Book I: Birth of the Order

Chapter XI: Dueling Each Other

Music Theme: Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

The Potter Estate July 1976...

James Potter sat at Dinner in a grand dining room with his parents as the summer rain raged outside. He was sixteen-years-olds old and anxiously excited for his next year at Hogwarts. The dining room glowed with candlelight and a present sat in the center of the table, wrapped in gold and red paper. It wasn't James' birthday, but he had just been named head of the Quidditch Team the Year before and his parents thought he deserved something special.

"James," Mrs. Potter said. "Stop staring at the box and eat your food."

"It's too small to be a broom," He said to himself rather than replying to his mother.

"James. Don't ignore your mother and eat your food," his father said.

"Sorry." He slurped some of his soup then looked back to the box. "Is it a custom quaffle?"

"Why would I gift a star seeker a quaffle? You keep your game focused on the snitch," his father chuckled.

"It's not related to Quidditch, James. You're never going to guess, so please just finish eating." His mother said then glanced up the table at her husband. "I warned you not to bring it out until we were done."

Fleamont Potter thought for a moment then got a twinkle in his eyes. "So, James. Any young witches caught your eye yet at school?" James looked at his father and turned bright red. He practically burried his face in his plate and started scarfing down the food to avoid the question. His father chuckled and looked to his wife, "That seemed to do the trick."

"Oh, so there is a young lady!" His mother clasped her hands together. "Of Fleamont, can you imagine having grandchildren at our age? What's her name, James?"

Just then there was a knock on the door. The elderly couple looked confused as they weren't expecting anyone this evening but James sprung from his seat to get away from the conversation. "I'll get it!" He darted out of the room and up the hallway. The Potter home was grand, far too big for a family of only 3, so getting to the main door took some time. James stopped a house elf who was practically to the door by waiving him away, "I've got it, Kip." The little elf bowed his head and backed up. James yanked the door open. Standing in the summer storm, soaking wet, no coat, no hat, just his dinner clothes and backpack, was Sirius Black.

"Padfoot?"

"Hey Prongs. How's your Summer been?" They both jumped as the thunder rumbled outside and Sirius was pulled into the house by his friend.

"What the bloody hell?" He looked at Sirius' attire and the bag in his hand and all he could say was, "What has your batty family done now?"

"I can't go back, James." The little elf named Kip ran up to Sirius and started fussing over his bag and clothing as Sirius spoke, trying to dry him. "The whole family came over the other night, my uncle's side too with the girls. Andromeda wasn't with them. She's not been home since she married Ted, but they found out she's got a kid. About three now, it's hers and Ted's. I thought it was grand that she's got a kid now, but they kept going on calling her a traitor to her family. They said she was dead to them. I couldn't listen to it anymore. I couldn't stand to hear my kindest cousin's name dragged through the mud so I... oh Blimey I've done it. I told them all off, Prongs. I stood at that bloody table and screamed at all of them. I told them I wish I wasn't even in their family and that maybe Dromeda wished it too." He pulled away from the elf, fed up with the fussing. "Do you mind?!"

"Pads." James set his hand on his arm to get him to focus. "Go on. I assume you just ran after that."

"If only that was the whole size of it. No. I froze. I stood there like a chump. Dad," He bites his lip angrily. "Dad's batty brother-in-law, Cygnus, told him I was discracing everyone and to teach me a lesson."

"Did.. did he hit you, Sirius?" Sirius didn't reply but his face said it all. "Can you show me?" Sirius hesitated a moment before dropping his bag, unbuttoning his wet vest and shirt and sliding it down a bit to reveal bruises down his back and a scar in the center of his chest over his heart from where a jinx had hit him so many times it left a mark. "Padfoot..." The first whiff of James' sympathy caused Sirius to yank his shirt back on.

"Yea well. It didn't last long. The real crime is just the scar. I won't be able to wear anything but turtlenecks from now on... ghastly bit of wardrobe."

"You said this was days ago though. Why didn't you leave right away?"

