Saturday 6th January 1979

Hogwarts Castle, 14:00

Regulus thought he would never say that he was glad to be back at Hogwarts but here he was. Glad to be back.

Glad because being at Hogwarts meant that he no longer had to listen to his extended family talk absolute nonsense to each other.

Between the stupid gossip about the style and cut of people's robes to completely inaccurate knowledge of the Dark Lord's doings, Regulus didn't know what was worse. Sure, the inaccuracies were annoying, especially since he knew so much better but there was nothing so mind numbing as being caught between his aunts and his great aunt's arguments over what was fashionable. All their opinions were out of date anyway. Not that he would dare say that to them. He wasn't stupid.

And then, of course, there were all the conversations about Narcissa and Bellatrix and about the status of their families. Not their blood status, because that was obvious, but about the literal status of their families. Or, rather, their lack of one. Neither of them had given birth to a child or rather a son despite them knowing that it was imperative that they do so. It literally was their only job. Though, Bellatrix would definitely disagree on that.

Even Leila Lestrange, or should he say Avery now, was pregnant. She would be giving birth in September he believed? Regulus didn't know, that sort of thing wasn't important to him.

Now, of course, Regulus knew that his cousins' lack of children was a problem and all that. Obviously. Heirs were very important. But Narcissa and Bellatrix weren't Black's anymore. Their lack of children was a Lestrange and Malfoy problem. Not a Black one like some nosy aunts liked to make it out to be. Though, that might just be because they wanted to get one over his Aunt Druella. She had apparently had a tough time with pregnancies and they were basically saying it was her fault if her daughters were. Though, the bloodtraitor seemed to have no problem with that. Whatever. That was women's business, not his. Regulus wanted nothing to do with talks of babies and anything related to babies. Eurgh, gross.

And last but not least people still had to bring up Sirius. Did he look like he wanted to hear about Sirius, that traitor? No. No he did not if that wasn't clear. Sure, everyone was entitled to speak disapprovingly of him but Regulus had already gone through that at his own house, he didn't need to hear people say the exact same things. They never came up with anything new.

Anyway, the only reason he was coming up in conversation again was because Uncle Alphard left him money and apparently, he was living in a flat in London with those stupid Marauder friends of his. How ridiculous was that? And it wasn't like it was even an impressive amount of money. Regulus, on the other hand, had the entire Black fortune on his side.

Yes, he was very glad to be back at Hogwarts were no one spoke of inane things and he ruled Slytherin House.

"Hey, Regulus!" Alecto came running up to him.

Regulus tried not to curl his lips in disgust. When would either of the Carrows learn that it just wasn't proper to run about like they did? Even children behaved better.

"Carrow."

"You wouldn't believe what the third years have done."

Probably something stupid. Apparently, it didn't matter what house you were in, thirteen- and fourteen-year-old were incredibly stupid and getting stupider by the year. Regulus was sure that he wasn't as stupid when he was thirteen. His friends on the other hand...

"What have they done?"

"Well, they wanted to show their support and remember what we did a few months ago?"

Regulus sighed. Oh, he knew exactly what Alecto talking about.

"And they did the same?"

"Well..."

That wasn't a good sign. Alecto was shifty at the best of times but when he was actively avoiding answering like this... Regulus sighed heavily.

"What do you need me to fix?"

Wednesday 10th January 1979

Marauder Flat, 19:00

You know, there was one problem that no one ever mentioned about sharing a flat. Just one. A small one. Well, maybe not small but Remus wouldn't exactly call it big either. And he supposed that it was worse for him because, well, of his enhanced senses. Which were mostly a blessing but in cases like these it was very much a curse. Even more so than their dorms after a strenuous Quidditch practice. Yeah. That bad. Worse even because this involved smells and sounds. A lot of sounds. He was just glad he couldn't see what was happening because he really would need to obliviate himself if that was the case. He hoped that it would never be the case. Remus shuddered at the thought. It was even horrible just thinking about it.

