Chapter 11
Promises and Practices

"Oh, Joey, I can see why Weasel-Bee likes you. I had fun... we'll do it again sometime."

Jamie opened her eyes and gasped silently. She looked around and remembered that she was in bed.

"It was a dream, Jamie," Jamie whispered to herself, "You are still in bed."

It had been a week since that fateful meeting with McGonagall and the night Jamie found out that she wasn't the only person keeping secrets. Ever since that night, Jamie had been pondering whether she should tell Jane what she had witnessed. Jamie looked over at Jane who was sleeping peacefully.

Look at her, Jamie, the voice in Jamie's head said, She looks so peaceful like that. She has no worries on her mind about her relationship. I think we should keep it that way.

"I don't like keeping this from her," Jamie whispered to herself.

This should be easy compared to the other secret you are keeping from her, said the voice in Jamie's head.

That was true. Jamie tried to distract herself from these thoughts she was having, which was working nicely. Jamie already had a lot to think about. Today was the day she had requested the Pitch for Gryffindor. It was the first practice she would be able to have with the new Gryffindor Team. Jamie looked down at her nightstand and saw the old letter that Romeo had written after the big fight they had had. Jamie remembered the conversation she had with Romeo when she decided to talk to him again. Actually it had turned out that Romeo was the one who was wanting to do the talking...

Flashback Begins:

"So have you talked to McGonagall about you wanting to reserve the Pitch for Gryffindor?" Joseph asked, "I know you want our first practice to be this coming Saturday."

Jamie was sitting with Joseph, James and Richie at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Alice and Jane were finishing up their homework in the Common Room.

"Yeah... yeah I did," said Jamie, "Practice is this Saturday."

"Great!" Joseph said, "Thanks, Jamie. I am going to go see how Jane is doing... talk to you all later."

Joseph stood up and started to walk out of the Great Hall.

"Or rather how Miss Nott is, I bet," Richie whispered, so that only Jamie and James could hear it.

"Nah, I really think he is going to go see how Jane is doing," said Jamie.

"Do you not remember what we witnessed a couple of days ago, Jamie," Richie said.

"Yeah, I remember," said Jamie, "But Nott is sitting over at the Slytherin table."

James and Richie turned around and noticed Nott. Jamie looked over at the table and saw Romeo sitting there, chatting with his friends.

"I still can't believe Joseph would do something like that," said Richie.

Jamie didn't speak up. She had just noticed that Romeo had gotten up and was leaving the table.

"Yeah..." said Jamie, "Well, listen, I am going to go... I got homework to do too."

"All right," said James, "See ya, sis."

Jamie stood up and walked out of the Great Hall. Suddenly, she heard a voice.

"Potter! Hey, Jamie! Over here!"

Jamie looked toward the stairs, where the direction of the voice was. Romeo was standing near the stairs, looking at Jamie.

Jamie sighed and walked over to Romeo.

"What do you want?" Jamie asked him.

"Are you still mad at me?" said Romeo.

"I don't know," said Jamie, "No, I guess not."

"You did get my letter, didn't ya?" Romeo said.

"Yeah... yeah, I got it," said Jamie, "Listen, I do want to talk, but not out here."

"Let's go down to the dungeon," said Romeo.

Jamie nodded and walked with Romeo into the dungeons. Professor Slughorn's classroom was empty, so Jamie followed Romeo into it. After a minute of awkward silence and smirks, Jamie decided to speak. But Romeo decided to speak as well.

"Listen, Romeo..." Jamie began.

"Jamie, I..." Romeo said, "Oh, you can go first. I don't mind."

"No, I will let you talk," said Jamie.

"All right," said Romeo, "Jamie, listen. I am really sorry for all the stuff I been doing. I mean... you know, the Legillimency and invading your privacy and stuff like that."

"Oh, it is all right," said Jamie, "I over-reacted that day. I had a lot on my mind."

"Yeah... so, how did your meeting with McGonagall go," said Romeo.

"It was... good," said Jamie, "Professor Lupin was there as well and... my father showed up as well."

"What?" Romeo asked.

"It was his Pensieve I was wanting to use," said Jamie.

"Why were you wanting to use the Pensieve?" Romeo asked, "Oh... wait. Your dream. That dream you told me about."

"I wanted to store it in the Pensieve," said Jamie.

"Did you have to tell your father and them about us?" Romeo asked.

"Not exactly," said Jamie, "I told Professor Lupin."

"Professor Lupin knows!" Romeo said, "Why did you tell him?"

"He... sort of guessed, Romeo," Jamie said, "Why are you so worried?"

"He is going to tell your father, Jamie," said Romeo, "I already have enough problems without Aurors coming to call on me."

"What?" Jamie asked, "Oh... your father."

Romeo rolled his eyes and walked over to one of the tables and sat down.

