(Note from the author: These are not my characters, my world, and my
situations. They all belong to J. K. Rowling, and are protected by
copyrights.)
The limo pulled off of the road and into a suburb of London. Into a neighborhood with large houses with white shutters and black doors. Remus had never seen anything quite like it.
"Looks like my neighborhood," Lily commented as they continued driving, "A little large than mine, but still."
"This is one of the largest wizarding neighborhoods in the London metropolis," Diggle said, wringing his hands together, "We thought it may be less conspicuous to have neighbors that would except our visitors a little better than Muggles."
The limo stopped, and quickly appeared. The window hiding Sturgis from sight rolled down, and he threw back six cloaks to Diggle. Diggle took them, and passed them out, instructing them to "Put this on, because we don't know who's watching. We're still trying to keep your names as secret as we can."
They agreed, and quickly all of them were dressed in black, hoods pulled over their heads. Lily felt like a dementor.
"And I wouldn't hold hands, if I were you," Diggle added to James and Lily, "We don't want anyone to know anything about any of you. Your gender, your relationships. Nothing. And hunch over a bit, so they can't predict your height."
They nodded, and released each other.
Two cars pulled up behind and in front of them, and two girls and the black man emerged from their front seats. Diggle smiled nervously at the five of them, and then said jovially, "It's time you met Moody properly."
The doors opened, and the five of them stepped into the light, covering their faces with the cloaks. They hunched over, as instructed, and walked to the front door of a larger house. Trash bins were lined across the sidewalk, and it seemed like they were extremely quiet and ominous.
The house was Victorian, and very old. It was white, with black windows and a large black door. Curtains from the upstairs rooms billowed out of the windows, as if the house was reaching out to them. The paint was chipped, and the chimney looked worn enough to fall at any time. The wrap around porch sported a swing, and on the windows behind the swing, pictures that seemed to be drawn by a child. Taking a closer look, Lily realized that it was a red bird, emerging out of a fire. But they still didn't know what was so important about this house.
"What is this place?" Lily whispered, trying to disguise her voice.
None of them could really answer. They were supposed to go to the Headquarters, but . . . where were the Headquarters?
"Oh, that's right," Diggle said, coughing, and pulling five pieces of paper out of his violet top hat, "Sorry. Forgot to give you these."
Each of the recruits took a paper, and peered at it. It was in writing that they had seen many times. Dumbledore's.
The Headquarters to Albus Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix is at Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody's residence.
They then all looked back at the house, and realized that this was it. This was where they were to live for the next two months.
Kingsley, Marlene, and Emmeline dragged their luggage behind them as they climbed the stairs to the porch. Diggle led them to the door, and knocked three times.
It was a moment before they heard a groan, and a shuffle to the entranceway.
"Who is it?" a gruff voice came from behind the door.
"It's Father Christmas. Happy Christmas, Alastor," Diggle said, a little peeved, "Of course you know who it is. You've only been watching us through the door since . . ."
"Don't you say my name out loud, you idiot!" the voice came.
"It's Mr. England, back with the five," Diggle said, jumping at the tone, and then he readjusted his top hat.
"Five?" the voice said, "There were supposed to be only four."
"It's James Potter," James spoke up, "I'm the fifth one."
There was another silence. He felt as if something was examining him through the closed door. Finally there was a breath of realization, and the gruff voice came again.
"Ah, Harold's son," he said, "Heard about him. Good man. But there are sacrifices . . ."
James glared at the door, not liking whoever was behind it.
And then he found out.
The door opened, and there, standing in his black robes. His face looked like it wa cut out of wood. Scars from battles long forgotten still held onto his face, and his long black hair fell into his face in greasy locks. But the thing that made Lily turn away was the swiveling eye that was darting back and forth between the new visitors.
"Come in," he said, leading them into the front room, "Come in. We can't talk out here. Who knows who may be watching."
The ten of them followed this new man into the house, and the scarred Auror shut the door behind them.
From the looks of the house, it had been bewitched to be even larger than what the outside suggested. It was also a lot newer than the outside of the Victorian. In front of them stood the large living room, which was filled with blueprints, chalkboards, and chairs. Next to it lay the dining room, where the largest table that any of them had ever seen sat, set for more than twenty guests. And between these two rooms, was a large spiraling staircase that led to the upstairs.
"Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix," the Auror said, and then extended his hand to the five newcomers as they took their cloaks off, "I am Alastor Moody. This is my home. And I presume that you are Lily Evans?"
Lily took his hand, and he kissed it, "Pleasure to have another lady on board," he turned to Remus, "Ah, and you. Yes, I've been looking forward to meeting you. We will have to talk a little later about your little monthly problem, hey?"
Remus nodded solemnly.
"And Pettigrew," Moody shook hands with Peter, "Welcome."
He turned to Sirius, who was still looking rather fierce, and smiled the broadest, but the fakest, "Ah, Mr. Sirius Black. Aren't you just the diamond in the rough."
Sirius didn't like his tone of voice, and didn't shake his hand. Moody didn't seem touched by it, but he kept his swiveling eye on him as he turned to James.
"And James Potter," he said, "Your father would be proud of your decision. Come, before we tell you anything more, you must sign the contract."
James followed Moody into the living room, where a large cabinet stood against the wall. Moody opened it, and brandished the old piece of parchment.
"Go ahead," he said, taking a quill out of his cloak, "Sign away."
James took the parchment and the quill, and wrote his name very large next to Sirius's. He had a look of determination in his eyes that he had never had before. He was supposed to be here. It was meant to be.
"Very well," Moody said, and threw the parchment into the cabinet, "I told Albus that it was ruddy irresponsible to have all of our names on that contract, but he seems to think that it would be helpful to put our priorities in line. Follow me. I'll show you to your rooms."
They followed him out of the living room, and up the spiraling staircase.
"You want to take this?" Kingsley muttered to Diggle as he struggled with Lily's trunk, "I need to get going."
"Oh, of course," Diggle said, shaking with glee as he took the trunk. James saw the image of Sprite, trying to help Sirius with his luggage that one day long ago when everything seemed perfect.
God, had it been that long ago?
He turned away from Mr. Diggle, and continued into the corridor at the top of the stairs. Moody, hunched posture and all, pointed to five rooms.
"Each one of you gets one," he said, "The house is big enough that everyone can have their own room. Be grateful for that. When we were starting off, the Ministry had us in a house so small that there were five to a room."
"Ah, come on, Mad Eye," Marlene said from behind the boys, "Hurry it up."
"Shut up," Moody snarled, and kicked one of the doors open, "You," he said, pointing to Peter, "This is where you'll be staying."
Peter nodded without a word, and took his trunk from Marlene behind him. He disappeared into the room, and Moody said as he shut the door, "We will expect you in the living room in two hours."
Then Moody slammed the door, and strode to the next door, "Sirius Black," he said, opening a door, "Today's your lucky day. My room is right next to yours. You know, these walls are very thin, Black. Almost thin enough to send a spell hurdling through. You know, just in case I heard something."
Sirius glared, "How convenient," he growled.
He took his trunk from Diggle, and shoved past Moody. His eye followed him, and still was looking straight through the door as Sirius slammed it in his face.
"And James," he said, turning his other eye to look at him,"We weren't prepared for you, but for now you can have this room."
Moody crossed the hall, and opened another door. The room was completely white, with one bed and a mattress on the frame. James, with only his backpack on his back, walked in, and waved to Lily, "I'll meet you downstairs," he said.
"Right you will," Moody grumbled as James set his pack on the mattress, "Oh, will Albus be surprised when he hears about you."
He then continued down the hall, with the remaining two recruits and their baggage carriers. He opened a door next to James's room, and ushered Lily inside, "There you go, Miss Evans. Marlene took the liberty of adding some feminine touches to the room. Enjoy."
And as soon as Lily entered the room, Moody again slammed the door, and then looked to Marlene, Emmeline and Diggle. They were out of luggage, except for the small sack that Remus had brought, "It doesn't take three people to carry a sack," he barked, "Give the lad his things, and go."
Without argument, they handed Remus the bag, and made their way down the spiral staircase.
"Now you are a special case," Moody said in his low voice as they continued down the hall, "I know all about the Shrieking Shack and Albus's ingenious idea about tying you up and letting you scratch yourself to death."
Remus didn't answer.
"Do you consider yourself dangerous?" Moody plowed on.
"Yes," Remus answered simply.
Moody's swiveling eye rolled back in its socket to look at Remus from the back of his skull, "You aren't ashamed of it?"
