Disclaimer: I still do not own Harry Potter...

Reviews:

Volleypickle16, born2driveat16, corinnetkn24 and Harry'sbabygirl: Thank you!

Eric2: Yeah, I probably did, but I wanted to move the story along and not have like 6 chapters of Harry being mad at Remus. Thanks!

Pad's gurl584: I'm curious... Are you even reading my story or just advertising?

Beth5572: I hope it's a happy ending too, but I haven't really decided yet.

Sunnysparkles' Note: I guess my laziness as far as updating goes has lost me a lot of readers? Thanks very much to all my loyal readers still reading. I'm writing this story just for all of you at the moment. Sorry this chapter's short, but I wasn't sure how long it'd take me to write what comes next and I really want to continue Hopes and Dreams now. Hope you all enjoy it still.

Chapter 15: Tough Decisions

James slouched down onto the couch to think. Maybe it was about time Harry joined the Order. Remus had a good point. He did need to know the information about Voldemort. He could use some of the special Order communication tools as well.

There were some disadvantages of Harry joining as well though. What if he hears too much information? What if he does try to go fight? He'd certainly throw a fit over it if he wasn't allowed to fight. But maybe him joining would be for the best. James decided he should discuss this with Lily first, and if she agrees they'll talk to Dumbledore about it as well.

'I'll worry about it later' James decided. He sprawled his body across the couch, wanting to relax. Remus had spent what seemed like forever trying to persuade him last night.

"James?" Lily called.

'So much for relaxing...' James thought at he got up to see what his wife needed.

"What was all that about earlier?" she asked referring to the breakfast incident.

James shrugged, "Harry and Remus had a fight, but they sorted it out I think."

Lily sighed, "He really does that a lot."

"I've gotten used to it." James said nonchalantly.

"So... Did you discuss any Order plans with Remus?" Lily asked hoping for a subject change. It had almost the desired affect. James shifted his weight to the other side for a moment.

"Uh... yeah, sort of."

"Anything I should know about?" the red-head asked.

"Well... I know you think it's a bad idea and I do too, but maybe it'd be for the best since he needs to know some of that information and he can give us some information. I didn't really like the idea, but Remus brought it up and..."

""James, just say it!" Lily demanded.

"We think Harry should join the Order."

"He's not old enough!" Lily shrieked. "He's only sixteen years old!"

"And he's done more than the majority of the Order members have done if their lifetimes already."

"He can't join! He'll get hurt!" Lily protested.

"I never said I wanted him to join, Lily. I think it may be for the best though. We won't let him go out and fight, just listen on the meetings. He needs to know the latest on the Death Eaters movements if he's going to have to battle Voldemort soon."

Lily considered this for a moment. Harry would want to go out and join the fight. It would be hard to keep him out of it for sure. But James had a point, Harry needed the information. As much as she'd like to deny it, Harry will have to defeat Voldemort soon.

"What makes you think he won't try to go fight?" Lily asked.

"I didn't say he wouldn't try to, but we just won't let him."

"Oh, yes, that will work great. 'Harry, you must stay home and let the rest of us go battle the Death Eaters ourselves. You're just not old enough to fight yourself.' I can see it now, James. All we'll manage to get is a big argument with him."

"If we tell him to stay home, I think he'll listen. And if he doesn't, he obviously would have went off to fight if he wasn't in the Order as well anyway. We really have nothing to lose and everything to gain letting him join."

"Yes, but-" Lily couldn't think of another defense for herself, so she settled for another approach. "Dumbledore won't allow it. He had strict rules for these types of things."

"Strict rules he can bend for Harry's sake."

"They were put in place for Harry's safety, James!" Lily argued.

"You know what, Lily? I think we should just go discuss this with Dumbledore."

"We should."

"And if he agrees Harry is joining."

"If Dumbledore thinks it's a good idea, then I'll take his side." Lily agreed. "He knows what is best for Harry more than we do probably. We don't really know Harry well yet."

James went off and flooed Dumbledore about having the meeting. An hour later, Lily and James were both sitting in armchairs in Dumbledore's office. Harry was left at home spending 'Quality time' with Remus. James knew that meant Remus was sharing stories of the Marauder days with Harry. Despite how Harry acted about the revelation of his father's past as a prankster, James knew he loved hearing about their adventures.

