Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J. K. Rowling.

A/N: Wow. It's been two months. That's really pathetic. I'm sorry, guys. I'll try to be more punctual going forward. I have the next several chapters planned, so hopefully I'll write them soon. Thank you so much for sticking with me.

"If we put two tables together, we should all be able to fit," Marlene said as the seventh years walked into The Three Broomsticks, having Apparated directly outside of it. "Does anyone want to help me?"

There was a general chorus of "yes" and "sure," and Marlene, Sirius, Remus, Frank, and Alice were suddenly lifting a table. Lily wondered why no one had thought of levitating the table, but then she remembered the effort to levitate tables in preparation for the James's New Year party and realized that manual lifting was probably a better idea. She took up a corner and helped to carry the table toward another one. When they set the table down, there was the matter of moving all of the chairs to match up with the new position of the table, but after a few minutes of lifting and scraping everyone was seated and staring at each other.

It was silent until Alice and Marlene glanced at each other and started laughing. The giggles were contagious and soon everyone, including the boys, was laughing without knowing why.

"We're here, guys," said Sirius finally. "We're a part of the Order. We're almost adults."

"Dumbledore trusts us!" Mary added.

"We're at The Three Broomsticks, and it's not even a Hogsmeade weekend," Alice pointed out. "Merlin, I feel grown up."

"We'd better be grown up if we're going to fight the Death Eaters," James snapped.

Lily took his hand. "We know. It just . . . takes some getting used to."

Madame Rosmerta arrived at the table just then. "Would you lot like some menus?"

The seventh years glanced at one another. "No, thanks, I think we're good. We all know what we like here, don't we?" Remus said.

There was another chorus of assent, and then the orders came thick and fast. Frank started and then they went in a circle. Lily was amazed at how well they all organized themselves. Just about everybody ordered some sort of pie or pudding. It was a comfort food sort of night. Lily wanted to congratulate herself on making it this far and brace herself for the uncertainty of the future, and she figured most of the others felt similarly.

For several minutes, conversation happened spontaneously as everyone tried to process the fact that they were really members of the Order and they would really be fighting Death Eaters in just a couple of months. For all that they'd all been to school together for seven years in the same house, though, the truth was that they didn't all know each other very well, and they weren't sure what to say to one another. When the conversation stagnated, Marlene announced, "I have an idea. Let's play Shallow or Deep! That'll keep us talking for sure."

"Ooh, Shallow or Deep. Yes!" exclaimed Alice.

"What's Shallow or Deep?" the boys asked. Lily would have been equally ignorant if it hadn't been for a few of Marlene's attempts to pretend that the dorm was actually the site of a slumber party during their first year.

"It's kind of like Truth or Dare, except without the dares," Marlene started.

"What's the fun of not having any dares?" Sirius demanded, cutting Marlene off.

"Not all of us want to get up and make fools of ourselves every ten seconds," Alice retorted.

"Then you pick Truth," Sirius argued.

"Not all of want to watch you make a fool of yourself, either," Mary added.

"Just go with it, Pads," Remus advised. "We're in a public restaurant and it's been a long day. If the girls want to try out this new version of the game, humor them, will you?"

"Fine," Sirius grumbled.

"All right, who wants to start?" Alice asked.

"Do you mean for asking or for getting the question?" Lily wanted to know.

"Getting the question," Alice clarified. "Marlene can ask the first question, and then whoever got the question can ask the next one."

"I'll start," Frank volunteered.

"Shallow or Deep?" Marlene asked.

"Wait, what do you mean? You never finished explaining the game," Frank reminded her.

"Oh yeah. If you say, 'Shallow,' I'll give you a shallow question, like 'What's your favorite food?' or something like that. If you say, 'Deep,' I'll give you a deep question, like 'What's your most desperate ambition?'"

"Okay."

"So, Shallow or Deep?"

"Um, all right, what the hell. Deep."

"If you weren't going to fight for the Order, what would you most want to do with your life?"

"Uh . . . Okay, this sounds crazy, but I'd be a herbologist. Like for St. Mungo's or something. I just really like identifying plants. I know it's kind of weird, but it's soothing."