"My father isn't going to ask you anything, Romeo," said Jamie, walking over to him and putting her arm around him.

Romeo scoffed and rested his head on the table. He didn't even look up at Jamie.

"Hey... I heard it with my own ears," said Jamie, "McGonagall told him not to interrogate you."

"I don't know anything about where my father is right now," said Romeo, "Like he would tell me anyway. My own father thinks I am some weak-minded fool. He doesn't want me to stay here."

"What?" said Jamie.

"He thinks I am risking his own safety," said Romeo, "He doesn't trust me. I know it. Hmmph... I don't really care, though. I rather have him rot in Azkaban then endanger my life."

"I can't disagree with you there," said Jamie.

Romeo looked up at Jamie.

"Jamie," Romeo said, before sighing deeply.

"What, Romeo?" said Jamie.

"Promise me something," said Romeo, "If I hear anything about my father... and I think he might do something stupid... I want you to run away. I want you to leave this place and go with your father."

"What?" said Jamie, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Promise me, Jamie," said Romeo.

"I am not going to run away, Romeo!" said Jamie, "I am..."

"Please, Jamie," said Romeo.

Jamie didn't know what to say. Romeo leaned over to her and kissed her.

When he backed away, Romeo looked into Jamie's eyes. "Please?" he said.

"Fine..." Jamie said, "I promise."

Romeo smiled and kissed her again.

End of Flashback

Jamie still couldn't believe what Romeo had asked her. Was he really afraid of his father? Either way, it meant that Romeo really cared for her. But the thing that stuck to Jamie's mind was the lingering question: Did Romeo really know everything about his father? Did he know about Draco Malfoy's whereabouts? Or was this promise just a precaution?

Jamie decided that she had better get some more sleep. Sleep was something she really needed to catch up on, and she really needed her strength. The Quidditch season was about to begin.

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At ten-to-noon, Jamie and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team were on the Pitch ready for practice. A few of the Gryffindors, including Richie, had come down to the pitch to watch their new team practice for the new season. Hagrid had also come down to the field to fulfill his "Head of Gryffindor" duties. Jamie looked around the stands for Jane and Alice, but couldn't find them.

"Jane couldn't come down, Jamie," said Richie, walking over to Jamie, "She said Alice wanted to finish an essay and needed her help."

"I was wondering where they were," said Jamie.

"All right!" said Joseph, mounting his broom, "We want this year to be the best for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Let's get into the air!"

"Joseph, I am the Captain unless you forgot!" said Jamie, "Go on and get into the air!"

"Well, you weren't doing it, Jamie," said Joseph. He rolled his eyes and flew into the sky.

"You know, cuz," said Richie, "Your little brother and I have been thinking about stuff... and we think Joseph needs to be taught a little lesson."

"What?" Jamie asked.

"Jamie," said Richie, "He cheated on my sister! If you aren't going to do anything, I am!"

"All right, I will talk to him after practice," said Jamie.

"Oh, yeah, good idea," Richie said sarcastically, "Jamie, talking isn't going to get through that head of his. At least... not yet."

"What are you talking about?" said Jamie.

"I was... er, thinking about telling Dawes to only aim his Bludger at Joseph," said Richie.

"Richie..." said Jamie.

"Jamie, I am not going to just ignore this," said Richie.

"Richie, get in the air," said Jamie, "I said I will deal with it. And if I see Dawes hit one too many Bludgers toward Joseph, you are going to get it! Now get into the air."

"Fine... fine," said Richie, mounting his broom.

Jamie shook herself mentally and flew into the sky.

"Hey, Potty!" a voice said, "Be sure not to fall off that broom again, eh!"

Jamie looked toward the direction of the voice. Jasmine Nott was sitting in the stands. Jamie was about to say something, but Richie beat her.

"Yo, Joey!" Richie said, "What is Nott doing here?"

"Why are you asking me?" Joseph asked.

As Joseph flew off, Jamie saw him smirk. She then turned her attention to Richie, who gave her a "You know what to do" glance.

Jamie shook herself mentally again but looked over at Dawes.

"Hey, Dawes, come over here!" Jamie said.

Dawes flew over to Jamie and stopped right by her. "What'cha want, Captain?" he said.

"Dawes," said Jamie, "Joseph is getting on my nerves a bit. Hit a Bludger toward him in a little bit. Maybe it will clear his head."

"Yes, Mam!" Dawes said, before flying off.

"All right," Jamie said to her team, "I want to start this year off right. Beaters, I don't want you to really hurt anyone, so try and keep those things away from everyone. Chasers, Richie still needs some more practice to perfect himself, so I want to see that Quaffle aimed toward the rings! I am just going to watch you guys and try to find the Snitch as well. Do you all understand!"

