There\'s No Place Like Hogwarts

Destiny’s note- Thanks for the reviews. My responses to them will from now on be posted at the end of the story. Now, on with the show! All things belong to JK Rowling and the song belongs to Metallica.

Something\'s wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren\'t of snow white

Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragon\'s fire

And of things that will bite

Exit light
Enter night
Take my hand
Off to never never land

“Enter Sandman”- Metallica

Jessica found herself staring at Voldemort, her jaw hanging wide open. Her first thought upon gazing at his white skeletal face and flat nostrils was ‘Wow, this guy must go to the same plastic surgeon as Michael Jackson. Or maybe it is Mike, without all the makeup and the glove’. She didn’t notice that Narcissa was now kneeling at his feet.

“Who are you not to bow before me?” Voldemort hissed. He raised his wand and before Jessica could react, he shouted “Crucio!” She hit the floor, screaming in pain. It was unbearable. It felt like she was being stabbed and skinned alive. Suddenly the pain stopped, as quickly as it had came. Jessica gasped for breath, putting her hands on the polished wood of the floor, trying to steady herself. She dared not rise; for fear that he would cast another Unforgivable.

“Master, I did not know you were here.” Came Snape’s voice. Jessica could hear his footfall on the floor, the swishing of his cloak as he bowed before Voldemort. She saw his hands near hers on the ground as he knelt.

“You may rise mudblood” Voldemort issued coldly, conjuring a throne for himself to sit on. Jessica stood up shaking, her eyes on the ground. She was terrified beyond belief. What if Voldemort used Legilimency on her? She would surely give her secret away. Jessica heard Snape’s voice in her head again. ‘Think of anything, a song, a poem and keep it in your mind’. She imagined the chorus of “It’s A Small World” in her head. Surely if Voldemort was to read her mind, he’d go crazy hearing that.

“Come to me, mudblood.” He beckoned with one long finger and Jessica approached, kneeling before she fully got to him. She kissed the hem of his robes and stood.

“You learn fast.” Voldemort said. He took one hand and grabbed under her chin so that she was forced to look in his eyes. She felt a push in her head, like someone was rooting around in her brain. ‘It’s a small world after all’ she thought desperately. But the thought was wavering. Quickly, she thought of Snape, and how he had felt pressed up against her. The taste of his lips and the scent of his skin. Jessica heard Voldemort chuckle as he let go of her chin.

“You have already been tasted, haven’t you? How sad. I would have loved to take you.” He whispered, running one spidery hand over her bare shoulders. Jessica felt shivers run up and down her skin at his touch. His fingers were dry and cold, like ice.

“Is this mudblood yours, Severus? She will make merry sport if she is not” Voldemort laughed, pushing her away. Jessica returned to her spot by Narcissa, watching as Snape went to Voldemort.

“Yes, master. She is mine. A friend of that Muggle loving fool, Dumbledore.” Severus said.

Voldemort seemed to brighten up at this. An evil grin spread across his face. Jessica thought that Voldy’s smile greatly resembled that of the cartoon Grinch.

“Dumbledore. What a revenge it shall be when he sees her bearing my mark.”

Jessica panicked. She knew what Voldemort had meant by bearing his mark. She was going to become a Death Eater. What had she gotten herself into? Why did she come to dinner tonight?

“However, I shall hold off. Dumbledore has been keeping a close eye on me since that night at the Ministry. Severus, have you learned anymore about the prophecy?”

“No, my lord. Potter has been unusually quite lately though, and I do not think that it has to do with Black’s death. Perhaps another lesson or 2 with Occulmency and we shall know.” Severus sneered at the mention of Sirius’ name.

“Very well. Now as for your mudblood, I take it that she is the one you have selected?”

“Yes.”

“Very well, then you shall be wed in 3 days.” Voldemort rose and everyone knelt again. With a cracking sound he disappeared. Jessica sat back on the settee next to Narcissa. She was feeling a flood of emotions now and was trying her best not to run away screaming.