And now he was actively thinking about it. Great. Just great. He had almost managed to distract himself there.

You see, when your friend had a girlfriend (or whatever they called themselves, honestly did it even matter?), and you were both very much consenting adults then certain things tended to happen. Things that Remus really did not need to hear in the flat. Or at all.

But of course, he was hearing it because his extremely idiotic best friend had forgotten about the existence of silencing charms. Or at least how to use them. Which was just rude. No one needed to hear that.

"Oh, Merlin!" came through the walls.

Remus gave them a disgusted look. He didn't need to hear that either.

A thudding noise came from the room. It was very rhythmic. Kind of like... Oh. Right.

He ran a hand over his face and sighed. It sounded like they weren't going to be done anytime soon. Well, he refused to be run out of his own flat. Casting a quick silencing charm of his own at the door, Remus picked up his book from the mantlepiece and lay claim to an armchair.

This was as good a time as any to finish reading his book. He hadn't had the time recently and it was a good one.

And if he somehow managed to embarrass his friends as the came out then all the better.

Now, where was his hot chocolate?

Monday 15th January 1979

Longbottom Manor, 21:00

Alice rolled over in bed and winced. Ow. She shouldn't have done that. That was a bad idea.

There was one thing she really didn't like about training to become an Auror and that was just how grimy and sweaty she got at the end of the day. And not just her. Everyone. It didn't matter how much deodorant they had on or how many air freshening spells they cast. Everyone very much stank at the end of the day and there was nothing they could do about it. Alice did not like to stink. And the bruises, don't get her started on the bruises.

It didn't matter how good you were, you were going to get hit by spells, you were going to fall. And both of those things resulted in bruises. A lot of bruises. Bruises that were very painful until they healed up. At one point Alice was all the colours of the rainbow. Impressive but she could very much do without them.

Not just because they were painful, which they were, but because each bruise normally meant that she had messed something up. She didn't want to mess anything up. Didn't want to make mistakes. She wanted to be good at this. Wanted to prove herself. Prove to herself and to anyone else that doubted that she could become an Auror. She had seen the looks on some of the instructors' faces near the start of the year.

She was proud to say that they didn't look at her like that anymore. In fact, they seemed to really like her. She got a lot of 'nice jobs' from them - the instructors didn't use 'well done or 'good work'. Too childish or something. Alice didn't always understand their reasoning behind things like that.

"What's up?" Frank asked.

"Huh?" Alice hadn't thought that she had said anything out loud.

"You sighed heavily."

"Oh. I was just annoyed by the number of bruises I had," she explained. "They're from such stupid mistakes."

"It just shows you're learning," he said, hand hovering over one on her side. "Do they hurt?"

"Not really."

Well, that one on her side did if she twisted too suddenly but she wasn't going to mention that. She didn't want to complain.

"So, it won't hurt if I-" then he just pressed his hand right on the bruises!

Alice yelped and shifted away. Frank gave her a concerned look.

"It's fine," she assured him. "It's really not that bad."

"You're in pain."

"Because it's a horrid bruise. I'll live. I'll put some bruise balm on it before we fall asleep."

"I'll get it now," said Frank, getting up and swinging his legs out of bed before she could stop him.

He grabbed the tub from the top of their drawers and unscrewed the lid. Giving her am uncertain look, he held it out to her. She took it off him and dabbed it on. She didn't want someone else, even Frank, to do it. It was actually quite tender. Especially after being pushed on.

"Urgh," she said, scrunching up her nose. "Why do bruises have to be such a horrid colour?"

They did not look good against her skin.

"Well, I like them on you," he said.

She didn't see how she could be attractive covered in bruises but apparently Frank thought so. He was kind of gazing at her body in awe and she definitely wasn't going to be complaining about that.

His fingers brushed against her stomach, making her jump.

"You've got muscles here," he said admiringly. "You're all toned."

