The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

74. An End & A Beginning

The first signs of spring begin to show over the next couple of weeks. Between the showers and outright downpours of rain, the sun warms the castle, and free periods move from the confines of the library to the courtyards, the rolling expanses of green, and the lake shore. 

"I am telling you, Pete," Sirius cries, "he likes cheese toasties, not jam sandwiches!"

"Squishy isn't picky." From the shade of the tree, I squint to see Sirius and Peter, knee-deep in the lake with their trousers rolled up, throwing bits of lunch at the giant squid, who's one tentacle lazily laps waves not too far off.

"I thought we came here to study, but now I see that all you wanted to do was use me as a cushion," Remus grumbles. 

I lift my head off of his shoulder. "You're not studying, either. When did The Silmarillion become a compulsory read for Defence Against the Dark Arts?"

He sighs, "Alright, you win."

I put my head back down, watching the scene in front of us between my lashes, trying not to fall asleep in the afternoon haze. Ahead, Lily cackles as James fails to skip a stone, while hers go right over the squid's tentacles.

I could get used to this; the calm, the heat, the carelessness.

*

It seems carelessness might not be something to get used to.
Here we stand, in Dumbledore's office no less, a line a scruffy Gryffindors- save for Remus, who's uniform is immaculate compared to us- shaking in our shoes.

I'm sure the boys haven't performed a single prank all week, and I'm doubly sure I haven't been a part in anything. So why have us called here?

The office is silent, save for the ticking of  a nearby clock, and the whirring of some little object on the headmaster's desk. It's Lily that speaks first, her voice low and menacing, "I swear, if you assholes framed us for anything-"

"Relax Evans," Sirius drawls, "not a single hex from any of us this week. And plus, you've been hanging around with us. Seen anything unusual?"

"No, but I know better than to-"

"Ah, McGonagall brought you all early I see." The headmaster's entrance halts the bickering. I don't turn my head as he walks past us swiftly, and takes a stand in front of his desk. 

"Professor, whatever anyone said, we didn't start it," James bleats, and I have an overpowering urge to clamp a hand over his mouth.

Dumbledore gives a soft chuckle. "No Mr Potter, you are not here because any of you did wrong. On the contrary, you are here because your- how should I put it- camaraderie has caught my eye. In times like these, it is something that must be cherished."

We nodded in thanks, not quite sure on what to say. It was Peter that spoke up, "Sir, why are we here?"

"A wonderful question." Dumbledore turned back to his desk briefly picking up a bowl, and then offering it to us. We took a lemon drop each, and the act made me feel like a child. "The threat to our world is, inevitably, growing. What we need- I need- is young talented wizards and witches to be able to provide light in the dark."

"You want us to fight?" My mouth had begun moving at its own accord before I was even able to process the thought. "The most any of us has done is get into hallway squabbles."

"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't choose you all. Each of you has a reason to being chosen."

Remus shifts nervously on his feet beside me. "Chosen for what, Sir?"

Dumbledore smiles over his half-moon spectacles. "Chosen to become a part of the Order of the Pheonix."

Damn my big mouth. "The Order of the what now?"

~THE END~