A self-inflicted wound, your Gift,

Impeccable aim

Can really clear a room

All the bodies piled up in your way

………………………….

The snow blanketed the peaks, fresh undisturbed powder covering the whole slope, glittering in the sun. A cool breeze passed by as I gazed down the slope picking my line. It looked… "Merlin!"…That's not the sound the wind usually makes…Nor were the loud thumping steps coming nearer. Finally a banging noise broke me out of my slumber.

"What?" I snapped, coming to realize finally that it was Potter now banging on my bedroom door. Curious that he was able to make it up the stairs to my room, I guess they didn't slide like back at the Gryffindor dormitory.

"Lily, are you ok?" He asked, pressing open the door and entering my room, my mind spun for a second, wondering if there were any embarrassing items left out, but I reminded myself it was just James.

"I'm feeling 100 percent. No thanks to you." I snapped as I rolled over and sat up in my bed. My green and gold covers were tangled in a heap, apparently it had not been a peaceful nap, then again I usually tossed and turned and moved about as I slept.

"Did you see?" I softened when I saw the concern on his face, in his hand was the note.

"Yeah." I rubbed the sleep out of my green eyes; I was tired, and quite frankly in a foul mood (seemed the incantation had some nasty after effects), I in no way felt like dealing with this.

"Yeah? Yeah? This is a serious threat, and your response is 'yeah'?!?" Maybe it was my imagination but I was sure I could see a vein nearly popping out on his forehead. He started pacing in circles around the room, running his hand through his stupid jet-black hair. "This isn't a joke! That's a dark mark in the corner there!" He gestured wildly at the scrap of paper. "I can't believe you of all people would just ignore this." Ah Potter, whenever he got all yelly he would always start waving his hands around like a nutcase.

"Dear Lord, will you please decide whether you want to be concerned or angry? I already have a headache!" I slid out of bed, slinking over to my dresser to rummage through it for a pair of sweatpants.

"I…uh…" Potter froze, mouth agape like a perfect flycatcher. I looked down the discover that the baggy t-shirt and boyshorts were not exactly appropriate, feeling a blush rise to my face I quickly stuffed myself into some sweats. "I'm sorry." He sat down at the edge of my bed. "I didn't mean to overreact. But, this is, well, its not good. Look, I'm going to get Dumbledore and have him take a look at this. Do you think you'll be ok here alone for a few minutes?"

"Potter I was here alone and asleep for a half hour. I think I'll be ok." I didn't expect him to take this so seriously, I'd been getting the whole mudblood routine since I found out I was a witch seven years ago. I didn't see how it was any different this time around.

"Ok. And I thought we were going to first names." He stopped at the doorway and looked back one more time.

"I'll be fine, James."

I could hear him yell from the stairwell, "I'll be right back."

Ten minutes later and Potter, I mean James had returned, the headmaster in tow, a grave expression on his face. I was waiting for them on the couch in the common room. Dumbledore stepped in, examining the décor, and for a brief moment the hint of a smile passed upon his face, but then his eyes fell upon the note, which was sitting on the coffee table.

"Miss Evans, I had hoped it wouldn't come to this. I always like to believe that the students of Hogwarts can see past such inconsequential differences as these, but alas it seems some can not be ridded of their prejudices." He eased himself into the chair across the table, and called to James who'd been hovering near the doorway, "Mr. Potter, if you could please join us, the information I'd like to discuss has much relevance to you as well."

James nodded and mumbled something along the lines of 'yes' then scurried over to join me on the couch.

"Thank you." He paused to wipe off his half-moon glasses. "Now, I trust that you will use good judgment on who you share the information I am about to tell you with."

"Of course." James and I responded in unison.

"After recent events, I think it's important that you are fully informed.

"Excuse me, Professor, but recent events?" Clearly there was something I was missing here, Potter seemed far more upset by the note that he had any right to. Both Dumbledore and James stared at me with questioning looks. "I didn't get a chance to read the prophet this morning, and I've had an…unusual day."