"I am?"

She probably shouldn't so surprised. Auror Training involved an awful lot of physical work. It wasn't just casting spells and brewing Potions. So of course, there would be changes to her body. She had always been slim, obviously (her mother had drummed it into her that no one liked a fat girl), but this was different. As tired and as achy as it made her, she also found herself feeling fit and healthy. She liked that. And it looked like Frank did too.

Oh. She squirmed as he started pressing kisses to her stomach. That was certainly not a proper place to kiss someone. But as he started spiralling around and her toes curled Alice found herself not really caring.

Thursday 18th January 1979

Hogwarts Grounds, 21:30

"This is so weird," Sirius hissed, looking all around him in awe.

"Sirius, we just left Hogwarts a year ago. Not even!" Lily told him.

"Yeah, but we're not students anymore so it's weird being back."

"I feel the sudden need to straighten my tie," Peter admitted.

"You aren't even wearing one," James said with a laugh.

Peter coloured. "Yeah, well it makes me feel like I do."

"Like Professor McGonagall is about to appear and scold you," Lily said with an understanding smile.

"Exactly."

"Hogwarts looks so strange in the dark," she observed.

Because it was. All cast in shadows and everything. Almost eerie. The windows glinting in the moonlight was definitely creepy.

"Eh, looks pretty normal to me," James shrugged. "What do you think, Moony?"

"Prongs, when we were all out in the grounds at night, I was busy. Remember?" Remus said pointedly.

"Oh yeah..."

Lily snorted and shook her head. Trust her boyfriend to be so used to running around Hogwarts Grounds all night long once a month that he didn't even think it was weird. She loved him anyway.

Hagrid returned to them, he had let them in the gates and had gone ahead to get Professor McGonagall or Professor Dumbledore.

"Yeh can go straight in, Perfesser McGonagall will greet you." He told them.

"Thanks, Hagrid," James said cheerfully. "Not a problem. Don't be strangers now. It was nice to see you all."

They walked right up to the doors which were flung open just before James raised his hand to knock. Though, who would hear a knock against such thick door Lily wouldn't know.

"I see we can't get rid of you," Professor McGonagall said with a fond smile as she let them in.

"Aw, you missed us really," Sirius said teasingly.

"It's good to see you, Professor," Remus added.

"It feels like it's been so long," Lily concurred.

The look on Professor McGonagall's face showed genuine warmth.

"It's good to see all of you but let me get you up to the Headmaster's Office before any prying eyes see you."

It was weird to be led through a building that they all knew so well. It def8ntiely felt different when you were no longer a student.

"Ah, welcome, welcome," Professor Dumbledore said with a beaming smile as they entered. "Please, sit."

It was just then that Lily noticed that there were multiple comfortable chairs in the office. She was pretty sure that they weren't normally there.

They were all offered lemon drops, as usual. Lily took one, she always took one. Dumbledore had excellent taste in sweets. She noticed that Remus turned his nose up at them but that was understandable, he was their resident chocolate fiend.

"Now, I know that the wait has been long but life is busy and the days are short," he said. "And just to be absolutely clear. You all wish to join the Order of the Phoenix?"

Without hesitation, Lily nodded and could see everyone else did as well. Peter, in fact, was very enthusiastic about it.

If possible, his smile got even wider. "Excellent. Just excellent. And you are fully aware of the responsibilities that this will entail?"

Well, he hadn't told them explicitly what they would be doing. Just that it was work "for the War effort" and that it could be dangerous. Which honestly sounded like an extension of James, Sirius and Marlene's jobs. And Alice's as well but she wasn't an Order member.

"Will there be any clashes with what we do for the Aurors?" James asked suddenly, indicating to himself, Sirius and Marlene.

"There should be very little if any," Dumbledore assured him. "Our work parallels that of the Aurors and Hit Wizards. A lot of it is reconnaissance work."

James looked at the older man for a moment before nodding his acceptance.

