I updated at a normal time... wow. I love this chapter, I hope you love it to, it's kind of short, but only because next chapter is going to be so BIG and I didn't want to put out a ridiculously long and confusing chapter. I hope you enjoy :)
~Molly xo
. . .
James didn't envy being in Dumbledore's shoes in this moment. Only he and Olivia knew why their professor's face was so solemn. Olivia looked ready to cry, but seemed as though she was waiting for him to announce it before she let her tears go. How horrible this news would be to everyone, especially after they had just gotten back from break, and having a happy feeling in the air. James and Olivia had both unknowingly matched, black clothes to represent what they were feeling, and her hair was just thrown up into a bun, and his looked even more unkept than usual. Their friends didn't know how to respond to their behavior. They obviously weren't broken up, so why were they so depressed?
"Today, I have horrible news for you," their headmaster started gravely, and everyone looked more alert and concerned, "over your break, Miss Declan and Mr Potter discovered Miss Leanna Quincey's dead body in the woods behind Potter manor." Everyone collectively gasped in horror, and Olivia noticed Professor McGonagall with her head in her hands, and she appeared to be lightly sobbing. Olivia let her own tears break free, and she felt James's comforting embrace envelop her. It all made sense to their friends now, and Thea, Emma, Lily, and the Marauders all looked at them with sympathy as they were the ones who found her.
"It is not known," Dumbledore continued, "who killed Leanna, but I have absolute faith in our ministry's aurors, and believe they will catch the culprit."
"Culprits," James called out to their professor. Olivia was shocked. She had thought they weren't going to say anything, because they didn't want to be targeted by the Slytherins they believe caused the hate crime. "Me and Olivia think this crime was at the hands of a group who targeted Leanna for an unknown reason. We encountered dozens of people in the woods, not just one." Everyone was shocked. A terrorist group was among them? They couldn't wrap their minds around it. Dumbledore looked if possible — even sadder.
"Leanna's funeral service will take place next weekend. I'll be choosing from volunteers who will help make the service beautiful. If you'd like to sign up, the paper will be pinned up in your common room when you arrive," Dumbledore was wrapping up, "you are dismissed."
Everyone was silent as they walked back to their common rooms, each moving like robots, but behaving like zombies. A few had appeared not to have fully processed the situation, unable to wrap their minds around it. It was strange how someone that they barely knew, could make them this miserable. But really — it was probably the fact that an eleven year old girl was killed that no one can stomach. These next days, everyone would be grieving, but after, Olivia and James were getting to the bottom of this.
"See ya later my dear badger," James whispered in her ear as they were preparing to go to their separate common room, "I've got to go to the lion's den now." Olivia smiled half-heartedly.
"Bye love, see you tomorrow," she replied, kissing him on the cheek.
The once cheerful common room seemed dull and depressing. Olivia supposed death could make you see things differently. After all, Leanna was a cheerful Hufflepuff who had untimely died before she could spread her lightness, making the place she had once roamed seeming dimmer than before. Olivia signed her name, being the third person on the list after Freja el Graves and Thea, who had both gotten there before her. After, she noticed that although everyone was sad about Leanna's death, nobody, not even Leanna's first year friends — was ready to sign up to help.
Olivia was puzzled as to why they weren't willing to help. Then she realized — they were all visibly scared — terrified even. Even the thought of losing their beloved friend couldn't stop the dread creeping through them. Who could be so heartless to have done this, to have affected everyone the way they did? And Olivia knew what they were thinking: Will they come for me next?
. . .
James was the first to sign up, with Sirius, Remus, Peter, Lily, and Emma following his lead. Everyone but them had headed straight for their dorms, seemingly trying to ignore the situation, as if ignoring it would make it go away.
"Why is no one willing to help?" Emma voiced her thoughts, "Do they not care?" Sirius put a comforting arm around her.
"I think they all care, but are probably too shocked and scared to put Leanna above their fears," he said thoughtfully. Emma nodded, excepting his answer.
"I'm scared too," she admitted quietly. James was scared, and looking around at his friends, it appeared they were too.
"We all are," Lily said, "but I think we're strong in the fact that we are pushing aside our fears so this girl can get the recognition and goodbye that she deserves," she seemed confident in what she was saying, "not everyone is that strong it seems," James looked at her with admiration, and wrapped her in an embrace.
"Well said Lilyflower," he whispered in her ear, "I don't think we'd survive this without your voice of reason." Lily grinned at him, and took his hand.
"I know for a fact that you wouldn't," she deadpanned, seeming completely serious. James couldn't keep a straight face, and snickered.
