James had been so preoccupied with catching and keeping Lily's attention that he had practically forgotten about Voldemort. He hadn't really forgotten, but he had decided that it could wait; how much could he do while at school anyway?
By the next week, however, Dumbledore had sent both James and Lily a personal request for a meeting, so, happy to take a break from the homework they had been working on for four straight hours, they dragged their feet to the Headmaster's office.
"Why are you so tired?" laughed Lily, noting that James was practically falling asleep while waiting for Dumbledore to let them in.
"I have never in my life done this much homework," he whined. "Four straight hours, what the hell was I thinking?"
"It's what you should be used to doing," said Lily pointedly.
"Probably," he agreed. "No one ever used to make me do it though. Oh well, there are pros and cons to being your friend, I guess."
He said the word "friend" a bit mockingly, as if it were a preposterous fact that he was only that and nothing more.
"Ah, I have been waiting for you!" exclaimed Dumbledore, opening the door and walking out to shake their hands. He forgot to stoop, so the top of the doorway knocked over his pointed wizard's hat, and he wittily commented, "I really don't think I'm done growing yet…It's been over a hundred years, but who knows, I find it increasingly harder to fit through this contraption."
Lily and James smiled; over one hundred years and Dumbledore might have been classified as slightly senile, but he was still one of the funniest people they knew.
"Pumpkin juice? Butterbeer? Coffee?" As Dumbledore mentioned each refreshment, a cup of it appeared in mid-air and subsequently disappeared when it was not chosen. "All right then, just water."
Lily and James grabbed the glasses of water which had just begun pounding them in the head and took a few sips to satisfy them.
"I understand you've got quite the magnificent amount of work, so I will not keep you too long," began Dumbledore. "I realize that with your attendance at school right now, you will not be regular members of the Order of the Phoenix. If you are so inclined, however, I would ask you to visit me regularly so I can pass on information to you that we can discuss."
When James and Lily nodded their inclination to do so, Dumbledore continued.
"Even that discussion will be limited. To be honest, there is not a tremendous amount of work you can do now, but I must educate you about the goings-on in the outside world so that you are prepared when you graduate next summer.
"If you choose to do so, you will work closely with the Order after you complete your year at school, and most of your tasks will have to do with collecting information about Voldemort and his accomplices. We cannot do anything without sufficient knowledge."
"I have a question, sir," started James. "If you want us to work for the Order straight away, when will we have time to do our Auror training?"
"Ah, that brings us to the next point of discussion," sighed Dumbledore. "I would have to ask you to set aside your dreams of studying for that profession for the time being. Would that affect your decision to join in any way?"
"Of course not," replied Lily quickly. "I mean, it's practically the same thing, isn't it? And you probably need us right away…being an official Auror can wait."
"Are you of the same opinion as Miss Evans, James?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well, then. Do we want to meet at this time each week? I believe this is Wednesday at nine."
"Okay," James and Lily agreed.
"Until the next time, I would like you only to observe your fellow students," requested Dumbledore. "It may seem like an absurd request, but I do believe Voldemort is doing his recruiting beginning with people of very young ages. If you notice anything peculiar, be sure to let me know."
"One more question," added James. "Are we allowed to invite Sirius and Remus?"
"Not Peter?" grinned Dumbledore.
"Well…Fine, I guess him too. He just doesn't seem the type," said James uncomfortably.
"James, whomever you decide to trust is absolutely fine with me," Dumbledore confided. "I, indeed, trust you. Now have a pleasant evening."
"Good night." Lily and James bade Dumbledore farewell and turned to descend the stairs.
-----
When Dumbledore told the Head Boy and Girl that Voldemort chose followers who were at a young age, they really hadn't believed him. If they would have seen what was transpiring in Peter Pettigrew's room at the time that they had been speaking with the Headmaster, there would not have been a single doubt in their minds about what he had told them.
Peter had been attempting to begin reading all the books sprawled out across his bed when a rather large, black, and formidable owl flew through the open window and landed on Remedial Potions: Because It's Not For Everyone. Confused as to who could possibly be sending him a letter, he eagerly tore it off the owl as it glared at him with red eyes. Unrolling the piece of parchment, he began to read:
Mr. Pettigrew,
Regulus Black has recently informed me that you may be a useful follower for my purposes. My name is Lord Voldemort, and from what I have heard, you have not attained a respectable social or academic position at Hogwarts. I can help you, Pettigrew. Many have found that I offer stability, wealth, and immeasurable power if they just place themselves under my command. You know it was I who disposed of your friend's parents, and the same need not happen to you if you help me. I only expect your help in a stealthy manner, for I wish to infiltrate Hogwarts and discover what Albus Dumbledore is planning. Your prompt response is required.
Peter stared at the parchment for a minute or two. Voldemort did not even bother disguising this letter or covering up Regulus Black's name. It was as if he didn't care who knew or whom Peter told. It was as if he just expected Peter to help him without a contradicting word. This was not a request, it was a demand.
It was true, anyway. James, Sirius, and Remus were never too hospitable to Peter anyway. They allowed him to tag along, but he was never considered a talented Marauder like they were. Sometimes the jealousy stung. Everyone worshipped James and Sirius. It just wasn't fair.
