Geminus

After Kara's shock announcement, Jenna decided to take action. Dragging Kara along, she marched to the staff room and knocked on the door. Unfortunately for the girls, Snape answered - his trademark sneer in place when he saw who it was.

"And what, may I ask, do you two want?"

"To see Professor Dumbledore."

If it was possible, Snape's sneer grew even more.

"And what can be so important on a Sunday?"

Kara shot a warning look to her sister. It wouldn't be a good idea to get involved in another blazing row. Jenna couldn't help give a slight retort, however.

"Nothing that concerns you."

"Well it that case, I suggest you return to your dorm."

Jenna and Kara looked at each other in panic when, fortunately, Kara had a brain wave.

"It's about Sirius Black!"

Snape hesitated before turning back to the girls.

"This had better not be a joke."

Snape led the two girls through the school until he stopped in front of the stone gargoyle.

"Dolly mixtures"

Snape gestured the twins onto the rising steps and, upon reaching the top, all three entered Dumbledore's office.

"Ah Severus, what brings you...."

Dumbledore paused when he saw the twins standing behind Snape.

"I see ... I did wonder when you two would come and see me. That will be all Severus."

The look on Snape's face was one of disgust at missing the conversation, but he didn't argue as he left the room. Dumbledore turned his gaze back to the girls.

"Please sit down. Now what exactly brings you two here?"

Kara sat down quietly but Jenna remained standing with a pointed glare on her face. Despite her enormous respect for Dumbledore, she didn't waste any time on venting her anger and frustration on him.

"You know bloody well what. All this bull that has been drummed into us about being destined to bring one person back from beyond the veil and everyone neglected to mention it would be Harry's god-father."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled slightly although his face remained solemn.

"I see Harry has told you about his death then. We still are not sure if the person you are meant to bring back is indeed Sirius, but going on the actions of Lord Voldermort at Halloween, it does seem very likely. He seems most keen on stopping you two performing the spell...."

"... So? I still don't see why you couldn't tell us"

"... We, I mean myself, your parents and the rest of the Order decided that it would be in your best interests to come under our protection, but to remain in the dark so you would not worry too much."

Kara looked up sharply.

"The Order? You mean the Order of the Phoenix?"

"Yes I do. Your parents knew of us and are now honorary members."

Kara and Jenna were slightly taken back by this news but Jenna pressed on.

"But obviously all of you knew, so why did you just send Snape away? I thought he was supposed to be a good guy?"

"The only people who know about the exact details of the spell are your family and myself. Certain members of the Order may let their feelings cloud their judgement if they knew."

Before Jenna could retort, Kara spoke up again.

"And, as we are all assuming that it is Sirius we should bring back, why is Voldemort so insistent that he doesn't come back?"

"Well, it is has been prophesied that if Sirius does come back then he will bring with him the answer to Voldemort's downfall."

Jenna and Kara looked at each other in disbelief. They had never realised that the spell they knew was so important - it certainly put slight pressure on them.

"How?"

"Ahh, this is the problem with prophecies. We do not know how or why Sirius will have this answer, just that he will."

"So that's the only reason we were brought to Hogwarts wasn't it? We are just being used by the Order."

"Not at all. Harry doesn't know about the spell and I certainly won't tell him. As for the actual spell, as you know, you both have to want to perform it - otherwise it won't work."

"So it is still down to us?"

"Completely. Now unless you have any other questions, I suggest you go back and enjoy the rest of your weekend."

Kara and Jenna got up to leave but as they neared the door, Jenna turned back - remembering what she had discussed with the rest of the Gryffindors last night.

"Yes Miss Geminus?"

"I, well myself and the rest of the Gryffindors, were wondering if it was possible to play Muggle music at the Yule Ball? You know, make it more of a less formal party."

"What an excellent idea! That will ensure all the students will experience Muggle culture - Muggle music, Muggle clothes...."

Dumbledore drifted off, looking into the distance. The twins giggled and were continuing to walk out when Dumbledore's voice stopped them.

"Oh Kara, I thought you would be relieved to know that Madame Pomfrey has recovered from her shock this morning."

Kara slowly turned back round to face Dumbledore, embarrassment written over her face. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling however before he gave her a wink.

"And how was Mr Malfoy?"

