Disclaimer (applies to all chapters, even though I forgot it there): characters are not mine, um…ya, duh, would I really be putting these stories here if I was JKR and thus could make money off them?

Tx for the reviews Zippyfox!

Chapter 4: The Order

Lily's POV

Everyone was still seated at the table when we reentered the dining area. Dumbledore was standing at one end and everyone was facing him.

"Oh, good, you're back, now we can continue," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes glittering warmly, though there was slight worry visible in his face.

James and I took our seats again and he began," As you know for nearly nine years we have been battling the Dark Lord Voldemort. Although you all were in school when this began, you are still quite aware of what has been going on (A/N: Amy and Anoph are only 6 or so years older than the Marauders). You know that Voldemort continues gaining power against our best efforts to stop him. All six of you are tremendously gifted wizards. We need your help. There is a secret organization called the Order of the Phoenix. It is headed up by myself. Alastor Moody, here, helps with many things. He is head as much as I am. Our members are depleting quickly and we need more recruits. The six of you are exactly what we want. What we need. Please think about it. When you have your answer apparate to Hogsmede and then come to the castle. You'll find me in my office, I am sure. Now if you will excuse us, Moody and I must attend to some Order business. Good-bye," with that Dumbledore disapparated.

Moody looked around at all of us, "Do not tell anyone about this, even if you are sure you can trust him or her. And do not discuss it where someone might be able to hear you. Constant Vigilance." Moody, too, disapparated, leaving the six of us stunned and scared.

Remus' POV

Wow. Is this for REAL? That is what I was thinking. I looked around at everyone. Amy and Anoph were whispering desperately and sadly to each other. Lily seemed to be contemplating it. James was watching Lily with complete terror on his face. He could tell that she wanted to do this and I knew that it was scaring the crap out of him. Sirius was the first to break the stunned silence. He laughed.

"I'm in! Anyone coming with me?" he said a big smile on his face. He could be so weird…

James' POV

Padfoot, it is hard to explain that man. He is the type to laugh when you're going over a waterfall with sharp, pointy rocks at the bottom. That is just Sirius. But it did seem a little strange that he laughed now. So I, along with everyone else looked at him like he was crazy.

"Sirius! How can you take this so lightly? This is a matter of life and death!" Amy cried, near tears.

"Yes but it is also a matter of annoying my insane family. And I will do anything for that."

"I can't do this!" Amy yelled again, "I can't put the children in danger. I need to be here to take care of them!"

"It is okay, Amy," Lily said soothingly, "You don't have to do this. I think we all need to think about this a little more before we make a final decision."

Lily's POV

When we got home that night no one was really in the mood for anything fun. Sirius and Remus did not take out their chess set and James did not pick up his books and continue studying. I could not even bring myself to brush teeth...I simply said goodnight and climbed up to my room. There I lay my skirt out and put my dirty clothes in the box I had conjured. I quickly changed into the flannel pajama bottoms and white tank top I had folded under my pillow. The wind was blowing the last raindrops off the trees outside, and the quarter moon was giving a good amount of light. So much light that I did not even light the candles in my room, the moon was that bright. I sat on my bed and let out a big sigh as I pulled my hair from its usual knot. I heard the trapdoor creak.

"Your hair clashes with those pants," James said pointing from my auburn hair to the red plaid pajamas. I laughed a little and found my eyes leaking tears. That surprised me a bit. I rarely cried.

"I want to do this. I want to help," I said sniffling a bit, "I mean this is a where all that Gryffindor courage is supposed to come in but I still feel scared. Should I be scared? Does that mean I shouldn't be doing this?"

James came over to the bed and stretched out behind me, coaxing me into lying down next to him.

"You'll always be afraid, you'd be ignorant not to be. But sometimes it's better to just do it. Like I was always afraid before a quidditch match, but that didn't stop me from having fun, and beating those slimy Slytherins. And this is more important than fun, this is saving people. So, if you decide to do it, Sirius and I will be there, too. And I think Remus is going to help as well."

I rolled over so that I was facing him, "Ok, I'll do it."

James nodded, "I'm scared too. Promise you won't die and leave me."

"Only if you promise, too."

James kissed me, sealing our pact. I kissed him back but drew away before it became more than a simple peck; I was about to fall asleep right there. For a second time in a very, very long day, I fell asleep hugging James.

That next morning I woke up to loud guffaws from the boys' room:

"Slept up there all night, Prongs, and you hugged?" I heard Sirius say in a disbelieving voice.

