Engaging

Stepping Down and Stepping Up

Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, they belong to J. K. Rowling. Except for Sara Sweets, she belongs to me . Author's note: This is based upon what I have taken from the Harry Potter stories, and is totally in my head. And I seriously believe that Voldemort is either in love with Lily or is her half-brother, so that is in this story. If you are easily offended by vulgar language or sexual content you should not read this fanficiton. Please review.

Lily had cried. She had cried for two nights straight. She hadn't thought that her brother was really like that, not really, not in her heart.

She had always thought him better, even after the day she found him and Sara. He had seemed different than the Tom that she knew, he was not the brother she had grown up beside. This man was different. This man was evil.

She looked up to see Sapphire standing there, "Sapph? What's up? What's going on?" she asked, for Sapphire got her news directly from Peter, and it was always best to listen to her.

Sapphire's blue eyes were wide with fear, "Lily, you have to go into hiding! And you and James and Harry have to go now."

Lily blinked up at her friend, "What do you mean?" she asked, utterly confused by Sapphire's urgency.

"Peter says something is wrong, Peter says that Tom found out about your marriage to James. He's not happy, and he's acting funny anyways. Almost like something has changed. Oh, Lily, please, just go into hiding. I told Sirius, he's telling Sara right now."

Lily was catching Sapphire's fear as if it were contagious, for Sapphire wouldn't fret over nothing, "What about James? Does he know?"

"We haven't found him, and that's bad. Lily, Peter says that Tom may already be after him. He doesn't trust him, and he feels the need to protect you from him. Lily, we have to find him."

Lily was up in an instant, the baby in her arms, barely over three months. "Let's find him," she said sternly. She did not want him facing her brother's wrath alone.

No, this was no loner her brother. This was a murderer. This was Lord Voldemort.

Sirius ran to Sara, "Sara!" he said, slightly out of breath, for he had ran the entire way.

She turned to him, a curious look on her face, "Sirius, what is it?"

"Voldemort is after Lily and James. We have to find a way to hide them from him," Sirius said, huffing only a little from the exercise, but Sara had forbade any of the Order from using Floo powder.

Sara's auburn eyes flashed scarlet and her hair flickered in challenge, "We have to find them."

"Sapphire is getting Lily, but we don't know where James is." Sirius replied.

Sara smiled, "I do," for she knew him well.

She led Sirius off to a place they hadn't been to in over a year.

"Hogwarts," Sirius breathed.

"He's talking to Uncle Albi." Sara informed him as she made her way onto the familiar grounds and to Dumbledore's office.

She said no password, nor did she need to. The portrait in her path simply hinged away allowing her passage immediately.

Sirius followed to find that she had been right, James and Dumbledore were in the room, across from one another, both looking in their direction.

"Sara?" Albus said, his brow furrowed, his blue eyes sharp behind the half-moon spectacles.

"James, Tom is after you. He wants to kill you, I know it. We have to get you and Lily and the baby into hiding before he can get his claws on you." Sara said.

James blinked and immediately stood, "Is Lily alright?" he asked.

"She's fine, but you must quickly decide upon a place of hiding. And Sirius will be your secret keeper." She said.

"I need to talk with Lily," James demanded.

Sara smiled understandingly, "You go to her then. Sirius will go with you when you are ready to use him. I need to stay here a bit longer. I have some business to discuss with Albus."

James would have objected, would have insisted that she come with them, but she had said the name "Albus" instead of "Albi", and he knew that whatever her purpose was, this conversation was of utmost importance.

So instead he nodded and left the room, his best friend following him on his way out.

Sirius turned to give Sara one last look, "A million kisses," he said to her.

"A million butterflies," she replied, giving him a gentle smile.

He then nodded to Dumbledore and turned to leave them alone.

Dumbledore's eyes, however, were upon his niece, "What is it that you need to speak with me about?" he asked.

Sara turned to him, "I need you to take credit for the Order." She said bluntly, going straight to the point, for this was no time for subtlety nor persuasion.

He frowned at her, "But what good would that do?" he asked, for he could not see the logic that she was using. Though he rarely did.

She smiled at him, he never could understand her as much as he would have liked to, "Uncle, something is going to happen soon. I don't know how soon, I merely know that it will happen. And when it does I will be severely frowned upon. We need the Order to always stay flawless. And no one would ever challenge you. Therefore you are the only person that I would trust that I could give power to. Do you accept?" she asked seriously.

"What about your friends?" he asked.

"All of which have their own marks? A werewolf, and illegal animagi. No, Uncle, the only person who can truly bring out the Order's full potential is you. Will you accept? I know it's a lot of responsibility, but I have no one else to turn to. Will you take this burden, Uncle?" she asked, her tone grave, tears in her eyes. She knew what she was asking him to do even if he did not, but there was simply no other way.

Albus Dumbledore smiled, "Sara, I would be happy to take the Order into my hands. If it is your wish."

Sara smiled and threw her arms around his neck in a tight embrace. She knew she could never thank him enough. He was her angel.

He patted her back, "Nothing to get emotional about dear, it's only power of the only force against the most evil being we know." He said.

She couldn't help but laugh, "I love you, Uncle Albi."

Sirius and James had reached Lily and Sapphire and were now discussing the important details of their plan.

"I don't want to leave home," Lily said.

"You don't have to. Sirius will be our secret keeper. No one will know where we are unless he tells them directly." James said.

Sirius shook his head, "No, that's much too obvious. Everyone will simply assume that I am your secret keeper. No, we need someone more unexpected." He said, thinking hard about who he trusted the lives of his best friends to.

"Where's that Remus when you need him?" James asked, a bit frazzled.

Sirius shook his head, "He wouldn't do. He has enough trouble being himself."

They all nodded in agreement, for Sapphire knew of Remus's condition as well, Peter had told her a while ago when she continued to ask why they couldn't visit him on a full moon.

She looked up at the others, "What about Peter?" she asked, "Would Peter work?"

Sirius could have kissed her, but he doubted Sara would be pleased with that, she had given them the most unexpected choice.

"Of course! No one will expect him!" then he turned to Sapphire, "Where is he?"

Sapphire led them to him as he was waiting to give her more information.

Sirius explained the situation and gave him his proposal.

Peter smiled, he had yet to show James his appreciation of him, his thanks for getting him through school. This was the perfect way to do so, besides, they needed him to do it, he was the best candidate.

"I'll do it!"