Obvious disclaimer: I don't own the Potterverse. It would be awesome if I did though. Thanks so much for the reviews and actually reading this! Here's the next part, enjoy!


The new recruits were back at Headquarters a couple days later with their mentors that picked them. Frank and Alice Longbottom, Peter Pettigrew – a close friend of and fourth member of the self-dubbed Marauders which included Sirius, James and Remus who were also there – Lily Evans and the blonde bombshell with the mouth of a sailor Marlene McKinnon. The eight of them were the latest full-fledged members of the Order and had the privilege of teaching the new batch of students from Hogwarts that Dumbledore found willing to take on the big fight.

Baxter was there, squinty eyed and staring at Sirius who was trying his best to hide how uncomfortable he was by it. Cummings was kicked back in a chair much like how she sat when she first arrived at the Headquarters. Alexander Buford – a short, scrawny, pale boy with a massive amount of dark freckles that were highlighted by his dark brown eyes and equally dark hair that was styled like he was from the fifties – stood nervously next to Baxter fiddling with his wand. Charity Gifford was sitting quietly and stiffly in a chair next to Cummings. Her frizzy, incredibly curly honey blonde hair was pulled back in a low ponytail while her baby blue eyes watched the group of mentors, waiting for instruction.

Adrienne Talbot was a twitchy little midget of a girl, standing at a mere four-foot-eight and a half; she was eager to learn but had a habit of second guessing herself. Her long ash brown hair reached the top of her backside in waves with fringe that was pulled back with a black headband; her golden eyes were startlingly bright and slightly eerie. Rupert Townsend was a full-blown, stereotypical ginger. He was overly freckled teen with electric orange hair and pale skin that towered over the others with his impressive height of over six and a half feet tall. He leaned casually against the wall with his large hands shoved deep – which really wasn't that deep – in his pockets.

Laertes Vance was a burly boy of average height with no distinguishable features and could easily be lost in a crowd. In fact not many people could really remember what he looked like, he was as nondescript as a black van Muggle cops used when doing surveillance. Lastly, sleeping face-planted on the table with a puddle of drool that was slowly but surely turning into a lake was Reginald St. Thomas – Reggie for short and who in fact rivaled Talbot for shortest newbie of the group though he did have a good few inches on her. If it wasn't for the five o'clock shadow and deep voice that came with puberty it would be able to mistake him for a second year Hogwarts student with blonde hair that was styled into spikes – the end result made him look like he had stuck his finger into a Muggle electrical socket.

After a really loud bang as a result of a Zonko's product – set off by one of the more mischievous Marauders – that woke up St. Thomas the mentors paired off with their mentees for their first instructions on what they were going to learn. Cummings stared up at Sirius with her apple green eyes sparkling with excitement and fingers twitching in anticipation. Unlike the other day she was sufficiently dressed in a pair of jeans and a bumblebee yellow t-shirt. Her coppery chestnut colored hair was pulled back into a high ponytail that let her hair swish behind her while her fringe was pushed to one side to keep it out of her eyes.

Sirius, unsure what to do with his new found authority tried to think of what to teach the girl before him. She didn't seem to be more than seventeen, oh how he could mold her delicate mind into something quite twisted – in a good way. Unlike Lily and Remus had suggested, Sirius hadn't come up with a lesson plan, he didn't think he needed one. He had been sure that when the time came he'd just know. Obviously as he stood there stoically trying like mad to come up with a lesson plan he was wrong.

"For your first lesson we're going to practice constant vigilance," said Sirius remembering Moody lecturing her about how she was lacking this skill. Then again Moody thought the majority of the Order lacked this skill and would constantly lecture them about it.

"Really," Cummings arched a sculpted eyebrow sensing that this might just be off the top of his head. "And how, oh great one, are we going to do that?" She asked sarcastically before grinning, thinking of the possibilities that working with Sirius Black could give her. Especially the possibility of bugging the hell out of Baxter, for they had never gotten along, not once since they first met a little more than six years ago on the Hogwarts Express.

"Shall I provoke Baxter by taunting him that I've got his boyfriend teaching me instead of him? Then wait for him to attack?" Sirius noted the keenness Cummings had for this idea. "Though I don't think I need to taunt him much," She stated thoughtfully. "Maybe just grin really big in his direction and point to you, do a little thumbs-up…" Cummings presented the grin paired with the thumbs-up she would give Baxter only to notice the look Sirius was giving her.

"Right, sorry Captain," she said solemnly. "Constant vigilance, how are we going to practice that? And why are we practicing that?" She asked, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"Well, it was one of the first things we were taught and it was the first thing that I thought of." Sirius replied truthfully not feeling the need to hide his lack of preparation. Cummings knew it; he thought it up on the spot.

"Wow, it's great to know you've got this all planned out." Her sarcasm returned, this time with an eye roll, though she was quite amused by Sirius' teaching style. She was quite taken by the older boy since the first meeting about the mentoring when he pointed to her, said 'Oi, you!' then gestured for her to walk over to him which she did. Then the rest, as they say, was history. Obviously her mentor had personality.

