(I'm not going to lie. I simply put in that last chapter because I had found it lying around when I excavated the remnants of this story. It's been nearly a year since I last touched this thing, but I got two reviews, and those certainly inspired me to pick this back up again! I have awful habits with fanfiction. I shouldn't be allowed to start any more unless I've finished a whole story (which never happens). I've actually completely forgotten where I'm going with this one, but I'll try my best. This is the summer of Harry Potter Mania, after all!

Oh, and Eternalwords, I don't think Lily was commenting about his letter, but rather his personality in general. I'm terribly sorry if that was confusing!! I'm going to have to work on my editing a bit… Thanks so much for reviewing, though, and you, too, bewareoftrips!!!)

(Friday of the Second Week of July - Year 1)

Five - The Meeting

The scenery on the way to Hogwarts was somehow foreign. The trees, the rocks, the hills, the mountainside, the forest... Each was painfully familiar, and yet it all seemed different now. It was silly, James knew, to feel this way, as the castle came into view. They had just been in this school three weeks ago.

Hogwarts had been his home- their home- for the past seven years. James had begun to miss it fervently the second he had boarded that final Hogwarts Express train, bound for London. He had wanted to return the moment he left.

Now, he felt as if he were returning too soon. It was as if this were all being rushed; as if his return to school wouldn't be as joyful and as… innocent as it could have been.

He, Lily, and Sirius sat in one carriage; Remus, Peter, Dorcas, and Marlene were in the other. The group had all gathered at Hogsmeade as planned. Sure enough, those carriages had been waiting.

James glanced at his wristwatch. He smiled, "Well, it's 5:43. I'm assuming we'll be at Hogwarts in approximately four minutes."

Sirius laughed. "Dumbledore's always been a man right on his money, hasn't he?"

Lily, however, was gazing intently out of the window.

James put his hand on top of hers. Startled, she turned, but smiled.

"What's on your mind?" He asked.

"Obviously you, my dear James," Sirius answered, in his best female voice. James rolled his eyes. Lily cast Sirius an annoyed glance.

"Actually, I was still trying to determine just what exactly we are being gathered here for." Lily sighed. "I've been turning my brain inside out these past two days, going insane."

"Why are you worrying so much?" Sirius teased, patting Lily on the shoulder. "We are going to find out in simply a mere dinner's time away."

"Oh, please," James scoffed. "Was it not your face sitting in my fire just yesterday listing all possible reasons behind it all?"

Sirius smiled. "Jamesy, Jamesy, Jamesy. Today's a new day. And today, I have decided to be patient and humble. Aren't I just wonderful today?"

"Humble?" Lily chuckled. James's heart soared. At least she was laughing, now. There was nothing worse than joking around with Sirius when Lily was in a sour mood.

"Well, patient at least." Sirius winked. "And would you look at that, we're here. 5:47 on the nose. How on earth does he do it?"

Hogwarts castle. There it was. A new feeling took over James. A feeling… A feeling of importance…

Dinner was torture. Dumbledore had insisted upon having a usual feast, with all of its courses. The food was terrific, yes, but time was moving at a snail's pace.

However, at least they had company. Apparently, the group of recent graduates were not the only guests Dumbledore had invited.

A strange assortment of around 15 other wizards and witches had been assembled in the Great Hall by the time the group had entered the castle. Many were familiar. Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, Dedalus Diggle, as well as a few familiar faces of people who graduated a few years earlier. Many, were not… including an exceptionally tall, old witch, and a zany-haired wizard who had Dumbledore's twinkling eyes.

Dumbledore had encouraged all of them to sit at the solitary long table, and to eat. By now, James had had his fill alongside his friends, had met several of the other guests, and was eager to hear of what this was all about. Continuing with small talk as they ate was like picking daisies by a gold mine; everyone could tell something bigger was near, and everything else anyone said seemed pointless.

As though reading James's mind, Dumbledore rose at the end of the table. The room became eerily still.

Dumbledore's voice wasn't booming, but his words rang strong beneath the starring ceiling. "We are at a time where dangers lurk behind every door, where strength in magic alone is not enough to ensure survival. As you all know, the Dark Lord Voldemort is on the rise." At his name, several members of the crowd flinched. Dumbledore acknowledged this.

"See! The magical community is giving him power, even through small instances, such as the fear of his name. The Ministry is a mess. Between maintaining a normal lifestyle of wizarding kind and attempting to find and destroy this source of evil, it is losing control. In some cases, they are making the situation easier for Voldemort than harder. This is exactly what Voldemort wants."

Murmurs of agreement erupted.

"He is gaining followers. People are joining him either out of agreement or out of fear. Friends, family, neighbors… Voldemort is capable of taking a hold anyone." Several members had grown terribly pale, including Peter and Sirius.

"He is instilling fear into the hearts of all. He is destroying anyone who deters his path to his ultimate goal: complete reign. I have chosen you all here for a reason. I believe that each of you holds the spirit to face him. And together, we will prove to be a match not even Voldemort will be able to withstand. We will work secretly, beneath his gaze, and our goal is to stop the spreading of Voldemort's dark reign through any and all means possible.

"Together, all of our different talents will be aimed at one goal. I have trust and faith in each of you, and I know that you are all capable of doing what is right. Each of you is capable of leading the fight against darkness.

"I am asking you all to join a new Order, an Order stronger than the Ministry, stronger than anything the Death Eaters have ever faced. The Order of the Phoenix."

The room was dead silent. James's heart was racing. Nobody was reacting at all. At last, the odd-looking man with Dumbledore's eyes stood, gleaming with determination.

Hagrid, McGonagall, Diggle, the tall woman; one by one each of them stood. James took Lily by the hand, and looked Sirius in the eye. The three synonymously stood, followed by a nodding Remus, and finally Peter.

This was it, then.

The fight against darkness had officially begun.