Rebuilding the Order

Albus' stricken face flashed through James' mind again as he sat in the living room awaiting the members of the highly diminished Order to arrive. James had his head in his hands, tears flooding beneath his eyelids, though he forced them away...never allowing them to run down his face. His mother would tell him to be strong. He had never seen her cry, and he still had Lily, who reflected his mother's strength. The tears nearly flowed when he thought of Lily, trapped within a school run by Death Eaters. He had been very much against her attending, but she was as stubborn as his mother had always been, and he had finally conceded; though, he had given her their dad's old DA coin first.

James was fingering the coin now, turning it at every angle in his hand. He had not felt its burn yet, though he often wished dearly for it between owls from Lily. The coin burning meant that Lily was alive...or that one of the Slytherins had figured out how it worked and stole it from her... James shook his head violently, trying to force these images out of his head. They wouldn't do. He needed to concentrate. He found himself in a leadership role, which he could never had envisioned himself in. Long ago were the days that James strove to match his father's skill in Quidditch. Now he must match his skill as a champion of justice...the Chosen One they had called him. They were big shoes to fill, and James felt a huge strain to meet the expectations he felt everyone had of him. Would he be able to cope? No...it wasn't a question of whether he wanted to cope...he needed to cope. He needed to protect Lily...protect Teddy...and protect the entire wizarding world from a father that had once been a beacon of light against the darkness.

"...and now he is a harbinger of darkness," James thought to himself as a lump rose into his throat.

Jack had moved in yesterday. James had been there a bit longer than her, but Jack seemed the least out of place, in her opinion. Chase seemed to ready to bring Jack closer to her- it was as though the room had always been waiting for her. Jack hadn't interacted with the other house members much- she had been trying to make her room less like an aristocrat's room and more like a cave. Jack had befriended the house elves- well, she had bribed them with some Honeydukes chocolate- and they were now smuggling her food. Jack had eliminated all needs to get out of her room.

The first thing to draw her out was the Order meeting. Jack called for a house elf to get directions to the living room- this damn house was bigger than Hogwarts, Jack was sure. Faintly grumbling, Jack listened to the elf's squeaky instructions. "I'd better pack supplies in case I get lost," Jack said irritably, flicking her eyebrows up snarkily as she committed the instructions to her memory. She began to leave her room before pausing- who needed shoes if she was just heading down to the living room? She kicked off her sneakers and headed down to the living room.

She hadn't expected the floors to be polished.

Slipping and sliding all of the way there was one way to go. Jack was in a very pissy mood as she reached the living room, but those feelings deflated a bit as she took in the sight of her friend, James Potter. Jack may have lost a lot in the past year, but James had just lost nearly everyone dear to him. Frankly, he had lost both parents, a brother, and every other relation. Jack steeled herself- another one to be strong for. She walked into the living room, still slipping a bit in her socks. She dropped into a large armchair. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the cushion slowly deflated under her weight and she sunk into the chair.

"Hi James."

James looked up when he saw someone enter, hastily blinking back the tears that had been threatening to come. In the past, the vision of Jack sliding along the floor in her socks would have brought laughter from James, but since the tragedy which had befallen his family, James had become a lot more terse. James could not drag up even the smallest of smiles at Jack's predicament.

"Hey, Jack," James replied somberly, his fingers now interlaced in his lap. It was time to be strong. "Been to Quidditch practice lately?"

James himself hadn't been able to walk on the Quidditch pitch since his father had defected to the Death Eaters....if defected could even be the word for it. James just couldn't think of how else to describe his father going from the champion against the Dark Lord, to being the Dark Lord himself. It was not only that he just didn't feel up to it, but James had been hunted by Death Eaters ever since the night his family and friends were slain. Undoubtedly, his father feared some sort of retribution from him. James hoped that Lily was not being hunted quite so ruthlessly as he himself was. Again, his hand went into his pocket to rub the DA coin softly. His other pocket was bulging from his dad's old invisibility cloak. His father had presented it to him the day he had started at Hogwarts. It seemed like forever ago that he had stood breathless in front of the Hogwarts Express' steaming engine, his loving father's hand placed bracingly on his right shoulder as he slid the cloak into his bag.

"Ginny would not approve," his father had whispered into his ear, giving him a pat.

