Book I: Birth of the Order
Chapter IX: Scammander
Music Theme: Don't Let Me Down - The Beatles
Hogwarts September 1979...
Lily and James made their way up corridor's of Hogwarts towards Dumbledore's office, trying to keep the light on their wands dim to not wake the paintings. The Prewitt brothers had been clear. Dumbledore's message said to "Report to Hogwarts." After the smackdown by the Death Eaters in Hogsmede, James hoped Dumbledore had a space at the school for them to practice. He pulled Lily out of one of the passages behind one of the corridor tapestries and listened to make sure the halls were quiet.
"This reminds me of our final year," he smirked at her coyly.
"Oh I remember. It wasn't long ago that we went on our moonlit walks after hours-" She gave him a cheeky pinch.
"Oh look. We snogged on those steps. Snogged in that classroom. Snogged in that broom closet-"
"James..."
"Why did we ever stop snogging so much? I think we should pick the habit back up again. Let's start now, shall we?" He leaned over to her and she lifted her hand to block his lips. "We have a mission to complete, Mr. Potter."
"Spoil sport," he mumbled through her hand but their fun was interrupted when they heard someone in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. "Lily? What time is it?"
"Nearly half 2am."
"A bit early for class isn't it?" He dounced the light of their wands and took her hand, cautiously pulling her with him to the cracked door. He peeked inside and saw a figure moving in the dark. The door creaked a bit and the figure stopped at the noise. There was a moment of stillness and then suddenly James heard and old man say, "Petrificus Totallus," and a spell flew at him. James' arms slapped to his sides and he stiffened like a board, falling onto his back. Lily jumped instinctively in front of James, throwing the door the rest of the way open and aiming at the figure, "Expelliarmus!" The stranger's wand flew from his hand into hers. Once glance at it though and she knew she recognized it. "Professor Scamander!" She said in relief before waiving her wand and lighting the nearby candles to ignite the room. Professor Scamander was and old man with a grey mustache and shaggy but slicked back grey hair with a few brown hairs hanging on even in his old age. Even at this time of night, he was well dressed in a vest and dress-shirt with cuffed old-fashioned trousers and suspenders, but his teaching robe was hung up by the desk. "Lily?" He called out when he recognized her. "Good heavens, what are you doing here at this time of night?"
"We are here to see Dumbledore."
"Are you? Strange time to be keeping appoint ments."
"It's more an assignment really," she said, "and not the school kind."
"Ah..." the old man sat on the front of his desk. "I assume you're speaking of the fight against Voldemort and his band of followers?" Lily nodded and the old man's face dropped sadly.
"You don't believe in the fight, sir?" Lily asked walking across the classroom and handing his wand back to him. "But you were an auror. You faught against Grinlewald."
"I always admired how you learned the history of your professors, Lily. Some people think it's to be a teachers pet, but I knew better. You always just cared about us."
"Everyone has a story, sir. Their legacies are worth knowing so they can inspire the next generation. That's why we are here. People like you inspired us," She said as she waived her wand to James to release him from the spell.
"Don't tell me that," he said sadly as James scrambled up and adjusted his glasses. "Good Evening Professor," James said.
"A couple hours more and it will be morning, Mr. Potter," He said with a grin.
"Going somewhere?" James asked, nodding to the trunk beside the desk that the Professor had been packing.
"Yes," he said and returned to his work, waving his wand as he did to levitate items from shelves to their place in his trunk.
"Where will you go sir?" Lily asked.
"Oh, don't make it sound as though I'm an orphan, Ms. Evans," He chuckled. "I'm going to visit my Sister-in-law. She's been feeling a bit under the weather and my brother has been called away to work."
"You're running away," Lily said calmly.
The elderly Theseus Scammander took a deep breath before looking back to her. He walked across the classroom to her and took a seat at one of the desk beside her. "Lily… James… The world you are entering is one I have seen before. I watched a world crumble under the thumb of a selfish man. I lost friends… people I loved… and saw things I cannot unsee. For years it fueled me. I became a warrior just like you two are now. For a time, I did good. But when I stood in here," he motioned to the classroom, "when I saw all of your faces… so naive to what life can be… I realized something." He glanced at James. "What classroom is this Mr. Potter?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts, sir."
