Nevermind, I sorted out the issue with the website! Ok so things are about to pick up! So let's get some Jily feels and meet our friendly neighborhood death eaters. Shall we?

Book I: The Birth of the Order

Chapter VI: The Big Question

James wrapped an arm around Lily once they were outside. He leads her towards the gates of Hogwarts. Dumbledore had given him a spell to unlock the gate. He took out his wand swiftly and flicked it, muttering the spell. The lock and chain slithered to the side as the gates opened for them. "I thought it would be nice to visit for a bit. It's been over a year since we left," James said giving a side glance to the redhead. Lily smiled and gave a small nod. "It would be nice...so many memories were made here. A year? It doesn't seem that long at all." She followed him into the gate and glanced up at the beautiful castle where she had made so many friends. Her life had changed there.

"Hey, Let's go down to the lake, for old time's sake," James said as he nodded in the direction of the Black Lake. His free hand felt in his pocket to make sure the ring box had not been lost in the last hour since buying it. Once he was assured it was still there, he walked her to the lake.

Lily followed him but looked around the grounds as they went. "Remember when I pushed you in and you had a nice swim with the giant squid? Good times." She looked back towards the lake then to the tree beside it. "I guess our first kiss was a better memory though. Right there under that tree." She nodded to the tree then looked back at him. James smiled. "I like the second one better."

"Why is that?"

"Because the second time I wasn't wonder, 'I wonder who dared her to kiss me.'" Lily let out a snicker as they approached the tree. In the bark, the letters "J, S, R & P" were carved. A little above the weathered engraving was another carving, more recent, reading "J&L".

"I wish we could go back to those days. They seem like another dimension with the way the world is going," Lily said as she sat beneath the tree and looked towards Hogwarts. Her eyes fell to the bridge and seemed to linger there. James looked between her and the bridge. He sat beside her with a sigh. Finally he looked up, shoving his glasses up his nose. "Snape made his choice Lily."

"I know. I just wish I knew if he was safe."

"Why do you care?" James snapped softly, but was clearly agitated at the topic. "The bloody gitt called you a terrible name and never apologized. He deserves what comes to him. I'm not surprised that he joined their side."

"We don't know that for sure, James." Lily looked at him, a somewhat sad look in her eyes. James faced her and his pride tempted him to tell her. He wanted to say Snape was a death eater, that they had seen each other in Knockturn Alley. Maybe then Lily would be 100% agreed that Snape was nothing more than scum. James hesitated and his jaw loosened from its locked position. He took a deep breath. Today wouldn't be tainted by that greasy haired Slytherin. "You're right. We don't know for sure." Lily gave a nod then looked back to the lake. She leaned back against the tree and rested her head on James' shoulder. "At least you are still by my side. No matter how hard I try to get rid of you." James smiled at this. He kissed her head and put an arm around her. "I'll never leave you, Evans." Suddenly James looked up and said in a surprised voice, "Hey, what's that?" pointing out over the lake. "What?" Lily asks calmly as she pivots her head to see. James quickly fumbles in his pocket for the ring box, opening it and lifting it so it was the first thing she saw when she looked back. "I don't see anything." She said and turned her face back to him. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the ring in his hand. "James…"

"I mean it, Evans. I'm never leaving you… so you may as well marry me."

"James." She didn't say anything else and James' heart started pounding. "Lily?"

"That's… that's the cheesiest thing you could have said." She started to laugh but a couple tears came with her smile. James wore the goofiest grin on his face. "Sirius scripted it for me. It sounded smoother when he said it."

"Well I don't want to marry Sirius. I want to marry you!" She cupped his head in her hands and gave him a kiss followed by a pleasant giggle. "Wait," James said as he blinked in awe. "Was that a 'yes'?"

"Of course! Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!" James beamed and kissed her again then he slipped the ring on Lily's finger before wrapping her in his arms. He quickly pulled away however to chatter excitedly about the future. "We can get married. It can be a big wedding or a small one. You can have whatever you want! And my parents will be there! And we'll invite your parents, your sister and her husband! Then we can move into a nice little cottage somewhere! Maybe on a beach! No not a beach...I don't like sand...maybe in a nice little village! With lots of kids so our kids can play!" He looked down to her. "Wait, are we going to have kids? How many? Oh, Merlin...I don't think I'm ready to be a dad..."

