I am very sorry for the delay, I promise to do better.

Application interview

The Rebels could not meet until the evening. Al had suggested the southern lakeshore because the Room of Requirement was currently occupied elsewhere and they did not want to disturb Ted.

Maxym was not enthusiastic about the meeting place. The shore was too open, observant and they could easily be overheard. Katelyn reassured her. »We'll just go there ten minutes early and cast some protection spells. That way no one can see or overhear us.«

That reassured her friend. It wasn't one hundred percent safe, as in the Room of Requirement, but it would do for now.

Katelyn and Maxym went to the lake a few minutes early, as they had discussed, and began the protective spells. Gradually the other Rebels joined them. James and Al were the last.

James started immediately. »Thank you all for coming here so quickly and on such short notice. As you have already noticed, the Room of Requirement is currently a no-go zone for us. The marauders were able to free Ted from Azkaban, but he still needs rest and time to recover.«

Everyone nodded, glad to hear that at least one innocent had escaped Azkaban.

»During the time off, some of you have been looking for the extendable ears. We found some in the library, in the Great Hall and in some classrooms,« James continued. Maxym wondered why he knew this already. Katelyn had only told her at lunchtime today, after all.

»We didn't find any in the common rooms,« Al added.

»It is difficult for the inspectors to find an excuse for Professor Longbottom to be in the houses' rooms,« speculated Dominique.

James nodded. »So we can have a chat there. Otherwise, radio silence for the entire castle for now. We don't want anyone to notice what we know, and especially what we're up to.«

»And what are we up to?« asked Magenta impatiently.

»Nothing so far. We'll stay quiet and keep our ears and eyes open. Until Ted recovers, we don't do anything rash.« James looked at everyone piercingly and they all nodded again.

»Surely more ears and eyes will help us then?« mused Colin.

»What do you mean?« asked Maxym.

»I've been approached by a few who have noticed that some students are struggling and want to join in.«

Scorp was immediately euphoric. »The more, the stronger we are.«

But his sister quickly put the brakes on him. »Just like that? That seems very strange to me. Who knows who else we can trust. How did they catch on to this? Who are they?« Maxym didn't like this attention and was sceptical.

»Max is right. We're not supposed to let just anyone into our club. Colin, set up a meeting. We have some questions before we take them into our confidence,« James, as usual, saw everything pragmatically. Anyone who wants to help, fine, but before that they should be questioned. His partner was not yet convinced, but kept her doubts to herself. She trusted James and Colin. They would ask the right questions.

»Is there any more news from anyone?«, asked James to the group and as no one else spoke up, he ended the meeting. Katelyn and Maxym released the protection spells and the small group dispersed.

James waited for Maxym and accompanied her back to the castle. Katelyn, who had noticed that the young couple wanted to be alone, walked ahead of them with the other Slytherins.

»I don't have a good feeling about the new ones,« began Maxym.

James reached for her hand. »I've noticed that and I see it the same way you do. It's rather sudden. But we're not going unobserved. Gryffindor and Slytherins hanging out together? That gets some attention. And maybe they actually want to help. Maybe their parents are imprisoned too and they just want to free them.«

»That's a lot of maybe's,« Maxym objected.

James squeezed her hand lightly. »And in order to turn those into certain answers, we will first conduct a survey. Would you feel better if you were there? You're a good judge of character and you're the one a lot of the students respect.«

»That's sweet. But I think your respect is far greater. No, I'll leave the conversations to you. I have some catching up to do and I want to prepare for the exams. These are my firsts at Hogwarts and I want to do my best.«

James nodded. »Of course. I'll give you an update afterwards and tell you how it was. I think I'll ask Colin if he wants to be there. He's been doing well lately and had the idea to look for the ears in the library. Pretty impressive.«

Maxym stopped, causing James to pause in his movement as well. »If Colin's around, take the opportunity to observe him.«

»Colin? Do you suspect anything?« James was all ears.

But Maxym shook her head. »No, Colin is loyal and would not betray our cause, but he is often with Katelyn and I believe the two of them ...« she was interrupted by James.

»And you think the two of them are together?« He laughed out, pulling her along with him. »Of course they have something. Al and Scorp saw them in a corner yesterday and I'll say this, he wasn't showing her the beautiful architecture of Hogwarts there. But we shouldn't talk too loud about it. We're no better.« With a grin, he pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her slender waist and robbed her of a small kiss.

»Hey, we should get to our dorms or someone will catch us.« Playfully, she smacked his arm with her fist. But her laugh betrayed her.

»I know that. I'm just going to get a goodnight kiss.« With that, he kissed her more intimately and his hands moved lower.

After they both separated again, much to James' displeasure, they continued walking up to the castle.

