Alice's dress was simple just a beautiful design in white and faint lines of red to trace certain patterns. It looked amazing in the candle light and simply stunning in the sunlight. I was quickly trying my best to get her hair into the design we planned for her only the day before. 'Hurry up Lily!' she screeched at me as she finished up her make up. 'Merlin Alice! You're worse than bloody petunia' I laughed back but finished her hair and added a blue brush/clip thing that used to be her mothers.
'You look stunning' I hugged her before changing into my dress. It was simple and it was elegant something Alice and James had agreed on, probably the only thing they agreed on. 'I love you Alice!' I squeaked before walking down the red carpet Frank had selected to lead the bride to her husband. Frank was grinning but I saw tears in his eyes, he better hope they're tears of joy, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were sitting next to Rose in the crowd all winking at me and waving subtly. I grinned back and shook my butt a little to show how nervous I was. Sirius gave a bark of quiet laughter.
Watching Alice marry Frank is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I held her flowers and caught a glimpse of her already teary face. Gosh these two were pathetic. But I must admit, to my great embarrassment even I teared up a little as they snogged. My best friends just got married! It has to be one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen. We all knew it would be those two first, they were so perfect for each other it was creepy.
'That will be me and you one day Lil's' James said confidently as we stood next to each other watching the happy couple receive their millions of presents. 'I hope so Potter' I grinned and he winked. 'I call best man!' Sirius exclaimed jumping next to me and I laughed. 'You may have the honours Sirius, but me and the girls already made a pact if we were to get married. We decided to when Alice chose me as Maid of Honour. I get Rose, Alice got me and Rose gets Alice' I grinned and we spent the day together talking happily to those who would listen.
'Enjoy the honeymoon Alice' I whispered as we helped her into the cabbie. 'I will. I love you guys, be careful and keep those idiots from breaking themselves' she smiled at me and Rose. I grinned back, 'that, my dear, is exactly what I was made for' I told her and the two of them chuckled. 'Bye Alice' Rose said and we kissed her on the cheek goodbye and watched as the cab drove down the road.
'PARTY!' Sirius yelled from inside the house and, laughing, Rose and I ran inside as it bucketed down with rain. Butterbeer was passed around, kisses were handed out and the boys pulled their fair share of pranks on just about everything and everyone. 'I love ya Lil's' James chuckled and I laughed. 'Urgent floo to James Potter' an aged voice said from the fireplace. The music shut off and Sirius yelled for James who staggered over to the fireplace, me right behind him.
'Hey professor' James said straightening up and throwing his full bottle of butterbeer behind him. 'Hey Dumbledore!' Sirius called and I glared at him. 'Sorry about your losses James' Dumbledore said mournfully and James bowed his head in acknowledgement. 'Could you please tell me who is in the house at the moment?' Dumbledore asked and I did a quick scan of the room. 'Rose, Remus, Sirius, Pete, James and me sir' I replied before James could and he grinned.
'Excellent. Are you all prepared to join the order of the Phoenix? I believe I mentioned it once? It is a group set out to defeat Lord Voldemort in his rise for power' Dumbledore told us and we all fell silent. 'Yes sir' I said and James nodded reverently at my side. 'Well someone has to keep the two lovebirds alive' I heard Sirius laugh and call out, 'I'm in Dumbledore!' The others all agreed and Dumbledore told us the date and time of the next meeting.
'Wait a moment' Sirius said holding up his hand and I looked back at him. He looked at the watch and grinned as if he found the time hilarious, 'we have ten minutes to get ready for the meeting' he laughed and I flushed. I pushed everyone back and sprinted up the stairs to my room and jumped over the beds to my wardrobe. I pulled out some clean jeans and a respectable top before diving for the toilets and getting changed.
I braided my hair and allowed it to sit next to me on my shoulder as I ran downstairs to grab my wand and magic the house clean again. 'Let's go' we yelped and apparated to the meeting. 'Ah good. I was wondering if you would figure out it was ten minutes from then' Dumbledore smiled amusedly at us and Sirius puffed up in mock pride. 'All because of me Sir. This lot would be completely lost without me' he boasted and I rolled my eyes. 'And you wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for my patience and good heart Padfoot' I told him and he frowned at me.
It was amazing. The people here were serious and dedicated to their work. And there was heaps of us, I'm not even sure the whole order was here. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter seemed to know quite a lot of the people so I just clung to James hand as he introduced me to everyone. Many people seemed to know of James' parents and sent their condolences.
The meeting was quick and organized a lot. I recognized a few people from Hogwarts who had also just joined the order. It seemed to me as though this were just a meeting to introduce newbies. That I was grateful for as I wasn't sure I'd be able to cope with getting straight in with the work. Introductions were always nice. So we spent the meeting greeting everyone and learning of what they have done and plan to do next.
Dumbledore stood up and explained the intentional aim for the Order and what he hopes to see happen over the year. 'Oh, and one other thing before we leave if I may' Dumbledore spoke up as everyone got prepared to leave for their homes, 'I would just like to put you on alert that some Death Eaters have joined Lord Voldemort's ranks and will be celebrating by torture of muggles. Everyone please keep an eye out for any muggle baiting happening' he finished off and everyone nodded and left home.
'I'm going to send a letter to Petunia when I get home' I told James and he nodded in understanding. What was the point, I asked myself, if I was getting this information and not telling Petunia to be on alert? She could be the next target and it could be because of me. So I wrote a quick note,
'Hey Tuney,
I'm not going to make this a habit just if there is something important, life threatening important. People like me, except evil, are going to be looking around for normal people like you. Just keep an eye out because whoever they catch they kill. Make sure you reply or else I'm going to be at your place tomorrow at nine am. I love you.
Lily Evans'
I finished it up and shoved it in an envelope and apparated to her house, shoved in her mail box and apparated home. I felt rather dizzy after that with all the spinning and not breathing. It can really do someone's head in.
The rest of that day drifted by in a haze and I was tired a lot and very worried about my sister. Eight am the next morning I apparated straight to her house fuming. I stormed up the path and to her front door with gravel crunching under my feet. I banged on the door. 'What?' Vernon snapped answering it with his stomach wobbling about. 'Where is my sister Dursley?' I demanded stalking in and searching the place.
'She's out with her friends, normal people, she won't be back until tea' Vernon snapped back and I spun to face him. 'Where did she go?' I asked drawing my wand and his eyes did not once waver from it. 'I don't know she didn't say she just left' he muttered and I frowned. Petunia would normally boast about it if she was going out, especially when Vernon was around.
'I'm going to find her' I said absently and apparated to the only place I knew Petunia would go with her snooty friends. I landed dizzily and almost collapsed on the floor with dizziness. But I stood up and sent my patronus to James so he would know I was out shopping. I didn't really want to get too worked up about Petunia I would go to her house later. See if she was home then, but now, now there was shops that needed looking in.
