[CHAPTER TWO: THE ORDER]

Clyde gasped as four, maybe five, cloaked figures stormed into the pub.
They all brandished wands that pointed to him.
The quiet atmosphere of the pub had officially been broken, replaced with intensity.

The man that Clyde had been talking to, grabbed his arm and pulled out his wand.
Before he had time to think, a whooshing sound erupted from the stranger's wand, and a horrible sensation of nausea filled Clyde.

As quickly as it had come, though, it disappeared as they arrived right outside a block of apartments.
"What the—" Clyde began, but awe swiftly deprived him of words, as the complex split down the middle and parted, revealing a mouldier-looking version of the previously-conjoined units.

"We don't have time to gawk, hurry!" The man ushered Clyde towards the sudden home, his blue eyes wide.
Clyde found himself being dragged across to the front of the home, as the man marched to the porch and rapped on the door.

A series of locks began to click, before the door rattled on its hinges as it swung open.
As he made his way inside, Clyde jumped at the sound of the door slamming shut.
"Where the fuck am I?" He finally managed, his voice raised. "Who the fuck are you? I need answers!"

"Albus Dumbledore." The elder -Albus- finally acknowledged the question.
Yeah, Clyde definitely recognised that name.
"I'm taking you to the others, I need to leave." Albus murmured, moving forwards.

Clyde followed reluctantly, attempting to put his finger on where he knew Albus Dumbledore.
"Albus, you're back!" Cheers erupted from what Clyde suspected to be the dining room, as he entered.
Albus nodded solemnly.
"I have to go out again - my assistance is required at Hogwarts."

And with a deafening cracking sound, Albus was gone.
Clyde stood awkwardly in the doorway, as all eyes trained on him.
"Um... hello?"

A woman who couldn't have been over twenty-five was the first to get up, a warm smile gracing her lips.
"You're the one Dumbledore was talking about!" She exclaimed warmly, motioning him into the room.
Grins and greetings soon followed his introduction, leaving him more puzzled than ever.

"I'm sorry, but what am I doing here?" Clyde inquired, and the dark-haired woman who had been first to greet him looked surprised.
"Dumbledore didn't tell you?" She cocked her head to the side. "This is the Order of the Phoenix. We're recruits, if you like. We've chosen to fight the Dark Lord and his followers."

Clyde shook his head slowly.
"Why am I here? I had a normal life!"
The woman, Alice, shrugged.
"Dumbledore won't tell us. Apparently we're not ready yet. Pish posh if you ask me."

Clyde frowned, but didn't press the matter, despite his curiosity. Albus was obviously the only person that could give him the answers that he needed - considering the apparent obliviousness of the rest.
"Well you're just in time for dinner, anyways. Why don't you take a seat?" Alice offered, patting the chair next to her.

Plastering a small smile to his lips, Clyde gladly took the seat, feeling woozy from all the events that evening.
Rubbing his eyes, he bit the inside of his cheek. He couldn't do anything about the matter that night - so why did he keep focusing on it?

It wasn't long before dinner was being served.
Clyde watched with envy as the proud chefs of the meal began placing down mashed potato, varieties of salads and meat of all kinds.
He wanted to be able to cook like that.

"You did a pretty great job on dinner, Moon Moon!" Sirius Black - apparently a very annoying (coming from his partner, Autumn) but pretty nice to be around figure - cooed to a man around the same age as Alice.
"Don't call me that, Sirius." He grumbled, before placing down a huge bowl of soup.

Lily Evans, a lovely redhead whom Clyde had a small conversation with, rolled her eyes at Sirius.
"Do you remember when you hated being called Pads because it reminded you of the period product?" She asked, causing Sirius to cringe immensely.

"Oh yes, I remember you'd serenade everyone at the top of your lungs whenever someone called you it!" Autumn chimed in, a mischievous smirk on her face.
Sirius slapped a hand over his chest dramatically.
"You too, Autumn? I'm wounded!"

"I'm sure you are." She deadpanned. Lily chuckled.
"Back onto the topic - you hated being called Pads, so why are you calling Remus 'Moon Moon' when he hates it?" She questioned, bringing Sirius to bow his head.

"Dammit." He muttered.
"Ha! Checkmate!" Autumn cheered, before giving Lily a high-five.
"Can we eat now?" Sirius harrumphed, changing the subject.

Clyde nodded in agreement, as he felt a pang of hunger.
"Yes please."