"Are we sure we want to do this?" Sirius asked, his hands clasped under his chin, "Moving out is a big step considering we were still in education a few weeks ago..."

"I think we have to. We need to be on call for the Order and there are several bases in London that you can't apparate to, we need to be able to get there," James said, "Besides, I really liked it when we visited, I'd seen the station before but Harrods was... amazing."

"We were in there for like ten seconds," Sirius said with a grin.

"Within ten seconds of meeting you, I'd knew we'd be best friends..." James said, widening his eyes.

"Ah, damn it, Prongs, that's adorable," Sirius said, grabbing James's head in his arms in a strange mixture of a hug and headlock.

It had been mine and James's idea to move after the meeting with Dumbledore: he'd started it but I'd been the one to actually get the plan moving. As much as I loved the Potters' house, I wanted somewhere of our own. When I'd first started planning the possibility of moving to London, I'd envisioned it as just me and James but I'd quickly realised how foolish I'd been when Sirius and Remus had invited themselves too.

Although the move was partly for practical reasons, I wanted to move to feel grown up. Everyone else seemed to have already started moving on: Alice and Frank and their Auror training, Mary had been offered a journalist job in America and Dorcas had started playing Quidditch for a team. I wanted to get that grown-up feeling too, my Dad always used to tell me about how he 'became a man' when he moved out. Whilst, the being a man part didn't really apply to me, the message behind it was clear. 

"So where are we looking at first?" James asked after he'd managed to detach himself from Sirius's arms.

"Honestly, you're the one who wanted to move in the first place." I said with a small smile, "It's a two-story flat up in Hackney. It looked nice in the pictures the estate agent showed me, I think the current owner will be showing us around."

"And you're sure we have enough muggle money to buy it?" Sirius asked.

"We definitely do, it works the same as Wizard houses I think. We don't buy it there and then but don't worry, it's in our budget." I said with a smile.

"I wouldn't know, our house has been in the family for years," Sirius said, with a slightly haughty air.

"Same here," James added.

"Ooh, look at you two!" I said in a stuck up voice which made them both scowl. They were both posh but liked to pretend they were bad boys which never ceased to amuse me.

"Hey, I just thought I'd let you know, I packed you a packed lunch for your trip to London," Fleamont said, suddenly popping his head in the doorway. The tips of James's ears went red as he darted over to his father.

"Dad, I told you, we'll buy stuff from a stall or something with our muggle money, we don't need packed lunches," He said, sounding like an embarrassed six-year-old. Mine and Sirius's sniggers probably didn't help although neither of us was laughing at the actual packed lunches, it was more his reaction that was amusing.

"That's very kind of you, Fleamont, I'd personally love a packed lunch," Sirius said with a grin.

"No, no! No packed lunches for anyone!" James said flustered, "How if the person selling us the flat going to take us seriously if we have packed lunches?"

"That's true," I said, "We can apparate somewhere and eat but that's very kind of you though, Fleamont."

"It's no problem, just want to help," Fleamont said before disappearing back into the corridor. James sat down, putting his head in his hands. Sirius and I exchanged a look and I quickly walked over to James, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze. Fleamont and Euphemia had given us so much already (including a generous 'donation' towards the flat so), taking packed lunches too would feel unnecessary greedy.

"James?" I asked softly as he looked up from his hands, "You okay?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I'm good, just a bit stressed out." He said, "If we don't have a flat in London, we'll just be shunted to the sidelines, we won't actually get to fight, we'll just be useless."

"We won't be useless," I said, comfortingly. James always seemed to have a way with words when I needed cheering up but when he was stressed, I didn't know what to say, I wished I could fix all his problems but that would be almost impossible - the most I could do was just be there for him.

"I just want this to go right. This is make or break."

"Prongs, whether we buy this flat or not is not make or break." Sirius said from the other side of the room, "This is the first one, we'll be fine. If we don't like it, we'll just look elsewhere, it will be fine, Prongs, Lily's right."

James nodded and then stood up suddenly, "I know, you two are right. I just... want it to be right so I can get started. Anyway, we should probably get ready to go..." He strode out of the room. Me and Sirius remained seated, staring after him in silence.

"What's time are we seeing the flat?" Sirius asked as we both continued to share at the doorway.

"Eleven."

"And what time is it now?"

"... Nine thirty." Sirius gave me a small smile.

"Let's let him pace around, poor guy needs it..." Sirius said, kicking his legs up on the sofa arm, "Damn, I'll miss this place."

Eventually, James figured out that we had plenty of time and came back to us. Although he said he was fine waiting longer, I could tell he was anxious and it was probably best just to get moving. The three of us apparated away into a random alleyway nearby, scanning around us to check nobody had seen us. I'd been complacent about apparating but after James and I had apparated to London and been overseen by a homeless man, I was a lot more careful. Luckily we were able to erase his memory but I didn't want to make a habit out of it, it felt deeply unethical.

"Where are we meeting Remus?" Sirius asked as the three of walked towards the flat, staying close together just in case somebody jumped out at us. Marlene's brother was part of the Order and apparently, he'd already been nearly attacked already a few times. It didn't exactly help my fears but when I was in a group.

"Okay, it's on Bloomsbury Road," I whispered, "We're a bit early so we can wait inside the foyer or something."

