Chapter 11- Secret Organization

       "I would think we should have gotten letters from our parents by now." Lily mentioned, her eyes sparkling and impatient.

       Sirius joined their conversation, appearing behind Lily in the common room. "And if I didn't know better, I would think that you want to be yelled at." he laughed, and the two girls smiled at him.

       "Whatever gave you that idea?" Mary asked, feigning innocence. By no means was she an actress.

       Lily stared at Sirius, trying to understand him. The past few weeks, she had spent a considerable amount of time at his side, and yet...and yet, still she didn't understand him. How was it that he was so happy, when his best friend was angry with him? And his other friends stayed away because they didn't want either James or Sirius angry with them. He made her feel whiny...perhaps she was anyway...

       They had said nothing more on the topic of becoming an 'item'. They did kiss every now and then. But it was a weird relationship; casual. Lily hadn't even sorted out her feelings since the first kiss. Nor did she plan too.

       "Sirius...let's go to for a walk. I'm bored." Lily said, looking over at Mary when he nodded. "Coming?"

       Mary just smiled faintly and uttered a "No thanks." She stretched and added, "I really should do some homework. Then again, I could always think up another way to make my parents angry, if this hasn't yet."

       Lily shrugged good-naturedly and tugged Sirius towards the portrait hole. With a wave at her friend, they disappeared.

       "You know, why did I ever care what people thought?" Lily asked, not completely realizing that she had asked aloud.

       "Instinct. We're taught to care."

"But why? Why do people torture their children by teaching them that?"

       "Why does the toilet water flow the opposite way in Australia?" Sirius retorted.

Lily gave him a bewildered look, and then shook her head. "That's the end of anything I'm going to ask you."

@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@

       James had been by himself, usually in the library or someplace where he didn't expect Sirius to suddenly appear. With Lily.

       Sirius had known how much Lily meant to him; why was he doing this? But even as James accused his friend, he realized that it was his fault all the same. Sirius had a right to Lily...he had given her away, pushed her away even.

       But it wasn't as if he spent his time moping. No, he had been watching. Noticing things. There were things about Hogwarts that one does not notice when they're surrounded by friends. Or perhaps all of this activity was new. Whatever the case, something was up. And James' intentions were to let Dumbledore know.

       "Sir?" he asked, knocking on the door to the Headmaster's office.

"Come in, James." The answer floated back to him, muffled. And James didn't even begin to wonder how Dumbledore had known who it was; it was useless to wonder those things.

       He opened the door and proceeded to walk inside. "Take a seat. This doesn't appear to look like a short visit." James noticed that the Headmaster looked worn out, like all of his effort was spent already. In a way, he regretted coming up here to tell him at all. What if he were imagining things? He would just be giving Dumbledore something else to worry about...

       "Professor Dumbledore, I...well, I've been noticing things around the school." he paused, watching the other man's impassive expression. "I think Voldemort has followers here." Dumbledore didn't appear the slightest bit ruffled at the sound of the Dark Lord's proper name. Then again, why should he?

       A sigh. "I've been noticing oddities too, James. But I have many things that require my attention, of course. I can no longer keep two eyes on only the school." he seemed to be thinking, behind those half-moon spectacles. And then an idea came to him. "James, you're interested in Defense Against the Dark Arts, eh?"

       "Well, sir, Transfiguration is what I'm best at...but yes, I find it interesting."

"I think there's something that you could do that would greatly help me out."

       "Sir?"

"Would you be willing to give up a bit of extra time? For an organization, you see. Gather together some people that you know for sure that you may trust. From there, all of you should be keeping your eyes open. Obviously, Voldemort's followers are everywhere. What I want you to do is your best to learn of things they are planning, and who is planning them. I need to know this. You understand how much this counts for."

       "Yes, sir."

"You will?"

       "Yes." he raised himself from the seat slowly, sensing the conversation coming to an end.

"Oh, and James? There is one more thing." his blue eyes glinted, the first hint of merriment James had seen from him since he had come in. "I would suggest getting Lily in on this. She is the Head Girl, after all. And we can trust her, I am almost positive of that."

       "Erm, yes Professor Dumbledore." he mumbled, leaving the room quickly.

@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@

       Lily and Sirius reentered to common room to find Mary grinning to herself in a chair near the portrait hole. Lily shook her head and lightly flounced over, grabbing the piece of paper sticking out of Mary's hand.

Mary-

Your father and I are very disappointed in you. We should have known, with your attitude when you left, that you were planning to be nuisance. If we happen to receive any more letters from Dumbledore like the last, you know what we'll do. And we won't be proud of it.

There was no signature, no clue to say who it was from. But they didn't need one. Lily frowned. "But where's my letter?"

       She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned slowly to find James waiting there behind her, looking restless of her. She almost laughed, but then she remembered how angry she was with him.

       "What do you want, James?" she snapped, implying that he'd better make it quick.

       "I...well, I think we'd better talk about it over there."

"No, here is fine."

       James took a quick glance at the people present, and decided they should all three be included anyway.

       "Alright, fine," he grumbled. "I've noticed a few, er...things going on around here. Dumbledore has told me that he can't keep an eye on everything and given me permission to start an organization, pretty secret, of course. I thought you three could be the first members, maybe?"

       Sirius nodded at the idea, but not at James. Mary gave an okay, and Lily stared at him.

       "Well, obviously I'll do it, but I won't promise to be working with you."

James glared, turned, and stalked off.

@~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~@

       "Okay, well this is our first meeting of...of...well, we don't have a name."

"How about we worry about that later," Remus suggested. "There are more important things to do."

       "Yeah." Peter said softly from the corner of the room. James had invited only those two to join since inviting Sirius, Mary, and Lily, who were sitting together on the other side of the room.

       The room...which Dumbledore had given them, was one that even the Marauders had never discovered. Somewhere in between the kitchen and the Great Hall, it was comfortable, with chairs, a fireplace, and a few tables. Nothing special, but it felt right.

       "Well, okay...." James stood with his hands stuffed inside his robes, in front of everyone and looking around warily. "Has anyone really noticed anything?" Silence, staring. His impatience rose quickly. Lily was scowling at him. "Lily! I invited you to this because I thought maybe you would help. But if you aren't going to, then just leave!"

       "You don't even think you need help, do you James? You'd rather be doing it all yourself, so that you get all the credit."

       "That might be what you're thinking Lily, but it was furthest from my mind! I'm not a spoiled brat." he added fiercely.

       Her eyes flared, and she jumped up from where she was sitting, despite the attempts Mary made to hold her down. In one quick motion, she was standing in front of James, staring him down.

       "You know what, James Potter? You complain, you moan, you yell. But you don't think. You might not be rich, James, but sometimes less is more." she scowled at him one last time before flipping around and strutting out the door. James stared after her, his dark eyes wide and gleaming.

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A/N: Do you know what would make me very very very happy? If we could get to 200 reviews! Please- just leave me a short review- even one word will make me happy ;) And thank you so much to last chapter's reviewers! I love you guys!