"And why do we learn the lessons we do in here?"
"So that we win in a fight, of course."
"No," The older man said shaking his head. "When I learned defense against the dark arts in this very room, at this very desk, I thought we were learning it so that one day I could fight against any foe that came my way. But when I saw all of you young kids at these desk after years of seeing what darkness this world holds, I just wanted to protect you all from it just as my brother does with his creatures." He sighed. "Now I see the war has found you anyway… and you're running head on into it."
"Well, because we just haven't practiced enough. Maybe if you could join the Order of the Pheonix… teach us the spells we need to know-"
"I'm aware of Albus' invitation, Mr. Potter." He shook his head. "Did you hear nothing I've just told you? It doesn't matter the spells I teach you. If you go running into fire you will get burned."
"Only if we can't defend ourselves, Professor. You taught us well."
"Albus told me of your battle in Hogsmede, James," He said bluntly. "He said if he hadn't shown up, you all would have been captured or killed."
"He isn't wrong sir, I'm embarrassed to say," James muttered.
"But see, hearing that made me realize I didn't teach you all well enough. I felt so responsible when I heard."
"Sir," Lily said in a cross tone, "You mean to tell us you're quitting because of us? You were one of the greatest dark-wizard-catchers of all time, you faced off with some of the darkest magic known to our generation. Don't tell me now you've gone soft on us."
He shook his head and stood, removing his glasses and tucking them into his pocket. "I know your parents, James. They waited a very long time for a child, you know."
"Of course I know, sir."
"And when they finally had you, it was a whole new world to them. You were suddenly their only priority. They protected you at all costs." He tucked his hands in his pockets. "I never had children of my own, I wasn't as lucky as Newt and Tina in that area. But you kids..." He looked around the classroom. "You are the closest thing I have to it. For you and Albus to ask me lead the charge against Voldemort at my age is one thing, but to lead you into it all is another."
"Sir," Lily stepped forward and rested her hand on his arm. "Your words about your students are so kind. But don't you see that that is exactly why you must do as Dumbledore asks? You have a duty to your students. James and I will have a family of our own one day, and like you say, we will want to protect it more than anything. You saved the world once decades ago, now it's our job to keep it from crashing down. I'm not so simple mindedly optimistic to think we all will come out of this untouched, but you must know that if anything happened to any of us, it wouldn't be because you didn't teach us well. Sometimes we just have to trust that spells-aside, good will win in the end."
The old mans face softened and he patted her hand on his arm. "You always were wiser than your years, Lily."
"Will you help us then sir?" James asked. "Please."
The proffesor looked between the two of them and thought for a moment before saying, "Follow me."
Diagon Alley...
Tabitha Delaney and Marlene McKinnon arrived in the dark streets of Diagon Alley, out of breath and still in shock. Marlene glanced up and down the street. "I don't think anyone heard us come in. If Regulus knew about our mission though he could be gathering other people to come back and fight. If we hurry we can-" She was suddenly stopped when she felt Tabitha embrace her. "Tabs?"
"You saved my life, Marley." She pulled away and looked at her friend. "You saved my bloody life. That was a killing curse that Black sent at us, it seldom misses its target. He could have killed you."
"But he didn't." Marlene said softly to quiet her. "And we both are still here."
"I just can't believe little Regulus Black was capable of that. I mean I know he doesn't like us but-"
"Tabs..."
"Hmm?"
"I don't think he was really aiming at you."
Tabitha sighed. "You got that impression too?"
"But why would he kill another death eater? They both came there together to capture you, didn't they? Seems Dumbledore was right," She muttered and shook her head. "They have no idea what being a team is like."
"No, Marley, I think it's more than that. Regulus is impressionable. You and I both come from pureblood families, you know the pressures kids like us have to deal with and his family is full of batty people."
