The air was tense as Voldemort’s rise to power became undeniable. Rumors spread like wildfire, whispers of dark forces gathering, of Death Eaters lurking in shadows. It was in this uncertainty that Dumbledore, ever the strategic mastermind, began to quietly recruit. The Order of the Phoenix was born, and the Marauders were some of his first recruits.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, peering over his half-moon glasses with a glint of seriousness in his eyes. The normally jovial twinkle in them was replaced by a somber look, a reminder of the war that was creeping ever closer.
James Potter entered first, striding in with his usual confidence. He gave a casual wave and dropped into the chair opposite Dumbledore’s desk, his smile wide.
“James, I have something important to discuss,” Dumbledore began, lowering his glasses slightly.
“Go on, professor,” James replied, a grin spreading across his face. “I’ve got a lot of time before I have to practice my Quidditch moves.”
“I need to ask you, James,” Dumbledore continued, “if you would consider joining a group called the Order of the Phoenix. A group formed to fight against the rising darkness.”
James didn’t even hesitate, already grabbing a quill and writing his name below 'Order of the Pheonix'. “I’m in. No question about it.” He didn’t need to know all the details-James was ready to fight. And, of course, he was ready to join any cause that would fight for the good and maybe make Lily notice him- if he noticed her first.
Dumbledore smiled faintly, nodding. “Very well. I shall inform you when the time comes.”
Sirius strode into the office, looking as effortlessly cool as ever. His sharp eyes narrowed as he took in Dumbledore’s serious expression.
“Alright, professor. What’s the deal? What do you need me for?” Sirius drawled, leaning casually against the doorframe.
“I’m forming a group, Sirius,” Dumbledore replied. “The Order of the Phoenix. We need people willing to fight. I’d like you to join.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “I’ll join,” he said quickly, “but only if James does.”
“And if James joins?”
Sirius hesitated for a moment, staring at Dumbledore’s twinkling eyes. “If James joins,” he repeated, almost to himself, “then I guess I’m in too.”
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. “You’re not concerned about him getting hurt?”
Sirius' expression faltered slightly. “Of course I’m concerned,” he admitted, but then he straightened up. “But he’s my best mate. I can’t just let him go into this without me.”
Dumbledore nodded sagely. “That’s the spirit, Sirius. I’ll make sure to let you know when we gather.”
Sirius, looking much more serious now, gave a brief nod and strode out, the weight of the situation settling on him.
Remus arrived quietly, as he always did. He was never one to draw attention, yet the calm aura he carried was comforting. He sat down across from Dumbledore and adjusted his glasses.
“You wanted to speak with me?” Remus asked, his voice steady.
“Indeed, Remus,” Dumbledore said, glancing at the werewolf. “I’m forming the Order of the Phoenix, and I would be honored if you would join.”
Remus leaned forward, brow furrowed in thought. “I’m honored, but what’s the cause? Will it shed a positive light on werewolves? I’m not exactly the most... accepted person.” He glanced down at his hands nervously.
Dumbledore smiled warmly. “It is about more than just your situation, Remus. It’s about fighting against Voldemort and the darkness rising in the wizarding world. But your actions will certainly help change minds.”
Remus hesitated for a second, then gave a resolute nod. “Then I’ll join. If it means standing by my friends and fighting for something greater, I’m in.”
Peter was last in line of the four. He was anxious, shifting uncomfortably in the chair as Dumbledore leaned forward, eyes sharp.
“Peter,” Dumbledore began, “I would like to know if you would consider joining the Order of the Phoenix.”
Peter stammered, his face flushing. “I mean... I’ll join. If James and Sirius are joining... I don’t want to disappoint.”
“Very well,” Dumbledore said, nodding. “You’ll be informed of the details soon.”
Peter, though relieved, didn’t seem quite as committed as the others, but he knew better than to disagree with the two Marauders, who he didn't want to lose in the war while he was just watching by.
When Dumbledore asked Lily to come by, he knew she’d be a hard sell. She had always been skeptical about the idea of secret organizations and clandestine actions. But when she walked into his office, Dumbledore saw a glint of something in her eyes-something he recognized.
“I assume you’ve heard about the Order of the Phoenix?” he asked.
“No,” Lily replied, sitting down and crossing her arms. “What’s it about?”
“It’s about standing against Voldemort,” Dumbledore answered. “It’s about doing what’s right.”
Lily paused; her expression thoughtful. Then, as though something clicked in her mind, she leaned forward. “You know what? If James is doing this, then so am I.” She wrote her name on the parchment, but instead of ‘Evans,’ she wrote ‘Potter,’ a soft grin curving her lips as she muttered under her breath.
