October 31, 1970

It had been almost two months since Andromeda and Narcissa had gotten back to Hogwarts. During that time, Abhimanyu and Bellatrix had not been involved in combat, as they had been mostly training. However, their trainers had begun to stress on the importance of self defense more than ever, and as a result, their training had gotten more vigorous.

Andromeda and Narcissa had been writing often to them, mostly telling them about classes and passing comments on the Black Sisters having been disowned, but so far, there had not been any extremely serious matters so far with them.

Of course, Andromeda and Narcissa had suffered some rejection, but they had also gotten support from Collin Saunders Hebblethwaite and other like minded students.

Ginger had been stuck in his training as well, and had often been joining Abhimanyu and Bellatrix for dinner to get some time away from all the stress.

And of course, on weekends, the Potters and the Bones had been inviting Abhimanyu and Bellatrix over for dinner and needless to say, they had been spoiling him.

Bellatrix had not been very comfortable with James due to his spoiled attitude, but had grown to like him, in a rather odd sort of way, chasing him through corridors and threatening to eat him if he performed any sort of prank on her.

Of course, James had only laughed in her face, and while she had been annoyed and had glared at him, she had been unable to deny that she loved that sort of laughter.

Of course, Abhimanyu's laughs were wonderful at times, but he could laugh about senseless jokes as well.

Currently, it was the 31st of October, and with the day being a weekend, the whole day was off, not to mention it was Halloween.

And it was morning, and Abhimanyu and Bellatrix were dining on some pancakes and crumpets.

Bellatrix spoke as she buttered her crumpet, "Gosh, I literally just can't help wishing Andi and Cissy were here with us right now."

"I know right," Abhimanyu agreed, "I can't believe how fast those days flew by. At least we don't have anything to do today."

Bellatrix replied, "Well, we just have to find something to do, don't we?"

Right as she spoke, they suddenly heard a tapping on the backdoor.

Abhimanyu went there to find an owl tapping its beak against the door, with a letter at its feet.

Abhimanyu opened the door and offered the owl a treat even as Bellatrix got up and picked the letter up after having washed her hands.

She opened the envelope even as the owl took a few treats and suddenly exclaimed, "Abhimanyu, come here, it's from Dumbledore!"

Abhimanyu rushed over to read the letter.

Dear Abhimanyu Pandey and Bellatrix Black,

It is with great pleasure that I would like to invite you over to today's Halloween feast in Hogwarts. However, more than that, there is a matter of great importance that I request your presence for.

The threat of Voldemort cannot be ignored, but also, the ministry can only do so much as try to stop the Dark Lord and his forces, which are growing day by day. If we are to take up a stand, then we must do so together.

I have heard of your duels with Voldemort and how you have courageously defied him more than once. And I must say, you are very lucky indeed to have survived and to have faced off against him and put up a good fight.

I would like to discuss the formation of a group which I am planning to create. I will divulge more information to you in person.

Therefore, please do join us for tonight's Halloween feast. You may come at any time you please, if of course you wish to see your old Hogwarts, where you met and eventually fell in love.

Speaking of which, I am deeply sorry, Bellatrix, about what has happened to you and your sisters. It is truly a shame that one's parents would rather force their child into a loveless marriage to save face rather than get to know someone properly simply because he isn't a pureblood.

Your sisters have been fine so far. They have faced some 'odds', but thankfully, there are students even within Slytherin that are like-minded and have been quite helpful and accepting. Collin Saunders Hebblethwaite, whom you might recall, has been quite helpful towards them.

I wish you all the best with your auror training, and congratulations on your engagement.

Please do come today itself, and I request you to be here by at least 7 pm.

Yours lovingly,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

Abhimanyu exclaimed, "Well, this is quite surprising! It's really a shame we haven't been in contact much with Dumbledore ever since graduation!"

Bellatrix replied, "I am quite surprised at this. Listen Abhimanyu, since it's a holiday, how about we go a little after lunch this afternoon and see Andi and Cissy? It'll be so great to see them."