"No, that's cool," said Mary. "Plants. I never knew that about you. That's really interesting."

Frank blushed. "Thanks, Mary. Okay, so what happens next? I ask someone a question, right? Who wants to get the next question?"

"I'll go, I guess," Remus said after a long silence.

"Shallow or Deep?"

" . . . Shallow."

"Aww, come on, Remus, that's no fun!" whined Marlene.

"It's called Shallow or Deep, Marlene. I'm pretty sure I'm at perfect liberty to pick either option," Remus snapped back. Lily winced for him. A deep question might touch on his "furry little problem." She was almost certain that's what was limiting his choice. "Shallow, Frank."

"Merlin, now I have to come up with a question," Frank said. "Okay, um . . . this is hard . . . uh, what's your favorite color?"

"Red. With gold as a close second. Obviously. Next?"

Lily took a deep breath. She trusted Remus. "I'll go."

"Shallow or Deep?"

"Deep."

"Um—Merlin, Frank, you were right; this is hard. All right . . . who do you hate most in the world?"

"Voldemort."

"Really?" Mary half-whispered. "Not Snape?"

"No. There are plenty of people who have hurt me more directly than Voldemort has, but as far as I'm concerned he's the one inspiring them, and I think inciting widespread evil is even worse than just doing evil things yourself."

"Well said," Remus said.

"Who wants the next question?" Marlene asked.

"If Lily's asking, I suppose I can go," James said.

"Shallow or Deep?" Lily asked.

Lily watched James's chest rise and fall as he worked up his courage. "Deep."

"Who's your favorite teacher?"

"Oh, come on, that's a Shallow question," Frank protested.

"No it's not!" Remus argued. "There are so many things to consider. Teachers aren't like foods, especially not at Hogwarts where we have the same teachers for seven years. You really get to know them. I think it's a good question, Lily."

Lily smiled. "Thanks, Remus. So, James?"

"McGonagall. Definitely."

"I thought you hated her!" Alice said. "You get in trouble with her all the time. Or at least, you used to."

"So? She's incredibly brave, and she has the most integrity out of just about anyone I've ever met. She knows exactly where she stands, and she's not afraid to let anyone else know it. She does what she believes in. I admire that, even if it drives me crazy sometimes."

"Okay, okay," said Alice. "Sorry."

"Next?" Marlene prompted.

"I suppose I'll go," Sirius droned.

James raised his eyebrows sardonically in Sirius's direction. "Shallow or Deep?"

"Deep. I'm not afraid of a game."

Remus shot Sirius a glare, though Lily thought Sirius missed it.

"Okay, what's the worst thing that's ever happened to you?"

"Why would you ask that?" Sirius demanded.

"Because I've got a couple ideas of things you might say, and I'd like to see which one you pick. Come on. Like you said, it's just a game."

"Merlin. All right. Getting disowned."

"You were disowned?" Marlene gasped.

"How thick are you?" Sirius retorted. "Of course I was disowned. Didn't you notice how I helped my aunt and uncle get arrested last month? That's basically my relationship with my whole family."

"You haven't exactly advertised that," Marlene shot back.

"Whatever. Yes. Getting disowned was the worst thing that's happened to me."

Sirius and Marlene were shooting murderous looks at each other, but, just then, the food came. Lily's plate was overflowing with mashed potatoes, which made her very happy indeed. Over the course of a delicious meal, tempers simmered down and Lily found out quite a bit about her fellow Gryffindors that she probably should have worked to discover prior to their seventh year. Alice was terrified of snakes more than anything, including Death Eaters; Remus preferred hard rock and classical music, depending on his mood; Peter had dreamed of being a sailor as a child, and still thought it would be a fun occupation; and Frank looked up to his mother most out of anyone he'd ever met. Before any of them could believe it, they had paid for the meal and the Hogwarts gate was about to close. Full, content, and entertained, the seventh years left the restaurant.

As everyone else was starting back toward the school, James whispered to Lily, "I'm going home to talk to Mum. I know how to sneak back into the school, so don't worry about me." Before she could reply, he Disapparated.

A/N: If you're still out there, I'd love some reviews.