And while Pettigrew felt sympathetic when James' parents had been murdered, he could quickly get over betraying him if there was power to come out of it. This could be his chance to propel himself into the world, not to become a useless fool like he would be bound to when he graduated. You will never amount to anything! echoed his mother's voice in his mind. You can come back to this family when you have made something of yourself.
He could do it now. It was all so easy. He would help Voldemort, join ranks with all his powerful accomplices, and be rewarded for his unwavering loyalty.
He began to write with a shaky hand.
My Lord,
Any services which I could provide for you would be beyond my imaginable dreams. Please let me know what I can do.
Peter Pettigrew
James and Lily would never know that in that moment, Peter Pettigrew had sold them to their death.
The traitor clambered down the boys' dormitory stairs and out of the portrait hole towards the Slytherin Common Room. He encountered Regulus Black only a corridor's length away from the Gryffindor Common Room, however, sitting up against a statue, hidden by his curtain of black hair and submerged in a massive book.
"I just got a letter," said Peter stupidly, standing a few feet away from Regulus.
"Not so loud," whispered Black. "I assume you agreed?"
"Yes," breathed Peter, still in disbelief at what he had just done. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"You do nothing, just wait until-"
"Wormtail?" called James urgently, quickly approaching them with Lily at his side. "Wormtail, what are you doing, talking to Black?"
"I was just…I don't know," lied Peter sheepishly.
"Let's get to the Common Room right now," said James, anger etched in every line of his face, jerking Peter up by the arm and practically dragging him down the corridor.
-----
Lily kept her mouth shut as they made their way back to the Common Room. She could ask questions later.
James hauled Peter to where Sirius and Remus were sitting in the Common Room and let him go with a loud thump!.
"This prick was talking to Regulus when I found him."
"Wormtail!" roared Sirius, glancing down shiftily when a number of people looked at him. "You know we never talk to him."
Hardly able to contain herself, Lily burst out, "Wait…Is that your brother?"
"Yes," spat Sirius, obviously wishing he wasn't.
"The way you mentioned him the other day, I thought he was much older! And why have I never seen him around here?"
"He's two years younger than I am but potent enough to destroy this place," said Sirius bitterly. "We decided to keep out of each other's lives at Hogwarts. Hell, he doesn't even talk to anyone."
"I can't believe he's been here for five years and I've never seen him," said Lily, still in awe.
"The point is, Wormtail," roared Sirius, "I feel like I'm treating you like a child, but no good things will come from talking to him. If you want to, though, consider your friendship with us over."
"No, no," spluttered Peter. "I won't do it again…honest."
Standing up quite shakily, Pettigrew made his way back to his room, now quite sure that the agreement he had made earlier that day was a good one.
-----
"So…" began James awkwardly, staring at the ceiling. "I've never planned a ball before."
"James, I think the vast majority of people, including every single Head Boy and Girl before us, can claim the same thing," retorted Lily. "We're not supposed to know how; we just kind of figure it out."
"Well, that's reassuring."
"Let's make a list of different categories we'll need to think about," started Lily in a businesslike manner, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill. "Food, decorations…"
"Music!" James added the most obvious thing, apparently under the impression that he was contributing something worthwhile to the planning.
"I think decorations will be the most difficult, so let's start with that first," proposed Lily. "Clearly, it will be in a Halloween theme."
"Live bats!" exclaimed James.
"That's creepy," disagreed Lily. "They'd take a shit on everyone, and I doubt anyone, least of all the girls, would appreciate that."
"Fine."
"We could drape the walls with black and orange fabric," suggested Lily. "And we could charm the ceiling so that it's a full moon and there are silhouettes of witches on brooms."
"That wouldn't have the same effect as a real full moon, would it?" asked James.
"I don't suppose it would," replied Lily. "What does it matter anyway? Hiding any werewolves around the castle, are we?"
"No," answered James quickly. "Of course not."
"Well that's a good start for that," Lily said. "On to food."
"Would it really be any different from our normal feasts?" James questioned. "I mean the house elves make it all."
"Probably not…so we could just ask them to do the same thing and suggest they add in a few Halloween surprises."
"Like cakes in the shape of bats!" shouted out James.
"What the hell is your obsession with bats?" laughed Lily.
"I don't know…but I sure am going batty for you!" joked James.
Lily blinked.
"Wow, has your sense of humor changed at all since you were eleven years old?"
"Not particularly, no," James retorted.
A few seconds passed before they both burst out laughing.
"Any idea about music?" Lily asked after a minute, after she and James had regained their composure. "Do we get a live band?"
"Ah…let's just ask Dumbledore who the Heads have hired before because I'm getting bored of this already."
Lily opened her mouth to protest his sloth, but she quickly decided against it and replied, "Very well."
"We've got two weeks until then, anyway," James reassured her. "Now what do you say to more banister sliding?"
-----
That's all for that chapter, folks! I just wanted to thank everyone who has reviewed so far:
Lizzar
Georgenia
Four and Twenty Blackbirds
Brianna Katelyn Evans
thestralwhisperer
Sweet or Sour
Lady of Queenscove
forevernah
Uh oh…I love you guys for it, but I'm a horribly selfish review-seeker so I want MORE MORE MORE! Haha well okay…maybe I'm not that desperate…but I really like to know if I'm going in the right direction, if you have any questions, or if you've got any ideas. So review! Thanks a bunch!
-Marina