Abhimanyu replied, "Great idea. Let's do that. We certainly need a break from all that studying anyway."

Suddenly, he heard some sizzling and cried out, "Oh no, I'll get that pancake. It sounds like it's burning."

Bellatrix pushed him lightly and strode into the kitchen saying, "No, I'll get it for you."

She went into the kitchen and managed to take the pancake off the pan.

Bringing it out and serving it to Abhimanyu, she said, "Here you go, served by the woman here."

Abhimanyu said, "You should have let me get it. I was going to give it to you."

Bellatrix smirked and said, "It's Kali Yuga, isn't it?"

Abhimanyu replied jokingly, "Well, yeah. Wait a minute, are you fattening me to eat me?"

Bellatrix replied, "Mhmm…, just you wait and soon, since it's Halloween, I'll be extra scary tonight and eat you!"

Abhimanyu just laughed at that, and Bellatrix placed her hands on her hips and playfully glared at him before pointing her fingers at him.

Later on, in the afternoon…

Abhimanyu and Bellatrix had just arrived at Hogwarts and were walking around the lake by themselves.

Bellatrix commented, looking at the lake, "It's so beautiful, isn't it?"

Abhimanyu agreed, "It sure is, being back at good old Hogwarts and wandering around the lake. I sometimes can't help wishing I were 17 years old again."

Bellatrix said, "That was the year of our first kiss. You remember Rodolphus on the floor?"

She couldn't help laughing at that, and Abhimanyu couldn't help grinning at that.

He then said, "Do you remember Ted Tonks? We went to his performance that year."

Bellatrix replied, "Oh yes, and I remember Andi was just gazing at him like he's…"

Her words were interrupted as they suddenly came across a sight in front of their eyes, a very, very unexpected scene.

Because, right in front of them, there stood Andromeda and Ted Tonks, kissing.

Bellatrix suddenly felt the urge to just run forwards and rip them apart and scream at Ted, and would have done so if Abhimanyu had not closed her mouth and pulled her behind a tree, closing her eyes as well.

A minute later, Bellatrix freed herself and before Abhimanyu could stop her, she marched up straight to Andromeda and Ted who had ended their kiss and shouted, "Hey you! What do you think you're doing to my sister?!"

Andromeda suddenly stood protectively in front of Ted and cried out, "Bella, please, don't hurt him! He's not harming me!"

Bellatrix cried out, "If that's true, then what is going on here?!"

Andromeda breathed in and out and replied, "I'll explain. Ted Tonks here is my boyfriend. I'm in love with him. And he loves me."

Abhimanyu who had reached there tried to say, "Bella…"

Bellatrix cut him off with a glare and hissed, "I'll handle this."

She then turned to Ted and demanded, "Is this true? You had better tell me you are not trying to harm her!"

Ted raised his hands and cried out, "Why would I harm her? She's such a wonderful person! I love her, and I wouldn't let anyone harm her, myself included; I can assure you that."

Bellatrix looked at Ted suspiciously, but didn't see anything suspicious.

He didn't seem to be lying. With her occlumency skills, partly from the Black family, and partly as part of auror training, she tried to probe his mind, but couldn't sense any ill-intentions towards her sister.

She then said, "Alright. I believe you. I just don't want you to be used like the dark lord would have used us, used me, if I had, you know what I mean."

Andromeda replied, "I know, I'm sorry for all this, I was planning on telling you soon anyways, but I guess I should have told you earlier."

Abhimanyu asked, "How long have you been together?"

Andromeda replied, "Ever since Ted's concert at the Three Broomsticks, I've been really into him, and after our fifth year, he confessed to me that he was in love with me. That's one reason why he invited us to his concert that year."

Ted added, "I admit, I just wanted to get to know you all better, before trying to, you know, tell your sister about my feelings."

Bellatrix said, "If Ted is really being genuine with all this, if he is prepared to protect you should something bad happen, if he really loves you, and you really love him, then I have no problem with this, even though he's a Muggleborn. I mean, I'm in love with a Muggleborn myself, so who am I to judge?"