"Not everyone is as much of a pig as you are, Sirius," Remus responded, though I could tell he was a laughing a bit too. Had James really slept up here all night? I was out like a light right after he kissed me goodnight, so I assumed he had just left after. Apparently not, though, judging by the boys' conversation. Well now I had to go defend him. I crawled out of bed, grabbing a scrunchie from the bedpost and putting my hair up before I started down the ladder. Sirius was still on the top-bunk with a mug of coffee leaning over talking to James and Remus, who were also drinking coffees.

"Who made the coffee?" I asked, going from their room out to the kitchen area and pouring a delicious smelling cup. I went back and leaned on their doorway, sipping from the mug.

"Moony made it," said James. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and still had on his jeans from yesterday. I noticed that the boys had suddenly become quiet since I had started down the trapdoor. Did they think I hadn't heard them?

"Please, carry on with your conversation, I found it most interesting to wake up to," I said slightly testily. Sirius was so crude some days. The three boys looked guilty. I simply rolled my eyes and sipped my coffee again.

There was a knock at the door, our first visitor, since we had moved in. Wondering who was here this early, I set my coffee on the table and went to open it. The weather was finally sunny but still cool and I got a burst of chilly air as I opened the door and found…Alice. Alice had been my closest friend at Hogwarts.

"ALLIE!" I yelled hurling myself at her and wrapping her in a big hug. We jumped up and down and hugged. We had not seen each other since her wedding in July for she had been on her honeymoon since then. Alice had rosey, round cheeks and strait brown hair that hung in a loose ponytail that day.

"Lil! How are you?"

"Great, here come in, Remus made coffee."

I dragged Alice in and shut the door. Picking up my wand from the table from where I had left it last night, I had summoned the coffee from the counter and she caught it neatly, without sloshing it at all. James, Sirius, and Remus came out from their room.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, James! Sirius! Could you put on shirts? We have company!"

"Sorry, Lils, I like it just like this," Sirius said shuffling over to the coffeepot and replenishing his cup. He made no move to put a shirt on with his green pajamas. James though grabbed his sweatshirt, which was hanging over the door of the wardrobe and slipped that on, though did not zip it. Alice and I sat on the couch.

"How was China?"

"Oh, it was wonderful! The Chinese house-elves are amazing. They clean everything up with a snap of their fingers. They can use their magic, see. And they have these huge, slanted eyes. They're really cute, I wanted to take one home but we can't afford one right now. Two kids out of Hogwarts don't have much, you know."

"Believe me, I know. My Honeyduke's funds are running low, at least mum and dad gave me money for graduation."

Something in Alice's pocket chimed and she took out a box of mints, gulping nervously. She turned to me, "Lily, I do have to go now, lots of work, but I just wanted to drop by and say hello."

"Oh, already?"

"Yes, dear, I'll see you at auror training, though."

"Alright," I hugged her. The box of mints chimed again and she looked down.

"Oh, Dumbledore wants your answer by noon. Bye, everyone," and with that she disappeared with a crack leaving us slightly bemused as to how she was talking to Dumbledore through the mint box.

The four of now stood at random parts of the main room, holding our coffee, looking sad and scared. We had all just remembered the Order.

"So, we have to be there by noon?" Remus asked, checking his watch, "It's 10 now."

"We have to give him the answer in two hours? What is our answer?" Sirius said looking serious for once in his life. It always made me laugh that Sirius was never serious, if you get what I mean. But when he was you knew it was important. No body was saying anything. I decided I would share first.

"I'm in. I can't say 'no' to the chance to stop Voldemort. I might as well do something with my life while I'm still young."

"I'm with Lily, I've got to join. This is the chance I've been waiting for since I was a little kid; I can prove to everyone that I'm not like my family. And I can annoy them at the same time," Sirius grinned now.

Remus looked down and spoke quietly, "I've got to join, too. No one ever trusted me because of…and well I've got to show them that I'm not bad like Voldemort, no matter what happens to me at the full moon."

"And how could I say 'no' after listening to you three's beautiful testimonies of allegiance?" James said bringing smiles to all of our faces, "I'm in. This is more important than what I've ever counted as major. I need to this."

I was crying again. And smiling. I set my coffee on the floor and ran over to James, hurling my arms around his neck and sobbing on his shoulder. Also setting down his drink, he wrapped his arms around me. I laughed and cried and giggled again. What would I do without James? I felt Remus and Sirius come behind me and we are all hugging. And laughing. And I wished this moment lasted forever. Four teenagers becoming adults. And feeling like a family. Cause these guys really were my family. Remus and Sirius were the brothers I'd never had and James, I'd have to figure out James later.