(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.)
It was later that night that the five recruits found themselves meeting in the halls, clothes changed into casual dress, and awkwardly walking down the spiral staircase to the entrance hall. And then into the living room.
They all came to a halt as they stared at the scene before them. The seats were filled with people, all talking excitedly to one another. There was a good crowd of them, and yet, not enough to be impressive. Headmaster Dumbledore, flanked by Mad-Eye Moody and Frank Longbottom, stood at the front of the group, arms crossed. His glint in his eye shined behind the half moon glasses as he spotted the five of them standing there in the doorway.
"Ah, come in," he ushered them forward, and the five couldn't refuse. They felt themselves walking forward, through the group of people and to the front of the room. James recognized all of them. And they recognized him. As he approached Dumbledore, the twinkle in the old man's eye became brighter, and he could hear the chattering whispers from the crowd.
"Is that the Potter boy?"
"I thought that he hadn't signed."
"Going to take his father's place, no doubt."
"Welcome our five recruits to the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore addressed the seated people. They fell silent, "This is a combination of the greatest minds, agility, and loyalty found in the graduating class of 1978 from Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Weren't we only expecting four?" someone with an odd hat and a raspy voice said from the back row.
"Elphias, watch your manners," an old witch in slippers tutted, "You know as well as I do what he's doing here," and then she turned to Dumbledore, and nodded, "Go on, Albus."
"Thank you, Arabella," Dumbledore cleared his throat, and then announced, "Starting to the left, please welcome Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Lily Evans, and James Potter."
"It is the Potter boy!" Elphias shouted out.
James's face darkened.
"Hey, how about you shut it before I go over there and make you," Sirius barked.
Elphias blinked, "You're a Black, aren't you?"
Sirius narrowed his eyes, but didn't say a word.
"Nice picking, Albus," Elphias commented, "A Black and a werewolf. Choices must have been slim this year."
Sirius took a step forward, but Remus, who was standing next to him, took his arm, and held him back. But now both of them were glaring knives at him.
"I will ask you to refrain from speaking your opinions, Elphias. They are very dangerous to your health," Dumbledore warned, "We are all on the same side here. I thought you would have found that out seven years ago."
Elphias gave one more discerning look to Sirius and Remus, and then closed his mouth, glaring at Dumbledore. He was an older man, maybe a little younger than Dumbledore. And that hat made him look even more ridiculous.
"I will ask each of you to stand," Dumbledore said, "And introduce yourselves to our new members. Starting with you, Arabella, if you don't mind."
"Oh, not at all, Albus," the woman in the slippers said, and she stood, coughing. She had a bright cheery face, and looked almost as old as Professor McGonagall.
"I'm Arabella Figg," she said, speaking from the back row corner in a larger than life voice, "Member of the Order since 1973. Sadly, I can't do as much as most here. You see, I'm a squib. But I do much undercover work in the Muggle communities. It's nice to meet you all."
Lily smiled, and the boys nodded a hello. Elphias was next, but he didn't stand. He mumbled, "Elphias Doge. Wizard. Member since 1972." He didn't elaborate.
Next to him, towered a burly man that they had all known throughout their school years. He had always been in the shadows of the Forest, showing up unexpectantly when they had been exploring. The giant twelve- foot figure of Rubeus Hagrid stood, his pink umbrella in his hand. He cleared his throat, and said, "Rubeus Hagrid. Memb'r since 1972. Ah knew tha' ya'd come around, James," he added, beaming at James, and then he took his seat. They swore that they could feel the floor shake.
Next came the violet top hat, "Dedalus Diggle. Wizard. Member since 1974. We've met, I believe."
Sirius looked to him, and he jumped, his hat falling lopsided. He shrank down in his chair.
"Emmeline Vance," Emmeline stood, brushing her cloak, "Member since 1977. Welcome to the Order."
Next to her stood the McKinnon girl, who had bright brown hair and sparkling eyes. Yet there was something sad about her as she turned to address them. She only looked twenty or so, yet she smiled the largest, "Marlene McKinnon. Member since 1973, when my father was killed in a massacre. Been trying to find the person who killed him ever since it happened," she looked to James, "Glad to see you joined," she winked, "Hope Moody didn't scare you off too badly. He's harmless."