She then looked at Ted and said, "Heard that? Will you take care of her? Do you truly love her? Please answer me right now."

Ted replied, "I love her, with all my heart."

Bellatrix looked at him for a while and finally said, "You'd better mean it, or there will be hell to pay."

Ted replied, "I do mean it, I swear."

Bellatrix finally sighed and said, "I'm sorry Andi, I just can't believe my baby sister is already dating someone, and I don't want anything horrible to happen to you."

Andromeda laughingly replied, "I know, but that doesn't mean you have to scare the hell out of every boy I come across. I never scared Abhimanyu, did I?"

Bellatrix smiled and said, "He's different, and I am the eldest."

Just then, they heard a third female voice pipe up, "The eldest sister, and the first one to fall in love with a Muggleborn."

Everyone turned around to see Narcissa approaching them, with Lucius following behind.

Lucius politely nodded and said, "Narcissa and I are together, just as Andromeda and Ted are."

Bellatrix rounded on Lucius and glaring at him, she hissed, "Swear that you love her!"

Lucius replied, "I love her with my life, and I would die if I had to in order to protect her."

Narcissa added, "Lucius loves me and I love him."

Bellatrix felt her head spinning. She had never expected the day that both of her sisters would tell her they were each in love with someone to come so soon.

Finally, Bellatrix broke the silence by sternly telling Lucius, "You'd better treat my sister properly, or I will kill you!"

Lucius smiled and said, "I can assure you that I would never wantonly treat her with disrespect or harm her."

Bellatrix said, "You'd better mean it, both of you, Ted and Lucius."

Ted and Lucius nodded before simultaneously replying, "Yes Bellatrix."

Bellatrix then sighed and said, "Well, both of you, I have to admit, I never expected this day would come so soon, but I'm happy for both of you, and I'm glad that Ted and Lucius are good friends of ours that we can trust to take good care of you."

Abhimanyu said, "I'm personally glad it's you two. By the way, I hope no one's causing too much of a headache. Is Rabastan Lestrange still here?"

Ted replied, "Oh yes, he still is. And he's been trying to pick on us all. I got so angry once when he insulted Andromeda and hit him, and Lucius saw it and said nothing."

Abhimanyu and Bellatrix couldn't help laughing at that.

Abhimanyu said, "Good, he deserves it!"

Just then, Andromeda looked at her watch and said, "Goodness, we'd better get to the castle. Dumbledore said he wanted to meet you, and I think he said he wanted the rest of us to be there with you."

Abhimanyu replied in sudden realization, "You're right. We'd better go. Come on."

A few minutes later, Abhimanyu and his friends were all standing outside Dumbledore's office. Abhimanyu knocked and a response came, "Enter."

They stepped inside the office and found Dumbledore sitting at his table, stroking his phoenix Fawkes who was perched on his arm.

"Ah, you've arrived," Dumbledore said, getting up to greet them, "Why don't you all sit down?"

Abhimanyu and the group sat down on some chairs that had been provided, even as Dumbledore moved to a closet and asked, "Would you like some butterbeer or just water?"

Abhimanyu replied, "Butterbeer for me please." And of course, the rest of the group opted for butterbeer.

Dumbledore poured some glasses of Butterbeer and served them to the group of youngsters in front of him.

He then said, "I hope you are doing fine, dear Abhimanyu and Bellatrix. It has been more than a year since I last saw you two."

Abhimanyu replied, "It has been a long time indeed. And auror training can be a bit intense to say the least."

Bellatrix added, "We've still got two more years to cover before we become fully fledged aurors."

Dumbledore said, "Well I trust you are working hard enough. I am sure you will make it."

"Thanks Professor," Abhimanyu and Bellatrix said.

Dumbledore smiled and said, "My dear students, I am no longer your headmaster, you can just call me Albus now."

Bellatrix said, "It's going to take some time to get used to it."

Dumbledore then said, "There is one thing of grave importance which I must discuss with you."

Abhimanyu asked, "What is it?"

