Returning from the Shadows: Chapter I
Title: Returning from the Shadows
Rating: PG-13 / R
Length: Chaptered, WIP
Pairings: Sirius/OC, James/Lily, Remus/OC, Peter/OC, OC/OC, Other
Era: Alternate Universe (Marauder Era and Vold-War I)
Summary: It’s the end of school for many, and several young adults are about to leave the safety of Hogwarts’ walls and fully enter the Wizarding World for the first time. And society is growing darker day by day. In the midst of it all, six students receive an offer.
Note: Please keep in mind that this an AU story dealing with the First War.
~*~
Chapter I: A Surprising Offer
~*~
June, 1978
~*~
The summer season was already starting to announce its arrival as warm rays of a bright, afternoon sun shone down upon the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Fluffy, white clouds floated across the blue sky, while a slight breeze blew through the trees, keeping the temperature from approaching an uncomfortable level. Birds chirped from their perches on branches, and the still waters of the lake showed their occasional disruption as a tentacle of the giant squid broke the surface.
Numerous students had found a place to relax outside, taking advantage of both the nice weather and the fact that exams had ended just the day before. They would all be returning home within the next week, starting the summer holidays once again before returning to their education within the castle’s walls.
Well, most of the students would be returning in September.
Of the eight students that could be seen sitting around the large beech tree near the lake’s shore, however, only two would be coming back to Hogwarts for the next year. The other six had finally finished their N.E.W.T.s, and were now on the last days of their final year in the Wizarding school. They would fully be entering into the Magical society as adults once the week was completed - a fact that they all faced with some sort of mixture of excitement and anxiety.
Hogwarts’ Head Boy and Head Girl were reclined against the tree’s trunk, James Potter’s arm laid casually over the shoulders of his girlfriend, Lily Evans. There was no longer a sign of Lily’s vehement hatred towards the Quidditch star, a fact that amused the entire school quite a degree, especially the friends of the couple. Sitting next to them was a sixth-year student by the name of Evelyn Grace, her long, black hair an equal shade to the ebony locks upon the head that lay in her lap. Sirius Black had started dating the dark-haired Gryffindor around seven months ago, but with the way the two acted, one would think they’d been together for years. The relationship of Sirius and Evelyn was just as well-known as that of James and Lily, though each for slightly different reasons - James and Lily for their previous history and present love-sickness, Sirius and Evelyn for their comfortable, always-knew-it-would-happen attitude.
Across from the tree sat another couple: Remus Lupin and Jessica Young. She was also a seventh-year, but unlike James, Lily, Sirius, and Evelyn, Jessica wasn’t a Gryffindor. No, the dark-skinned Seeker was a skilled player and gifted student from Ravenclaw, who had battled Lily incessantly (but good-naturedly) in the grade department for the title of Head Girl. The redhead had pulled ahead in the end, however, but the two had remained friends since their fifth year, when both were named Prefects. It wasn’t until the previous March, though, that Remus had finally worked up the courage to ask Jessica to Hogsmeade. The two had been dating ever since.
Completing the group around the beech tree on this summer day was the final couple, made up of a seventh-year Gryffindor and a sixth-year Hufflepuff. Peter Pettigrew and Mary McAdams had been dating for just over two months, having gotten together after being assigned a partnered project in Herbology. Peter and Mary lay lounging on the grass on the other side of James and Lily and across from Sirius and Evelyn. Mary kept putting a hand up to brush her frizzy, red hair from her freckled face, while Peter was messing with a spare deck of cards.
“I can’t believe we’ve finally finished,” said Jessica, stretching herself out on the grass next to her boyfriend. “Seven long, tiring years - and two hellish sets of exams - are now completed.”
“You know, a part of me feels like I just found out about magic and everything just a little while ago,” said Lily, leaning against James’s chest. “But, in reality, I’ve known I was a witch for almost half of my life, and the other part of me feels like I’ve been here forever.”
“Actually, Lily, I think it’s the same way for a lot of Muggle-borns,” said Remus as he looked at the Head Girl. “They’ve always felt a bit like they didn’t fully belong in the Muggle world, like they know that they’re different, in a way, or that something is missing, so that when they come to Hogwarts, it’s like they’re complete.”
“Either way, it’s been seven years of schooling, and it’s good to be finished,” sighed Sirius, his eyes closed as he kept his head in Evelyn’s lap, his girlfriend’s fingers twisting through his hair. He opened his gaze, however, when she suddenly stopped and swatted him on the shoulder.
“Will you all stop talking about how wonderful it is to be finished?” she asked, glaring at the six seventh-year students. “Mary and I still have another year to go, after all.”
All of them laughed as Evelyn’s pale face formed a pout - though the smile that was trying to break free caused the emotion to fail, and she, too, joined in the others’ laughter.
“Aw, Eve, you’ll be finished before you know it,” said James, still chuckling. “And then you’ll be sitting out by this tree next June, thinking that it felt like only yesterday you were an eleven-year-old midget waiting to be Sorted - OW!”
James sent a glare towards Evelyn as she picked up another rock (the previous one having already found an impact on James’s head). The other members of the group had burst out laughing once again, and Evelyn just smiled sweetly at the older boy, the rock staying in clear sight. “You were saying, James?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
The Head Boy’s response just sent the group into more laughter, laughter that increased as Mary glanced up from her book and muttered, “Actually, I think everyone looks like a midget when they’re eleven. Evelyn wasn’t the only one.”
