Emma and Rhia looked at the stone gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office.
"How do you think we open it?" Rhia asked.
"I don't know." Emma said. She took a step closer and poked the stone gargoyle on the nose. The gargoyle turned and some steps appeared. Emma grinned and turned to Rhia. "Works every time!" She said. Rhia shook her head with a smile and they walked up the stairs to Dumbledore's office. They walked into the large office. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk stroking his phoenix.
"Good morning girls." Dumbledore said.
"Good morning headmaster" Rhia said.
"Yo!" Emma said. Dumbledore laughed and offered them a seat.
"I'm glad to see you got up ok. I heard you downstairs and opened up the entrance for you." He said. Rhia looked at Emma.
"Works every time does it?" Rhia asked. Emma shrugged.
"What may I do for you?" Dumbledore asked.
"Um, we've been asked to do another performance." Emma said, "By quite a few students and we were wondering if we could used the Great Hall one night before we go home." Emma asked.
"I don't see why you cannot use the hall." Dumbledore said. "Provided you don't destroy anything."
"We wont." Rhia said with a smile. "Thanks so much." She said
"Would this be for a performance by Thriller?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
"Yeah, would you like to come professor?" Rhia asked.
"I would love to come Rhia." Dumbledore said. "I feel that despite this modern day rubbish your band has some potential." He said. Emma and Rhia grinned at each other.
"Oh, professor, you wouldn't happen to know if there are any male singers in the school would you?" Emma asked. "Rhia needs a partner to help her rehearse for the Holyhead ball."
"Emma!" Rhia hissed at her. Emma smiled at her.
"I will find you a partner." Dumbledore said. "Don't worry Rhia. You will be wonderful I'm sure. Your parents must be so proud of you two."
"They are." Rhia said with a smile. Emma's smile faltered slightly.
"Now if you excuse me, I'm very busy at the moment." Rhia smiled at Dumbledore.
"Thank you Professor." She said, "Would you like to sing a song with us?" Dumbledore laughed while Emma looked at her confused.
"No, I assure you that if I were to sing every student in this school would be in the hospital wing within a few seconds." Dumbledore said.
"Oh, ok." Rhia said. "Thank again professor." Rhia got to her feet and pulled Emma out of the office. They were walking back when Emma turned to Rhia.
"Are you sure you aren't adopted?" Emma asked. Rhia gave Emma a curious look.
"What?" she asked, sounding amused. Orion had asked her this once before.
"You're nothing like anyone in your family." Emma said,
"How?" Rhia asked.
"You're shy, modest, nervous and polite." Emma said. Rhia laughed. "No I'm serious! None of the rest of your family is like that." Emma said defensively.
"Is Jessie loud?" Rhia asked.
"Um no." Emma said.
"I rest my case." Rhia said. Emma rolled her eyes and followed Rhia to the Gryffindor Common room.
"Oh, you know that Orion wants to rap now?" Emma said with a laugh. "He thinks our music could use a kick." Rhia laughed and shook her head.
"Orion wants everything." Rhia said.
"Well, I was thinking we give him a chance. You know he's a bit upset over Ginny." Emma said. Rhia shrugged.
"As long as I don't have to sing, I don't care." Rhia said. Emma nodded.
----------------------------------------
"Orion, don't do it!" Mei said wrestling Orion to the floor of his bedroom. "Help me!" She called to Orion's room mates. They came and helped Orion up.
"What's happening?" One asked.
"I just want to talk to Ginny." Orion said. His voice was several tones lower then it had been a few months ago.
"And you'll say something stupid!" Mei said.
"I won't." Orion said. "I'm not a kid anymore." Mei gave him a rather bored look. "My voice has broken and everything! I'm not a kid anymore!"
"You'll make a fool of yourself and you'll come back to me saying how you're an idiot and all that." Mei said.
"Yes…no! That's not going to happen this time." Orion said.
"She's two years older then you!" One of Orion's roommates put in.
"So?" Orion said, "Grandma is three years older then my granddad!"