"And live off what funds? Well my deliverance came this morning. I got an owl at my window." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a parcel filled gold.

"Padfoot? Who did you rob?!"

Sirius reached up and smacked James over the head. "It's from my uncle, you idiot! The nice one that passsed away this year. It came with a letter from Andromeda. She heard what happened at dinner. Apparently he left me all this money in his will. It's been a secret since he died since I'm not a legal adult yet, the money would have gone straight to Dad. Andromeda has been keeping it for me until I turned 18, but after everything that happened she-"

"She funded your escape." James smiled. "You did it, Pads. You're finally free!" he looked to the elf standing by. "Kip. Take Mr. Black's things up to my room then take a tray up. He will be staying here."

"Will he?" came a voice from the hall. The boys looked up and saw Mr. and Mrs. Potter standing at there.

"Mum! Dad!" James squeaked. "Look who has come for dinner!"

"Just for dinner?" Mrs. Potter asked.

"Potters," Sirius whisked his wet hair back. "Grand to see you again. Fleamont! I see the hair tonic business is still doing well. Euphemia, you look just Devine tonight. Is that a new blouse-"

"Sirius. Enough." Mr. Potter stepped towards the boys and looked between them. "So you were going to whisk Sirius upstairs and think we wouldn't notice, James?"

"Well... It's just that we've got plenty of rooms. And you'll hardly notice him. He fits all my clothes." James said.

"James, this isn't a puppy you've picked up from the rain. Sirius has his own family who I'm sure is wondering where he-" Mrs. Potter had walked up to Sirius and started dabbing the water off his face with her dinner napkin when he jerked his head away as she tapped near his eye. She cupped his chin gently in her hand. She brushed his wet curls away and saw the corner of his eye had been blackened. She looked back at Fleamont and showed him. Everyone stood their silently, Sirius standing as tall as he could to act like nothing was wrong. "Kip." The elf hopped beside her as she let go of Sirius. "Take Sirius upstairs into the guest room beside James' room. Make sure he has everything he needs. Tomorrow you will come with me to town and we will get some new clothing for him. In the meantime some things of James' should fit."

"My dear-"

"James you go finish your dinner and make a plate for Sirius please," she continued, ignoring her husaband. "I'll write to proffessor McGonnigal an Proffessor Dumbledore and make sure his school shopping list is sent here along with any permission slips he may need for the year. Sirius, once you're dry and unpacked I want you back to the table to finish your dinner."

"Eupheima we can't kidnap the boy," Fleamont Potter said.

His wife whirlled around and faced him, "I'll write to the 'Noble House of Black' myself and tell them where Sirius can be found, but if Orion wants his son back, then he can take it up with me personally." She looked back to Sirius but all she could manage was a pat on his head. "Go on now." She turned and walked back into the dining room, sniffling as she went and trying to hide the heartbreak she was feeling for the young man that had been abused.

"I guess I will see you both at the table. And don't forget about your gift, James." Fleamont said with a smile and walked after her.

Sirius and James stared at each other in awe. "I can't believe it!"

"Neither can I..." Sirius said sincerely.

"Padfoot this is going to be brilliant! I've got to write to Moony and Wormtail and tell them! And don't worry about seeing your family at school. You've got us to protect you. And as for the scar, don't worry. You always said you wanted tattoos when you were older. One of those should cover it nicely."

"You're right," Sirius grinned and the little elf pulled on his sleeve. "This way master Black," it said softly.

"I'll hurry back down, I'm starving. I also want to see what this gift is you got."

"Gift? Gift?!" James pat Sirius on the shoulder. "I got my gift, mate. I got a brother tonight! What else could I need?"

Hogwarts - The Room of Requirement - Halloween 1979...