It was not long after that his father had begun to act strange and distant. James had just been to young to really notice at the time.

Chase had to admit, she liked having people in the house again. After her family had been killed, she had gotten used to how quiet it was. Her house elves had been great company, and the servants mostly just cleaned the house and went home again, having no time for the single child, and heir to her family's fortune, except to clean up and leave it at that. Of course Mary took care of Chase for the most part, and had been a great help directly after the deaths, in getting things set up, and making sure she was taken care of, but even Mary had her own family, and Chase had come to associate silence and being alone to her house, now though.. people were everywhere, and the house would be abuzz with people this morning.

Jack had moved into the house, but had taken to her room and hadn't been seen much since getting there. Chase had run into James a few times, and couldn't help but feel a sense of awe, she was keeping James Potter safe. THE James Potter. He was staying at HER house. She had to admit, it was pretty exciting. Then again, the entire situation was horrible. Harry Potter gone evil.. who would have thought something like that could happen? After defeating the Dark Lord.. showing just how wonderful a person could be.. here he goes and starts killing his own family. Leaving the entire world in chaos when everyone stopped trusting the people they knew. If Harry Potter was evil.. who else was?

Chase didn't have much to worry about, everyone who worked for her household were wizards or related to wizards, and Chase had known them for her entire life. Chase felt no worry for her little world, and had been excited when her preposition for them to stay at her manor, in place of the old meeting place, had been accepted. And today was a meeting, a wonderful meeting, people showing up, eating food, and discussing plans on what to do, and Chase got to be involved. She couldn't help it, she was giddy.

Resisting the urge to dress up, like her mother would have, and had programmed into her. Chase slipped on some socks that were made to grip the floor almost like slippers, and waltzed down the hallway. She had to admit, she was extremely aware of how her house must look to them, she had never thought about it before, because it was just her home, but to them.. it must be confusing. She glanced around at the doors that were being filled up by Order members who were hiding from the world, and smiled slightly. She was working on a secret project, having been studying quite a bit, and was working on something for the people in case worst things came to worst.

For now though, she'd wait until the meeting to discuss it, and maybe get some help, she was having difficulties, and would have to wait until someone with more power, or more knowledge could help her out with it.

When Chase entered the den, she saw James and Jack already there. She immediately grew stiff, and her back straightened, her chin lifted, and she attempted to look a bit bigger than she was. She was already quite tall, and the extra puffing up didn't help her tower over them.

"Hey guys." She said with a smile, her red hair flashing around her blemish free face. She had put on a tiny bit of makeup, but it was enough to make her greenish eyes stand out quite a bit. Her clothes were simple, wearing tight jeans and a yellow blouse, the overall affect though, was one of a model, and she had been for quite some time until her mother had died, and then she had given up on it, though she refused to gain an ounce.

"I guess I left my room early.. I'm going to check on getting some snacks in here.." she said and disappeared into the dining room / storage room and new den, which included most of the bookshelves as well.

Sad people- Jack had never been good at dealing with them. She always tried to crack jokes, or she remained too realistic about the situation. Jack had learned with Chase- when someone was sad, let them be sad until they needed something you could provide them with, then do whatever it took to help.

James asked if she had been to Quidditch practice. Jack nodded. "I like to think of it as training for the days ahead," she said. "We've only had the Ministry come once to 'inspect' so far. Coach warned us, though, so I hid in the lockers. They told coach that if he was harboring any known Order members, there'd be hell to pay." Jack shrugged.

Chase entered, looking as though there were no war unfolding around them. "Hi," Jack responded simply, looking up at her friend, before looking down at her knees, pulling at a strand in the rip in her jeans. Things with Chase had never been resolved, but Jack didn't intend on following that train of thought.

Ted's features shifted from his Auror persona of Norman Reedus to his own as he made his way along the hedge-trimmed walkway up to the grand steps. Skirting around the fountain, which seemed to be shut off for winter, Ted rang the doorbell to the front door. He heard the hasty scurrying of feet on the other side of the great oak door, then a small slot opened, from which peered big green tennis-ball sized eyes.

"Only the light can drive out the darkness," Ted said, not waiting to be asked by the small, squeaky voice for the password.