"Fine."

Kara mumbled in reply before bolting out of the office, followed by a very amused Jenna.

---------------------

The twins walked back to the common room deep in thought. As they passed the hospital wing, Kara hesitated but she kept on going after she received a 'don't you dare' look from Jenna. When they re-entered the common room, they were called over by Harry

"Guess who I caught wandering this floor earlier?"

"Who?"

"Malfoy."

"What? What the hell did he want?"

"He didn't say, just stormed off when he saw me. Probably wanted to have a go at Dean and Seamus for the Bludger attack."

"Probably."

Jenna smirked at her sister's blatant lying as Kara slipped onto Harry's lap. Jenna sat down next to them and they watched Ron beat Hermione at chess yet again. They sat for about an hour talking until Kara got up.

"Come on Jen - we had better talk."

Harry looked up, grinning.

"What about?"

"Girl stuff."

Kara shot back with a grin as the twins headed up the stairs.

"Well?"

"Come on Jen, don't mess about. We need to decide if we are going to tell Harry or not."

"No."

"Oh, just like that! Since when did you decide for the pair of us?"

Jenna started pacing the room, ignoring the evil glare given by her sister.

"Since there is too much at stake. If it goes wrong you know what could happen ... Sirius could come back dead ... or something worse."

The twins both shivered. They remembered the nightmares they both had as kids when they were first taught about the veil.

"But what if it works? As long as we warn Harry about the risks, he could handle it - I know he can."

"Oh yeah, coz you have been a great judge of character so far - just look at Malfoy."

Kara stood in front of her sister, her eyes flashing dangerously.

"Leave Draco out of this."

"Oh Draco is it? I guess it would be since you...."

"Oh, quit it Jen. He's got nothing to do with this."

Kara lowered her voice, fearing Harry might hear

"So there are potential problems, when isn't there? If I remember the problem of being thrown in Azkaban hasn't stopped you from not registering as an animagus."

"Yeah well, that's different ... but now that you mention it, I reckon I should let Narla decide this argument."

To Kara's dismay, Jenna disappeared and a tiger appeared in front of her. Narla growled threateningly at Kara.

"Oh please, Shay could kick your butt."

With a flick of her hair, Kara transformed into a black panther and growled back. They both prepared to pounce when the dorm door opened. They turned to see Hermione enter who, upon seeing the animals in front of her, screamed and fled back downstairs. Jenna and Kara quickly changed back and ran down after her, Kara muttering "we'll continue this later" to her sister as they went.

The twins burst into the common room to see a distressed Hermione being comforted by Ron, with a concerned Harry looking on.

"... I was so scared."

"I know, you shrieked for England!"

Jenna chuckled slightly before Hermione looked up in shock at the twins, her eyes narrowed

"You two were there? Hang on, that was you two, wasn't it?"

The look of amusement on Jenna's face was matched by Kara.

"I introduce you to Narla and Shay"

"You two are terrible - why didn't you tell us that you were animagi?"

"Sshh!"

The twins warned Hermione before looking round the common room, but fortunately most of the students had gone to dinner.

"Because we are unregistered, that's why."

"Well, that's just stupid."

"Actually it's kinda cool."

Harry had a wistful smile on his face. Before Hermione could argue anymore, Ron's stomach gave a large rumble.

"Come on, let's go down to dinner."

At dinner Harry, Ron and Hermione questioned the twins about being animagi. The twins, who were grateful to be distracted from their other worries, had them in stitches with stories of how they learnt to transform.

"... A tiger's tail is not very comfortable when you are on a broom!"

Everyone was laughing when one of the school owls landed in front of Kara. She took the note curiously.

"What's it say?"

"It says 'tomorrow afternoon in the library', it doesn't say who it's from ... oh hang on"

Kara turned the note over and spotted more writing, which caused her to chuckle. Jenna leant over and read it, a smirk growing on her face. It read 'from that jumped up Slytherin'.

Harry and Ron heard them laugh and spotted the note.

"What's that?"

"Oh, just a note from Malfoy telling me when he wants to meet up."

Kara screwed up the note and burnt it in one of the candles.

"The sooner this project is over the better."

Kara smiled as Harry slung his arm around her defensively.

"I couldn't agree more hun."