"I'm tired of being ashamed of it," he answered, his mouth in a firm line, "I'm fighting it. It's gotten better."
"As I've heard," Moody commented, "It seems that you've gotten a hold of yourself a little better than when you started at Hogwarts. Sort of eerie how that happened all of a sudden, hey? Being a full out monster, to a tame wolf at night, hey?"
Remus didn't answer.
"But I believe that, as long as we lock your door at night, you could just transform in your room perfectly well," Moody said, "That sounds like it should work?"
Remus swallowed. He would be caged again, with the wolf laughing at him. But he didn't shift his expression. He just looked at the back of Moody's head, knowing perfectly well that the magical eye was still staring at him.
"It sounds fine," he said bravely.
"Good, good," Moody said, and then came to the last door, "And your friends know about your condition?"
"Yes," he said.
"Well, then it won't bother them to hear you every month," Moody said, and opened the door. It was a little shabbier than the others' since it was the last room on the floor, alienated from all the others.
"It could use some work," Moody said, pushing him in, "But it's only for two months. Enjoy."
And he slammed the door in Remus's face.
Remus looked around the room, seeing his small view of the house next to them through the tiny window. A chest of drawers stood opposite his bed, and a closet could be seen on the other wall. It was cozy. No lighting, except for a small candle wick on the chest of drawers. The paint was peeling off of the walls, and Remus could swear he saw a stain on the bedsheets that he couldn't quite identify. It looked like some sort of food, after being mixed with stomach acids.
He threw his sack of robes and money on the bed, and rummaged through his few belongings, looking for a certain item. He found it, and held it in his hands.
Je ne vais pas mort.
He opened the music box, and the haunting tune seeped through the silver, and echoed through the room. June had given it to him to spur him on. And now Remus sat it on his chests of drawers, and stared at it. The wolf would be back to laugh at him. And this time, he would be ready.
Remus then went to look out the window. He wasn't used to being cooped up like this. He was used to his cabin, with the woods as his playground.
He felt like he was suffocating.
Why had Moody put him in this hole? What had he done to deserve this?
Get used to it, Remus thought to himself, Like Snape said, it's a harsh world out there.
The limo pulled off of the road and into a suburb of London. Into a neighborhood with large houses with white shutters and black doors. Remus had never seen anything quite like it.
"Looks like my neighborhood," Lily commented as they continued driving, "A little large than mine, but still."
"This is one of the largest wizarding neighborhoods in the London metropolis," Diggle said, wringing his hands together, "We thought it may be less conspicuous to have neighbors that would except our visitors a little better than Muggles."
The limo stopped, and quickly appeared. The window hiding Sturgis from sight rolled down, and he threw back six cloaks to Diggle. Diggle took them, and passed them out, instructing them to "Put this on, because we don't know who's watching. We're still trying to keep your names as secret as we can."
They agreed, and quickly all of them were dressed in black, hoods pulled over their heads. Lily felt like a dementor.
"And I wouldn't hold hands, if I were you," Diggle added to James and Lily, "We don't want anyone to know anything about any of you. Your gender, your relationships. Nothing. And hunch over a bit, so they can't predict your height."
They nodded, and released each other.
Two cars pulled up behind and in front of them, and two girls and the black man emerged from their front seats. Diggle smiled nervously at the five of them, and then said jovially, "It's time you met Moody properly."
The doors opened, and the five of them stepped into the light, covering their faces with the cloaks. They hunched over, as instructed, and walked to the front door of a larger house. Trash bins were lined across the sidewalk, and it seemed like they were extremely quiet and ominous.
The house was Victorian, and very old. It was white, with black windows and a large black door. Curtains from the upstairs rooms billowed out of the windows, as if the house was reaching out to them. The paint was chipped, and the chimney looked worn enough to fall at any time. The wrap around porch sported a swing, and on the windows behind the swing, pictures that seemed to be drawn by a child. Taking a closer look, Lily realized that it was a red bird, emerging out of a fire. But they still didn't know what was so important about this house.
"What is this place?" Lily whispered, trying to disguise her voice.
None of them could really answer. They were supposed to go to the Headquarters, but . . . where were the Headquarters?
"Oh, that's right," Diggle said, coughing, and pulling five pieces of paper out of his violet top hat, "Sorry. Forgot to give you these."