“I’m going to go tell him." Her hand bunched up in a fist on her chest, "He’s an idiot for not realizing I’m in love with him,” she said, practically skipping out of the office.
Dumbledore shook his head with a knowing smile. “Ah, young love.”
Mary arrived next, her usually calm demeanor replaced with a fiery determination. “I’m in. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s fighting for what’s right.”
Marlene followed shortly, eyes blazing. “You’re asking *me* to join? Hell, yes! I’m going to kick Death Eater arse all over the place!” She punched the air; Dumbledore couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Very well,” Dumbledore said, impressed by their enthusiasm. “You’re both welcome.”
The war was creeping into Hogwarts, slithering through the cracks in the walls. Every morning, the Daily Prophet printed the names of wizards and witches exposed as Death Eaters, traitors, or spies. People no one ever suspected. People who had been loyal, kind, trustworthy-until they weren’t.
Sirius sat in the Gryffindor common room, gripping the latest newspaper in his hands, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. Another name. Another betrayal. Another reminder that James-James, who was all heart and courage-was now standing on the front lines of a war that didn’t give second chances.
Sirius growled low in his throat. James was in danger. He had joined the Order, which meant he would fight Death Eaters, maybe even the Dark Lord himself, and James. James. Could not. Die.
That wasn’t happening. Not on Sirius' watch.
From that day forward, Sirius became very overprotective of James.
At first, it was subtle. He made sure James was always walking beside him, their shoulders bumping, their footsteps in sync. If someone-anyone-talked to James, Sirius positioned himself directly next to James, his grey eyes sharp and calculating.
Then it became less subtle.
Sirius started watching people. Closely. Suspiciously. He noticed everything-who James spoke to, how they spoke to him, how close they stood.
And then his gaze turned to Remus Lupin
Something about how quiet Remus was, how observant, made Sirius suspicious. He was gone some nights. He kept secrets. He was too smart. Could he be... one of them?
Sirius’ eyes started lingering on Remus longer. Staring. He didn’t say anything, didn’t accuse-James would never believe it-but his suspicion festered.
James, of course, noticed none of this.
He did notice however that Sirius seemed to like being near him a lot lately, but that was normal, right? Best mates.
It started in the Great Hall.
James was chatting animatedly with Marlene when Sirius casually (not casually at all) wedged himself between them, crossing his arms.
“Alright, Marls, that’s enough of your dodgy influence on the bloke for today.”
James blinked. “Mate, what-?”
Marlene scowled. “Oh, shove off, Black,”
Sirius did not shove off. He stood there, unmovable, arms crossed, and Marlene rolled her eyes before stomping off.
James barely had time to be confused before Sirius was suddenly yanking him away from another conversation, this time with Slughorn.
“Sirius, what-?”
“Don’t trust him,” Sirius muttered darkly, pulling James behind him.
“Slughorn?” James laughed. “He just wants me in the Slug Club.”
“Exactly,”
James stared.
It only got worse.
For instance, during class.
Professor McGonagall was strolling between desks, observing students as they worked on their Transfiguration essays.
When she reached James and Sirius, Sirius immediately tensed, shifting in his chair. As soon as McGonagall so much as glanced at James’ paper, Sirius leaned forward protectively, blocking James from her view.
McGonagall raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Black, kindly move so I can see Mr. Potter’s work.”
Sirius didn’t move. His eyes darted between her and James like she might attack at any second.
“Black,” she repeated, this time with that tone.
Sirius exhaled sharply and reluctantly shifted, but not without glaring at her.
McGonagall’s lips twitched as she moved on.
---
Flitwick nearly tripped over Sirius when he tried to give James some feedback in Charms.
---
Sprout got a death glare when she praised James for his Herbology work.
---
Slughorn was bewildered when Sirius shadowed James in Potions, ensuring he was always between James and the professor.
---
Madam Pomfrey found it peculiar when Sirius insisted on escorting James to the Hospital Wing for a minor injury, staying glued to James’ side the entire time.
Even Hagrid, HAGRID, noticed.
“Sirius, yeh alright there?” he asked one day when Sirius was physically shielding James from a Slytherin first-year who had dared to stand too close.
Sirius just grunted.
Dumbledore? Sirius barely trusted him enough. But barely was not fully, so he still made sure James stayed behind him when Dumbledore approached.
It all came to a head in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
James, ever the cheeky sod, had made a particularly clever comment during the lesson. The professor-an uptight wizard with a stick shoved so far up his arse it could’ve been a broomstick-was not amused.
