A/N: Hello! I have a performance coming up so updates will most likely be more delayed than usual. Sorry.

Anyway, this chapter (nothing really happens in this chapter, it's basically a background thing. Still vital for the plot though) is all about the Original Order as you may have guessed. Anyway, I did source most of my information from Harry Potter Wiki so it should be pretty accurate. However, this story isn't completely cannon so I've taken liberties such as Hestia Jones being part of the original order. Which she might have been, it's not been proven or disproven.

I rambling, sorry.

Thank you for reading and all your support. Enjoy!

LILY'S P.O.V

SOMEWHERE IN THE WOODLAND OF NORTHUMBERLAND

30th JULY 1978

"Thank you all for coming," Albus says, looking around at us all. Ordinarily he would be smiling at us, but now is not the time. He regards us thoughtfully and gravely.

The Portkey led us just outside Northumberland as it wouldn't be safe to Portkey directly to our location; what with all means of Magical travel being monitored by both the Light and Dark sides. Instead, we walked to a wood in Northumberland where Albus had told us to meet and there we camped out and waited until today, when Albus got the Order together for one of the first times. All the Order members were invited and all have arrived. This, he said, was an introductory meeting. The aim being to understand our motives and hopefully the enemies' motives as well. Albus also wishes for all us Order members to get to know each other better, to learn each other's fighting styles, our weaknesses, our strengths as we will be fighting together and we are few in number.

"I founded the Order of the Phoenix to oppose Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters," Albus says, a few of us draw in breath at the mention of his name but many of us give applause and sounds of encouragement and appreciation, like cheering.

"Come on now, it is but a name. The fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself, remember that. His name only has power because you yourselves gave it power. Only you have the ability to take the fear and therefore the power away. As I was saying, I founded it to oppose the Dark Side," he pauses whilst we all clap. "As no doubt some of you are aware, Lord Voldemort has returned to England, with an army as great and terrible as ever. Their objective, as they have quite clearly displayed, is to take over the Ministry of Magic and persecute Muggle-borns.

"We, the Order, work with the Ministry to help protect it, our Wizarding community and the Muggles themselves. The Muggles are quite unobservant at the minute but no doubt as the Dark Side grows, they too shall notice strange happenings.

"Aurors from the Ministry like Mr Alastor Moody," he nods to a man with a face covered in scars and rough skin, a large chunk of his nose gone and matted blonde-ish hair streaked with blood and burnt at the edges. He also has a wooden leg, but that's the least unnerving thing about him, the most unnerving feature about his face is his eyes. One is small and dark whilst the other is an electric blue – a magical eye – that seemingly moves around independently to the other. I shiver a little; it's almost as if he can see right through me with that eye.

"…will be joining the Order to participate in more secretive, sudden assaults aimed to… shall we say, subdue? Yes, aimed to subdue the Dark Rebellion.

"As I'm sure you've all heard the Death Eaters have been attacking mostly Muggles and Muggle-borns to spread fear and panic among us. However, they soon shall turn to attacking what they call 'blood traitors'."

Albus pauses and looks at us intently, with a mixture of sorrow and remorse.

"Wait," Fabian Prewett, twin of Gideon and brother of Molly speaks up, "what do you mean by 'blood traitors'?"

"Alas, Fabian, 'blood traitors' are purebloods or half-bloods that are on the Light Side. They can be pure-bloods who marry Muggle-borns or Muggles, pure- or half-bloods who oppose prejudice based on blood purity or even pure- or half-bloods who openly agree to equal rights for Muggles and Muggle-borns."

"So that means us - the whole Prewett family by association, the McKinnons, the Bones, the Potters, the Meadowes… everyone in the Order and our families. Merlin, even Molly. The Weasleys… she has children, oh Merlin what have I done?" Fabian buries his face in his hands. I suppose he has a point. What have we done by joining, signed up for a lifetime of danger and no security for our families? I feel a wave of sympathy wash over me, he's Molly's younger brother after all. Any family of hers is family to me, too.

"Fabian, we knew what we were getting into when we joined. Molly will be fine, she has Arthur and she's a witch for Merlin's sake! We can use the Fidelius charm if need be. I promise you Fabian, we are doing good by being here," Gideon says, talking directly to his twin.

"You're right of course; I'm just worried is all."

"We're all worried, Fabian," Albus says, "the journey ahead of us is perilous and dangerous but it must be done and it cannot be helped. Your affiliation with the Order will cost you your safety in some ways and your social freedom in others. But have no doubt; I strongly believe that we can protect everyone in danger – especially the Muggles."

He draws a piece of parchment from one of the many pockets in his robes.

"This is a list of members of the Order. We are putting the list under the Fidelius charm as well as future headquarters of the Order. Any information revealed in these meetings is also under the charm to avoid double agents enlightening the Dark Side on our business. So… there is of course me: Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, my brother Aberforth Dumbledore, Alastor Moody, Alice Longbottom, Arabella Figg, Benjy Fenwick, Caradoc Dearborn, Dedalus Diggle, Dorcas Meadowes, Edgar Bones, Elphias Doge, Emmeline Vance, Fabian Prewett, Frank Longbottom, Gideon Prewett, James Potter, Lily Potter, Marlene McKinnon, Minerva McGonagall, Mundungus Fletcher, Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin, Rubeus Hagrid, Sirius Black, Sturgis Podmore, Alice Smith," I look up at the sound of Alice's full name, "and Hestia Jones.

