Disclaimer- I find it ridiculous that I should state that I am not JK Rowling, because honestly...would JK Rowling be writing on FanFiction? I don't own anything except made-ups.
Yes, yes I have returned. =] This chapter only took me a day to write. I think it turned out alright considering it's been a VERY long time since I've written last. This is where the story starts to get into more serious topics and gets a little dark. However, I hope you enjoy it just the same!
Chapter Nine
Lily woke up the next morning feeling as if the previous night had only been just a dream. It all seemed too perfect to be real… the candles, the carriage, the dinner, the wine...and of course James. He had gone far and beyond her expectations, making it the best date she had ever been on. She found it near impossible to believe how comfortable she had felt with just talking to him without any kind of awkwardness. I'm not going to open my eyes, she thought forcefully. If I do, then I'll have to realize that I only dreamed it. Her conviction to keep her eyes shut was broken when there was a sharp knock at her bedroom door. "Lily?"
She groaned as she rolled out of bed. "Who is it," she asked through a yawn. She pulled on a silky robe over her white tank and plaid pajama bottoms. Her muscles moved in protest, desperately wishing to go back to their rested state.
"James of course! Hurry!" came the answer. His voice sounded frantic and, if she was not mistaken, angry. Lily answered the door and instantly felt fear grow across her face. There James was, in his own pajamas, holding up the front page of The Daily Prophet in his hands, along with a piece of parchment with writing on it. The headline read: "Mass Killing of Muggles in Spinners End Spreads Fear! You-Know-Who Primary Suspect!" Lily's heart started racing and her breathing became hard and heavy.
"No…no…" She searched James's face for an answer to her unspoken question. She had lived not far from Spinners End since she was five years old. If Voldemort had gotten to her family…
"He didn't get them Lils," James assured her, but he still kept the tone of urgency in his voice. "I just thought you should know. Dumbledore sent us both a message and he wants to see us right now."
Lily could barely let out a sigh of relief. He had been so close to her parents…a flow of anger suddenly washed over her, invading every inch of her body. Her hands started to shake violently and she tried to speak, but the words never came out. James tried to reach out to pull her into a hug but before he could, Lily had turned away and went and sat down on her trunk. Her fingernails dug into the leather, and she started to rock back and forth. Voldemort was killing Muggles. And for what? Simply because he thought them beneath him?! She wanted to tear him to pieces, make him suffer as he made his victims and the families of his victims suffer. She reproached herself for thinking such a thing…wanting to do that made her just as bad as him… but it was such an injustice that innocent lives had to be taken for such a ridiculous reason! Lily clenched her jaw and shook her head. She was in such a livid state of mind, she didn't notice James kneeling in front of her with his hand on her knee.
"Lily?" He asked cautiously. James didn't know what to say or even how to say it if he knew. He was more than aware of how Lily felt about careless Muggle killing. Everyone knew. It wasn't like all muggleborns felt indifferent about the subject. All of them got worked up about it when there was a report in the Prophet. Yet, no words or actions seemed sufficient enough to calm her down or give her comfort. After debating with himself for half a second, he finally reached the hand that had been on her knee up to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear.
Lily focused her eyes on James. She knew she couldn't let her anger get to her, especially in front of him. "Let's go see what Dumbledore has to say to us," she said in a flat voice as she stood up. Their date from last night now seemed like a distant memory….like a dream. This report had been such a rude awakening and reminder of what was really going on. She felt almost ashamed that she was having such happy and strong emotions towards James lately. It just didn't seem proper now…like being happy was forbidden in times such as this…like she should focus more on how to keep her and her family safe, not on her love life.
After pausing for a moment to scan her vivid green eyes for an answer to a question that he didn't quite know, James stood up and offered his hand to her. She took it, but James couldn't help but notice that she seemed hesitant at first. Oh great…a dreadful and agonizing voice in his head thought. She's already starting to pull away. Even though he really wanted to, he decided against saying something.
They walked hand in hand through the corridors, silently. Lily couldn't quite tell if people were looking at them because they were fresh out of bed in their pajamas still, or if it was because they were Lily Evans and James Potter holding hands. She forced herself to believe that it was the former, but for what reason she wasn't quite sure. They finally reached the gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office.
"Um…" James turned his head to look at Lily. "I know Dumbledore changed the password since our last Heads meeting with him. Do you know it?" The redhead simply shook her head in reply, not looking at the boy who was holding her hand.
"The password is 'Fizzing Whizbees'," spoke a voice from behind them. They both turned around to see who the voice belonged to. Professor McGonagall was walking towards them with a very somber and serious demeanor on her face. "Professor Dumbledore has asked me to join in on the discussion."
James and Lily only nodded their heads in response. Neither wanted to talk about what had happened the previous night in Spinners End just yet, even though they were pretty sure that was going to be the topic in Dumbledore's office in the space of just a few minutes. Professor McGonagall repeated the password and the gargoyle started to turn, revealing the staircase.
