Sirius and Peter were engrossed in a game of wizard's chess, while Remus sat by the fireplace and read his Defense against the Dark Arts book. He was trying to occupy his mind as to block out all thoughts of Chloe, yet this was proving to be exceptionally difficult. Everywhere he went, he could smell her sweet scent.
"Really Wormtail, I don't know why I bother playing with you. It would be more of a challenge to play a rock," Sirius said as he moved his piece into position.
A loud smash echoed throughout the common room as Peter's knight was quickly destroyed.
"Och, do you have to be so brutal when you break my pieces," Peter lamented as he pondered his next move.
"Don't be such a soar loser Wormy," Sirius chuckled.
However, their argument was quickly brought to a halt when the portrait hole swung open and a girl with long dark hair ran through it. She had a very worried expression on her face and she was out of breath from running.
"Where is Sirius Black?" the girl said as she grabbed a first year by the collar.
Sirius saw the girl and a smile crossed his face. He strode over to her and grinned.
"Picturing me naked got you that flushed Alana? Sirius said charmingly. "Now what's the rush we have all night my little spit fire?"
"Shut up Sirius and listen," Alana said as she tried to catch her breath.
She was in no mood to put up with his flirtations. There wasn't enough time. She had a dark look on her face and Sirius immediately sobered and looked at her with concern.
"It's your friends," Alana said in between deep breaths.
Sirius' eyes grew wider as Remus came up behind him and listened intently.
"They have Lily, James, and Chloe," Alana continued as her breathing. "You have to follow me, there isn't much time."
Sirius clenched his fists and grabbed Remus for support. His mind raced as the endless possibilities of what could be happening to his best friends plagued him. Remus just stood their sick with worry for Chloe. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't deny that he loved her and he wouldn't be able to bear it if anything happened to her. As if they were both thinking the same thing, they grabbed their wands and headed for the portrait hole
"Let's go," Sirius and Remus said together as they signaled for Alana to lead the way.
As they started to leave, they found themselves joined by Peter, Alice, and Marlene. The group just nodded to each other as they left the room and followed Alana. They ran as fast as they could, not wanting to think about what could happen if they were too late.
"My bloody cousin better not be a part of this or I will make sure my mother's favorite niece doesn't make it to any more family gatherings," Sirius growled as he ran down the corridors.
They reached the dungeons and Alana shouted a password and a portrait swung open. Sirius, Remus, Peter, Alice and Marlene ran into the room and their eyes widened at the scene they saw. Chloe was raising her wand to Lily's chest and immediately they sprang into action as there wasn't time to waste.
"Stop," Remus shouted as he tackled Chloe and knocked her backwards off of her feet.
Hexes and Curses started to shoot across the room as the Gryffindors furiously battled the Slytherins.
Sirius was actively battling his menacing cousin as Marlene was trying to hold Lucius at bay.
"One should never raise his wand to family Sirius," Bellatrix taunted as she shot a spell from her wand at her cousin.
"Well it's a good thing mother disowned me then, because I've been wanting to give you a proper beating for some time now," Sirius said as he deflected the spell and shot another one in return.
On the other side of the room, Marlene Mckinnon was enjoying some target practice on Lucius Malfoy as she tested her reflexes. Marlene was an extremely talented witch, and she was easily holding Malfoy at bay.
"You can do better than that you giant wanker," Marlene shouted as she quickly deflected a spell Lucius had sent her way. "That's for being stupid and getting me a poor grade on the Transfiguration assignment."
While Remus created a diversion by lifting Crabbe, Goyle, and Avery into the air and spinning them about, Alice quickly untied both James and Lily and handed them their wands so they could join the battle. They didn't hesitate as James went off to pay Nott back for the kick to the head.
"Face me like a man, you stupid bastard," James shouted as he shot a jet of green light at Nott's chest.
Lily found herself dueling Narcissa Black and was winning quite easily. She quickly pacified the blonde with the ropes that shot from her wand and moved on to find another one of her attackers. She wanted to do worse to her attacker, but decided that her mercy was what separated her from them. She turned around and came face to face with Bellatrix.
"Excellent, I've been waiting for you. Let's dance mudblood," Bellatrix said as she shot a spell in Lily's direction.
Lily easily deflected it as she countered with a hex that left Bellatrix screaming in pain.