»But seriously, can you keep an eye on Colin? I just don't want him to hurt Katelyn. Maybe you can ask him about his intentions?«

»About his intentions? Maxym, this isn't the twentieth century anymore, is it?«James shook his head.

»So what? I'm just looking out for my friends,« Maxym justified himself.

»And who asked me about my intentions?« asked James, putting his arm around her shoulders.

»No one, everyone has too much respect or fear of you. But I'm a big girl, and I can take care of myself.«

»And Katelyn isn't?«

Maxym snuggled up to him. The sun had set and it was getting nippy »Of course, but double caution won't hurt.«

The next evening, James had arranged to meet Colin. They wanted to talk to the new candidates together. Colin, through his close friendship with a Hufflepuff student, had persuaded the house elves to let them use the kitchen for two hours.

After scanning the room for extendable ears, they took three chairs and a table and placed them in the centre.

»The first one is Neal Fosse. He's from Ravenclaw,« Colin read out. He made a list for himself and James. Slowly they were losing track of each other. »Eight students want to introduce themselves today.«

James, who had just taken a sip of tea, choked and coughed. »Eight? That many?«

»I told you that many had come to me.«

»But how are we supposed to talk to all of them?« Before Colin could answer the question, Neal walked in.

»Hello, oh the great James Potter is with us. What an honour.« Neal was casual and relaxed, shook hands with both of them and sat down opposite them.

»Why do you want to join us?« James got straight to the point. They needed to make it quick if they were going to talk to all eight of them today.

»I overheard that you guys want to help and I want to be a part of it. I admire our parents for being in Dumbledore's Army and I want to follow in their footsteps.«

»Your parents were in training with James' father?« asked Colin, taking notes as he went.

Neal nodded. »Exactly. I want to be like them.«

James rose. »All right, thank you. We still want to talk to the others. Colin will let you know then.« With that, he dismissed the Ravenclaw student who was a grade above them. »Can you send the next one in?« Neal nodded and walked out.

»You want me to let him know?« Colin looked at James in wonder.

The latter patted him encouragingly on the shoulder. »Yes, you've become our man for recruiting. We'll see and hear everyone and then decide. You will then tell them and introduce them to us. While you're doing that, though, you keep an eye on them first.«

»Eh, yeah right.« Colin was amazed at so much confidence. He would never have guessed that someone from the Potter-Weasley clan would involve someone from outside.

»Hello, I'm Izidor Devine.« A young girl, perhaps Lily's age, came up to them. James had immediately decided that she was far too young for their company, but he wanted to give her a chance. He would want the same for his sister.

»Hello Izidor, why do you want to join us?« James leaned forward and waited for her answer.

»My brother, he was an Auror and was put under house arrest. I heard that you guys are fighting to get them released. I want my brother to be released too.« She held back tears ironically.

»Thank you for coming. We will hear all the applicants first and later I will come to you and tell you our decision.« Colin took a similar view to James. She was still too young.

Izidor nodded and left. The next two, Conrad Vinter and Nils Tomowka were in als and Scorp's class. James did not know them well, but in the brief conversation they made a good impression.

After Nils left, Gustav Mascone came in. »Hi, you're Colin and James?« A little shyly he sat down at the table.

»Yeah right and you must be Gustav. Hufflepuff, right?« Gustav nodded. Colin didn't know him, but Magenta had always done little projects with him in Potions and spoke highly of his work.

»So why do you want to be a part of the Rebels?« wondered James. At first glance, he could see neither courage nor daring. Two qualities that the Rebels' venture required.

»I don't want to be a part at all, I just want to help. Magenta quizzed me about some recipes and she is, how shall I put it. She's not very talented at brewing. I want to support you and brew potions. Even the difficult ones. I'm good at that. It's fun for me. I already do it in my spare time, after all, so at least the potions can be used.«

»Definitely useful skills. Though we'd rather Magenta didn't know her potions weren't that good,« James commented with a wink.

Gustav, blushing slightly, cleared his throat. »Yes, I would prefer that. But the fights,« he became serious again. » I want to be kept out of the fights.«

»Thank you Gustav. We will definitely discuss it,« Colin finished.

As Gustav was about to rise and leave, the door was flung open and a drunken Sunjay Masque walked trough it. James knew him. A drunkard who always managed to smuggle alcohol into Hogwarts and incited many of the younger students to commit school infractions. He was reprimanded several times by Professor McGonagall, but until now his parents' influence prevented him from being expelled from Hogwarts. One of the rare cases in Gryffindor that one could be ashamed of.

»Well, what are you doing here? Can I join your crap club? You need someone like me, don't you!« Sunjay looked at James provocatively. James, however, did not respond further, but indicated to Gustav to leave. Gustav, visibly uncomfortable, gratefully accepted the opportunity and quickly disappeared through the open door.

