AN: Hey! Sorry this one was a bit slower that normal but I've been WAY busy doing photography for the Air Cadets because...well...I'm not sure why I do it...I think it has something to do with logic going out of the window when crushes are involved. Yeah, lets blame it on that. Anyway! On with the story...

Gorgeous Nightmare

9

'Dad,

Sorry I haven't written since Halloween but it's been majorly busy.

You said over the holidays that you thought I wasn't telling you everything that happened and you were right, there are things that I've been doing that I didn't tell you about because I didn't want to you be excited and then disappointed if it didn't work out but I recently made a choice about my life after school and I think it's safe to tell you. I would ask to meet you next Hogsmead weekend but I doubt you'll get out of the house so here it is:

I have been on the Gryffindor Quidditch team since Second Year. Me and Sirius Black are probably the best beaters in the school and James (Our captain – you remember James Potter, right? He ran into me in Diagon Alley a couple of years back) has invited the scout for the Holyhead Harpies along to the final. This isn't some kind of cruel joke – I'm seriously going to see if I can go Pro with Quidditch.

And another thing that I might have to let you break to mum – That Sirius Black I mentioned? Well we're talking about moving in together once school is over. Everything else is going good... fell out with Marlene but that was inevitable. Lily, James, Remus and Sirius all say 'Hello' and Lily and Remus would like it noted that they're trying their hardest to make sure I study every night and that it isn't their fault that I spend all of my time flying and pranking but what's really new there?

I know she won't pay any attention but say hi to Mum for me?

Love,

Jordis'

You can probably tell that I'm useless at talking to my parents. No matter how well I get on with my dad, letters never got any easier. I figured it would be best to spring everything on him at once so that he would only focus on the Quidditch and forget the rest – I couldn't see him taking too kindly to Sirius if I didn't cushion the news of our moving in together with something like trying out for the Harpies.

Whilst I hadn't really been looking forwards to the reply, a letter would have been preferable to what I got.

It was the night of the New Years Party to end all New Years parties.

Lily was back and sporting a pretty emerald necklace that made James smile like a child and brought out a blush on my friend's cheeks that hadn't been seen since we were naïve little first years that caught the head boy and girl in a compromising position.

There was a good supply of Firewhisky in the corner of the common room and the Butterbeer was being kept under Remus' specially modified cooling charm – we weren't about to let the lower years miss out of the fun!

When it happened it was still only about seven in the evening with the party not kicking off until nine. Sirius was spread out over the sofa and I was perched on top of him trying to focus on my Transfiguration notes because McGonagall was sure to test us when we got back. However, I'm sure many people will tell you that it's not easy to study when someone is trying their hardest to get your bra off.

'Sirius. For the last bloody time will you cut it out – there are first years over there.'

'Then put the notes down and give me a hug!'

'McGonagall will gut me and use my intestines as Christmas decorations if I don't get this. It doesn't matter if I'll never want to turn a pig into a walking stick again, she'll kill me if I can't do it!'

There was a whine that echoed his canine side much more than his human side.

'Quite an accurate assumption, Miss Gates, although I assure you that I am perfectly capable of restraining myself to a simple detention or two. For Mr Black's sake though we shall just assume that your more violent predictions are correct.'

I scrambled round to see Professor McGonagall standing in the portrait hole.

'Professor! What are you doing here?'

'You have some visitors Miss Gates. I thought it best to show them to the tower as opposed to my office.'

She stepped to the side and I found my dad standing behind her, bounding on the balls of his feet. I was almost excited until I saw the woman clinging onto his arm.

My mother was near enough my twin – we had the same bright blue eyes and unremarkable but not un-pretty face. Her jet black hair might have been kept in a long pleat down her back but it was the same. One arm was hooked around my father whilst the other gripped a cross so hard that her knuckles had gone white. My hand instinctively reached up toward the small silver cross I wore around my neck – it was so strange to think that we believed in the same God but to her I was a vile servant of the Devil whilst I thought I was just blessed to have a power she didn't.

Sirius pushed himself up, clearing unsettled by the silence, and looked between me and my parents, realisation dawning on his face.

'You want me to go, love?'

I shook my head but moved off of him anyway.

'Oi! You lot!' I yelled at the four first years gathered in the far corner 'Clear off or I'll get James to ban you from the party.'

Missing the only Marauder New Years Bash they would ever get was not an option for the four eleven year olds and they were fast to scurry up to the dorms.

'Mum...Dad... what are you doing here?'

'Your parents told me that they had some concerns and, although you're an adult now and they have no legal power, I thought it prudent that the four of us sit down and talk through these issues.'

Professor McGonagall gestured for my parents to take a seat in the armchairs by the fire whilst she perched beside Sirius and me on the sofa.

Much to everyone's surprise, my mother was the first to speak.

'We are here to talk to Jordis, I demand that this boy leave at once. This should be family only.'

The words were sharp, my name sounded foreign in her mouth and I put out my hand over Sirius' to stop him from leaving. It wasn't that I thought he would but I knew my mother would be watching every tiny move I made. I knew because I was doing the same for her.

'Mum...that's the first time you've said my name since dad told you I was a witch - you don't get to make demands. Sirius is...he's...like it or not he is going to be part of my family one day so if it concerns me then it concerns him. Sorry but that's the way it is.'

She huffed and looked away from me, deciding that the fire couldn't possibly be evil and staring into it intensely.

My dad took over, leaning forwards in his seat and casting my Mum a wary look.

'Listen Jo...your mum's just nervous about being here, that's all. It's about your letter – we're not happy with your career choice. I love...I mean...your mum and I looked it up and professional Quidditch players have notoriously short careers. I you get injured then...'