"Impedimenta," Bellatrix shouted and Lily felt herself flying backwards as she smashed into the stone wall behind her. She fell to the ground with a sickening thud. However, she was not about to let Bellatrix get the better of her. She was the Hogwarts dueling champion and refused to lose.
"Petrificus Totalus," Lily shouted, but Bellatrix quickly moved out of the way and laughed.
"Come on mudblood, put up a fight," Bellatrix cackled as she conjured her next curse.
Lily didn't know what hit her, but she her head began to feel as if it was about to explode. She began to feel her skin burn and she let out a scream of pain. However, she willed herself to go on. She wouldn't let Bellatrix beat her. She pulled herself up off the ground as Bellatrix approached her, apparently ready to keep her from rising again.
"Stupefy," Lily bellowed and this time her aim was impeccable.
Bellatrix fell to the ground with a look of pure shock on her face. Lily quickly bound her with magical ropes and went to make sure that everyone else was holding up. She focused her eyes just in time to see Chloe get hit with a stunning spell by Avery.
"There, that'll keep her from running away," Avery said with a laugh as he went back to helping Malfoy battle Marlene.
However, Remus, who had seen him hit Chloe with a stunner, picked him up by the collar of his robes and punched him squarely in the jaw. Avery kicked his legs, but Remus didn't put him down. Instead he threw him against a wall and pointed his wand at his throat.
"I swear I will do it Avery," Remus snarled.
"You don't have the guts to want to inflict pain Lupin," Avery taunted.
"Watch me," Remus replied as he began to mutter an incantation, but before he could complete the curse, Lily stopped him.
"He's not worth it. You are better than he is Remus. Chloe wouldn't want you to," Lily whispered.
At these words, Remus shot ropes out of his wand and Avery was quickly bound up and on the floor, incapable of causing any more harm. Remus and Lily surveyed the room to see where they were needed the most. James and Sirius were battling Lucius and Nott, while Alice and Marlene seemed to be holding their own against Crabbe and Goyle. Everyone else was either stunned, or tied up in ropes.
"Get Chloe out of here, and I'll go get a professor," Lily said to Remus and he nodded in agreement.
He went over to Chloe's limp body and lifted her with little effort. She felt so small to him and he desperately just wanted to kiss her and tell her everything was going to be okay. He just knew that he had to get her to the hospital wing. Lily made sure no one would stop them, as Remus carried Chloe out of the Slytherin common room and up to the hospital wing.
Lily was about to leave and go for help, when a spell hit her from behind. She had been tripped and as she looked up to see who had attacked her, she just smiled. Severus Snape had been tactfully avoiding any confrontation with the Gryffindors because he knew his master would be displeased if he were to be seen. His fellow Slytherins were idiots and the Dark Lord would be very displeased because now they had been identified, and Bellatrix had been seen using an unforgivable curse. However, in order to protect his anonymity, he was forced to act.
"Thought you would go get a professor and tell on us did you," a voice said. "I'm afraid I can't allow that."
"Just try and stop me Severus," Lily said as she pulled herself up from the ground.
Without warning, Snape shot a jet of purple light out of his wand and Lily collapsed to the ground unmoving and unconscious. James saw this and let out a growl as he sprinted away from his duel with Malfoy towards Snape. Before he knew what hit him, Snape felt James' fist connect with his stomach. Snape fell over backwards as he had the wind knocked out of him.
"Only a brute like you would use a fist instead of a wand Potter," Severus spat as he tried to regain his composure.
"You are lucky I didn't Snivellus, and if you ever touch a hair on her head again, I won't hesitate to cause you severe pain from the tip of my wand," James spat as he turned to check Lily.
She had regained consciousness, but had blood at the corners of her mouth. She tried to speak, but he told her not to as he placed a kiss of love on her forehead. James lifted her into his arms to take her away from the battle.
"I've got to take Lily to the hospital wing," James shouted to Sirius who was busy pummeling Malfoy. "Get Alice and Marlene and get out of here."
Sirius reluctantly released Malfoy from his curse, and Alice and Marlene let Crabbe and Goyle down from the air. The three Gryffindors encircled the Slytherins with their pointed directly at them.
"Don't move, or you will suffer the fate of my poor cousin Bellatrix over there," Sirius said forcefully.