As they stepped into Dumbledore's office, James noticed the Headmaster standing over that basin he had seen many times before, but never bothered to ask about. Dumbledore turned around to face the three of them. His face showed an overwhelming amount of concern. "Please, take a seat," he indicated to James and Lily. They obeyed without a word, and each took a chair in front of Dumbledore's desk. Dumbledore sat down in his own chair, and McGonagall stood next to him.
"I am more than certain that you both know why I have asked you to come here this morning," the old wizard started. "This mass killing of Muggles has caused a great stir of concern and, needless to say, fear among the parents of our Muggleborn students, and the students themselves." His bright blue eyes landed on Lily, who was avoiding making eye contact with him. "Miss Evans, would you please look at me?" She did as she was told. "Thank you. I can only imagine and understand how upset you must be feeling right now. However, part of the reason I wanted you to come here was to inform you, that the Ministry has contacted your parents, and they have accepted to have magical protection set up around their house. They did try to contact your sister, Petunia, and her husband but they refused to let them in."
Lily nodded. It was no surprise to her that her sister had refused Ministry protection. After all, she had practically disowned Lily as her sister the day she had received her Hogwarts letter. Of course, she felt relieved that her parents were protected and safe. But that didn't change what had happened and what was more than likely to continue. It provide any justice at all. Before she even noticed it, she found herself saying, "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Her voice was filled with venom and she glared at Dumbledore. "It doesn't change anything!"
"Lily…" James stared at her and reached for her hand. "It's okay. They're safe."
Lily jerked her hand out of his and stood up with such force that she almost knocked over her chair. "NO IT'S NOT OKAY!" She burst out. Her voice was filled with anger and sorrow and hot tears were streaming down her face. McGonagall, who had been quite taken aback by Lily's sudden temper tried to interrupt her, "Miss Eva-"
But Lily didn't listen. "NO! Voldemort is still out there killing innocent people! And what is the Ministry doing about it? What are YOU doing about it?!" She stared violently at Dumbledore. "NOTHING! I'm a Muggleborn! How do you think witches and wizards like me feel having to read this kind of stuff in the Prophet and knowing that there is nothing the Ministry or anyone else can do to protect our families?!"
Dumbledore sat their calmly and held up his hand, indicating Lily needed to stop yelling. "Miss Evans, I know you are frustrated and upset. However if you would kindly sit down and listen, you and Mr. Potter would find out the other reason why I have asked you here today and that I do intend to do something about this."
Lily took a moment to catch her breath before she sat down. Next to her, James looked dumbfounded. In all the years he had known Lily and that she had yelled at him, he had never seen her so worked up. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and let her cry out all her frustrations. She didn't deserve nor need to be this upset. He turned his attention back to the Headmaster when he heard him speak.
"Very well. As you both may know, I have never fully agreed with the Ministry and some of its policies. I have asked you to come here to ask for your help and assistance. What I am about to reveal to you is confidential and must never leave this room. I have created a secret organization whose sole purpose is to track down Voldemort and his followers and stop their efforts. It is called The Order of the Phoenix. Seeing as you two are of age, I am extending an offer for you to join. Sadly, there is not very much you can do here at Hogwarts except for doing some extensive research within our library. However, over Christmas Holiday, you are more than welcome to come to our Headquarters and assist us, should we need it. And I fear that we more than likely will need it."
Both James and Lily sat there in silence. James was thrilled and honored to be considered for Dumbledore's secret society. Of course, he was already partaking in his own secret society, the Marauders. But this was for a real cause; fighting to do what other witches and wizards wanted to, but feared to do. He looked over to Lily who was already looking at him. He gave her a deep nod, indicating that he intended to join. She nodded back.
"We'll do it." James spoke. "Just a couple questions, sir. Why us? And why not Sirius, Remus and Peter too? I'm sure they would be more than willing to help out as well."
"Very good questions, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore answered. "The reason I have chosen you two is because you both have shown to me over the years capabilities that I have not seen in witches or wizards as young as you. And I trust you both. The two of you show more conviction to defeat Lord Voldemort than the entire Ministry." He paused for a moment. "Now, concerning your friends. Mr. Black is in more of a compromising situation with his family as you well know. I plan on approaching him with the offer within the next week, but I want to give him time to think about it."
James shook his head. "Sirius won't need to think about it. Trust me. He'll want in just as much as we do."
Dumbledore continued as if James hadn't spoken up. "I wish to give the other two time to think about it as well. Joining this society is not safe. There is great danger involved and all who join are putting their lives at risk to save others from Lord Voldemort's actions."
Lily spoke up immediately. "We understand. We want in, no questions asked." Her green eyes shone with an even newer conviction to bring down Voldemort.
So that's it for now. =] I will try to write more and will make more of an effort to do so since I am FINALLY on summer break until August 24th. That should give me plenty of time to write more of LNS.
I would really appreciate some feedback! Hopefully some of my old readers are still around to tell me what they think, but of course I am more than happy to gain new readers!
Thanks!
-Devree