"It's wrong!" said another roommate. Mei looked at Orion as if to prove a point. Orion picked up his school jumper and left the room. He started down the stairs when he heard shouting from above him.
"No" Came Ginny's shout. "Ron, just leave me alone!" Orion turned to see Ginny storming down the stairs. Orion gave her a smile. She glanced at him and went straight past him.
"Ginny!" Orion said following her. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
"What is it Orion, I'm in no mood to hang around." Ginny said tiredly.
"I just wanted to talk to you for a bit." He said. Ginny looked at him slightly confused.
"Um, ok." She said uncertainly. They sat down on some empty seats by a table. "What did you want to talk about?" She asked.
"Are you ok? You don't seem to happy." Orion said. Ginny sighed.
"I just broke up with Dean." Ginny said.
"You did?" Orion asked brightly. Ginny nodded. "That's-that's terrible" He said trying to be sympathetic.
"Yeah, well I guess it was coming" Ginny muttered as she slouched in her seat. She closed her eyes for a moment. Orion watched her carefully. "So what about you? You ok?" She asked. Orion nodded.
"Yeah but I have a few girl troubles though" Orion said, "And Mei isn't much help. I was going to go and see my sister but you're here so it's ok." Orion said. Ginny nodded.
"What do you need help with?" She asked.
"Well there's this girl that I really really like and I'm not sure if I should try and ask her out. She's a little bit older then me though and I'm scared she'll say no." Orion said. Ginny groaned and pressed her forehead against her hands.
"Orion, please." Ginny said. "I'm really sorry but this is just a crush." She said, "I don't mean to be hurtful or anything but you're just too young. If you feel like this in a few years time then I'll go out with you but you're just way too young." Ginny said. Orion nodded but he looked at the table surface. He felt like he'd just received a blow to the chest.
"Ok." He muttered. "Um, hope you get over Dean soon." He muttered. He got up and went up the stairs to his room. Ginny looked around uncertainly. She had to do something. She called over Rhia as Orion went into his room. Mei was sitting on his bed reading a quidditch magazine.
"Judging by the expression on your face I don't think it went well." Mei said. Orion shrugged and sat on his bed. Mei gave him a hug and sighed.
"I suppose it's better really." Orion muttered. Mei stayed silent. The door opened and Orion looked up to see his older sister in the doorway.
"Ginny just told me" Rhia said, "Are you ok?" Orion shrugged and lay on his bed. Mei jumped off the bed.
"I'll see you later Orion." She said. She left the room. Rhia ignored some of Orion's room mates.
"Orion." Rhia said. When he didn't reply she turned to his roommates. "Do you mind if we have some privacy?" She asked.
"Yeah sure, we were about to go to the library anyway." Said one of the boys. The boys left the room and closed the door behind them. Rhia sat on the bed and put her hand on her brother's back.
"Are you ok?" Rhia asked.
"Yes I'm fine." Orion muttered.
"You don't look it." Rhia said. "Sit up" She said pulling Orion up. "Look, it's not that bad. You knew Ginny older then you and would say no anyway" Orion nodded
"I know, it's just that I never asked a girl out before." Orion said.
"Never?" Rhia asked slightly surprised. Orion looked at her and nodded. "Really? I thought you'd had a few girlfriends." Orion shook his head. Rhia hugged him and patted his back.
"I'll make sure the girl likes me next time" Orion muttered. Rhia smiled.
"Ok." She said. "So you feeling better?" Rhia asked. Orion felt better. "What about Mei? Haven't you ever considered asking her out, you two get along so well together."
"Yeah, exactly. We made a promise after Cho and Harry broke up we wouldn't date each other. She didn't want to be like her sister." Orion said.
"So you became like me." Rhia asked with a laugh.
"No." Orion said, "Have you asked Dumbledore about performing?" He asked. Rhia nodded.
"And he said yes. We're performing the night before we go home." Rhia said. "I can't wait to talk to mum again. I miss her so much more then usual."
"Same" Orion agreed.
"Mummy's boy." Rhia said. Orion was about to snap back when Rhia got up. "Anyway, I'm going to find Harry." She said, "night Orion."
