A/N – I'm terrible with updates. A little bit about the Order, James gets more serious(no pun intended) && Lily has a heart to heart with Remus.

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"As you all know, there is a certain dark wizard whom is going by the name Lord Voldemort that is gaining both power and followers at a rapid pace. A few murders have taken place, and since the ministry is doing nothing, it is time to step in and stop this evil power. Wizards should not have to live in fear for both themselves or their loved ones."

A short pause as the old man looked into the eyes of the ones sitting in front of him, examining both fear and determination.

"I ask you, each and every one of you, to think of everything that's been said here tonight. And I want you to decide. Understand that if you deny, no one will think any less of you. You may leave and will not be bothered again," Dumbledore spoke to the group of 7th year students.

"But if you choose to accept, be warned. Your life and the life of your loved ones will be at risk. I am sorry this has been brought on you at such a young age, but these are dark times. We must fight for our children future and the future of the Wizarding world."

The room was silent. It was full of select 7th year students and members that had already joined what Dumbledore had named the Order of the Phoenix. It was evident why he had chosen who he did. For their bravery, knowledge, loyalty, and other qualities each student possessed.

Each person contemplated Dumbledore's offer, though some had known what their decision would be the moment Dumbledore asked for help.

The group of Gryffindors, who sat off to the side, were a portion of those people. Each student had a strong sense of pride and decisiveness in their eyes. All except one.

Lily Evans sat silently dejected off to the side with Jam es Potters' arm around her shoulders. A purely friendly gesture, nothing more. He and all the other Gryffindors knew the torment that she was going though.

She was being ask to join a group that no only would go against her old friend Severus Snape, but would be targeted by him and his group as well. They were enemies now, but this would make it real. Official.

James, who had never liked Severus, could only imagine how it must be for Lily. He tried to put himself in the situation, as if Sirius had been in Snapes place, and himself in Lily's, but it just couldn't' fit. It was too unlikely for his best mate to be like that, and himself to even be in that position.

Instead he just held her close, allowing himself to be her crutch, even if only for the moment.

However, surprising everyone, even herself, Lily was the first to speak up.

"I want in," she said in a rather shaky voice. She had to fight for what was right. For the good side. She had to save the future of her children – that is, if she ever had any.

James squeezed her shoulders. He secretly dreaded her answer. If she said no, he'd fear she would feel ejected, but her saying yes made him feel even worse than he thought. The girl he loved was going to risk her life, and possible die.

"Lily – you don't have to. Maybe it would be best --"

"No. This is the way I choose. This is my future." Lily shot him a confused look as his grip tightened even more around her when she spoke her rebuttal.

"It's dangerous Lily. Don't feel like you have to do--"

"What do you mean?! Each one of you plan to join. There is no difference between everyone of you and myself." Lily half shouted at him, standing up and forcing him to release his grip on her.

Lily looked at Alice, but the brunette refused to look back, and instead kept her gaze on the floor, her hand clenched in Franks, her boyfriend.

"Alice?" Lily whispered to her best friend. Mary had not been asked to join. Alice slowly looked up at her friend, fear and anxiety evident in her eyes.

"Lily..I want you to do what's best for yourself...and if that means sitting out because of Snape...well--"

"I can't believe this!" Lily shrieked, her temper kicking in. "Professor Dumbledore, I would like to join. There's no reason I can't."

"Very well, Miss Evans," He replied with a smile and returned back to the group of 7th year Ravenclaws he had been speaking with.

"Lily, I just...I just don't think--"

"Oh stuff it. What do you know Potter." She spat the name, and he physically flinched back at the tone she used. She hadn't called him Potter except for when she was joking in months.

With that she stalked out of the room, her head held high.

"Now you've done it, Prongs," Remus sad from behind James, whom was standing there, staring at the door Lily just walked out of.

"I just..don't want her to..." James shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Never mind," and he walked up to the sheet in which everyone was signing to join.

He wrote down his name, and slowly, begrudgingly, wrote down Lily's. With one last glance at his friends, he walked out of the room quietly.

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Lily was having a bad day. Not only did she just sign up against her best friend, but she yelled at James. James. Just the name gave her butterflies. But no, now that she had finally admitted that she had been avoiding him all along because of Severus, she found it easier to like him. But she still felt a nagging in her chest whenever she saw Severus watching her.