Ted heard the door unlock, and assumed that the elf's own peculiar magical power to repel enemies had been lifted. The thought of how much trouble they would be in, should the elves ever decide to retaliate and make their bid for freedom crossed Ted's mind briefly. They had a strong and ancient magic, which wizarding kind knew little of. Sometimes he considered themselves lucky that it is in an elf's nature to serve.

Directly across from the entry way was the den, where Ted presumed the meeting would take place. Upon entering the room, he noticed immediately that James was not holding up well. "But then, who would?" Ted thought to himself. He had been too young to remember the death of his own parents and grandfather; however, the Potters had been like family to him as well. He felt the keen pain of loss just as strongly as James, but something inside of him kept him from despair. It was the fact that he still had 'family' who needed him, and as long as they continued to need him, Ted could deal with anything.

" 'llo, Jack," Ted said as he crossed the living room to sit next to James. He heard some clattering coming from the direction of the kitchen and assumed that Chase must be there.

"....'llo, James," he said quietly after having observed his 'brother' for a few seconds with some concern.

Curtis muttered the enhancements to his protective spells as he exited his home, his eyes peeled for any movement. He had been on the list of Order-sympathetic Aurors, so he knew that he was hunted. Chase had offered Curt lodging within the manor, but he had politely refused. Curtis was not the type of man to accept hospitality when he had fitting accommodations of his own. He had his home protected just as well as the Moor Mansion. It just was not big enough or remote enough to serve as something like Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix.

As Curt left the protective bubble of magic suspended around his house, he turned his wand towards the houses of his nearest neighbors. The protective spells he used for them were not nearly so strong, but they would at least discourage the Death Eaters should they decide to attack. There was only so much you could do for a muggle without them noticing, but they needed protection more now than ever.

Depositing his wand within his cloak, Curt rotated on the spot and appiarited outside of Moor mansion. He was sure to apparite a fair distance from the anti-apparition jinx which had been placed on the property. He knew of the place's location solely on the fact that he had been shown by the secret keeper where the place was at. Curtis decided that they would need to put up something more. Some sort of spell that only let Order members onto the property. He was sure it could be done. How many times had he studied the dark art which had only allowed Death Eaters through on the night of Albus Dumbledor's murder? He was certain that it was a spell he could duplicate. He merely needed something for everyone in the order to keep on their person, as he'd rather not tattoo the needed symbol onto anyone's skin. Perhaps a badge of some sort....

Curtis by now had arrived at the great oak door, and knocked. He presented the house elf with the password and the door opened. This was another problem. Even with something like a badge to allow entry within the protected area, they should have something a bit more secure. A Death Eater could torture a victim to reveal the password, then steal the badge. There was a lot of work to be done in protecting the Headquarters....

Curtis entered the den, seeing that a few members had already made their way to the meeting. He wasn't sure himself how many people were actually supposed to show up, and the only person he knew who was currently in the room was James.

"Hello, everyone," Curtis said smiling, "My name is Curtis Trepanier, former Head Auror for the Department of Ministry."

Ted Lupin was the next to enter, and as he made his way in, Jack's eyes flicked up to him before she noticed something. Perched on a shelf next to the door was a folded newspaper. Today WAS the day the new Daily Prophet was released, so she bet it was the latest issue. She got up and passed Teddy, responding to him as she walked by with a simple, "Hey."

She walked over to the shelf and lifted on her toes, reaching up for it, scrabbling a bit before her fingers caught the page. She pulled it down and tucked it under her arm. She took a step back, stepping in front of the doorway briefly, just as an older man appeared there. Jack's eyes flicked to him and she turned, walking back to her spot. She collapsed on the spot and sunk back into the cushions.

The man was speaking as Jack unfolded the paper. Her eyes glanced up, giving him a quick up-down. Jack wasn't a social creature. She supposed James would introduce her. He'd better.

James gave Teddy a swift squeeze on the shoulder to reassure him that he would be alright before rising to greet Curtis.

"Curtis," James said, advancing to shake the man's hand, "So glad you could make it."

James turned to address Jack and Teddy, holding his arm out to indicate Mr. Trepanier.

"As you all just heard, this is Curtis Trepanier. He was the Head Auror at the Ministry before my da....before the unfortunate incident last Tuesday. He came seeking us out, and is ready to fight along side us as a member of the Order. His experience as Head Auror should prove to be a tremendous help in solidifying our defenses. I'd wager he knows more about defending against the dark arts better than anyone in this room."

