Book I: The Birth of the Order

Chapter I: Reunion

Music Choice:"The Boys are Back In Town" - Thin Lizzy

September 1979...

The autumn of 1979 brought many changes to the wizarding world. For our heros, who had only just begun their journey, the world was an open door. They, however, did not have as many exciting and new possibilities as the typical Hogwarts student when they finish their final year. Nobody could ignore what was on the horizon. The Daily Prophet had succumbed to the whispers leaking from the darkest corners of the wizarding world, and the dawn of the Order of the Pheonix had arrived. James Potter, dressed in his simple slacks and jacket with his glasses positioned perfectly, walked out of the pub after having a quick pint onto the streets just outside the entrance to Diagon Alley. He was supposed to meet his friends, but upon glancing at the door to the candy shop across the street he noticed that one had made a quick stop there. Remus walked out of the candy shop and waved. "Prongs!" He shouted happily. Remus pocketed his chocolate and approached his Gryffindor mate.

James turned around, hearing his nickname "Moony! Am I glad to see you!" He grinned, hugging his friend once he got closer. "How have you been? Where have you been?"

"Brilliant. I just went on a chocolate run. Would you like some?" He pulled out two bars and offered some to James who broke off a bit of the candy and popped it in his mouth.

"I mean where have you been all summer. Your letter's have been sparatic. Finally tried to call a few times and your mum said you hadn't been staying at the house for more than a few days at a time."

"You here and there, you know how it is," Remus shrugged.

"No I don't know," James said as he stopped chewing. "What aren't you telling me, Moony?"

"I've just been all over really. But How have you been? And where is Padfoot? I was sure he'd be with you. Hasn't he been living with you since sixth year?" As if summoned, Sirius strode down the street towards his friends, occasionally shaking the leaves out of his hair in an unsurprisingly dog-like way. "Speak of the devil." Remus said with a smile on his face as Sirius walked over. Sirius pulled a cigarette from behind his ear and tucked it in his mouth. "How are you Padfoot?" Remus asked.

"Moony! My Darling!" Sirius said and gave him a hug. "I'm alright. Got your chocolate fix, I see."

"You know it," He said with a laugh and then offered Sirius a bar. "Here you go."

"No thanks, mate. But I could use a light. I forgot my lighter. Still know that candle lighting trick McKinnon taught you?"

"You really shouldn't be smoking so much, Pads," Remus warned.

Sirius removed the cigarette and smirked, "Oh don't be jealous just because I've found something else to suck on in your absence." This earned a glare from Remus. "Come on now, Moony. For old time's sake?" He lifted the cigarette and Remus just sighed with a smile before snapping his fingers and lighting the cigarette with a flame from his fingertip.

Remus then glanced around. "Looks like Peter is late again."

Sirius shook his head to decline the candy and shrugged. "You know Wormtail, Moony. He can't be on time to save his life." Sirius' gaze then shifted beside him to face James who met him with a raised eyebrow. "What?" he asked returning the glance.

James pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and huffed, "So, Padfoot, you chatter on with Moony and don't even greet me? Do I mean nothing to you?!"

Sirius stepped back and looked James up and down. "Moony," he said while scratching his chin and blowing out a puff of smoke. "This bloke reminds me of an old friend. Do you remember?"

"Why yes, Padfoot," Remus said while taking a similar posture. "I believe he reminds us of James Potter."

"Ah, yes, James. That boy who lived his days causing mischief with us. Whatever happened to him?"

"I believe he was kidnapped by a redhead."

"OH!" Sirius threw up his hands and gave an overdramatic groan. "Poor James! I should have known that temptress would steal his soul away. How young he was. How full of life! How passionate about all things ME!"

"Are you two done yet?" James asked with crossed arms and an unamused face.

Sirius groaned in annoyance, "Oh come on, James. I haven't even mentioned how it's almost 1980 and you are still in white bell-bottoms." He took a breath and thought about it before nodding. "Well, I believe I'm done."

"Good. And the color is called sandpaper, by the way." James smiled before he and Sirius embraced. "I have been getting your owls every day," he chuckled.

Remus looked surprised, "Hold on. I thought you and Sirius were still at the Potter Estate."

"Oh no, Moony." Sirius said while shaking his head. "See James here got a little flat in some muggle villiage. A flat meant for two, no less. But does he invite me to be his roommate? Nooooooo."

James Just rolls his eyes. "I have my reasons."

"And they are?"

