DISLAIMER: JK Rowling is the genius.
I hope you all like this chapter :) I can take constructive criticism, so review if you want.
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"The Order of the Pheonix?" I asked perplexedly. "No, sir, I don't think I have..."
Dumbledore continued to gaze at me for a few moments with a measuring expression on his face.
"You are close friends with Nymphadora Tonks, is that right?" He asked pleasantly.
"Yes, sir."
"Yes, she has informed me that you believe Harry Potter's accounts of Voldemort's return. Which is why I came to ask you a specific question...ah, but first I must explain myself."
I shifted on my feet and realized I was still standing, looking down on the professor curiously. Drifting to the side, I sat myself in an armchair across from Dumbledore, brushing some hair out of my eyes.
"That, er, would be great," I said meekly. He gave me an encouraging smile and I returned it with a wane one of my own.
"The Order of the Pheonix is a secret society consisting of witches and wizards who wish to fight against Lord Voldemort," He began calmly. "The organization was in effect the last time he was powerful. It is exceptionally dangerous to be involved, and many, many have died. James and Lily Potter were both in the Order while they were alive." I felt my eyes widen at that, but kept my gasp of surprise inside. Dumbledore continued as if he hadn't noticed. "Now that Voldemort has returned, the Order has reassembled and has been recruiting the most trusted witches and wizards who wish to join the fight."
I blinked at him. "Recruiting?" I asked blankly.
"Yes," Dumbledore said slowly. "Which brings me to my question." He stopped, waiting for me to indicate that I was ready for him to go on. I nodded warily. "Saylie, I would like to ask if you would be interested in joining the fight against Voldemort and everything he stands for by becoming a member of the Order of the Pheonix."
I sat silently in surprise for a minute. I had felt the question coming on when he had talked about recruiting for the Order, but that did not prepare me to give an answer.
"You - you want me to join?" I asked, clarifying, although he had been quite clear in his speech.
"Yes, I would. But, Saylie, if you decide to decline the position in the Order, I must have your vow that you will not breathe a word of this top-secret information to anyone." He said carefully, stressing the last word.
In that second, I made my decision. It had been ridiculous really, for me to even consider the alternative. My mind jumped back to my best friend in our Hogwart's years, Lily, alive and happy. I felt a jolt of rage in my stomach at what Voldemort had done. Breaking up families, twisting the bonds between friends, the lies, the murders, the devestation he'd caused everywhere. All of it stacked into neat piles for everyone to see, and the Ministry was ignoring it all. Voldemort would continue on his rampage, bringing fear wherever he went and with the Ministry doing nothing to alert the public, something had to be done. It was only right.
With fury, passion and sorrow ridden in my voice, I said to the waiting professor, "Of course I want to fight. Voldemort must be stopped."
"You will agree to join the Order, keeping its secrets and fighting against Voldemort no matter what?" Dumbledore questioned severely, though his sparkling eyes looked pleased at my words.
"I will," I said fiercly.
"Saylie, you must be positive about this. Absolutely sure. The Order is extremely dangerous, let me make that perfectly clear. I cannot promise that you will be unharmed. You are risking your life by joining the resistance."
"Professor Dumbledore," I said composedly. "With all due respect, sir, I have always known what I've wanted in life. I have always had big plans for myself. But when something unexpected happens, like your best friend being murdered - " My voiced hardened on the word and I clenched my fists irately. " - and you living with the reality that you never got a chance to say goodbye, things change. I've changed. I want nothing more than to fight against Voldemort. Thank you for offering me this position, I'm truly grateful. And I've made my decision. To be honest, I think I made my decision twelve years ago when Lily and James Potter were murdered."
Dumbledore looked at me sharply, but not out of anger. His quick, intelligent look was out of wonder. "Then it's settled," He smiled broadly, gesturing with his arms. "Welcome to the organization, Saylie."
"Thank you," I said, smiling a little at his words. It felt like he was saying, 'welcome to the team.' "Professor, may I ask who else is in the Order?"
"Oh, of course," Dumbledore said. "There are many, though you know quite a few of them. Nymphadora Tonks, for one. Remus Lupin, Molly and Arthur Weasley - " I remembered them both from Hogwarts. I hadn't seen Molly in years. She had always been so sweet when we shared a dormitory. " - Alastor Moody, Mundungus Fletcher, Severus Snape, Sturgis Podmore, Minerva McGonagall - " She had been my favorite professor at Hogwarts. " - Bill and Charlie Weasley, Molly and Arthur's eldest son's - " I had yet to meet any of the Weasley children, though I knew about all seven of them. " - and of course, Sirius Black."
