"

"Do you remember the necklace I came downstairs with on Christmas?" Jessica asked quietly. "The one which I said was my grandmother's?"

"Yes, and speaking of which, where is it? You never take that thing off."

"Dumbledore helped me get it off, Harry," Jessica said. He opened his mouth to ask another question and she said, "Wait. Wait until I'm finished. It will make more sense then." She took a deep breath. "That necklace was not my grandmother's. Yes, she'd worn it a few times, but it was not hers." She paused, trying to think how to word the next part.

"Then, whose was it?" Harry asked. "Who did it belong to if not your grandmother?"

"Dumbledore said... he said... its true owner was... was Voldemort," Jessica said. She watched horror enter Harry's eyes. "You see, Harry, I had been sent that necklace anonymously for Christmas. With it came a note stating that it had been my grandmother's. It held a lesser version of the Imperius Curse. On-once I put it on, it influenced my decisions. Its influence, to me, seemed like that little voice in the back of your head that's always telling you what to do. So I didn't notice it for that reason. It, started influencing how I thought and felt. And, I think that's why I was always fighting with you. I think, that's what, what he wanted to happen."

"But, why did Dumbledore have to help you to remove it? Once you realized what it was doing to you, couldn't you remove it yourself?"

"In addition to the version of the Imperius Curse, there was another curse. A lesser version of the Cruciatus Curse," Jessica whispered. "I could not have removed it, even if I had found the power to override the other curse's influence on me. I would not have been able to stand the pain."

Harry just stared at her a moment and then, he came up to the bed and hugged her. "I'm sorry, I should have noticed something had changed. I should have made the connection."

Jessica let him hug her, but said, "No, Harry. Hermione didn't even notice the connection. I don't expect it was that obvious. It wasn't like I had changed overnight. More like I'd slowly changed over a longer period of time."

The two of them broke apart. Jessica looked away for a moment. When she looked back Harry smiled at her. It was the first real smile she had seen directed towards her in a long time and for the first time in a long while, she felt truly happy again.

"You know," Harry said, "there are some other people out there who want to say hi to you too."

"Oh, would you tell them to come in please?" Jessica said.

Harry nodded and turned back towards the doorway and said, "Hey guys, you can come in now!"

And in walked Ron, Hermione, and the last person she had ever expected to see in their company. Draco Malfoy. He smiled the half smirk he always wore around her and Jessica could not keep a grin from spreading across her features. While she had been unconscious, they had managed a truce. Nothing could have made her any happier.

"Hello, guys," Jessica said a bit quietly. "It's nice to see you all on speaking terms with one another."

"It was only a temporary arrangement at first," Hermione said. She glanced at Draco with a slight smile, which he studiously ignored.

"Well, I'm glad you extended it," Jessica said. She looked at Draco and said, "Thank you, Draco."

"I don't want you to thank me," Draco said, his voice somewhat annoyed. "Don't thank me for anything." He turned and walked towards the doors.

"Wait, Draco!" Jessica called. He turned around, his eyebrows raised as if to say "What now?" She smiled slightly, and said, "After Madame Pomfrey lets me out of here, will you meet with me some time? Just to talk?"

Draco only nodded curtly and turned and walked out of the room. Jessica shook her head. He was annoyed that she was back on speaking terms with Harry, she could tell by his demeanor. Well, there was nothing she could do about it. She would simply have to repair whatever damage that might have been done later. He would have to adapt to the idea of her being more like a Gryffindor again.

"Well, at least he's gone," Ron said. Jessica fixed him with a small glare. "Sorry, but he was so sarcastic I couldn't say anything without him making some sort of annoying comment!" Jessica shook her head. Ron would never change, he would always see the bad in Malfoy.

"So, what did I miss, classes wise?" Jessica asked with a smile.

"Not much in Divination," Ron said. "The old bat spent most of the time harping on about how you getting hypothermia was a sign that Harry was going to die soon." Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh, she wants us to start a dream diary."

"We reviewed for O.W.L.'s in nearly every class," Harry said. "Except Snape's. We had to do another potion in his class."

"I tried to get your work from the teachers but they all told me you had to come and collect it yourself," Hermione said. "Even McGonagall said that."

"That's all right. If I continue to recover at the rate I've recovered, Madame Pomfrey says she'll let me out tomorrow after classes," Jessica said.

"That's great," Hermione said. "I've been reading about hypothermia, and you really have recovered awfully fast."

Jessica rolled her eyes. "I know. It's all I've heard about from Madame Pomfrey. That and 'get a lot of sleep'. It gets very annoying."

Harry smiled. "I know what that's like. It's been like that every time I've landed myself in the hospital wing."

"Heck, I think it's like that, anytime a person lands themselves in the hospital wing," Ron muttered. Jessica giggled. That was something else she had not done in a long time, and she could tell from the expressions on the trio's faces that she ought to do it more often.

Almost as if on cue, Madame Pomfrey swept into the hospital wing. While she seemed happy to see Jessica in higher spirits, she also seemed annoyed that Harry, Ron and Hermione had been in the wing so long. She shooed them out, leaving the place empty again. She came over to Jessica.

"I'd like you to get so sleep," she said.

"I've had loads already, and I don't want to take the potion again."

"You don't have to, Dumbledore said that tonight he wants to see how you do without the potion." She pursed her lips. "At least rest then, if you don't want to sleep, it's-"

"The best thing for me right now," Jessica repeated dully. "Yeah I know." She laid her head back on the pillows, and closed her eyes. God, she was so sick of this place. Ah well, if she got more sleep perhaps it would get her out of here quicker. Though she was not exactly anxious to return in time for classes tomorrow, she had two hours of double potions and while Harry, Ron and Hermione had forgiven her, she didn't know about the rest of the house. Oh well, she would simply have to deal with it tomorrow. She slowly drifted off, even though she hadn't intended to.

I do hope Professor Snape doesn't make me do an essay on the potion I missed, Jessica thought. As the sun set outside, she lapsed into sleep.

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Reviewer Thanks:

PippinsMyHobbit: Hmm, glad to know my last chapter was well received, as I was a bit doubtful of it. And I will have the grace to keep my silence about the review button. Who am I to spoil fun?

Trinka: I find your guesses amusing, mostly because they are much more interesting than my actual plans for this fan fiction. But I also find them inspiring, so do keep it up. And as to why Dumbledore didn't notice the necklace before this, it was simply because he had not communicated directly with her at all up until this time. And some of your questions I simply cannot answer whatsoever. You'll just have to wait until we get to that point. As I promised, all shall reveal itself by the end. (Hehe, aren't I just evil?)

I love you guys, thank you so much for reading this faithfully. I must admit I regret that I do not have more readers but you guys make me happy, so who am I to complain? Please review!