'Never again,' James said with a shudder.

'Agreed,' Lily said in a flat tone. She shook some of the pink heart-confetti out of her long hair. James grinned and brushed glitter off her shoulder. It sparkled against the snow by their shoes. 'Do you want to go to the Three Broomsticks?' James beamed down at her and practically dragged her down the street and into the crowded pub.

'This is better,' James said when he returned to their little table with Butterbeer. 'Rosmerta's much nicer than that awful Puddifoot woman. Wait 'til I tell Pads that she's that Umbridge woman's mother!'

'I'm sure he'll be delighted,' Lily laughed. 'And happier still when you tell him about those little cherubs.'

James laughed. They weren't so cherubic anymore; they had set his Snitch on them until they got mad enough to threaten the couple with their golden arrows. He and Lily had left the teashop shortly after.

Suddenly, James smiled wickedly. 'What?' Lily asked, looking a little worried.

'You've got Butterbeer foam...' James gestured to his mouth. Lily made a face. 'Don't worry,' James said, still grinning. 'I've got it.' He leaned across the table to kiss her.

'Better?' Lily asked, green eyes twinkling.

'Much,' James replied, leaning in again. He could feel Lily smiling against his lips.

'Oi!'

'Bugger off, Pads,' James sighed as he pulled away from his girlfriend. Only it wasn't Sirius. Or Remus or Peter. It was a middle-aged man with a tangled mop of blonde hair. He was scarred, and wearing a thick travelling cloak. His most unusual feature was a bright blue eye that swivelled in its socket, surveying them with disapproval. 'Sorry!' James blurted. 'I- I thought you were-'

'Are you two are students at the school?'

'Yes,' Lily said cautiously. She straightened in her seat and stared back at the man with the same intensity. James slipped his hand into his pocket to grip his wand.

'Albus wants you back.'

'We're meant to have the whole afternoon,' James protested. Lily kicked him under the table. The man's lips twitched into what might have been a smile, though James had no idea how he'd seen.

'Is there a reason?' Lily asked politely.

'Do Death Eaters count?' the man growled. James nodded, pulling his wand out of his pocket. He helped Lily to her feet with his other hand.

'Is there anything we can do to help?' Lily asked the man. 'We're the Heads.' His mismatched eyes scanned her face and then flicked to James'.

'You're Charlus' boy?' James nodded warily. The man thought for a moment then offered his hand. 'Alastor Moody. I used to work with your father.'

'James Potter,' James said shaking his hand. 'This is Lily Evans.'

Moody nodded, shaking her hand. His blue eye flicked to the pub door. The rest of the room was shockingly empty. 'Shall we?'

James looked at Lily and nodded. While they walked, he pulled a small reflective rectangle from his back pocket and tapped it with his wand. It grew in size, until it was about the size of a book. 'Sirius Black,' James said clearly. He ignored Lily and Moody's questioning gazes. Sirius' confused face appeared in the mirror a moment later.

'What's happening, Prongs?' he asked in a surprisingly businesslike voice. 'Is Lily all right?'

'She's fine. Are you safe?' James asked, shooting Moody a glance. He heard a yes from Remus.

'Wormy?'

'Yes!' James sighed in relief.

'Prongs, we're fine. Why are you asking?' Sirius asked, a frown tugging at his features.

'Just get back to the school,' James said firmly. 'Don't stop at any of the shops, don't talk to anyone. Meet us in the Entrance Hall. If you see any others from school, take them with you.'

Sirius nodded vigorously. 'Ye- Hey! Moony!'

'James?' Remus' concerned face appeared in the mirror. 'What's going on?'

'Death Eaters,' James said shortly. Remus paled, and Sirius' indignant shouting in the background ceased.

'Where are you?' Remus demanded. His face was blurred in the frame; he was running. James kept getting glimpses of Sirius' black hair, and Peter's blonde in the background.

'Walking up the road to school. We've got an Auror with us.'

'Are you hurt?!' Sirius shouted from somewhere behind Remus.

'We're fine,' James said grinning. 'I'll see you soon.'

'Will do,' Remus said with a professional looking nod. James reflection filled the frame. He shrunk it and returned it to his pocket.

'What?' he asked. Lily and Moody were still staring at him.

'Nothing,' Lily said quietly. She reached for his hand, giving him a little smile. Moody continued to stare.

Crack!

James ducked, pulling Lily around so that she was behind him. He flicked his wand toward the noise. Moody's wand was pointed in the same direction.

'Fools!' Moody shouted suddenly, lowering his wand. He stepped forward to smack the people upside the heads. 'You're lucky I didn't jinx the two of you! If you had half as much sense as you're always claiming, you'd know by now to never to Apparate around me! And you wonder why I treat you like children!' Scowling he jabbed a finger into the man's chest. 'What in Merlin's name are you doing here? I thought I told you to wait by Zonko's!'

With a jolt, James recognised both of them as former Hogwarts students. There was a tall but thickly built man with vivid red hair and a short curvy woman with honey coloured hair. They looked exhausted and Gideon – the man – had a long cut on his temple. Dorcas' clothing was torn. Both looked ashamed, and were rubbing their heads where Moody had smacked them.