"Sit down," Moody ordered.
Marlene did as she was told, as a man with a balding head stood, "Edgar Bones. Wizard. Member since 1972. And I believe that Albus picked the best that he could this year. I have full confidence in all of you."
"Alice Longbottom," a cheery, roundish woman said, standing up to attention, "Witch. Member since 1973. My husband and I are liasons for the Ministry of Magic. And I agree with Edgar."
"Benjy Fenwick," one of the graduates of last year announced, "Member since 1977. Glad to see you well again."
"Caradoc Dearborn," the next one said, "Member since 1977."
A woman stood again, looking rather sharp and serious, "Dorcas Meadows. Member since 1974. Auror of fourteen years. Killed twenty Death Eaters in the past four years," she looked to Sirius, "I keep count."
Sirius's mouth hung open, as she sat down, and then gave a fearful look to James.
The next to stand was Professor McGonagall, still dressed in her green robes. She smiled warmly at Remus, "Minerva McGonagall. Teacher at Hogwarts School. Member since 1972. It's nice to see that you all made it in one piece."
The twins Gideon and Fabian stood together, and Fabian announced, "Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Graduated last year. Became members fresh out of school. It's the right choice, guys."
Sirius nodded.
They sat, and the black man with a bald head stood, "Kingsley Shacklebolt. Works for the Ministry of Magic. Auror of a few good years."
"Taught him all I know," Moody glowed from behind Dumbledore.
"Member since 1975," Kingsley said, "Glad to see that the recruits are here."
Sturgis stood, and said, "Yeah, you all know me. Hey again."
"Where's the money," Sirius growled.
Sturgis gulped, growing pale, and sat back down quickly.
Frank stepped out of his place behind Dumbledore, and faced the five recruits, "Frank Longbottom. Third in command. Member since 1972. Welomce to the Order," he shook all of their hands. He was a handsome man, possibly in his earlier thirties. He had done so much in a short period of time. Enough to get his face on a Chocolate Frog card.
He had been James's hero growing up. But now James remembered him crying his eyes out in front of Frank, and he felt nauscious.
Moody stood now, taking Frank's place, and said, "Alastor Moody. Second in command. Member since 1972. This is my home. Hope you five can last longer than some of the other recruits we've had in here."
He had a small smile on his face as he walked back into position. Dumbledore then faced them as an equal, his eyes still twinkling.
"And my brother could not make it tonight," he said, "Aberforth is usually very busy. But I am the first in command in this group, and very pleased to see that you all have made it safely and soundly."
"Twenty five members," he continued, "Counting you. You all understand what this job entails? You all know the risks involved? This is your last chance to leave. We will be more than happy to put a Memory Charm on any of you. But as soon as you rise tomorrow at dawn, you will be bound to your signature, and more importantly, your word."
They all nodded.
"We are the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore said, waving his hand around the room, "We fear nothing. We stop at nothing to protect the free world. Your life no longer revolves around yourself, as adolescents like yourselves like to believe. It revolves something larger. Something more significant than any of our lives."
"Bravery," Frank said, from behind Dumbledore, "Trust. And Spirit. The three things that will keep you motivated for the next few years."
"Or however long it takes," Moody said, "We all have our stories, children. We all are here for a reason. We are not alone."
They all nodded again, and the entire group of members glowed brightly with pride.
"Fine choices," Alice said in her bubbly voice from her chair, "Fine choices, Albus."
"Well, now that we have that settled," Dumbledore said, clasping his hands together, "Let's eat. I hear that we have an excellent feast waiting for us in the next room over. Shall we?"
Sirius yawned as he stumbled upstairs. He hadn't slept since the six hour wait in the locker room. And even then it had been a restless sleep. He felt like his body was made of lead.
His life had changed drastically in the past day. People that he had loved and cared about were dead. He had been whisked off on some supernatural quest to rid the world of evil. And now he didn't even own his life.
