Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter characters or objects ect.
Jane got ready for the day and quickly entered the common room to check the notice board. It was there she found out that the first Hogsmade trip was the first week of October. She quickly wrote a letter to Marcus Flint, smiling slightly to herself as she did. Before breakfast, she went to the owlry, only to find she wasn't the only early riser in the school. Viktor Krum, was in the owlry sending a letter. He turned to the door when it opened and sighed with relief.
"I vort you were another obsessive!" he said.
"No such luck for you. Excuse me, Delia! Come on!" shouted Jane.
The Malfoy owl glared at her for waking her up. She flew irritably towards her, and reluctantly held out her leg.
"A letter to your parents?" asked Viktor.
"No. They haven't invented an owl that can send letters to the dead," replied Jane.
Viktor looked as though he was sorry for speaking. He was also surprised at the lack of tone she used when she spoke. It wasn't bitter, angry or upset. It was flat.
"I'm sorry. Who are you writing to?" asked Viktor.
"My old Captain. I'm planning to meet him on the first weekend in Hogsmade," replied Jane.
"You're lovers?" asked Viktor.
"Not at the moment. However now that he's out of Hogwarts, he might be a different man, changed for the better or worse," replied Jane.
Unknown to Jane, Viktor pulled a disappointed expression, as she sent the owl out into the world to find Marcus Flint. She smiled and nodded at the Bulgarian seeker and left the room. Jane went straight to the great hall and made breakfast without a care in the world. That was, until she heard a deep cough behind her, she turned to Professor Snape with surprise, who lowered his voice and whispered in her ear.
"Haven't you forgotten something? Black hair, two legs, will sleep in, unless woken," he said.
Jane almost choked on her toast and coffee. She ran back to the dungeon and woke Sasha roughly, shaking her by the shoulders.
"Come on! You're late! Really late! Your dad is playing hell with me...well not yet he isn't, but he will if you don't get a move on!" cried Jane.
"What time is it?" asked Sasha, sleepily.
"Breakfast hall is starting to empty! Really! Move!" replied Jane.
Sasha dived out of her bed. She ran around for ten minutes, Jane thought it was like watching the world cup again. To her surprise she was ready within ten minutes and they both ran out of the common room, only to get their timetables. Professor Snape smirked as they passed him their choices. He handed the timetables forward.
"To think, next Monday, you need not bother getting up so early," he said.
Jane looked livid and Sasha glared at her father. She took him to one side, she had a large teenage tantrum, something that Jane knew would get her nowhere. She looked over at the goblet of fire and shook her head. Draco saw this as Jane continued to watch older students put their names into it from all three schools.
"What about you? You're seventeen tomorrow. Eternal glory and all that. Father would be thrilled," he said.
"I'm sure your father would be more thrilled if I lived. I already have eternal glory as the one to be avoided. Even if I did get chosen...I'd get fed up of people suddenly wanting to know me. Plus there's Rita to think of. One word about my past and someone would get hurt, involving her quick quotes quill, in a very dark and uncomfortable place," said Jane.
"That's you're way of saying you'll think about it?" asked Draco hopefully.
"Not quite. I'd rather not end up in Azkaban if it's all the same to you and Lucius," replied Jane.
"Don't blame my father..." began Draco.
"Then don't bring him into it," added Jane.
Sasha sat back down. Both Draco and Jane could tell that she was angry. It was enough to make Draco forget what he was saying, he turned back to his own year group, Jane shook her head. If she was honest, she saw the funny side, of Professor Snape's trick, but she wasn't stupid enough to admit it to Sasha.
"I really hate that man. Sometimes. I can't hate him all the time. You know? He took me in I guess. Like you, you flipped at Malfoy," said Sasha.
"Not really. He's not exactly the easiest man to flip at. That's why I forgot to wake you. The next Hogsmade trip was on the noticeboard. I went to the owlry. I wrote to Marcus," said Jane.
"I don't get it. You refused his advances for over a year. Just because Malfoy..." began Sasha.
"It isn't a date. It's an apology. Just don't tell Krum that. I might have lied, to get rid of him," said Jane.
"International or ex Captain? Tough decision Jane. People can be right about you sometimes. Tapped in the head. Totally screwed...now you're for it," said Sasha.
Jane looked very unconcerned. Professor McGonagall walked over to them, to have words with Jane, who could imagine how it pained her, to find that she had, however low, passed Transfiguration. To hold her to her word, Jane had chosen the subject. Professor Snape, knew about the bargain, so he put it down anyway.
"Congratulations. I believe I will see you in my NEWT class?" she asked.
"Yes Professor. You will," replied Jane.
"Miss Gibbs, is it worth the next to years, just to hold me to my word?" asked Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, I worked hard to get that grade. I have worked hard through-out the summer in order to improve. I have been trying to let you see, that you shouldn't have made that bargain in order to get me in, but have accepted me without question," replied Jane.
"Your parents were..."
Jane stood up very quickly. She looked angry and had nearly caused Sasha to spill tea down her front. Jane glared at the head of Gryffindor. Professor Snape rolled his eyes and walked over to the scene.
