Chapter Twenty-Nine – Ten Pin Bowling
July 1978
"Albus, I'm getting a letter from Potter every single day," Minerva sighed.
"As am I. Also from Evans, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew," Albus said, smiling. "It seems they have heard of our group."
Minerva crossed her arms over her chest. "And I wonder how that could of happened?" she asked, glaring at Albus.
He grinned sheepishly. "They are good students, Minerva. You know how powerful James and Lily are. They are two of the brightest students to leave Hogwarts since yourself. I would be proud to have them fight with us."
"Flattery will get you no where, Dumbledore," Minerva said, trying to hide a smile. "They only graduated two weeks ago. They are too young to be fighting this fight."
"I understand they are young, Minerva. I remember a young Animagus who helped me fight another dark wizard many years ago. I didn't think you were too young then, and this group isn't too young now," Albus said seriously.
"Don't bring me into this, Albus," Minerva scolded, looking over her spectacles. "They are children."
"James and Lily plan to wed at the end of the year," Albus said.
Minerva couldn't help but smile at that news. Normally, she didn't interfere in her student's lives. But James truly was a changed man after the incident with Snape and Remus. He threw himself into his studies, and Minerva gave him a great deal of help in Transfiguration, a subject he was very good at. Minerva even offered to help him train to become an Animagus, but he had politely refused. She understood; he had been accepted into the Ministry of Magic's Auror Training Program, which was incredibily difficult.
Lily was another of her favorite students. Lily reminded her of herself, to tell the truth. They were both raised by muggles, and were extremely studious. Several times, Minerva spoke very warmly of James to Lily their seventh year, and couldn't be more pleased when Lily finally consented to go on a date with James.
"I suppose we could use more numbers," Minerva said carefully.
"I trust them all," Albus said seriously.
"Why don't they come to the outing you have planned for us?" Minerva said. "That would be a good way to see if they fit."
"Excellent idea, Minerva!" Albus said clapping his hands together. "I am convinced that we will all have a good time."
"I wish you would let us know what we were doing, Albus. You're being so vague, telling us to wear muggle clothes," Minerva said, her lips pursed together.
"It is a surprise," Albus said innocently. He handed her a bag of sweets. "Have a toffee?"
She took one but said, "You should really consider cutting back on those."
"My dear, in my advanced age, I don't think a little thing such as a toffee would hurt me," Albus joked.
"Don't say things like that," Minerva said briskly.
"Like what?" Albus asked.
"Don't joke about your age," Minerva said softly.
"Minerva, I am one hundred and twenty-eight years old. I have to joke about my age," Albus said. "Does that bother you?"
"I don't know," Minerva said truthfully. "I don't like thinking that you might not be here someday. You've been my best friend for twenty years, Albus."
Their eyes met, and for just a moment, Minerva felt almost a spark of electricity pass between them. Ever since Moody was out of the picture, Minerva kept wondering in the back of her mind if Albus would ever admit his feelings.
But then, Minerva was half afraid he would. On one hand, it would make so much sense for them to be together. They complimented each other perfectly. But on the other hand, Minerva remembered Netta's taunts that she had slept with Albus to get her job. She was afraid that if they did end up together, that other people might think that as well.
Luckily, Minerva was content with what they had. Which was friendship.
Later that Month
"Bowling, Albus?" Minerva asked in surprise. She, along with twenty other people in the fight against Voldemort were currently standing outside of a muggle bowling alley. Apparently Albus expected them to go inside and bowl a few rounds.
"I've bowled plenty of times, Professor McGonagall," Lily Evans said cheerfully. "It's loads of fun."
"I'm game," Sirius Black said casually.
"This is one of my favorite sports," Albus said. "I think you'll enjoy it."
"And we can't use magic at all?" Edgar Bones asked warily.
"I shall explain it all when we get inside," Albus said. He looked out of place in a pair of jeans and a polo shirt, along with his long beard.
The younger members of the group had more of a fashion sense when it came to muggle clothes. Though Minerva didn't understand the slightly elevated shoes that Sirius Black wore. Platform shoes, he called them.
They all walked in slowly, following Albus almost fearfully. Albus went up to the counter and asked for six lanes.
"What's a lane?" Alice Longbottom whispered.
"Maybe we're driving somewhere," Frank Longbottom told her.
"We'll need twenty-five pairs of shoes," Albus told the man behind the counter. It took almost fifteen minutes to get everyone fitted with the correct size shoe. Then Albus told them all to pick up a bowling ball.
The first ball Minerva picked up was far too heavy. "Someone could get killed with this," she muttered under her breath. Albus found her a much lighter ball to use. Finally, everyone was in their different lanes, ready to go.
Minerva had heard of bowling before, but she had never actually tried the game herself. She watched Albus' demonstration carefully, and was quite pleased when she managed to knock down half the pins on her first try.
Marlene McKinnon was another story. Her ball kept ending up in the gutter. On her third try, Minerva saw her sneak out her wand and cause the ball to go straight down the middle.
"No fair!" Remus Lupin laughed. "You're cheating."
"I don't want it to end up in the gutter," Marlene said innocently.
No one except Albus was doing well at all, but no one noticed, as they all were having a good time. Albus had been right. They desperately needed a little time away from fighting. It seemed that every week led to another attack on wizards and muggles both.
"So it's a spare, because you spared some of the pins the first time?" James Potter asked Lily. "And it's a strike because you struck them all down the first time? Is that right?"