"Sirius is no exception," she chuckled and was grateful to have found a moment of humor to steady the world that had been spinning since Dennis dropped dead beside them. "Lucky we both came from sane pureblood families."
"Speak for yourself," Tabitha muttered more to herself and glanced at the blook in her arms that she had just risked her life for. She looked up the abandoned alley where just that morning they had all gathered for ice cream. She glanced at the spot where she confessed her feelings to Remus embarrassingly and then finally to Olivander's shop where the light was still on inside.
"I know," Marlene said watching Tabitha scan the streets. "We were just here this morning. It feels like a week ago." She looked at her watch. "Blimey it's late. You heard what Fabian said. Dumbledore will worry if we take too long. Come on."
"Marlene." Marlene stopped mid step and looked back at her friend. "Thank you," Tabitha finally said. "For saving my life."
"Of course. The Irish have to stick together these days."
The Ministry of Magic...
The echo of the door lock rang through the empty Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures as secretary Edna Bones unlocked the door for the Marauders. "Has anyone seen you?" She asked anxiously.
"Only an old man in the main lobby," Sirius said, "But Peter is keeping watch for us. Why are people here so late anyway? It's the middle of the night."
"With everything going on, the minister thought it best to have some of the emergency offices open 24/7," the older woman said.
"Let me guess," Sirius grunted. "The minister is at home in bed while his worker ants burn the midnight oil."
"Now isn't he time to make a point, Sirius," Remus grumbled back to him then turned to his father's old secretary. "And we will be fast Mrs. Edna. We know how suspicious it looks for you to be here, this late at night. You're putting yourself at risk," Remus added.
"I worked with your father for many years, Remus, and I always admired how he risked everything for the sake of doing what was right. It's my turn now to help how I can. Besides, my niece is expecting a little girl in the spring. I want her daughter to enter a better world, so whatever you or Dumbledore need, you just tell me." She waved them forward and Sirius and Remus hurried into the cabinets to start rummaging through the files.
"Nice Lady," Sirius said as he lit the tip of the wand to illuminate the records.
"Keep your voice down," Remus whispered back. "And yes she is. Always kept some sweets in her desk for me when I came to visit."
"Which desk belonged to your old man?" Sirius asked looking around but his eyes feel on a desk that seemed unused and Remus pointed to it. "That one. It was always piled high with papers. He tried to keep working here for a while after... it... happened," He said referring to the night Fenrir Greyback attacked him and turned him into a werewolf. "But as I got older it became hard for mum to manage on her own. I don't have to tell you that though, Padfoot. Took all three of you to maintain me in school."
"Maintain? Godric, Remus don't make it sound like a dirty thing," Sirius smirked and felt a book hit the back of his head. He looked over his shoulder and grinned at Remus who went back to looking through the files. "So," Sirius continued, "Do you think Delaney will be up to the task of 'maintaining' you?"
"Must we talk about that?" Remus grunted and shoved the drawer closed before moving to one of the filing cabinets. He waived his wand and levitated the papers out so he could read them all at once in the air.
"Do you think she's gone off you now that she knows your secret?"
"No, I know she hasn't," Remus said. "It was the first thing I blurted out when she told me."
"And?"
"And she and I have agreed to be friends."
"Because she's afraid of Moony?"
"Because we can't be together. Period. No more reason needed," His whisper was harsh and he threw his arms around so much that the papers scattered all over." He sighed and thought of the first thing he could to change the subject. "Speaking of Tabs, she made it seem like she knew about Padfoot."
"Because she does," Sirius admitted. "Nosey little Irish bug followed me one night when I was running late to moon-time and saw me transform. When I saw her following me I had tranform back and admit I was an animagi to her and swear her to secrecy."
"As if you'd need to admit it after she saw you transform," Remus chuckled. "Why didn't you just run off?"
"I was worried she would follow me to the Shack where you already were and that you would think I lured her there as a..." He stopped himself.
"As a prank?" Remus finished and a still silence fell over the room. Sirius finally looked over to Remus and muttered, "Yea." Remus quickly changed the subject once more by asking, "So what happened between you and Marlene?"
