Dutifully, Ava had everyone there at seven. She herself didn't show up until half of seven, as Lily had warned her not to. The event was actually very low-key, not so much a celebration or a baby shower, but just a reason to goof off. Everyone seemed pleasantly surprised, having been warned they were going to another meeting. Even Sirius and James didn't have a clue of what Lily had done, Ava only the slightest idea. Lily was pleased to have something to do with her spare time now that she was on temporary leave.

"Love what you've done with the place." Remus told Lily, walking over and pecking her on the cheek.

"Well, you know how I do," she laughed, looking around. She really hadn't done anything to the decoration, as Remus had pointed out. More, she had seats and tables about, a buffet of food, and music in the background.

"Anything for a respite, luv."

Elsewhere, Sirius was talking Peter, trying to weasel out of him his current stomping grounds and whereabouts. Pettigrew maintained neutral answers, which prompted more inquisition from Sirius. Personally, Peter was actually pleased that Black had taken a notice in him and was asking after him, so he gave bite size answers.

"It's a girl! It's a girl isn't it?" Sirius grinned a sly grin at him. Peter shrugged offhandedly. "Not a lad is it?" Sirius tried to goad him.

Peter glared at him and it was Sirius turn to shrug, the same smile still on. After awhile, they turned to other conversations, which Peter was pleased to see Sirius even talking with him, until they were interrupted.

"Sirius? Sirius Black!" two familiar voices called across the room, Sirius turning and looking about. Peter felt as though he had disappeared right in front of his eyes.

"Frank, Alice!" Sirius called when he saw the two headed over to him through a small crowd. Giving the man the traditional handshake-turn-slap-on-the-back, and the woman a hug, Sirius welcomed the sight of them.

"Haven't seen you since we graduated a year ahead of you." Frank laughed. Alice added in to her husband's words. "To your dismay."

"Yeah, yeah," Sirius mumbled with false bitterness. "Looking well though, apparently you went off and got married in some remote island somewhere, the paper read. Didn't want us to creep up and curse you nose off again did you?"

Frank laughed. "About as much as you'd want your hair hexed curly again, weren't too fond of it where you?"

Alice eyed him. "And now it's short. Changes my dear Sirius?"

Sirius grinned and they discussed what they all had been up to in the recent years. Frank and Alice had dated since their fifth year, the marauders' fourth, and was no big surprise that they married. Sirius had known they had joined the Order, as it turned out that the two Longbottoms, were a year into their training when James began his. Upon graduation, they had married. Now they informed him, and everyone else they met, that Alice was pregnant, and Sirius forwarded them onto Lily. Then all the kiddy talk would be out of their systems. Sirius retreated to Remus and James, sending James over to the others with a push.

"Way to take one for the team," Remus half called to James, who shot a sneer over his shoulder back at the two.

Sirius looked around, a smirk still on his face from James. He saw that everyone was socializing just fine. Albus and Rubeus were talking with Minerva, per usual. Moody swaggering up to talk to them with the standard grave look on his face. Sirius made a mental note, knowing something would come of it later. Remus tapped his shoulder and pointed over to where Peter talked with Caradoc. Making some funny comment they sniggered. Moving on, Remus and Sirius watched the rest of the room

Marlene and Emmeline were gossiping, they were sure. Over in the corner Elphias was trying to get Dorcas to try on his hat, who eyed it skeptically. Aberforth seemed to be having a heated discussion with Benjy and Edgar. Sturgis separated from some others to join in the debate. Finally their eyes fell onto the Prewett brothers, Gideon and Fabian, who joked around with Ava. Reading the expression on her face, they both knew she was playing unamused, which just spurred on her companions. Picking a direction, Remus and Sirius both went out to mingle.

After Fabian and Gideon went off for drinks, deciding the stock was getting low, Ava went in search of Lily. She found her still talking with Alice, both of whom seemed to glow, which could only mean one thing. Ava took a chance, feeling fairly certain she was right.

"Congratulations," She nodded to Alice, whom she had never met, only heard of during much Marauder reminiscence and absent meetings. She wondered how she had never seen Frank. That's right-he always sent his partner in—Emmanuel Strange. How odd that he wouldn't be paired with his lovely wife, who also sent in her associate to pick up the latest gadgets. Some how in all this time, she had never had a run-in.

"Thank you," Alice blushed, but enjoyed the compliment. She turned to Lily to have her introduce them. Lily smiled at the two.

"I forgot you've never met." She laughed. Hearing her laughter from across the room, James came over, Frank and Sirius in tow.

"Frank, Alice, this is the firebrand also known as Ava Altair. Luv, over here," she laid a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Keeps her in line."

"Ava, my dear," she turned to look at her friend, a smile on both their faces. "This is illustrious Frank, and divine Alice Longbottom. Both graduated before your transfer."

Making polite hellos and shaking hands, they chatted. Frank took a second and seemed to be in a pensive thought. About to break in, he let his wife finish her question.

"-quite a curious name. Do you have another?" Alice asked after Ava's middle name. Frank was most interested to hear, as he recalled a friend of his father's named Altair.

"Unfortuanly," Ava grimaced. Sirius laughed, knowing she didn't care for the way of it. "Much to my dismay, it is Maria, as in the aria."

