"He's really back?"

The question had come from Emmeline Vance, but it was the same as the one weighing on the minds of all thirteen wizards gathered in Dumbledore's office. Remus, who had heard the whole story already, was gripping Sirius's arm so tightly that Sirius felt his fingers going numb.

"I'm afraid we have incontrovertible evidence," Dumbledore said gravely. "The son of Barty Crouch—a convicted Death Eater long believed to be dead—was found to in fact have spent the past year working in this castle, disguised as a Hogwarts professor." Dumbledore's eyes flicked over to Mad-Eye Moody beside him, who gave a simple, livid grunt. "He was doing Voldemort's bidding, bringing him Harry Potter in order to resurrect his body through an ancient Dark ritual. Unfortunately, he and his master were successful."

"Why are you telling us this in secret?" Dedalus Diggle asked in a hushed voice. "Why is the Dark Lord's return not all over the news?"

"Because," Minerva McGonagall said from beside the headmaster, "the Minister for Magic refuses to believe it is true. He had one of his Dementors perform a Kiss on Crouch before he could hear his story, and he believes that Mr Potter, who witnessed the resurrection personally, is spinning lies for attention."

"Fudge is mad," Moody growled, fidgeting with his magical eye. "Crouch knew exactly what he was doing when he captured me. He was no lunatic—he was working on Voldemort's orders."

"We believe you, Alastor," said Arthur Weasley quietly from beside his white-faced wife. "And Harry."

"We all do," Emmeline added quickly. "But without the Ministry…."

"We'll do our best to sway the public to our side," Dumbledore said. "But we also must begin preparations on our own." He glanced around the circle of wizards, his eyes falling on each of them in turn. "As Voldemort has found a way to rise again, so much the forces that served to oppose him. I have called all of you here to ask if you will join me in creating a second Order of the Phoenix."

The room fell silent. The Order of the Phoenix…. It was a thing of the distant past in Sirius's mind, back before Azkaban and Peter's betrayal and James's death. But if Voldemort truly was back—if the past had returned to the present in that one, horrible regard—why should the Order not return as well?

"Many of you served in the Order of the Phoenix during Voldemort's first rise," Dumbledore continued through the quiet, "and some of you proved yourselves valuable allies even without joining." He nodded to Molly and Arthur Weasley at this; then he turned his attention to Snape, standing on the other side of McGonagall. "Others joined us later, seeking to correct the mistakes of their pasts, and sacrificed their safety to serve at our side."

Sirius grit his teeth as Snape dipped his head in acknowledgement. He hadn't told Harry about Snape's past as a Death Eater—he was sure he'd figured it out on his own by now—but he felt like having a Dark Mark should be an instant disqualification for joining the Order. Dumbledore wanted to use him as a spy—but what use was a spy you weren't entirely sure was on your side?

Seeming to read his thoughts, Remus leaned in to Sirius and murmured, "We have to trust Dumbledore."

Sirius swallowed back a lump in his throat, surveying the old headmaster. He had never fully forgiven Dumbledore for not making more an attempt to clear his name while he was in Azkaban—but he knew that right now, with Voldemort again at large and the wizarding world plunged into darkness, he was the best person to be leading the resistance, just as he had last time. Dumbledore wasn't perfect, but the Order was his creation, and Sirius knew he would be as loyal to it as he ever had. Snape or no Snape, he had no other option.

"I'll join," he decided suddenly, stepping forward. "I'll do whatever I can for the Order, Dumbledore."

"Me as well," said Remus, resolute by his side as always.

With a rumble of murmurs and whispers, the rest of the crowd voiced their agreement and pledged their support one by one. Dumbledore nodded to each of them, looking gratified but unsurprised. He'd known they all would join as soon as he'd asked them to. Sirius felt a strange sense of warmth within him at the thought of it. The Order, like its namesake, was rising up from the ashes of its death, as strong and sure as it had been before.

"We'll need some more people," Dumbledore said once everyone had quieted down. "We lost too many last time…Alastor, you told me you had some contacts at the Ministry?"

"I might be able to convince a few Aurors," Mad-Eye rasped. "Kingsley Shacklebolt—you know him, Dumbledore—and I've got a young one I trained up myself; she's a Metamorphmagus, could prove quite useful, I think."

"I know Bill and Charlie will join, too," Molly Weasley said, referring to her oldest sons. "I don't want them in danger, of course, but…well, they're old enough to make up their own minds."

"And Harry, of course," added Sirius.

All the eyes in the room instantly swept over to him. Molly in particular looked horrified at the suggestion.

"He's fourteen," Remus pointed out softly.

"He's the one who saw all this happen in the first place, right? If anyone's got a right to join the Order, it's him. We wouldn't be having this discussion at all if he hadn't survived the graveyard." Sirius felt his muscles tense defensively as the doubtful stares remained fixed on him. "He at least deserves the option."

"Underage wizards will not be allowed in the Order," Dumbledore said firmly. "Even Harry. He has done enough—we adults can take care of the rest."

Sirius very much doubted that his godson would see it that way, but he knew better than to argue with Dumbledore. He could talk things over with Harry later.

"Harry is returning to his aunt and uncle's for the summer holidays tomorrow," the headmaster continued. "We know that Voldemort is after him, and likely the Ministry as well—I would like to have one of you standing guard near his address at all times until we see fit to move him."

"Move him where?" Remus asked.

"That's a good question." Once more Dumbledore glanced around the room. "We need a new headquarters for the Order—I'm afraid the location of Larkspur Manor has been compromised in the years since we last used it. We need a place that is simple enough to conceal, somewhere the Death Eaters would not suspect."

The room dissolved into murmured brainstorming; Hogwarts could not be used, of course, and it was too risky to set up headquarters in any member's known residence. But there was one place, a home that happened to have been left in Sirius's name…certainly no Death Eater would expect it to be associated with the Order.

Sirius had sworn he'd never go back there; even the thought made him want to throw up his insides. But it was his, and it was for the Order…Remus would have done it, he knew, and so would James.

So he lifted his chin and nodded sharply to Dumbledore, feeling his stomach roiling as he did. "I have an idea," he said.