Bellatrix was still out cold lying on the stone tiles near the fire place. Avery was tied up and Narcissa was strapped to a chair. Nott was bleeding from an impediment curse that James had used to throw him against a wall. Somehow, Snape had managed to slink off to avoid being caught. Sirius looked around for Alana, but she had disappeared. Suddenly, the portrait swung open, and Professor Dumbledore, along with the Slytherin head of house, walked through it. Dumbledore looked around and surveyed the damage. A grim expression came over his face.
"I'm afraid all of you will need to come with me. Miss Prewitt, would you be so kind as to untie Miss Black and Mr. Avery. Mr. Nott I suggest you take yourself and Bellatrix to the hospital wing," Dumbledore said with distress in his voice.
After everyone had been untied and revived, Sirius, Alice, Marlene, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Narcissa followed Dumbledore to his office, while Nott took Bellatrix to the hospital wing.
"Lemon Drop," Professor Dumbledore said and the passageway to his office opened.
His pupils followed close behind until they reached the giant circular room.
"Mr. Black, Miss Prewitt, and Miss Mckinnon will you please follow me," Dumbledore said without the usual twinkle in his eye. "The rest of you stay here, I will deal with you in a minute."
They entered his private quarters and Dumbledore gestured for them to take a seat. He settled himself into a large red chair and folded his hands in his lap. He stared at the three students in front of him and only felt regret and sadness. He felt regret that he couldn't offer them a safe world, and sadness that they would have to fight for it.
"I'm aware of what has occurred from a reliable source and you three do not need to explain yourselves, I just thought you might need to hear this from me," Dumbledore started. "This is not the first battle you have fought, and it will not be the last. You have performed quite admirably and if it weren't for your bravery, I'm afraid much worse could have happened."
Sirius, Alice, and Marlene stared at Dumbledore blankly. They could not believe they weren't being punished for attacking other students. They also didn't understand how Dumbledore knew what had transpired in the dungeons. Sirius was the first to speak.
"I don't understand Professor. Why aren't we being punished?" he asked out of confusion
"Would you like me to punish you Mr. Black? It is not in me to punish people who are fighting the good and just fight," Dumbledore said wisely.
The three looked at each other, trying to comprehend the words of wisdom that their headmaster was imparting on them.
"What will happen to the Slytherins then Professor? Surely they will be expelled," Marlene said.
Dumbledore looked down at the ground and seemed almost ashamed for a minute. He then looked the three students in the eye.
"Sometimes it is more helpful to refrain from strict punishments that will only breed resentment and anger. You never want to alienate someone who could be a potential ally later on," Dumbledore said quietly.
After hearing these words, Sirius stood up and paced back and forth. He shook with anger at the idea that a mad woman like Bellatrix could get away with hurting his friends and not pay for it.
"Headmaster, they attacked my friends, they should have their wands broken. Why let future death eaters walk free?" Sirius said trying hard not to shout. "My Cousin and her lot will never falter from their cause."
"Be that as it may Sirius, my hands are tied in this matter and they will serve detention, but that is all I can promise. If you remember correctly, I let you go without punishment once upon a time," Dumbledore countered.
Sirius realized he had been beaten and took a seat next to Alice.
"However, I would like to discuss something of importance with you," Dumbledore continued. "As you have just experienced, we no longer live in a safe world. While the Ministry of Magic is doing all it can to combat Voldemort, they suffer inefficiencies due to bureaucracy and because Voldemort has spies there as well. I would like to extend an invitation to you three to join the Order of the Phoenix."
The Gryffindors looked at each other with surprised expressions. Sirius liked the idea of doing anything he could to help bring the downfall of Voldemort. He was already planning to apply for Auror training. However, at the same time he was wary of joining a secret society without his mates.
"Will James, Remus, Peter and Lily be invited as well?" Sirius asked.
Dumbledore let out a little chuckle. He knew that the four marauders were not likely to be separated. The precise reason he wanted them for the Order other than their obvious talent, was for their dedication and loyalty towards each other.
"Wouldn't you like me to explain what the objective of the Order is first Sirius?" Dumbledore asked with mock surprise.
Sirius nodded his head and Dumbledore continued his explanation.
"The Order is a secret society that will have the mission of finding and exploiting the weaknesses of Lord Voldemort and his followers. It will be dangerous and require a great deal of bravery."