Four weeks had passed since the teams received their first assignments and The Order was formed. It was now the end of October and the middle of the night. The students of Hogwarts had fallen asleep in their bed hours before the different factions of the Order began to arrive. Theseus Scamander was the first to enter the Room of Requirement and began to setup as Frank and Alice Longbottom entered with the rest of their group which included the Prewitt Brothers, Alestor Moody was in town with Edgar Bones beside him. Everyone gathered by the table Professor Scammander had setup with tea and biscuits as they waited. The last group to arrive together was Potters' as they had to make a stop at Olivanders on the way. Remus, James, Sirius and Peter each held the end of a large wooden crate and grumbled as they came in. Lily entered with Tabitha and Marlene beside her, laughing as they came in.

"I don't know why Olivander wouldn't let us levitate the bloody thing," Sirius grumbled.

"Because he doesn't want these wand impacted by exterior magic," Marlene said.

"Well don't you just have all the answers, McKinnon?" Sirius grunted.

"Oh leave her alone, Sirius." Remus scolded.

"He won't," Tabitha said. "He's still mad at us for hogging the telly last night."

"Laugh-in was on, and Peter and I wanted to watch!" Sirius snapped back.

"Oh grow up, Black."

"I still don't get why we couldn't take dad's car," James said. "That horseless coach Olivander had was too slow."

"It wasn't horseless," Peter chimed in as they smacked the crate down. "And you can't use your old man's car. It's too recognizable."

Frank Longbottom stepped beside Marlene and Lily who stood with arms folded watching everyone else argue. He munched on a biscuit with one hand and held his tea in another. "Everything alright with the lads?"

"Cabin Fever," Marlene sighed. "We've been bunking at Potter's childhood home. Tensions are high."

"I'd venture that wedding planning is adding the pressure to it?"

"That's the half of it," she said. "But Remus has been cranky all week. Tabitha won't go anywhere near him and is griping about something herself. James is crabby because his parents keep treating him like he's a kid again back home from school-"

"And what about you?" He asked. "Only sane one in the bunch."

"No. I just try to stay out of everyone's hair. These weekly meetings are our only relief from one another. We are like a bunch of squabbling siblings."

"Well... I hope you don't mind adding one more to the mix? We are running out of space at our house and we just had two more people join that need places to stay. Their homes aren't safe anymore. Alice and I only have room for one"

"Well I can't make promises... I guess it depends on who they are."

"Don't worry," he smiled with a twinkle in his eye. "I bet you'll have room for one of them when you see who it is." He walked over to the crate, around which the boys were trying to catch their breath. "Alright lads let's see what we have." He reached for the lid but James practically snatched it up himself. "I got it, Frank," He snapped.

"So you do, James. My bad." He looked down at the stunning wands, all identical, but very well made. "So these are our core-less wands then?"

"Yes," Proffessor Scammander said as he walked up and patted Frank on the back. "And this time the Wizard chooses the wand. Finish your tea and we will get started on them."

"Tea?" Peter looked at the table. "Thank Godric."

"I could do with a snack too," Remus said when he noticed Tabitha standing at the table already pouring herself a cup. He and Peter walked up to the table and stood on either side of her. After a noticeable silence, Remus spoke up and said, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"There is nothing to talk about," she grumbled as she practically chucked two sugar cubes into her tea.

"Tabitha," Peter said cautiously. "Will you pass the-"

"I offered to help you out this week, you said to mind my own business," she huffed to Remus.

"Tabitha," Peter tried again. "Could you pass the-"

"I didn't say that and you know it," Remus said through gritted teeth.

"Tabitha? Remus? The-"

"Oh, there is that tone again. I bet this is the point where you tell me to... what was it... 'buggar off?' She said and grabbed a biscuit and dunked it in her tea as if she was trying to drown it.

"You wouldn't take 'no' for an answer? What am I supposed to do? Let you walk in there and get murdered by a monster?"

"Oh for Godric's sake! I'll help myself." Peter elbowed Tabitha aside and wedged himself between her and Remus. He grabbed the sugar and a handful of biscuits. He grumbled something under his breath and then stormed off. Tabitha tried to do the same but Remus grabbed her arm. "Look, I'm sorry. I get really crabby once a month but this month with all the extra tension, it's been bad. I know you just want to help on the Full Moon but there is nothing you can do. Please just leave it to myself and the boys. If it were up to me I wouldn't even let them help me. Please forget what I said last night.

