Marlene

31- The Order Of The Phoenix

Their was a crack from outside the flat and then a loud knock on the door. Marlene jumped up from the sofa that she was sitting on, throwing aside a copy of the daily prophet, in which she had been reading about a brutal muggle killing. Sirius skidded into the room, his wand was raised.

Marlene clutched her own and made her way over to the door.

"Who is it?" She demanded, "declare yourself!"

The ministry had been publishing pamphlets on how the wizarding community could protects themselves against possible Death Eater attacks.

"It is I," a serene voice said, "Albus Percival Brian Wolfric Dumbledore. Headmaster of Hogwarts School."

Marlene glanced over at Sirius, who was wearing a look of confusion. Then she opened the door.

Their old headmaster strode into the room, he looked perfectly at home.

"Excellent, you are both here!" He smiled, "I have just been to see your friends James, Lily and Remus."

"What for?" Sirius asked.

"Well, as I am sure that you are aware, Lord Voldemort is gathering yet more support," Dumbledore began to peruse the books on the book shelf as he spoke, "I am forming a- eh, group if you will, to counter his attempts."

"And you want us?" Marlene frowned, "why on earth would you want a bunch of barley qualified wizards."

"A bunch of exceptional wizards," Dumbledore corrected her, "you Maralene McKinnon, are an exceptional witch. That is why I would be very glad to invite you and Mr Black to be members of The Order Of The Phoenix."

********

Almost immediately, the group found themselves sucked into the world of the resistance against Voldemort. It was terrifying, but also wonderful.

Marlene had never been sure what she was going to do once she left Hogwarts. Her mother always encouraged her to seek a career in Quidditch. But Marlene hadn't wanted that. Yes she enjoyed Quidditch, but it was a hobby, not something that she wanted to do.

The only thing that she had ever wanted to do was make a difference. And working with the order was definitely doing this.

"See you next week Benjy," Marlene bade the man whom she had been talking to goodbye, and hurried to join Lily as the Order members left the meeting room in dribs and drabs. Benjy stood up and grabbed her face, kissing her on both cheeks as he always did when he said goodbye to people.

"I will see you soon McKinnon." He grinned.

They had not yet established a formal Headquaters, as the Death Eaters seemed to be able to locate them every time. Therefore, they continued to move their base of operations regularly.

The Order was full of lots of wonderful characters. Benjy Fenwick always insisted upon kissing Marlene on both cheeks before they parted, and was full of the most wonderful stories about his travels around the world.

Edgar Bones and his wife were very friendly people, who, no matter the circumstances, greeted everyone with a smile.

Dorcas Meadowes was a rather gruff witch, who had worked as an Auror at the ministry for years. She was not a person to be reckoned with.

The group, however small, we're all determined to take Voldemort down. It filled Marlene with a sense of pride and courage to be part of such a group, and gave her hope, that one day, Voldemort would be taken down.