"Opps. That conversation is not on the table," Sirius groaned and turned back to the papers.
"You don't get to badger me about Tabitha and then get off. What happened?"
"You know what happened. The year end party, she caught me snogging with Arista Therlow."
"You snogged with every girl that would let you within three meters. And you two weren't even a couple. There has got to be more to it than that."
"Well there isn't." He opened a drawer that continued opening more and more until he was nearly across the room. It was full of alphabetized files of animagi. "Found them!"
"Good, I'll get a fire in the fireplace." Remus hurried over the the deco-style fireplace and waived his want to spark a small fire. Sirius waived his wand and each of the records flew one-by-one into the flames.
"Well," Remus said, "Looks like we will be here a while so maybe you should finish your story about Marlene."
"It's simple, Rem," Sirius said. "You and Tabitha can still be friends after everything that happened between you. McKinnon and I can't."
"But in the garden at James' flat, it looked like you two were getting along."
"She just came out for a free smoke."
"That isn't why she went out there and you know it," Remus sighed as the last of the files started to make their way through the air and into the flames. "Don't wait. I knew 5th year that I liked Tabs more than a friend. Now I find out she felt the same way, but we kept quiet. Now it's too late for us and our friendship even feels like it's slipping away. Make ammends with Marlene. This is a war. We don't know how things will turn out for us. Make friends with her again if nothing else and have no regrets."
"Do you really think some of us won't make it through?"
"Dumbledore said there is a chance."
"Remus-" Sirius said sincerely as if he was about to be vulnerable and speak his mind for the first time in a while when the door to the office flew open and Peter came in. "Someone is coming!"
Hogwarts..
"Voila!" Theseus said happily as he ushered Lily and James through a doorway they had never seen before. "Welcome to the Room of Requirement!" It was a large room, that seemed like an empty classroom, but much bigger. There were dueling dummies by the walls, meeting chairs and a table and a small drinking fountain.
"This is incredible!" Lily said astonished. "James did you know about this place?"
"I'm surprised to say I didn't," He answered in reference to all the passageways and hidden rooms he and the lads had already uncovered in their school days.
"I was just as surprised as you when Dumbledore first showed me this room," The old man said. "The room transforms into whatever you need it to be. No two visits will ever be the same. Which reminds me, never leave anything of value in here. You never know how many attempts it will take until that version of the room reappears. Lost my good reading glasses that way."
Just then the doors to the Room of Requirement opened and Albus Dumbledore stepped in. "Oh goodness," He chuckled. "I see the room is already in use. Shame. I was hoping it would become my favorite napping room filled with the softest beds and pillows I've ever come across." He walked in furthur and closed the door behind him. "By the looks of it, Theseus, you require a new dueling room. Am I to assume you won't be leaving Hogwarts after all?"
"Not only that, Albus," He said, "I'll take you up on your offer to join the Order. My place is right here, ready to teach its members the skills they need to fight against these enemies."
"Good," Dumbledore said as if his college was discussing nothing more than what to eat for lunch that day. Yet his manner was not apathetic either, more like he just wasn't surprised at this sudden change of heart. "I guess it's good on me that I didn't send for a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor yet," he grinned. "Goodnight then. I will just have to fight my insomnia elsewhere."
"Sir," James said stopping Albus as he turned to leave.
"Oh!" Dumbledore said as he looked back and saw James. "James. Lily. I didn't even notice you there. How can I help you at this hour?"
Lily and James glanced at one another confused before Lily said, "Sir... you sent for us. You gave us an assignment to come here and meet with you?"
"Did I?" Dumbledore stroked his beard. "As I recall, my instructions were simply to 'Report to Hogwrats' were they not? It appears you've done that, so... mission complete. Goodnight." He left with a twinkle in his eye.
"Professor," James said as he looked at Theseus Scamander. "I'm starting to think, you were our assignment tonight."
"I think so too, James. I think so too."
The Adventure Continues soon...