"Danger is my middle name Professor, as long as my mates are invited to save my arse, I am in," Sirius said without hesitation.
"This is not a decision that can be made without a great deal of thought. I will give you until the end of the year to think my proposal over. We will speak again then. I will speak with Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin, Mr. Pettigrew, and Miss Evans in the near future about the Order," Dumbledore replied as the twinkle returned to his eyes.
Sirius, Alice, and Marlene sat in silence, thinking over this momentous decision that would undoubtedly shape the rest of their lives. Dumbledore could see the strain they were under after having such a heavy burden placed on their shoulders and he thought it best to let them return to their dormitories and get some rest.
"You may go back to Gryffindor Tower now, but please think about what I have said," Dumbledore said, and for the first time he looked like an old man with too much burdening him, instead of the affable professor his students had always known him as.
The three Gryffindors filed out of the headmaster's office silently and chose not to speak as they made the long walk back to their beds. All three just wanted to be left in peace as they were forced to contemplate their futures after Hogwarts.
Sirius realized he was not ready for bed yet and needed some time to think. He knew that joining the order would mean fighting against his family; his little brother Regulus. Although James, Remus, Peter, and Lily were more of a family to him, he didn't know if he had the will to cause his blood relatives pain and perhaps death. Could he pull a wand on his little brother?
"I'll see you guys later I'm going to go check on James, Remus, Chloe and Lily," Sirius lied as he left Alice and Marlene at the portrait hole.
He quickly turned a corner and started heading where his feet were taking him. Sirius realized for the first time that he would not be walking these halls again next year and the idea that he didn't know what his future had in store for him scared him. He only had his friends to count on and for that he was thankful because he couldn't ask for a better bunch of people to face the dark times ahead with. His care free days of pranking and trouble making seemed to be coming to an end as he was forced to face the realities of becoming an adult.
In his deep thoughts he hadn't noticed where he was going and when he took the time to absorb his surroundings he noticed that he was in the Astronomy Tower. On further inspection, he wasn't alone. He saw a small figure standing by the window looking out into the never ending darkness. Sirius recognized the long silky black hair and approached her, but for once he didn't use any cheap lines or flirtatious innuendos.
"Thanks for warning us tonight," Sirius said quietly as he wasn't sure Alana wanted to be disturbed.
She turned around and Sirius would see that her blue eyes were flooded with tears and the confident look she always wore was replaced by a vulnerable and frightened one.
"Just leave me alone Sirius, I'm not in the mood to be teased right now," Alana said stubbornly.
Sirius took a seat on the windowsill next to her and they just sat their, silent in the darkness. Although no words were exchanged the mere presence of each other's company made them feel better. Sirius thought of his two families and which one was he willing to die for, and Alana thought of being torn between her sense of family and her moral obligation to do the right thing. Finally Sirius spoke first.
"Never would have taken you for a Slytherin, you don't have the look in your eye like the rest of your lot," Sirius said blandly.
At this Alana turned her bright eyes on Sirius and curled her lips in anger.
"You don't know anything about me or what I stand for so please do not assume that my house is an accurate representation of who I am," Alana said angrily.
She wouldn't tolerate Sirius judging her because she was a Slytherin. She wasn't like the rest of them. She didn't hate muggles or muggleborns. Hadn't she just risked her own personal safety to save his friends?
"I'm just saying that you don't seem like a Slytherin that's all," Sirius said apologetically. "Don't preach to me about being mis-represented, I do bare the name Black after all."
Alana continued to stare at Sirius with her sharp blue eyes and he found himself feeling vulnerable. It was as if she could read him like a book, yet they barely knew each other.
"Are you that different from your cousins? I see the way you walk around Hogwarts as if you were the greatest wizard who walked through its halls in the last century. You pick on those who are less powerful than you," Alana asked heatedly.
Sirius couldn't bear to be put in the same boat as his twisted cousin Bellatrix and her unintelligent and weak sister Narcissa. He was not going to let Alana think that he was similar to them.
"Practical jokes are a far cry from using unforgivable curses and discriminating against people solely on the basis of blood lineage. I would never use my abilities to frighten or intimidate people and some of my closest friends are muggleborns," Sirius said darkly.