"Have you and Harry you know, had sex yet?" Orion asked with distain. Rhia stopped.
"No." She said, "Why?"
"Because Kaylee told me that Jessie told her that you two had shared a bed. We wanted to know if you and Harry had you know…done it but you haven't so it's ok." Orion said. Rhia frowned at him before leaving. Orion laughed.
"Shut up!" came Rhia's voice from the other side of the door.
-----------------------------------
Harry was surprised at the number of people who wanted to listen to Emma and Rhia's band again. Quite a few students from Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had come out. Including those who hadn't gone to the ball. And to Harry's surprised there were a few people he recognised as Slytherins there. Ron and Hermione were standing with him and Neville as they listened to Kara singing on the stage. Rhia looked quite happy and contented behind her keyboard but Harry really desperately wanted her to sing. He loved her voice. Harry still wasn't sure what Thriller's style of music was. They had a mixture of different styles and it confused him slightly. There were a few teachers in the hall as well, curious as to the new talent in the school.
"I heard they're doing something special tonight." Neville said. Harry looked at him.
"Who said that?" Harry asked.
"Um…Emma." Neville said quickly. Harry looked at him suspiciously but decided not to say anything. He wanted to be with Rhia. But she was on stage and it was really annoying him! She smiled at him from the keyboard. Harry grinned and Rhia turned to Kara, who was finishing a song.
"Oh, this might be it." Hermione said as Rhia got up. Harry had always been surprised at how little his sister's role in the band was. She usually liked to play large roles in things, that what Emma was usually like. But it was great that the school liked her band, it gave her something to work towards, something to keep her busy. Rhia took one of the microphones and smiled into it.
"We'd like to welcome a special guest who will be singing Winter Wonderland with me" Rhia said. Everyone turned to Dumbledore who didn't look surprised. Dumbledore walked to the stage as everyone started cheering. He took a microphone from Kara and looked at it. He put it near to his mouth and spoke.
"Now I must warn you compared to these young girls here, I will be dreadful but I will try my best." He said. He got up on stage and seemed to tower over the girls.
"This is going to be interesting." Ron muttered. Hermione hit him lightly, they still weren't actually talking which, to Harry, seemed ridiculous, but it was Ron and Hermione, they always fought! Rhia placed herself behind the keyboard again, ready to sing while sitting. The band struck up the tune and Dumbledore looked at the students like the band was crazy.
"Sleigh Bells ring, are you listening. In the lane, snow is glistening-" Rhia said, she looked at Dumbledore. Who seemed to be counting the beats in his head.
"A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight" Dumbledore sang, he sounded slightly self conscious but Harry thought his singing voice was quite good. Better then his own anyway, a lot better.
"Walking in a winter wonderland" They both sang together. Harry smiled at Rhia's singing voice.
"Gone away is the bluebird, here to stay, is a new bird" Dumbledore said. Harry was beginning to see a pattern to this and some people were joining in anyway. Harry heard Hermione humming along as well.
"He sings a love song, as we go along-" Rhia sang. Harry listened happily to the rest of the song, Rhia adding in more and more decoration in her voice as she sang and even Kara seemed to want in on the song so there were three people singing until the end when Dumbledore and Kara suddenly stopped. Rhia looked momentarily panicked.
"We frolic and play, the Eskimo way, walking in a winter wonderland" Rhia sang, her voice slightly higher then usual. Kara gave her a wink and nodded towards Harry. Harry smirked as Rhia shut up and went quiet. Harry knew there were a few more songs left now. He glanced at Ron and Hermione. Hermione was still rather annoyed at Ron for not taking her seriously when she had the theory with the Mistletoe. Harry believed Hermione that maybe someone was trying to cause some trouble but Ron simply refused to believe it because it was so stupid…that had been a week ago. Harry could see that Ron wanted Hermione to talk to him but he just didn't have the courage to talk to Hermione about it.
"I'm going to go to the stage." Harry said, Hermione smiled and nodded.
