Grimmauld Place, London. 12 Grimmuald Place, London. Ava thought to herself and felt herself being pulled into what felt a small tube. She opened her eyes - no longer was she standing in the safety of her flat. She looked around the street and saw the familiar London skyline in the distance and the red double deck buses traveling in slow speed on the other side of the road. In front of her was a row of traditional brick town houses. In a matter of seconds, seemingly out of nowhere; between number 11 and 13 suddenly a narrow brick house with a worn set off front steps appeard out of blue air. For most people this may be alarming but Ava knew without a doubt that this must be it.

From the outside it looked manky and old and judging from the dust that had been collected on the dirty windows it didn't look like anyone had lived there for years.
She pulled her pin striped jacket tighter tighter to her t-shirt and her loose fitted jeans as she walked up the steps with hesitant steps. The large wooden door with black paint that had started to chip and a door handle in the shape of a silver serpent, which Ava pushed. Something about all this made her very uncomfortable. She started to doubt it really had been Dumbledore in her flat last night and she was almost about to turn around when the door opened. A man with light brown hair stood by the door spring, he must be quite young but the bags and lines under his eyes and the grey hair strands made him look older. He gave her a friendly smile.
'You must be Ava Barnes'
'Yeah'
'I'm Remus' he said as they shook hands.
'We're still waiting for some people' he said and she nodded as she stepped hall. It was dark and narrow, lightly lit by gas lamps and in the high ceiling a large silver chandelier surrounded by cobweb hang and the wall paper had started peeling off. The house had a smell of damp and dust and it was clear that the house had been unoccupied for many years with the many cobwebs visible in the ceiling and coroners of the room. There was a painting off an older woman in a cap with moth eaten velvet drapes that shouting at them as they walked by.

'Filth! Scum! By-products of dirt and vileness. Half-breeds! Freaks. How dare you befoul the house of my fathers'. Remus gave a look in Ava's direction.

'Sorry about that, we can't seem to get that portrait off, some permanent stick charm we think' He explained and waved his wand towards a drape on the floor that moved up towards the photo and covered the painting that gave some more muffled sounds before becoming silent.

The house probably had been great in its time, but the house elves heads on the wall by the staircase and the troll feet umbrella stand to the right of the door along with the snake decor spread around the room made Ava even more uncomfortable than before. It looked more like a dark wizard house rather than a headquarters for a group fighting against Voldemort. Ava followed Remus through the corridor and down a staircase into the kitchen. The room was very large, with brick walls and on the other side was a magnificent fireplace. Pots and pans dangled from the ceiling. There was a great oak table to the side where she saw some people were sitting. who were now eyeing her closely. She felt a sudden urge to run outside.

A plump woman with tomato red fiery hair walked up to Ava, introducing herself as Molly that had gone up from her seat. She was followed by a thin man who introduced himself as Arthur with thinning red hair, she recognised him from the Ministry of Magic, he worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office which office was behind the Auror's one so she had seen him walking around. A tall man with long red hair pulled in a pony tail and a dragon tooth as a an earring who she recognised as Bill Weasley. They had been in the same year at Hogwarts, both Gryffindors and prefects but their experiences probably couldn't have not been more different. Bill had been popular and liked by everyone. Ava had spent most of her school years alone in the library and had probably spent more time talking with Hagrid the game keeper than any student. Her and Bill had both been prefects in their fifth year and they had some friendly conversations while going on patrol around the castle and other duties but that is as far as their friendship had gone.

'Ava, how are you? I hear you an auror now, congrats' He said with a smile as he hugged her.

'Good thanks. I heard you work in Egypt?'

'I was, just moved back this summer. I work at Gringotts now as a cursebreaker'

A tall bald black man who wore a single hoop earring that Ava recognised very well came up; Kinglsey Shacklebolt, who was her mentor in the auror office as well as a young auror named Tonks with a heart shaped face and at the moment spotting bubblegum pink hair who Ava was friendly with at the office. Both greeting her with hugs.

'I knew you say yes! Kinglsey and I suggested we should recruit you.' said Tonks happily, and Ava gave the two a big smile. It made more sense now about why she had been asked by Dumbledore to join.

Then Ava's eyes settled for the last person in the room, whom was casually walking up to her. She had never been more confused in her life. He was a lot more handsome than in more the recent photographs she seen, his dark hair wasn't waist length as in the photos she seen but now to his shoulders, but there was no doubting it was him; the gaunt pale face with high cheekbones and the grey eyes. Ava hands clutch tighter to the wand in her coat pocket in a reflex move and moved steadily towards him and she could feel her heart beat going faster. Close enough, she pulled the wand up by his neck, and locked his arms behind his back.

'Sirius Black' she said, still startled by the man's appearance, and more so by the fact that that a large grin had appeard on his face and the fact he didn't put up any resistance.
'He's on our side Ava.' said Kingsley in his deep voice, placing his a hand on her shoulder. For a moment she considered whether she was dreaming or if maybe if this was some awful plot. She calmed down a bit when she figured there was no way that some evil wizard or witch in disguise as she figured the odds of overmanning Dumbledore and Kingsley must be very small. It was a very odd situation considering Kingsley spent most of these days at the office now being fixated with catching Black ( or well, seemed to be ) and was the head of the operations of doing so, and had led her to many assignments with catching him that had lead nowhere. Of course, it dawned upon her now that it was probably a way of protecting him. She put down her wand and released her grip around his hands.

'But aren't you-?" She said looking at Sirius.

'An evil mass murder on the escape?' he finished with an casual voice.