James gripped Curtis by the shoulder and pointed to Jack.

"Curtis, this is Jack Dyllan. She is a long-time friend, and can perform some of the best hexes I've seen administered to a person."

"And this," James continued, now pointing to Teddy, "Is Ted Lupin, Remus Lupin's son. He is a Metamorphagus, and our eye inside the Ministry. He disguises himself as a man who goes by the name of Norman Reedus. Chase Moor is in the kitchen, though I believe you have met her already as she owns this mansion."

Introductions complete, James gave Curtis a final clap on the shoulder and returned to his seat, while Curtis decided to sit down next to Jack.

"Now," James said, "Does anybody know of anyone else who may be coming?"

James introduced the newcomer and Jack felt a bit of respect- Head Auror was a position Jack had to admit she had some reverence for. Most people in Hogwarts had assumed Jack would become an Auror and, if not for all of the procedures and protocol one had to follow in that line of work, Jack probably would have met their expectations. Jack, however, was not one to meet people's expectations.

She liked her own introduction. She couldn't help but flick a smirk over at Curtis- she wondered how he would fit in, being quite a shade older than the rest of them. He went to take a seat after introductions were made for him, and chose a spot next to Jack. Again delaying a look at the paper, she looked up at Curtis, saying, "Looks like your the babysitter here." She smirked again. "Enjoy."

James asked if anyone else was coming. Jack shook her head. "This should be it- well, except for that Daily Prophet woman. She may be at work though. Chase would know better than I, though."

Chase came back into the room loaded down with snacks and beverages, a tray filled with delicate rolls, mugs and tea packets, a kettle with hot water in it, cookies, pastries, pumpkin juice, and other drinks. The tray was huge, and everything on it homemade, Chase had been looking forward to the meeting and had gone out of her way to provide for everyone's tastes.

When Chase entered she realized more people had arrived, and her face went slightly red, her chin lifted up and she stood up taller, setting the tray down on the table and flicking her wand towards the kitchen, a second later another tray arrived filled with other delicacies. She had heard her name as she entered, and nodded once at everyone. "I do believe she's at work for the moment, but she might be able to join us at one time or another. Hopefully soon." Chase glanced at the mantelpiece, over which sat a beautiful clock, planets turned around the outside, a mirror of the watches wizards usually got when they became of age. "Yes... in all likelihood she should be here soon." Chase said and smiled at them all.

"I'm Chase Moor, in case you didn't know, and if you need anything at all, feel free to ask me." She said smiling and taking her place in her seat, her eyes darting over to Jack, her smile a bit more forced, but obviously she was trying hard to appear as friendly and decent as possible, it was programmed into her brain, when guests came over, she was the perfect hostess, if she wasn't.. well, it wouldn't necessarily matter, but for now, Chase would go along with her instincts until she became more familiar with the people who would be visiting her house and living in it.

"Well, let's go ahead and get started then," James said, standing up again, "We can catch her up on the meeting progress when she arrives."

James paced to the middle of the room. It was not a show of formality, nor any kind of sense of power. James was very nervous about this huge prospect of putting the Order back together, especially when it was to go to war against his own father. Sitting made him more nervous when discussing serious things, and standing or pacing was calming for him.

"As you all may have noticed," James began, avoiding everyone's eyes, "The Order has decreased drastically in number. This would be due to my father..."

James stiffened suddenly, meeting everyone's eyes in turn.

"...and I simply cannot believe that the murder of everyone he loved was something my father would willingly do. There must be a reason which we cannot see or understand that pushed my father into this crime. He would never...just simply would never...."

James cleared his throat harshly, running the hand up the back of his head aggravatingly. He was getting too emotional. He needed to keep his head straight if he was going to help his father...help Lily...and avenge his mother, brother, and all other friends and family.

"I think the first order of business is to gather information, and of course, gather more support," James continued after a small pause in which he gathered himself back up, "Has anyone heard any strange rumors, or noticed anything unusual? Anyone know someone who would be sympathetic to our plight and join our cause?"

