Aloha all! I just want to state that I've been politely informed that I tend to 'ramble' by my reviewer Petpolka (thanks for telling me by the way) and just want to say that I'm sorry about that, but I'm stubborn, so I'm not going to be changing my writing style, even if it is slightly ramble-ish.

ANYWAY, ON WITH THE FANFICTION!

"I may say it was your fault,

Because I know you could have done more,

Oh you're so naive yet so,

How could this be done?

By such a smiling sweetheart,

Oh and your sweet and pretty face,

In such an ugly world,

Something so beautiful."

–The Kooks 'Naive'

Chapter Twenty-Four:

Ever since I was a small child I'd held a great appreciation for small, tight spaces; those little nooks and crannies where you could curl up in a ball and pretend that there isn't a world outside. Places where you could never be heard and never be found, no matter if you sing, cry or even die.

It had always seemed that I as a child had a talent for finding such places – as my grandmother always said 'notice what no one else notices, and you'll know what no one else knows' – so I'd look, and I'd find these little dwellings that are overlooked by all else. These are the places where the dust stops shifting, the insects come to die and time forgets to turn.

Now Hogwarts was home to many such places, and one I was particularly fond of was a small loft in the rafters of the astronomy tower, which was where I sat now, draped in the invisibility cloak, one earbud in and blasting Nirvana while carving my name into the wooden beam beneath my feet.

I felt as if I'd spent the entire day avoiding people. Avoiding Sirius and his stony, emotionless eyes. Avoiding Lily and her knowing and pitying smiles. Avoiding Remus and that confused look he's been wearing ever since last night.

Eventually I'd gotten tired of peering around corners to check if any of them were there. I needed to escape to somewhere I could clear my head, which I know is really just a really stupid excuse for me to run away from my problems, by my mind was to weighed down with muddle that minute to care.

I heard the whispers of fait voices began to trail up the corridor, before the door burst open and a horde of witches and wizards walked into the Astronomy Tower.

The first to enter I recognised as the young and grinning Arthur Weasley accompanied a pregnant and soon to be married Molly Prewett and her stony faced elder brother Gideon, who gave me my fair share of detentions in his Prefect days.

Second entered a familiar face, past Head Boy Kingsley Shacklebolt pushed through by a short gruff man with a scared face that seemed to have been cut roughly out of wood and one dark brown eye, then another a frightening electric blue strapped to his face. He hobbled into the room, eye surveying the area around him, "I brought Shacklebolt. He's good," was all he said.

But, the next couple to stumble through those doors surprised me more than any other, as I watched James's parents; Mr and Mrs Potter stroll in as if they were meant to be here with their young house elf Dotty following along behind, a giant grin on her face as usual.

Shifting slightly to get a better look of down below, I saw three more enter the room before shutting the door – two of which I recognised to be none other than the regal Professor McGonagall and then Dumbledore himself, accompanied by a rough looking goat-like man who bore a very striking resemblance to the man beside him, with the same thin wiry build, bright blue eyes and obscenely long beard, although his was less kept than the Professors.

Not one person was smiling.

"Welcome. You all know why we're here, there is a new threat rising, something of the likes we've never seen before," Dumbledore spoke in his usual calm yet commanding voice.

Harriet Potter was the first to speak, "You speak of the disappearances, yes?"

The man missing a leg snorted, "Nah, we be talkin' 'bout the latest Quidditch results! 'Course it's the bloody disappearances and much more!"

"No need to snap, Alastor, just because you're constantly faced with imminent death doesn't mean you can't be polite," Scolded the man who resembled Dumbledore.

"Constant vigilance! That's all this Order needs!" He yelled, then chuckled, "You should know Aberforth, you run a bar after all…"

"Oh shut your gob Mad-Eye, we're all sick to death of that mantra," Arthur joked.

The man (quite correctly) nicknamed Mad-Eye grumbled, "It won't be sickness that'll be your endin' if you don't start lookin' beyond your bloody noses…"

"Oh, will you all be quiet? You're disturbing Bill!" Molly said in a motherly voice that commanded respect as she felt her large belly, "And we have many very important matters to discuss also," She added on as an afterthought.

"Quite right you are!" Dumbledore agreed, "Alastor, a report if you will?"

