Chapter 30
Discussions and Decisions

Jamie lay awake in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She didn't know what time it was, only that it was nearing morning. The sunlight hadn't even entered the room, so this meant that it was in the early hours of the morning. Jamie had spent most of the previous day thinking about the invitation she had recieved to enter the Order of the Phoenix. It was a great privilege to even be given an invitation, even though Jamie knew it was because of her parents that she was invited. The shock that Jamie had endured the moment her grandfather invited her into the Order of the Phoenix was still visible. Jamie had given alot of thought about entering the Order, but she knew that there could be an after-effect to the decision Jamie wanted to make. She was thrilled about joining the Order, it was true. But she also knew that it would take a great deal of responsibility to be a member of the Order. Not to mention the danger she could put herself in.

Jamie remembered what it was like growing up. Her father told her all about the Order and what it was like when he was Jamie's age. He had told her how dangerous it was. It was so dangerous, the Order Members hadn't allowed Harry to be in it until he was of age. Order Members were dying right and left, and others were getting injured. Then there was the fact that the Ministry of Magic was tracking down the Order.

Jamie had remembered how cool it sounded to be a part of the Order and fight the bad guys. But now that she was actually being invited, it seemed to have a different affect on her. It was all too real now. And the threat of an upcoming war even made it worse. Did she want to be invited to the Order? Did she want to be in the Order? Jamie had been trying to ponder this for a while now, and sleep only helped a little.

Another thought wandered into Jamie's mind. Why did the Order invited Jamie and her friends? She remembered what Romeo had said. Romeo wasn't even connected with anyone in the Order. In fact, the Order was hunting Romeo's father. Maybe Romeo was right... maybe he is bait.

Suddenly, a barely-heard tap on the bedroom door was heard, followed by a familliar voice.

"Jamie!" the voice whispered, "It's Romeo. Are you awake? I want to talk."

Jamie got out of bed and walked slowly past Jane and over to the door. She opened the door and saw Romeo standing outside it.

"Oh, good you are awake," Romeo said.

"The sun hasn't even risen yet, Romeo," Jamie said, "What do you want?"

"Can I talk to you?" Romeo asked.

"Now?" Jamie asked.

"Yeah," Romeo said.

"Fine," Jamie sighed, "But not here. Jane is asleep."

"Then we will go to my room," Romeo said.

"Fine, let me get dressed," Jamie said.

"Your pajamas are fine, Jamie," Romeo said.

"I don't walk around the house in my pajamas, Romeo," Jamie said.

"My room is just down the hall, you know," Romeo said, "It is not like we are going outside. Come on."

"Ugh, fine," Jamie groaned.

Jamie walked out of the room and closed the door silently. She followed Romeo down the hall and to the guest room. They made there way in the guest room and Romeo shut the door.

"Now, what is this about?" Jamie asked, "I might have been asleep."

"Oh, I envy you," Romeo said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

"What?" Jamie asked, "You mean you haven't slept any during the night."

"I slept," Romeo said, "For a couple of hours. Until a bloody... oh nevermind."

"No, until what?" Jamie said.

"I've been having these dreams," Romeo admitted, "Ever since I been here. I see myself at my house and my mother's body is laying on the livingroom rug. And she was dead."

Romeo sighed deeply and walked over to his bed. He sat down and put his face in his hands.

"Romeo, they are just dreams," Jamie said.

"Yeah, but that is not all," Romeo said, "In my dream, I saw my father outside the window. He is just looking at me and my mother's body... and he is laughing. And then... I uh..."

"You what, Romeo?" Jamie asked.

"Nevermind, you don't want to know," Romeo said.

"Oh, come on Romeo," Jamie said, "We told each other we wouldn't keep secrets. We've been doing enough of that already."

"My father... he...," Romeo said, slowly, "He had this... this red glare... in his eyes. I can't get that out of my mind, Jamie."

"It was just a dream, Romeo," Jamie said, "That is all it was."

"Yes, but it is affecting me, Jamie," Romeo said, "I... I do want to be in the Order. But I am afraid it is for the wrong reason."

"What?" Jamie asked.

"I want to be in the Order, Jamie," Romeo said, "But I don't want to do it just to help the wizarding world. I want to be the one who kills my father!"

"What!" Jamie said, bewildered, "Romeo..."

"He killed my mother, Jamie!" Romeo said, "I know he did... and I hate him for it. I will never... ever forgive him. I do not care what the Ministry says... I do not care what any one says. It was my father who killed my mother. The only reason no one can figure it out, is because he left no traces. He did it, Jamie! And I want him to pay for it."

"The only reason you want to join the Order is to kill your father?" Jamie said, standing up, "Romeo, the Order doesn't kill people unless they have to."

