Chapter 8:

A Letter of Her Own

Without Harry there to take his anger out on, Uncle Vernon turned his rage to his niece. She took to hiding in her closet, door locked, whenever possible, and serving the Dursleys without many comments whenever necessary. She just needed to make it a few more weeks.

And considering her birthday was after the school year began, she knew her letter would arrive any day now.

Sure enough, on August 25th, her letter arrived. Nervously, she brought the mail into the dining room.

"Uncle Vernon? I need to go to London to get my supplies."

He turned to look at her, eyes narrowing. "You get one trip. Decide if it's tomorrow or the day you go off to the freak school."

She nodded. "Yes, Sir. I – I'll just take the day of, in that case."

"Too right you will."

She moved back to her closet, wondering how on earth she was going to get her supplies. Books she could just borrow from Harry – he'd probably have different ones for his second year. But her uniform? Quills and ink? Her wand? Jessa doubted she'd be able to get it all before the train left at eleven o'clock sharp on the day of.

If she had an owl, she'd just write to Harry, or even the school, to ask for help. But she had no way of getting in touch with them, not without any form of an address.

Jessa hated that she would be arriving completely unprepared. But it was either get her supplies or get to the school. She'd much rather take the reprimand at school then be stuck at the Dursleys.

On the morning of September 1st, Uncle Vernon dropped her off at King's Cross Station. He didn't even bother helping her unload. Simply let her take a small duffle bag and sped off as soon as she had closed the door.

Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she began to walk inside the train station. She remembered the number, if only because it wasn't a "normal" platform number – 9 ¾.

As she approached Platform 8, she saw a family of red-heads…and Harry. Speeding up in hopes of catching up with them, she stopped short as she saw the twins run through the wall. Swallowing hard, she continued, though she was forced to stop short again when Harry and his friend crashed into the wall, instead of through it.

Jessa made her move, walking until she stood over where Harry had fallen. He glanced up at the shadow.

"Jessa! What – you made it," he exclaimed, surprised and happy as he rose and pulled her close.

"I did. No thanks to you leaving me behind."

Harry winced. "I'm sorry. I am. I meant to have you come with us. Only Uncle Vernon got in the way and there wasn't an easy way back to the house."

She just nodded, before jerking her head towards the other boy.

"Right, sorry. Jessa, this is Ron. Ron, my little sister, Jessa."

"Nice to meet you."

"You too," Ron replied, before turning back to Harry. "The car, then?"

Once they got the car up and running…and flying, Harry turned back to his sister, suddenly realizing something.

"Jessa? Where's your trunk?"

"Uncle Vernon only let me have one trip to London. It was get my supplies or come to school."

"Er – right. I suppose you could just borrow my books and a robe until we can get you your own. Maybe talk to Hagrid, see if he can take you over the weekend."

She just nodded, looking out the window.

Suddenly, lights came into view. Her eyes widened. Even in the dark, it was just…beautiful.

She was speechless. At least until the car suddenly dropped. They landed at an angle in a tree. She was shaken, some cuts and bruises, but nothing major.

At that very moment, something hit his side of the car with the force of a charging bull, just as an equally heavy blow hit the roof.

Jessa screamed and moved out of the way just as another branch came through the roof, pushing it in where she had been moments before.

"We're done for!" Ron moaned as the ceiling sagged, but suddenly the floor of the car was vibrating — the engine had restarted.

"Reverse!" Harry yelled, and the car shot backward; the tree was still trying to hit them; they could hear its roots creaking as it almost ripped itself up, lashing out at them as they sped out of reach.

The car, however, had reached the end of its tether. With two sharp clunks, the doors flew open and Jessa felt the car jerk sideways, forcing her out and to the ground.

The boys' luggage was strewn across the ground. She felt bruised and battered and exhausted.

"Come on," said Harry wearily, "we'd better get up to the school…"

Stiff, cold, and bruised, they seized the ends of their trunks and began dragging them up the grassy slope, toward the large castle. Having only her single bag, Jessa carried Hedwig as well.

Even though she tailed behind them, every few minutes, Harry would look back to see how his sister was managing.

The boys stopped beneath one of the windows, pointing out something to each other. Jessa just leaned back against the building, rubbing at her eyes underneath her glasses.

"Or maybe," said a very cold voice suddenly, causing Jessa's head to snap up, "he's waiting to hear why you two didn't arrive on the school train."

Two? Then again, the boys were second year students.

"Follow me," said the man.

As he led them up to the castle, and through various hallways, the young girl, though anxious, couldn't help but stare at the beauty and grander of the castle. They finally came to a stop after going down many flights of stairs. God, how on earth was she going to keep all the directions straight?

"In!" he snapped, opening a door halfway down the cold passageway and pointing.

As Jessa passed him, his eyes widened, and he gaped for a moment, before blinking hard as the spitting image of Lily Evans-Potter passed by him and into his office.

Slamming the door behind him, he crossed to his desk, rounding it so he faced the students.

"So," he said softly, "the train isn't good enough for the famous Harry Potter and his faithful sidekick Weasley. Wanted to arrive with a bang, did we, boys?" as he spoke, he now purposely left out accusing the girl, knowing she likely had next to nothing to do with the current situation, with the exception of tagging along with the one person she knew – her idiotic brother.

"No, sir, it was the barrier at King's Cross, it —"

"Silence!" He then unrolled a packet of paper that resembled a newspaper…except, this one had moving pictures on it, and constantly shifting captions. She just stared, momentarily blocking out whatever was being said. He suddenly got up and left the room.

The boys were clearly worried, and with every right given how furious the man seemed. But she was still exhausted. Tentatively, she took a seat in front of his desk.

She wasn't sure how long had passed, but when the door opened again, the man was with two others – clearly other professors. Given they didn't say anything to her, she reasoned the first man must have informed his colleagues about the situation.

Suddenly, silence fell, and she realized they were all staring at her. She blinked hard.

"Sorry, Sir. What was the question?"

The older man – with a long beard, half-moon glasses, and a mysterious, old air about him simply smiled at her.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster here at Hogwarts. This is Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration professor, and Head of Gryffindor House. And finally, Professor Snape, Potions professor and Head of Slytherin House."

The other two adults nodded briefly to her.

"And your name?"

"Jessa Potter, Professor."

"If you would just try this on, we will get you sorted right away," she said, handing the girl a black bundle.

"Can they leave first?" she asked, pointing to her brother and his friend.

Harry looked shocked, but both boys left, Professor Snape closing the door behind them. She then unraveled the bundle to find it was a hat. Confused, she tried it on…and startled as it began to talk.

So…another Potter comes to Hogwarts. Just like your brother, you are a difficult one. So much courage, but in you I sense slyness, a strong sense of self. Perhaps you are better suited off in a different house…perhaps you had better be…

"SLYTHERIN!"

As she handed the hat back, she noticed the stunned looks on the house leaders' faces. Jessa realized she was glad – she was where she belonged. At school, with Harry…but proving her own as well. This, she could get used to.