Chapter 3 Heroes of the world:

The Thursday night meeting was completely full of people, many of which James new. There was, Remus Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, he and Lily, Sirius Black, Andromeda Tonks, Alastor Moody, Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones.
And then of course there was Dumbledore, over talking to the Longbottoms.

But... there was one person James didn't see. Where was Peter...?

"Ah, the Potters!" Kingsley Shacklebolt greeted them, as they had just arrived. "Lily, James, welcome!" He shook their hands with a big hearty grin.

"Uh, Kingsley...?" came a voice from behind him. He turned. A short, black haired woman tapped him. "Andromeda stumbled over a chair and broke your vase..."

"Oh, heavens... Not again..." He walked off.

"Lily, you don't mind if I go talk to Sirius and Remus for a bit, do you?" Asked James.

She shook her head. James walked to them as Lily left to go talk to Mrs. Longbottom, she to being pregnant.

"Wormtail isn't here, is he Moony?" James asked Remus.

The young brown haired man answered, "No Prongs, my good friend, I don't think so. In fact, I haven't seen him for quite a while."

He gave James a small smile, his tired eyes shone brightly.

"Oh..." replied James.

"Prongs, don't worry about it. He's probably just busy, you know, with his training and all." Said Sirius in a bit of a careless tone. He seemed to act so positive about everything.

"It's not that I'm worried, I just wondered where he might be, that's all."

"Can I please have everyone's attention?" Asked Dumbledore politely. The room went quiet. "I'd like the meeting to begin. Can everyone please enter into the dining room?"

Everyone began talking again as they all walked into the Dining room. When everyone had taken a seat around the table, Dumbledore began.

"First off, I'd like to thank the Shacklebolt's for kindly letting us use they're home."

Kingsley Shacklebolt smiled and kindly nodded in return.

"I've called you all here, because you are of whom I trust with my life. And I know you would do anything to help those around you. I ask this meeting to be a complete secret. As I also ask you to give up a bit of your time to become members of a society I plan to create. An order. 'The order of the Phoenix'. That too is strictly confidential."

Everyone murmured in agreement.

Then, slowly, Dumbledore started the news of how more and more attacks have been occurring. How the amount of death had increased, for the wizarding world and the Muggles. How the threat of Voldemort is growing stronger. Stronger than it had in years. And how this Order may be the only resistance they have at the moment. Even the Ministry had been struggling on what to do. They tried to stop the killings, but at times they just weren't strong enough.

For about an hour and a half this went on. Finally, at the end, Dumbledore said, "Yes, I am asking you to take a great risk. Yes, I am asking you to give up your daily lives to help fight. But if we don't... Who will...?

At these words, all was as silent as the dead itself. No one seemed to be breathing.

Slowly, Lily stood up, "I will. I'll fight." She said strongly.

James sat there. He couldn't even begin to describe how proud he felt of his wife at that moment. He admired how strong spirited she was and ambitious. He admired how, even though she had trials of her own, she was willing to push them aside for the time-being. James knew that she wasn't going to be able to do much with the baby coming soon, but once Lily had made up her mind, there's was no chance in trying to persuade her differently.

James took a deep breath, and he to stood up. "I may not have much, but I have more determination than anyone else your likely to meet."

Lily smiled at him and grasped his hand.

Dumbledore smiled proudly.

For a moment, all was quiet, until Sirius to stood up. "Heck, James wouldn't last a minute without me. I'll fight." Sirius gave James a fake- arrogant smile, acting as though it wasn't a big deal. But inside, James was thankful.

Remus Lupin stood as well, "Well, someone has to look after these two prats," he joked, "Might as well be me. I'll gladly fight.

One by one, chairs scraped as people stood up. Until, everyone in the room was standing.

Dumbledore looked around proudly at all their determined faces. He looked around at the people willing to risk their lives. He looked around at the heroes of the world.

The Order of the Phoenix.

"I'm not going to tell you that it'll be easy, because it won't... I'm only going to tell you that it'll be worth it."

Nobody sat down. They were ready. Dumbledore beamed at them all. He'd never felt so proud.

"Then... It is time..."