Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the entire Wizarding World, and, therefore, the basis of this story.

The first few days of school were brain curdling for the seventh year, N.E.W.T. level students. The teachers had no sympathy and didn't seem to care how many N.E.W.T. classes you were taking. They were loaded with homework from the first day in.

By Thursday, they were weighed down, and already sick from stress. Lily and James were working relentlessly on their Transfiguration homework. Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, had assigned them double homework because of a loud outburst from Sirius Black, as well as taken ten points away.

"Finished!" James thru down his quill.

"What? How?" Lily looked down at her half-finished page.

"Transfiguration's easy for me. Let's just say, when I was younger, I had an unhealthy fascination with Animagi." He smiled and winked.

"Well, it's absolutely baffling to me." She sighed.

"Here, Evans. You've done all your work by yourself since the beginning of time. Now, take a leaf out of the general student handbook. Let me help." Not listening to her protest, James quickly finished her essay off. After reading it over, she stared at him with exasperated admiration.

"Now," James got up. "I'm gonna go patrol a bit, if you don't mind."

"No, not at all. Actually, I have something I need to do, so I'll see you later." She started up the stairs, then turned around. "And James? Thank you."

She waited a few moments at the top of the staircase until she knew he was gone. Quietly, she went down. Only a few first and second years remained in the common room, and Lily felt it safe to make her escape.

"Where are you-oh. Headgirl. Your friend just took off too." The Fat Lady in the Portrait guarding the Gryffindor Tower yawned. "Run along then."

The corridors were empty except a few couples in corners, who got stern reprimands from the Headgirl. After what seemed like hours, Lily stood before the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office. She took a deep breath. She couldn't help feel apprehensive about her decision. What would her parents say?

"Lemon drop." The gargoyle guarding the entrance sprang to life, revealing a hidden staircase, which Lily followed up to the office door. She was surprised to hear voices within. She realized then that perhaps she was not the only one summoned for this meeting. She knocked on the door, and it was opened immediately.

Standing in the room before her were a collection of familiar faces: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, two Hufflepuffs, Katie, Marlene, and James Potter. All of them seemed just as surprised as she was, but the faces of Katy, Marlene, and James lit up at the site of her.

"Oh, Lily, when I saw who all was here, I knew you would show up!" Katy ran over and hugged her. She seemed scared, her face paler than normal. Gazing around, Lily realized everyone in the room seemed overcome by a common fear.

James cleared his throat. "Professor, I think we can get on now. Can you please explain our letters to us?"

"Indeed, James, you are quite right. I believe you all deserve an explanation. Before this happens, however, you must all be sworn to absolute secrecy. Nothing spoken of in the meeting or in any other meeting of the Order of the Phoenix will ever be revealed except by me, the secret keeper, and only if I deem it necessary. Will we all agree to an Unbreakable Oath?"

There were gasps, and the students looked at each other in horror. For Dumbledore to believe something so extreme as an Unbreakable Oath necessary only increased their foreboding.

"I'll do it." James stepped forward. Slowly, all of the other students followed, and they sworn in.

"As you all now know, the Order of the Phoenix is an organization of witches and wizards dedicated to the downfall of Lord Voldemort." Many in the room gasped and cringed. "It is, therefore, a role you must take on only if you are willing to risk and perhaps lose your life to the cause. Though this is a secret Order, it is likely that those of the Dark side will discover who they stand against. At seventeen, as you all are, you are legally adults in the wizarding world, or I would never ask you to do such a dreadful thing. However, I believe you are all strong enough and passionate enough." He smiled at James and his friends, and his eyes twinkled. "I also believe you have special, cunning skills that will come in handy. The Order will, of course, be careful in assigning you young members. None of us want you placed in an impossible situation at such an age."

"Professor, might I ask who else belongs to the Order?" Lily asked.

"There are a few teachers, as I'm sure you guessed. You may also recognize some old school friends. Molly and Arthur Weasley, for instance, as well as Alice and Frank Longbottom, who graduated last year, if you remember. There are quite a few others. While we are on the topic, I must ask if, in the case that you do accept membership, you will be able to spend at least a portion of the Christmas Holiday at the Order Headquarters." Many mouths opened to reply, but Dumbledore raised his hand. "After, of course, you've inquired of your parents. There will be many meetings, of course, and you will need to meet the rest of the Order. Now," he curved his fingers into a steeple, and smiled politely, "Are there any cold feet?"

After a long moment, there was a chorus of no's, and they all signed a piece of parchment headed:

The Sacred Order of the Phoenix