"What about my parents Professor?" she asked.
"Oh please calm yourself..." replied Professor McGonagall.
"Say it! Go on! My parents went out of their way to prove themselves did they? Prove themselves to be what?" asked Jane.
Professor Snape put his hand on her shoulder. He pressed on it and forced her to sit. However, Jane didn't take her death-glare away from the Transfiguration teacher. Professor Snape didn't say anything, none the less Professor McGonagall made a hasty retreat. He knelt down to Jane's ear.
"A word after breakfast," he ordered.
"Yes sir," said Jane.
She didn't stop glaring in the direction of Professor McGonagall. Professor Snape noticed and rolled up the remaining time-tables, and hit Jane over the head. She knew that was his way of telling her to stop and to behave herself. Jane stopped and rubbed the back of her head, but she dare not glare at her head of house. Jane knew that he had to be respected at all times, as far as she was concerned he had one too many titles, "Head of Slytherin" and "Only friend's father" were the two that stood out the most, both of which meant he had the power, to make life difficult for her, or easy, her behaviour dependant. Sasha looked at her watch and turned her head.
"We arrived here last night at about six. It is now almost nine. It has taken you fifteen hours, to be ordered into my father's office. A personal best by anyone, less than twenty four hours," she said.
Jane rolled her eyes, she carried on with her breakfast, by making a fresh cup of coffee. She then started to laugh slightly.
"With all due respect, I will no doubt to be told to control my temper, then be sent on my way," she said.
"I wouldn't bet on it," said Sasha.
"How much?" asked Jane.
"Don't start!" warned Sasha.
"Put your money where your mouth is. Go on," encouraged Jane.
"Five galleons," said Sasha.
"Alright. Done," said Jane.
Professor Snape, beckoned Jane out of the great hall. Jane followed him down to the dungeon and into the potions office. Jane was silently motioned to the seat opposite, she sat down, no matter how long her teacher stayed silent, she didn't show any signs of distress or discomfort. Although she was starting to feel her purse get a little lighter.
"You're not here over the fact, that you looked ready to hex Professor McGonagall. Jane, Lucius Malfoy tells me, you know that the dark mark also burned upon his arm, therefore you know it burned on other's arms," he said.
Jane had to pause. He had granted her with a little more intelligence, than she felt worthy. She hadn't given the incident a single, real thought, until just that moment. She then realized that he was admitting, he too was an ex-death-eater. However, Jane wasn't the type of person, to admit that she was ignorant to anything. With her sudden knowledge in mind, she nodded.
"He also told me, you've decided what to do, if this means the Dark Lord's return," added Professor Snape.
"Sir, it wasn't a matter of deciding. I'm guessing it is what my parents would have wanted, plus Lucius...I'm his ward. He might be killed if I don't. I can't let that happen and I won't. That family have been too good to me, for me to betray them," said Jane.
"What about you? Forget the Malfoy family for a moment. If he falls again, you could go to Azkaban. What then?" asked Professor Snape.
"I might go mad, but my conscience would be clear. Besides there are clearly people who escaped a sentence. It's not impossible. Will that be all sir?" she asked.
"Jane, please. Think on before you do this. You're a talented, young, witch. Don't throw..." he began.
"Sir, don't. I'm flattered that you're doing this, but I'm not your responsibility. I'm just a pupil..." began Jane.
"Who my daughter thinks the world of! If anything happened to you, she'd never forgive me. Please, think about all of this," he pleaded.
"I'm doing this for your daughter also. Everything I do, I think of her, I have done for the last six years. Somebody has to keep an eye out for her father," she said.
"I know...keep an eye out for me?" he asked.
"I can't see you allowing her to serve him. You never know, it might all be a blessing in disguise," replied Jane.
Professor Snape, realized he had failed to discourage her plans. If anything he had done the opposite and that meant trouble. Lucius might have been alright with the idea but Professor Snape knew someone, who did not like the idea. When Jane, opened the office door, she almost bumped into the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. However she backed up straight away at the sight of him. Lucius didn't directly admit it, but Jane knew he was the reason for her spending so long in care.
"Good morning Jane. I trust you've had a good chat with Professor Snape?" he asked.
"That is my opinion sir. Excuse me, I have things to do," replied Jane.
Jane walked away from the old man, towards the direction of the Slytherin common room. As he watched her leave he looked very concerned.
"She's far too much like he was. Severus watch her. I don't want to see history repeat itself. Not again," he said.
As soon as Jane entered the common room, Sasha stood up from her chair and held out her hand. Jane smiled at her and shook her head, causing Sasha's face to fall.
"The bad news is, he didn't give me detention, the good news is I did get a lecture. So in that case, we owe each other five galleons so no payment really," said Jane.
Sasha paused and eventually figured out, that Jane was right. They would both have what they started with, even if they did exchange gold. The Malfoy owl returned to Jane before her first lesson and she tucked the letter away, in order to read it later in private. Later that day she read the response from Marcus Flint:
Jane,
Will see you in the three broomsticks at half past twelve. Remember your promise, one drink is all I ask of you,
Marcus.
