Albus could barely contain himself as he dashed for the Gryffindor supper table Friday evening. An air of glee surrounded many of the younger students, their faces flushed and their eyes gleaming. Albus noted that more than one first year was anxiously peering over their shoulders towards the Slytherin table.

The strange mingled assortment of students had dispersed to their own tables that night save for two. Tawny Flint and Oliver Lockhart sat shoulder to shoulder, their heads bent together as they spoke in hushed tones. A long parchment lay unrolled before them as they scribbled and dotted at it with their quills.

Dinner was a scrumptious roast beef delight, full of carrots, onions, and savory potatoes but Albus barely tasted it. He kept glancing back at the Slytherin table. Tawny and Oliver hadn't touched the meal, their heads hunched over the scroll.
Dessert had only just been cleared away when the Hall was filled with the sound of a great wrapping. Albus's head shot around to face Oliver Lockhart. The good looking young man stood on the foot of the Sytherin table, the long parchment clutched in his hands. Albus thought he looked reminiscent of the Muggle's Santa Claus, double checking his Christmas list.

"As you all know, the DA has been accepting new member applications all this week and we've come to a final decision," Oliver announced in a loud, resonating tenor. All eyes lay eagerly on Lockhart.

"We'd like to say, firstly though, that we regret not being able to accept everyone that's applied this year. We are humbled by everyone's outpouring of support and generosity, and by the massive amount of support from every House," Tawny added in her silvery soprano that seemed to hang like a lovely thread in the candlelight. A rousing cheer went through the Great Hall along with a wave of clapping. Oliver grinned widely as the applause died down and he lifted the long scroll. Everyone that had applied held their breath anxiously as Oliver started drawling off the long list of names.

Albus was surprised to discover his name came in at number seven, followed by Rose Weasely and Eva Knott. Both girls were blooming like red roses as their names were called. Jason Webb, Luke Lyons, and Scorpious Malfoy were also called out until Oliver Lockhart had read off about fifty new members names. As the last name, Gerald Cooper, was named off, a long moan swelled amongst the uncalled applicants. But even the gloomy cloud couldn't damper Albus's excitement.

Professor McGonnegell rose from her Headmaster's seat, a faint smile on her pale lips as she motioned for silence.

"All of the students not attending the DA's meeting tonight are dismissed to their dorms. The rest will remain in the Great Hall," McGonnegell ordered. The students trickled out, their antics edged with disappointment as they past students that remained seated, the chosen few to become members of Dumbledore's Army.

As the last student slipped out of the Great Hall, Professor Longbottom took the podium eagerly. His face was bright with a joy of a man that had seen a great plan come together flawlessly. Albus noted there were about eighty students that remained in the Great Hall.

"Good evening," Neville started a little awkwardly, "I'd like to start by first saying how wonderful it is to stand here, an original member of the DA and a veteran of the Battle at the Ministry, and to see so many young, enthusiastic faces ready to join the ranks of Dumbledore's Army. Each and every one of you has been chosen among hundreds of other students to become members of the DA on the merits of your fellow students. Every one of you has been studied and tested in one way or another by your upperclassmen, and have passed their careful scrutiny to come this far, but your trials are far from over.

"The members of Dumbledore's Army are ambassadors among the students of Hogwarts, handpicked from each House by peers of a rival House to represent the traits most keenly sought after in their respective Houses. It may be courage, or cunning, or loyalty, or intelligence that made you stand out among all the others of your House, and it will be those qualities that you must nurture in your fellow students. As a DA, you are the envoys of amity among the House, so any rivalry or bickering you have against your fellow students, leave it at the door.

"As you may all see, there is far more members this year's than any year since the DA was founded. As such, it is impossible for all of us to carry meetings and practices out all at once in the DADA classroom. As such, I've devised with President Lockhart to conduct the meetings in rotating groups. You'll each be assigned to a random group of students from each year that will meet once a week to practice in the DADA classroom. As well as your weekly meetings, we will conduct a single meeting in the Great Hall at the end of each month for all DA members."

Neville took a long pause from his speech and nodded to Oliver Lockhart. The golden haired boy grinned and produced a second piece of parchment from his robes and handed to Professor Longbottom. The Herbology teacher carefully unrolled the parchment and read it over carefully.

"President Lockhart has taken the time to select individuals among the DA board members to be designated as each DA group leader. The group leaders are as follows; Oliver Lockhart, Apollo Vindex, Regina Murray, Lucy Weasely, Thalia Harper, Ian King and Tawny Flint." A sharp murmur ran through the crowd as Flint's name was read off. Even Professor Longbottom looked upset.

"Lockhart, Miss Flint is a very capable DA member, but as a third year student, I must insist she not be included as a group leader. I feel it should be a member of the DA that is at least a fifth year student," Longbottom told Lockhart firmly.

"Professor Longbottom, I agree that as a third year, Miss Flint is any unlikely candidate for a group leader, but I have great faith in her as an instructor. Miss Flint is top in her class and well on her way on becoming a prefect and Head Girl. I feel her tender age and vast knowledge of charms and spells will help her identify better with younger members of the DA that might find a sixth or seventh year tutor intimidating," Oliver cooed in a charming way. Longbottom frowned pensively but finally nodded.

"Alright, Miss Flint may remain as a team leader, but on the condition that she will only be instructing first and second year members as well as attending a second group of older DA's for instruction," Neville paused to look to the hooded eyed Tawny, "Are you willing to accept these terms, Miss Flint?"

"Yes, Professor Longbottom," Tawny murmured. Oliver grinned dashingly as he got his own way.

"Very well then. I leave the division of members in your capable hands, President Lockhart," Longbottom told them with a hearty sigh. Lockhart quickly looped up to the podium.

"Good Evening Dumbledore's Army! As Professor Longbottom mentioned, we will be separating into smaller groups for a majority of the meetings, but I am confident in this new system. I'd like to begin with some ground rules for grouping students. First, every group must have at least one member of each House. We are promoting House unity in the DA's, so no all Slytherin or all Hufflepuff groups. Secondly, each group will be of years lower than the instructor's, excluding the seventh years. Seventh years that are not team leaders will be in a single group with me for the remainder of the school year. As seventh years in the DA, our work will be in managing the conduct of our fellow, younger DA members and working on promoting House unity. Think as yourselves as a council for the younger DA's." Oliver took a deep breath and studied his parchment.

"As I mentioned, all seventh years not working as team leaders will be meeting in the DADA on Monday evenings with me. Tuesdays will be all sixth years with Lucy Weasely, and Wednesdays will be fifth years with Apollo Vindex. Regina Murray will be covering Thursdays with the fourth years, Friday nights are for third years with Thalia Harper, and that includes you too, Tawny," Oliver quickly added as he shot Tawny a look. Tawny just nodded.

"Saturday evening are going to be for second years with Ian King. Merlin bless you, Ian," Oliver muttered under his breath as his eyes shot to Devon and James, "And finally Sunday evenings meetings will be for the first years with Tawny Flint. Any questions?"

The DA's shook their heads, excited and thrilled by the new system. Oliver grinned charmingly, his face a golden halo as he looked out over the DA's.

"Alright then, I guess we should part ways now but before we go, remember…"

"Constant Vigilance!" the room choired back to him, and this time Albus joined in.