The worst thing was that that crazy crackpot was sleeping right next door. During dinner, the scene at the Leaky Cauldron had played itself over in his head. A man named Alastor saying that he didn't trust one of the recruits. And he knew which one it was.
He opened his door, and walked into his dark room. He fell on his bed. He was a slave to these people. They had taken everything that he owned, and had bought him. He did what they wanted him to do. He slept where they told him to sleep. They told him to get rid of his flat, he had to.
But as long as he could see some action in battle, he didn't care.
He closed his eyes. He was so tired. He opened them again slowly, and felt the wind from the open window brush against his face. He brushed his loose hair out of his eyes, and stared at the white ceiling above him.
Visions of Mr. and Mrs. Potter danced across the ceiling. Them smiling, on Christmas Day, as they watched him open his presents that they had bought for him. His mother had never looked at him like that. His mother hated him.
Mrs. Potter had cared about him.
She had housed him, tried to protect him from the world, tried to help him. And now she was dead.
What were they thinking when they died?
Had they seen their attacker?
What did one think about when they died?
When would he die?
"No," Sirius snapped to attention, and grabbed his tape player from his pillow, "No, we're not thinking about that."
He put on his headphones, and sighed. Pushing the button, all of the world disappeared under the blaring of his music.
And his vision doubled. His lids closed, and he saw darkness.
"Padfoot?"
Sirius opened his eyes, and stared at his trunk. A voice had come from underneath the clothes. He jumped to his feet, and scrambled through his belongings, until he came to an old mirror. He smiled as he saw James's face appear in the glass. The white room was behind him.
"Hey, Prongs," he said, "Having trouble sleeping?"
"You look tired," James commented.
Sirius snorted, "That's an understatement."
"Then I won't be long," he sighed, and mussed his hair, "I just wanted to say thanks."
Sirius blinked, "For what?"
"For everything," he said, "For taking me home and being there for me."
Sirius grinned, "Well, what are friends for."
"Yeah, I guess," James smiled back, "But thanks."
BAAM!
Sirius jumped, and stood up, letting the mirror drop back into the trunk.
And in front of him, was a large hole in the wall that separated him and the nutter next door. Sure enough, there was his neighbor, holding his wand, and his swiveling eye darting around the room.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Sirius demanded, throwing his tape player on the floor. He flew out of bed, and stormed over to the rigid silhouette of Alastor Moody, who was still holding his wand at him.
"The same could be asked of you," Moody snarled, jabbing his wand closer to Sirius's nose. Sirius grabbed his wand, and threw it into Moody's room with a powerful arm. It clattered on the other room's ground, and Moody glared at him, the eye dead set on his two eyes.
"You go pointing that thing at me again, and I'll make sure that you never make a hole in anyone's wall again," Sirius barked, "You crazy old loon!"
"You were speaking to someone," Moody growled back, brandishing a spare wand from his night robes, "And I want to know who you were speaking to."
"None of your damn business," Sirius snarled.
"I heard voices through my wall," he said, jabbing the wand again at Sirius.
"THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU BLOW IT TO BITS!" Sirius shouted, taking the spare wand from his hand, and throwing it to meet its successor on the floor.
Moody narrowed his eyes, and pulled out a third one, "I'm watching you, Black. One wrong move, and I'll be breathing down your neck."
"Go ahead," Sirius barked, "You've done a pretty damn good job of it so far. Great hospitality you Order Members have. Or are you too busy polishing your golden thrones to worry about such insignificant things?"
Moody's eye had stopped swiveling.
"I've killed men like you," he hissed, "I've killed them without a second thought."
And then he turned around, his eye now darting around at the wall's hole. He walked back into his side of the room.
"No, you haven't," Sirius growled at his back.
Moody stopped, and Sirius knew that his eye was looking right at him through the back of his head.
"You're the one that they call merciful," Sirius said, "You give them fair trials."
Moody didn't answer, but clenched his fists, and continued into his room. He sat on the edge of his bed, crossed his legs, and stared at Sirius through the hole in the wall, both eyes still set on him. Sirius groaned, giving up, lay back down in his bed, and tried to go to sleep as Moody stared at him, drinking from his hip flask.