"Ok," Ron said. Neville drifted off into the crowd until Ron and Hermione were on their own. Ron looked at Hermione anxiously.
"Um, Hermione." Ron said. Hermione looked at him at a glance.
"What?" Hermione muttered.
"Can we talk, outside maybe?" Ron said after a few minutes of silence. Hermione seemed to think it over then headed out of the hall. Ron followed awkwardly. What was he going to say now? He took some deep breaths as they went into the entrance hall.
"What is it?" Hermione asked. She didn't sound annoyed. She just sounded like usual.
"Um…well, I wanted to know why…why you were annoyed with me." Ron stammered. He was beginning to blush slightly, the redness creeping up his neck. Hermione scowled.
"You don't take me seriously, or what I say anyway." Hermione said,
"I do, it's just mistletoe…" Ron said with an apprehensive look. Hermione gave him a tired look, "It's just a little, far out." He finished lamely. Hermione crossed her arms as if she was cold.
"And if you really cared for me, I would have thought maybe we'd have gotten further then we have." She said, "I mean, we've barely done anything!"
"We've been to Hogsmeade and we do kiss." He said.
"When did we last kiss?" Hermione asked. Ron thought about this.
"I don't know." He muttered. "You haven't really spoken to me this week." Hermione sighed.
"It's ok." Hermione said, "I was just stressed out a bit as well." She said. Ron risked a smile. Hermione smiled and Ron let out a slight sigh of relief.
"So you like me?" Ron asked.
"I've always liked you Ron." Hermione said with a smile. Ron grinned even more. He gathered his courage together and quickly leant forwards and pressed his lips against Hermione's lips for a few moments. Hermione seemed slightly shocked by Ron's sudden show off affection but started to return the kiss after a few moments before they broke the kiss. Hermione grinned at him.
"Come on, lets get back to the hall." Hermione said.
"Alright." Ron said with a smile, taking her hand slightly hesitantly and leading her to the hall.
----------------------------
James ran his hands through his hair. The stupid woman was driving him around the bend! He felt like ripping his hair out. Every time he tried to do something this woman would go
"Hem hem!" James turned to Umbridge in the board meeting.
"What?" James asked.
"Well, don't you think that by training Law Enforcement officers to Auror level standard, there won't be any use for the Aurors." She asked.
"This is a war we're in woman!" James said, "You can either do what I tell you or leave!" The staff members who sat around the table shifted awkwardly. Jenny glanced at James as he stared down Umbridge. They seemed to be trying to stare each other out.
"Very well." Umbridge muttered as she took some notes. James turned to everyone else.
"Does anyone have any problems with training Law Enforcement officers to Auror standards. They won't be fully qualified Aurors but it'll be to protect the public. As you see in these files Dwight has arranged a training program that'll start after Christmas to all those officers that are of a certain standard or higher." James said.
"What about the attacks on the mud-muggleborn witches and wizards?" asked a wizard who had a pair of thin glasses and had a stubby little brown beard. He had been a member of Fudge's old cabinet.
"We are taking care of this. We have caught more Death Eaters all the time-" Dwight started to say but he was interrupted by the bearded man.
"But Azkaban is pretty much in the hands of the Death Eaters, where are you keeping these men?" He asked. Jenny and James looked at this man. His name was Charles Clamp.
"It's for the Aurors and minister to know. It's a secret for a reason." Jenny said. Clamp looked at Jenny and seemed to recognise her.
"Surely it can't hurt to tell the rest of us." He said, "After all, we all know how minister Potter treats his family, I don't know why we trust him with the country." He sneered
"That's it. Meeting over." James snapped. "Everyone out, no, Dwight, Jenny stay here." Jenny and Dwight stayed in their seats. In the last week Jenny had actually become James' secretary, of sorts. The rest of the ministry officials filed out of the meeting room. James waved his wand and the door slammed shut.
"They're just trying to get you to resign." Dwight said, "You know Fudge's old Cabinet, they're all power hungry, look what Umbridge did to Hogwarts last year."
