The Establishment of the Young Order

On Sunday around breakfast, Severus had managed to round up everyone that wanted to participate in the defense group and had them all join up around the Gryffindor table.

It felt a little strange, speaking to a group of students as equals rather than as a teacher.

'Good morning, everyone,' Severus opened up with. 'I asked all of you to come here because I have found a place where we can all practice defense against the dark arts without being interrupted. I'm not sure if everyone knows yet, but it's Frank that's going to lead our group.'

Frank turned a fine shade of red when everyone looked at him. 'I—I made a few lesson plans with the help of my family,' he stammered. 'Just some things that may be useful if we do ever encounter you-know-who's supporters.'

'Don't be modest Frank,' Alice said as she nudged him in the ribs. 'I know for a fact that you are very good at what you do.'

'Now I don't want to talk too much about it while we are sitting here,' Severus continued, 'but can I suggest that, if we all have the time today, we could hold our first meeting this afternoon.'

Everyone seemed to nod in agreement. 'No one's got quidditch practice or anything that might get in the way?'

'No,' Rosier said, 'Ravenclaw's got the pitch booked for Sundays, so I think Frank and I are good.'

'Good, than I would like to invite you all to the seventh floor at noon.'

'What's on the seventh floor other than the Gryffindor common room and some empty classrooms?' Mary asked.

'Oh you'll see,' Lily said mysteriously. 'It's going to be a surprise.'

They had a few more hours to kill, so Severus and Lily decided to spend it in their potions lab to work on some left over homework and bottle up potions.

'So Mister Belby gave you this?' Lily asked as she held up the amber coloured phial.

Severus nodded, 'Apparently it's some muggle invention that interferes with the neurons in the brain. I think adding wolfsbane to it could have a positive effect.'

'Isn't wolfsbane highly toxic though?'

'The leafs are, but it's the roots that I'm after. We should harvest some of that during the next full moon.'

'Just out of curiosity Sev, why focus on lycanthropy in particular?'

Severus walked up to the desk she was sitting at and sat on top of it. 'Lily,' he said calmly, 'do you remember what happened to me last year?'

'A lot of things happened to you last year, Sev.'

'I meant when the marauders played a prank on me. Which nearly got me killed, I might add.'

Lily put the phial down. 'To this day I'm still not exactly sure what happened to all of you down there Sev. I just remember all of you being on the brink of getting expelled.'

'You know about my suspicion of Lupin being a werewolf—'

'—Sev please we've been over this bef—'
'—Lily please let me finish. You don't need to believe me, but it is what brought me to the idea of working on a potion that could potentially help people that do suffer from lycanthropy.'

'But that still doesn't explain why specifically lycanthropy, why not—'

'—Because I'm terrified of werewolves okay! There. I've said it.' With an elegant jump he got off the desk, stomped away, and sat down in front of his simmering cauldron.

Lily got up from her chair and carefully placed her hand on his shoulder, but he swatted it off out of frustration.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered. 'I shouldn't have questioned your motives.'

He didn't respond to her words, but he kept absentmindedly staring in his cauldron. It wasn't Lily he was mad at. He was mad at himself that something as silly as a werewolf could still frighten him after all those years.

'Sev, it's time to go upstairs,' Lily said carefully.

He tossed his spatula aside and buried his hands in his face.

Lily knelt down in front of him, and placed her hands on his knees. 'Look at me Sev,' she said as carefully as she could. 'I'm sorry for what I said.'

Severus lowered his hands. 'It's not you Lily, it's—I'm angry at myself.'

'And why would you be angry at yourself?' She asked as she held on to his hands.

'For being afraid when I shouldn't be.'

'In that case,' she said as she squeezed his hands a little, 'your secret will be safe with me. But there is one thing that I need you to do for me.'

'And what would that be?'

'That you don't put up a wall in front of me. I'm your friend; there is no need to be ashamed of anything.'

'I'll try not to,' he said in an attempt to sound reassuring.

Lily let go of his hands and stood up. 'Sev, I know it's not your thing, but can I give you a hug?'

Once he stood up, he felt her arms wrap around his waist and her face press against his chest. She had given him hugs before in the past and for some reason he never minded it as much when she did it opposed to anyone else (not that he allowed anyone else to touch him to begin with). He lowered his head into her hair, taking in that musky scent that was so typically her own.

'I think they're waiting for us upstairs,' Lily said with a muffled sound against his chest.