At his name, my heart skipped about five beats, then sputtered back to life and banged against my ribcage painfully. "There are many more than that," Dumbledore said, eyeing my frozen form meaningfully. "But you'll have a chance to meet most - if not all - who have been inducted into the Order."
I nodded slowly, processing. He was in the Order. He was fighting back. Well, of course he was...I hadn't expected anything less from him.
"Saylie," Dumbledore spoke gently, and I looked up to find him watching me carefully. "You must learn to forgive him. The past is the past. Nothing can change that, you know this as well as I do."
"Yes, sir," I said, not quite successful in hiding the apprehension in my tone. "I - I will do my best."
"That's all I ask," He said, smiling again. "Now, we have a place of headquarters set up for the Order. It is under the Fidelius charm, and I am the secret keeper. The location of the headquarters for the Order of the Pheonix is at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place."
"Grimmauld Place?" I repeated, my eyebrows furrowing. "Where is that?"
"It is in London," Said Dumbledore. "It was Sirius' parents house. He inherited it after they passed away and he has graciously offered it as headquarters."
"Oh." I thought back to how many times he'd told me he hated his parents and his Death Eater brother. When he ran away from home, to James's house naturally, he had told me at once by owl. Sirius had vowed never to go back. He must be feeling awful cooped up in that house, especially since he's still on the run.
Why do you care how he feels? I thought savagely. I did care once, I argued with myself. Yes, but did he care for you the way you cared for him? My thoughts wandered aimlessly around my brain, becoming more and more convoluted.
"Saylie, there is another request I wish to ask of you," Dumbledore broke through the haze in my brain.
"And what's that, sir?" I asked, truly curious.
"Now, I know this may not be ideal for you," He continued. "But I feel it might be best if you moved into Grimmauld Place for the time being. Just to be close enough to what is happening in the Order."
"M-move into Grimmauld Place?" I said shrilly. I would be staying in his house? Where he lived? Where he slept, and ate, and hung round? That would mean facing the biggest issue I'd put off for twelve years.
Well, I was in the Order now. And fighting Voldemort meant no time for silly qualms, even old hatred's between once loves. I could not let this affect me.
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "As I said, it would be much easier, seeing as most of the Order stays there anyway. Are there any concerns with my request, Saylie?" He was all too knowing.
I spluttered incoherantly for a moment. I wanted to fight, I wanted to resist the force. Voldemort was coming back to power and we had to act now. I wanted to be a part of this. But how could I face the dangerous circumstances in the Order when I couldn't even face an ex-boyfriend?
No, I thought brutally. I would do this. I would use the dignity and self-confidence I had left to face up to the matter. I could not delay this any longer. And I was so tired of running away.
"No, Professor," I said evenly, mastering my voice. I was quite good at that. "It won't be a problem at all."
"Excellent." Dumbledore positively beamed. "Now, you shall be moving in quite soon, I daresay. Would tomorrow be all right with you?" He looked at me expectantly.
"I will be packed and ready by then," I promised. "Shall I apparate there or...?"
"You may apparate to Wildestone Avenue and walk to Hamilton Square. Simply think hard about Number Twelve Grimmauld Place and it will appear. Knock first, and someone will answer. Unfortunately, I will not be there when you arrive. But I'm sure Nymphadora will be perfectly capable of showing you around." Dumbledore smiled, standing up from his spot on the couch.
"Yes, sir," I said. At least I would have my best friend with me while I did this. That was slightly comforting.
"And now, I must go attend to some other business," Dumbledore swished his cloak around his tall frame as he walked toward the front door, with me following behind. "Thank you for having me, Saylie, and I look forward to working with you in the Order."
"I look forward to it, too, Professor Dumbledore," I said sincerely. "Thank you for coming...and recruiting me into the resistance."
Dumbledore merely smiled in understanding, and with a last wave to me, vanished out my front door, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
xXxXx
I packed all of my things in a daze the next morning, waving my wand at random items around the various rooms. Clothes folded neatly into my suitcases, toiletries piled compactly into cases for storage, and the few pictures I had of Tonks and I, my parents and my sister were carefully wrapped and placed into boxes.
Looking down at my sisters un-moving face in the muggle picture, I wondered if she was looking down on me, at my attempts to be tough and stay fierce. She had been older than me, and she always taught me to stay strong. It became out motto, our obsession: stay strong. No matter what. She had the same dark hair as me, but with my father's dark eyes and rounded features. I looked more like my mother with the angular planes of my face. Kayla and I been very close when we were younger, and during one of the Easter holidays, I came home to spend time with the family during my third year. That was the time we decided to go down to the shore for a week or two. We were going to stay at the beach house we had rented on the coast. But on the way there, a drunken fool blew past a red light and hit us full on. The car had flipped over, killing my parents and sister instantly upon impact. The doctors said it was a miracle I survived without intense brain damage....I wondered what Kayla would say to me now, if she were alive and knew about my...issue. She had always given brutally honest, but exceptionally good advice whenever I needed it.