“That will be five points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter,” the professor snapped.
James was about to argue when-
BANG
Sirius slammed his hands on the desk, standing so fast his chair toppled over.
“Excuse me?” Sirius said in a scarily calm voice.
The entire classroom froze.
James blinked. “Pads-?”
The professor turned, looking mildly alarmed. “Mr. Black, sit down-”
“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TALKING TO JAMES LIKE THAT?” Sirius was seething, his eyes ablaze with fury.
The professor stiffened. “Mr. Black, I am your teacher-”
“I DON’T GIVE A BLOODY DAMN WHO YOU ARE! DON’T TALK TO JAMES LIKE THAT OR I SWEAR-”
“Sirius!” James tugged on Sirius’ arm, his face torn between exasperation and amusement.
Sirius was still glaring, his hands clenched into fists.
The professor stiffened nervously. “Detention, Mr. Black.”
Sirius scoffed. “Oh, yeah? Try and make me.”
James groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Brilliant. Just brilliant.”
Despite all of this-despite Sirius literally shielding him from professors and students alike-James remained largely oblivious.
Yes, he noticed Sirius was around more.
Yes, he noticed Sirius sometimes shoved people away from him.
Yes, he noticed that Sirius growled at Slytherins more than usual.
But, really, James just liked being close to Sirius. It was comfortable.
And the piggyback rides? Fantastic.
Whenever James asked for one, Sirius would sigh dramatically but would always crouch down so James could hop onto his back.
Sirius grumbled, but James knew that he absolutely loved it.
And so what Sirius had to carry James around Hogwarts like a bloody king to keep him safe?
He loved it.
Sirius reluctantly loosened his grip on James’ personal space.
But only slightly.
After weeks of receiving pointed glares, frustrated sighs, and-on one occasion-an outright hex threat from Marlene, Sirius decided that some people could be trusted near James.
Lily, Marlene, and Mary were granted limited access.
Lily, who had been just as frustrated with Sirius as the others, was relieved. She had been trying to talk to James properly for ages but kept finding Sirius looming directly beside him like a bloody guard dog.
When she finally got to sit next to James at lunch without Sirius physically positioning himself between them, she sighed in relief.
“Thank Merlin, Black,” she muttered. “Thought I was going to have to duel you.”
Sirius smirked. “Would’ve won.”
Lily scoffed. “Would not.”
Marlene and Mary were equally pleased. They wasted no time plopping themselves down beside James during meals, shoving Sirius over when needed.
Sirius allowed it, but he made sure to stand beside James-or, better yet, lean against him from behind, arms crossed over his chest, sometimes his chin resting lazily on James’ shoulder.
James, as always, was completely fine with it.
It didn’t take long for Lily to develop her own protectiveness.
It started small-subtle.
One day, a fourth-year accidentally bumped into James in the hallway. Before James could even register what happened, Lily was already scolding them.
“Watch where the bloody hell you’re going!” she snapped, hands on her hips.
The poor fourth-year stammered out an apology and scurried off.
James blinked. “Lily, I’m fine”
“Still,” she huffed. “People need to be more careful.”
Sirius, watching from the side, smirked approvingly.
But Lily’s protectiveness didn’t stop there.
If a Slytherin so much as looked at James the wrong way, Lily noticed. She started standing closer when they were around, eyeing them suspiciously.
She didn’t physically shield James like Sirius did, but her wand hand did twitch when Snape sneered at James one day.
Sirius leaned over and muttered, “If you hex him, I’ll buy you a drink.”
Lily grinned. “Tempting.”
James, oblivious to the silent threat of violence happening over his head, continued talking to Peter about Quidditch.
One afternoon, James was chatting with Remus when Mulciber passed by and muttered something under his breath.
Sirius heard it first. His whole body stiffened.
Lily’s face darkened.
And before Mulciber could take another step, Lily grabbed him by the arm and whipped him around.
“Say that again,” she demanded, voice sharp.
Mulciber sneered. “I said-”
WHACK.
Lily decked him.
The entire corridor went silent.
Mulciber stumbled back, clutching his jaw, eyes wide with shock.
Sirius stared at Lily, impressed beyond words.
James, who had completely missed what Mulciber even said, blinked in confusion, only just turning around.
“Er-Lily?”
“He deserved it,” Lily said simply, dusting off her hands.
Sirius burst into laughter, clapping her on the back. “Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I’m getting you that drink.”
Lily smirked.
James, still confused, just shrugged and kept walking.