"Ave Maria," James said, changing the accent on the words slightly. He never knew that was her middle name, he could see why she never shared it now. Ava, being the good soul she was, was able to laugh with the rest.

"I seem to remember a friend of my fathers," Frank recalled, "Who might have been an Altair."

"Ava transferred to Hogwarts in her last year," Sirius supplied, seeing Ava's slight discomfort with the mention of an older Altair.

"Can't for the life of me remember his name…" Frank gave up.

Lily sensing a prickly moment, remember one of her designs for the evening. She told James to round everyone up and she would be back in a few moments. When she came back a few moments later, everyone was milled about the same area, still chitchatting. She walked over to Ava a smile playing on her bright features.

"Luv, could go tell everybody to hush and stir them about for me?"

"Why?" Ava's eyes slit suspiciously at her friend.

"For a picture." She told the girl smiling and taking the wizarding camera out her reach, knowing Ava hated photographs.

"Lil," Ava kept reaching for it. "You know I abhor photos."

"Which is why I like to torment you, my dear."

"Lily!" she seethed.

"Ava!" Lily taunted back.

"You give me no choice," Ava told her pulling her wand out. "Accio."

"Cheeky." Lily sulked about with a faux pout.

"Damn straight." Ava pointed to the group. "Now get over there and rally your troops. Luv."

Lily had tried to get Ava in her picture of the Order, but as usual, the fox had played her once again. With everyone together, Lily had them all queue up facing the right way and Ava snapped the shot. Throwing in an extra one just in case, she caught them in a candid moment everyone smiling goofily because the photo was over and went on talking to their neighbors. Lily went to retrieve the camera from her sly friend.

"I'll get you one day, my pretty." She said mysteriously.

"Sure, Potter." Ava nodded indulgently. Both knew the other would do their best to succeed. Lily at getting just one picture of her friend, and Ava of avoiding any camera ever.

After a brief chat, they separated, Ava heading off to talk with Marlene and Benjy, Lily found her husband and the rest talking shop with Gideon and Fabain. All had replenished their resources with lager. Rolling her eyes at them, Lily made pleasant conversation with Minerva. Everyone relaxed and enjoyed the evening, thrilled to have a night off. When the evening came to a close, everyone showered Lily with praise and thanks for giving them all a cheer. Alice and Lily made plans to get together and go shopping, sometime when the husbands were busy. Gideon and Fabian kissed Ava on the check at the same time, which made her flush a slight red, wrapping her arms around the two. Sirius smirked at their flirtatious nature.

Remus and James stood to the side, in a quiet conversation, unconcerned that Peter was the only one around to hear them. Lily escorted everyone else out. Sirius walked up to join their discussion.

"Alice doesn't know either, Frank was a cautious as you." Remus warned James.

"What else could we do?" James spread his hands about. "They are targets and knowing that could jeopardize their pregnancies."

"No one is saying that what you did is wrong." Sirius tried to settle his friend. "But everyone else knows too, you know how Dorcas talks."

"As long as she doesn't talk that to Lily, or Alice." James shook his head.

"Ava's on Lily watch." Remus nodded to Sirius. "Officially, via Albus."

"Think she can handle Alice now too?" James asked doubtfully.

"Occasionally," Remus answered looking back and forth between the two. "Alice also has Emmeline checking up on her. Surely the paths of the expectant mothers will cross frequently. "

They all nodded as they took in the various things they had picked up through out the night. When Lily made her way back over, a new topic was raised. Shaking her hands at them to quiet, she interrupted them, unconcerned with what they were talking about.

"Sturgis says you need to stop gossiping like a cluster of little girls and get to work." She teased them. "No, Aves headed off to work out something for Edgar, something for one of his kids I think it was."

"Don't wait up." James slapped Sirius on the back.

"Git." He sneered at his friend unserious.

"I'm going to go, bye." Peter piped up, looking for a quick exit. He gave Lily a kiss on the cheek and a wave like gesture to the guys and popped away.

…-

Peter headed straight to the pub. Things had started off so well! He had conversations with everyone, danced, ate, and was even in the picture with James and Lily! Then it went as it always did, he was forgotten about. Part of him told himself that he was being completely irrational and totally paranoid. That piece of his mind he drowned with a pint. Looking around, he saw a friend Tom had introduced him to, Tony, and soon fell into a welcomed conversation.

…-

He fell in to their trap unwittingly, by the time he had realized how deep he was in, it was too late. Only out of fear did he follow through with the many plans and schemes that fell into his lap. Always thinking this one would be the last one. Within time, he became just as dependent on the dark side as he had been on the marauders. Knowing now why Tom had been so familiar, he mingled amongst most of the slytherins he had been at school with. Sadly, he was unaware of their false respect they gave him, as he was proud to obtain any at all.

Maintaining the illusion for sometime, he managed to lead a double life between the Order and the Eaters. He had changed over the years since they had graduated, so much that if given a chance, no one would have truly recognized him beside sight. His latest deployment had him spending his time with Lily and James, knowing what was in the works. The Order had him on a similar job of watching over the Potters. No one knew…

: that's the latest bit. Next we will have Lil Harry! That should be interesting right?

Stay tuned Kids.