Inevitable

Chapter Five

The New Recruits

If You Feel Like You're Under Control, You're Just Not Going Fast Enough- Mario Andretti

The entire Gryffindor house noticed a great change over their Head Girl and one of their resident troublemakers over the next few weeks. There were still many loud arguments between Lily and James, and sarcastic comments back and forth, but they were now followed up with apologies, and even more strangely, kisses. Unknown to the couple, Sirius Black had made eight Galleons off from betting on who would cave and apologise first. Lily had become much more relaxed, and James, thankfully, didn't show off as much in her presence. Still, it was quite unsettling for the first few days, to see the two people who would never get together holding hands in line for class, or sitting together on the couch. They had soon developed their own ritual for celebrations, punishments, or anything in between; hugging tightly, James would spin around, lifting Lily off the ground, as they had in the tunnel.

Remus, Sirius and Peter were no longer able to use their favourite catchphrase, "Yeah, and Potter and Evans are a couple," when someone made an outrageously false statement, and they mourned the loss literally, wearing black arm bands armbands for the better part of a week.

Pat and Lene were constantly rubbing it in and teasing Lily, but she found that she didn't really care.

The Halloween Feast came and went rather uneventfully. As always it was fun, but nothing special. Hundreds of Jack-o-lanterns floated over the tables in the Great Hall, occasionally breaking out into song.

For the first time ever at a feast, Lily and James sat next to each other. Lily amused herself for some time by stealing the things she liked from his plate, and replacing them with things she didn't like from her own. Marlene watched from across the table, laughing silently.

"What're you doing?" he asked as he caught her completing a carrot-asparagus swap.

"Nothing?" Lily tried.

James pointed at the carrots. "Those are mine."

"And those are mine," Lily replied, pointing at the asparagus.

James pretended to be deep in thought. "I suppose we're even then... but only on one condition."

"Which would be?"

Reaching over, James pinched Lily's nose. When she opened her mouth to breathe, he stuffed in an asparagus top.

"Ew!" Lily shrieked. "That's horrible!"

James laughed. "I thought it was funny."

So Lily did the first thing she could think of - she stole his dinner roll.

November went by far too quickly in Lily's opinion. Perhaps it was because her life had become much more spontaneous that it seemed to go by quicker. It was perfectly common for James to drag her off to Hogsmeade for two or three hours every few evenings. He had turned her organised life upside-down, but she wasn't complaining. The only problem she had encountered was that it was hard not to sympathise with people sneaking out after hours, as Head Girl she was supposed to set an example.

The last few days in November came to a close, and Lily couldn't have been more content. She was getting good grades, she and James hadn't argued about anything more serious than what year flying carpets were banned in, and the weather was finally cooperating.

The weather, in fact, was perfect for the winter. The first few days of December were cold but not freezing, with a heavy blanket of snow covering the grounds. Hagrid's hut looked as though it had popped out of a fairy story, and the usual Christmas decorations were springing up everywhere. Twelve massive Christmas trees appeared in the Great Hall one morning, decorated in glass bulbs, fairies, garlands and magical snow. Icicles bewitched to stay frozen framed doorways, and garlands of evergreen, holly, and mistletoe twisted around the banisters. The blankets of crisp snow on the grounds only added to the festive mood growing in the castle.

"Guess who." Hands clasped over Lily's eyes from behind her.

"Tricky one," she said teasingly. "Could it be... Remus?"

"Funny." James came around the couch and sat beside her, putting his arm around her waist as he did so.

"Hi James," Pat said from the couch opposite. "How many detentions tonight?"

"Only one, and it's with McGonagall so it'll be short."

"I don't know why she's always so easy on you," Lily said.

"Same reason you are, she loves me," he said lightly.

"What time?"

"Eight, so we have plenty of time before to go up to the Astronomy Tower."

"Hey," Pat said suddenly. "Over here, me. I don't really want to hear about this, can we change the subject?"

"So," James said with a glint in his eye, "How many times do you think we-"

"Ugh! You're horrible James Potter! Now I know why Lily hated you for so long." Pat got up and marched off to the girls' staircase.

"That was mean," Lily said, flicking the side of his head.

"All I was going to say was how many times do you think we've gone to Hogsmeade in the last month?"

"Sure you were," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "I hate you."

"I hate you too, now d'you want to go to the Astronomy Tower?"

Lily's glance flashed from the stairs where her friend had disappeared to James' face. "Yeah," she said finally.

*

Lily sat in Charms, drumming her fingers on the desk as she glanced at the clock. She had completed the charm perfectly about three minutes after Professor Webber had assigned it. They had been given a small box, and they were to charm it to expand on the inside, large enough to fit a hat, gloves, and a scarf. Now, ten minutes into class, she was extremely bored, having expanded five boxes already.