Everyone nodded.

"Hey Hagrid," Jamie said, looking at the Head of Gryffindor, "Release the balls!"

"You got it, Jamie," said Hagrid. Hagrid released the Bludgers and the Snitch. He threw the Quaffle at Joseph who caught it.

"All right, Chasers!" Joseph said, "Try to keep up... I don't want to have to wait to pass to you. You guys understand?"

Wood, Jr. and Frye nodded.

"All right, let's do it!" said Joseph.

Jamie watched as Joseph took the Quidditch and headed for the rings. She then turned to Dawes who was dealing with a Bludger that was headed to him. Jamie blew her whistle at Dawes. Dawes nodded and headed toward the Bludger. He reached it and smacked it straight toward Joseph. The Bludger missed Joseph's head by inches, but it had done it's job. Joseph got distracted and dropped the Quaffle. Wood, Jr. caught it and headed for the rings. He threw it toward the middle goal, but Richie caught it. James and the other Gryffindors cheered.

Jamie was going to cheer along with them, but she spotted Joseph. He had changed his direction from the Quaffle and began to chase Dawes.

"Joseph Lupin!" Jamie bellowed, "Stop that and get up here!"

Joseph came to a halt and changed his direction again. He flew up to Jamie.

"Joey, what were you doing?" Jamie asked him, "Dawes was doing his job."

"He nearly took my head off, Jamie," said Joseph.

"Rough game, Quidditch... eh?" said another voice. Richie had flown up to them.

"Richard, get back down to the goals," Jamie said, "I will deal with this."

Richard was about to speak, but Jamie narrowed her eyes at him. He backed off and flew back to the goal.

"Jamie, you need to get control of your players," Joseph said.

"Don't talk to me about control, Joseph," Jamie said.

"What?" Joseph said.

"It was I who told Dawes to send that Bludger your way!" Jamie said, her nerves getting to her.

"Why?" said Joseph.

"You deserved it," said Jamie.

"I... what?" said Joseph.

"Last Saturday, Room of Requirement," said Jamie, "Oh... I say that it was near eight-o-clock. But I don't think that mattered. You were probably losing track of the time anyway."

Joseph narrowed his eyes.

"What are you talking about?" he said.

"I know, Lupin!" said Jamie, "I know about your little date with Jasmine Nott!"

Joseph didn't speak.

"Joey, Jane is my cousin," said Jamie, "How could you do this to her?"

"I wasn't with Jasmine Nott!" said Joseph, "I was... oh, no. I... I thought that was a dream!"

"Joseph..." said Jamie, her anger nearing it's peak.

"Jamie, I was under the Imperius Curse!" said Joseph.

"I don't... wait... what?" Jamie said.

"I thought that incident in the Room of Requirement was a dream," said Joseph.

"You were under the Imperius Curse?" Jamie asked.

"That's the only explanation," said Joseph, "Jamie... I love Jane. I wouldn't cheat on her."

"Heh... oh, this explains a lot," said Jamie, "Uh... Joseph, you know what you have to do then... right?"

"I am not telling Jane about this!" said Joseph, "I couldn't control what I did... Jane wouldn't understand that!"

"I don't mean that you need to talk to Jane," said Jamie, "Joey... you need to talk to your father. Right now, I mean... go take a shower and do it... now!"

"Fine... fine..." said Joseph. Joseph flew down to the ground and walked toward the locker room.

"All right," Jamie said to the rest of the team, "Joseph has something he needs to do! We are going to continue practice without him!"

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After practice, Jamie took a shower and got dressed. When she left the locker room, Richie and James were waiting for her.

"All right, Jamie!" said Richie, "I knew you could do it. That little git. He was too scared to show his face."

"Richie, it is nothing like that," said Jamie.

"Excuse me," said Richie, "I saw him get off the field... I figured you gave him a good talking to."

"He left the field to go talk to his father," said Jamie, "He... was a victim of the Imperius Curse."

Richie's and James' jaws dropped.

"Yeah, you heard me," said Jamie.

"Joseph Lupin," Richie said, "Under the Imperius Curse?"

"I didn't believe it at first," said Jamie, "But it came to me while I was taking a shower. Jasmine Nott was using Joseph. She was trying to break him up with Jane, so that she could have another boyfriend..."

"Joseph," said James.

"Why didn't I think of that," said Richie, "Jasmine Nott likes the popular people. She couldn't have Romeo, so she picked Joseph. That little..."

"Yeah, well, let's go back to the Hogwarts," said Jamie, "I want to know how Joseph is feeling. I hope that Imperius Curse doesn't have lasting effects."

Jamie, Richie and James walked out up to Hogwarts and out of the hot sunlight.

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Oh, questions answered... wow, that was a fun chapter to write...

Hope you like the chapter... feedback... please?