Evelyn’s rock found another home against the cover of Miss McAdams Charms text.
“Oh, such violence!” exclaimed Jessica, a large grin on her face as she watched Evelyn reach for another rock, only to have her search interrupted by Sirius's hand grasping hers. “Is there a reason you weren’t one of Gryffindor’s Beaters?”
“I’ve been asking her that question for months, Jess,” said James.
“And he hasn’t gotten an answer yet,” continued Lily. “She’ll just smile and look all secretive about it.”
Sure enough, as everyone looked towards Evelyn, a secretive smile had found a home on her face, her blue eyes twinkling.
“But surely you know the answer, Sirius.” Jessica’s eyes went to the black-haired Marauder as she spoke.
Sirius, on the other hand, wasn’t even given a second to respond as the other three Marauders exclaimed a “NO!” to Jess’s statement.
“Or, if he does know, he isn’t telling,” Remus elaborated.
Sirius grinned. “Everyone’s entitled to a secret,” he said.
“And you’re saying that Evelyn’s secret from you is as unimportant as a Quidditch position?”
Once again, laughter filled the students as James shot Lily an incredulous look at her statement. Every one of them knew that Lily was just as competitive as the next witch and that she had a love of the Wizarding sport in her own right, but compared to James’s fanaticism concerning the game, she might as well have had zero interest. But there were still certain buttons of her boyfriend’s that Lily couldn’t help but pushing; it was just too much fun not to do so.
Their laughter and peaceful time of enjoyment, however, was interrupted as another student approached the group. Angela Michaels was a sixth-year Ravenclaw, and a good friend of Mary’s as well.
“Hey, Angie!” said Mary, glancing up at the new arrival. Her greeting was soon echoed by several more “Hello, Angela” or “Hey” statements from the others. “What brings you over here?” she asked.
Angela smiled. “Hey, everyone,” she said. “Actually, I’m only here to deliver a message. I just passed Professor Dumbledore in the corridor, and he wanted to know if I knew where you all were. He was looking for you - well, most of you, anyways.”
“What’s the message?” asked Lily. “Or did he not say?”
“No, he said. He wanted to see James, Sirius, Remus, Peter -”
“What did you four do this time?” sighed Evelyn, glaring at the four boys in the group, as did the other three girls. All four Marauders, however, each held an innocent and angelic expression on their faces.
“We didn’t do anything!” exclaimed James.
“Or at least, not yet,” muttered Sirius, unfortunately loud enough for the girls to hear. Evelyn’s glare intensified as her blue gaze locked on her boyfriend.
Angela interrupted the inquisition, though, before it intensified. “It wasn’t just the boys!” she said, directing everyone’s attention back on her. “He also wanted to see Jessica, and you, Lily, in his office.”
The six summoned students looked at each other, confused expressions evident on their faces.
“What about Eve and Mary?” asked Peter, glancing at the two other girls.
“He didn’t say,” answered Angela, shrugging. “I assumed it was a whole ‘seventh-year’ deal or something.”
Once Angela had finished, she took a seat next to Mary, who had made her way over to Evelyn. James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Jessica, and Peter all got up from their very comfortable positions on the grass and, bidding farewell to the other girls, headed back up towards the school and the Headmaster’s office.
----
“Ah, there you are. Please, sit down.”
Upon entering the Headmaster’s office and receiving Dumbledore’s invitation to take a seat, all six students seemed to sit at exactly the same moment as their companions. Lily and Jessica chose the large sofa nearest the large, open windows, through which came the sounds of the numerous students still lounging out on the grounds. Remus sat near Jessica, with Peter taking the chair to his friend’s left. On the other side of the room, Sirius had grabbed the seat nearest the door and James had relaxed into the comfy chair that sat the closest to the Headmaster’s own desk. All twelve eyes turned to meet Dumbledore’s gaze as the old wizard began to speak.
“Now,” he said, looking at each of his students in turn. “I am sure that all of you are somewhat curious as to why I have called you here.” Six nodding heads were the only response given to the Headmaster’s statement. “And I am just as sure that you also wish to return to the relaxation that comes from a student’s completion of their exams as soon as possible.” The older wizard’s blue eyes held their characteristic twinkle as he spoke, though the light soon dimmed slightly, an action that caused the summoned students to pay closer attention.
“Firstly, I will say that none of you are in any trouble,” said Dumbledore, his gaze moving from Lily and Jessica and around the rest of the room to take note of the four boys. “Or, at least, you are in no trouble that I’m aware of.” Innocent expressions covered the faces of all four Marauders, although everyone in the room had long since lost the capability to be fooled by their angelic charming. They knew better.
“However,” continued the Headmaster. “The doings of students are not the reason that I asked to speak with all of you,” he said. “But before I get to the main part of this conversation, allow me to ask you all a question.” The attentiveness of the students grew. “What all do you know of the current events happening in the Wizarding World?”
Quiet fell over the group, and it was clearly evident that the tone of the conversations had changed. Things had quickly left the light-hearted greetings and humorous tones, now entering instead into those far darker realms of the world’s current dark times. Only the continued ticking of a nearby clock could be heard, each successive tick … tick … tick showing the passage of time, as the six students exchanged several glances with each other.
