Chapter 27
A Time For Change

It was just after midnight, and Jamie was laying on top of the covers of her bed. She hadn't been able to sleep, because she was so worried about her father. She figured he would be home, but she hadn't heard any noise coming from the bottom floor. How late would he be at the Ministry? And what was going on in the Wizengamot that was taking so long? Was the Order of the Phoenix going to be able to reform? And if it didn't... Jamie didn't want to think what would happen if it didn't. She shook herself mentally and leapt out of bed. She silenty walked across the room, careful not to wake Jane who was sleeping on the cot next to Jamie's bed. Jamie walked over to the door, opened it silently, then walked out of the room and closed the door.

A couple of minutes later, Jamie reached the bottom floor of the house and noticed that the light in the kitchen was on. Jamie walked over to the kitchen and noticed her mother sitting alone at the table. She was looking through photo albums, and was humming silently. When Jamie walked into the kitchen, Ginny looked up.

"Oh, honey," she said, "You startled me."

"Sorry," Jamie said, sitting down at the table, "I couldn't sleep. Dad isn't back yet?"

"No, not yet," Ginny said, then catching the look on her daughter's face, she continued, "Oh, don't worry. You father has been at the Ministry much later than this."

"I know, but I am not just worried about Dad," Jamie said, "The reason Dad's there this late is to discuss the future of the Order, right? I hope it is going well..."

"Jamie, you really don't need to worry so much," Ginny said, "I am sure your father and grandfather are working it all out."

Jamie nodded. As she watched her mother look through the family photo album, a thought came to Jamie's mind. She hadn't told her mother or father about her relationship with Romeo. But did she want to tell them? It wasn't a question of when she could tell them, it was a question of how. Would her parents approve of her being with Romeo, or would they get mad?

Tell your mother, said the voice in Jamie's head, She will understand more then your father.

Jamie decided that this was right, but she would have to do this carefully.

"Um, Mum?" Jamie said, "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course, honey," Ginny said.

"Well, if I tell you something," Jamie said, "Would you tell Dad about what I told you?"

"Depends on what it is, Jamie," Ginny said, "You know I don't like keeping secrets from your father."

"Well, I want to be the one who tells him," Jamie said, "You will understand what I mean when I tell you."

"Okay," said Ginny, "Go on..."

"Well, a couple weeks after I started term at Hogwarts," Jamie said, "I was on my broom after the Quidditch try-outs and I crashed it."

"Really?" said Ginny, "That is quite a surprise, knowing how good of the flier you are."

"Yeah, well," Jamie said, "I woke up in the hospital wing hours later and Romeo came in."

"Romeo?" Ginny said, "You mean, Romeo as in... Romeo who is living here now."

"Romeo Malfoy, yes," Jamie said.

"Go on," Ginny said again.

"Well," continued Jamie, "He told me that he saw me crash and was the one who brought me up to the Hospital Wing. We got to talking and he... he asked me out on a date. Well, seeing that he basically saved my life, I said yes."

"I see," said Ginny.

"And... we have been going dating ever since," Jamie said, bracing herself for what could come.

"You mean," Ginny said, "You and him are..."

"A couple, yes," Jamie said.

"And do you love him?" Ginny asked.

"Well... yeah," Jamie said.

"I should have known," Ginny said, "I could see it when we were at the Ministry."

"How do you feel about this?" Jamie asked.

"I guess I should be happy that you have found someone," Ginny said.

"But, you are going to say that he is a Malfoy, so..." Jamie began.

"I wasn't going to say that, Jamie," Ginny said, "It doesn't matter if he is a Malfoy or not."

"You mean you are not mad at me for going out with a Malfoy?" Jamie asked, "Even when I am a Potter who..."

"Who should hate Malfoys?" Ginny finished, "Jamie, we don't hate the whole Malfoy family. You have to understand, Romeo's father..."

"I know all about Romeo's father," Jamie said, "But Romeo is nothing like his father, other then his appearance."

"I can see that, honey," Ginny said.

"Are you going to tell Dad?" Jamie asked.

"No, I think you should do that," Ginny said.

"Do you know how he is going to take it?" Jamie asked, "I mean... I am dating the son of his enemy. And now, with... you know, everything going on, I am afraid Dad will not approve of me and Romeo. He will probably think I will be in danger."

"I don't know how your father will take it," Ginny said, "All I know is that you should tell him. He will probably find out anyway. Romeo is living here now."

"Yeah, I know," Jamie said.

Suddenly, a noise was heard from down the hallway.

"Oh, that is probably them!" Ginny said.

Jamie and Ginny stood up and hurried out to the hall. Harry, Arthur, and the others had arrived.

"There you are," Ginny said, hugging her husband, "How did it go?"

"Well, it..." Harry said.

"The Order is back, right?" Ginny asked, "The Wizengamot did give permission... right?"

"Yes, Ginny," Arthur said, "But it came with a price."