'Yeah…something like that.' Ava said now more relaxed by his humor.

'They got that all wrong. Sorry to disappoint

'How - I mean all that was left of Pettigrew was his finger?' She asked, not out of doubt, but more curiosity. Sirius seemed to have sensed the tone in her voice.

'Pettigrew was the Death Eater working for Voldemort. I was supposed to be the Secret Keeper but we switched it to him last minute. When I found out he did I went after him, only he cut out his finger and transformed into his animagus a rat'

Ava stood shocked at this revelation, her eyes becoming even larger than normal. It meant Sirius Black had been imprisoned at Azkaban for 12 years for a murder he didn't commit, and most still thought he was responsible for.

It was Ava's biggest fear as an auror; that she get the wrong wizard or witch and they'ld be imprisoned for something they hadn't done.

I'm really sorry about that before, I had no idea.' She said, a bit flabbergasted.

'That's nothing. Kingsley jinxed me before anyone had the time to explain.

But before she had time to add anything else to the conversation, more people walked into the room. Some where old teachers at Hogwarts; Professor McGonagall who had been Ava's favourite teacher looked the same; tall and her black hair in a tight bun and the same stern face she remembered. The other teacher did surprise her however, Ava almost had to take a second to be sure it was him when he walked in, he had an appearance of overgrown bat with his greasy shoulder length hair and dark eyes. He had a hooked nose and yellow uneven teeth and unlike the other people who had either hugged or shook hands with Ava he just gave her a quick glance and a hint of a nod as he sat down. While Ava was quite good at Potions, it was a known fact Snape hated Gryffindor students so he had never been particular nice to her but he had on the other hand not been as mean to her as the other Gryffindor students probably due to the fact the she was so quiet and wasn't half bad at Potions. The appearance of him surprised her even further as he had been a known Death Eater of Voldemort. So what on earth was Professor Snape doing in the Order? But she had heard a rumour he had been a spy for Dumbledore.

Mad-Eye Moody, an retired auror who sometimes came in to the office to consult with cases came limping in on his wooden leg, his face covered in scars with a piece of his nose missing, his hair was grey and matte but the most peculiar about his looks were his eyes; one of them was small and dark the other was a large blue magical one. As well as ( and Ava was very surprised to see him ) - Mundungs Fletcher, an up too no good dodgy type whom she had came across several times. Three other people that Ava had never met; Hestia Jones, Elphias Doge and Emmeline Vance. They eventually all sat down at the big table. Ava had taken a seat between Remus and Kingsley. At last Dumbledore came in; he had a scarlet robe and as he entered he had the effect of everyones eyes falling on him as he sat down at the chair in the middle of the table.

'Thank you all for coming, please do excuse my tardiness. Firstly, as you noticed we have a new member - Ava Barnes.' Said Dumbledore and everyone turned to look at her, making Ava feel her cheeks burn a bit. Luckily, Dumbledore swiftly continued.

'Now, there's something very important I like to discuss.' Dumbledore said. At this everyone leaned forward in surprise.

'I believe that Voldemort wants something at the Ministry, in the Department of Mysteries.' he continued. Most people had seemed to lean forward at this. There was an air of silence in the room.

'There is something I believe he wants there, very much. Something that we need to guard.' said is it?" asked Arthur. Dumbledore looked at him intensely before looking a round the table.
'Unfortunately it would be unwise for me to reveal too much'

'What does it say?' asked Sirius in a concerned voice.
'That - I can't unfortunately say'
'But why does Voldemort want it?' asked Kingsley.
'Because the Dark Lord believes it can help him kill Harry Potter and then rise to power' Snape answered cooly

'Does it?' asked Sirius, directing his question towards Dumbledore. 'That's unfortunately all I can reveal' said Dumbledore 'and what I suggest we do is guard the prophecy so that everyone takes shift.'

After the meeting had ended and the schedule for the shifts had been made Molly announced that dinner would be severed. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and all excused themselves and walked from the table. As Ava got up to leave, hesitant in whether the offer had extended to her and not wanting to push the hospitality.

'Oh, don't be silly Ava. Stay for dinner, it's an order.' said Molly reading Ava's body language. 'Oh thanks.' Ava said and awkwardly sat down again.

Three boys entered ( two of them twins with tomato red hair and identical grins on their face ) the other one was a bit younger but tall and lanky with the same vibrant red hair, as well as two girls; one with equally red hair and one with bushy brown hair. The girls had walked up to Tonks and started a conversation with her and it didn't take long before she had started to change her face and the three of them were giggling at her nose that had now been changed to a snout. Kingsley was now in a deep discussion with Bill regarding some investments at Gringotts as the plate with mash and steak appeared. Not having anyone to talk to Ava suddenly became very self conscious and spent a great deal of effort in trying to finish of the vegetables on the plate./She was however saved by Remus, who noticed her behaviour and they got into a conversation regarding their works. Remus had apparently worked at Hogwarts two years ago as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Ava had been very keen to listen to his approach to the subject.

'You know, you're not at all what I imagined Barnes' said Sirius suddenly, who had been seated in front of Remus and it became so quiet around them you could hear the sound of crackling wood in the fireplace.

''You heard of me?' she asked surprised, her eyebrows raised and her eyes went wider.

'Oh trust me, the last years of Azkaban there was talk about auror Barnes. I expected you to be a big bloke'

'Oh, Ava may be small but you don't want to get in way of her stunning spells' said Kingsley smiling

'Time for dessert?' asked Molly and after they had filled themselves up with ice cream and fresh strawberries most people concluded it was time to go to bed.