"Shove it Cummings."

Cummings grinned widely – just a hint of a dimple in her left cheek. "Aye, aye Captain," she said saluting him.

Sirius stared at her for a moment before continuing. "Right, so how this is going to work is for a week I'm going to surprise you and you've got to protect yourself by throwing a stunning spell at me."

She shrugged. "Doesn't seem too hard, so what time during the week do you plan to attack?" She asked obviously not grasping the concept of 'surprise'.

"Well if I told you, it'd be a waste of training wouldn't it?" Sirius said raising his eyebrows feeling as if he was talking to a young child.

"You have a point Captain," stated Cummings.

That was the third time she had called him that, and he was finding it a little weird. "Why are you calling me Captain?"

"I figure you should have an official title." She explained like it made all the sense in the world.

"And you decided on Captain?" Sirius asked slowly.

The girl nodded happily. "It's simple, catchy and if I really feel sassy I can salute you." And she did just that.

"Cummings, you're—."

"Amazing?" She filled in for him, cutting him off in the process. "I know, but continue. I don't mind, really I don't." Her grin returned at full force.

"You're a pain." Sirius stated as he came to the conclusion, though his comment didn't seem to faze her one bit.

"Aren't you glad you picked me out of all the other newbies Captain?" Cummings closed the space between them – taking no care to whether Sirius enjoyed have his personal space invaded or not – and hugged him. Sirius looked uncomfortable.

"Getting a little affectionate with your newbie there, Sirius?" James joked as he walked over to see how his best mate was fairing. Due to living with Lily he had come up with a lesson plan and already had his newbie off and working on the first part. "You are aware that that's not the kind of training we're supposed to be doing, right?" James wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oi! She attacked me!" Sirius said pointing as best as he could since he arms were firmly stuck to his sides due to the girl hugging him happily, ignoring his struggling. "And she keeps calling me Captain." He looked strangely down at Cummings before wiggling his arms enough to be able to detach her from him just in time for one of the house elves to set out snacks for the remaining members of the Order.

Cummings spotted the food and her stomach rumbled quietly. "Oooo food," she grinned before hurrying off to satisfy her stomach.

"She calls you Captain?" James asked before frowning in disappointment. "No fair, mine just keeps calling me Mr. Potter. I want a nickname." Just as James said this Cummings was back and stopped behind him quietly, a small stack of finger sandwiches piled in her hand.

"Okay Cobra Commander."

James jumped in surprise and turned around to see Cummings standing there unassumingly. "Sweet Merlin where the hell did you come from?"

"My mother's uterus," She quipped. "But more recently, snack table." She told him pointing to the table where the platter was sitting with food on it. "I love finger sandwiches. And look Captain, I'm practicing stealth. I've successfully scared the knickers off of Cobra Commander." Cummings beamed proudly before eating one of the miniature sandwiches.

"My knickers are still safely on my body, thank you very much." James told her.

She half-shrugged bringing another sandwich to her mouth. "Says you."

James' eyebrows pulled together. This was possibly one of the weirdest conversations involving his knickers that he's ever had. "Well I should know they're my knickers after all!"

Slowly an impish grin spread across her lips. "That's not what I've heard." James blinked.

"People are talking about my knickers?" Cummings didn't say a word as she just kept on smiling at James and eating her finger sandwiches while Lily walked up to his side. "Lily love, are people talking about my knickers?" Sirius snorted quietly.

An obvious look of confusion took hold of Lily's beautiful face. "Why would anyone be talking about your knickers James?"

"Ask Sirius' newbie." He told her pointing to the girl who was looking quite innocent now. It was just a cover – James knew this for certain, as did Sirius, and not just because of the previous conversation but because they were masters at feigning innocence.

"I have no idea what he's talking about. Maybe he's gotten paranoid in his old age." She frowned as she looked from Lily to James with fake concern about his well-being.

"I'M NOT OLD!" James yelled out taking offence. Nearly twenty was not old.

Cummings cocked her head to one side, "Just paranoid then?"

"I'm not paranoid!" James countered just as Sirius felt bored with the conversation and decided now would be a good time for Cummings to start learning constant vigilance. With Sirius in her blind spot he pounced at her, taking her by complete surprise.

"AHHHHHH!" She screamed tossing the two remaining finger sandwiches up in the air as she started flailing. "TASTE MY FISTS OF FURY!" Cummings yelled out as she blindly started punching her attacker – or at least trying to. When she turned around and noticed it was just Sirius Cummings stopped her assault, breathing heavily. "What the bloody hell was that for Captain?"

Sirius let go of the brunette and straightened out his shirt. "Constant vigilance," He told her unflustered by what just happened. Sirius Black was the king of keeping his cool. "Remember, next time, use your wand." And with those parting words Sirius walked away from their group to go talk to Remus.

Cummings stared after Sirius trying to comprehend what the hell just happened. Not paying attention to Lily and James who were still standing there. "Why would he do that? I just…he just…I mean…he…" After failing to verbalize what just happened and how she felt about it a smile broke out across her face, one of admiration. "Captain is so awesome."