"Hold on, you nervous idiot," she said with an amused laugh. "There will be time for that. For now we should probably tell the others."

"What others? OH! Right, our friends. Those others. Yes, let's go." He jumped up and held out his hands for her. She stood and they both looked at the ring on her finger. "We're getting married, Lily."

"Yes, James. We are getting married."

"A thousand points to Gryffindor!"

"Potter…"

"Right, right. Don't ruin the moment." He can't stop smiling as he puts an arm around her and walked up the hill.

Meanwhile, the meeting in Knockturn alley was coming to a close. Regulus Black sat near the end of the table. He couldn't focus. He kept tapping his fingers against the tiny wooden table in the back room of Borgin and Burkes. Potter couldn't have been telling him the truth. No way was that arrogant prat really offering him a chance to join their side, not that he wanted to anyhow. To James Potter and Sirius Black, Regulus would always be an enemy. Brother against brother. Regulus' thoughts came to a halt when a strong grip grabbed his wrist. He hardly reacted beyond blinking and looked at the hairy knuckles and long nails of the hand enclosed around his wrist. "Tell me, Regulus," a deep voice said above him. "Were you this distracted during your school days? We can certainly send you back to your life of acquiring points for Slytherin if that suits you better." Regulus looked up and met eyes with Fenrir Greyback. His sharp features and tall stature were enough to intimidate anyone. The stubble on his jaw couldn't hide the scars left by the fingernails of his victims. Yes, he was a murderer. In the worst way, he was a killer. Greyback was a werewolf, a reject of society, an outcast of the Wizarding World. He accepted the title, though. After years of resenting his maker, he finally embraced who he was. He loved the power he had gained from becoming a werewolf. He grew to had Wizards, despite being one himself, for how they treated him. He didn't answer to anyone. Not even Voldemort. Still, he accepted his role as assassin for the Death Eaters. The affiliation was a small sacrifice he had to make for the power he gained. Now, looking at Regulus Black and seeing slight fear in the boys eyes brought him satisfaction. "Well, Black? What is it that you have on your mind?" Regulus yanked his wrist away and rubbed it. "Nothing."

"Well it seemed very distracting to be nothing."

"I said nothing, alright? Now if you are quite finished then can we adjourn this meeting?"

"Tisk tisk. Impatience will get you nowhere, little boy."

"Leave him alone," Crimson interjected from the corner, but a look from Greyback and she was quiet again. Greyback glanced to the head of the table where Severus Snape sat. "As I was saying," Snape said. "Voldemort's recruiters have almost finished their time away from us. We expect they will be back with more members for Voldemort's cause. Any questions?" Without giving anyone an opportunity to answer, the door to the back room opened. Everyone jumped up with wands ready, but lowered them hearing a familiar chuckle from the shadowed entryway. "Will you look at the little babies with their wands. Going to zap me are you?"

"Bellatrix," Greyback said with a grin as he leaned against the wall. "So nice of you to show up as the meeting finishes."

"And nice of you to show up at all," she said as she walked in, her blonde sister trailing behind her. Bellatrix looked around. "Where is he?" she hissed. "Where is the Dark Lord?"

"He didn't come," Snape said. "And since Greyback declined to lead the meeting then I took over."

"Declined to lead?" She said with a sideways glance to the werewolf. "What's wrong, Fen? Are we not good enough to be your pack?" She received a huffed chuckle from Greyback and an eyeroll. Walking towards the table, she patted Regulus on the head. "I'm sure you will forgive my tardiness, given the knowledge that I acquired."

"That we acquired," Narcissa Black interjected as she took her seat. "Yes, sister, of course," Belletrix replied with a nod. The young woman had a well-kept appearance, but there was something about her face that nobody could label. Was it insanity? Was it passion? Nobody dared to get close enough to guess. She was mad. She loved being mad. She was proud to be one of Voldemort's most trusted followers and now she was at a point in her life where she was beginning to let the madness take her over. Bellatrix sat on the edge of the table beside Regulus, her younger cousin, and fiddled with the ring on her finger. "Narcissa did most of the talking but I softened the lad up a bit,"

"What Lad?" Crimson said with an eyebrow raised. "Little ministry worker. Very charming. At first I thought I would go easy on him because he seemed quite Cissy's type,"

"I have a fiance," He little sister mumbled and Bellatrix just rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, that pathetic little Malfoy. Mousey thing. Where is he anyway."