"Remus," She stepped toward him a bit to whisper. "Of course I'll forgive you. You know why? Because I know you would never intentionally hurt me or anyone else. Wolf or no Wolf."

"Key word there, Tabitha... 'intentional.' Remus let go over when he heard Professor Scamander announce to the room to circle up. It was clear everyone else was having similar bouts of cabin fever with their groups as nobody stood beside someone they had arrived with. Even Alice stood at the far end of the room away from Frank who was beside Lily instead.

"You and the wife ok, Frankie?" Lily asked him.

"She's a bit upset because I've been fussing over her a bit. She's... not been feeling well. I don't think she should be dueling."

"Not DragonPox I hope."

"Oh no... nothing like that. She's just fragile these days."

"I can' hear you, Frank," Alice called across the room and stared him down.

"Remind me next time to 'require' a room with NO echo-" He shouted back like a school boy. He looked back to Lily and whispered this time. "What's with your fiance by the way? The last couple weeks he acts weird around me."

"No idea," she lied. She knew James always was envious of Frank Longbottom. Even though James was one of the richest, stylish boys in school, head boy, and star of the Quidditch team, there was always something about Frank that made him one of the most popular. Perhaps it was his humility about the whole thing. He was the last to know that he was considered the coolest boy in Gryffindor house by the time they graduated, a title that James had held for the first few years until Frank gained his popularity.

"Alright everyone," Scammander said. "We have quite a light group today, as Albus has many Order members on missions tonight."

"Or maybe they all are out trick-or-treating-" Fabian chuckled and a made everyone grinned.

"As I was saying," the professor continued. "Edgar and Alestor will be posing as Death Eaters tonight. They'l be sending hard, powerful spells at you and will be using their own wands. The Death Eaters first goal will be to disarm you, then to catch or kill you-" He forced himself to say it as bluntly as he could. "So if you are outnumbered and have to escape-"

"He means chicken out and run away." Alestor Moody said.

"IF you have to escape," Scammander said over him, "We don't want getting your wand back to be the point of condition that gets you killed. After all, we have now learned that wands can be used as a tracking device back to you and back to your groups. Mr. Olivander has created a crate full of core-less wands that cannot be used by the Death Eaters or the Ministry to be traced. These are the wands you'll be expected to fight with when you are outnumbered or if you cannot risk being followed. Therefore, we must get them to work and work well. "Mrs. Longbottom. Why don't you give it a try?"

"No!" Frank stepped forward and cleared his throat when we saw everyone's shocked expression at his outburst. "I'll go first, I mean." Alestor strutted up to Frank and stood across from him. Both took their stances. Frank lifted the new wand and aimed. He listened for any sign or syllable that would suggest what spell was coming his way. Alestor eyed him with his good eye before finally flicking his wand and saying "Stupify!"

"Expelliarmus!" Frank shouted back but was hit by the spell. He flew backwards across the room and landed with a thud. Alestor just chuckled and walked over, scooping him up like a cat. "You ok there, Longbottom? Wand might be a dud."

"It's not a dud," James said. "He's just not using it right."

"Remember, everyone," Thesues Scammander said. "These wands don't have cores. YOU are the core of the magic. You can't depend on them to do it all on it's own. Let's keep trying shall we?"

Hours passed. It was almost 2 in the morning and the only one who had managed to get magic to flow freely through her wand with little effort was Lily. The rest looked like a group of first year students in charms class. Sirius smacked the wand against his hand to try to get his working. "It's not a bottle of hair gel, Sirius... which you're out of by the way. I took the rest last night." Marlene said.

"Will you stay out of my room?! And stop touching my stuff." He snapped. "Your family is Druid descent can't you get this working?"

"All of our families are Druid descent in some way, you peabrain. Even your fucked up relatives." She paled as she heard herself say it and caught him glaring at her. "Sirius, I'm sorry. That was a cheap shot. I'm just so bloody tired. Maybe I'm just jealous that you at least know where you family is."

