In June, Andaxia was finally able to transform into and out of her Animagus shape on her own, and she spent many hours with her horses to better become one herself.  Dumbledore informed her of the Order of the Phoenix and their mission.  He had learned of her intense desire to become a spy, and felt she might finally be ready.  She was welcome to join the Order if she wished, and she jumped at the chance to avenge her family, almost hugging the headmaster in her excitement.       

          Later, Andaxia presented Snape with a supply of potion ingredients and a gold cauldron in honor of their unlikely friendship.  In turn, Snape gave her a Nimbus 2001 broomstick and a necklace that held a miniature hissing snake curled around a wand (for Snape's house, Slytherin).  With the proper charm, the snake would hiss and move, and was spelled to her and her alone. 

          Also at this time, Dumbledore informed the Order of their newest member, and requested Snape bring her to their next meeting in August.  (Secretly, she hoped she would have the chance to infiltrate the Malfoy residence, as Lucius did indeed keep a stable of fine horses.  After the Dark forces were defeated again and it was deemed safe, she planned to register her animal shape at the Ministry of Magic.  Unfortunately, she had to keep her Animagus ability from Snape and her other friends. Since no one outside the instructors and her closest friends even knew she could do any magic, she could easily pass for a Muggle).  Snape asked her to reconsider, not wanting her to join the Order on what he considered a whim.  However, she couldn't pass this chance to help the magical world, which was now her world, and she had to avenge her family.  Snape himself could hardly believe he was trying to protect what would have been called a Mudblood or a Squib – someone he would not have considered anyone important a few years ago.  How ironic that what he had once disliked would become his student, his protégé, and his friend. 

          Andaxia was very excited to be attending her first Order meeting.  She beat Snape to the grounds by a full fifteen minutes, dancing in anticipation.  Snape strode out of the castle, broomstick in hand, more grumpy than usual and preoccupied with something.  She didn't even bother to disturb him; she was in a great mood and did not want to fight this day.  She had come prepared with a new portable CD player that was charmed to work without batteries and in a magical environment.

          As they ascended, a warm breeze tickled her cheeks.  Smiling, she set one of her Tracking Über-Charms on her broom.  This would allow the broom to track their destination and would store it inside the broom's memory, with a predetermined password required to retrieve it.  "One of my finest achievements," she thought to herself.   She also placed a Following Charm on the broom so it would follow Snape's broom without any action from her.  Grinning at her cleverness, she loaded the CD player and watched Hogwarts fade in the distance.  She sighed in pleasure; she never tired of seeing the castle from the air.

          It was an uneventful trip.  She was grateful Snape was silent; it meant no interruptions as she listened to her music.  They reached Grimmauld Place that afternoon.  After landing, Snape showed her a note in Dumbledore's handwriting that simply said: 

                        The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.

She quickly memorized it, and then nodded to Snape, who set fire to it with his wand.  As she looked towards numbers eleven and thirteen, she concentrated on the letter and saw number twelve materialize before her.  Snape nodded, and she followed him up the steps to the front door.  With an evil glint in his eye, Snape told her to ring the doorbell.  An assortment of horrible shrieks and curses emanated from inside.  Snape grinned in satisfaction as Andaxia gave him a questioning look.  However, his grin evaporated when the door opened, replaced with an expression of total hate.  She couldn't really see who had opened the door from her position behind Snape, but it appeared the other man shared the look of loathing as he glared at him.  Minutes passed, with the horrible sounds still erupting from somewhere inside the house.  Impatient, Andaxia stamped her foot and cleared her throat.

          "Are we going inside or are we the new lawn ornaments?" she quipped.

          The other man broke the contact with Snape, and as they shifted positions, she had her first good look at him.  He had been handsome once, but something had happened to make him appear older and wearied.  As they locked eyes, she felt a shock run down her backbone and she shivered.  She shook it off, noticing he had seemed to suffer the same sensation.  Snape had also witnessed this and his eyes went cold as he retreated into his shell, a trick he performed to prevent himself from losing control.  Snape frostily made the introductions.  "Ms. Andaxia Moonstar – Sirius Black."  He spat at Sirius' name.

          Andaxia broke the contact first, eyes demure, long lashes folding slowly down as she nodded and extended her hand.  He grasped her hand with his, and another shock went through her system.  Raising her head, she felt the same thing happen to him.  He smiled warmly, and she returned it as he released her.

          "Well, welcome to my home.  It's wonderful to meet you, Ms. Moonstar."  He took her broom and directed her inside, leaving Snape to follow on his own. 

          Two other men were in the hallway, pulling a set of curtains over a large painting that was the source of the ungodly noises.  As it was covered, it went silent, leaving the house in peace again.  The men turned as they heard them approach, and Sirius motioned them into a side room.

          "May we give a welcome to our newest member?"  Sirius announced grandly.  She did not notice Snape slip into another side room as Sirius made the introductions.

          "My dear friend Remus Lupin –" the pale man bowed his head regally – "Muggle researcher extraordinaire Arthur Weasley –" the red-headed man smiled warmly – "may I introduce Ms. Andaxia Moonstar?"

          Arthur grinned wider.  "I've heard about you from Ron.  So, Dumbledore is right – we have a Tardiomagus in our midst?"  She nodded.  "Incredible.  So you have lived almost your entire life as a Muggle – we must discuss this!"  He was very excited, pumping her hand enthusiastically.

          "Another time perhaps, Arthur," Remus interjected.  "And Ms. Moonstar may appreciate it if you released her hand," he said wryly.

          "Of course, of course."  He let go, still grinning.  "Molly, my wife, is around here somewhere.  So are the twins, Ron, and Ginny.  Oh, Hermione too."

          "Great!"  she said with enthusiasm.  "And by the way, call me Andaxia.  I'm not exactly the formal type."

          They nodded as Sirius steered her back out into the hallway.  "Let's get you some lunch; you must be famished."  She admitted she was.  "Kreacher!" he called.  Andaxia was repulsed by the house-elf who appeared, involuntarily taking a step back from him.  Sirius handed him Andaxia's broom; Kreacher stared at her with a mixed look of disgust and jealousy, and then hobbled off to put the broom away. 

          Over lunch, she tried to analyze what she had felt when she had shaken hands with Sirius.  She had no experience with this kind of thing, so she filed the information away to study later and concentrated on the conversation.

          The meeting went quicker than she thought it would.  She met many of the other members, including Nymphadora Tonks and Bill Weasley, wizards close to her own age.  She also learned why Snape had seemed so grumpy; he gave a detailed presentation that evening.  That, and the fact she now knew that he and Sirius detested each other – another mystery she would have to unravel.

          Dumbledore talked with her after the meeting concluded.  They decided to only tell Remus and Sirius about her Animagus ability.  As shapeshifters themselves (she would have never guessed Remus was a werewolf), they would be able to assist her if she spent time here.

          She and Snape left immediately afterward, before dinner.  She protested, but Snape had no intentions of staying.  On the journey home, she again thought about what had happened between her and Sirius.  She felt extremely giddy, but the giddiness suddenly changed to guilt as she looked at Snape.  For the first time, she realized she had been in love with Snape since he had reached out to her and taken control of her magical training.  She passed the rest of the flight in silence, very conflicted.