Chase entered and Jack eyed the drinks on the tray, itching for some soda but seeing none among the snacks, goblets and pastries. Well, pumpkin juice was just fine too, so Jack flicked her wand, levitating a goblet of the juice and a cookie towards her. She caught them both and inserted half of the cookie in her mouth. She laid the newspaper in her lap and devoured the cookie, listening to Chase idly as her eypage.es drifted towards the page.

James began speaking, but she and James had already conjectured and spoken about what he would discuss at the meeting. She started reading the paper, taking a drink of pumpkin juice.

She, shortly after, choked.

She forced the drink down and sputtered, "Did you read the latest Prophet and its 'rumors'?!" She unfolded thepaper and read the article on the first page.

Tragedy struck last Tuesday night at 12 Grimmauld Place in Borough of Islington, London. Harry Potter, also known as The Boy who Lived and The Chosen One had been hosting a party to celebrate the anniversary of the day in which He Who Must Not Be Named had been defeated. No sooner had Harry arisen for his speech, disaster struck in the form of his eldest son and that son's girlfriend. With no warning, James Sirius Potter and long-time girlfriend, Jacqueline Ember Dyllan, turned their wands suddenly upon friends and family. Harry and his daughter Lily are the only known survivors. Shocked from the earth-shattering betrayal of his own son, Harry confesses that he had been too shocked to act, and James and Dyllan made off with his only daughter; leaving Albus Severus Potter, and even James' mother dead.

Among the dead are some of Harry's lifelong friends who had battled at his side during the Battle of Hogwarts. They include Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and so many more. The reason behind this massacre remains to be unknown, and an extensive manhunt is underway to find those responsible for this cowardly attack on our heroes of the past. Harry pleads for the safety of his daughter and for his son to turn himself in. Should anyone encounter either James Potter or Jacqueline Dyllan, they are reminded that these two are considered armed and extremely dangerous criminals. If they are seen, please contact the Department of Law Enforcement immediately, and do not approach them under any circumstance.

Teddy began giggling softly, making an enormous attempt to stifle it, but the attempt failed. The giggles turned into a soft laughter, which quickly morphed into a loud barking laughter. Teddy held his stomach, which had begun to ache from the force of his gales of erupting laughter. Tears streamed from his face as he pointed from Jack to James.

"Oho! Why...didn't...you tell...me...the news?!" he cried between laughs, "One would think....that you're...adoptive brother would be....kept up to date...on your current love life!"

Catching the look James had shot at him, Teddy tried to force himself to stifle the laughter. He knew the situation was serious, but he hadn't laughed like this in such a long time....part of him didn't want to stop. Especially when he saw the corners of Jame's mouth twitch slightly....his brother had very nearly smiled, which was a victory, no matter how small that smile would have been.

Jack's head turned slowly, as though on rusty hinges, in a manner very similar to the way a creepy child in a horror movie might turn its head all the way around. Her gaze stopped at Teddy, her death glare zeroing in on him. She was giving him a chance to survive- his giggling increased. Alright, one more-

BWAHAHAHA!

Jack launched forward, but one of Chase's sassier elves was crossing her path. Jack swung an arm to cuff Teddy's shoulder when the elf, Dame, snapped her fingers. Jack was flung back into her position. Dame bustled over to refill Jack's pumpkin juice, squeaking, "Sorry, miss. I didn't want to clean up the mess."

Jack grumbled and waited for Dame to cross again before flinging the paper at Teddy. "It's not funny. First off- ew. Second- James and I are now wanted criminals. YOU are duty-bound to take us into the Ministry. The Prophet is obviously lost."

((I figure Teddy and Jack are fairly well acquainted. They would have known each other at Hogwarts, and she probably hung out with James and Teddy once or twice. So he should be used to her attacks.))

Teddy snatched the paper and smoothed out the front page, seeming to ponder over it.

"Ew?" James thought to himself. In the older days, that would have warranted a friendly dispute, where James would badger Jack as to how she could ever say no to a face like his. This was serious business, though.

"If you two are done squabbling...." James began a bit tersely, looking gloomy before he was interrupted by Teddy.

"Not quite, James!" Teddy said, cutting him off and tossing the newspaper to him.

James caught the paper in midair, and unfolded the front page to reveal that Teddy had emblazoned a large pink heart over his and Jack's photos. Underneath he had scrawled 'Together Forever, Loving Partners in Crime'.