It was later that night that the five recruits found themselves meeting in the halls, clothes changed into casual dress, and awkwardly walking down the spiral staircase to the entrance hall. And then into the living room.
They all came to a halt as they stared at the scene before them. The seats were filled with people, all talking excitedly to one another. There was a good crowd of them, and yet, not enough to be impressive. Headmaster Dumbledore, flanked by Mad-Eye Moody and Frank Longbottom, stood at the front of the group, arms crossed. His glint in his eye shined behind the half moon glasses as he spotted the five of them standing there in the doorway.
"Ah, come in," he ushered them forward, and the five couldn't refuse. They felt themselves walking forward, through the group of people and to the front of the room. James recognized all of them. And they recognized him. As he approached Dumbledore, the twinkle in the old man's eye became brighter, and he could hear the chattering whispers from the crowd.
"Is that the Potter boy?"
"I thought that he hadn't signed."
"Going to take his father's place, no doubt."
"Welcome our five recruits to the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore addressed the seated people. They fell silent, "This is a combination of the greatest minds, agility, and loyalty found in the graduating class of 1978 from Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Weren't we only expecting four?" someone with an odd hat and a raspy voice said from the back row.
"Elphias, watch your manners," an old witch in slippers tutted, "You know as well as I do what he's doing here," and then she turned to Dumbledore, and nodded, "Go on, Albus."
"Thank you, Arabella," Dumbledore cleared his throat, and then announced, "Starting to the left, please welcome Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Lily Evans, and James Potter."
"It is the Potter boy!" Elphias shouted out.
James's face darkened.
"Hey, how about you shut it before I go over there and make you," Sirius barked.
Elphias blinked, "You're a Black, aren't you?"
Sirius narrowed his eyes, but didn't say a word.
"Nice picking, Albus," Elphias commented, "A Black and a werewolf. Choices must have been slim this year."
Sirius took a step forward, but Remus, who was standing next to him, took his arm, and held him back. But now both of them were glaring knives at him.
"I will ask you to refrain from speaking your opinions, Elphias. They are very dangerous to your health," Dumbledore warned, "We are all on the same side here. I thought you would have found that out seven years ago."
Elphias gave one more discerning look to Sirius and Remus, and then closed his mouth, glaring at Dumbledore. He was an older man, maybe a little younger than Dumbledore. And that hat made him look even more ridiculous.
"I will ask each of you to stand," Dumbledore said, "And introduce yourselves to our new members. Starting with you, Arabella, if you don't mind."
"Oh, not at all, Albus," the woman in the slippers said, and she stood, coughing. She had a bright cheery face, and looked almost as old as Professor McGonagall.
"I'm Arabella Figg," she said, speaking from the back row corner in a larger than life voice, "Member of the Order since 1973. Sadly, I can't do as much as most here. You see, I'm a squib. But I do much undercover work in the Muggle communities. It's nice to meet you all."
Lily smiled, and the boys nodded a hello. Elphias was next, but he didn't stand. He mumbled, "Elphias Doge. Wizard. Member since 1972." He didn't elaborate.
Next to him, towered a burly man that they had all known throughout their school years. He had always been in the shadows of the Forest, showing up unexpectantly when they had been exploring. The giant twelve- foot figure of Rubeus Hagrid stood, his pink umbrella in his hand. He cleared his throat, and said, "Rubeus Hagrid. Memb'r since 1972. Ah knew tha' ya'd come around, James," he added, beaming at James, and then he took his seat. They swore that they could feel the floor shake.
Next came the violet top hat, "Dedalus Diggle. Wizard. Member since 1974. We've met, I believe."
Sirius looked to him, and he jumped, his hat falling lopsided. He shrank down in his chair.
"Emmeline Vance," Emmeline stood, brushing her cloak, "Member since 1977. Welcome to the Order."
Next to her stood the McKinnon girl, who had bright brown hair and sparkling eyes. Yet there was something sad about her as she turned to address them. She only looked twenty or so, yet she smiled the largest, "Marlene McKinnon. Member since 1973, when my father was killed in a massacre. Been trying to find the person who killed him ever since it happened," she looked to James, "Glad to see you joined," she winked, "Hope Moody didn't scare you off too badly. He's harmless."