James and Lily, as well as Remus and Jessica locked gazes in that special way that couples do, with silent discussions taking place between them. Nods and shakes of heads could be seen, and it wasn’t long after the pairs had finished that the directions of gazes changed, and quiet conversations of friendship took place. Jessica met Lily’s eyes, while Sirius, Peter, James, and Remus managed their own silent brotherly communications.
“Well, we really only know what the Daily Prophet is saying,” answered Lily, the first of the group to break the quiet, ceasing the silent conversations and speaking aloud. “The number of deaths are increasing almost daily, it seems.”
James nodded. “He’s not just going after Muggles anymore, either,” he said. There was not a need for anyone in the room to be told the identity of ‘he’. “I mean, he hasn’t exactly stopped doing that, but Dad says that the number of witches and wizards that have been hurt or killed has grown, too.”
“He’s targeting everyone now,” whispered Jessica, her voice quiet, almost as if they were speaking of a forbidden secret, yet it was still clear enough to be heard by all present in the room. “All except his followers, that is.”
“The Ministry’s really starting to call it a ‘war’ more and more often now,” Peter muttered. “And that’s just happened in the last year or so, I think.”
Dumbledore’s silent nod told his student that he was correct in his guess.
“Basically, Professor,” said Sirius, breaking the brief silence that had fallen on the group and bringing everyone’s attention to himself. “I’d say that we know pretty much what everyone else knows.”
Albus Dumbledore nodded, exhaling a sigh. “Yes, that you do, Mr Black,” he said, though his voice was so quiet that the others didn’t know if he was actually addressing them or just speaking to himself. “But I have called you all here today to tell you a bit more than just what the rest of the world knows,” he said. “As well as to present you with an offer.”
“An offer, sir?” asked Remus.
The old wizard nodded once again, sparing his student a small smile as he did so. “Yes, Mr Lupin, an offer. But I will get to that in moment, I promise.” He folded his hands on the desk in front of him and leaned forwards, his blue eyes focusing on every one of the six young adults seated in his office before he began speaking again.
“For the past seven years,” he said, “you have been kept sheltered, for lack of a better word, within these walls. I have done my best to try and keep the trials of the outside from greatly impacting the learning done inside Hogwarts, but all of you have already come of age - all of your classmates have come of age, as well - and you are now considered as adults in the Wizarding World. By the end of the month, you will no longer be a Hogwarts student, but rather a fully trained member of society. You will be entering a community that, like every other, has its problems and difficulties. But unlike every other community, ours is, as Mr Pettigrew stated, within the midst of a war that, I fear, will not be one to be ended swiftly.
“You will be entering a world that has changed so much in the past few years, and I’m sorry to say, it hasn’t always been in a positive manner. But trials, and darkness, and difficulties are all part of humanity. We all must take the circumstances that are dealt to us and try to make the best of them,” continued Dumbledore. Not a single member of his audience dared to move, so captivated they were by the Headmaster’s words.
“Had I been capable of it, I would have ensured that none of my students entered a world like the one you and your classmates are about to enter. Fear and terror should have no place in a young person’s life, but unfortunately, that is the state in which our world presently resides. However, it is times like these where some of humanity’s greatest strengths are discovered. Some of the world’s truest heroes were found in the darkest of times, and I believe we are within another of those times.”
Dumbledore unfolded his hands and popped a small candy into his mouth, enjoying its flavour. James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Lily, and Jessica all remained sitting, their positions barely having changed since the conversation with the Headmaster had entered such serious territory. All six of them were well aware of what the world had become, and not a single one of them didn’t feel some level of trepidation that they would be entering such a dark and unsure society.
The future for all of them truly was a fragile and uncertain thing.
Sirius and James would be starting their Auror training at the beginning of July, barely a week after officially leaving Hogwarts. Both had already been notified the previous week of their acceptance into the program and would complete their training in just a year and a half. (The Ministry, due to the growing intensity of the war, passed the law creating the Aurors’ Expedited Program just last summer. Training now lasted no longer than two years, rather than the usual three.) Lily had received her acceptance into the Healer’s program just two days ago, while Jessica was taking a job at Gringotts. Peter had accepted a position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, working as a junior assistant to the Deputy Head of the Department, and Remus would start work at Flourish and Blotts in August.
“Um, I’m sorry, Professor,” said Lily, the silence growing heavy on the group as each fell into their own thoughts. “But, what exactly are you saying?”
The older wizard smiled. “Yes, I did start to go off track a bit, didn’t I?” he muttered. “Very well, I will get to the main reason why I asked for you all.” He paused for another brief moment before continuing.
“Each of you already know a degree about the state of the world at this time,” he said. “And I promised to both give you more information and present you with an offer - an offer, I want to make clear, that each of you is perfectly free to refuse. And you do not have to make your decision this moment, if you wish to think upon it for a while.”
All six students nodded their heads in understanding and waited for their Headmaster to reveal his information.
“Like I have already stated, I do not believe that this war, this time of darkness in our world, is a brief and easy-to-quickly-overcome part of history. Unfortunately, recent events - as well as previous knowledge and experience - have led me to believe that it is much greater and severe than that. The Ministry of Magic, I’m afraid to say, does not fully share my degree of concerns, however, and therefore, I have started a, shall we call it, a ‘resistance’ of sorts, against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.”