"Well, I expect my living situation may be... changing soon... I hope..." He looked at his feet then changed the subject. "Has anyone seen any of the others? McKinnon, Frank, the Prewitts?"

Remus nodded. "I heard from Frank. He and Alice eloped this Summer. Marlene, I heard, was meeting with Lily today. I think they had a reunion of sorts planned in Diagon Alley. All the girls… well not Tabitha. She's still not been heard from in about a year. Word is she stayed true to her word and started traveling. It's surprising really. You know how girls stick together."

"So do boys," James said defensively. "We are just missing Peter." His words had not even finished before they heard the steps of the pudgy boy approaching.

"About time, Wormtail," Sirius called with a smirk.

Peter's run came to a halt and he panted heavily, "Good... to see.. you too..."

Remus just patted his back as if a few whacks would get the oxygen flowing again. After a moment Peter was upright. "I'm here... what is the interesting news we were promised."

"It's ok Pete. I'll explain it over an ice-cream. I know that's your favorite."

"Deal." He perked up. "I sure have missed you lads this summer. It's been... lonesome."

"Now let's not get too sappy," Sirius muttered

Meanwhile...

Diagon Alley was bustling with traffic, as it usually was during this time of the year. Marlene McKinnon and Lily Evans had just finished their tea at the Leaky Cauldron and hurried to one of the many shops. "All I'm saying, Lily, is that you shouldn't let him forget about all those times he teased us in school."

"Marlene, Please," Lily laughed out. "I appreciate your concern but I won't let James get away with anything simply because we are dating." She and Marlene had kept in close contact during their year after Hogwarts. Friendship and loyalty to the people she cared about is what made Lily a Gryffindor. She walked up to a store window. "One sec, Mar." She used the reflection to adjust her unruly red hair then spotted someone else in the reflection behind her. "Tabs?" Lily mumbled and turned around. She spotted some sandy-brown hair in the crowd ahead but it vanished quickly.

"What do I look like?" Marlene sighed as she stepped up to the reflection as well and brushed her blonde bangs aside. "Lils?" She asked noticing her friend's face.

"I thought I just saw Tabitha," Lily said and pointed in the direction of the crowd.

"Unlikely. The lass bolted after graduation to travel. Never even said goodbye. Come on," Marlene said and took Lily's arm, "Let's stop by Flourish and Blotts."

Once there, Marlene found interest in an assortment of history books, but Lily appeared to be searching for one in particular. "Do you really think it was her?" Marlene asked. "After all, you're being quiet."

"We are in a bookstore. That's a rule," She said with a smirk.

"Are you thinking about Potter then?"

"Well, could you blame me if I was? James always gets into trouble with those boys."

"They are all grown men now. Well, Sirius is a grown baby, but still."

They laughed again and Lily pulled a book from the shelf. "I suppose you'll see him later when they crash our shopping day, as they most likely will."

"Ugh, Black..."

"Still hate him for having too much firewhiskey at the end of year party?"

"Oh no. I'm too old for that now. Can't believe I agreed to be his date that night. That boy certainly didn't know a thing about girls did he? He knows a lot less about women than he gives off."

Just outside, James and the others moved up the streets of Diagon Alley searching for a glimpse of Lily or Marlene.

"Knowing Lily, I'm guessing she's in the book store," James said aloud.

"Ah-ha! So this was a self serving reunion. We aren't here for ice-cream. We are here to stalk your girlfriend." Peter said.

"Well I just really want you boys to get to know her better." James said with a shrug.

"Uh.. we were in classes with her for years, mate," Sirius said bluntly. "She's a know-it-all flirt who cast some kind of spell on you. What's there to still know?"

"She's not a flirt," he said defensively. "I just really want you boys to get to know her outside of Hogwarts, as just Lily. As my girlfriend."

"Why?" Sirius shrugged. "Why's it so important. We all have always kept our dating lives very separate... well those of us who had a dating life." Sirius said with a smirk as he slicked his hair back.

"Lily is different," James said. "I don't want her to be separate. She likes you all anyway... mostly."

"James." Remus finally spoke. "Is there something you're trying to tell us?"

James shifted his weight a bit and adjusted his glasses. He opened his mouth to form the words and only after a few tries did sound finally emerge. "I'm... well, I think it's time... the thing is, Lily.. well she... well I'm going to-"

"Ice cream was it!?" Sirius interjected sharply to cut him off. He tossed his cigarette away and passed in front of them all. "Come on. Last one there is buying." He turned his back to them to hid the emptiness on his face. He knew what James was trying to say just then.. and he wasn't ready for it.