"Sit down," Moody ordered.
Marlene did as she was told, as a man with a balding head stood, "Edgar Bones. Wizard. Member since 1972. And I believe that Albus picked the best that he could this year. I have full confidence in all of you."
"Alice Longbottom," a cheery, roundish woman said, standing up to attention, "Witch. Member since 1973. My husband and I are liasons for the Ministry of Magic. And I agree with Edgar."
"Benjy Fenwick," one of the graduates of last year announced, "Member since 1977. Glad to see you well again."
"Caradoc Dearborn," the next one said, "Member since 1977."
A woman stood again, looking rather sharp and serious, "Dorcas Meadows. Member since 1974. Auror of fourteen years. Killed twenty Death Eaters in the past four years," she looked to Sirius, "I keep count."
Sirius's mouth hung open, as she sat down, and then gave a fearful look to James.
The next to stand was Professor McGonagall, still dressed in her green robes. She smiled warmly at Remus, "Minerva McGonagall. Teacher at Hogwarts School. Member since 1972. It's nice to see that you all made it in one piece."
The twins Gideon and Fabian stood together, and Fabian announced, "Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Graduated last year. Became members fresh out of school. It's the right choice, guys."
Sirius nodded.
They sat, and the black man with a bald head stood, "Kingsley Shacklebolt. Works for the Ministry of Magic. Auror of a few good years."
"Taught him all I know," Moody glowed from behind Dumbledore.
"Member since 1975," Kingsley said, "Glad to see that the recruits are here."
Sturgis stood, and said, "Yeah, you all know me. Hey again."
"Where's the money," Sirius growled.
Sturgis gulped, growing pale, and sat back down quickly.
Frank stepped out of his place behind Dumbledore, and faced the five recruits, "Frank Longbottom. Third in command. Member since 1972. Welomce to the Order," he shook all of their hands. He was a handsome man, possibly in his earlier thirties. He had done so much in a short period of time. Enough to get his face on a Chocolate Frog card.
He had been James's hero growing up. But now James remembered him crying his eyes out in front of Frank, and he felt nauscious.
Moody stood now, taking Frank's place, and said, "Alastor Moody. Second in command. Member since 1972. This is my home. Hope you five can last longer than some of the other recruits we've had in here."
He had a small smile on his face as he walked back into position. Dumbledore then faced them as an equal, his eyes still twinkling.
"And my brother could not make it tonight," he said, "Aberforth is usually very busy. But I am the first in command in this group, and very pleased to see that you all have made it safely and soundly."
"Twenty five members," he continued, "Counting you. You all understand what this job entails? You all know the risks involved? This is your last chance to leave. We will be more than happy to put a Memory Charm on any of you. But as soon as you rise tomorrow at dawn, you will be bound to your signature, and more importantly, your word."
They all nodded.
"We are the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore said, waving his hand around the room, "We fear nothing. We stop at nothing to protect the free world. Your life no longer revolves around yourself, as adolescents like yourselves like to believe. It revolves something larger. Something more significant than any of our lives."
"Bravery," Frank said, from behind Dumbledore, "Trust. And Spirit. The three things that will keep you motivated for the next few years."
"Or however long it takes," Moody said, "We all have our stories, children. We all are here for a reason. We are not alone."
They all nodded again, and the entire group of members glowed brightly with pride.
"Fine choices," Alice said in her bubbly voice from her chair, "Fine choices, Albus."
"Well, now that we have that settled," Dumbledore said, clasping his hands together, "Let's eat. I hear that we have an excellent feast waiting for us in the next room over. Shall we?"
Sirius yawned as he stumbled upstairs. He hadn't slept since the six hour wait in the locker room. And even then it had been a restless sleep. He felt like his body was made of lead.
His life had changed drastically in the past day. People that he had loved and cared about were dead. He had been whisked off on some supernatural quest to rid the world of evil. And now he didn't even own his life.