Each of the recruits took a paper, and peered at it. It was in writing that they had seen many times. Dumbledore's.
The Headquarters to Albus Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix is at Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody's residence.
They then all looked back at the house, and realized that this was it. This was where they were to live for the next two months.
Kingsley, Marlene, and Emmeline dragged their luggage behind them as they climbed the stairs to the porch. Diggle led them to the door, and knocked three times.
It was a moment before they heard a groan, and a shuffle to the entranceway.
"Who is it?" a gruff voice came from behind the door.
"It's Father Christmas. Happy Christmas, Alastor," Diggle said, a little peeved, "Of course you know who it is. You've only been watching us through the door since . . ."
"Don't you say my name out loud, you idiot!" the voice came.
"It's Mr. England, back with the five," Diggle said, jumping at the tone, and then he readjusted his top hat.
"Five?" the voice said, "There were supposed to be only four."
"It's James Potter," James spoke up, "I'm the fifth one."
There was another silence. He felt as if something was examining him through the closed door. Finally there was a breath of realization, and the gruff voice came again.
"Ah, Harold's son," he said, "Heard about him. Good man. But there are sacrifices . . ."
James glared at the door, not liking whoever was behind it.
And then he found out.
The door opened, and there, standing in his black robes. His face looked like it wa cut out of wood. Scars from battles long forgotten still held onto his face, and his long black hair fell into his face in greasy locks. But the thing that made Lily turn away was the swiveling eye that was darting back and forth between the new visitors.
"Come in," he said, leading them into the front room, "Come in. We can't talk out here. Who knows who may be watching."
The ten of them followed this new man into the house, and the scarred Auror shut the door behind them.
From the looks of the house, it had been bewitched to be even larger than what the outside suggested. It was also a lot newer than the outside of the Victorian. In front of them stood the large living room, which was filled with blueprints, chalkboards, and chairs. Next to it lay the dining room, where the largest table that any of them had ever seen sat, set for more than twenty guests. And between these two rooms, was a large spiraling staircase that led to the upstairs.
"Welcome to the Order of the Phoenix," the Auror said, and then extended his hand to the five newcomers as they took their cloaks off, "I am Alastor Moody. This is my home. And I presume that you are Lily Evans?"
Lily took his hand, and he kissed it, "Pleasure to have another lady on board," he turned to Remus, "Ah, and you. Yes, I've been looking forward to meeting you. We will have to talk a little later about your little monthly problem, hey?"
Remus nodded solemnly.
"And Pettigrew," Moody shook hands with Peter, "Welcome."
He turned to Sirius, who was still looking rather fierce, and smiled the broadest, but the fakest, "Ah, Mr. Sirius Black. Aren't you just the diamond in the rough."
Sirius didn't like his tone of voice, and didn't shake his hand. Moody didn't seem touched by it, but he kept his swiveling eye on him as he turned to James.
"And James Potter," he said, "Your father would be proud of your decision. Come, before we tell you anything more, you must sign the contract."
James followed Moody into the living room, where a large cabinet stood against the wall. Moody opened it, and brandished the old piece of parchment.
"Go ahead," he said, taking a quill out of his cloak, "Sign away."
James took the parchment and the quill, and wrote his name very large next to Sirius's. He had a look of determination in his eyes that he had never had before. He was supposed to be here. It was meant to be.
"Very well," Moody said, and threw the parchment into the cabinet, "I told Albus that it was ruddy irresponsible to have all of our names on that contract, but he seems to think that it would be helpful to put our priorities in line. Follow me. I'll show you to your rooms."
They followed him out of the living room, and up the spiraling staircase.
"You want to take this?" Kingsley muttered to Diggle as he struggled with Lily's trunk, "I need to get going."
"Oh, of course," Diggle said, shaking with glee as he took the trunk. James saw the image of Sprite, trying to help Sirius with his luggage that one day long ago when everything seemed perfect.
God, had it been that long ago?
He turned away from Mr. Diggle, and continued into the corridor at the top of the stairs. Moody, hunched posture and all, pointed to five rooms.
"Each one of you gets one," he said, "The house is big enough that everyone can have their own room. Be grateful for that. When we were starting off, the Ministry had us in a house so small that there were five to a room."
