The Fifth Marauder ~ HP

Chapter{1}: Three Times Thalia Had A Visitor

And The One Time Someone Stayed

1. Lily and James Potter:

James Potter was having the worst month of his life by far. It just seemed like one shock after the other. One loss after the other. One quiet, secret, funeral after the other.

They got the Prewett brothers at the start of August. The McKinnons the following day. Nothing felt real after that.

He should've known.. should've known the grief would hit her the hardest. And their Ash was never one to think things through, the impulsive tosser. What were they thinking, letting her go on a mission right after losing the love of her life..

They weren't thinking. No one was.

Lily had been inconsolable. Merlin, he'd been inconsolable. It was Marlene!

They'd all just wanted to jump back into work. Just wanted it all to be over and done with already, before their circle of trusted friends got any tighter as people were killed.

And the mission had been an utter success until the last part.

They were at some dodgy pub in Knocktrum Alley. Ash, undercover as a waitress, had nicked the list of the death eaters's future planned attacks right from under their noses along with a few wands, carelessly dangling from too wide pockets.

Her skills as a former pickpocket, served the Order very well on many occasions, and as a result, put her on Voldemort's personal radar.

James, Sirius and Alice were under the invisibility cloak watching her back and eavesdropping on the young death eaters's low mutterings.

If all had gone according to plan, it would've put them miles ahead.. They would've been prepared for at least a month's worth of attacks.

But, alas, the death eaters had been tipped off about their mission.

Between one second and the other, the group of four, five, masked wizards was joined by about six more, wands drawn and pointed at Thalia, dark curses on the tips of their tongues.

Sirius was the first to snap out of his shock, drawing his wand and setting the table in their midst on fire with an explosion.

Ash parkoured between the distracted enemies to join the trio, and they all ran towards the fireplace, firing spells behind them and pulling eachother along, intending to floo, considering non of the safehouses allowed apparition.

And they almost made it. They were so close. The fire was just enveloping their legs, when a masked death eater jumped in attempting to follow them.

That was it. They were doomed if the death eaters knew the location of yet another Order HQ. Especially one as vital as the one they were heading to..

James was just considering the pros and cons of changing the location last minute, risking their lives in the floo network when Ash made the decision for him.

A terrible, stupid, reckless decision.

She acted fast, tackling the death eater out of the fireplace with a snarl, and he didn't catch the rest of the scene as green fire enveloped his vision.