"Of course we wouldn't," he replied genuinely. Her smile was just as genuine, and James saw the Lily he had fallen love with in the beginning. The one with the kind, caring heart, the one who put everyone above her self, the same kindness that drew him to Via in the first place. Lily made him realize what he wanted in a girl, and he would never forget that, he'd always be grateful to her.
Thumping of a person coming down the boy's dorms diverted their attention from each other. A boy appearing to be around the age of a fourth year stood there. He had a messy mop of copper colored hair, freckles, and warm hazel eyes. The boy was easily as tall as Sirius, but had a boy-like innocence about him. He seemed nervous at the sight of everyone in the common room, but made his way over to sign up to volunteer. James caught his name on the paper: Bellamy Griffith.
"Isn't that a girl's name?" Emma asked bluntly, seeming to not even realize she had said anything, which made Sirius struggle to hold back a barking laugh at her comment. James face-palmed, seeing as she probably insulted him, but to his surprise — the boy smiled.
"Perhaps," he spoke with an Irish accent, "seeing at it is my grandmother's name, but I make it work with my masculinity, wouldn't it you say?" The gang let out a hearty laugh, one that broke the somber tension of the recent events — only for a second, but it gave them the quick laugh they had needed.
"You know," Bellamy continued, "people are already talking about fleeing. I don't know where they think they're going, but nonetheless, I think they ought the have the balls to fight back," his tone was sharp, sure. He had his eyebrow raised, as if daring any of them to contradict him. No one did.
"Or at least stay for the damn funeral," a crisp new voice added, this time from the bottom of the girl's staircase. Every head except Bellamy's whipped around quickly at the sound of the newcomer. The girl had long, flowing black hair, which clinged to her tiny waist in a flattering way. Her silhouette continued, ending with long, never ending legs. She wasn't that tall, not even Emma's height, but she commanded attention. Her eyes were a striking onyx, and they appeared to see through your soul.
"Nice entrance Sakura," Bellamy praised, "probably one of your best." Sakura smirked with full red lips as she signed her name, filling up every other line on the the sign up sheet: Sakura Bel Monty.
"Thanks Bell," she said, coming up to stand by him in an almost territorial way, while checking her pitch black nails. These guys were fourth years, the gang recognized their names, and although they couldn't ever imagine forgetting their faces, they were sure this was the first time they met.
"The green skulls you saw, James," Bellamy said, and the boy looked at him attentively, "we've seen them before. They mean someone's dead. And we've seen people, ranging from 20 to 150 at a time. They're out there,"
"—and we think they're starting a war," Sakura finished. They all gulped, stunned at what the two were saying. It was probably the first time that all of them were rendered speechless.
"You know you guys are the dream team?" Bellamy asked suddenly, almost mockingly, "so popular that everyone wants to be you."
"If we're so popular," Sirius spoke up shakily, "then why don't we know you two?"
"You're trapped in your little bubble of friends, not taking in the other faces around you," Bellamy replied easily, "but you have connections — very useful for war purposes, you'd lead our troops — if it comes to that of course, but others, — like me and Sakura here, we were meant to be the warriors," he seemed very passionate about what he was saying, and it was like he was meant to talk battle strategy, "and if we unite, we could win and rise from the ashes."
"Like a phoenix," Sakura added.
Bellamy held out his hand, "Leaders and warriors uniting would increase our chances against whoever is wanting to fight us," he seemed calm and collected, although the group of friends he was addressing didn't know how he could be calm, "so what do you say? Do you want to create the an apposing army so we have a chance?"
James took his outstretched hand. He believed them, and he knew that they would have to fight back hard against the rallying people, but he was willing to fight to save people he cared about. He didn't have to look at everyone else's faces to know that they were on the same page as him. Boy, he had a lot to inform Olivia on, "I say lets do it," he told Bellamy. Bellamy smirked triumphantly.
"We'll call ourselves the Order of the Phoenix," Lily declared boldly, "because—"
"We'll always rise above the ashes," Sakura finished, winking at Lily. Lily grinned.
"Always,"
. . .
:)
100 reviews! Ahh I'm so excited! I love this chapter, it was probably my favorite one that I've ever written. I like the idea that Dumbledore didn't create the Order of the Phoenix, a ragtag group of kids did. I love that they didn't even know what they were facing, they just knew they wanted to rise above it. Bellamy and Sakura are the last two main characters I'm introducing. They are CRUCIAL to the story, and I love them so much. I hope they didn't appear too crazy, the goal was for them to appear badass, but I might have got carried away. I think where I'm going with the past part of the story is somewhat inspired by the TV show, the 100. It's AMAZING! I love everything about it. I stole the name Bellamy from it. Bellamy on the 100 is an incredibly hot general of war, — so yeah ;)
So please tell me what you think of... Bellura?
Please review, it really motivates me!
~Molly xo