Despite now having two overprotective shadows, James still didn’t quite notice.
Yes, he realized people weren’t bothering him as much.
Yes, he appreciated that Sirius and Lily were always around.
But did he realize they were actively scaring people away from him?
Not at all.
If anything, he thought it was nice.
Sirius still leaned on him, still let James climb onto his back when he wanted piggyback rides.
Lily still kept him company, even when she was glaring at a Slytherin behind his back.
The atmosphere at Hogwarts was electric with tension-almost palpable. The growing whispers of Voldemort’s return and the rise of the Death Eaters had everyone on edge. Still, the Marauders and their closest friends were a force to be reckoned with, no matter how dark the world seemed outside.
James, Sirius, Lily, Mary, Marlene, Remus, and Peter had settled into their usual positions in the common room, but today was different. It had been a day filled with malicious stares from the Slytherins and hushed whispers from the staff. Sirius, in particular, had barely relaxed since receiving the last issue of the Daily Prophet, and his eyes never left James for more than a moment.
Lily sat next to James on the couch, a soft smile on her face as she looked at him, but there was something about the way she stared at him-something sharply protective. James noticed it, though he couldn’t place it.
“Are you okay, James?” she asked, voice sweet but with an undercurrent of something else, as if she was watching everything. Her green eyes glinted, and James wondered if it was something about the growing danger that made her look so intense.
“Yeah, just... thinking about Quidditch," he replied, his usual cocky grin spreading across his face. "I think we’ve got a shot at winning this year."
Lily blushed slightly at his grin, quickly looking away before she could be caught. But it wasn’t enough to hide the warmth in her cheeks.
God, you really are an idiot sometimes, she thought, both annoyed and charmed by James' obliviousness to her feelings. The past few months had changed her-especially after she realized how much she admired him. She had been blind in fifth and sixth year, but by seventh year? James was it-and she hated that she’d been so stubborn. Her feelings for him were undeniable now.
But one thing she definitely wasn’t oblivious to was Snape’s increasingly hostile behavior toward James. Every time they locked eyes in the corridors, she saw the seething hatred, and it made her blood boil.
How did I ever think that greasy git was my friend? she fumed to herself. The realization hit her hard-the betrayal she’d felt when she thought back to their younger days together. She was disgusted by how much time she’d wasted with him, how she still remained friends with him after Snape tried to kill her sister with a tree branch, hang with a group of wannabe dark wizards and blood supremacists. But what really frustrated her was how easily she fell for Snape’s manipulation. She wasn’t that naive anymore.
Sirius, as usual, was hovering near James-too close for comfort for anyone else. He stood there with a watchful eye, scanning the room for anyone who even looked suspicious. It was second nature now. But his patience was wearing thin-especially after the whispers he’d overheard in the hallway about Death Eaters infiltrating the school.
“You’re getting too close, Prongs,” Sirius muttered, positioning himself between James and a group of third-year students who had just approached him. They looked nervous as they tried to speak, but one glance at Sirius’ narrowed eyes had them backing off quickly.
James laughed and rolled his eyes. “Relax, Pads. They’re just kids.”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t trust anyone,” Sirius growled. "Not while you’re around.”
Lily looked at Sirius. “You’re a bit much, you know that?”
“Better safe than sorry,” Sirius shot back, grinning.
Lily couldn't deny that.
Just then, a Slytherin-none other than Mulciber-approached James, a wicked grin plastered on his face. “What’s Potter got to say today? Bragging about your Quidditch ‘skills’ again?”
James looked up, brow furrowed, not expecting the sneer that Mulciber shot him. “You got a problem with me, Mulciber?”
“Maybe I do,” Mulciber replied, his hand subtly twitching toward his wand.
Sirius was already moving before anyone else could react. He stepped forward, slamming his fist into Mulciber’s face with a satisfying crack. The Slytherin’s head snapped back, and he staggered, clearly stunned.
“Touch my best mate again,” Sirius snarled, “and I’ll make sure you don’t get up.”
Mulciber, blood dripping from his nose, didn’t say another word. He turned and stormed off.
James stared, wide-eyed. “Pads-what the hell?”
Sirius, now grinning like a Cheshire cat, wiped his knuckles on his robes. “What? He was being an arse.”
Lily laughed. “Well, at least someone’s doing something about it.”
Remus, who had been quietly reading a book, looked up with a raised eyebrow. “I swear, Sirius, one of these days, someone’s going to report you for that kind of violence.”
“I don’t care,” Sirius said breezily. “People like him deserve it.”