James couldn't help it, a small smile was surprised from his lips before he was forcefully reminded of the crime they were being accused of.

"This is not a joking matter!" James snarled savagely at Teddy as he thrust the paper onto the table in front of Jack, "Do you realize that it is my father, the Chosen One who is making these accusations? Who do YOU think they are going to believe? Me and Jack won't be able to show our faces in public!"

Jack doubted she and Teddy would ever be done squabbling. Her friendships were usually full of friendly bickering and pranks, and typically James would have joined right along. Things were changing, Jack knew this, but it was times like these, where James couldn't quite manage to laugh everything off with the rest of them that the changes really hurt.

Jack crossed her arms. "I'm not going to sit here like a caged animal. This is bull and not everyone can believe it. If we had the full Order, I might be careful, but with this many people, there's no way we can survive without at least one of us out and about," she said, glancing at James. And no way was she going to play housekeeper while James was the hero.

Though Curtis felt a bit like an intruder upon the lives of these adolescents, he was beginning to get a feel for exactly how much he would be needed. They were all still kids, only having graduated a mere year ago. He could see that they were going to be in for a rough ride. A handful of teenagers and one adult against forces who had years of training under their belts? This Order needed help...and desperately.

"No one will be caged up," Curtis said reassuringly. He reached out to give Jack's shoulder a squeeze, but dropped his hand quickly. She seemed to be the type who would not welcome physical interaction without permission.

"You must keep in mind, however, that you also cannot just stroll down Diagon Alley. Everyone in the wizarding world will be looking for you. We need to be secretive...stealthy. The truth needs to come out before any big appearances can be made. True, there are those who may be persuaded to believe that the Daily Prophet is not speaking the truth, but most will not. Remember, most everyone who knew you the best are either gone or also in hiding. You must also remember that this is Harry Potter who is spreading this mistruth. People believe in Harry. He is a hero in their eyes. Most will be reluctant to entertain the possibility that he has turned down an evil path. I'm sure it shall become more apparent as he begins to control more of the wizarding world, but by then it will be too late. He may become too strong to fight...."

Curtis paused, watching the faces closely. He realized that speaking of those who were so recently dead was harsh, but reality needed to be set in. Everyone would need each other. There were no Harry Potters. No one person who could play the hero. This would need to be a team effort.

"What we have here," Curtis continued, "is a dilemma. We have a well-loved and well-known hero of the people who has turned to evil and needs to be stopped. He needs to be stopped before he can gain a solid foothold, which unfortunately may have already happened. We know that he has control of the Ministry, and now apparently the Daily Prophet. I suppose one could hope that the Daily Prophet is merely printing from a valid interview with Harry, but in uncertain times such as these....we must assume the worst. So, how do we...a handful of children and one adult....take down such a powerful force without dying in the process? {a pause} With stealth, subterfuge, and underhanded tactics...that is how. We cannot attack from the front, standing nobly with wands drawn and expect to win. We will have to do things we may not find morally suitable."

Curtis fell silent, wondering what affect his words may have on his audience. It was hard to judge the reactions of those who had to grow so mature in such a short amount of time. Would they maintain that they must fight honorably, or would they accept the fact that to defeat the enemy, you sometimes had to stoop to their level of tactics?

((And now to begin watching A Very Potter Musical. Ya'all got me very curious. ))

The older man touched Jack’s shoulder but released quickly, more quickly than people usually did. She glanced at him, curious as to why. Not that she minded, of course, but Jack was sort of used to people annoying her. Rarely did she meet someone who managed not to make her irritable.

His next words, however, did the trick.

She understood and agreed with it all, obviously, but the moment he referred to them all as children, Jack’s anger flared. Her head turned to him, her arms crossed, and a look of cool defiance set across her features. Jack was not spoiled, nor did she think herself entitled. But she had been an adult for nearly a year and a half. She had never been in a war, but she had battled a demonic poltergeist for the past seven years- and she had won. It had not been a happy victory, nor one she was even sure she had wanted to win- but she was alive, and so was Chase.