Lily had not been mistaken when she spotted her former roommate in the crowd. Tabitha Delaney had been traveling in the Muggle World for a year now, but recent events she'd witness led her back to Diagon Alley on this day to pick up a copy of The Dailey Prophet in an attempt to make sense of it all. She'd just picked up a copy and was scanning the articles when she heard her name called.

"Tabs?" It was Marlene's voice "Tabitha!"

Tabitha froze and let out a sigh. "Shit..." She muttered and meekly turned. Not only was it Marlene, but the entire gang had met up including Jame's and his friends. Tabitha tucked the paper under her arm and forced a smile to hide the guilt on her face. "Hey Mar, Lils... Long time no see..."

"I'll say...where have you been?" Lily said as she led the group across the path to Tabitha. "I've been owling you for weeks. You didn't even respond to my last letter."

"Probably because she can't write more than a few sentences. She was homeschooled in primary you know."

"Always a pleasure to see you, Black." She snapped at him.

"That's what people tell me, Delaney," He reached up to wrap an arm around Marlene but she smacked his hand away. "Ouch... some people, anyway."

Remus took it upon himself to defuse the tension as he walked towards Tabitha. "Tabitha, hey." He said with a smile.

"Lupin... hi."

Remus looked a bit puzzled by Tabitha's short reaction to him. "Well...it's good to see you." Remus smiled then backed away feeling that he must have done something wrong.

James quickly joined them. He stood by Lily's side. "Hey Tabitha" he said shortly but tried to be polite.

"Potter..." Tabitha said and felt awkward just standing there. She felt like explaining. She glanced around. "Whole gang still together huh?"

Nobody responded before Lily spoke up and said, "Why did you run off on us like that, Tabs?"

"Look... I'm not staying long or I would have told you I was coming. I just needed more money from Gringots and," she took out the newspaper, "and this. In fact, perhaps you lot know about it. I'm sure you guessed I had been traveling like I planned. I've been seeing... Strange things."

"What sorts of strange things?" James looked at her questioningly.

"You mean that American's drive on the other side of the road? We knew that one, Delaney," Sirius said.

"Sirius," James said in a warning tone, "Are you talking about the stuff popping up in the Prophet, Tabitha?"

"Aye... Muggles have started dying under suspicious circumstances. Healthy muggles and in the most public places. And the only thing linking their deaths," she lowered her voice to finish by saying, "is the mention of a green flash noticed by witnesses. I was in Paris and witnessed it for myself. A family at the Louvre. Just... Struck down. I knew it had to be a killing curse. I'd just spoken with them myself."

"And they were muggles?"

"Aye. I overheard them talking about Hogwarts. Their son looked about 11 so I asked if he had been accepted. Sure enough he was a muggle born. I gave them a bit of advice for parents of a first year then we parted ways. When I left the Louvre an hour later, they were dead in the courtyard. All three of them, with muggle police everywhere." Tabs felt uneasy and looked around. "Can we find somewhere safer to talk about this?"

Lily nodded "Yes, we can. About that and other things."

"Fortescues?" Remus suggested, "Haven't been in a while."

"Yes," James said, "Let's go there."

Inside the Ice Cream Shop, the group took their seats at a large window booth and Tabitha began her story. "All these deaths have been in families connected to our world. It's not just muggleborns. Squibs are getting targeted too. Full wizard families with non-magical children are vanishing. I remember Black's eejit brother talking about something like this coming."

"Why isn't the prophet reporting things like this? Or does the Ministry of Magic know?" Lily wondered.

"The Prophet likes to keep it quiet. They are afraid people can't handle the truth," James suggested.

Remus nodded and leaned over to Sirius to whisper, "You remember your family speaking about this at all?"

"I choose not to pay attention to my loony family." Sirius muttered bitterly to Remus. "But I'm sure Regulus knows a fair amount. He buys into that cult, I don't."

"I know you don't, Padfoot, but it's something we are all going to have to deal with. We are going to have to accept that things are about to get unorthodox, even moreso than the four of us are used to." Suddenly, they noticed the only sound was Peter's tapping foot. They looked to the rest of the table and saw all eyes on them.

James pushed up his glasses and grinned. "What are you two whispering about?"

"Oh, sorry."

