#askwhathasthiscometo

All of them hoping it would be good.

But knowing deep down…

That they would never see their friend again.

And their lives would be changed forever.

The students gathered in the Headmaster’s office, silent and solemn, enduring the somber stares of the many portraits adorning the walls. Albus Dumbledore stood behind the desk, Minerva McGonagall to his right, both with looks of heartache etched across their features.

No one spoke for a long time.

Remus’ voice was the first to break the silence. “She’s gone?”

Dumbledore held up a hand, silencing then all. “There is nothing worse in this life than the pain of losing someone we love.”

“And many will, Miss Evans, with everything they have. I must ask something of all of you, now. But first, I need to know that nothing we discuss will leave this office.”

“Your word?”

Remus nodded, and Peter murmured, “...sure.”

Dumbledore’s head lowered. “We believe this was not a random attack, but one orchestrated by Voldemort himself.”

Lily clutched onto James’ wrist, knuckles white in fear.

“As all of you know, Miss MacDonald mobile and attacked once before. We believe the students behind her attack have joined Voldemort’s legions.”

"But why now?,” Remus said, his tone even and composed, despite his face betraying every single emotion. “And why Mary? Why orchestrate an attack on a random school girl?

"I mean...she is muggleborn?,” Peter said. “Do they really need a reason?

Albus sat back in his chair, the bright eyes jumping between the youth in front of him. The want for answer, justice, revenge...it was to touch and feel between them. Before Albus could speak-

“This...” James said, his voice breaking slightly, “wasn’t random a random attack.”

"The Ministry is hunting him, aren’t they?” Peter asked.

“Sirius!” Remus exclaimed, “Let them talk for Merlin’s sake!”

“and while we do, people outside the castle are being slaughtered! Now a student has fallen victim to that fascist monster, and here we are, still bloody TALKING!!” 

The golden instrument that previously lived on one of the headmasters desks went sailing into the air, before hitting the wall, a loud bang solidifying the silence that followed Sirius’ outburst. The piercing blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore noticed them all. They all wanted to do something similar. Sirius’ anger had somehow calmed them all. That was just what he needed.

“I believe something very rare has happened in this room,” Dumbledore’s voice echoed.

Everyone looked at Albus, puzzled.

"Lily Evans just said something very false indeed…”

"What did you say about the current balance of power?”

“They’re fighting a losing battle.,” James added.

Dumbledore silenced the group again with a raised hand. “I ask you now: if given the opportunity, will you fight back?

A sad smile crept onto McGonagall’s thin lips. Dumbledore cleared his throat.

“In secret, I have gathered forces from around Britain, and inside the Ministry of Magic. A growing resistance. It is a secret society, known only to a few chosen members as... the Order of the Phoenix.”

The group looked at each other. That silent glow was back. The urge to fight. They all listened with earnest intrigue as Dumbledore continued...

“It is our mission to defeat Voldemort and his followers—“

No one laughed, but looked at their Headmaster in earnest. Yes, this is what they wanted: their own rebellion. To fight in Mary’s name. To take down those who would bring more harm to the ones they cared about the most. To fight for a world where the people they loved didn’t have to live in constant fear.

As they all left the Headmasters office an hour later, the tension, and sorrow that had been eating them alive earlier was replaced with a fire. 

A fire as strong as the blaze of a dying phoenix.  

Every one of the seven young Gryffindors was ready to watch Voldemort and his Death Eaters burn.

And Albus Dumbledore was offering them a match.