Ch.2 Strange behavior:
"That's exactly what I told Clarissra! But she said it wasn't an excuse! Can you believe that!" Exclaimed Sirius with irritation as he and James walked to the Ministry of Magic.
Off to another day at work.
"Yes," answered James, "I believe it. I mean, come on Padfoot. Let's think about this for a moment. What's the longest you've been able to keep a girl? What was it, two days?" He laughed jokingly.
"Ha ha." Laughed Sirius sarcastically. "Actually, your wrong. It was two and a half days." Said Sirius smugly with a proud smile. He pushed his chin- length black back from his mouth, revealing his handsome face.
James rolled his eyes. They talked airily for a while, walking their usual course into the building. Suddenly, something hard walked into James. He looked down.
"Wormtail!" Said James happily; "I haven't seen you in ages, where have you been?" He helped Peter to his feet. Peter on the other hand, flinched, and pulled away. He avoided James and Sirius' eyes. A frightened look about his face, Peter hurriedly walked away mumbling, his left eye giving off a slight twitch.
"What's with him?" wondered James aloud.
"Beat's me, he's been acting strange for a while now." Said Sirius.
They started walking again.
"Yea... But did you see the way he looked at me? As though he was scared of me... He had dark circles under his eyes too, and quite a few bruises. Do you think it's something urgent?" Said James, concerned. "I've also noticed he's been missing a lot of work days as well..."
"Nah," replied Sirius. "It's probably just his Auror training getting to him."
James nodded, but couldn't help but feel it was something more...
He and Sirius turned the corner, to find Dumbledore in front of them.
"Dumbledore!" Exclaimed James and Sirius in unison, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I wondered if I could have a word." Said Dumbledore calmly with a smile.
They nodded. They walked to a corner.
Dumbledore handed them a piece of paper.
James took it and he and Sirius began to read:
COME TO: KINGSLEY SHACKLEBOlTS AT 2:00, THURSDAY NIGHT. MEETING OF: THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.
"What's this, 'The Order of the Phoenix'?" James looked up. But, Dumbledore had already gone.
Sirius looked at James, confused.
James' shrugged. He was about to slip the note into his robe pocket, when it caught on fire. James dropped it to the ground, now nothing more than a pile of ashes.
"Well, I takes it it's something Dumbledore doesn't want anyone else to know."
James nodded.