"Lily," Marlene said sharply, kicking Lily's shin, as her hands were busy tying her necktie in a bow around her ponytail. "Pay attention. Show me how you did that, my box still won't fit the glove in it."

Sighing and glancing at the clock one more time, Lily watched Marlene perform the charm and told her what she was doing wrong.

As she went back to drumming her fingers, a small, folded piece of paper shuffled along the floor and poked her ankle. Reaching down for it, Lily smiled. Only James would bewitch a note instead of just throwing it.

Meet me after class.

Lily turned it over, scribbled her response, and placed the paper back on the floor. She muttered the spell and watched it for a bit as it scuffled its way to the back of the class once again.

*

On the seventh, Professor McGonagall called Lily, Marlene, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter back as the rest of the class left Transfiguration. She waited until everyone had left the room before addressing them.

"As you have all been told already, Professor Dumbledore wishes to speak with you six in his office tomorrow. You will go there instead on coming here for last period, and remain most likely right through dinner. Tomorrow's homework will not need be done by any of you," she said, pausing. "I will not be there, so I'd just like to say that I feel he chose well, and I'm proud of all of you."

They glanced around at each other, exchanging looks of confusion.

Proud of us? For what? I don't understand what they want.

*

They stood at the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office, waiting. None of the six there knew the password to get in, as Lily's meetings with him were almost always in Professor McGonagall's office, and so they were forced to stand there, looking quite ridiculous, as they waited for someone to let them through. Many students had passed them, some commenting on how they shouldn't be skipping class or how they knew those four boys would get it eventually, some raising their eyebrows and some ignoring them altogether.

"I wonder what he wants," Lene though aloud.

"If you two weren't here, I'd say we were going to be kicked out," Peter said. "Thankfully, you two are here, so we're safe. Maybe... oh, I don't know."

"What could he have to say that Pat can't be here? Do you think something happened to her family, he wants to tell us so she doesn't have to?" asked Lily.

"I don't think that's it," Sirius said. "She's been acting normal. Well, normal for her anyway."

The movement of the gargoyle behind them cut short the conversation. It hopped to one side, and a moving staircase appeared behind it. Lily stepped forward first, and was taken up to a large door at the top. She paused before it, unsure if she should enter or knock.

"Go on," James said behind her. He reached over her shoulder and knocked on the door.

Almost immediately, it swung open. Lily and James both gasped with recognition - the man who had opened the door was none other than the scarred wizard they had seen with Professor McGonagall in Hogsmeade. He grunted at them, and stepped back from the door so that they could enter. Lily had been in this office a few times before, thanks to her duties as Head Girl, but had never seen it so crowded. Besides the scarred wizard and Dumbledore, there was also a vaguely familiar tall black wizard, a wizard in a top hat, a black haired witch, a witch with a round face (Isn't that Alice? I remember her, she was a Gryffindor prefect, she showed us how to get to the common room our first day. She left Hogwarts four years ago), Hagrid, and a very tanned wizard.

"Ah," Professor Dumbledore said, standing, "my students are here, we can begin." He moved to a large table that had been set up and settled himself at the head. He motioned for everyone else to sit as well.

Lily exchanged a look of wonder with Remus, who was across from her. On her right, she reached for James' hand under the table and squeezed it.

"Now," said the scarred wizard in a gravelly voice, "you're all very confused, I expect. You've all got to know that you were selected very carefully, we're not taking any chances with this. I'm Alastor Moody, Auror, for those of you who don't know me. Dumbledore here's going to explain."

"Thank you, Alastor," Professor Dumbledore said from his seat, giving everyone a small smile before beginning his speech.

"Those of you who are joining us here for the first time, you are the few who Alastor Moody and I feel would make the best additions to our order, The Order of the Phoenix. The purpose of the Order is to fight against the workings of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters, although we work in secret. They are getting stronger, and are doing horrible things to the wizarding and Muggle communities, as I'm sure you know. We have dedicated ourselves to fighting against him. If you decide to join us, you will be aiding in the fight against evil. It will take much dedication, and extra work on top of what you already have. It will be dangerous, and you will get no reward except the knowledge that you are helping this worthy cause. If you decline to join us, which we would understand, your memory will be modified before you leave. We have spent much of our time in the selecting of those who we feel would do the best."

Lily felt a certain amount of pride well up in her chest at these words, she was being asked to join this Order. She squeezed James' hand again.

Professor Dumbledore acknowledged each of the recruits around the table. "Alice Longbottom, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Hestia Jones, Sirius Black, James Potter, Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon, you are the people who we feel are the best in your classes, whether at the Ministry or at Hogwarts. Would you consider joining the Order and aiding us in the war?"

"Absolutely," James said immediately, standing up.

