"I can't believe what Dumbledore wants us to do." Sirius spoke, breaking the overwhelming silence that lay over the Marauders and Lily. On November 1st, two days before Sirius' birthday, the group had gone to the Headmaster's office as he had told Eloise. The Marauders were surprised to see an equally confused Lily sat opposite Dumbledore's desk.
*FLASHBACK*
"Good evening, students." Dumbledore greeted the teenagers as they sat on the other side of him. "I suppose you're all wondering why you were summoned here tonight." He smiled and James cleared his throat,
"You told Eloise about something called the Order of the Phoenix, what is it?"
"Straight to the point, Mister Potter, I admire that in a person." Dumbledore nodded and James sent a smirk to Sirius, "The Order of the Phoenix is an organisation founded by me to defeat Voldemort." The wizard spoke simply and the students were stunned,
"No beating around the bush then." Sirius muttered and Eloise smacked his chest,
"Why are we here then, Sir?" Eloise asked and Dumbledore turned his attention to her with a smile,
"I need the most able wizards for the Order, Miss Potter." He gestured to the Marauders and Lily, "You six have proven to fulfill that title."
*END O'FLASHBACK*
It was a week later and the group of friends had finally let themselves think over the offer.
"Well I'm going to do it." James said determinedly from the sofa, causing the others to look up at him, "I'm willing to fight in this war, to protect my family." He nodded to everyone around him and Eloise reached over to clasp his hand,
"Me too." Sirius said with a nod to James, "I'm not going to let Voldemort get the better of us." He looked around at his friends from his seat on the airmchair,
"I'm doing it too." James' head snapped up to meet his sister's gaze who was sat on Sirius' lap,
"Belle...it isn't safe-"
"Save your breath, J." Eloise interrupted him and gave him a look, "I was invited to the Order, I'm not weak and I'm not defenceless just because I'm a girl." Her voice was strong and Lily nodded in agreement from where she was sat on the sofa next to James,
"That's not what he's saying, love." Sirius said softly, "None of us want to see you get hurt."
"And you think I want to see you get hurt?" Eloise countered, "I'm not going to stand back and watch my brother and boyfriend fight while I sit on the sidelines and eat some Ginger Nuts."
"I'm fighting too." Lily decided and Eloise grinned at her,
"We both are, for all girls everywhere." The best friends held each others hands and James and Sirius smiled at one another,
"I don't doubt that whatsoever." James said, proud of his sister's courage. Eloise grinned at him and Lily sent him a small smile that he returned eagerly.
"I'm in aswell." Remus spoke up, eyes trained at the fire and his arms crossed around his knees as he sat on the floor in front of Sirius and Eloise's chair, "My mum's a muggle and you and Robyn are muggleborns, Lily." Remus looked up at the redhead who was smiling graciously, "I'll defend you, all of you, until my last breath."
"It's not going to come to that, Moony." Eloise spoke softly and Remus met her gaze, "We fight together...Always." She smiled at him and Remus leant his head back so it was resting on Eloise's knee.
The only person who hadn't spoken was Peter. He was sat with his back against the sofa on the floor and he was staring blankly at the wall, eyes wide and lips parted. "You okay, Petey?" Eloise asked, and Peter seemingly snapped out of his trance,
"What? Y-yeah." He looked up at Eloise and offered her a weak smile,
"You gonna fight then, Wormy?" James asked and the small boy visibly gulped,
"A-against the Dark Lord?"
"Yes, Peter. That's what the Order is..." Eloise frowned as the small boy ran a hand through his hair. Eloise leant forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Are you sure you're alright, Pete?" She asked and Peter nodded rapidly,
"Yeah...fine...I'll do it, I'll join." He decided, still looking at the wall.
"Okay..." Eloise said, leaning back into Sirius' chest, though still unsure about what was going on with Peter.
"I wonder what we're going to do in the Order." James said, his hazel eyes twinkling excitedly,
"Well we have to tell Dumbledore that we accept first." Lily pointed out.
"Why don't you and James go, Lils?" Eloise offered, trying to ignore the look that Remus and Sirius were sharing, "You are Head Boy and Girl after all." She sent a wink to James who smirked at her,
"Yeah, okay." Lily nodded, standing up, "Come on, James." The readhead walked towards the portrait and James stood up. Before he followed Lily he leant down to whisper in Eloise's ear,
"Have I told you how much I fucking love you?"
"Not recently...no." Eloise smirked and James kissed her cheek,
"Best. Sister. Ever." He muttered to her before running out after Lily, looking back and grinning at Eloise before disappearing out of the portrait hole.
"I give it two months." Remus said and Eloise smiled, still looking at the door where James and Lily had just left,
"Please." she smirked, "Three weeks...tops."