That was something new, actually. Whenever Lily was with James, all she had to do was look up and Severus was there, anywhere, watching.

He had made his views clear about their relationship. He looked disgusted when he saw the two together.

She was now outside on the grounds, circling the lake. It was late, and she knew if she had been caught that she would be in trouble, but at the time Lily's' mind was not working clearly. She was confused. Did she like James? He was a troublemaker, yes. But he could be sensitive and caring, he had shown her that these past months.

But the spat they had earlier. Him not wanting her to join. Who did he think he was? She had her own mind, and her mind was telling her to fight. Fight for what was right in this world, fight to save who deserved to be saved.

"Lily," the voice had caught her off guard, and she had spun around her hand moving to her chest.

"Remus," she sighed.

"Are you alright?" he asked, moving closer and sitting down on a large flat, gray rock.

"Yes, fine Remus," She said in just above a whisper, also moving to the rock and sitting next to him.

"Lily, I've known you for seven years. We may not be the best of friends, but I do know when you're lying. Plus you're terrible at it."

Lily let out a low chuckle.

"I was never that good of a liar. Even as a kid. My mum always knew when I did something wrong."

"So tell me, what's going on in the world of Lily Evans?" Lily contemplated this. What was going on her world? She took a breath and spoke.

"It's just – Well, I don't know how --" She stuttered, trying to get the ides in her head to form and make one coherent sentence.

"Go on, It's not like I'm asking you to repeat our History of Magic lecture from today at wand point."

"I wish," Lily laughed. "It's just, I don't even know. I mean, I defiantly want in on the Order, but for some reason, James --"

"Can't you see Lily? He just doesn't want you to risk your life. He doesn't want to see --"

"He's a pureblood." That caught Remus off guard.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Don't you get it? He doesn't go day by day, getting teased about his blood. He comes from a wealthy family to begin with. This dark wizard, Voldemort. He means to rid of people with "bad blood." How in the world could James understand how that makes people like us feel? Even you know Remus. You of all people do. Having to hide your secret."

"I think he understands well, Lily."

"Very well, maybe he does. But truly, I don't he can fully understand the situation. So who's he to tell me --"

"This isn't just about James, is it?"

"How do you mean?"

"Does this have to do with Severus Snape? Because Lily, you know and I know James only cares for your well being. He – He loves you, Lily."

Lily's head jerked to stare at him. "How do you know?"

"It's so obvious. Every thought he has now, everything he does, he incorporates you into the picture."

"Oh.."

"But back to the Snape theory."

"He is – was my best friend Remus. He still cares for me, I know he does, just as I do him."

"How can you be so sure Lily? Does he say it himself?"

"Well...no, but I just know Remus." She said. "I just do." It sounded to her if she were trying to convince herself more than Remus. And he took that in as well.

Remus turned from Lily and stared out towards the lake, staring out farther than the world he could only see.

"Lily," he said, still not turning to look back at her. "I know you love Severus. As a friend yes. But I also know that deep down, you love James. No, don't interrupt. Just hear me out. Deep down, I know you love him. The way I see you looking at him sometimes, the longing on your face, it's quite obvious. Though I can't figure out why you're denying yourself happiness. But now, you have control of James' happiness."

"James'?"

"Can't you see? James will only be happy if he's with you."

Lily looked down, ashamed. "it's just, Severus never liked James. So I feel if I commit with James, I'll be betraying him." Remus turned his head sharply to look at Lily and he leaned in close.

"But what about you, Lily?" He said fiercely, looking her in the eyes. "Look at what Severus is doing to you. He's friends with Avery and Mulciber, along with others you don't like. See? He is doing the same to you. I don't see the difference in the situations."

Lily opened her mouth to say something, but closed it after she couldn't utter a word. Could it be? Could Severus, her best friend Sev, not love her? Had she been so blind all along? Yes, to both.

A feeling washed over Lily. Something that took her a moment to realize what feeling it exactly was: embarrassment. She had been a fool all this time. How could he be so stupid?

"Oh Lily, I'm sorry, whatever I said to hurt your feelings, I didn't --" Remus spluttered after he saw tears coming from Lily's' eyes,. But Lily did something he didn't expect at all. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him.