Silence reigned over the group when Dumbledore paused. The students all traded their own looks with each other, much like they had previously in the meeting. Silent conversations passed between the boys and girls, the couples and friends, before Remus broke the quiet by addressing Dumbledore.
“So, it’s sort of like a type of militia, sir?” he asked.
Dumbledore made no movement for the briefest of instances before he slowly nodded. “I suppose you could call it that, Mr Lupin,” he replied. “A resistance, a militia, an order … all those terms would suffice, I guess.”
“Does it have a name, professor?” All eyes glanced at Peter before returning their gazes to the Headmaster, awaiting the older wizard’s answer.
He smiled. “Why yes, Mr Pettigrew, it does. It is called the Order of the Phoenix.”
“Like life coming from death,” whispered Lily. “Like good things coming from bad, light from the darkness.”
“Very insightful, Miss Evans,” said Dumbledore, his blue eyes twinkling as they met Lily’s green orbs. A faint blush started to creep up the redhead’s cheeks as she smiled. “Yes, there is symbolism with a phoenix, and with this particular group, I believed it was appropriate.”
“This Order,” said Jessica, glancing up at her Headmaster before quickly lowering her gaze back to her hands, almost as if she was hesitant to speak what she was thinking. “It’s not Ministry-sanctioned, I take it?”
Dumbledore paused before answering, keeping his attention on the dark-skinned Ravenclaw as he spoke. “In a way, yes, Miss Young. The Order is outside the Ministry, but it is not outside the law.”
“But what does that mean?”
Sirius jumped in with his answer to Peter’s question before anyone else could speak. “It means that it’s the organisation that is going to get things accomplished. It doesn’t have to deal with the normal bureaucracy and red-tape of an actual government, but normal humane laws still apply; they’re not rebels or criminals, after all. An organisation like the Order is what’s going to be needed to actually win this war.”
“Mr Black is correct, Mr Pettigrew,” said Dumbledore upon surveying the dark-haired student. “Our members play to each of their strengths, and they cover for each others’ weaknesses. They are a diverse group, of course, but every one of them has the very same goal: They want to see this war won in the favour of the Light side.
“And now, it comes time for my offer.” Dumbledore leaned back in his chair behind his desk and folded his hands in front of him. “I am extending each of you an invitation to join the Order of the Phoenix.”
The silence that fell upon the group this time was perhaps the heaviest of all that afternoon. Dumbledore just simply reclined back in his chair for a moment, his eyes taking in the appearances of the young witches and wizards before him. The sound of ticking from the nearby clock seemed to grow louder once again as the sounds of outward talking ceased. Soon, the direction of Dumbledore’s gaze changed to that of a letter upon his desk, although every once in a while, the older wizard would glance up towards the six students that had just received his offer. (Of course, if they were all honest with themselves, most had guessed the conversation was heading in just such a direction when mentions of the Order first came up.)
One would have thought, upon quickly looking at the young witches and wizards, that something had happened and they had been Petrified. Both Jessica and Lily remained as still as stone on the sofa, while Peter’s mouth had fallen open in shock before he realised and quickly shut it. Remus's brow was furrowed in thought, as if he was trying to weigh every positive and negative of the decision he was faced with, while both James and Sirius seemed to be communicating mentally, with only a slight shake or nod of their heads every once in a while. It didn’t take too long, however, before the two dark-haired boys seemed to come to a decision and they turned their attention to the rest of their friends.
James shared a brief look with Lily, and in that short instant, he knew what she had decided. In truth, he guessed, she had probably made her decision the very second Dumbledore had first mentioned the Order. With a single nod of his own, he told Lily that he felt the same way.
Sirius glanced at Remus, the silent question passing between the two friends. Are you accepting? The werewolf’s small nod, an action that Sirius mirrored, gave each an answer. Jessica, too, it appeared, had agreed to accept (though the lost colour in her face showed her nervousness well enough).
Peter watched as his friends each silently decided to accept Dumbledore’s offer to join the Order, and while the largest part of the blond-haired boy was ready to issue his answer of “Yes” just as much as the others, he couldn’t completely erase that certain feeling of fear that twisted its tentacles around him. He knew he wasn’t the smartest, or the quickest, or the bravest, or the best. He was an average wizard, and Peter Pettigrew knew it. And most of the time, that simple fact never bothered the fourth Marauder.
But as he watched his friends come to their decision, not a single one of them (save Jessica, who had gone a little pale) showing any sort of hesitancy, he once again felt slightly different. He felt separated from the others in a way that he never had before - or at least, he didn’t think he’d felt this way before.
Were the others really not afraid at all?
Peter could never figure out the answer to that question, no matter how many times he asked it and in what ways. But in the end, when the others all had their attention on him and were awaiting his answer, he figured it didn’t matter. They were his friends, his brothers, and he would do anything to protect them.
After all, he thought, courage comes from mastering a fear, right?
And Peter returned the gazes of his friends … and nodded his own acceptance.
Together, the six students told their Headmaster of their unanimous decision, a decision which received a smile and nod from the old wizard.
~*~
That concludes this chapter.
