house of black

chapter 20: phantom faces

London, August 1979

"He isn't going to stop." Lily said, running her hand through her auburn hair.

"I know." James said, uncharacteristically quiet.

"He puts us all at risk." She added, looking up at the group.

"Lil." Marleen scoffed, blowing a stray piece of hair out of her face in a way she hoped came across as unbothered.

"You know it's true Marleen. Everyone is in danger because of us. We have defied him. He won't ask again." She whispered and James took a step closer to her, resting his hand on the back of her neck, gently stroking her hair. When the two of them had finally gotten together, Sirius had outwardly been pissed off (mainly because he owed Peter fifty gallons over it) but he knew there was no better witch for James than Lily.

"She's right Marleen." Sirius said finally, reclining in his chair, Remus watching him from across the room, eyes big and sad.

"Well.. what do we do now?" Alice asked. "We're sitting ducks."

Frank stood quietly with her in front of him, hands wrapped around her shoulders. This had been the couple that snuck up on them. Alice was always so full of life, running around the castle in a sprightly manner, Frank tall, quiet and serious. Remus was the one who had seen them outside the greenhouse in fifth year pouring over their textbooks together, hands resting on the others thighs. They had been almost inseparable ever since.

"We have to hide." Remus said eventually.

"We're not cowards." Sirius scoffed.

"You'll be dead if you don't." Remus warned. "Even now, meeting like this, with all of us- it's dangerous. If someone were to trace one of these meetings, with all of us here.."

"It would be an easy hit. We'd all be taken down. That's almost half the Order." Peter said from his place beside the window.

"He's right. And I think we all know it." said Dorcas Meadows. "God..."

"Hey, this isn't the end- just- temporary, right Sirius?" Marleen said, crossing the room to hold the dark haired girl's hand. Dorcas wiped her cheeks and squeezed Marleen's hand thankfully.

"Temporary, of course." Sirius said with a signature smile. He made eye contact with Marleen and they both knew they were empty words. But both had an unspoken understanding about keeping this from more fragile members of the group.

"See? Temporary." She told Dorcas.

"How do we go about this? Logically, I could hide in the muggle world, with James." Lily said. "Sirius, Lupin and Peter, Dorcas and Marleen, Alice and Frank- we just need to find houses that are safe..."

"I will need somewhere- secure." Lupin said in a strained sort of voice. A thick fog settled over the room.

"Lily and I can sort ourselves out." James said eventually.

"Dorcas and I will stay with my family." Marleen said.

"I have plenty of money." Sirius shrugged. "Lily, James- I've got a safe-house for you."

"No, don't waste it on us." Lily said.

"I think you'll need it more than anyone." Remus argued.

"Absolutely." Marleen agreed.

"We're getting married." James suddenly blurted out, in a tone which was far too loud for the small room everyone resided in.

It was just the shift in mood the young witches and wizards needed as they laughed and bustled over to the couple happily, kissing cheeks and congratulating them.