Dumbledore explained, "It seems Voldemort has now stepped up his plans. He has declared war upon the wizarding world, and he seeks to purge the wizarding world of Muggleborns as being among us, he seeks to make them slaves, make the muggles slaves just as Grindelwald once did, and so much more. He is not beyond killing innocents to increase his power, which grows day after day."

Bellatrix said, "The Black family and its allies will no doubt support him. The Rosiers are on his side. And I have no doubt that Abraxas Malfoy will support him."

Lucius added, "Yes, unfortunately, it really is a shame that I will have to fight against my own father. My only consolation is that my mother still loves me and has not given me up, despite not following the ways of the family."

Andromeda added, "And I am sure that our parents will hardly care whether we live or die. As far as they're concerned, we're just blood traitors and strangers for having defied their ways."

Ted wrapped an arm around Andromeda comfortingly and said, "You're a wonderful person no matter what they say. I care about you, and I will fight by your side if you wish to fight."

Andromeda wrapped an arm around Ted in response, even as Bellatrix squeezed Abhimanyu's hand.

Dumbledore looked at them and said, "It gives me great joy to see such willingness to fight by the other's side, but it would give me greater joy if you were to expand that willingness to fight to include those beyond your circle of loved ones, for the sake of the world."

Abhimanyu said, "I have to admit, a lot of us are only willing to put ourselves in harm's way for loved ones."

Dumbledore smiled and said, "And that is where I come to the point, the reason as to why I summoned you all here."

The youngsters looked at him in silence.

After a few moments of silence, Dumbledore said, "I greatly feel that the efforts put in by the ministry will not be enough. Not only that, it is important that we all take part in the fight against Voldemort, regardless of background. And so, I have decided to create an organization dedicated to fighting the dark lord. It shall be known as the Order of the Phoenix."

Narcissa asked, "And you want us to join in?"

Dumbledore replied, "Several others have agreed to join in. However, I really wish to include the young. They are the cream of society, the ones that will carry on the legacy of our parents and forefathers, and if the young were to join, it would certainly have a positive effect against the efforts of the dark lord, who himself has been recruiting many followers for years."

There was silence between them for a few moments, and then Bellatrix broke it by saying, "If the dark lord will fight to crush us, then we shall fight back. I will join the Order of the Phoenix."

Abhimanyu raised his hand and said, "As will I."

Andromeda raised her hand and said, "I will join the Order and fight."

Ted raised his hand and added, "And I will support her and join the fight for justice."

Only Narcissa and Lucius were left.

Bellatrix looked at Narcissa and asked, "Cissy, what say you? Will you join us?"

Narcissa looked at everyone around before finally raising her hand and saying, "Bella, Andi, my dear sisters, I love you and I will join you."

Last amongst all, Lucius raised his hand and said, "I love Narcissa, and if she will join the Order of the Phoenix against Lord Voldemort, then I shall join in by her side. My only question is, we are still O.W.L. students, how can we contribute?"

Dumbledore smiled and said, "As you are still underage, both of you shall not be permitted to take part in our battles as of now. However, that does not mean you cannot help out somehow."

Lucius asked, "How?"

Dumbledore answered, "You could try to talk with students about the situation, and if there are any that you know would fight the dark lord for justice's sake, then you could direct them to the Order, of course you would have to inform me or one of the senior members."

Narcissa asked, "So as of now, Lucius and myself are recruiters, right?"

"You could say that, at least for now," Dumbledore replied.

A few days later…

A group of wizards and witches were all standing together in a room in Potter Manor, as Fleamont and Euphemia had heartily agreed to allow the members of Dumbledore's new group to use the manor for meetings should the need arise.

In the center, there stood Dumbledore with his smile of course.

And there, on his right, in the middle row, stood Abhimanyu Pandey and his soon to be wife, Bellatrix Black.

Just on Abhimanyu's right side, there stood his best friend and brother in all but blood, Ginger Hebblethwaite.

Just behind them were Andromeda Black and her boyfriend Ted Tonks.

And in the row just in front of them, there stood Narcissa and her boyfriend Lucius Malfoy.

Thus were assembled, the members of what had become the Order of the Phoenix.