~Megan
Rating: PG-13 / R
Length: Chaptered, WIP
Pairings: Sirius/OC, James/Lily, Remus/OC, Peter/OC, OC/OC, Other
Era: Alternate Universe (Marauder Era and Vold-War I)
Summary: It’s the end of school for many, and several young adults are about to leave the safety of Hogwarts’ walls and fully enter the Wizarding World for the first time. And society is growing darker day by day. In the midst of it all, six students receive an offer.
Note: Please keep in mind that this an AU story dealing with the First War.
~*~
Chapter I: A Surprising Offer
~*~
June, 1978
~*~
The summer season was already starting to announce its arrival as warm rays of a bright, afternoon sun shone down upon the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Fluffy, white clouds floated across the blue sky, while a slight breeze blew through the trees, keeping the temperature from approaching an uncomfortable level. Birds chirped from their perches on branches, and the still waters of the lake showed their occasional disruption as a tentacle of the giant squid broke the surface.
Numerous students had found a place to relax outside, taking advantage of both the nice weather and the fact that exams had ended just the day before. They would all be returning home within the next week, starting the summer holidays once again before returning to their education within the castle’s walls.
Well, most of the students would be returning in September.
Of the eight students that could be seen sitting around the large beech tree near the lake’s shore, however, only two would be coming back to Hogwarts for the next year. The other six had finally finished their N.E.W.T.s, and were now on the last days of their final year in the Wizarding school. They would fully be entering into the Magical society as adults once the week was completed - a fact that they all faced with some sort of mixture of excitement and anxiety.
Hogwarts’ Head Boy and Head Girl were reclined against the tree’s trunk, James Potter’s arm laid casually over the shoulders of his girlfriend, Lily Evans. There was no longer a sign of Lily’s vehement hatred towards the Quidditch star, a fact that amused the entire school quite a degree, especially the friends of the couple. Sitting next to them was a sixth-year student by the name of Evelyn Grace, her long, black hair an equal shade to the ebony locks upon the head that lay in her lap. Sirius Black had started dating the dark-haired Gryffindor around seven months ago, but with the way the two acted, one would think they’d been together for years. The relationship of Sirius and Evelyn was just as well-known as that of James and Lily, though each for slightly different reasons - James and Lily for their previous history and present love-sickness, Sirius and Evelyn for their comfortable, always-knew-it-would-happen attitude.
Across from the tree sat another couple: Remus Lupin and Jessica Young. She was also a seventh-year, but unlike James, Lily, Sirius, and Evelyn, Jessica wasn’t a Gryffindor. No, the dark-skinned Seeker was a skilled player and gifted student from Ravenclaw, who had battled Lily incessantly (but good-naturedly) in the grade department for the title of Head Girl. The redhead had pulled ahead in the end, however, but the two had remained friends since their fifth year, when both were named Prefects. It wasn’t until the previous March, though, that Remus had finally worked up the courage to ask Jessica to Hogsmeade. The two had been dating ever since.
Completing the group around the beech tree on this summer day was the final couple, made up of a seventh-year Gryffindor and a sixth-year Hufflepuff. Peter Pettigrew and Mary McAdams had been dating for just over two months, having gotten together after being assigned a partnered project in Herbology. Peter and Mary lay lounging on the grass on the other side of James and Lily and across from Sirius and Evelyn. Mary kept putting a hand up to brush her frizzy, red hair from her freckled face, while Peter was messing with a spare deck of cards.
“I can’t believe we’ve finally finished,” said Jessica, stretching herself out on the grass next to her boyfriend. “Seven long, tiring years - and two hellish sets of exams - are now completed.”
“You know, a part of me feels like I just found out about magic and everything just a little while ago,” said Lily, leaning against James’s chest. “But, in reality, I’ve known I was a witch for almost half of my life, and the other part of me feels like I’ve been here forever.”
“Actually, Lily, I think it’s the same way for a lot of Muggle-borns,” said Remus as he looked at the Head Girl. “They’ve always felt a bit like they didn’t fully belong in the Muggle world, like they know that they’re different, in a way, or that something is missing, so that when they come to Hogwarts, it’s like they’re complete.”
“Either way, it’s been seven years of schooling, and it’s good to be finished,” sighed Sirius, his eyes closed as he kept his head in Evelyn’s lap, his girlfriend’s fingers twisting through his hair. He opened his gaze, however, when she suddenly stopped and swatted him on the shoulder.
“Will you all stop talking about how wonderful it is to be finished?” she asked, glaring at the six seventh-year students. “Mary and I still have another year to go, after all.”
All of them laughed as Evelyn’s pale face formed a pout - though the smile that was trying to break free caused the emotion to fail, and she, too, joined in the others’ laughter.
“Aw, Eve, you’ll be finished before you know it,” said James, still chuckling. “And then you’ll be sitting out by this tree next June, thinking that it felt like only yesterday you were an eleven-year-old midget waiting to be Sorted - OW!”
James sent a glare towards Evelyn as she picked up another rock (the previous one having already found an impact on James’s head). The other members of the group had burst out laughing once again, and Evelyn just smiled sweetly at the older boy, the rock staying in clear sight. “You were saying, James?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
The Head Boy’s response just sent the group into more laughter, laughter that increased as Mary glanced up from her book and muttered, “Actually, I think everyone looks like a midget when they’re eleven. Evelyn wasn’t the only one.”
