chapter one A lost Jewel

Jessie McGonagall and Sapphire McGonagall were chatting in Sapphire's dorm on a rainy November night.

"Are you nervous about your O.W.L.'s?" Jessie asked. She was a slender fourth year with emerald eyes and raven hair that reached her knees, which she almost always wore in a ponytail. Her long hair was her trademark.

"Absolutely," Sapphire, who was a fifth year that stressed over almost everything, answered. Sapphire's trademark were her sapphire blue eyes. (Her parents named her Sapphire because of her eyes.) She was also known for her golden hair and curvy figure.

Jessie laughed at how predictable her older sister's answer was.

"It is no laughing matter," Sapphire told her. "They are all I ever think about."

"Surely you must think about something else," said Jessie giving Sapphire a meaningful look.

"I suppose so," replied Sapphire. Jessie was referring to the huge crush Sapphire had on Remus Lupin since she was eleven. "Have you thought anymore about your crush, or should I say crushes, lately?" she asked Jessie.

Jessie sighed, "Yes, and I believe I finally know which one I like better. I would have picked sooner, but they are both in your year, so it was hard for me to get to know them."

"Do not keep me in suspense; is it Sirius or James?" Sapphire asked.

"James," replied Jessie. Sapphire's psychic Persian cat, Lupine, (named after Lupin) shook her head in disagreement, but neither one of them noticed.

"Jessie and James," mused Sapphire.

At that moment Sapphire's best friend and roommate, Stella Lation- a pretty brunette, came in. "Jesse James? Wasn't he some sort of Muggle outlaw?" The only answer she ever got to her question was Jessie and Sapphire's hysterical laughter.

Meanwhile the Marauders (except Peter, who was in the kitchen stuffing his fat face) were talking up in their dorms.

"Who are you going to ask to the dance?" James asked Sirius. Remus never dated because he thought no girl would accept him as a werewolf.

"I was thinking of asking Sapphire," Sirius replied. "After all, she is the most attractive student in our year besides me."

"You ought to steer clear of her since she is one of Professor McGonagall's nieces," said Remus the Prefect quickly.

"I like danger," replied Sirius. He and James could tell that Remus had liked Sapphire since their eyes met in first year (Peter was, as always, clueless), so Sirius had no real intention of asking her. He was simply trying to get Remus to admit how he felt. "Can you give me a better reason not to?"

"I would, however, I need to get to the library," Remus said and left. Sirius and James chuckled how shy Remus could be.

"You wanted to see me?" Jessie asked walking into her Auntie Minerva's office. She was surprised to see her sister and her cousin, a handsome fourth year in Ravenclaw named Blaise, were also there.

"Yes," Professor McGonagall answered grim-faced. "My sister-in-law is in the hospital; she had a heart attack last night." Her sister-in-law was, of course, Jessie and Sapphire's mother. Jessie had never been close with their mother; so she was not very upset. Sapphire, on the other hand, had a tight bond with her and was very hurt. Sapphire began to sob.

Blaise was protective of his cousins and he felt awful that one of them was upset and he could not do anything about it. "May I go, Mum?" he asked, not knowing what else to do.

Minerva nodded to her son and said to her nieces. "You two should go to Gryffindor Tower. You are excused from your classes for today."

Sapphire did go up to the common room, but Jessie went outside and sat by a tree near the lake.

"This is our spot," said James Potter coming over with his three mates. "But I guess you can stay here for today since your mum is ill."

"How did you know about that?" Jessie asked. She was surprised that he knew and slightly annoyed too.

"We have our ways," James replied mysteriously. That was one of James and Sirius' favourite sayings.

"Whatever," said Jessie. She could be very cold at times, even to the boy she had a crush on.

"Shouldn't you and your sister be together right now?" Remus asked.

"I don't know," Jessie replied honestly.

Sirius, surprisingly, was good friends with Sapphire and he didn't think that she would want to be alone during a time that must be hard for her. "I think I shall go see how Saphy is doing."

Jessie stood up. "No, I'll go," she said. Jessie was not going to let Sirius be alone with her sister when she was vulnerable because she knew about his reputation; Sirius may be attractive and funny, (or Jessie would never have liked him) however, he had done it with more girls than Jessie could count using all of her fingers and toes.

Soon Jessie returned to the boys and declared, "Sapphire is missing!"

"Are you positive?" Remus asked in concern.

"Affirmative; my broom is even gone, so she must have taken it and flown off somewhere! We need to find her!" Jessie cried.

James replied, "OK, don't panic. I have two broomsticks in my dorm we can use. You and Remus are both really light; one of you can ride with Sirius and the other one with me."

"I will go with you, Potter, since you are such a failure at flying," teased Jessie. She and James were both great chasers on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and they had playful arguments about which one was better. In truth, James was a bit more talented than Jessie.

James just laughed and said, "Fine."

"Wha' 'bout me?" Peter asked with a mouthful of pumpkin pastries.

"You're too heavy," stated Sirius. Peter shrugged and continued eating.

In a few minutes the four of them were in the air. Jessie was very glad that it was a windy day because the wind was blowing her hair into her face and no one could see her blush as she held tightly onto James' waist.

They flew around until dusk and Sirius asked suddenly, "Does anyone know where the bloody hell we are?" They landed in a nearby field and looked around; wherever they were it wasn't a place that any of them recognized. Sirius whispered to Remus, "Moony, I don't think we're at Hogwarts anymore."

"We'll have to stay here for the night. I am sure we will be able to find our way back in the daylight," said a voice from behind that made all four of them jump. It was Sapphire.

"You had us all worried," said Sirius hugging her, which annoyed Remus.

"Yeah, so don't do it again," James and Jessie, said together.

"I won't, I just needed to clear my head," replied Sapphire. "By the way, did you miss me?" she asked Remus, hoping very much that he had.

"Of course I missed you," he replied softly. He had been so worried that "missed" was definitely an understatement.

Sapphire beamed. Next, all five of them fell asleep in a large circle together.