Lily followed on behind Dumbledore as he lead the way to his office, her head was spinning what could be so important that the Headmaster wished to talk to the whole gang?!
"Very nice work on the prank Miss Evans," said Dumbledore Jovially.
"I'm glad you liked it Professor, but how did you know it was me behind it all?" asked Lily in awe, it seemed Dumbledore knew everything.
"Ah I have my ways Miss Evans," said Dumbledore mysteriously.
Silence descended as they approached the entrance to Dumbledores office. Once the password had been given, they moved on to the moving starcase and Dumbledore opened his office door and ushered Lily inside.
As usual Lily's fascination for Dumbledore's office took over, she turned her head every which way taking in all the paintings of the former Headmasters and Headmistresses of Hogwarts, the spindly little silver instruments on the spindly little tables, the rows and rows of books, but nothing more so than Dumbledore's pet phoenix.
"May I sir?" said Lily indicating to Fawkes.
"Be my guest Miss Evans,".
Lily moved forward a few paces and stretched out a hand to gently stroke the Phoenixes scarlet plummage.
"Hey Fawkes," said Lily softly.
Fawkes opened his beak and let out a soft sound as he enjoyed the contact of his feathers being so gently stroked.
"I take it Miss Evans that you'll know all about phoenixes?" questioned Dumbledore.
"Of course sir," smiled Lily.
It really was a silly question to ask Lily, this thought made Dumbledore chuckle lightly to himself.
"Sir?" quired Lily, as she'd heard the small chuckle that had escaped Dumbledore.
"It just hit me that that was a silly question to ask a witch as bright as you,".
This compliment made Lily turn slightly pink, not that she wasn't pleased of course. A moment later came a soft knock indicating the arrival of James and co.
"Enter," called out Dumbledore.
Everyone slowly entered looking completely confused and non plussed.
"Ah, come in come in, do not look so worried I assure you you are not in trouble," said Dumbledore his bright blue eyes twinkling.
"So Professor what's this all about?" asked James.
"I have a rather important matter I wish to discuss with you Mr Potter, so if you'd like to make yourselves comfy and I'll begin,".
With a flick of his wand a large sofa appeared and everyone settled themselves comfortably.
"Now that you're all comfortably esconsed, I'll begin. Of course you'll all know about a certain dark wizard named Voldemort and his band of 'Death Eaters' correct?".
Everyone murmured a quiet desent.
"Well I have put together an organisation to fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters, we are called 'The Order Of The Phoenix,'".
"What does this have to do with us though sir?" Burst out Remus before turning a shade of hot pink.
Dumbledore merely chuckled.
"I have made a very hard decision in asking if you would care to join in the fight against Voldemort,".
The air in Dumbledore's office became palpable, no one moved, no one seemed to breathe.
"Sir?" Lily queried faintly.
"I know what I am asking of you is very desperate and dangerous, but before me sits the brightest minds that Hogwarts has held in a very long time".
Everyone shuffled slightly, somewhat embarressed by this compliment.
"Of course I shall not let you do anything for the Order just yet I shall wait until the school year is over before I even send you out on duty that is if you decide to join and fight that is of course. If you do not wish to join then that is fine,".
"You really want a bunch of 17 year olds fighting against old Voldy?" questioned Sirius.
"I need young minds as much as I need tried and tested minds, sometimes a young mind can bring some good ideas to the table," answered Dumbledore smoothly.
"When would you like an answer Professor?" asked James.
"Not until the year is over Mr Potter, I suggest you all take your time to consider this offer, for this will be a dangerous life and I can not guarentee your safety, but I will try to protect you as much as possible of course,".
"Where do we sign up?" asked Sirius.
"Please Sirius take the time to consider this," said Dumbledore steadily.
Everyone was silent, it was rare for Dumbledore to call them by name. They studied the old man in front of them and saw that his eyes were over bright at that moment.
"We'll consider it sir," said Lily quietly, breaking the silence.
"Thank you," said Dumbledore in a hushed voice.
With that being said, everyone took it as their cue to leave.
On the way back to the Gryffindor common room everyone chatted amongst themselves with the exception of Hestia; Lily noticed that her friend had gone rather white as well as rather quiet.
"Hest, you okay?" asked Lily, as she nudged her with her shoulder.
"Hmm, I... I'm fine Lils," said Hestia quietly.
"In here," said Lily grabbing Hestia's wrist.