Evelyn’s rock found another home against the cover of Miss McAdams Charms text.
“Oh, such violence!” exclaimed Jessica, a large grin on her face as she watched Evelyn reach for another rock, only to have her search interrupted by Sirius's hand grasping hers. “Is there a reason you weren’t one of Gryffindor’s Beaters?”
“I’ve been asking her that question for months, Jess,” said James.
“And he hasn’t gotten an answer yet,” continued Lily. “She’ll just smile and look all secretive about it.”
Sure enough, as everyone looked towards Evelyn, a secretive smile had found a home on her face, her blue eyes twinkling.
“But surely you know the answer, Sirius.” Jessica’s eyes went to the black-haired Marauder as she spoke.
Sirius, on the other hand, wasn’t even given a second to respond as the other three Marauders exclaimed a “NO!” to Jess’s statement.
“Or, if he does know, he isn’t telling,” Remus elaborated.
Sirius grinned. “Everyone’s entitled to a secret,” he said.
“And you’re saying that Evelyn’s secret from you is as unimportant as a Quidditch position?”
Once again, laughter filled the students as James shot Lily an incredulous look at her statement. Every one of them knew that Lily was just as competitive as the next witch and that she had a love of the Wizarding sport in her own right, but compared to James’s fanaticism concerning the game, she might as well have had zero interest. But there were still certain buttons of her boyfriend’s that Lily couldn’t help but pushing; it was just too much fun not to do so.
Their laughter and peaceful time of enjoyment, however, was interrupted as another student approached the group. Angela Michaels was a sixth-year Ravenclaw, and a good friend of Mary’s as well.
“Hey, Angie!” said Mary, glancing up at the new arrival. Her greeting was soon echoed by several more “Hello, Angela” or “Hey” statements from the others. “What brings you over here?” she asked.
Angela smiled. “Hey, everyone,” she said. “Actually, I’m only here to deliver a message. I just passed Professor Dumbledore in the corridor, and he wanted to know if I knew where you all were. He was looking for you - well, most of you, anyways.”
“What’s the message?” asked Lily. “Or did he not say?”
“No, he said. He wanted to see James, Sirius, Remus, Peter -”
“What did you four do this time?” sighed Evelyn, glaring at the four boys in the group, as did the other three girls. All four Marauders, however, each held an innocent and angelic expression on their faces.
“We didn’t do anything!” exclaimed James.
“Or at least, not yet,” muttered Sirius, unfortunately loud enough for the girls to hear. Evelyn’s glare intensified as her blue gaze locked on her boyfriend.
Angela interrupted the inquisition, though, before it intensified. “It wasn’t just the boys!” she said, directing everyone’s attention back on her. “He also wanted to see Jessica, and you, Lily, in his office.”
The six summoned students looked at each other, confused expressions evident on their faces.
“What about Eve and Mary?” asked Peter, glancing at the two other girls.
“He didn’t say,” answered Angela, shrugging. “I assumed it was a whole ‘seventh-year’ deal or something.”
Once Angela had finished, she took a seat next to Mary, who had made her way over to Evelyn. James, Lily, Sirius, Remus, Jessica, and Peter all got up from their very comfortable positions on the grass and, bidding farewell to the other girls, headed back up towards the school and the Headmaster’s office.
----
“Ah, there you are. Please, sit down.”
Upon entering the Headmaster’s office and receiving Dumbledore’s invitation to take a seat, all six students seemed to sit at exactly the same moment as their companions. Lily and Jessica chose the large sofa nearest the large, open windows, through which came the sounds of the numerous students still lounging out on the grounds. Remus sat near Jessica, with Peter taking the chair to his friend’s left. On the other side of the room, Sirius had grabbed the seat nearest the door and James had relaxed into the comfy chair that sat the closest to the Headmaster’s own desk. All twelve eyes turned to meet Dumbledore’s gaze as the old wizard began to speak.
“Now,” he said, looking at each of his students in turn. “I am sure that all of you are somewhat curious as to why I have called you here.” Six nodding heads were the only response given to the Headmaster’s statement. “And I am just as sure that you also wish to return to the relaxation that comes from a student’s completion of their exams as soon as possible.” The older wizard’s blue eyes held their characteristic twinkle as he spoke, though the light soon dimmed slightly, an action that caused the summoned students to pay closer attention.
“Firstly, I will say that none of you are in any trouble,” said Dumbledore, his gaze moving from Lily and Jessica and around the rest of the room to take note of the four boys. “Or, at least, you are in no trouble that I’m aware of.” Innocent expressions covered the faces of all four Marauders, although everyone in the room had long since lost the capability to be fooled by their angelic charming. They knew better.
“However,” continued the Headmaster. “The doings of students are not the reason that I asked to speak with all of you,” he said. “But before I get to the main part of this conversation, allow me to ask you all a question.” The attentiveness of the students grew. “What all do you know of the current events happening in the Wizarding World?”
Quiet fell over the group, and it was clearly evident that the tone of the conversations had changed. Things had quickly left the light-hearted greetings and humorous tones, now entering instead into those far darker realms of the world’s current dark times. Only the continued ticking of a nearby clock could be heard, each successive tick … tick … tick showing the passage of time, as the six students exchanged several glances with each other.