“Right,” Jack said, sitting forward. She looked around at everyone. “Let’s get one thing straight. We are no longer children. I haven’t been one in nearly two years, and, hell, I never acted like a kid even when I was one. But you can’t keep thinking we’re young, old man,” Jack said glancing at the man, this Curtis, a bit of a gleam of a smirk on her face- hey, Jack had remembered how to joke around. But it was gone a moment later, darkness resuming its place. “We are not kids anymore. All of the adults that were out there are gone, so we are now the guardians.”

Chase listened to everyone bickering and arguing, upset about being called a couple, stopped from a full out brawl only by one of her house elves, she had to admit, this wasn't exactly what she expected from the first Order meeting, and Chase was quickly coming to a realization that things weren't quite as in control as she had hoped for them to be. There was no hero, there was no main fighter who everyone loved from the first year they were born, there was no famous person on their side, it was just.. this small group right there.

Chase listened to their only adult leader, and she felt more like a child than probably anyone in the room. Though she wasn't sure why, she led a houeshold, she had servants and house elves, and even continued her job at the Ministry of Magic. She probably had a better hold than anyone in the room, and yet she felt so immature.. why? She had seen battles, been tortured before, had scars to prove it, and yet.. she felt childish.

When Jack burst out that they weren't children, Chase looked up at her, her eyes sad, before speaking. "But we are Jack.. don't you see? We're only children.. we JUST graduated.. we have no real claim to life, we are unknown to most of the wizarding population.. which is the exact opposite for how Harry was when he fought You-Know-Who.. It might help us now.. but you." She pointed at James, her eyes narrowed slightly. "And you." she pointed at Jack now, a small smile crossing her lips. "Are now public enemy number one.. it makes it sound light in the prophet.. but think about it guys.." Chase stood up, paced once, realized what she was doing, and sat back down.

"Harry Potter.. the Boy Who Lived.. destroyed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named when he was a baby, and the wizarding world rejoiced, at age eleven he fought him for the Sorceror's Stone, at Twelve fought his horcrux in the Chamber of Secrets, at Fourteen watched him come back, at fifteen he fought him in the Ministry of Magic, at Sixteen.. don't you get it? He's a hero! And he should be! But something is wrong.. he's gone bad, and now, all of us, we have to be heroes now! But.. we didn't defeat a Dark Lord when we were babies.. or for each year after that either.. We are not Harry Potter in a time when we need Harry Potter, because this time.. we're fighting him."

Chase looked at the adult in their midst and smiled sadly. "Not even you are an adult though.. because no one is experienced in how to handle what's going on.. maybe we need to be stealthy.. yes, that's true.. but we all come from a generation where if you needed to fight, you did it in the open, we have to be careful, and yes, we are all children, and we're fighting a pretty big fight.." Chase shut her mouth and sighed, staring at her lap, going silent once more.

Jack stared at Chase, now furious. Jack did not consider herself a hero in the least- to do so would mean she had considered herself a good person. Jack's cynical mind could not twist her morals to accept herself as wholly ethical. But Jack had never been given a childhood- friendless, angry, tormented by a murderous poltergeist. And Chase knew this. Jack's eyes rested on Chase.

Finally, Jack managed to say, in a deadly whisper, "I think I have demonstrated the ability to do what needed to be done, regardless of cost." Her eyes were cold on Chase, unseeing; eyes that no longer belonged to her but someone who had been rid of this world by her hand. "I think you, of all, should know that."

Jack crossed her arms and looked around. "The point is, stating how puny we are doesn't take anyone down. Lamenting about how far behind we are does nothing. No one has had proper preparation for this. For the past twenty or so years, there's been peace! Voldemort was gone, who did we have to defend ourselves against? The occasional mad wizard, a werewolf on the road, a lost troll? No one was ready for it- that probably means, however, many weren't ready for their Dark Lord to return. We may not have the upperhand, but we're not losing the battle yet."

"Calm down, Jack," James said in the most soothing of voices he could muster, "I do not believe Mr. Trepanier was trying to insinuate that we are not up to the task, but merely trying to impress upon us that we are inexperienced, straight out of school, and accustomed to the easy life our parents laid out for us."

James chanced a glance at Curtis, who nodded his head curtly. The man was more than willing to allow James to smooth things over. He knew that there were times for sticking up for one's self, and other times where it was simpler to withdraw. This was a time for withdrawing.

