✌︎︎𝙲𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚊 𝙿𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚞𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜✌︎︎

Secret Societies

"It is absolutely unacceptable that Dumbledore isn't doing anything about this!" Remus fumed, folding his arms with great force, a frown apparent on his scarred face.

"We don't know that he's not doing anything for sure," Frank shrugged.

Remus's comment seemed to have caught James's attention, his eyes widening in realization. After a moment of hesitation, he pulled Clara by her arm, leading her away from the group.

Clara pulled away and looked at James questioningly. She could feel Sirius's eyes on the both of them, his eyebrows furrowing, and James feeling a slight itch of nervousness, because he too could feel Sirius's watch.

"What is it?" Clara raised an eyebrow.

James sighed, "what Remus just said reminded me of a conversation I had with Dumbledore earlier," he began, and Clara beckoned him to continue with a slight nod. "He already spoke with me and Evans, he needs to speak with you four now."

"And you told me this because-"

"I'm slightly afraid of Moony and Padfoot at the moment, and Wormtail isn't anywhere to be seen." James rolled his eyes.

"So, that's how it is? You should be more afraid of me-" Clara's voice began to get louder, her finger pointing at James accusingly.

"Oh, please!" James blocked her face with his hand.

"Oi oi oi!" Sirius stepped in between them; the scene had intensified.

"All right, all right, all right, I'm leaving," James backed away, "don't forget what I told you, Potter." He finished and walked away.

Sirius turned to Clara, "what's he talking about, V?"

"...And he gave absolutely no clue as to why Dumbledore wants to speak with us?" Peter spoke as the four walked together towards Dumbledore's office.

"I told you everything already, Pete, what Remus said about Dumbledore reminded him of this; that's all." Clara clarified.

The four stood outside the door to Dumbledore's office, looking at each other expectantly.

"I'm not knocking." Clara decided, realizing what the three boys meant as they gestured towards the door.

"Well why not?" Peter said, and gestured again, nodding his head with a wide smile.

"You're both so immature, it's a door for Merlin's sake-" Sirius rolled his eyes.

Remus looked at Sirius with a raised eyebrow, "why don't you open it then, if you're so mature?" He scoffed when Sirius didn't answer him, blatantly staring at the ground.

"Oh my," Remus sighed and knocked on the wooden door.

Almost immediately, the door open to reveal McGonagall and Dumbledore mid-argument.

Remus cleared his throat, catching the two Professor's attention, then spoke, "I apologize if this isn't a proper time, Professor," he said.

Dumbledore's frown quickly turned into a smile, "please do make yourselves comfortable," he spoke in a light and friendly tone.

Clara sat down beside Remus, on the side, looking up at McGonagall, waiting for her to scream.

"Excuse me, professor, I will not take part in this." McGonagall finished and left the room in cold air.

The four turned to Dumbledore questionably.

"I assume Mr. Potter hasn't told you anything of it then," the four shook their heads. "Well, I am gathering a - sort of - army to fight of the evil that opposes us to this day. You four are of the many young souls who mercilessly captivated my attention the moment you first got sorted into your houses, your talent is immense; I would be delighted if you all accepted my offer."

All four spoke at once: "What do we get?" "What about the casualties?" "Is this what you tell every other student you're trying to recruit?" "We're in!"

Dumbledore motioned for them to settle down, "one at a time, please-"

"Right, me first. Are you really trying to recruit us? Or are you looking for strength in numbers? Are we just your replaceable little toys that you want to control-"

"Hey, hey, hey, Potter; calm down." Sirius said, his eyes widening at her accusations.

"I was without a doubt, Miss Potter, that you would think as such. You do, however, remember that I informed yourself and your four companions about this army of mine beforehand, yes?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

Clara turned red and nodded her head shamefully.

"I don't expect you to have an answer right away," Dumbledore told them, he knew of the dangers they might face when fighting of Death Eaters.

"I'm in, Professor," Sirius responded almost immediately, and Clara looked at him with a surprised expression. He looked at Clara, his eyes softened, and he smiled, "it's for the greater good, V."

Remus looked like he was about to punch Sirius right then and there, "what are you on about, you absolute wanker!" He whispered harshly, then let out a laugh.

Dumbledore looked at Peter curiously, "I suppose you'll need more time to think about it, Mr. Pettigrew?"

All eyes turned to Peter, and he shook his head furiously. "If Sirius is in, so am I." He claimed, and Sirius sent him a grin.

A rapid knock at the door caught Dumbledore's attention, and with a swift motion of his hand, the door opened to reveal a flustered James Potter - that was something you don't see every day!

"Professor," James regarded Dumbledore, then looked at Clara urgently, "I've thought long and hard, and I'm not letting you join the Order." He decided.

Clara looked too stunned to speak, so Sirius did, "I think Clara can decide for herself,"

"She's far too young for that-"

"I'm only months younger than you!" Clara protested.

Before James could state anything further, Dumbledore spoke in a controlling voice, "give your sister time to make her own decision, Mr. Potter."

James nodded and left Dumbledore's office abruptly.

"Who does he think he is!" Clara exclaimed as the four left the office with mixed feelings.

Remus sighed, "I think he's right."

Peter, and Sirius both gasped simultaneously, and Clara muttered a few swears under her breath.

"It's almost like I expected that!" Clara cried, and before the three boys knew it, tears were streaming down her face.

"Oh, come on now, Potter; don't go on and make me look like the bad guy here!" Remus sighed and folded his arms.

Clara's eyebrow's furrowed, "you do that well on your own, Lupin." She spoke as if she were forcing the words past her trembling lips.

Sirius watched Clara leave then whispered to Remus, "I do agree with you; I have a bad feeling about this." He finished and left after Clara.

Clara and Sirius sat out in the Courtyard. Clara's head lay on Sirius's shoulder as she finished the book she was reading, Audrey Rose by Frank de Felitta, telling Sirius her expectations of what might happen next, while Sirius smoked a cigarette and twirled her dark hair with his pale finger.

"Are you really going to join, V?" Sirius murmured.

Clara sighed, took a deep breath, "I never even stated my decision, and everyone is already attacking me. However, I'm honestly unsure."

Sirius nodded and planted a kiss on her forehead, "do you want my opinion?"

"Absolutely not." Clara said in a serious tone, then burst out laughing when she saw Sirius's face. "We can talk about it later; I'm focused on finishing this right now." She held up her book to Sirius with a smile on her face, and Sirius simply nodded, his cigarette resting between his lips.