'Dad, I just got out of the hospital after taking a bludger to the head. I've broken both my arms, most of my ribs, my legs and I even fractured my spine two years ago. Trust me when I say that injuries don't really worry me. Besides, my career would be more likely to be cut short by a Death Eater, not an unfortunate fall.'

'So you're rushing into this because of some silly cult? Jordis...you don't have to go running off into a relationship straight out of high school – these people are just trying to stir up trouble, they won't actually act on their threats.'

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I knew he had all but given up the magical world for my mother with the exception of a few spells here and there to make their life easier but I had assumed that he had at least kept up with current events.

'Dad, they are acting on their threats. People are dying out there. You're forgetting that I know these death eaters – they were at school here just a few years ago! I've fought them already, okay? In fact, Professor McGonagall here will tell you about the bust up when Bellatrix Black graduated – she put twenty students and two teachers in the infirmary before James and Sirius blasted her into the lake! She took the mark when she was fifteen. Did you know they've got Fenrir Greyback? He's not a joke! I know people whose lives have been ruined by that monster... if you don't take them seriously then they will kill you. If this is really just about me moving out then you're being ridiculous because I would have left the second I could anyway – I'm going to have a hard enough time being a half blood in this world, I wasn't about to be treating like dirt in my own home as well. I want there to be at least one place I feel I belong and, as it can't be Hogwarts for much longer, then it was always going to be with my friends.'

'Jordis...don't be...'

'No dad! I thought you of all people would understand – look at how much you gave up for mum, you told me yourself that you could have been Minister and you gave that all up because you loved her! Why is it so crazy that I would be willing to give up the same thing to spend what little time I might have with people I love and playing a sport that kept me sane before Sirius here quite honestly saved my life? '

My dad sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. My mother had perked up at the mention of this mysterious Minister's position that he had given up and I knew that she would be asking about it just as soon as we were out of ear shot. I felt betrayed – dad was supposed to be the one who would support me and believe in me and I was more than prepared to twist the knife in further until McGOnagall did it for me.

'Professor, will you please explain to your student why Quidditch is unrealistic.'

'Mr Gates, if I recall correctly you were quite determined to become a dragon trainer in your seventh year. I also believe that it was only an unfortunate Quidditch accident that not only lost Gryffindor both the Quidditch and House Cups but also left you unable to pass the entry requirements for the Romanian program. It was only after that incident that you came to me asking about a career in the ministry. As it is, your daughter is a powerful witch who had equally if not more powerful friends. She is a capable Quidditch player and she and Mr Black are undoubtedly the best two beaters in the school, if only due to their acute understanding of each other. Were she to pursue a professional career then I think she has every chance of succeeding and, taking the evidence of the last few months especially into account, she would do quite well with almost anything she sets her mind to. Although Merlin help us all if she were ever to turn her hands to Spellcrafting. Madame Pomfrey was quite glad when that phase had passed.'

Ah...yes...the Spellcrafting incident. There was a few months of my sixth year when I thought I might turn my hand to Spellcrafting. It was a short-lived dream that left much of the West Tower in ruins. It could have been fixed in a jiffy but McGonagall decided to instead place a large poster on the wall with a permanent sticking charm.

It was taken from a Pensieve memory and showed me trying out a new spell, designed to conjure a small dragon (Don't ask me why, it was the only thing that came to mind – kind of variation of the Serpensortia spell). It worked at first and a smoky shape floated around the room but after a moment it explodes and blows out most of the tower.

She left it there as a warning to anyone else who decided to go into Spellcrafting without any former knowledge of Arithmecy.

My father had gone a deadly shade of white whilst my mother was shaking with fury. Her sense of social duty wouldn't allow her to blow up at him here but I could see it was coming.

I could honestly have kissed McGonagall right now.

Sirius was being uncharacteristically quiet. He had just sat back and watched the conversation and occasionally squeezing my hand but now he sat forwards and cleared his throat.

'Mr Gates...I don't know if Jordis told you in her letter but...but I actually proposed to her on Christmas. She said it was too fast but that's how serious we are. If it's safety you're worried about then James and Remus think of her like their little sister and when I say that Remus would kill to protect his pa- family, I mean it – trust me when I say that she'll be safer with us that with anyone else. Jordis is right – there's a war going on out there and we're all in danger - her and Lily for being muggleborn; me for being a blood traitor; James for being a Potter and Remus and Peter simply for being our friends. The safest place for us is with each other. Me and James are going into Auror training next year and Lily said something about Healer training. Remus is a genius and I've yet to see them create a spell he can't master. We're all excellent duellers and like she said, we've been at school with these people – Hell, half of them are my cousins! We know their weaknesses and we've beaten them before. If it's something else that you're worried about then...I don't know what to say...'

My father had narrowed his eyes.

'You almost said 'pack'.'

'Dad, just drop it okay?'

'No I will not! Only Werewolves have packs! Why didn't you tell me you were consorting with monsters!'

'Mr Gates if you don't lower your voice I will be forced to ask you to leave.'

'I'm not leaving my daughter around a beast like that!'

Sirius and I were on our feet with our wands drawn before McGonagall could stop us.

'Don't you dare say a word against him. Dad, I love you but...if you say one more word about that boy then I'll kill you myself. It's true what they say about the Marauders being a pack, me and Lily found out about it when we started dating Sirius and James...Moony is my brother now. Both of you get out of her before I do something we all regret.'

Remus was unlucky enough to walk into the room moments after my parents had left and he quickly found himself engulfed by both me and Sirius.

Professor McGonagall nodded as she left and asked that we have all of the first and second years in bed at a reasonable time. She also advised that we don't break out the Firewhisky until later in the evening once most of the other students had given up and gone to bed.

We pretended not to notice the two missing bottles that would most likely find their way to the staff room before the year was out.