"W-what do you mean?" Ginny asked, looking at each of the members of the Order one at a time, "What price?"

"The Wizengamot has assigned two people to join the Order," said Arthur, "On the Ministry's behalf."

"Oh?" Ginny said, "Who?"

"Percy and Rufus Scrimgeour," Arthur said.

"Percy? Uncle Percy?" Jamie said.

"Yeah," Harry said.

"Wait a minute," Ginny said, "Did you say Rufus Scrimgeour? I thought... I thought he was in Azkaban..."

"He was," Arthur said, "I suppose they released him on good behavior."

"The Ministry doesn't let people out of Azkaban for good behavior!" Ginny said, "Everyone who is in Azkaban deserves it. Dad... didn't you get a say in this? You are the Minister!"

"I couldn't make any decision about who would come into the Order," Arthur said, "I was on the defensive side... there are certain rules."

"This is unreal," Ginny said, "I can understand Percy... but Scrimgeour as well?"

"We figured the Wizengamot has assigned those two to be spies for the Ministry," Harry said.

"What are we going to do?" Ginny asked.

"Well, Percy and Rufus aren't assigned to come to the Order until after Christmas," said Arthur, "So, before they come here, I want to call a meeting. Everyone of the Order Members need to be here. We need to decide what we are going to do. We aren't going to let the Wizengamot get away with this. We need to be ready for Percy and Rufus."

"You're making them sound like the bad guys here," Jamie said.

Everyone stared at Jamie.

"I guess I will just... go to bed," Jamie said, realizing she wasn't supposed to be part of this conversation.

Jamie hugged her mother, father and grandfather goodnight and headed back to her bedroom. When she reached her bedroom, she walked over to her bed and laid down, falling asleep as soon as she hit the pillow.

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The next day, Jamie wasted no time in telling James, Jane, Richie and Joseph what she had heard the previous night.

"Your kidding!" James said, "We have to deal with Uncle Percy, as well as that fugitive!"

"He isn't a fugitive, James," Jamie said, "He was released by the Ministry."

"But he is a traitor to the wizarding world," James said, "He was being paid to keep his mouth shut."

"And Grandpa couldn't do anything about this?" Jane said, "He is the Minister of Magic!"

"Apparently being Minister of Magic isn't like it used to be," Jamie said, "I guess the Wizengamot had all the power last night. Or at least that is what..."

"Shh!" James said.

The door to the dining room opened and Tonks walked out. She walked over to a cupboard, took something out, then walked back into the dining room and shut the door.

"Aww, I was hoping we could hear something," James said, "I want to know what is going on in there."

"Yeah, well, it is a pity Fred and George are part of the Order," Richie said, "They could have helped us listen in to the Order's conversation. But now they expect anything that we might do to eavesdrop. They know all the tricks, seeing that they did the same thing when they weren't in the Order."

"Well, I am going to go see if Romeo wants to talk," Jamie said, "He can't stay in that room forever."

Jamie stood up and headed up the stairs. She walked over to the guest bedroom and knocked on the door.

"Door is open," Romeo's voice said inside the room.

Jamie smiled and walked into the room. Romeo was sitting on his bed reading one of his schoolbooks.

"Oh, well, this is an improvement," Jamie said, walking over to Romeo's bed and sat down, "At least you aren't in the 'I don't want to talk to anyone' mood anymore."

"I was getting bored," Romeo said, "I had to do something."

"Why didn't you come downstairs then?" Jamie asked.

Romeo shrugged.

"You don't know?" Jamie said, "Well, it is better then being cooped in this room all the time."

"Oh yeah," Romeo said, "And you think that if I go down, I won't get asked any questions? Believe me, it's better being up here."

"Would you come down for me?" Jamie asked.

"And get evil looks from your brother?" Romeo said, "No way. I know he still hates me."

"He doesn't hate you, Romeo," Jamie said, "I talked to him yesterday. About us. We had a nice talk and he is fine with us being together. Which reminds me... I also talked to my mother about us."

"How did that go?" Romeo said.

"It went... pretty well," Jamie said.

"Well, I could have guessed that," Romeo said, "Seeing that you are up here talking to me. If it didn't go well, your mother would have done anything she could to keep us apart."

"I still haven't talked to my Dad about us, though," Jamie said.

"Because you are scared of what he will think?" Romeo asked.

"I don't really care what he thinks about us being together," Jamie said, "It won't change the fact that I love you."

Romeo smirked. Jamie leaned over and kissed him.

"Now will you come downstairs?" Jamie asked.

"I will think about it," Romeo said.

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Okay, I admit it wasn't the best chapter. I didn't know much to put in it, cause I have been getting ready for the Order Meeting Chapter... it looks like I will be writing a couple of Order meeting chapters coming up... along with Jamie finally revealing the news to her father.

Hope you like the chapter... feedback appreciated.