"Count me in," Sirius grinned widely, and stood to join his friend.

"Yes," Alice and the witch called Hestia Jones stood together.

"I'll do it," Lily said. James put his hand on her shoulder when she stood.

Marlene stood up on Lilly's left and nodded once. The wizard named Kingsley Shacklebolt followed her in doing the same.

"I'm in," Remus said enthusiastically.

Peter looked around nervously, as if weighing the idea up. He then stood slowly, grinning at everyone.

Professor Dumbledore sighed happily. He began to clap, and was joined by those who were already in the Order. They stood up and congratulated those who had just agreed to join, patting them on the back and shaking hands. Lily hugged James, and felt her face redden as he spun her around in celebration. (Right in front of Professor Dumbledore!) Lily found her hand being wrung by the wizard in the top hat when Professor Dumbledore waved for everyone to listen to him again.

"Thank you all for your courage. I know this seems sudden, but we already have assignments for you. Would those of you still at Hogwarts come see me, and the rest of you see Alastor."

Lily moved around the table to stand beside Professor Dumbledore. He smiled at her while everyone else formed a small circle. They stood shoulder to shoulder, grinning at each other, proud of themselves. Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat, but didn't seem able to say anything. He reached out his arms and hugged them all, one by one.

"It is impossible to express how proud of you all I am," he said. "You would all do so well in the world, I am sorry that you must face such horrible things. Unfortunately, these are the times we are living in, and I'm sure all of you will rise to the occasion. James and Sirius, you two are to complete this together. Make sure you get every detail recorded. Sometimes it is the things we consider trivial that make the most difference in the end."

He handed a folder to Sirius, who took it carefully. Professor Dumbledore then motioned for them to sit once again. Sirius and James went back to the table, where they opened the folder and read through its contents.

"Marlene," Professor Dumbledore continued, "we are in desperate need of more contacts. Your family has always had a powerful influence. We need to have the passing of a law delayed, can you convince some members of your family to vote against it? If it is passed the Ministry will be more powerful, but we will be playing into Voldemort's hands. The law is specified here." Professor Dumbledore handed Marlene another folder. "I know it will be difficult," he said, "you will need to hint at how bad it will be without saying that you know anything."

Lene nodded, and sat down at the table again. She began chewing on her pinky nail as she read the sheets inside the folder, a sign of true concentration.

"Lily," Professor Dumbledore said, "I need you to do a lot of research. I must say, that essay you wrote on Stunning Spells was very useful, as one doesn't like going through all these books oneself. I need a report on magical and Muggle ways of eavesdropping and which would work best in these situations. Also, some of our failed attempts to get information from the Death Eaters are detailed here. I need you to analyse what went wrong and how to correct it. I know you will complete it perfectly." He waved Lily away and she went to the table.

*

Lily got out a ninth piece of parchment. She had read through the report of failed attempts several times, not being able to find a single mistake. It had only been when James read a paragraph over her shoulder and pointed out a small mistake that she had begun to find things. Once she had seen that small mistake, other minor errors were jumping out of the page. So many things that had not been considered were forming in her mind, and she had been writing for the past four hours. Lily paused to read the paragraph she had just completed, flexing her right hand at the same time.

"Lily," Pat said coming down the stairs, "what are you working on? It's almost one-thirty."

"It's Charms," Lily replied a little to quickly. "I need to get an 'O' on this."

"Oh," Pat said. "Lily, you're not going to do very well if you're falling asleep over it. Come upstairs, we have classes tomorrow." Pat closed one of Lily's books and picked it up. "Come on, you look exhausted."

Lily sighed, glancing around at all of the books on the table. She was tired. This was important, this was her first assignment in an Order that was fighting for a cause. She had to put effort into this; as much effort, if not more, than what she put into her schoolwork.

"I'll be up in five minutes, Pat," she said, stifling a yawn.

"Go up now." Pat closed her other books and stacked them before Lily, who was moving at half speed, had even stood up.

"Fine, fine," Lily piled her pieces of parchment and folded them in half so that Pat couldn't see what was written.

She dragged herself up the stairs to the dormitory. After tucking her sheets of parchment into her trunk Lily flopped down on the bed, not even bothering to undress.

Why didn't Dumbledore want Pat to be in the Order? It shouldn't matter that she isn't as strong as Marlene or I - Peter isn't either. Is it because he's suspicious of her? No, that can't be it. No one else in the entire school got in, it must be bad luck that it's all the Gryffindors but one. Right? I mean, not even Greg...

Pat wouldn't do anything to hurt us, she's one of the most loyal people I know. She should have been in Hufflepuff! Maybe that's why, she so trusting of everyone, she doesn't take the war seriously. She'd never believe that someone she knows could be evil, she's just to trusting.