The worst thing was that that crazy crackpot was sleeping right next door. During dinner, the scene at the Leaky Cauldron had played itself over in his head. A man named Alastor saying that he didn't trust one of the recruits. And he knew which one it was.
He opened his door, and walked into his dark room. He fell on his bed. He was a slave to these people. They had taken everything that he owned, and had bought him. He did what they wanted him to do. He slept where they told him to sleep. They told him to get rid of his flat, he had to.
But as long as he could see some action in battle, he didn't care.
He closed his eyes. He was so tired. He opened them again slowly, and felt the wind from the open window brush against his face. He brushed his loose hair out of his eyes, and stared at the white ceiling above him.
Visions of Mr. and Mrs. Potter danced across the ceiling. Them smiling, on Christmas Day, as they watched him open his presents that they had bought for him. His mother had never looked at him like that. His mother hated him.
Mrs. Potter had cared about him.
She had housed him, tried to protect him from the world, tried to help him. And now she was dead.
What were they thinking when they died?
Had they seen their attacker?
What did one think about when they died?
When would he die?
"No," Sirius snapped to attention, and grabbed his tape player from his pillow, "No, we're not thinking about that."
He put on his headphones, and sighed. Pushing the button, all of the world disappeared under the blaring of his music.
And his vision doubled. His lids closed, and he saw darkness.
"Padfoot?"
Sirius opened his eyes, and stared at his trunk. A voice had come from underneath the clothes. He jumped to his feet, and scrambled through his belongings, until he came to an old mirror. He smiled as he saw James's face appear in the glass. The white room was behind him.
"Hey, Prongs," he said, "Having trouble sleeping?"
"You look tired," James commented.
Sirius snorted, "That's an understatement."
"Then I won't be long," he sighed, and mussed his hair, "I just wanted to say thanks."
Sirius blinked, "For what?"
"For everything," he said, "For taking me home and being there for me."
Sirius grinned, "Well, what are friends for."
"Yeah, I guess," James smiled back, "But thanks."
BAAM!
Sirius jumped, and stood up, letting the mirror drop back into the trunk.
And in front of him, was a large hole in the wall that separated him and the nutter next door. Sure enough, there was his neighbor, holding his wand, and his swiveling eye darting around the room.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Sirius demanded, throwing his tape player on the floor. He flew out of bed, and stormed over to the rigid silhouette of Alastor Moody, who was still holding his wand at him.
"The same could be asked of you," Moody snarled, jabbing his wand closer to Sirius's nose. Sirius grabbed his wand, and threw it into Moody's room with a powerful arm. It clattered on the other room's ground, and Moody glared at him, the eye dead set on his two eyes.
"You go pointing that thing at me again, and I'll make sure that you never make a hole in anyone's wall again," Sirius barked, "You crazy old loon!"
"You were speaking to someone," Moody growled back, brandishing a spare wand from his night robes, "And I want to know who you were speaking to."
"None of your damn business," Sirius snarled.
"I heard voices through my wall," he said, jabbing the wand again at Sirius.
"THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU BLOW IT TO BITS!" Sirius shouted, taking the spare wand from his hand, and throwing it to meet its successor on the floor.
Moody narrowed his eyes, and pulled out a third one, "I'm watching you, Black. One wrong move, and I'll be breathing down your neck."
"Go ahead," Sirius barked, "You've done a pretty damn good job of it so far. Great hospitality you Order Members have. Or are you too busy polishing your golden thrones to worry about such insignificant things?"
Moody's eye had stopped swiveling.
"I've killed men like you," he hissed, "I've killed them without a second thought."
And then he turned around, his eye now darting around at the wall's hole. He walked back into his side of the room.
"No, you haven't," Sirius growled at his back.
Moody stopped, and Sirius knew that his eye was looking right at him through the back of his head.
"You're the one that they call merciful," Sirius said, "You give them fair trials."
Moody didn't answer, but clenched his fists, and continued into his room. He sat on the edge of his bed, crossed his legs, and stared at Sirius through the hole in the wall, both eyes still set on him. Sirius groaned, giving up, lay back down in his bed, and tried to go to sleep as Moody stared at him, drinking from his hip flask.