"There was an attack last night, Aiden and Idris Kiely were killed last night."

A jolt went through me, the Kielys' were a famous wizarding couple, both born muggles and very rich, they provided money to help muggle born wizards get through schooling and into the workforce. Their deaths was a huge blow to the wizarding community, heck to all of England. "That's not all Lily, there was a message left with their bodies: 'Mudbloods Beware; The Cleansing Has Begun.'" My heart skipped a beat, the war had always felt so distant, like I wasn't apart of it, but now it had come to my front steps.

"Yes, what Mr. Potter says is true. Which is why I have decided to do this, against my better judgment." He paused. "There is a group, a secret group dedicated to fighting off Voldemort's forces: The Order of the Phoenix. Loyal witches and wizards who are willing and able to fight and protect those who can not protect themselves. I hadn't wanted to involve students, but it appears Hogwarts is no longer neutral ground."

"Professor, anything, anything we can do to help, we'll do it."

"That's exactly the attitude your parents had

James, they'd be so proud to hear you now." Dumbledore said with a smile that turned melancholy. For the first time he seemed more like a tired old man than the quirky headmaster always cool and collected. "Understand that this is highly dangerous, we've lost many a great witch and wizard. "

James looked down at his feet, clearly thinking about his mom and dad. I spoke up, trying to break the gloomy mood that had set over the room. "Professor, how can we help?"

"There's a meeting in September that I'd like you to attend, I can answer more questions then. In the meantime I ask that you be watchful at all times." He stood up, brushing a bit of dust of his mahogany robes. "I must be leaving you now, there's another situation that needs my attention; I'm afraid some of the elves got in to the liquor closet."

I was laying on the ground in front of the fireplace, schoolbooks and parchment spread around me in a disorganized fashion. I was too tired to stand up and drag myself upstairs to pass out in my bed. How could there possibly be this much homework the first week of school? 14 inches on the proper handling of the Quincellus Fern for herbology? Absolutely unnecessary. But finally after nearly four hours I'd finished my work for the week. I was pretty sure the sun would be coming up soon and then I'd have to go to class, so walking al the way up to my bedroom was just inefficient. I could barely hear the faint whispers of James and Remus's hushed conversation across the common room.

"…said he can't come."

"That's ridiculous, it's a tradition, he can't abandon you." Potter was struggling to keep the anger out of his voice.

"It's fine, we can do it with just you me and Peter. It's not a big deal." Remus just sounded tired, he'd been looking under the weather all week.

"I'm not gonna let this just pass."

"You know, you guys don't have to whisper." I announced from my place in front of the fire, the whispers were starting to annoy me, better they just speak in normal voices.

"Well its just that this is private…"

"Oh cram it James, I know you guys are making plans for Rem's little furry time of the month." I'd figured it out the middle of fourth year; his great aunt always getting sick around the full moon, it seemed suspect. Remus had been horrified when I'd confronted him, afraid I'd spill his secret to all of Hogwarts. I didn't even understand what he was so upset about until he explained that in the wizarding world there was a bit of a stigma against werewolf. The whole transforming into a beast thing was apparently a turn off for most the population.

"You always lecture us every time we talk about it Lily." While I might have reacted well to the discovery that Remus was a werewolf, the same could not be said for the discovery that his three boneheaded friends had become illegal animagi.

"I'm exhausted, and after this week I'm feeling all lectured out. I'm not going to yell at you." James and Remus stared at me, and maybe it was just because I was exhausted and drugged earlier in the day, but I could have sworn their eyes popped out of their heads like cartoon characters. "Hey now, I don't always lecture."

"…"

"Oh shove off, I'm not that much of a rule lover. "

"Whatever you say darling." If I hadn't been so tired I would have hexed him for that. "Anyways, fine, if your ok with it, I'm ok with it. I'm just going to have a talk with Padfoot about his little situation as of late."

"If you really think that's necessary."

"I'll handle it. Also, tomorrow, we need to get everyone together here to discuss some new developments."