James suddenly realised that Lily was no longer beside him, he looked over his shoulder and spotted Lily and Hestia disappear into an unused classroom, figuring they needed some 'girl talk time' he left them to it.
"So Hest, what's up?" asked Lily in concern.
"I.. I can't fight Lils," said Hestia in a gasp.
"Is that what's bothering you? Sweetie we're going to think any less of you just because you don't want to fight so don't worry about it," Lily pulled Hestia into a hug.
"Of course i'm going to worry about it Lils, everyone else will be out there fighting for their lives whilst I hide behind the lines waiting and watching!" Hestia exclaimed as she tried to push Lily off.
"Hey come on Hest calm down, it will be fine I promise. Yes we may get a bit battle hardened and maybe collect a scar or two but you heard Dumbledore he'll protect us as much as possible," said Lily soothingly.
"D'you think?" asked Hestia.
"Hestia Jones, do you or do you not trust Dumbledore?".
"Of course I trust him Lils, it's me I don't trust. If I was caught and tortured it wouldn't take long for me to spill and get everyone in trouble, that's the reason I can't do this," said Hestia sadly.
"Well don't fight then Hest, like I said no one is going to think any less for you for it and if anyone should say anything I will curse them into oblivion," said Lily, her head inclined and hands on her hips looking as if she meant business.
This caused Hestia to burst out laughing, the image of Lily stood like that was far too endearing. Hestia slipped off the table she'd sat on and got up and hugged Lily fiercely.
"Come on scatterbrain lets get back to the common room otherwise our boys will be wondering were we got off to otherwise," laughed Lily.
As soon as they made it back into the common room they made for the corner where their friends and boyfriends sat quietly conversing.
"Everything okay?" asked James as soon as Lily was close enough.
"Yeah it's fine James," said Lily giving him a smile.
"Hey gorgeous," said Sirius as soon as Hestia was in close enough proximity.
"Siri can we talk?" asked Hestia quietly.
"Erm sure," said Sirius hesitantly.
Hestia took Sirius by the hand and led him to another quiet corner by the window. Lily watched the pair of them for a moment before James interupted her thoughts.
"So this thing with the fighting eh?" James said quietly.
"Yeah I wasn't expecting that I must admit," said Lily.
"Any thoughts yet?" asked James sounding a little apprehensive.
"I don't know yet it hasn't all quite sunk in as yet I guess,".
"Same here," said Marlene.
"I guess we're all just going to have to sleep on it for a while we still have 8 months till graduation," supplied Remus.
"8 months...," said Lily wistfully.
"I know it's going to be so sad and so hard to say goodbye to the castle isn't it?" said Marlene in a small voice.
"Yes," chorused Lily; James; Remus; Alice and Frank as one.
"I hate the thought of not getting on the Hogwarts Express next September," said Alice through a small sob.
This then started Lily and Marlene off. The boys went quickly into action to hold and soothe their girlfriends till they were calm enough.
"Im sorry I didn't mean to get all weepy," said Alice apologetically.
"S'fine honey," said Lily still wiping away residue tears.
"No problems," said Marlene.
There attention was taken just then by the return of Sirius and Hestia.
"Everything okay?" asked Lily.
Hestia just nodded.
"It's all good Lily pad," said Sirius.
"I've erm I've decided I can't and won't be fighting along side you all," said Hestia hesitantly.
But she needn't have worried they all supported her decision, after all it was going to be as Dumbledore said 'a desperate and dangerous life'. They knew they couldn't make this decision lightly that it would need time to be thought out before coming to a conclusion.
Though Lily had a feeling that James would turn around and decide to fight and if he did there was no way on earth would she allow him to go on duty with the Order without her, yes she had to consider the fact she was a Muggle-born witch but that didn't make her less brave, she knew her stuff which is why Dumbledore had asked her to come along. Though she also knew that she could a libility just because of her blood status, but in truth she wasn't going to let that stand in her way of fighting it just mean she would have to make sure she was cleverer than her opponants.
"Earth to Lily? Anyone in there?" said James pulling Lily out of her musings.
"What? Oh yeah sorry I zoned out for a moment," said Lily offering him a smile.
"Thinking about anything good?" asked James.
"Only about whether or not to fight," said Lily quietly.
James just grimaced. He knew what was on her mind her blood status and how much more dangerous it was going to make things for her. But he sworn to himself that if she decided to fight along side the Order that he would do everything he could to protect Lily, as far as he was concerned she was the only girl he could and would ever love in his life.