Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it. Sorry for updating so late… again… But Spring Break was busy this year. Anywho, here's the next chapter. And as I said in the last chapter: I'm not writing another disclaimer to owning J.K.R.'s ideas. But I'll remind you that I do own all of my ideas.

The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade station and the Marauders and I switched from one mode of transportation to another. We arrived at the doors to the castle. Hogwarts was still as magnificent and imposing as ever. The sight was breathtaking, really.

"Well, here we are: back at good old Hogwarts," Sirius said lightly.

"There's no place like home," Remus sighed happily.

"There certainly isn't," James joined in.

"Let's stop the chit chat and let's get in there." I admonished gently.

"Yeah. The sooner we get the sorting over, the sooner we get to eat." Naturally, Peter was the one to mention food. We entered our second home and took our seats at the Gryffindor table. I noticed Peter glance over to the Slytherin table and catch Lucius' eye. They nodded to each other ever so slightly. My brow furrowed. Peter ran away after we rescued Sirius and now he was cavorting with Malfoy? A small bud of suspicion had started to bloom in my mind. I pushed it aside and turned my mind towards the sorting. Gryffindor had twelve new students, Slytherin had fourteen, Hufflepuff had ten, and Ravenclaw only had seven. More Slytherins than Gryffindors? 'Lord' Voldemort's influence was definitely being felt. And sadly, it was being taken all too kindly.

"Vermin," I heard James mutter under his breath to Sirius. Sirius sniggered in response.

"It's a fact of life, Mate," he replied. James sighed.

"I know. But they're more trouble than they're worth."

"Well, you'd better get used to handling it. We're the Heads this year, remember. They're going to turn to us for guidance and help. After the Prefects, of course."

"Sadly, yes. They will," James grumbled.

"What's wrong with children?"

"Nothing, it's just-"

"Exactly. There's nothing wrong with them. We were like them, too, once."

"She has a point, Prongs," Remus said.

"Either way, they're still vermin."



"They can't help that, Mate." Sirius said regretfully.

"Ah well. Why are we complaining about grimy first years when we could be eating?" James changed the subject.

"Peter's got the right idea." Sirius agreed. Peter had indeed started shoveling food into his mouth.

After dinner, a shy first year from Gryffindor approached me.

"A-are you Lily Evans? Head Girl?"

"Yes I am. And who are you?"

"A-Annabelle Richards."

"What is it, Annabelle?"

"T-th' Headmaster w-wanted me t' give you this." She proffered a piece of parchment (with a slightly golden tinge) tied with scarlet ribbon.

"Thank you Annabelle. You'd best be getting up to the common room. You've had a long day."

"Y-yes Miss."

"Call me Lily."

"Lily." She said it as if the word was something new and strange.

"Yes, that's it."

"G-good night…Lily."

"Good night, Annabelle. Congratulations on getting into Gryffindor."

"T-thanks." She ran off to catch up with the other first years, Remus, and the other prefect. I really should have known her name… But that aside, I read the note.

Miss Lily Evans and Mr. James Potter,

I should like you two to meet me in my office at eight o'clock sharp this evening.

I trust by then your meeting with the Prefects will be over by that time.

See you then, sincerely,



Albus Dumbledore

P.S. Snowy Owls are a grand sight, are they not?

"James, we've a meeting with Dumbledore at eight. Help me to remember to keep the Prefect meeting relatively short." I passed him the note.

"Right. Let's get to the Prefect common room then." He pocketed the parchment somehow. (Honestly, the things men can fit into small pockets.) We made our way to the aforementioned location, said gillyweed, and waited for the Prefects to finish depositing the first years in their appropriate common rooms.

"And you'll all get your schedules for rounds tomorrow with the post."

"Great. Now if that's all, I'd like to relax a bit before we have to go to classes tomorrow." Lucius said, still pompous. (Though he was a few hours earlier, so I wasn't surprised).

"You're free to go." I said, dismissing all the prefects.

"But before you do, Malfoy," James said, ice in his voice, "I hope you'll take care to be a model Prefect and not corrupt the minds of Hogwarts' new students."

"I'll do what any Slytherin Prefect would do, I assure you." You can just smell the pomposity, can't you? James frowned, but nodded.

"I'm surprised you didn't start a fight," Remus said after everyone else had left.

"I managed to control myself. It's a new skill."

"I'm proud of you," I said fondly, hugging him and kissing him on the cheek. He hugged me back.