"Everyone? And it's something we can't discuss at dinner tomorrow?" Remus's curiosity was piqued.

"No. Well Peter and Sirius. Lily, I know you'll want Kate, Emily and Sam too?"

"Nngh." I was way too exhausted, it was taking all my energy just to follow their conversation, I couldn't think.

"Oh shit. Here lets get you up to bed." James knelt down and scooped me up in a surprisingly smooth motion, I was even too tired to fuss that Potter was carrying me upstairs to my bed. "Mmm." He stifled a yawn. "I guess I'm pretty exhausted myself. Remus. can you grab her things. We can figure everything out in the morning."

"It is morning." Ok, apparently I had just enough energy to make a smartass remark. I cracked my eyes open for a second to see his bright blue eyes, the last sight I saw before falling into a deep slumber.

………………..

"Look, can we hurry this up? I've got things to be doing." Peter pointed at his watch, tapping his foot impatiently. His foot however was right next to Sirius, who was perched on the floor near the couch, and the tapping did not please Sirius who swatted at Peter's shin.

"What is this exactly?" Kate was sitting next to Peter on the couch and it seemed his impatience was rubbing off on her. Emily, who was sitting on the other side of Kate, was the only one exhibiting any sort of patience, but that was probably because she was distracted, furiously jotting something down in a notebook.

"If you guys could wait just one more second, were waiting on Remus." We'd gathered the group, well the group minus Sam, who I'd decided did not need to be here. It had nothing at all to do with the fact that she'd been annoying me as of late, and everything to do with the fact that she was still underage. Anyways, it'd been no easy task herding everyone (minus Sam) up to the Heads common room at the same time for a 'discussion'.

Finally, there was a banging at the door and James went to let Remus in. Remus rushed in and took a seat on the floor, sending an apologetic look to everyone.

"Last night when I got back from dinner—"

I cut James off with a strategic elbow to the side. Merlin, it was my story in the first place. And also he was going to make it into an overly long tale where somehow his bravery saved the day. "There was a note pinned to the wall in the hallway, it said 'Mudbloods Don't Belong In The Prophet Nor In These Walls.'"

"Well, no mystery there, that was Death Eater work." Kate piped up from the couch.

"Yeah no kidding, if there was any doubt you could tell it was them from their atrocious grammar. I mean there's got to be a better way to word that…" A glare from James and I shut Peter up.

"As I was saying, there was a note. We alerted Dumbledore to its presence. And during our discussion with Dumbledore he revealed to us the existence of a—"

"A secret group dedicated to fighting off Voldemort." Of course Potter would get all excited and jump in just when I get to the good part. Nope, no glory for me.

"A secret group?"

"Against who now?" Emily finally looked up from her notebook and was greeted by eye rolling from everyone else in the room.

James decided to ignore Emily's intelligent comment. "It's called the Order of the Phoenix. And he invited us, and by proxy, you guys to come to a meeting."

"It's really to fight Voldemort? Like dueling and everything?" Peter was the only one to voice his concerns, but I could see that the others too were thinking of the dangers this implied.

"Keep in mind its strictly voluntary. And we probably wouldn't have to do anything dangerous." The minute the words came out of my mouth I felt sick though. It may be voluntary, but I'd be pretty damn disappointed in my friends if they didn't jump at the opportunity to fight back against a cruel wizard attempting to commit genocide against innocent people. My words had the same effect on everyone else too.

"We'll do it." Remus spoke for the group. "When is the meeting?"

Potter and I looked at each other for a quick second. "We don't exactly know yet…" I started.

"Dumbledore said he'd tell us when he knew for sure." James chimed in.

"Wow. I just, I can't process this right now." Kate leaned back on the couch letting her head spill over the top upside down and her dark hair cover her face, and revealing a small bruise on her chin.

Emily, finally fully emerged from her notebook stole a glance around the room then glared at Kate pointedly. "Kate, we really do have to get going. To work on the 'astronomy' project." Kate shot up out of her seat, and her and Emily rushed out of the room before I could even figure out what had happened.