"How do I get rid of them! I need new staff but we can't trust them." James said slamming his hands on the table, he sank into his seat.
"Well there's the…you know." Jenny said, "You know who they are and we can trust them." James looked at Jenny with a slight frown.
"Yes, I suppose but would they be willing to take up positions in this ministry? It's corrupted right to the very teeth." James said.
"Not the Auror department, that's for sure. We do a check on every single individual that goes into training." Dwight said.
"And the Department of Mysteries." Jenny said quietly.
"Yes, there are a few departments, but how do I get rid of these people. A few of them are alright but people like Umbridge!" James said waving at the door.
"Do you want me to kill her?" Jenny asked casually.
"You can't kill anyone." James said.
"How do you know?" Jenny said.
"You've managed to get into his circle on information, not kills." James said.
"Which reminds me, I need to kill your wife before Christmas! That's two weeks away. That, or I have to go into hiding forever!" Jenny said.
"We can protect you." Dwight said. Jenny looked at him.
"Not from him." Jenny said, "And Wormtail has a thing for me." Jenny said with a shudder. James shivered as well.
"Stupid rat!" He said. James looked at the clock on the wall and pushed himself up. "Well I better get home. Lily's still shaken up after the incident with Snape." Dwight nodded.
"Will she be ok?" Jenny asked.
"She'll be ok." James said. "I saw Dumbledore the other day, Snape's apparently still at Hogwarts, he's just not teaching." Jenny scowled. "Do you want us to pick up Bo tomorrow?" Jenny shook her head.
"No, it's fine. I'll meet you at Kings Cross." Jenny said. James nodded and picked up his cloak as he head out of the room. Jenny began sorting the notes she'd made in the meeting.
"Are you busy after work?" Dwight asked Jenny. Jenny looked at him apprehensively.
"Dwight…" She hesitated, unsure of what to say. She was feeling more and more guilty every time she thought of Dwight then of Remus. "I don't know if we should." She said. "I mean, I still love my husband and my son won't take it very well." She said. Dwight looked rather distressed by this piece of news and nodded.
"Ok, well, just as friends then?" He asked. Jenny felt a sort of pity for him. She really liked him but she felt that by going out with him she'd forget Remus. Then there was the matter of Bo. He was going to hate Dwight. He was going to hate Jenny for liking Dwight.
"I suppose. But I've got quite a bit of work to do." Jenny said. Dwight nodded.
"I can wait. There's some work that can be finished up in my office." Dwight said. Jenny smiled.
"Maybe a drink after work." Jenny said. Dwight nodded.
"Nothing more." Dwight said.
"Nothing more." Jenny said. Dwight smiled and got up to go.
"I'll see you in how long?" He asked.
"I'll send you a note when I'm done." Jenny said.
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay here with you?" Dwight asked with a frown at the thought of leaving Jenny on her own.
"I'll be fine." Jenny said, "I can look after myself" Dwight nodded and left the room, giving Jenny a last look before he left. Jenny sorted through the notes. The room was empty and a little scary. Jenny summoned her quill and a few other writing materials and sorted through the notes and papers she had. She'd been working for about half an hour when she thought she heard a creaking from the door. She turned to the door and frowned when she saw nobody but the door was open. She got up and closed the door. She turned to get back to the table when she jumped in surprise. The bearded wizard was pointing his wand at her. It was pointed right between her eyes. Even a stunning spell from this close between the eyes could kill her. She stared at the man.
"Jenny Lupin." Clamp said "Aren't you one of his henchmen?" He asked.
"Who's?" Jenny asked uncertainly.
"You know who I'm talking about" He said, "I've seen you there."
"Where?" Jenny asked. She knew what he was talking about but she wasn't going to let him know that.
"Stop joking with me, you're the snitch who tells the master about the Potters and the Blacks. You haven't done a good job have you?" He asked.
"What are you talking about?" Jenny asked.
"You're a spy for the Order aren't you?"
"How do you know about the order?" Jenny asked slightly surprised.
