~ We will be with you and hold you,

Till you're quiet it hurts to let you go. ~

***

With the end of term at Hogwarts, all the students had to return to their homes but parting with the school was slightly harder on the Seventh Years because it was the last time they would be roaming the castle grounds as students.

The Hogwarts Express was scheduled for Kings Cross and the thestral carriages were waiting for the students at the castle gates to take them to the Hogsmeade Station. But an hour before their departure, Dumbledore had called a select few students from Seventh Year in his office including the Marauders and their group of friends such as Lily, Marlene, Felicity and others. They were mainly the students who had participated actively in defending the school from the Death Eater attack.

They were all much concerned as to what the reason could be for the sudden unexpected meet up in the Headmaster's office. They were huddled together waiting for him to turn up and soon the book shelf moved, revealing the Headmaster.

"Good morning Professor," James exclaimed cheerfully, it was his habit to greet Dumbledore as such each time he saw him.

A smile flickered on the old man's face, eyes twinkling behind his half moon spectacles, "good morning. I hope you all are doing well."

"Yes Sir," Sirius piqued, "though the same can't be said for the rest of the students. They are surely going to miss us when we are gone."

Dumbledore nodded, "I agree. Hogwarts will indeed remember the good times you four gave us."

He stood right in front of them and though his blue eyes were twinkling, the mirth was replaced by a slightly grave expression, making him look a bit older and wearier than usual. But then of course, a war had broken out and that had taken a toll on most of them.

"I know you must be aware of the terrible times that have befell us," he spoke up at last, eyes carefully scrutinizing each face before him, "and no wonder at times it seems as if all hope has vanished and there might be no saving from the darkness that threatens to overcome us. But what you should always remember is that hope can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light."

The students listened curiously for they had no idea what Dumbledore was going to ask from them. And contrary from usual tradition, even Sirius refrained from interrupting the Headmaster allowing him to resume with all he wished to say.

"And when it seems as if there is no one to save us, we have to become the saviors ourselves," his soft voice resonated in the office, "and right now, the only ones who can save us from this darkness are us, united together against it. I have called you here to tell you of an organization I have founded to fight the Dark forces, it consists of witches and wizards like you who wish to defend their world from this war. This is extremely confidential and I trust you all to keep this strictly between yourselves."

The students nodded in affirmation though their interest had been peaked to hear of the secret organization.

"It is titled the Order of the Phoenix. Wizards of any blood, family, ethnicity are welcome and our sole aim is to defend the Wizarding World from this rising darkness. I witnessed your bravery and valiant effort during the attack at Hogwarts and I know all of you are the hope we need. Joining the Order lies solely on your own decision. And I do not demand you to give me an answer right now. Take your time to think thoroughly and then give a reply. Your owls will know how to find me."

"Thank you Professor. We will let you know soon," Remus remarked.

A slow smile graced his aging features as he gave a low nod, "may the future be bright for you all. The carriages await so I shall not detain you any longer."

On his gesture, one by one the students began to leave. Sirius was the last to leave the office and right before stepping out, he turned towards Dumbledore, "Professor Dumbledore, I have thought enough. I will join the Order."

"But clearly you must need time to think it through. It's a matter of life and death."

He didn't let him continue further as he spoke with a firm resolution, "there's a war going on, Sir. We do not have enough time. I have made up my mind and my decision is final."

Realizing that Sirius was firm in his words, Dumbledore nodded, "then so be it. I shall inform you of the next Order meeting myself."

***

Felicity had gone to Magnolia Crescent from the station in order to help Sirius clean the house and set it up. She had decided to go to her mother's the next day because Esther's health had deteriorated a great deal and she didn't want to leave her mother alone in such a state.

Throughout the ride to Magnolia Crescent, she kept pondering on Dumbledore's offer of joining the Order. She had not yet decided with certainty but knew that in the current situation it would be the right thing to join.

At their stop, the two got off the bus and walked the short distance to house number seven. Old memories threatened to haunt her but in the current spin of events, the uncertainty of their future was hanging like a constant peril upon her, making her overlook the past.

Sirius opened the door and dragged in their trunks. His grey eyes were closely focused on Felicity, searching for any noticeable sign of sorrow but her face was set in the usual emotionless look.

True, her blue eyes darted around the place taking in how lonely it felt after Alphard but she willed herself not to break down.

"So I suppose we should start after a short rest," Sirius suggested, his voice breaking her away from her train of thoughts, "though if you're hungry, we can fix something up in the kitchen."

She shook her head, "no, I had bought lunch from the trolley. What about you?"

"Peter and I stocked up on the trolley delicacies as well. Since it was our last time, the trolley witch gave us a lot more than we had paid for."

She smiled a little, "bet she's glad you four won't come back."

"Oh yes she is," Sirius had a ghost of a smile playing upon his lips, "do you know, me and James had tried to run off from the Express in our second year. Ever since then the trolley witch made sure not to let us out of her sight. But we still managed to cause up quite a ruckus."

Her smile widened, "you two are an utter statement."

"Appreciate the compliment," he pretended to lift an imaginary hat from his head in an exaggeratedly dramatic gesture, making her laugh a bit.

"I'll be in the study if you need me," she told him.

"And I'll be roaming around the house probably causing some unwanted trouble."

"No wonder, what less can be expected from you?"

Leaving him in the living room, she climbed the stairs that led to the study. Unlocking the door she stepped inside, her eyes landing on the bookshelf Alphard had gifted her on the only Christmas she had spent with him.

Dust had settled around the place so flicking her wand, she cleaned it up sitting down on the soft cushion strew by the shelf, taking out her books one by one in order to rearrange them.

Her mind was whirring with a thousand thoughts and she could no longer see the titles of the books clearly either as tears had welled up in her large blue eyes. Placing the books back as soon as she could, she stood up determined to leave the study for it reminded her strongly of her father and thinking about him made her feel terribly sad.

She wiped the tears roughly from the back of her palm, turning towards the door so that she could step out. But before she could do so, Sirius's familiar scent engulfed her as he had wrapped his arms around her delicate frame in a reassuring hug.

The gesture was much needed at the moment so she gratefully held on to him, tears streaking down her face at last.

Sirius rubbed her back gently as he spoke, "it's okay to cry sometimes, Fel. Don't build up the smoke inside you."

When she pulled apart, her face was tear stained but the discomfort from her features had vanished for he had been right; letting the smoke out helped in lessening the pain.

He smiled gently at her as he led her out, subtly changing the topic, "I had gone to meet Mrs Figg, she lives right down this street. She had looked after the garden in our absence and I had given her the keys to occasionally check up inside as well so there's not much for us to clean now as she took care of it mostly."

"Oh, that's nice of her."

"Come, I'll show you all the new blooms we have this season. The garden looks beautiful."

She knew he was gently distracting her from the pain that came with being at the same place where Alphard had died and she let him do so, knowing that he was sincerely concerned for her and wanted her to feel better.

Sirius was like a brother she had never had. And while the thought of thinking as such about the notorious Sirius Black would have sounded completely absurd had she come to know of it before her fifth year. But now his presence felt like a blessing as he had proved to be a firm support for her.

And she knew she could count on him to be there for her no matter if the war took a turn for the worst. In fact, she knew she could count on all her friends such as the Marauders, Alicia, Lily and Marlene to always be there for her and that feeling of not being alone even in such terrible times made her feel slightly better about it all.

***