"Well, there is a meeting tonight. In about fifteen minutes, to be exact," he said cheerfully.

They all stared at him. Lily suspected that he already somehow knew that they were going to accept. Dumbledore was like that. It was a but creepy.

"And we can come?" James checked; Lily could hear the eagerness in his voice.

"Of course! You are now Order members."

Order members. That sounded nice. Lily smiled. Yeah, she liked the sound of that.

"Cool," Marlene said.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I assume you will all be attending then?"

"Oh, yes!" James blurted out before any of them could respond.

Of course, they were all nodding so it didn't really matter.

"Brilliant! I will introduce you all and then I'm sure you will want to stay afterwards and get to know everyone better. Business before pleasure and all that."

Lily suddenly felt like she wasn't ready for this. Like she liked the idea of being in the Order but going to a meeting and taking part just freaked her out for some reason.

Then James' fingers laced with hers and she looked up at him in confusion. He just gave her hand a squeeze.

"It's going to be great," he said assuredly.

And, you know what? It kind of was. Interesting was the right word for it though most of it went over her head, admittedly but it was only their first meeting. People here were already established and knew what they were doing. And Sirius' and James' squeak and seeing Auror Moody present at it was kind of funny.

Saturday 27th January 1979

Longbottom Manor, 09:00

"Don't forget Mary is visiting today," Alice said to Frank as they ate their breakfast together.

She really loved mornings like this. Just the two of them and their food and a newspaper and a good cup of tea. Just being together. It really was lovely. The best sort of thing. It was so domestic and family like. Now this is what married life was all about in her opinion.

"Is her husband coming over?" Frank asked, looking over the top of the Daily Prophet. "Oh, what's his name..."

"Frank," she said reproachfully.

He was doing that on purpose. It wasn't Herbert's fault that he kind of faded into the background. He wasn't a strong personality like her Frank.

"I genuinely don't know his name. I can never remember it."

She rolled her eyes and didn't say anything. Let him make a fool of himself if he must. He was the fool for forgetting a name of someone important to her. Well, Mary was important to her but that meant he should know Mary's husband's name!

"Oh, come on, give me a hint," he pleaded.

"No."

He pouted. Which was normally pretty irresistible to her but not now.

"I'm going to get ready," she said instead, standing up from the table.

She wanted to look nice for Mary. And for herself if she was being honest, except for Christmas and New Year (which had been pretty tame compared to years past because of this War) she hadn't been dressing in nice clothes at all. You couldn't when you were doing training and then she went home and changed into her pyjamas. This was going to be fun.

Except that she had forgotten how exhausting it was trying to choose the right outfit. She was seriously out of practice which was ridiculous because either had only been a few months and she had managed to dress herself for the holiday season fine. Why was dressing for meeting Mary so difficult?

Oh, this dress was pretty, when did she get that? It didn't matter, it would do.

"Missus Mary is being here," a Longbottom Elf told her, suddenly appearing next to her wardrobe as she finished buttoning the buttons.

Alice wasn't sure of her name; she hadn't learned all the names of the ones Frank had yet.

"I'll be right down," Alice said with a kind smile. "Is Herbert with her?"

"No," she shook her head, ears wobbling "Missus Mary is being alone."

Well, that was Frank of the hook unfortunately. But she was very much on it now.

Alice raced down to see her best friend and they spent a good twenty minutes exclaiming over each other, complimenting their outfits and catching up on their respective families. Everyone seemed to be doing well, despite the worry of War and attacks.

"I don't see why we had to go so long without doing something like this," Mary said with a sniff as she settled back in her chair with an iced bun.

"You know I'm working, Mary," she tried to say patiently.

The offended look she got implied that it didn't come out as patiently as it should have.

"Exactly," Mary sniffed. "That's the problem."

"We can still meet up. It just has to be on my days off."

And days where she was completely exhausted from training but it would do no good to bring that up.