"No worries, but now that you are paying attention though, I have a message from Dumbledore. That's why I suggested we all meet and it's why I had Lily round up some of her friends, even if Marlene was the only one who bothered joining."

"You're welcome," Marlene said with a grin.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh yee of little faith. I've got commitments from the Prewitts and Alice, may I remind you. They'll join us as soon as they can. Mary never responded, but I wasn't expecting her to. Her mind moves so rapidly, she probably just forgot to reply. But enough waiting. What is the big secret?"

James pushed himself from his seat and adjusted his glasses once more. "Dumbledore is forming an order, a group of people wanting to change the current events." He looked around the table at them all to indicate how important this is. "The purpose of this group is to bring an end to You-Know-Who and his followers. This will be dangerous. There is a great chance some of us sitting at this table right now will risk and lose a great deal." He looked down and hesitates before continuing. "But...if we do, it won't be in vain."

There was a silence that followed until it was broken by Sirius, "Practice that speech in the mirror, did you?"

"Be Serious!" James snapped.

"Always am. It's in the name." He winked back at his friend.

"I for one have decided to join Dumbledore's Order." James said to everyone else and he looked down to Lily who quickly replaced the worry on her face with a look of strength.

"I'm joining too then," she said as she took his hand. "I want to help put an end to this madness."

Tabitha looked at the faces around the table, Particularly Sirius. This would mean he would have to fight against his own brother. She didn't say anything while captivated by that thought. Remus looked at James. Could Dumbledore really want him to join too? Everyone would be suspicious of him if they knew his secret. "I would like to join, if I can."

"Who could refuse your help, Mr. Prefect," Sirius said to him with a smile. He then looked to the others, "This needs to end. I'll join. You know I'll always fight alongside you anywhere, mate."

"Black," Tabitha hesitated before continuing, "What if it comes down to you or Regulus?"

Sirius stared at her solidly for a long moment. The atmosphere got cold in the silence and he shrugged it off. "I'll do what I need to." He said it with little emotion, but anyone that knew him could tell how much the idea bothered him.

James nodded, "Dumbledore would be proud to have you, Padfoot. He told me that. And you too, Remus. He knows how hard this is going to be. He knows he's asking much of us, but if we don't start the fight against Voldemort then nobody else will. Or else, a lot more people, innocent people, are going to be hurt." He looked to Tabitha. "The boy Tabitha told us about didn't deserve his fate. Because of his blood status he was murdered. I'm not standing by and letting them get away with that."

"Agreed James. If we aren't happy about what is going on, then it is our job to stand up and try to change it," Remus said. Lily nodded agreeing with everyone but part of her was worried. She looked over at James. She couldn't lose him. She couldn't lose anyone at this table. She stayed quiet and glanced over out the window. James normally would argue with Lily about joining. He didn't want her to be in harm's way. He had spoken with Dumbledore on the matter and understood it wouldn't be fair to not allow her to do exactly what he wanted to do, protect those they cared about. He had to start compromising more with her. Especially if they were going to have a future together, on which he certainly planned. He actually meant to talk to the lads about that, but now wasn't the time.

Marlene had been quiet before now, thinking of what this might mean. "I'll join," she decided then nudged Peter.

"Oh come on," he moaned. "Can't we just enjoy our sweets and worry about this tomorrow."

"There may not be a tomorrow, Peter."

"So that's it, then?" He asked. "We are really accepting that You-Know-Who is real?"

"We've known he's been real for some time, Peter," Remus said gently. "I know it wasn't easy to accept, but you have to."

"Oh, alright," he groaned reluctantly. "I'll join too."

Remus glanced at Tabitha but made sure not to look at her directly. "Remember this is your choice. We know you just stumbled onto this meeting. No one is forcing you to decide one way or the other. No one will judge you for your decision." He shot a look at Sirius with a raised eyebrow. "Right, Sirius?" Sirius just tossed his head and scoffed as he adjusted the free falling hair in his face.

Tabitha looked at Lily. If she had the chance to help her then she had to. She owed her that much. "I'll... I'll help however I can, James."

Sirius clicked his tongue. "Well that was perfectly on the fence."

Remus elbowed Sirius for the statement and quickly picked up a butterbeer to toast. "For the future whatever it may bring."

"And whoever may join us," James said as he lifted his glass. Everyone else lifted their glasses except for Peter who just shook his head.

"I hope we know what we are up against." He finally picked up his glass and held it to James. "Cheers."

The Adventure Continues Next as The Order Grows