“Might I have a word with your lovely fiancé?” Narcissa asked Severus. He grimly nodded and Jessica followed Narcissa into a small room. Narcissa pulled her wand out and cast a silencing charm on the room.

“Don’t be frightened. I mean you no harm. I want to talk to you about what’s going on.” Narcissa said. Her smile was gentle as she rummaged around in a cabinet. She handed Jessica a small glass bottle. Jessica eyed it suspiciously.

“It’s a potion to counter the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. Severus made it for me.”

Jessica swallowed the contents. “I take it you have also been under it.” She said softly.

Narcissa nodded slowly. Her eyes brightened with unshed tears.

“Yes, I have. The worst was when I was pregnant for Draco. I nearly miscarried him, and would have if it wasn’t for Severus.”

“You like him, don’t you?” Jessica asked.

Narcissa sniffled.

“Yes, I do like him, but not in the sense that you do. I admire him as a man who wants to do right. Severus hasn’t had an easy life. I know because I have known Severus since he was a child. We were playmates. His father was a horribly abusive man both to Severus and his mother, Selena. Selena did her best to shade Severus from Sebastian’s anger. Sev would often come to my house with bruises and cuts, but he never complained. When Severus was in his 5th year, his mother died. He never told me how she died, but I knew that it had to do with his father. After that, he changed. He never let anyone in. He started hanging around with a group of Slytherins that became Death Eaters.”

Narcissa wiped a tear away at this memory. Jessica put an arm around her shoulder.

“I’m glad that he has found someone at last” Narcissa said. She stood up and went to the sink to wash her face. A knock at the door made them both jump.

“Mother, are you all right?” Draco called. Narcissa lifted the silencing charm and opened the door for her son. Draco had a look of concern upon seeing his mother’s tear stained face. He ran over to her and gathered her in his arms.

“You’re upset because Father wants me to take the Dark Mark, aren’t you?” Draco asked, kissing his mother’s head.

Jessica felt horrible about being present at such a private moment. She wanted to leave, but felt it would just draw more attention to herself. Naricssa turned to Jessica, a sad look in her eyes.

“We too have a dilemma on our hands. Lucius expects Draco to take the Mark soon. However, Draco does not want to.”

Draco shook his head slowly. “I want no part of my father’s way of life, Jessica. I do not share the same views as he does. And I know that the Dark Lord will fall against Potter.” Draco’s pretty face screwed up at the mention of Harry’s name, but he went on.

“I am expected to take the Mark in a month. Father is one of his most revered Death Eaters. As his son, nothing less is expected of me. I am to make a perfectly acceptable marriage to a pureblood and raise all of our children to be like us. But I can’t do it. I’m not like him, Mother” Draco began to sob in his mother’s arms.

Jessica began to see that there was more to the younger Malfoy than met the eye. Draco cleaned his face and gave a weak smile to Jessica. She smiled back.

“I’m in love with someone else” Draco confessed to Jessica a few minutes later as they were walking through the garden. He plucked a random flower from a bush and handed it to her. Sitting on the stone bench nearest them, he ran his fingers through his hair.

“Who Draco?” Jessica asked, sitting next to him.

He turned red and mumbled something so quietly that she had to ask him again what he said. Looking at the ground, he answered her.

“Ginny Weasley.”

“Oh.” Jessica felt shocked at first, but she didn’t say anything, she just let Draco keep talking.

“Father wants me to marry that cow, Pansy Parkinson. I’d sooner kiss the Weasel king and Potter than marry her. She’s utterly horrible. All she cares about is the money and fame that comes with the Malfoy name. And to think that I’d have to sleep with her? Gods, I’d think I’d rather shag that bushy haired Gryffindor know it all, Granger.”

Jessica smiled wryly.

“I’m sure that Hermione could use it. I had to take some classes with her and she was so boring. It was more fun than a root canal.” She remarked dryly.

“Might I have my fiance’ back, Mr. Malfoy?” It was Snape, looking paler than usual. Jessica stood up, bid Draco a good night. They watched as he walked away before Snape began talking.

“I had no idea about tonight. I did not know that the Dark Lord would be here.”