Harry surprisingly asked no questions about why his parents were meeting with Dumbledore at such sudden notice. James figured his son just assumed it was Order business and he had no business in it. He was half right if he had. They were discussing Order business, yes, but it was all about Harry and may soon be his business.

Dumbledore sat down and put his hands together. He gazed at Lily and James thoughtfully.

"What can I do for you two today?" he asked serenely.

James turned to Lily and she gave a look that clearly said he was going to be doing the talking. He sorted his thought out in his head quickly. At the while, Dumbledore continued to gaze at him.

"Well," James began. "Lily and I were talking this morning, and Remus and I discussed this last night and well, we think it's about time Harry joined the Order."

Before Dumbledore could respond, James continued, "Before you say no, I think you should take some things into consideration. Harry is going to have to duel Voldemort very soon possibly, so I think it's best that he knows what's going on. If Harry was made a member, I also think he'd be less reluctant about giving us information as well. It's also be easier to keep an eye or Harry and we could lift some of the ridiculous security cautions that are driving him crazy if we gave him some of the communication tools Order members use. He could also use these to call for help if he ever got into a bad situation with Death Eaters or something.

"I know you said no one under seventeen could join, but Harry's already sixteen, so why not just let the rule slide one year. We don't have to let all his friends join, just him. We could have him swear not to tell anyone he was a member too. We wouldn't let him fight either, only listen in. And-"

"James," Dumbledore interrupted and James stopped for a moment. "If I may cut in, you needn't go on."

James thought this meant there was no way Harry could join. He looked up into Dumbledore's eyes and saw they were twinkling though. If he was going to say no, his eyes would be anything but twinkling at the moment.

"I quite agree, James. I daresay it's about time Harry joined the Order." said Dumbledore. "That is, if Lily had no objections."

"As long as he isn't out fighting, I think it's okay for him to join." Lily gave in. "If you're sure he's ready to be inducted..."

"I assure you he is more ready than some of our older members."

"Well then, now that that is all settled, when is the induction?" James asked.

"I'm sure you'd like him to be inducted before term starts up. We will both be rather busy then."

"Of course"

"How about nest Wednesday then? Then he can go to his first meeting right away."

"Wednesday is the Full moon, Sir. I don't want Remus to miss Harry's induction."

"Right¼ Then Saturday? We'll have a meeting then as well."

"Sounds okay to me. What about you Lily?" James asked.

"Sure," Lily said, still a bit reluctant about Harry joining.

Meanwhile at Godric's Hollow, Harry and Remus were curled up on the living room recliners. Remus had finished going over his reports a lot of earlier than he expected and came to spend some time with Harry while Lily and James were out. They didn't say why they were going to see Dumbledore, but Remus had a feeling it had to do with Harry joining the Order. Remus hoped Dumbledore agreed to it if that's what they went to see him about.

"What happened next?" Harry asked. Remus hadn't realized he paused in the middle of his story.

"Well, McGonagall was obviously furious with us all for ruining her office, especially your dad and Sirius since they pulled these stunts so often. Peter and I got a week of detention and your dad and Sirius shared a month's worth. After that we decided to be a bit more careful in planning our pranks. We also had to think up a new way to get back at Snape and the rest of the Slytherins for ratting us out. I guess we shouldn't have set off those fireworks in their hallway until after they went to sleep. It was one of our first pranks though, which is why the fireworks ended up circling the entire school."

Harry laughed imagining the scene that happened when Fred and George set off their own fireworks. Watching Umbridge trying to destroy them, but only making them multiply was priceless. This next year wasn't going to be the same without Fred and George there to entertain. Before Harry could ask what they did at their detentions, Lily and James came back through the fire accompanied by Dumbledore.

"We need to talk, Harry." James said. "You're not in trouble, it's something else." James said when Harry gave him a look saying, 'What did I do this time?'

"You can stay too, Remus. This may involve you as well." Dumbledore told Remus who was grabbing Floo Powder to leave.

Remus sat back down in his favorite overstuffed armchair. Harry just looked from one person to another, wondering what they all wanted with him. Lily, James and Dumbledore all sat down on the couch slowly. Harry noticed his mum looked a bit tense.

"Harry," Dumbledore stated. "We think it's time you joined the Order of the Phoenix."

End Note: I'm sure you can guess the next chapter yourself. I may finally add in school in about 2-4 chapters as well.