"Aye, very well…" he cleared his throat pulling out a random assortment of papers from his muddy trench coat, "I've got me two best men on the case, but they're all idiots so it's getting' nowhere as I expected. Bloody Ministry is so fixed on it bein' the wolves they won't think of anybody else, let alone this Voldemort chap or whatever he calls himself…"

"His name is Tom. Tom Riddle," Dumbledore corrected.

Mad-Eye nodded, "Aye, him. I'm requesting an investigation on 'im but it keeps being rejected by the uppers. They're all bloody fools, no vigilance at all,"

"But that's why we're here, isn't it? To do what the Ministry refuses to do!" Mr Potter exclaimed.

"The Ministry surely knows what they're doing…" McGonagall pursed her lips together.

"I'm afraid that is no more, Minerva," Dumbledore said gravely.

Molly sighed, "So he really is rising then?"

"Duh, what do you think this meeting's about?" Mad-Eye said gruffly, "You've been quiet Gideon? Nothing to say, or biting your tongue?"

The eldest Prewett looked up at the mention of his name, "It's just… very sudden, how are we to believe that this… Voldemort is really the cause of all this?"

"Because," there was a silence before Dumbledore stated plainly, "He told me so himself,"

Everybody went quiet until Moody started grinning, "Oh, it seems we have a little birdy up in the rafters…"

The eyes of the entire room were on me.

"Miss O'Conner, I'd urge you not to tell anybody of what you've witnessed today," Dumbledore stated calmly, as I felt his blight blue eyes pierce mine.

I nodded, trying to find my tongue, "O-Of course…"

"Ah, ta hell with this, I'll just wipe 'er bloody memory!" May-Eye said reaching for his wand before Aberforth stopped him.

"Now that would be considered illegal," He warned.

"C'mon, I'll escort you back to Gryffindor Tower," Professor McGonagall eyed my warily and placed her hands on my shoulders protectively.

"Very well," Dumbledore agreed, "It is getting quite late, and I'd like a cup of tea…"

I was led out of the door and as I felt it close behind me like a little blow to my mind. Following the Professor through the corridors, I remained silent listening to only our footsteps as they echoed through the hall.

When we eventually reached the painting of The Fat Lady, she said quite plainly, "I hope you know your way from here. Goodnight, Riley,"

"Professor… if I may ask one question. What's it called? Your Order,"

She pursed her lips together and sighed, "We are the Order of the Phoenix, and I'll trust you never to utter the name,"

I nodded, "Goodnight, Professor,"

Mumbling the password I stepped through the entrance and landed myself in my house common room. It was near empty, as I made my way towards the small corner where I usually sat. I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn't bother turning around. I knew who it was.

Remus took a seat beside me, I didn't look at him.

"You've been avoiding me," he stated plainly – there was no question.

I felt myself sink a little more in my seat.

"I just want to say, I understand that you don't feel the same way I do and I apologise for my irrational actions the other night…"

I started shaking my head, "Don't apologise, I do like you Remus, I really do, it's just..."

"You love Sirius," He finished for me, "And I get that, so I'm sorry,"

I smiled sadly, "I'm sorry to, I shouldn't have avoided you. So… Friends?" I asked.

"As we always have been," He replied with a small smile.

I'm not very proud of this chapter. It feels weird.

So, some more pop culture references in there; one Loris Harrow 'City of Ember' movie quote (although I adore the book too!) and some '100 Cupboards' dust-themes sewn in around the edges (I just finished reading 'Dandelion Fire' – so epic! I need 'Chestnut King'!).

This was a very Kooks inspired chapter, as I was listening to 'Naive' and their 'Pumped Up Kicks' cover while writing. I duno why I always tell you what I listen to while writing chapter, I'm not sure if it ever actually affects my writing or not… but if you have the song(s) I meantion, maybe try listening to them. Maybe some kind of experiment? I'm not sure…

Now, I leave you with one of my favourite poems called 'An Invitation' ever written by the amazing Shel Silverstein;

"If you are a dreamer, come in,

If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,

A hoper, a prayer, a magic-bean-buyer,

If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire,

For we have some flax-golden tales to spin,

Come in!

Come in!"