"Okay," James whispered back as the three of us walked along, our heads occasionally snapping round at the sight of any movement.

"Hey, Sirius - " A voice said behind us causing the three of us to whip around. Sirius pulled his wand out towards the unknown stranger, his face wild and crazy. We quickly realised the person behind us was not some crazed Deatheater out for blood, it was Remus.

"Sirius, put your wand away, people are wondering why you're holding a stick... but keep it on hand." I hissed, "Remus please don't sneak up on us..."

"Sorry.." Remus said awkwardly, "I did call a few times but you were lost in your world... how have you all been?"

"We've been fine, let's get inside, I'll feel a lot safer," I said, quickly turning on my heel, trying to remember the number. I silently cursed myself for not writing it down, the paranoia of the War was starting to affect my organisational skills and this was NOT okay.

I finally managed to remember the number and the four of us hurried into the corridor. Technically we didn't have a key but no door was ever truly locked to Witches and Wizards... no muggle doors anyway.

"What time is it? Does anyone have watch?" James asked. Remus hurriedly looked at his wrist.

"Uh yeah, it's about ten fifty or so, only ten minutes until we can go in," Remus leaned back against the wall, "So how have you been? I mean, we've talked in letters but it's been far too long."

"Agreed," Sirius said, "We've been very antisocial. I mean I've seen Marlene a few times and so has Lily, she's staying at her parents but other than that, we've just sort of stayed in the Potter residence."

"It feels odd moving out, we're only eighteen," James said.

"It's war, we've all been forced to grow up far too quickly. We're basically thirty at this point in terms of maturity," Sirius replied.

"You? Thirty?" I said with a snort, "thirteen yes"

"I don't know, I could be 30 if I wanted," Sirius said with a shrug, "Besides let's face it, we're not really buying it Prongs's parents are. Anyway, Moony, how have you been? Things good with you and Mary?"

"Oh yeah, do tell, I haven't heard from her since she went to America!" I said excitedly.

"Um... we broke up." Remus said sheepishly, looking up to see our wide eyes, "It was mutual... we just sort of agreed we were drifting apart, it was fine as a school romance but it was never meant to last really, we were too far apart even in school. We stood no chance in the real world."

"Oh, Remus, I'm sorry..." I said, pulling him into a hug, "That must have been hard."

"It was but I'm a survivor," He lowered his voice to a whisper, "Besides, the Order will keep me quite busy."

"Dumbledore spoke to you too?" I whispered back.

"Of course, it was one of the reasons I wanted to live with you guys," He rubbed his hand sheepishly over the back of his head, "And I missed you all."

"Lily, Remus," James said and both of us turned around, "We should probably head upstairs, it's the third floor, right?"

The woman who was selling the flat was very kind, offering to show us a tour although Sirius moodily said he'd rather 'go his own way' which was just a bad boy way of saying he wanted to look around himself. James, me and Remus also declined her tour although I did feel a little bad as she'd clearly been planning the tour for a while. Remus eventually slunk off after Sirius to examine the natural light or something leaving me and James alone.

"It's nice," James said, looking around, "I can imagine us being here, plus I think I saw a park nearby, I could practice Quidditch there..." He gave me a grin which I hoped meant that he was kidding although I wouldn't have been too surprised if he meant it.

"I'm sure you'd really blend in, going down there with your broomstick and casually flying above the masses - "

"Lily, I always fly above the masses," James said, puffing out his chest like a peacock, "I'm kidding, I'm a very humble person."

"Yes, you're the most humble person I know," I replied sarcastically before both us began to laugh for no particular reason, "In all seriousness though, I do really like this flat. It's spacious, open and we've only seen one room so far. Imagine what the rest of it will be like..."

"I'm sure it will be great." James said, "I must confess something though..."

"What?"

"I know that it's practical and all to be in central location due to the Order and stuff and I know it's important but I don't exactly know why if that makes sense. It feels like I was just told it was important to be in London and never really told why." 

"I'm not following..." I looked up to see his brow furrowed as he stared intently at a random wall ahead of us.

"I know I was so eager to move but I think it was because Dumbledore said it was a good idea for the Order members to be in London. I never really questioned why. Can't we just apparate in? It feels like he's not always trustworthy, I almost feel like bait." I looked up at him with a start.

"What do you mean? Why would he use us as bait?"

"I don't know..." He admitted. It was clearly troubling him but I didn't want to admit that this whole conversation was creeping me out. I'd just assumed that the majority of the attacks and fights happened in London plus the majority of safe houses were here too, "It sounds paranoid, there's probably a logical reason to move here but I can't shake the feeling that Dumbledore wants us all in one location -"

He looked down at my face and my expression was clearly not great as he hastily looked away.

" - It's probably just the stress talking. It is much more convenient to be here rather than in the countryside, I'm just being paranoid," He said, forcing a smile on his face, "Shall we look around the other rooms? Lily?"

I hadn't realised that I'd zoned out until he snapped me back to the present. 

"What? Oh yeah, let's have a look." I took his hand and we walked into another room. I pushed what he'd just said to the back of my mind, I was already afraid of the enemy and if I started questioning the motives of my allies, I was a bit screwed.