"He's traveling with the rest of the recruiters, Bellatrix, now can you make your point," Severus said with a scowl. He seemed to annoy Bellatrix who stared at him before hopping off the table and walking towards the front of the room. "The ministry worker had just received an order via owl. I myself was quite confused when I saw it. Why would a ministry worker be receiving mail at the owlery during working hours? Unless, of course, it was a secret message."

"And was it?" Ruby asked, clearly intrigued since she was leaning forward wide-eyed. Bellatrix nodded to her. "It was a message from Albus Dumbledore. In fact, it was a request to destroy all animagi records."

"So you think Dumbledore has animagi working for him?" Ruby asked. Severus went quiet. It was now his turn to get distracted. In his fifth year at Hogwarts, he had followed Sirius Black into the woods one full-moon night to have his suspicions confirmed that Remus Lupin was a werewolf. Not only that, but the other three Marauders as they called themselves were animagi. If what Bellatrix was saying was the truth, then Dumbledore already was recruiting people to defend themselves against Voldemort. His ear caught Bellatrix saying, "I put a tracking spell on the little owl and sent it back. Any Volunteers want to go after it?"

"Pointless," Regulus said. "It's obviously going back to Hogwarts," Severus said. Everyone looked down in disappointment and Narcissa said, "We would never get passed the front gate. Not without the dark Lord, that is."

"Keep your chin up, cousin," Regulus said with a nod to her. "It won't be long before our ranks are strongest." An off-tune grandfather clock chimed in Borgin and Burkes and Greyback pushed himself off the wall and stormed out. "Well," Ruby said. "I suppose he didn't want to be kept longer than he was forced to."

"Neither do I," Regulus announced as he stood. The others followed. Some stayed and talked in a low murmur but Regulus walked out quickly to get away from his batty cousins. He had hardly made it to the edge of the Alley when he heard rubbish bins rattle behind him. Turning, he saw Severus Snape putting the cans upright after obviously running out the back door into them. "Snape?" They both made eye contact, but Severus turned and started up the street without a word. Regulus followed quickly. "What are you doing."

"I'm going after the owl."

"We know where it's going – Hogwarts."

"Albus Dumbledore uses a phoenix to deliver his letters. If he used an owl then it's because he wasn't at the school."

"Then we should go back and tell them."

"No," he shook his head and took long strides out of the alley. "That would be a massacre. I need to go alone."

"Don't tell me you think they can be, 'reasoned with.'"

"James Potter and his friends 'reasoned with'? Please."

"Then why?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Fine. I'm coming with you then."

"No you're not."

"Then I'm going back and getting the others." Snape stopped and looked Regulus in the eye. "Just leave Potter to me." Regulus nodded and the two of them quickly walked to the Owlery.

The bar at the three broomsticks was quiet. Perhaps a few years prior, that would be abnormal. Now though it was the usual. Nobody in the Wizarding World trusted anyone. Some didn't even trust their best friends with their secrets. The fear of Voldemort was spreading to every nook and cranny of the world. During the first meeting of Dumbledore's recruits, their seemed to be so much life and hope. An hour later, and the world had returned to the still quiet. Remus and Rose had yet to emerge from the upper room. Peter was practically falling asleep and Sirius reclined in a booth where he nervously tapped his hand on the table. A quiet, "Hello," snapped him out of it with a jump. He looked up at the one who had approached him. "Starke. What are you still doing here? Don't you and Red have to get back to work?" She slid into the booth's seat across from him. "Our offices are closed. We will be sure to go there right after Potter gets back and start working on things for Albus. We want to congratulate the happy couple first."

"How did you know?"

"That Potter is proposing? He is as subtle as a Troll's belch." This made Sirius chuckle. "Yea, well Evans didn't seem to notice."

"Probably just because she's so used to him acting like a daft twat."