"And I won't be able to live with myself," said Romeo, "Unless my father is dead. I have made up my mind. I am joining the Order."

Jamie said nothing to this last response from Romeo. Romeo noticed this and spoke up.

"You... aren't going to tell anybody why I want to join the Order," Romeo said, "Will you?"

"Romeo, I already told you," Jamie said, "I don't like keeping secrets. It is just not me. You saw how much it tore me inside to keep our relationship secret. A humongous weight lifted the moment I told my father about us!"

"Jamie, this is bigger than any secret relationship!" Romeo said.

"You don't think I know that?" Jamie asked, "Romeo, do you even know how much danger you will put yourself in if you want to go out and kill your father?"

"You don't think I can do it, do you?" Romeo asked.

"It is not that I don't think you can do it, Romeo," Jamie said, "It is that I don't want you to do it. I don't want to lose you over something like this! I love you, don't you even understand that!"

Romeo said nothing but looked up at Jamie. He looked like he was about to say something, but a POP was suddenly heard behind Jamie. Jamie turned around. Remus Lupin was standing there.

"Professor Lupin?" Romeo said, "What are you doing in here?"

"Trying to figure out what the commotion was," Remus said, "The guest bedroom I am staying in is right above yours... and I was woken up. Now... what is going on?"

"We are trying to decide if we want to join the Order or not," Jamie said, looking at Romeo.

"Oh, I quite understand," Remus said, "But that doesn't mean that it considers a quite of bit of yelling. You are lucky no one else has come into the room. I understand how much thought it takes about entering the Order of the Phoenix. A lot of dedication and responsibility is expected. But of course, you are still in Hogwarts, so those responsibilities wouldn't come for a little while."

"Professor Lupin," Romeo said.

"Oh, please, do call me Remus," Remus said.

"Sorry," Romeo said, "Remus, can I ask you a question?"

"You already did," Remus said, "But sure... go ahead."

"Do you know why the Minister invited me into the Order?" Romeo asked, "I have no connections to the Order, unless you count the fact that I am dating the daughter of two of the members, and the granddaughter of the Leader of the Order. But besides that... why was I invited? I barely know some of these people. And the Order is hunting my father."

"Many of the members, including myself," Remus said, "believe you deserve as much of a chance as Jamie, Jane and Joseph. You are your father's son, but you are nothing like him. We all respect that, and we feel you should be given a chance. I mean... you do want the good guys to win this war, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Romeo said.

"Well, then, that is the first step to being a member of the Order," Remus said, smiling, "Remember, I cannot make this choice for you two, it is your choice. But it is not every day someone gets invited into the Order of the Phoenix."

Professor Lupin walked toward the door and opened it. He looked back at Jamie and Romeo.

"Oh, and I just wanted to let you know," Remus said, "We are planning on taking you kids to Diagon Alley to buy your Christmas gifts today. Romeo, you can come down as well, if you want to."

"Thanks, Remus," Jamie said.

"Yeah, thanks," Romeo said.

Remus smiled and walked out of the room, then shut the door.

"See, Romeo," Jamie said, "You are not bait. They invited you into the Order because they think you should have a chance."

"Yes, if you believe what Lupin said," Romeo said.

"I do believe what Remus said," Jamie said, "Because he has been there for me when I was growing up. Whenever I was mad at my parents for some stupid reason, I could always talk to Lupin."

"Look, Jamie," said Romeo, "I already told you I planned on joining the Order. And I am sticking to that decision. You don't have to persuade me anymore."

Jamie nodded. She didn't want to argue, even if she didn't agree with the reason Romeo wanted to join the Order.

"Are you going to join?" Romeo asked.

"I guess," said Jamie, shrugging, "It is the right thing to do."

"You aren't just joining because I am going to?" Romeo asked.

"No, I am going to join, because I want to," Jamie said, "I have made up my mind. So... are you coming to Diagon Alley with us?"

"It depends," Romeo said, "Whenever you go, do you have company with you..."

"My friends, of course," Jamie said.

"You know what I mean," Romeo said, "Aurors and such."

"Oh, no... well, not all the time," Jamie said, "But I guess since there is danger now... why are you asking anyway?"

"Well... we haven't been on an actual date since the dance," Romeo said, "If we got some time alone..."

"We are alone," Jamie said.

"Yes, but anyone could bother us," Romeo said, "I mean another private date. Maybe your cousin will finally leave us alone."

"Well... I guess it would be fun," Jamie said, "Well, I am going to get ready and go downstairs. Many of the adults are probably awake anyway."

"I will come down in a little bit," Romeo said.

Jamie smirked, kissed Romeo, and headed for the door. She left the room, shut the door, and headed for her own room.

This was another one of those chapters that I didn't want to put too much in, because it would get really long... this chapter was based on one thing... Decisions and Answers...

Feedback appreciated...