"Are there any objections to the list?" Albus asks, surveying us carefully.

Nobody raises any objections.

"Mr Dumbledore, sir," Sturgis Podmore says, clearing his throat, "is it true you've been taking that man Snivelly Snape under your wing?"

There are few amused splutters and some snorts. I roll my eyes, seriously, why do they feel the need to laugh at Severus' nicknames? It's cruel. Although, I suppose some of them find it laughable that one might think a respectable man like Albus would take a Death Eater 'under his wing'. They are fools, they do not know Severus like I once did.

"In some ways, yes it is true," Albus says.

The crowd of people around me murmur. I look at Marlene and we share a look.

"QUIET! He has applied for a job teaching at Hogwarts. I have agreed to employ him on some conditions of course. I did not say I trust him, believe his stories or that I will tell him any information regarding the war – because I have not and I cannot see why I would."

"Still, should you really be letting Slytherins teach at Hogwarts?" Sturgis Podmore asks. I am beginning to like him less and less.

"I am not sure what you mean, Mr Podmore."

"The Slytherins… they're Death Eaters. Blood racists, bigots –"

"Are you not being bigoted right now, Mr Podmore?" Albus interrupts.

"That's different –"

"It is no different. We have many allies that were formerly Slytherin. Professor Slughorn, Andromeda Tonks, I understand, a former Black has joined our cause. What evidence do you have to support your idea that all Slytherins are blood racists and bigots?" Albus folds his hands in his lap and leans forward as if interested in what Sturgis has to say.

Sturgis Podmore goes quiet.

"You see, in order to defeat injustice – not only do we have to stop the Dark Side that deals out injustice but we have to prevent ourselves from dealing out injustice. As Mr Podmore has shown, no one is completely immune to being bigoted and discriminatory."

I think about that as the meeting is dismissed. James and I have plans to visit Godric's Hollow tonight.

"Did you see him?" Padfoot asks, as he strides toward us.

"See who?" I ask him.

"Him," he nods towards Alastor, "Mad-Eye Moody."

"Sirius," I hiss, "could you be any louder?"

"Yes, I could. DID YOU SEE MAD –"

Marlene stomps on his foot, by Sirius' face I can tell it was painful but Sirius contains any noise.

"For the love of Merlin, woman. What was that for?"

"For being an idiot," Marlene retorts.

"You're not going to do that every time, are you?"

"Hm, maybe," Marlene smiles and Sirius grins. He grabs her waist and pulls her in for a very long kiss.

Peter, James, Remus, Alice and I look away awkwardly. Why do Marlene and Padfoot always show their affection in public? We could be in the middle of a battlefield and they'd still kiss.

"Ahem," Alice says sourly, "if you don't mind?"

Marlene draws away, blushing heavily.

"Sorry Alice –" Marlene begins.

"Hey, why are you apologising? We weren't doing anything wrong," Padfoot frowns.

"Just give it a rest, Sirius," Marlene mutters before walking after Alice, who has run ahead – visibly upset.

I rush after them, poor Alice.

JAMES' P.O.V

"What did I do?" Sirius asks, looking at me, puzzled.

"You know how Alice feels about that sort of thing," Remus says.

"What sort of thing?" Padfoot asks, oblivious.

"Happy couples, Amos Diggory, sixth year, marriage proposal and rejection?" I say.

"Yeah, you forget how angry and upset Alice was in sixth year. Imagine how she feels every time she sees you and Marlene snogging. Alice told me she always feels like she's second best to Marlene because she says she thinks Marlene is more attractive than her and that Marlene outdoes her in every aspect of life and the one thing she had over her was Amos. Marlene was never very good with relationships and Alice had one that lasted ages and she was really proud of it… and then it all goes up in flames. Every time she sees you two snogging, it's a reminder of how inadequate she feels –" Wormtail says but Padfoot cuts him off.

"Did you just use the word 'inadequate'?" Padfoot asks, stunned.

"Yeah?"

"Will wonders never cease? Wormtail, you really are extraordinary."

"Thank you. Now are you going to stop upsetting Alice?"

"Yeah, sure but what's it to you anyway?"

"Alice and I talked and it turns out we really connect really well and we're friends. I don't like it when my friends are upset."

"Who does? What are you doing tonight Prongs?"

"Date with Lily."

"To look at the cottage?" Remus asks.

"Yeah, I think she'll really love it."

"I'm sure she will," Remus smiles.

"We'll be invited as soon as possible, right?" Wormtail asks.

"Of course, once Lily's seen it, you'll all see it."

"I can't believe the two of you are going to live in a cottage together… all by yourselves," Padfoot says.

"What? Can't you imagine you and Marlene living together?"

Padfoot laughs, "Merlin, we can't even spend more than 48 hours together without shouting at each other… we'd kill each other if we lived together."

"Or, maybe it would bring you closer?" Remus suggests.

"You heard the two of us the other day. We would blow each other up or something if we lived together."

"You two really need to talk about that, you know."

"I know, but that's one conversation I'm really dreading."