"Probably…" His eyes wandered off and Elise fidgeted with her wand. She set it on the table and rolled it back and forth. She knew this must be difficult for him. James and Sirius were inseparable in school. She opened her mouth to try to say something encouraging, "Black-"

"Has Red made up her mind?" Elise blinked at the interruption but let it slide. Looking over her shoulder at her red-haired business partner she shrugged. Nessa was focused on the moon outside, clearly lost in thought, but her face was stern as if she was having an internal debate with herself. A debate with clear, thought out statements and proper rebuttals. "Nessa? Made up her mind about what?"

"Is she joining this team or not."

"She would like to. But she has… special circumstances."

"We all have special circumstances."

"And yours would be what?" Sirius met her eyes at that questions. She truly didn't know him. He sat up straight and put on a cocky face. "I'm not telling you." They both stared for some time until the upper door slammed. Peter jolted awake and shouted, "I didn't do it, professor!" Then looked around and realized where he was. He looked up and saw Remus. "I give up!" Remus bounded down the steps. "She's joining. I just had an hour-long conversation with that… that…"

"Use your words, Moony," Sirius said like a parent. Remus took a breath. "She still thinks she will be joining us on our endeavors to stop Vold-" Peter cleared his throat to stop Remus before he said to much. The tall werewolf just turned on his heel to sit at the bar but stopped when he saw Tabitha sitting there. "Oh… I thought you would have… I thought you left."

"No," she said softly. "Oh," he said with a calm nod. "You don't have your muggles to get back to?" She sighed and looked back to her drink. "No." Remus tugged out a barstool and plopped onto it beside Tabitha but he was faced away from the bar. The room returned to quiet. It seemed quieter than before because now it was apparent. There was a crunch and all heads turned to Peter who was munching on a Peppermint toad. Seeing everyone look at him caused him to put it away. "So…" He said, mouth still full, "Good year for Quidditch, right?"

As if an answer to prayer, the door to the pub opened and Lily and James walked in, both beaming. "Everyone!" James held up a hand to silence them despite the already mute atmosphere. "I know this may sound shocking. I know I said I would be a lone wolf my entire life. I know I said Evans was a know-it-all. She was stuck-up. Her hair was brighter than the sun. She had that thing where your voice get's squeaky the angrier she gets. I know I said if she was the last girl on the planet and I would be put to death if I didn't marry her that I STILL wouldn't-"

"James." Lily gave him a look then rolled her eyes. She looked to the others and held up her hand. "I'm marrying the wanker." Everyone laughed and cheered. Peter was the first to lead towards the two and embrace them in a hug. "This is the happiest day of my life!"

"Of your life, Pete?"

"Yes! I can finally stop wondering if we approve of Evans yet or not!" Everyone else joined in the congratulating, except for one. Nobody seemed to notice, but Sirius had just stood and smiled. He hadn't given a hug or a pat on the back. He hadn't even said one word since they came back. He just observed with a smile. When the time came for him to say something, it was to the bartender. "Open a tab, please." The bartender most likely assumed it was for celebratory drinks, and Sirius would let him think that. "Come on, Potter," Elise said with a smirk. "Let's see you kiss your bride."

"Gladly," James said as he whipped of his specks like they do in the movies and passionately gave his fiance a wet one. Peter "oooooooed" which was not very affective being that he was the only one doing it. Still, it made everyone laugh. Remus bashfully grinned at this and looked at the others, his eyes searching their faces because he enjoyed seeing his friends so happy. His eyes fell on Sirius starting his first drink. He pushed by everyone and joined his friend at the counter. "You buying?"

"For you?"

"I could use one or two."

"Sure. Two Pewter Punches, good sir." He said with a tilt of his head to the bartender.

Remus' eyes widen when she sees the drink Sirius ordered. "Sirius, What is this?"

"Don't ask, just drink." Sirius swished the liquid around the mug and it started to fizz. Remus looked nervous. "Are you sure that's a good-" He winced as he watched Sirius down his own drink before pushing the other towards Remus. "Go on, Moony."

"Bottoms up." Remus repeats slightly unsure. He has never been one drinking but tonight he was going to make an exception. Remus chugged as much as he could of the Punch. Before putting his glass down on the bar. He coughed a bit as he did.

Sirius eyes widen as Remus practically downed the whole thing. "Usually drink that fast do you?"

Remus laughed at Sirius's remark. "You know I don't normally drink. But tonight we are celebrating and I'm unusually thirsty."