"Yea, bowing and scraping to a mad dark Wizard. I'd rather not know."

"Right." She reached over and put her hand on his. "I'm really sorry, Sirius. I can't believe I said that. Can we forget it?"

"I guess," he said. "If you let me have the telly first today." He said to defuse the tension.

"Deal."

"And buy me more hair gel."

"No."

"Well I tried."

Just then, Scammander chimed in. "Alright everyone it's late. We will try again next week. Take your wands home and practice with them. See if any of you can manage to get the same amount of magic Miss Evans did. Oh which I realize you won't be Miss Evans much longer will you?"

"That's correct, sir." Lily beamed. "And we hope everyone will join us for a small dinner the night before James and I are to be married. We know we can't do anything too public with the way things are, so we thought a small reception instead of rehearsal dinner just for all of us would be grand."

"I'm always down for a good party, Evans," Gideon Prewitt said.

"Then I will see everyone next week," Mr. Scammander said. "Oh and next week we will have two new members. Mary MacDonald has recently joined and I believe one more member. I'm just not at liberty to share his name yet as the family has been in hiding for a while."

"Oooo, a mystery." Peter said and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Indeed. Until next week then."

Shortly After at The Potter Estate...

The group, sore from dueling practice, tip toed into the Potter home where they had been staying since September. Mrs. Potter had decorated for Halloween with levitating pumpkins and candles that make their grand foyer look like the Great Hall. Very few were still glowing when everyone entered and Remus sniffed the air as they smelled chocolate. They saw the side table where fresh cookies sat on a trey with cider over a flame. James picked up the note and smiled, "Dear James and all. I'm sorry you had to miss Halloween tonight. Here are some treats to make sure to end the day right. See you in the morning - Mum (Mrs. Potter)." He set the note down. "My mother is a saint, you know?" He picked up a cookie and munched on it. "Always treats, no tricks. Not even on Halloween."

"Hopefully she will still be a saint when we ask if we can add one more person to our group?" Marlene said. "Frank said their house is full. They already are taking in Mary and they said someone else needs a room"

"Well who is it?"

"Nobody will say."

"Well mom won't mind, but Dad may need convincing."

"You leave Fleamont to me," Sirius said. "I've got that man in the palm of my-"

"The palm of your what, Sirius?" Said a voice from the door to the study. Everyone spun around and saw Fleatmont Potter in his nightgown, robe and slippers, smoking his pipe.

"Aaaaaaaand, there's the trick-" Peter said.

"Fleamont! Old chum." Sirius said casually. "I was just saying... well that is... Godric, your hair looks fantastic tonight. New formula with your hair tonic."

"Sirius," Mr. Potter said.

"Yes, sir?"

"Go to bed."

"Yes, sir." Sirius hung his head low and hurried up the steps and a few followed, saying their goodnights - Peter, Remus, and Tabitha. The Potters had three large bedrooms upstairs that some had to share. The room assignments were as follows - Lily, Tabitha and Marlene took up the largest guest suite, Remus was supposed to sleep on the cot in James room and Peter was on the twin bed in Sirius' room. The reality was that Remus also bunked with Peter and Sirius so that Lily could bunk with James each night without his parents knowing. Those who decided to stay up a bit longer, Marlene, Lily and James, all sat with Mr. Potter in his study as he finished his pipe.

"I don't mind, Marlene," Mr. Potter said in regards to her request for another guest. "But aren't you all getting cramped up there?"

"Well we could concert the carriage house loft into a bunk," James suggested.

"No," Mr. Potter shook his head. "The nights are getting too cold for that. We can put someone up in here. Sofa is soft enough and it stays warm if you keep the fires up.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. You and your wife have been so generous by taking us in," Lily said.

"Oh we don't mind. We waited so long to have a family and thought we were so lucky when James was born. We never imaged we could have this many kids in the house at once," He smiled. "And you should start calling me, Fleamont."

