The Dark Lord continued to rise. More people would join him and the wizarding world would soon be at war. But those who opposed him weren't going down without a fight. Voldermort was defeated once so he could be vanquished again. But this time, he would be wiped from both the Wizarding world and the Muggle world forever. And that one person who will rid them of the bringer of the dark is the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter.

Grimauld place was just a few steps away. Harry personally never liked the place. It was too dark, full of strange and disturbing artifacts that made his stomach jerk. The only reason he had some kind of estranged affection for the old Black house was that his godfather lived there. The Order of the Phoenix, a group of highly skilled witches and wizards, formed by Dumbledore to assist Harry in bringing the Dark Lord down was meeting here today. Even though Harry tried to hide it he was scared. Yet he could not wait till he avenged his dead parents; serve them justice for the ending of their short lives. He also knew, if he could not defeat Voldermort, no one could. There was no other way. The one person that he failed to kill must be the one to kill the failed murderer.

"So, what're we doin' here?" asked Ron as he ran a hand through his Weasley hair. Hermione then threw him a look that was not uncommon to see. Her weren't-you-listening look. Harry has witnessed enough "looks" that he had special names for all of them. And when he says all them, he means all 137.

"Sirius told me there is an important meeting with the Order today. Regarding us." Harry shook his hair, freeing himself of the rain drops that decided to take a refuge in his wild hair. Hermione stayed silent as she contemplated why they were here as they opened the door to the Black house.

All the small talk the three teens were having vanished as Harry met Sirius out in the foyer careful to avoid making loud noise in fear of waking up Mrs. Black's portrait. After being here so many times the young wizards didn't mind the smell and creaks of the aging wood. The permanent darkness of the little lit house at this time of day didn't bother them. And they no longer sneezed at the dust that seemed to fall back in place as soon as it was wiped clean.

"Sirius, either you guys are pulling our legs or we're really going to sit in on an Order meeting." Harry looked at him questioningly as they strained their ears to try and make out the words made by the raised voices that seemed to be bickering. Sirius hesitated before he gave a small smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

"You catch on fast, Harry. But no, you'll see. No jokes here. Unless you count the twins upstairs." He guided them into the room while Harry and Hermione exchanged nervous glances, stepping through the door into the dining room that Sirius held open for them, looking down at them as they passed.

"She's a child, Tonks!" Mad-eye shouted, persistent to argue the case which was immediately dropped as the late-comers joined them. After mumbling hello and other greetings everyone took their seats. Harry took notice Lupin, who always sits on the other side of him while his right side was occupied by Sirius, was empty.

"Where's Remus?" he asked.

"He'll be with us shortly." Moody's tone indicated that discussion was over.

There was a silent and awkward moment. Tonks started tapping her finger against the table impatiently. If this was so important then why wasn't anyone talking? The clock chimed as it hit 7 PM. Harry could hear Kreacher, the Black family's house elf, muttering to himself angrily about letting mud-bloods and traitors in his beloved Mrs. Black's house. Typical.

"Well, if no one is going to start then I will." Mad-eye had a stern expression on his face. This couldn't possibly be good. But then again Moody was always in a bad mood, his face permanently set into a grimace. "We have noticed that Harry's protection at school is very fine and dandy but the Order thought it would be a good idea to have someone with you at all times. And act as sort of a spy. We need someone else in the Order to be there besides Snape and Dumbledore who have enough on their plates already. So technically, we need someone 'inside' the inside." Ron snickered. Hermione kicked him beneath the table which made him shut him up immediately, feigning innocence as his mother looked across the table at him. That was when Harry noticed that everyone was looking at the three under aged wizards.

"That person is in the Order, right?" Harry looked around the room to see who was smiling and going to say, 'Yeah I'm going to Hogwarts with you'. But as he passed over each face they shook their heads, indicating it was not them. It couldn't be Lupin since already resigned two years ago. Tonks opened her mouth to speak but she didn't as everyone heard the front door open. There were two sets of footsteps that quietly made their way down the hallway.

"Yes, they will be in the Order," Tonks repeated. Everyone glanced at the door nervously as faint voices were heard closing in.