James and Lily, as well as Remus and Jessica locked gazes in that special way that couples do, with silent discussions taking place between them. Nods and shakes of heads could be seen, and it wasn’t long after the pairs had finished that the directions of gazes changed, and quiet conversations of friendship took place. Jessica met Lily’s eyes, while Sirius, Peter, James, and Remus managed their own silent brotherly communications.
“Well, we really only know what the Daily Prophet is saying,” answered Lily, the first of the group to break the quiet, ceasing the silent conversations and speaking aloud. “The number of deaths are increasing almost daily, it seems.”
James nodded. “He’s not just going after Muggles anymore, either,” he said. There was not a need for anyone in the room to be told the identity of ‘he’. “I mean, he hasn’t exactly stopped doing that, but Dad says that the number of witches and wizards that have been hurt or killed has grown, too.”
“He’s targeting everyone now,” whispered Jessica, her voice quiet, almost as if they were speaking of a forbidden secret, yet it was still clear enough to be heard by all present in the room. “All except his followers, that is.”
“The Ministry’s really starting to call it a ‘war’ more and more often now,” Peter muttered. “And that’s just happened in the last year or so, I think.”
Dumbledore’s silent nod told his student that he was correct in his guess.
“Basically, Professor,” said Sirius, breaking the brief silence that had fallen on the group and bringing everyone’s attention to himself. “I’d say that we know pretty much what everyone else knows.”
Albus Dumbledore nodded, exhaling a sigh. “Yes, that you do, Mr Black,” he said, though his voice was so quiet that the others didn’t know if he was actually addressing them or just speaking to himself. “But I have called you all here today to tell you a bit more than just what the rest of the world knows,” he said. “As well as to present you with an offer.”
“An offer, sir?” asked Remus.
The old wizard nodded once again, sparing his student a small smile as he did so. “Yes, Mr Lupin, an offer. But I will get to that in moment, I promise.” He folded his hands on the desk in front of him and leaned forwards, his blue eyes focusing on every one of the six young adults seated in his office before he began speaking again.
“For the past seven years,” he said, “you have been kept sheltered, for lack of a better word, within these walls. I have done my best to try and keep the trials of the outside from greatly impacting the learning done inside Hogwarts, but all of you have already come of age - all of your classmates have come of age, as well - and you are now considered as adults in the Wizarding World. By the end of the month, you will no longer be a Hogwarts student, but rather a fully trained member of society. You will be entering a community that, like every other, has its problems and difficulties. But unlike every other community, ours is, as Mr Pettigrew stated, within the midst of a war that, I fear, will not be one to be ended swiftly.
“You will be entering a world that has changed so much in the past few years, and I’m sorry to say, it hasn’t always been in a positive manner. But trials, and darkness, and difficulties are all part of humanity. We all must take the circumstances that are dealt to us and try to make the best of them,” continued Dumbledore. Not a single member of his audience dared to move, so captivated they were by the Headmaster’s words.
“Had I been capable of it, I would have ensured that none of my students entered a world like the one you and your classmates are about to enter. Fear and terror should have no place in a young person’s life, but unfortunately, that is the state in which our world presently resides. However, it is times like these where some of humanity’s greatest strengths are discovered. Some of the world’s truest heroes were found in the darkest of times, and I believe we are within another of those times.”
Dumbledore unfolded his hands and popped a small candy into his mouth, enjoying its flavour. James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Lily, and Jessica all remained sitting, their positions barely having changed since the conversation with the Headmaster had entered such serious territory. All six of them were well aware of what the world had become, and not a single one of them didn’t feel some level of trepidation that they would be entering such a dark and unsure society.
The future for all of them truly was a fragile and uncertain thing.
Sirius and James would be starting their Auror training at the beginning of July, barely a week after officially leaving Hogwarts. Both had already been notified the previous week of their acceptance into the program and would complete their training in just a year and a half. (The Ministry, due to the growing intensity of the war, passed the law creating the Aurors’ Expedited Program just last summer. Training now lasted no longer than two years, rather than the usual three.) Lily had received her acceptance into the Healer’s program just two days ago, while Jessica was taking a job at Gringotts. Peter had accepted a position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation, working as a junior assistant to the Deputy Head of the Department, and Remus would start work at Flourish and Blotts in August.
“Um, I’m sorry, Professor,” said Lily, the silence growing heavy on the group as each fell into their own thoughts. “But, what exactly are you saying?”
The older wizard smiled. “Yes, I did start to go off track a bit, didn’t I?” he muttered. “Very well, I will get to the main reason why I asked for you all.” He paused for another brief moment before continuing.
“Each of you already know a degree about the state of the world at this time,” he said. “And I promised to both give you more information and present you with an offer - an offer, I want to make clear, that each of you is perfectly free to refuse. And you do not have to make your decision this moment, if you wish to think upon it for a while.”
All six students nodded their heads in understanding and waited for their Headmaster to reveal his information.
“Like I have already stated, I do not believe that this war, this time of darkness in our world, is a brief and easy-to-quickly-overcome part of history. Unfortunately, recent events - as well as previous knowledge and experience - have led me to believe that it is much greater and severe than that. The Ministry of Magic, I’m afraid to say, does not fully share my degree of concerns, however, and therefore, I have started a, shall we call it, a ‘resistance’ of sorts, against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.”