He was in no mood to justify himself to someone who he believed to be knee deep in the dark arts and death eater plots.
"And who are you to judge seeing as you have such an intimate knowledge of my cousin's inner circle, should I check your arm for the death eater mark?" Sirius replied haughtily.
Alana whirled around and grabbed her wand out of her pocket. She pointed it at Sirius and looked at him with shock on her face.
"How dare you accuse me of that? After all I have done for your friends tonight I can't believe you would question my loyalties. I may not wear them on my sleeve like an arrogant Gryffindor, but I am no supporter of Lord Voldemort," Alana cried.
Tears built up in her eyes and fell down her porcelain cheeks. Sirius closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her. Despite her large personality, she felt small pressed up against him. To his surprise she didn't push him away, but instead buried her head in his chest and cried.
"Shh….I didn't mean to upset you, it's ok," Sirius said as Alana clung to him.
Despite herself, Alana felt safe in Sirius' arms. She knew he understood what she was going through and she prayed for his strength to make her own course in life and not be a pawn in her parents' quest for power. Usually she kept her head down and hoped that the other members of her house didn't notice her, but after tonight's events, she was sure that she would pay. Someone was bound to find out that she had alerted the Gryffindors to their actions.
However, her thoughts were interrupted when she felt Sirius' lips on hers. His big hands were on the small of her back and she could feel his warm breath on her cold skin. She found herself returning Sirius' kisses, but quickly came to her senses and pulled away.
"What the hell did you do that for?" Alana demanded.
Sirius looked at her and grinned. He walked towards her, but Alana moved farther away. He ran his hands through his dark hair and leaned up against a wall.
"Well I had to do something to get you to stop crying," Sirius protested, but he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.
"You couldn't just keep your hands to yourself could you? I'm not some weak girl who you can just take advantage of," Alana screeched.
However, she found herself wanting desperately to be back in Sirius' arms. For a brief moment all of her worries had left her mind as she had enjoyed a stolen kiss with someone she was all, but forbidden from associating with.
"I know that and it's why I kissed you and I'm damn glad I did because I've been wanting to do it for ages," Sirius replied simply.
Alana was speechless. She was torn between slapping Sirius for his bold behavior and kissing him because he was so good at it. However, her pride won over in the end and she couldn't let Sirius know that his kiss had affected her.
"If we are going to be friends then you can't go around kissing me. You are just going to have to contain yourself," Alana replied cheekily.
Sirius let out a deep laugh and his dark eyes sparkled with amusement. He knew he had gotten under Alana's skin and he was thoroughly enjoying it. He would wait for her because she was worth it, but in the end they would kiss again. They were perfect for each other. No other woman challenged him the way she did.
"But my plan worked didn't it. You can't tell me you are thinking about whatever was making you cry now. You know you enjoyed kissing me. I'm quite skilled at it you know," Sirius said in jest.
"That's only because you've snogged all of the girls in school and have had plenty of practice," Alana replied, falling comfortably into their routine of banter and word play.
"That's just not true, I would never take advantage of 11 year olds, I'm after a real woman," Sirius said as he put his arm around Alana.
Alana giggled, but slipped out from under Sirius' and returned to the seat by the window she had occupied earlier. Sirius joined her, but instead of impinging on her personal space by trying to touch her, he just sat comfortably next to her. They spent the rest of the night getting to know each other as they talked endlessly about their separate histories and their uncertain futures.
Author's Note: Once again sorry for the long period between updates. I had this chapter finished two weeks ago, but I decided to spill milk on my computer and so it had to go to the shop to get a new keyboard. It took forever to get fixed and as a result I now have an English keyboard with a pound sign instead of a dollar sign. Anyways I hope you all like this chapter. I know it seems like the Slytherins never get punished and I hope that it isn't a major flaw of the story, but oh well. Sorry there wasn't much Lily and James in this chapter, but have no fear they will be back in action soon. And Remus and Chloe will have some stuff happen to them soon too. On a side note, I just realized that my pen name is Chloe and one of my main characters is named Chloe. I'm not trying to write myself in to the story or anything I just simply didn't realize I had done that. I know I'm a little slow sometimes. So tell me what you think about this chapter andI will try and have more stuff up soon, but I have Spring Break soon and I'm flying off to Spain. Thanks for the lovely reviews of last chapter you guys rock.