"Well that was odd." Remus observed, moving up to occupy their spaces on the couch. His features seemed paler than yesterday; I couldn't tell if it was from an approaching full moon or just from a sleepless night last night doing homework. His robes were in their usual state of disrepair, a rip near the waist, and the hem was falling apart. Every time I offered to fix them up for him he always politely declined, saying the tattered robes 'gave him character.'

James looked at the hallway, which they'd just disappeared down for a moment, his head tilted, before turning to Sirius. "Yeah. Pads, I've been meaning to have a talk with you, care to take a walk with me?"

"Aw, Prongsy, you know I always love taking romantic strolls with you." He hopped up from the ground and bounded to the door with all the energy of a puppy. I wondered if he'd be so high spirited at the end of their 'talk'. Doubtful.

"Petey, I thought you had things to be doing?" Peter was picking at a rip on his trainers absentmindedly, he looked up and smiled sheepishly.

"Nah, I just don't like waiting."

"Pete you're such a slug."

"That I may be, but I can still kick your ass at chess." He rapped a knuckle on the coffee table with a challenging smirk.

"Your on." I rolled my eyes, Remus was abysmal at chess; I'd beat him handily the first time I ever played chess in first year. Peter got the chess set from the bookcase and started setting up.

Thirty minutes and two checkmates from Peter later James came stumbling back into the room. "How'd it go?" I asked without looking up from my book. I'd been reading a book my dad had sent me, At Swim Two Birds, in my new favorite spot near the fire while Remus and Peter had continued on in their pointless chess competition.

"It could have gone better."

"Yeah? Looks like the talking didn't go well." Remus observed, finally giving up on the game. I glanced up at James, who was sporting a black eye and a limp. Oh boys, and their 'talking.'

"Yeah, well, we won't be doing any talking again for a while. So, no worries." He collapsed into the empty chair with a scowl on his face, bringing his hand up to his face to look at his bloodied knuckles.

"Did you get him one at least?" Peter looked at James eagerly. "What? He's been annoying, as hell lately, deserves a good talking to. Especially if he thinks he can ditch out on Remus."

"James, are you even going to clean that up?" The black eye was staring at me, a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria. He really should disinfect it.

"You sound like my mum did."

"It's going to get infections and look even worse then."

"Nice. It'll make me look even tougher then. The chicks will be all up on me." Sadly he was probably right, if he walked around the school tomorrow with a black eye he'd have legions of girls following him asking if he needed them to 'take care' of it for him. And a small part of me had to admit, he did look a little dashing with a black eye. No, wait, nevermind. No part of me had to admit anything.

"Don't be ridiculous. Let me heal it real quick."

"Lily the fixer, at it again." Peter remarked, he'd received my aid many a time throughout our Hogwarts year due to his klutzy nature.

"I don't need you to do it."

"You think you can do it? Your healing charms suck."

"Sorry mate, but she's right." Remus agreed with me and Peter nodded along.

"Come on, up to the bathroom. It'll just take a second." I grabbed his wrist and started dragging him to the stairs.

"I hate all of you." He cried out as we got to the stairwell, but followed me upstairs anyways. "Well, except you Lily, of course. You're the bestest….Best ever…Awesomest…"

"Flattery will get you nowhere James, I'm still going to heal it."

"Damn."

…………………………..

"I need a stiff drink." I slid into the barstool and rested my elbows on the table, searching around for the absent bartender. Friday evening had finally come, and all I wanted to do was forget the previous week, Head Girl responsibilities be damned.

Suddenly Emily came running over, a huge grin on her face. "Guys! Guys! I got shots!" She summoned eight shot glasses filled with bright blue liquor over to our area of the bar. Lord knows how the girl was able to get drinks when it didn't seem like anyone was working in the damn bar.

"What shall they be to?" Remus asked, as everyone grabbed his or her own drink.

"To a night that will go on the history books." With Kate's toast everyone downed the shots.

………………

thanks for reading. hopefully I should have another chapter out soon. please leave a review.