Silence reigned over the group when Dumbledore paused. The students all traded their own looks with each other, much like they had previously in the meeting. Silent conversations passed between the boys and girls, the couples and friends, before Remus broke the quiet by addressing Dumbledore.
“So, it’s sort of like a type of militia, sir?” he asked.
Dumbledore made no movement for the briefest of instances before he slowly nodded. “I suppose you could call it that, Mr Lupin,” he replied. “A resistance, a militia, an order … all those terms would suffice, I guess.”
“Does it have a name, professor?” All eyes glanced at Peter before returning their gazes to the Headmaster, awaiting the older wizard’s answer.
He smiled. “Why yes, Mr Pettigrew, it does. It is called the Order of the Phoenix.”
“Like life coming from death,” whispered Lily. “Like good things coming from bad, light from the darkness.”
“Very insightful, Miss Evans,” said Dumbledore, his blue eyes twinkling as they met Lily’s green orbs. A faint blush started to creep up the redhead’s cheeks as she smiled. “Yes, there is symbolism with a phoenix, and with this particular group, I believed it was appropriate.”
“This Order,” said Jessica, glancing up at her Headmaster before quickly lowering her gaze back to her hands, almost as if she was hesitant to speak what she was thinking. “It’s not Ministry-sanctioned, I take it?”
Dumbledore paused before answering, keeping his attention on the dark-skinned Ravenclaw as he spoke. “In a way, yes, Miss Young. The Order is outside the Ministry, but it is not outside the law.”
“But what does that mean?”
Sirius jumped in with his answer to Peter’s question before anyone else could speak. “It means that it’s the organisation that is going to get things accomplished. It doesn’t have to deal with the normal bureaucracy and red-tape of an actual government, but normal humane laws still apply; they’re not rebels or criminals, after all. An organisation like the Order is what’s going to be needed to actually win this war.”
“Mr Black is correct, Mr Pettigrew,” said Dumbledore upon surveying the dark-haired student. “Our members play to each of their strengths, and they cover for each others’ weaknesses. They are a diverse group, of course, but every one of them has the very same goal: They want to see this war won in the favour of the Light side.
“And now, it comes time for my offer.” Dumbledore leaned back in his chair behind his desk and folded his hands in front of him. “I am extending each of you an invitation to join the Order of the Phoenix.”
The silence that fell upon the group this time was perhaps the heaviest of all that afternoon. Dumbledore just simply reclined back in his chair for a moment, his eyes taking in the appearances of the young witches and wizards before him. The sound of ticking from the nearby clock seemed to grow louder once again as the sounds of outward talking ceased. Soon, the direction of Dumbledore’s gaze changed to that of a letter upon his desk, although every once in a while, the older wizard would glance up towards the six students that had just received his offer. (Of course, if they were all honest with themselves, most had guessed the conversation was heading in just such a direction when mentions of the Order first came up.)
One would have thought, upon quickly looking at the young witches and wizards, that something had happened and they had been Petrified. Both Jessica and Lily remained as still as stone on the sofa, while Peter’s mouth had fallen open in shock before he realised and quickly shut it. Remus's brow was furrowed in thought, as if he was trying to weigh every positive and negative of the decision he was faced with, while both James and Sirius seemed to be communicating mentally, with only a slight shake or nod of their heads every once in a while. It didn’t take too long, however, before the two dark-haired boys seemed to come to a decision and they turned their attention to the rest of their friends.
James shared a brief look with Lily, and in that short instant, he knew what she had decided. In truth, he guessed, she had probably made her decision the very second Dumbledore had first mentioned the Order. With a single nod of his own, he told Lily that he felt the same way.
Sirius glanced at Remus, the silent question passing between the two friends. Are you accepting? The werewolf’s small nod, an action that Sirius mirrored, gave each an answer. Jessica, too, it appeared, had agreed to accept (though the lost colour in her face showed her nervousness well enough).
Peter watched as his friends each silently decided to accept Dumbledore’s offer to join the Order, and while the largest part of the blond-haired boy was ready to issue his answer of “Yes” just as much as the others, he couldn’t completely erase that certain feeling of fear that twisted its tentacles around him. He knew he wasn’t the smartest, or the quickest, or the bravest, or the best. He was an average wizard, and Peter Pettigrew knew it. And most of the time, that simple fact never bothered the fourth Marauder.
But as he watched his friends come to their decision, not a single one of them (save Jessica, who had gone a little pale) showing any sort of hesitancy, he once again felt slightly different. He felt separated from the others in a way that he never had before - or at least, he didn’t think he’d felt this way before.
Were the others really not afraid at all?
Peter could never figure out the answer to that question, no matter how many times he asked it and in what ways. But in the end, when the others all had their attention on him and were awaiting his answer, he figured it didn’t matter. They were his friends, his brothers, and he would do anything to protect them.
After all, he thought, courage comes from mastering a fear, right?
And Peter returned the gazes of his friends … and nodded his own acceptance.
Together, the six students told their Headmaster of their unanimous decision, a decision which received a smile and nod from the old wizard.
~*~
That concludes this chapter.
~Megan