"So which of you is going to be our professor?" Ron asked, obviously not paying enough attention to get that nobody in that room was going with them to Hogwarts. Harry sighed at him and Hermione rolled her eyes. Everything got quiet again. Until Hermione gave a small gasp, her fingers touching her bottom lip as she pieced two and two together without Harry's knowledge.

"Yes, that is correct Granger." Mad-eye growled before nodding at her. Harry and Ron looked to her for an explanation but she was completely dumbstruck, silence, which hardly happens at all, washed over her.

Then the door to the living room opened. Moody let out a long sigh.

"Meet the newest member of the Order of the Phoenix." He sat back in his chair and grunted in disapproval, clearly infuriated.

Remus appeared. But everyone only had eyes for the person following close behind him. Their mouths gaped open as she stepped into the light of the dining room and out of the shadows of the hallway. Only Ron was able to speak,

"You're joking, right?"

No, impossible. Harry's eyes raked over the only stranger in the room. She stood close to Lupin, almost to the point where it appeared she was leaning on him. Ron cleared his throat as Hermione pulled her eyebrows together.

"I told you Remus. I knew it, but you didn't listen to me." the girl said under her breath. Lupin just rolled his eyes and pushed her into the room gently.

"Come on, Danica. We talked about this," He replied, placing both hands on her shoulders, holding her in place when she tried to turn around and walk out. Harry stammered as he tried to find the right words,

"But she…no, you're…I don't-" Tonks then chuckled. Harry glanced at Sirius who merely shrugged and said,

"It's true." Harry looked astounded.

Her face was hidden by the hood of her jacket. Only her mouth was visible but was obviously a frown. A sweater, black and grey striped, had holes in the sleeves for thumbs. She wore white skin-tight jeans with a studded belt that was obviously too low and crooked to be in her belt-loops. Her shoes were rugged and black with white laces. Harry tried to peer under her hood but nothing.

Remus whispered something in her ear and she responded by slowly pulling her hood back. Her eyes were a shocking gray. Ron cleared his throat, his eyes slightly bulging as he took in her appearance. Hermione looked agitated. She looked like a model with gorgeous long lashes, high cheekbones and make-up that made her eyes brighten against the paleness of her skin. Her hair was jet black and shaggy with white tips. He missed the piercing on the left side of her full lips. Harry wasn't afraid to admit to himself that she was beautiful. Ron was obviously on the same page. Finally, Harry spoke.

"This is the new member? She looks as old as us!"

"She is," Remus said.

"But she couldn't possibly be good enough for her age to- "Hermione was cut off as the sleek voice of Danica interrupted.

"Look-" Suddenly the apathetic welcome she was giving them faded away as her voice grew stern "I'm here in the Order. I'm 16. I'm going to Hogwarts to keep an eye on out for things and also look out for Harry. I am good enough and if you want to test that, get your wand and I'll see outside." She narrowed her eyes at Hermione who looked like she was ready to attack. Remus sighed.

"Yes Granger that's what I thought," Moody began to say. "She is nothing more than a teen. Irresponsible, uncontrollable-"

"I am not."

"Stubborn, Naïve-"

"Dumbledore doesn't think so." Mad-eye turned red in the face. Uh-oh. He shifted his weight, ready to stand.

"You insolent little brat-," he started. Lupin stepped slightly in front of her as she murmured 'whatever' and pulled her hood back on. Harry saw Hermione was about to finish what Moody started while Ron stared at her lip ring.

"You've seen her skill. We've given her tests with levels beyond that of a 7th year student and she passed them all. You know she deserves to be here. And she isn't caring for 11 year olds. They are skilled too," Lupin argued. Moody slumped back in his chair. Harry couldn't believe it. Better then a 7th year? It couldn't be.

"Lupin," Danica whined. He glanced at her and there was a look in his eyes Harry never seen before. He couldn't find a name for it.

"Are you backing out?" Lupin asked with a small grin that made Sirius, who was standing in the corner, chuckle. Danica's mouth twisted into a dangerous yet dazzling smile.

"Not a chance, Rem." She crossed her arms at her chest and leaned against the doorway.

"So it's settled. Danica Lorenzo will be enrolled in Hogwarts as a 5th year transfer student from a foreign school. Youngest member of the Order of the Phoenix." Lupin smiled and stepped back allowing her to take her seat to the left of him. There was applause from the Order members who seemed to enjoy her presence there. Harry could name quite a few who didn't.