'Sorry, Alastor!' Dorcas muttered. 'The Death Eaters know it's a trap! Ab sent us to let you know! He needs to know whether the Order should evacuate, or fight.' She paused suddenly, apparently noticing Lily and James. 'Potter, Evans?' She turned to Moody. 'What are they doing?' she hissed. 'This is no place for children.'

'They're the last ones,' Moody growled, waving his hand to silence James' protests. 'I'm seeing them to the gates. Prewett, tell Dumbledore to get everyone out of there. Hide them under his bar-stools if that's what it takes.'

Gideon's freckled face split into a grin. 'Are you sure, Alastor? Aberforth won't take kindl-'

'Aberforth will do what I tell him,' Moody snapped, giving James and Lily a little push to remind them to keep walking. 'Get our people out. There's nothing we can do here, so I'm not going to lose members over nothing. Our numbers are low enough without casualties. Send me a Patronus when you're done.' The pair nodded and turned on the spot. They disappeared with a loud crack. 'Move!' Moody barked, shoving James forward.

'What's the Order?' Lily whispered.

James leaned down so that he could whisper in her ear. 'I have no idea, but I'm going to find out.'

When the three of them reached the gate, Moody pushed them through it. The metal melted, allowing them through. They turned to the grizzled Auror.

'You're students,' Moody said by way of explanation. 'The school's never never going to reject any student that needs sanctuary.'

'Did it ever occur to Dumbledore that his students might be as bad as some Death Eaters?' James asked, thinking of Snape.

'With a mind like his? Of course it has!'

'That doesn't make sense-' Lily began.

'I've known him for a lot longer than either of you and I still don't pretend to understand the thoughts of Albus Dumbledore,' Moody said with a wry smile. 'Can the two of you get back to the school from here?'

'Yes, thank you,' Lily said. She stuck her hand through the bars of the gate. 'Thank you for your help today, Mr Moody.' The Auror shook it with a smile. James added his thanks and then he and Lily began the trek up to the school.

The Entrance Hall was packed with students from third year and up. Everyone was talking loudly, and one fourth year was insiting she'd seen Voldemort himself.

'Mr Black! Have you seen Mr Potter?' Professor McGonagall was shouting. Sirius, who was with Peter and Remus over by the House hourglasses shook his head, looking miserable.

'Professor,' Lily called. 'We're over here.' James saw the Marauders relax. The look he was getting from Sirius promised questions as soon as they were free of the teachers.

'Are either of you hurt?' Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore strode over to them, the former holding a long roll of parchment.

'No, sir,' James said, wrapping an arm around Lily. 'We're fine.'

'They're the last two, Albus,' McGonagall said, tapping the list with her wand. It disappeared. 'Mr Malfoy! I believe I specifically said no students were to leave without my permission!' Dumbledore chuckled to himself as the Transfiguration teacher stormed over to a group of annoyed looking Slytherins.

'Professor,' Lily said quietly. James glanced over to his friends. Sirius and Peter were laughing at something, while Remus had his wand pointed at the Gryffindor hourglass and seemed to be trying to make the rubies fall. James smiled to himself.

'Yes, Miss Evans?'

'What's the Order?' James, who had been watching Remus, glanced at the old wizard.

'The Order?' Dumbledore asked. He looked worried for a moment and then hid it behind a calm expression. 'That's not a common name to hear around the school.' He raised his eyebrows. 'I'd like to keep it that way.' James and Lily nodded. 'Where did you hear about it?'

'We met Moody,' James said.

'And what did Alastor tell you?' said Dumbledore. His tone was bordering on angry, something that James had never heard, even after seven years of being dragged to his office after a prank.

'He didn't really tell us. He was talking to Dorcas and Gideon and said something about it. We sort of overheard,' Lily said, blushing.

'Was this in Hogsmeade?'

'No, we were on the road to the gates.'

'Alastor walked with you?' They nodded. Dumbledore smiled. 'He does take safety very seriously.'

'We know,' James said, grinning. 'He yelled at Gideon and Dorcas for Apparating too close to him. He said they were lucky he didn't hex them. Auror reflexes I suppose.'

Dumbledore chuckled. 'Indeed. If I remember correctly, he worked with your father.'

'Yeah, he mentioned that.' James ruffled his messy hair.

'It takes a talented witch or wizard to do well in a career in Magical Law Enforcement. I believe that's what you're keen to do?' James nodded eagerly. 'And, Miss Evans, a Healer?'

'Yes, sir,' she said, smiling.

'Wonderful.' He gave them a warm smile. 'I'm afraid you must excuse me – I have to contact the Ministry about what happened in Hogsmeade today and I daresay the Minister will be unhappy I've left him waiting even this long.' He strode away, weaving through the dwindling mob of students; McGonagall had given the students leave to return to their dormitories.

Lily turned to James. 'He never told us what the Order is.'

James frowned, thinking back. 'He distracted us!' he said slowly. And then he burst out laughing.

'How is this funny?' Lily demanded, hitting his arm.

'How is it not?' Remus challenged, coming up behind them. James nodded for emphasis.

'Do you even know what we're talking about?' Lily asked, frowning at them both.

'Not a clue,' Remus said proudly. Lily sighed. James squeezed her hand and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

'So what are you talking about?' Peter asked.

'The Order.'

'What's the Order?' Sirius asked, cocking his head to the side.

'Exactly,' James said, his hazel gaze following Dumbledore's retreating figure.