"Lord, James, I don't know why it's called that," Lily laughed, her cheeks flushed.
"What's a hat trick?" someone called out.
"What Dumbledore just did!"
"You mean knock all the pins down every time?"
"Exactly."
Hours later, after the all decided they had had enough bowling for the evening, the group went to their unofficial Headquarters, at the Longbottom's house. It was the first time in quite a while that every single person who had fought was in the same place. Even Aberforth, Albus' brother had decided to spend one night away from the pub.
"Does any one have a camera?" Alice Longbottom asked. "We're all here. Let's record this for prosperity's sake."
"You don't have one here, Alice?" Marlene asked.
"Afraid not," Alice said cheerfully. "Maybe for Christmas."
"I have a camera," Lily said, taking a camera from her purse. "I like having one with me at all times."
"She just can't take enough pictures of me," James laughed. "Do you see what I have to put up with?"
"Let's go to the back room," Frank said. "There's room enough for all of us there."
Frank took the camera from Lily and led them all to the back. He placed the camera on a table facing the wall, and everyone tried to sort themselves so they could all be seen. Five minutes later, they were ready.
"On three," Frank said.
"It's a muggle camera!" Lily said. "I forgot, someone has to take the picture."
"It doesn't take pictures on it's own?"
"No, I'm sorry," Lily said, looking embarrassed. "I'll take the picture and have it developed the wizard way."
"Lily, stay there," Minerva said. She had been standing at the very end of the row of people. "I'll take the picture. I remember how to work a muggle camera."
"Thank you," Lily said happily.
Minerva went to the table and picked the camera up. She stood back as far as she could, making sure everyone was in the shot. "On three, say victory."
"One…Two…Three…"
"Victory!"
Little did any of them know that it would be the last time they were all together ever again.
October 1978
Minerva stretched out her back paws and gave a loud yawn. It didn't wake up the vagrant sitting next to the wall. She wanted to simply appear to be a stray. Halloween night was here again, and instead of waiting and hearing of the attacks, the group was out in the streets, trying to head them off.
She was walking up and down Knockturn Alley in her Animagus form, listening for the slightest clue. There was quite a bit of activity in The Poison Arrow, but every time Minerva tried to slip in undetected, she was chased out by the bartender.
"Tabby," a voice said. Minerva turned around quickly and saw Dorcas Meadows standing at the spot where Knockturn Alley and Diagon Alley met. Minerva ran to Dorcas, who then scooped her up in her arms.
"Wait til we're in the bathroom at the Leaky Cauldron," Dorcas muttered. Minerva gave a loud meow to let her know she understood.
Just a few minutes later, Minerva transformed into herself again. "What news?" she asked briskly.
"It's bad, Minerva," Dorcas said. Minerva took a good look at Dorcas' face. Tears had been wiped away.
"Let's not talk here, let's get to the Longbottoms," Minerva said quickly. Dorcas nodded, and they both apparated in the next second. Minerva apparated right in front of the Longbottoms' house and let herself inside.
Waiting for her was a room full of anger and tears. Albus was sitting next to James Potter, who was holding Lily in his arms. Lily was crying loudly, and James had a look of pure fury on his face.
Dorcas took Minerva's arm and led her into the dining room. "No big attack like every other year," Dorcas said, on the verge of tears. "Lots of small attacks on people's families."
"James and Lily?" Minerva asked, horrified.
"They killed James' parents, they killed Lily's parents…" Dorcas trailed off. "Lily has a sister, who lived at home, but wasn't home when it happened. She's the one who found the bodies. Petunia, I think her name is. Albus brought her here for safety. She won't speak to anyone."
Minerva felt herself sit hard on a chair. "Anyone else?" she asked fearfully.
"Edgar Bones," she said sadly. "They tried attacking his family, and Ed was there. They were all killed."
Minerva took off her spectacles and wiped her eyes, which had become moist with tears. She followed Dorcas into the living room, where most everyone else was.
"Why them?" Lily sobbed. "Why did the bloody Death Eaters go after them?"
"We need a name," James said suddenly, standing up.
"James, this isn't the time…" Remus started, placing his hand on James' shoulder.
"Yes it is!" James bellowed. "We all work together, fighting the Death Eaters. We need a name like them. Something that will lift people up, and let them know we're fighting!"
"A name full of goodness and light…" James trailed off, nearly in tears.
"Light Bringers?" Frank Longbottom suggested.
"Darkness Vanquishers?" Marlene McKinnon said.
"I would suggest," Albus started, "That we name our group, rather than the individuals in the group. We are an Order."
"The Order of the Wizards?" Remus said.
"The Order of the Light," Elphias Doge said, as if that settled the matter.
Minerva looked at James and Lily and was pleased to see that they were listening to each suggestion.
"Those aren't quite right," James said.
"The Order of Merlin?" Peter Pettigrew said.
James even managed a smile from that. "That's a medal from the Ministry, you dolt." Peter looked down at his feet.
Minerva racked her head for a good idea and saw Fawkes, Albus' Phoenix in her head. "The Order of the Phoenix," she said softly.
"Phoenix?" Lily asked.
"They always from the ashes," Minerva said. "No matter how much has happened to them, they rise again."
James put his arms around Lily and hugged her tightly. Albus gave Minerva a small head nod, so she knew that he approved. He then stood up and faced the group.
"This session of the Order of the Phoenix is now in session."