Jessica said nothing. She just looked at the ground.

“I’m sorry, I am. But you have a way out. You don’t have to marry me, and you don’t have to take the mark.”
Jessica looked Snape in the eye, and for the first time she saw him for who he really was. His eyes looked older than his 36 years. Strands of gray were just beginning to show around his temples. His face looked sad, broken, like he wanted to give up.

Standing on her toes, Jessica pulled him down to her face. She brushed a strand of hair away and kissed his forehead. A sad look came on his face.

“My mother used to do that.” He said softly.

“Severus, you are a good and honorable man. Don’t ever doubt that. Any woman would be proud to have you as her husband.” Jessica murmured in his ear, pulling him closer to her body.

“Are you sure you want a Death Eater for a husband. Do you want to deal with what happened tonight for the rest of your life? Endless torture, death, and murder? Can you deal with that?” he asked bitterly.

Jessica stared up at his face again. His dark eyes were searching hers for an answer.

“I would follow you unto the ends of this earth. Until the day we are reborn” She whispered pulling him into a deep kiss. His arms tightened around her as the kiss went deeper. His hands roamed over her body as he trailed a line of kisses down her neck.

From a window, a figure clad in green looked down at the couple in his garden. Lucius Malfoy narrowed his eyes. He drank down his glass of brandy and threw it against the wall in a fit of rage.

‘You will be mine, mudblood. Make no mistake about that.”


AN- It’s a little shorter than I had planned, but there it is for you. I’ve had a nasty toothache all weekend long that kept me from all of my planned Easter festivities, including dinner with my family. So I didn’t have time to work on this story much. As of right now, I still have my job, so that’s good. My boss did fire the night person though, so there are only 2 people left here, me and my boyfriend. He has been hounding me all weekend about the story. He’s very excited to be helping me out with this. It’s going to be a big surprise coming up, that’ all I’ll say. And I’ve also been very busy following the Terri Schivo case. I won’t put my opinion up, because I don’t want to offend anyone. I got a card and a memorial thing(those plastic cards that they give out at funerals) from Jonathan Brandis’ parents. I wrote to them a while ago after I learned that Jon died and they wrote me back. It was handwritten, and was very nice. I miss poor Jon. Not too many people remember who he was though. Now for the review answers.

Turtlesaregreat- I’m glad that this is such a good story for you. As for the rest, you’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Jenn- Yes it was an evil cliffie, but here’s the rest. Did you hear the latest about Britney? She’s pregnant. Wow, that’s strange.

Lightgoddess- I was going to make Draco gay, but that horse has been beat to death. Hop you like his love interest. Hope you like what I put about Pansy. I did it for you. I hate her too!

Jillian- I hope you like this chapter more. Poor Jess, having that curse put on her. Voldy sucks.

Dreamweaver- My boyfriend said you’re welcome. I love tossing in little funny comments. As for Narcissa, I see her as a woman under her husband’s oppression.

Catpower- Welcome to the story. Hmm, that’s an interesting suggestion you had, but I think I’m gonna stick with Ginny being Harry’s love interest. I like the way you think.

Killsandra- Yeah, it was a pretty evil cliffie, huh? I try to update when I can, and I would never ever leave my readers hanging like that. I hate it so much when a person writes a good story and never updates. One of my faves is “The Power of The Quill’ and “The Unfortuantes” and neither has been updated in forever. I will always find a way to update, so don’t you worry.

TicTac- Voldy was interested, yes, but he is much more of a gentleman that Malfoy.He would not take something that belonged to Snape. Snape’s one of his highest DE’s so he wants to keep him happy. Lucius though, had other plans. I have no credit card, so I can’t do that on Amazon. I don’t believe in credit cards or bank accounts anyway. Just another way the government can get into your life.

Lorett- See, Draco is a good guy. Come see the softer side of Draco( like the old Sears commercial). More Draco to come.

Lioncourt- That was a big cliffie, I know. Hope you still like Narcissa. I’ve worn through 3 copies of Interview, 2 tapes and 1 DVD.(my son got to it).

Next chapter- Snape’s wedding!