"Ah, come on, Mad Eye," Marlene said from behind the boys, "Hurry it up."
"Shut up," Moody snarled, and kicked one of the doors open, "You," he said, pointing to Peter, "This is where you'll be staying."
Peter nodded without a word, and took his trunk from Marlene behind him. He disappeared into the room, and Moody said as he shut the door, "We will expect you in the living room in two hours."
Then Moody slammed the door, and strode to the next door, "Sirius Black," he said, opening a door, "Today's your lucky day. My room is right next to yours. You know, these walls are very thin, Black. Almost thin enough to send a spell hurdling through. You know, just in case I heard something."
Sirius glared, "How convenient," he growled.
He took his trunk from Diggle, and shoved past Moody. His eye followed him, and still was looking straight through the door as Sirius slammed it in his face.
"And James," he said, turning his other eye to look at him,"We weren't prepared for you, but for now you can have this room."
Moody crossed the hall, and opened another door. The room was completely white, with one bed and a mattress on the frame. James, with only his backpack on his back, walked in, and waved to Lily, "I'll meet you downstairs," he said.
"Right you will," Moody grumbled as James set his pack on the mattress, "Oh, will Albus be surprised when he hears about you."
He then continued down the hall, with the remaining two recruits and their baggage carriers. He opened a door next to James's room, and ushered Lily inside, "There you go, Miss Evans. Marlene took the liberty of adding some feminine touches to the room. Enjoy."
And as soon as Lily entered the room, Moody again slammed the door, and then looked to Marlene, Emmeline and Diggle. They were out of luggage, except for the small sack that Remus had brought, "It doesn't take three people to carry a sack," he barked, "Give the lad his things, and go."
Without argument, they handed Remus the bag, and made their way down the spiral staircase.
"Now you are a special case," Moody said in his low voice as they continued down the hall, "I know all about the Shrieking Shack and Albus's ingenious idea about tying you up and letting you scratch yourself to death."
Remus didn't answer.
"Do you consider yourself dangerous?" Moody plowed on.
"Yes," Remus answered simply.
Moody's swiveling eye rolled back in its socket to look at Remus from the back of his skull, "You aren't ashamed of it?"
"I'm tired of being ashamed of it," he answered, his mouth in a firm line, "I'm fighting it. It's gotten better."
"As I've heard," Moody commented, "It seems that you've gotten a hold of yourself a little better than when you started at Hogwarts. Sort of eerie how that happened all of a sudden, hey? Being a full out monster, to a tame wolf at night, hey?"
Remus didn't answer.
"But I believe that, as long as we lock your door at night, you could just transform in your room perfectly well," Moody said, "That sounds like it should work?"
Remus swallowed. He would be caged again, with the wolf laughing at him. But he didn't shift his expression. He just looked at the back of Moody's head, knowing perfectly well that the magical eye was still staring at him.
"It sounds fine," he said bravely.
"Good, good," Moody said, and then came to the last door, "And your friends know about your condition?"
"Yes," he said.
"Well, then it won't bother them to hear you every month," Moody said, and opened the door. It was a little shabbier than the others' since it was the last room on the floor, alienated from all the others.
"It could use some work," Moody said, pushing him in, "But it's only for two months. Enjoy."
And he slammed the door in Remus's face.
Remus looked around the room, seeing his small view of the house next to them through the tiny window. A chest of drawers stood opposite his bed, and a closet could be seen on the other wall. It was cozy. No lighting, except for a small candle wick on the chest of drawers. The paint was peeling off of the walls, and Remus could swear he saw a stain on the bedsheets that he couldn't quite identify. It looked like some sort of food, after being mixed with stomach acids.
He threw his sack of robes and money on the bed, and rummaged through his few belongings, looking for a certain item. He found it, and held it in his hands.
Je ne vais pas mort.
He opened the music box, and the haunting tune seeped through the silver, and echoed through the room. June had given it to him to spur him on. And now Remus sat it on his chests of drawers, and stared at it. The wolf would be back to laugh at him. And this time, he would be ready.
Remus then went to look out the window. He wasn't used to being cooped up like this. He was used to his cabin, with the woods as his playground.
He felt like he was suffocating.
Why had Moody put him in this hole? What had he done to deserve this?
Get used to it, Remus thought to himself, Like Snape said, it's a harsh world out there.