"Ok," Sirius grinned "another round then!"

Remus looked at Sirius and raised an eyebrow. "You aren't even finished with your first one yet Pads."

Sirius chugged the rest just as the others were set down. "I am now."

Remus chuckled at his old friend then quickly finished off his own drink. "Are you making this into a race?"

Sirius grinned widely. "Is that a challenge, Mooney?"

A mischievous grin formed on Remus's face. "If you think you can handle it." He said in a challenging way. He knew Sirius could drink him under the table any day. Remus lost control of himself one night a month without fail. He never drank because he didn't want to give anything else power over him. Yet tonight was different after everything with Tabitha, Rose, and the war. Tonight he just needed to be like everyone else more than ever. Sirius smacked some galleons on the table and declared, "keep them coming!" He was so excited. This was going to be hilarious. He knew a bloke like Lupin would never be able to hold his butter beer, but after the brutal reality that his best friend belonged to Evans now plus the start of a war, he could use one last care-free night. Remus laughed at Sirius's reaction and has a good feeling that he needed this just as much as he did. He took the second glass and tapped it against Sirius's.

As more drinks were ordered by the lads as well as for the happy couple, noise once again returned to the pub. It was like school again. For just a brief moment, there was no war. Nessa McCrimmon however, was being practical. There were things to think through. A war to prepare for, and this engagement didn't change that. Seeing James Potter reenact his proposal to the others was the last straw as she rolled her eyes and sneaked out the front. The petite ginger walked through the quiet village streets, clearing her mind. There was still only so much she could take of being in a group, especially one where she was the outsider. To pass the time, she quietly practiced a very particular spell under her breath. It had taken her a long time to produce a corporeal Patronus, but she had finally managed it only a month before. She was intent on not losing that skill. Nessa smiled a bit as her little silver Shetland pony pranced next to her. They were hardy, intelligent things, and she was rather pleased to have one as her Patronus. She wondered if it might be her Animagus form too. Provided it had working legs,that could be interesting. The thought caused her to stop and sit on the stoop outside the candy store. She tugged on her socks and adjusted her ministry skirt. Looking up, she saw the silver pony vanish as a result of her lost concentration. That brought a brutal realization to her. What help could she be to the order? She had damaged legs that required most of her attention to hide. Her intellect was better used at the ministry or in strategics, not on the front line as a member of Dumbledore's little army. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her ministry badge. She shut her eyes and thought to herself over the choice to stay alongside the order or return to the life she had built for herself. Suddenly she remembered the words of her coworker and friend, Elise. They had been walking to the pitch for a Quidditch match in their fourth year when Elise told her, "There will never be such thing as a risk-less choice, Nessa."

"Says the girl who has never had a problem making choices."

"Who says I haven't," she asked more with a chuckle than seriousness. "Well," Nessa huffed, "If you do have a problem with it then you never show it."

"I just think choices are a part of life. They are only as serious as you make them. And this, my friend is not serious."

"What are you talking about? OWLS are coming up! The choice is obvious that I should be studying."

"And risk missing Ravenclaw crush Slytherin for the first time all term?"

"You don't know that is going to happen."

"No, I don't. Like I said… every choice has a risk." The memory faded and Nessa raised an eyebrow to compensate for the blank stare she continued to make at her badge. "No such thing as a riskless choice," she muttered to herself. Her thoughts were interrupted after hearing commotion from the town owlery. Nessa stood from the stoop of Honeydukes and looked across the way to the small owl post stand. The night had already come to it's darkest moments and the crescent moon did not aid her at all. "Who would be mailing something this late?" Her curiousity got the better of her as she shuffled towards the stand, Owls hooting wildly in the night. "Hello?" Nobody responded and she rested her hands on her hips. "It's no use pretending nobody is there. You could hear the commotion in there all the way to Ilvermorny. Now come out. Or don't you know the Owl post has closed. If it's an emergency then I suggest you-" she stopped as two shadows emerged. The first that came into the light she recognized immediately. "Severus Snape." Severus raised his head but still managed to narrow his eyes at her as Regulus appeared behind him. "Hello, McCrimmon."

The Adventure Continues Next With the First Battle

and a tipsy Remus...