Suck it up, I imagined she would say. Show him how strong you've become and don't let him get to you. Don't you even dare to let him see you upset. You are Saylie freaking Mitchell and you will not put up with a liar.
Too bad my only sister, who'd given me advice and helped me with my homework, had died in the car crash where I continued to breathe. Since it happened, I always believed it was somehow my fault. I could never get over the fact that it was me who'd stayed alive. When I had been at Hogwarts, one of the reasons Lily and I had connected well to each other was because we were both muggle-born. I knew her sister, Petunia, had hated her for becoming a witch, and I had tried to relate to her situation. But I had never fully understood the pain she felt about her only sister abandoning her...until third year, that is.
Sighing heavily, I charmed my luggage to become feather-light and held them in my hands, looking around one last time at my flat. I wondered when I would see it again. If I would see it again. But I banished that thought as soon as it came, forcing myself to focus on what I was about to do.
I had handed in my resignation for Saint Mungo's yesterday, as I wouldn't have time to be working while staying at Grimmauld Place and being involved in the Order. My colleagues had wished me well, not knowing what I was leaving the hospital to do. But I'd left with a smile, fighting off questions of why I was leaving, and if I would be back. I was the only one who knew I wouldn't be returning to work.
If someone had told me a week ago that I'd be fighting in the resistance against Voldemort while residing in the house of Sirius Black, I would have checked them into Saint Mungo's straight away. But now, I knew I couldn't question my decision. This was the right thing to do, I had never been more sure of anything in my life.
Well, I had thought I'd been sure of something...someone. But that someone had let me down, just like most people often did.
But, stubborn as always, I refused to believe there was anything wrong. I could and I would get through this. Like my daddy had always told me, before he died: you just need to believe.
I hurried into my room to change into the outfit I had picked out for the "special occasion." Tonks and I had always been wild dressers, putting on types of clothing no one else would ever think to wear in public. But today I kept it simple; it was a dreary, wet and rainy day outside, so I decided to brighten it up a bit. I threw on my knee-length sunshine yellow dress with tank top straps. After adding a touch of mascara to my already thick eyelashes, and sticking a charmed, bright sunflower in my dark waves, I put on my yellow ballet flats and deemed myself ready. Looking in the mirror, I thought Tonks would be proud.
Finally, after convincing myself I was truly ready, I concentrated on the street Dumbledore had directed me to and apparated to Wildestone Avenue with a crack.
I found myself on a deserted road with a few abandoned houses here and there. At the very end of the street, there was the hustle and bustle of London traffic and many people walking with umbrella's through the light drizzle. I walked along the side of the road slowly, taking a look around me at the empty bareness of it all.
I tried not to think about what I was about to do as I finally reached the end of the street and stepped into the crowd of citizens walking this way and that. Holding my luggage and gazing around myself, I realized I was at an intersection of two roads that formed a square around the many shops and buildings around it. This, I realized, was Hamilton Square.
On one side of the square, there was only a single row of apartments. Everywhere else was surrounded by muggle shops and businesses. I decided to start at the row of apartments, stepping onto the side of the busy street and gazing up at the buildings, which were separated by very small spaces that formed alleyways coming off of the main road. People pushed beyond me roughly, irritated that I had decided to just stop in the middle of their path. Ignoring them, I took a deep breath.
I can do this, I thought. I just need to believe. I can do this. I can. Stepping closer to the various apartments, I remembered what Dumbledore had told me.
I had to think of the address of the headquarters, that was it. Okay. Simple. Easy. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my frazzled nerves.
Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.
Opening my eyes, I looked in front of me, first anxiously, then in astonishment. A large building had shoved its way between the opening of Number Eleven and Number Thirteen. It grew bigger and bigger, with many windows and a tall door painted black. I glanced around at the surrounding muggles, but they just kept on trucking, oblivious to the structure that was appearing magically between the apartments. Of course they would not be able to see it, but it was still strange.
I walked timidly up the front steps of the now fully-present building. The dark door had a brass knocker upon its surface, hanging in the shape of a serpent. That would have seemed odd if I had not known what Sirius's parents had been like. There was also a doorbell off the side of the doorframe, surrounded by a bronze design. I decided to ring the bell, thinking they wouldn't be able to hear me if I knocked.
