The next two weeks passed in much the same way. Once they got over their dislike of Moody, they could appreciate that he was really a very good teacher. At the end of the training weeks, even Peter had made into a good wizard.

On the last evening, in late afternoon, Gideon and Fabian Prewett came to the house, grinning broadly. "Heard the news, Mad-Eye?" asked Gideon.

"No! What has happened?" asked everyone in the room.

"Crouch has managed to turn the Dementors on our side!"

"Really?" growled Moody, looking rather pleased under his usual gruff demeanour.

"Yeah, they'll guard Azkaban again. He's promised them all the sort of despair and misery they desire," said Fabian, obviously very excited.

"Of course, there are still a few of 'em still on Voldy's side," said Gideon. "But the majority has turned."

Gideon and Fabian's joy was infectious; Hestia and Edgar dropped in an hour later, and they shouted in joy when they heard the news. Frank, Benjy and Dorcas turned up in the evening, with no intention of taking part in a meeting—they had heard, and were in a highly celebratory mood.

There was a celebration party that evening. Hagrid dropped in late at night, apologising for Dumbledore and McGonagall who couldn't come.

The Marauders and Lily, Alice and Marlene saw the Order actually having fun for the first time. During the party, all members behaved like normal carefree people, though Moody still remained grim.

"Let's take a photo of all of us!" suggested Emmeline as the night drew to an end. Lily had a camera, and she offered it. They all gathered around as Susan took the picture.

"This one quite matches our parties after Gryffindor victories, doesn't it?" asked Frank, grinning.

"Definitely," agreed all former Gryffindors.

--------------------

By the end of August, all the new recruits were getting into real work for the Order. For the first few weeks, they were put on guard outside the Ministry and in the wizarding towns, dressed as Muggles, spying and listening.

The Marauders and Lily were always posted together, and Alice and Marlene with Frank, Edgar and Hestia.

The first real task came in early October. Dorcas came to the Headquarters in the evening and said grimly, "Giants are wading through Bath, causing severe havoc. Muggles are dying in hundreds."

"Shall we go now?" said Benjy.

"No. Wait till morning," said Moody. "Potter, Black, Lupin, Pettigrew, Evans—you will accompany Fenwick and Meadows."

James and Sirius glanced at each other in excitement.

--------------------

Early next morning, they Apparated to Bath.

"Outskirts of the town," directed Dorcas. They surveyed the town and found a highly disturbed area. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, houses and bridges broken down. The group followed the trail and suddenly came across the giants.

Huge, ugly, vicious looking giants; about twenty of them.

"Remus, Peter, follow me!" called Benjy, dashing to cover the right side.

The others went to the left side with Dorcas.

Benjy brought down two giants with two spells aimed under the giants' arms. Remus and Peter turned to one.

"Diffindo! Diffindo!" yelled Peter. "Diffindo!"

"WORMTAIL!" shouted Remus. "You got Diffindo in your brain, mate? At least aim under the arms!"

Together, they brought down another. Dorcas and James brought down few more of them. Sirius and Lily had been forced a little away from the others. As they were fighting, Lily suddenly screamed and fell down, clutching her ankle. Her wand flew away.

"LILY!" shouted Sirius, horrified. A giant bent down to pick her. Sirius dashed towards her at full speed and pulled her away just in time. He ran, dragging her by the arm, away from the giants. Lily kept stumbling.

"What's wrong?" asked Sirius.

"Broken my ankle, I think," said Lily faintly, her face white.

Keeping a protective hand on her arm, Sirius looked around. Benjy, Remus and Peter killed more than half the giants. Dorcas and James had killed most of the rest. Only five giants were left now.

One of them clawed at Remus, who scrambled away and collapsed, clutching his bleeding arm.

"DORCAS, TAKE THEM AWAY!" shouted Benjy, pushing Peter to grab Remus and follow her.

"SIRIUS, LILY, GO!" yelled Dorcas, who was also badly injured, running away with James. "BENJY WILL FOLLOW US!"

Sirius and Peter dragged Lily and Remus away. James turned to see Lily and gasped. All of the remaining giants and about a dozen more had surrounded Benjy.

"Dorcas, look!" shouted James, making to rush to Benjy.

"HE'LL BE OK, James, come on!" shouted back Dorcas, but as she turned back, she froze.

There was no chance that Benjy would be ok. He was overwhelmed and barely visible among the giants.

Too late, Dorcas started to sprint. A terrible scream raided the air.

"James, come back," cried Lily weakly. "Sirius!" she said desperately.

Sirius ran after James and grabbed his arm. "Too many of them!"

Moody had Apparated to the spot. Dorcas was white and shaking, clutching her messenger chip. Moody darted forward and muttered a complex spell. Fire danced out of his wand and enveloped half the giants. The rest were barrelling away.

"Mad-Eye—don't—don't!" shouted Dorcas, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Benjy—"

As the fire burned down and the ashes the settled, they silently walked over to the spot.

The first thing they came across was a human arm. Lily, who had been leaning on James, staggered back again. The Marauders turned away, horror-stuck and traumatized.

Dorcas was sobbing, her face hidden in her hands.

"There, now, Meadows," said Moody, sounding almost kind. "There wasn't anything we could do."

They apparated back to No. 48 Orme Square quietly.