"I do realize that there are some of us who have lived a harsher life, causing us to grow up fast." James' eyes settled on Jack, "Really, I do understand that, but the fact is that most of us ARE children. I know that I have never had to lift my wand in the defense of myself or others. My parents gave us anything we could ever want. What could we know of battle? Mr. Trepanier simply gave a very valid point, hitting the very core of the largest difficulty we are facing here. Most of us have no idea of what we are up against...have never been in a battle....and until recently, have never seen a loved-one die. It will be an uphill battle, but we have one very important weapon: The enemy will underestimate us.

Think about it...if Curtis is questioning our abilities, then how do you think the enemy will see us? They will view us as bothersome flies to be swatted, mere parasites. I know that we will put up more of a fight than the enemy would expect of us. As an individual, we are but a tiny gnat, biting on the leathery hide of an elephant. Get enough gnats together, though....then we become more than a tiny inconvenience. We need to stand together, and we need to prepare ourselves. Remember: When the Order was first formed, most of the members were near our age; freshly graduated from Hogwarts....we can do this!"

James paused allowing his words to sink in. This was not his strong suite. James did not consider himself any sort of leader, and motivational speaking was definitely NOT something he could consider himself a master at. He would have to speak from the heart, and merely hope that it was good enough.

"I think the first steps," James continued, "are to gather the information, solidify our protection, and train ourselves in combat. We have Teddy in place at the Ministry already, under disguise of course, which should prove to be extremely useful. Mr. Trepanier used to be Head Auror, so he should be a great asset in improving our defenses, and instructing us in combat against dark wizards...."

Curt nodded graciously as he was singled out by James, who had also unknowingly granted him a way to patch things over with miss Dyllan. Quarreling was not a way for any group to succeed, so Curtis had learned very early how to apologize quickly...even if he felt as though he was not the one in the wrong.

"Splendid idea, James," Curtis replied to his suggestion, "but providing both protection and training in combat would be very difficult task for one man. Might I suggest that miss Dyllan here takes the lead in training the rest of you in combat. It sounds as though she has some experience in the matter."

Turning his attention to Jack herself, Curtis continued, "and should you ever need some help in the task, you could of course, always refer to me. I'd always be glad to lend a hand. As for protecting this place, I would need to butt heads with miss Moor and discuss what protections the Manor already has in order to suggest any additional security."

Jack couldn't explain why she was being so easily agitated, and she was a bit disgusted with herself. Jack had always fancied that she was a bit easy-going; what had happened to the fun-loving prankster who's only concern was to raise as loud a rumpus as humanly possible? When had she become the uptight, defensive ball of anger she was presenting to he Order of the Phoenix. It was a double edged sword though. If she continued to act in this manner, she was taking herself too seriously. If she returned to her normal demeanor, she wasn't taking the situation serious enough.

Becoming a murderer had changed everything.

James smoothed it over and Jack dropped it. She hated leaving her reputation thus tarnished but what could she say? Sorry everyone, I only get so defensive because I've been engaged in a war with a blood-thirsty poltergeist for the past six years? That wasn't exactly something she wanted to advertise.

She was surprised when the Curtis bloke suggested she head training. She blinked at him, not sure what he was doing? Was he setting her up for failure, backing down, or was he just interested to see how she would react?

Jack never stepped down from a challenge.

She sat up straighter. "I can do that."

Chase ducked her head while the others spoke, it was quickly becoming apparent that the leaders of the group did not include her. It was also apparent to her that James Potter would be their hero. His actions, his quick smoothing of the whole issue, his ability to completely ignore what she had said and talk over it so it didn't count.. well that's what a hero did. Chase was here to be the hostess nothing more, and maybe a wingman in the fight to come. She knew the house inside and out, and had learned a lot from her father, who had taught her well when it came to defense. When she heard her name she quickly looked up and nodded at Curtis a bit shyly.

"I'll show you everything upstairs later.. my father kept it all very well controlled and I haven't let it up since he died." She said lightly, before resuming her stare at the table directly in front of her. It was not her place to make plans, it was her place to follow the others and make sure things got done well. Her only use thus far was her home, and her knowledge of it, as well as how to defend it, helped that her parents had a secret library in the attic, one she wasn't supposed to know about, but she had found it years ago and been up there multiple times since, it also housed her father's study and his plans for the defenses of the house. He had been an auror, and had taken things very seriously when it came to the manor.