Taking several cleansing breaths, I gathered up what was left of my dignity and courage, and pressed my finger to the bell.
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"SAYLIE!" Tonks threw open the foor with a flourish, yelling at the top of her lungs. There were several people behind her, but I couldn't see their faces due to the extreme dimness in the house beyond. I smiled broadly at my friends' genuine excitement, thinking of what an optimist she was.
"Hullo, Tonks," I said, laughing a little.
"Nice outfit," She smirked at me, reaching out for a hug. I embraced her back for a moment then, bent down to retrieve my luggage that I had placed on the porch.
"Thanks," I said coolly. "I knew you'd appreciate it." She snorted, rolling her eyes.
"I'm serious. I approve." She stepped aside, ushering me into the house quickly.
Once inside, I got a scarce glance of many dark objects filling the spaces on the walls, and a large troll leg used as an umbrella stand, before Tonks shut the door and we were engulfed in complete darkness.
"Er," I muttered awkwardly. I could hear others shuffling around the room.
"Hang on." Tonks cursed as I heard her run into an object. There was a sudden snap and a lamp flickered on across the room bathing the area in light. My bright dress seemed to glow in the sudden illumination.
I looked around curiously at the dark paneled walls and set of stairs leading who knows where. I saw a few people looking back at me just as inquisitvely and I smiled wanly at the group. I was about to say something, anything to break the tense silence.
But then the screaming started.
"Mudbloods! Filth! Traitors, all of you! How dare you darken my doorstep! How dare you inhabit my home!" The terrible voice shrieked through the room without stopping, keeping up a constant stream of curses and insults. I turned on the spot, looking for the source of the sound, my eyes finally resting on a large portrait of an intensely ugly woman. She had pale, clammy skin and wide dark eyes that looked slightly insane as they rolled back into her head with her shouts. A thin line of drool was coming out of her open mouth, showing extremely crooked and yellow teeth behind her lips and her dark hair was tangled around her face.
"Shut up!" Tonks screeched back at her. It was then that I saw her bobbing pink head trying to pull closed a set of thick, dark red curtains that framed the portrait.
A man with graying hair and lines on his face, wearing tattered robes rushed over to help her. Together, they were able to yank the curtains closed and within a moment, the yells stopped completely.
"Well," I said to the quiet room. "What a warm welcome." Several of the people laughed and I peered around again, curious.
"How are you, Saylie?" The man who had helped Tonks came over to me, holding out his hand. "I daresay you remember me?" Looking up into the worn, but smiling face, the realization came over me immediately.
"Remus," I beamed, grasping his hand. "I've been fine, thank you. How have you been?" I had found out about Remus's, ah, 'furry little problem' during my Hogwarts years. It had not bothered me in the slightest. He had been skeptical, but I had told him sincerely, if everyone just accepted others the way they are, the world would be a lot better of a place. After that, he had been grateful and we had been friends. Well, that was before...
"I've been great," Remus said in response. "Let me introduce you to everyone. This is Molly Weasley - " He gestured toward a plump, red haired woman who immediately dashed forward and hugged me.
"Saylie, darling, it's so good to see you," She fussed.
"It's great to see you too, Molly," I said sincerely. "I'm glad to see you're well."
" - These are her children Fred, George, Ron and Ginny," Remus continued, pointing out the four other red heads in the room. The three boys reached forward to shake my hand and the girl smiled warmly, waving. "The older children and Arthur are downstairs, in the kitchen. You'll meet them in a minute. This is Hermione Granger - " A pretty girl with rather bushy brown hair reached forward and said hello. "And this is Harry Potter."
The Boy Who Lived. He was tall and wiry, with jet black hair and startlingly green eyes. My stomach jolted uncomfortably. Lily's eyes. He looked exactly like James, a replica, except for the eyes. But I figured he would be tried of hearing that, just as he had to be sick of people making a fuss about meeting 'The Chosen One.'
"Nice to meet you," I said to him simply, shaking his outstretched hand. "It's nice to meet all of you."
They all murmured in agreement, and I glanced curiously at Remus, who's eyes had darted toward the shadows by the door nervously.
I had not been prepared for the voice that spoke suddenly, nor had I been ready to see the tall figure step out of the darkness and into the circle of light where everyone stood.
He looked similar, yet different at the same time. He still had the long, dark hair that fell into his clear grey eyes with an easy grace. He was still tall and muscular with the air of confidence in his stance. But he was pale, and thinner than he had been, the result of twelve years in Azkaban. But even through those terrible times, he had still stayed devastatingly handsome.
"Hello, Saylie," Sirius spoke quietly through the eerie silence.