»Sunjay, it's not your turn yet.« Colin had him on the list, but knew straight away that James would object. Just to be fair, he had written him down.

»Tze, do you know what influence I have?«

»What influence? As far as I can remember, your parents and only your parents have that influence.« James didn't let him get a word in edgewise. He was tired of it. The conversations had worn him out and all he wanted to do was go to bed. An argument with Sunjay was too much.

»Oh the great Potter. Thinks he's more powerful than me. But where is your oh so great family now? Where are the Potters and Weasleys. Even your little girlfriend has one foot in Azkaban. So is her dear brother.« Sunjay looked at James with burning eyes.

Mentioning Maxym was too much. James could no longer contain himself. In a few steps he had closed the distance to Sunjay, grabbed him by the collar and thrown him over his shoulder backwards onto the table. There he pressed him firmly onto the tabletop. Sunjay had the air forced out of his lungs and did not know what was happening for a few seconds. Until now, no one had dared to deal with him like that.

Colin, who was also surprised, had caught himself quicker and grabbed James' wrist. »Come on man. It's all good. Sunjay here made a stupid comment and he's going to apologise for it. Let him down,« he tried to reassure his friend.

»Apologise? Hardly. James is going to wish he could fall in the dust in front of me. I'm going to report this to my parents,« gasped Sunjay. Still pressing him down on the table, James was slow to catch his breath.

»Pah, don't make me laugh. The time will come when your parents will also fall from grace. We all know they turned a blind eye when good, righteous wizards and witches were arrested,« James spoke angrily.

»Come on, let him go. This is getting us nowhere.« Colin managed to loosen James' grip and pulled him away from Sunjay.

The latter rubbed his neck and breathed heavily. »You'll pay for that, Potter,« he muttered, drawing his wand with his left hand.

»Expelliarmus!« shouted Ashwin, who was just coming through the door. Sunjay's wand went flying across the room in a high arc and landed in Ashwin's hand.

Colin and James looked first at Sunjay and then at Ashwin.

»Need my help again, Jamie boy?« Ashwin, also from Gryffindor, was a good friend of James. However, the latter had never asked him if he wanted to join the Rebels, as his parents were under house arrest and he didn't want to attract any unnecessary attention. »Sunjay, get the fuck out of here and no one will know you tried to shoot a wizard in the back. Come on, get out of here.« Ashwin pointed to the door.

Sunjay rose laboriously and trotted to the door past Ashwin. »My wand?« Sunjay held out his hand.

His counterpart shook his head. »You won't get it until we meet in the common room in an hour. At least then we'll know you won't do anything stupid.«

With a snort and the knowledge that he was losing to three, Sunjay trailed off and the mood became relaxed and easy in a flash.

»Ashwin, what are you doing here« James came running up to him and hugged his friend.

»Saving your ass as usual. Heard about your little recruitment meeting and I want to get on the list.«

»On the list? But you said you wanted to lay low.« James offered him the chair across from them and the three sat down at the table.

»Yes I did, but when I found out at lunchtime today that Mum was on trial and Dad was sent to Azkaban without a trial, I no longer have any reason to hold back. And as you can see, I don't think Colin can restrain you on his own.« At that, he grinned at Colin.

»It's bloody hard, too,« the latter retorted.

»Man, sucks to hear that. Sorry.« James knew Ashwin's parents well. They were both good-hearted people. If anyone was innocent, it was them.

»Aw, come on. We all have someone in Azkaban, parents under house arrest and on trial. And can I be in?« Ashwin looked at them both expectantly.

»I don't suppose you'll have to wait long?« Colin knew immediately what James was thinking and the latter nodded.

»You're in. But don't make a big fuss about it. The others won't know until tonight and tomorrow morning.«

»All right. I'll send the last one in then?« Ashwin had stood up and left.

»Well at least I've got support now,« Colin said with a grin and James grinned too. Forgotten was the brief exchange with Sunjay.

The last applicant, Ivan Terzi, came across as brave in the interview and pleased them both. They had quickly made up their minds and ended the interviews.

On the way back, Colin pulled out the list. »So we'll take Neal, Conrad and Nils from Ravenclaw and Gustav and Ivan from Hufflepuff. I'll give them the good news tomorrow at breakfast.«

James nodded. »Yes, and tell Izidor that we will do everything we can to get her brother released from house arrest. I don't want her to do anything on her own.«

I am very happy if you leave me a comment. I welcome your wishes and suggestions for the third part. Maybe you would like to see a certain scene, a couple for a chapter in the focus or something else. Feel free to let me know.