"We aren't kids anymore though, are we?" James said. "Sirius is turning 20 in a few days."

"My goodness, time flies," Mr. Potter puffed his pipe.

"Not to mention Marlene and Tabitha almost got killed," Lily said.

"Are you still fussing over that? It was weeks ago."

"Your ability to compartmentalize is astonishing to me, Marlene."

"Listen to me, kids," Mr. Potter said as he set his pipe on its stand. "I'm an old man. I've seen a lot in my time. I wish I could be out there fighting alongside you but-"

"We talked about that dad. You're not well enough," James said concerned.

"Oh tut tut. Who needs to be healthy to put their life on the line?" He said. "Adventure is always risky. But... I couldn't do that to your mother. So we help how we can in our old age, by opening our home to you all and anyone else who needs it. Whoever it is that Longbottom is sending to stay with us is welcome."

"Thanks, Dad. And you and Mum didn't have to go to the trouble with the Halloween Decorations and cookies."

"Why not? We aren't going to stop living because a war is going on." He pat his son on the shoulder. "Goodnight son. I'm going to go to sleep so you can sneak Lily into your room again."

"Dad!"

"Goodnight, Fleamont." Lily said as he exited. They all sat their watching the fire burn out.

"I'll say goodnight too," Marlene said standing. She looked at Lily who was staring at the coreless wand in her hand. "How did you get that thing to work?"

"I'm not sure."

"Well one thing I do know, is you were in a room of a bunch of half and pure bloods tonight and bested all of us. If that isn't an argument against Voldemorts twisted anti-muggle cause, I don't know what is. You might be a bigger threat to him than the rest of us." She grinned. "Goodnight Lils. Tomorrow is your wedding month!"

"Goodnight, Marley. Thank you."

James leaned back on the couch and wrapped Lily an arm around Lily as Marlene left. "How did you do it?"

"I really don't know, James. I just flicked it." She waived the wand and a small spark emerged from it. James and Lily sat up a bit more looking at it. "What were you just thinking of? What spell?"

"No spell!" She said. "I was just sad that we missed Halloween. It's my favorite holiday. So I started thinking of things to chear me up. I thought of you and your family and how excited I am to get married..." She thought for a moment and jumped up. "Wait." She turned and pointed the wand at James. "Stupify!"

"Lily!" James put his arms up to defend himself but nothing happened. He peeked back up at her. She was looking over the wand like a scientist on the verge of a discovery.

"Now let's see." She turned to the open room and flicked her wand after taking a breath. "Expecto Patronum." Almost immediately the wand cast the patronus and a doe pranced through the room before vanishing. James stood slowly as if he was afraid he would scare the magic away. "James," Lily said beaming. "All the spells we were practicing were dark, violent spells. The only one that worked for me were simple charms that don't hurt anyone."

"So the wands only work based on light magic?"

"Don't you see James? Wands like these are from the days of old magic. Magic is light born from the very earth we stand on. Dark magic was invented by man, by corrupting the goodness within magic. These wands will only work with light magic."

"How do we fight Voldemort by conjuring a doe, though?"

"Don't have such little faith, James." She stepped closer to him and rested her hand on his cheek. "If I can use my faith to see through the biggest ass in school to the kind boy underneath then that's proof that good always wins."

"Oi!," He took her hand from his chin and held it. "I wasn't an ass. I was just very high maintenance."

"You're still high-maintenence." She said and they shared a tender moment of silence before kissing on another gently.

James stroked her red hair and pulled back to whisper. "You're brilliant, you know that?"

"Of course I do. I was head girl." They both chuckled.

"Let's go to bed. I'll owl Dumbledore and Scammander your discovery in the morning." He tugged gently on her hand and gadded, "And don't worry about missing this Halloween. We will have plenty more to come."

Note: Yea, the last line was just as hard to write as it was for you to read... I see some people are reading and some are even going to my profile for the link to the first chapters. Please leave a review if you are enjoying the story so far. Let me know your favorite character! Next chapter we get ready for a wedding! But some uninvited guests decide to crash it.