'Then lets go, shall we?' Severus said, feeling surprisingly more relaxed.

With a quick pace they made it to the seventh floor and, as Lily had predicted, everybody was already waiting.

'So, where are we going exactly?' Lupin asked.

'Just wait and see,' said Lily enthusiastically.

Severus walked up towards the stone wall, paced around three times while repeating that he needed a place to practice, and the large oaken door appeared in front of their eyes.

Once everyone was inside, the door closed behind them so that no one else could enter. Everyone was looking around in astonishment.

'This is perfect, Severus,' Frank said while messing around with some pillows. 'This is more than I ever could've asked for.'

Frank put down seven pillows in a circle on the floor and had everyone form a tight group.

'Before we start,' Severus said, 'does everyone know what the Order of the Phoenix is?'

Everyone but Rosier nodded. 'No idea Snape, please enlighten me.'

'The Order is something that professor Dumbledore has established as a force against the Dark Lord's cause. It's a group of people who are trained to fight against everything that has to deal with the dark arts.'

'Is everyone here planning on joining the Order?' Rosier asked the group.

Everyone nodded in agreement. 'I want to fight,' Frank said with determination.

'I'm muggle born,' Lily added. 'If I don't fight back for my rightful place in the wizarding world, there won't be much left for me here.'

'Then how come none of you have yet?'

'It's because of the trace,' Severus answered. 'And also because we are getting pretty poor preparation material from our defense against the dark arts lessons, which is why we are here today.'

Severus looked over at Frank, indicating that it was his time to take over.

'I uhm—I have prepared some lessons that I think would come in handy in case we do ever have to face someone in a wizard's duel.'

Alice put up her hand. 'Shall we think of a name for our group before we start?'

'I suppose we uhm, we can do that. Anyone got any ideas?'

'Since we're all supposed to be future Order members,' Rosier said, 'how about the Young Order? A group for all future Order members.'

'Sounds good to me,' Frank said. 'Any more questions or suggestions before we starts?'

'Yes Frank,' said Severus, 'what's the first thing you're going to teach us?'

Frank stood up with a new determined look on his face. 'I'm going to teach you all a spell that may just be the most convenient spell you can cast at someone without injuring them. So please, all rise, and follow my instructions.

Once everyone got up Frank levitated the pillows away into a neat pile against the wall.

'Today I'm going to teach you all about the disarming spell.'

Severus couldn't help but smirk when he heard Frank mention the disarming spell. He had taught it too, during that brief period when the Dueling Club was reestablished. Frank seemed to understand the importance of being able to take away a wizard's power.

Frank paired them up and had them stand near the wall across the room. Severus was facing Lily, and he wondered whether he should go easy on her or not.

After Frank checked that everyone was standing strong and firmly to avoid being knocked over, he showed the proper wand movement and the incantation.

Soon after, the room filled itself with red light, wands flying everywhere.

'Sev, it's unfair when you do it nonverbally!' Lily called out from across the room as she picked up her wand again.

'Do you believe the Death Eaters will just yell the incantation when you're in battle, Lily?' Severus responded.

Before she even stood up straight again, she yelled 'expelliarmus!' knocking Severus's wand out of his hand and threw him off balance.

She walked up to him to help him back up. 'Why don't you teach me how if you're so clever?'

After several hours they all had managed to get the spell down, and sat back in the circle in which they began.

Frank was looking at the small group with great pride. 'That went surprisingly well today,' he said happily. 'Is everyone up for more next week Sunday?'

As it was the most convenient day for everyone, they all agreed on Sunday meetings.

Mary, Alice and Rosier left to go back to their dormitories. 'Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Severus,' Frank said to him.

'And I meant what I said,' Lily added. 'Please teach us how to do nonverbal magic. I think it would be quite useful. I'll see you tomorrow in class okay?'

Frank and Lily left through the door, leaving only Rosier and Lupin with him.

'If my family finds out, I'm dead,' Rosier said carefully.

'If your family finds out, Dumbledore and I will be here to protect you,' Severus responded. 'There is no need to worry.'

Rosier nodded in understanding. 'I'll see you tonight in the dormitory, okay?'

Like that, Severus was left alone with Lupin. He had expected this to happen, as Lupin must be full of questions regarding the conversation he had overheard at the Three Broomsticks.

Lupin was looking around as if he needed to confirm that they were now truly alone. 'So, about that potion.'