"You shouldn't even be working."

Oh, not this again. Didn't Mary understand? Actually, it was very obvious that she didn't but still. She should at least try to.

"But I want to. It's interesting. And I'm doing something."

It was nice to find something she was good at. She wasn't helpless.

"But you don't need to work."

Alice would argue that there was a need for her to work. There was a need for Aurors and she was capable of it so she needed to work. But that wasn't what Mary meant.

"Well, no," she replied with a frown. "It's not like we need the money or anything."

They really didn't. Her parents had given the Longbottoms a generous dowry and that was nothing to say of the Longbottom fortune. But it was crass to speak of money like that. Mary knew that. She was just as well bred; she just wasn't acting like it at the moment

"Then what's the point?"

Alice sighed. This was going to be a long visit.

Thursday 1st February 1979

Hufflepuff Table, Great Hall, 08:00

Tonks drummed her fingers nervously on the table as she waited. And waited.

"Aren't you going to eat that?" A fourth-year student asked through a stuffed mouth of food.

Ew. Why were teenage boys so gross? Young teenage boys in particular. He was pointing at the plate of scrambled eggs she was holding in her other hand.

"What? No."

He gave her a look and swallowed his food down (thankfully) before going on to ask, "Can I have it then?"

"Sure. Here you go." She said, absentmindedly handing the plate over.

"Weirdo." She heard him mutter as he returned to her seat but she couldn't really bring herself to care.

Anyway, it was tame compared to the usual insults she got. Weirdo was a compliment to her, who wanted to be normal? Not her. She had decided over Christmas. That's why she was almost always sporting her bright pink hair. It was a pretty cool colour, you had to admit.

But away from nicknames, stupid or otherwise. There were more important things going on here! Like the fact she was waiting for a very important letter. The most important letter. Her Auror letter. Well, not an acceptance letter or anything - she needed to get her NEWT results to be properly accepted but she was waiting on the information pack. Not the one Hogwarts gave you when you in fifth year that was all about how great and exciting the Auror Program was. No, this was the official one. The one with the actual application forms and all sorts of other information. The information that wasn't all sunshine and daisies. The one that listed the dangers. The risks. It was great. Another step forward in the whole becoming an Auror process.

She was just feeling so impatient for it to happen. She couldn't help it. It was the last half of her final year - there was March, April, May and June and then she would be done. Four more months and there would be no more school and a lot more work to do.

She wanted this more than anything. She really did.

Her stomach growled. She also really wanted fed, apparently.

Of course, as soon as she spooned some baked beans onto her plate a Ministry Owl dumped a very heavy package next to it.

It was here!

Tuesday 6th February 1979

Marauder Flat, 21:00

Peter came into their little kitchen to see James sitting at it, staring intently at a rose.

"You still giving Lily one of those?" He asked, tapping the kettle with his wand to get it to boil.

It was pretty cool, being bright red and all. Apparently, it mimicked what the muggles used in their kitchens. But theirs ran on electricity, of course, and not magic. Still, he liked the colours you could get in them. Far more happy than basic metal.

"James?"

"Huh, what?" James came out of his stupor. "Sorry, Wormtail."

"Are you still giving Lily those secret admirer roses that you got her all those years at Hogwarts."

"It's kind of a tradition now..." James said. "It didn't feel right not getting one."

Peter tried not to roll his eyes too hard. Trust James to come up with an explanation like that. He could get Lily literally anything but he was always going to give her a silk flower. It was a bit silly, wasn't it?

"Well, at least she knows who it's from now," Peter said with a sigh.

He knew it drove her crazy at school. Or, at least it drove Marlene crazy and Lily went along with it. Then he noticed James' sheepish look.

"She does know that it was you, doesn't she?"

"Well..." James scratched the back of his head.

"You never told her?"

"Um. I'm not sure? I mean, I still left her one last Valentine's Day and I can't remember if I owned up to it..."