"You are!" Clamp said triumphantly. Jenny put her hands behind her back and grabbed her wand that was tucked in her trousers. "The Dark Lord is going to be pleased with me today." He said with a smile, "He will reward me." Jenny got out her wand and pointed it at the Clamp's waist.
"Expelliarmus!" She shouted. He fell backwards with a little force. She ran to the table and picked up the files quickly and said a spell that would send them to Grimmauld place. Clamp scrambled for his wand and got up.
"Avada Kedavra!" Clamp shouted. It hit the table, millimetres away from Jenny's hand. She looked up and ducked under the table as he sent another curse at her. She moved behind James' chair and looked at Clamp.
"Is that the best you have?" Jenny asked. Clamp stared at her and pointed the wand at her again.
"Flamora!" He shouted as a ball of flame hurtled at Jenny. She pointed her wand at it and blasted some water at it. It was extinguished in no time.
"Confundus! Expelliarmus! Stupefy!" Jenny said quickly one after the other. Each spell missed and she nearly kicked herself. Her aim was very off. Clamp looked at her and aimed his wand at her.
"Crucio!" He said. The spell shot at Jenny. She ducked behind the chair. It shot backwards into her as the spell hit it with so much force. She fell backwards, with the chair on top of her. Clamp walked around the room and pushed the chair off. Jenny felt rather winded. She rolled away in time to avoid a kick and go to her feet shakily. She made to grab her wand but it wasn't in her pocket. She saw it lying just under the table. Clamp grinned as he noticed Jenny looking lost without her wand.
"Well well, not so good now are we?" He asked. "Crucio!" He shouted. Jenny just managed to dodge it but the spell hit the wall and caused a picture to fall off the wall. Jenny let out a small scream and moved out of the way as Clamp brought his wand down in a whip like motion. A gash appeared on Jenny's face and ripped part of her sleeve. She touched her cheek.
"You bastard!" She said. "What is wrong with you? Don't you know I'm trying to get closer to the Potters?" she snapped.
"Yeah, whatever Lupin. We know your kind. You, Potter and her." He said.
"Who?" Jenny asked rather confused.
"Her, you know." He said.
"April?" Jenny said with a smirk. Clamp seemed to jerk slightly like many people did on hearing Voldemort's name. Jenny looked at him curiously. "You can't hear my friend's name?" She asked. Clamp just got angered by this. He sent a succession of curses at Jenny, a few of them hitting her and making her bleed or cause her severe pain.
"Don't say her name!" He snapped. Jenny collapsed against the wall as she was hit by another curse. She was breathing heavily and felt her mind going slightly foggy like she was about to pass out. Her eyes were closing when she heard a new voice added to the room. She thought she saw Dwight but she didn't know as she passed out.
----------------------------------
A/N:-Sorry about the non update on SUnday, i'm changing hte updating system slightly for myself. That and I've been busy with homework and sorting through Volunteer schemes. I've finally chosen one and hopefully, next september i'm gonna be in Uganda raising AIDS/HIV awareness and be helping develope the rural environment. YAY!! well, not about the fact those people all have AIDS and all that but because i get to help! I've been wanting it for years and i'm nearly old enough to help!! oh yeah! Anyway, after my high of realising that i have the chance to work in a 3rd world country, I sorry about the not updating thing. I'm glad you guys love Catcher as much as i do, lol. I love his character, i love hte stuck up characters, or the really homey lovestruck ones (see Rhia, lol). In reply to Rinny's question, All in good time my good reviewer, and I did email you. I sent you like 3 emails, each time adding/correcting myself....if you haven't got it my email addy is Just so i know if i got ur email addy right or not. Again, i'm issuing a plea for help on the Hermione/Ron scenes. I find them incredibly difficult to write and i need help with them. Most of the people i talk to are HErmione/Harry or Ron/Luna or someone else shippers. So i need a bit of help with that side of things. Well, I'll probs update again next week some time. ALso, i noticed a few people liked hte flashbacks, if you want more just ask and I'll put a few more in, i have many many ideas concerning teenage Lily, JAmes, Remus, Sirius, April and JEnny.