"Thanks, Lils." He looked at his watch. "We'd better get up to Dumbledore's. It's two 'till eight."

"Oh cr-cri...min…ey." I smiled angelically. "We've got to go. See you, Remus."

"Bye guys." He waved as we went our separate ways.

We knocked on Dumbledore's office door at exactly eight o'clock.



"Enter." We did, and I felt the strange urge to curtsy in front of the headmaster sitting in his high-backed chair. Really, it is quite similar to a throne. You'd feel the same way, were it you.

"Good evening, children."

"Hello Professor." I said. James just waved nonchalantly. He had been in this office too many times.

"Nice to you see you again, Mr. Potter."

"It certainly is. What's on our agenda for tonight?" Dumbledore's bright blue eyes silently calculated something from behind his glasses.

"I was wondering if, since Lord Voldemort's power is becoming more apparent, if you two and your friends, as skilled as they are, would join the Order of the Phoenix."

"The Order of the Phoenix?" This organization was news to me.

"I've heard of it. You want us to help fight against… You-Know-Who?"

"Oh for Merlin's sake, James! It's just a name!"

"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself," Dumbledore agreed.

"Precisely. And if you're to be in the Order of the Phoenix, fighting against Lord Voldemort, you can't be afraid of his name."

"All right, all right." He said, trying to get me to lay off.

"So do I have your loyalty to the Order?"

"You have mine," I said.

"And mine. Shall we pass the word on to everyone else?"

"Your friends? Yes, please do. If they agree to join, bring them with you to my office by the end of next week."

"Will do, Professor," I assured him. We turned to leave.

"And Miss Evans?"

"Yes, Professor?"

"Thank you."

"Thank you, Professor. For trusting in us."

"You're very welcome, Miss Evans." We left his office and headed down to the common room. We got started on writing up the schedules for rounds. Fortunately, Sirius, Remus, and 

Jeanne distracted us from the monotony of our work. We talked of our summers and our ambitions for seventh year and beyond.

When we were finished, everyone else headed up to bed. I gave James a quick hug and a kiss before he left for the Head Tower and before I ascended the staircase to the girl's dormitory, Jeanne by my side.

"Beware." Jeanne whispered as we approached the door.

"Am I to be bombarded with questions?"

"Certainly. They still have no idea about you and James." I groaned.

"It's going to be a long night."

"No it won't. We'll keep their curiosity at bay as long as we can."

"Thanks, Jeanne."

"There's no promises they won't have at you tomorrow. Especially since you'll be sitting with him in the morning."

"It's something they'll have to get used to."

"Theresa will have no trouble. In fact, it'll be a field day. Gryffindor's Gossip Queen will make it the biggest news of the year."

"But the year's only just begun."

"Yes, but Lily Evans has gotten together with James Potter after six years. It is the biggest news of the year."

"Joy. I'm a Hogwarts celebrity."

"You've been a Hogwarts celebrity, Lily." I sighed and opened the door to our new dormitory. I was met with "Lilyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!" and a hug.

"Oof. Hi, Theresa. How was your summer?"

"Amazing! But I hear from Jeanne that you have news." I stared at Jeanne, a hint of menace in it. She sniggered.

"I do." At this, Alice looked up from her book.

"Really? Does it have to do with James Potter? I hear he's Head Boy."

"And we all know you're Head Girl." Theresa said, sensing gossip. I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress a blush.

"Yes, he's Head Boy. And it does have to do with James." Theresa squealed excitedly as Alice raised her eyebrows.



"Tell us everything!"

"I will, Miss Gossip Queen," I assured Theresa, "Tomorrow." She frowned.

"Why tomorrow? Why not now?"

"Because the Head Tower's on the other side of the school and we all need sleep," Jeanne cut in.

"Oh…right. Have fun with James." Theresa said.

"Yeah, a whole tower to yourselves. Just you… and James." Alice agreed. I rolled my eyes.

"Just because we have a whole tower to ourselves doesn't mean we're going to do anything," I said.

"Oh, just ruin the fun, why don't you."

"I shall. Goodnight, girls."

"See you tomorrow, Lily," Jeanne said.

"Yep." I turned and left, heading for what I hoped would be an extremely comfortable bed and the sleep that would follow.

Did you love it? Hate it? Want to complain about the infrequency of my updates? Please review. Especially if you see any mistakes. I was too eager to post the next chapter for you guys to proofread. :D