Author's note: Readers please note that the following work of fiction is not producing for the author of said work of fiction, monetary compensation for the many hours said author has devoted to the writing of said work of fiction. Thank you.

Chapter Forty-nine:

Four people, one from each House, were seated around the Founders' Table. Each had a function that they performed and together they, like the many who had headed The Order before them, served Good and fought Evil.

Albus Dumbledore sat in the chair designated for the Gryffindor house representative. He was an advisor and coordinator, a sort of hub for the action of the other three. His experience and knowledge gathered over the years gave him a vantagepoint that was invaluable when things got too muddled and confused.

Opposite him sat Alastor Moody, in the Huffelpuff-yellow chair. His connections within and without the ministry made him an ideal source of classified information. With his experience in combat he also acted as a strategist planning the aggressive and preemptive strikes.

In the blue chair sat former Ravenclaw Rita Skeeter who absently twirled her wand, without a quill her fingers needed something to do. She was in charge of PR for the Order which, being a secret organization, meant that she was in charge of misinformation It was a task at which she excelled. She also offered an opposing opinion or alternate perspective whenever possible.

The Slytherin, as usual, was lying sideways his legs draped over one of the chair's arms with his head resting on the other. He didn't exactly have a name. He had fought on the frontlines, as a Deatheater, before Voldemort's fall. He had been a spy for the Order at the time and was acting in that role again. He had been given charge of Harry's safety two years ago. He rarely did anything the way people wanted him to and his handling of Potter was just another item on that rather long list. Though every chance they got they questioned his actions, no one had actually tried to countermand him. Not only was he in charge of Harry's protection, he was also head of the Alicorn Warriors.

The Alicorn Warriors had continued on from the time of the founders, new members joining when old members were lost. They now served as the answer to Voldemort's Fates. Arranged in a two-tier system, five adult members and four students, the identities and training of the Alicorn Warrior members were a secret that had never been broken. No matter what had been done to members captured over the years none had talked.

Albus placed his folded hands on the tabletop. "I think we would all like to hear how the confrontation between Harry and Draco went."

With one blue eye the Slytherin looked across the table, "I have to hand it to you Skeet," he held back a laugh, she did not like the nickname. "The script you wrote was marvelous. Malfoy nearly had Crabbe and Goyle feeling sorry for him. After that little sham of a show of vulnerability Malfoy stepped up his tormenting of Potter for a few days to make it look like he was kicking himself for opening up."

"Are you sure that Draco's performance wasn't a little too authentic?" Rita arched a brow to emphasize her point.

"If you mean 'Is Lucius still beating him?' The answer is no. After I made it clear that Malfoy had my attention Lucius hasn't touched him. He remembers what happened last time."

Moody broke in before Skeeter could respond, "What about the mole? He's a solid member of the Order, have you given any consideration to having him join your ranks?"

He sat up at that, "Actually Moody, I have. I know you've wanted him in my circle for a while but I don't think he could take the oath. He isn't ready to forfeit a family and a life. The oath of the Alicorn Warriors isn't taken lightly and never if there is doubt."

"About the Alicorn Warriors," Albus spoke softly but clearly. " It is a cold fact that can't be said gently, but, you haven't replaced Cedric and you do need a full unit to function effectively."

He lay back again and stared into the shadows as he spoke to the group, "One of The Fates died in a sting last time. He, rather stupidly, took one last shot at an Auror he had a grudge against," he halted to glance at Moody then continued, "He wasn't replaced for nearly a year. Finding someone that can do the job isn't the problem; there were many qualified Deatheaters. The problem was finding someone who would never look back after giving up the required sacrifice."

"Is there anyone you are considering?" Albus asked carefully.

With reluctance he admitted that yes he was considering someone, "Susan Bones. She joined the Order rather early but she has outgrown her current placement. As an Alicorn she could be put to better use and she doesn't want children or a mate."

Albus posed another carefully worded question, "Then, you have brought the Alicorn Warriors back up to a fully active state since I wrote you?"

"They have been fully functional since last time. I left them arranged so that they could identify and train likely candidates from the Order. The only set back we have suffered was when Diggory died."

They were silent for a few moments.

Rita Skeeter broke the silence with the next topic, "How should I play the hiring of the co-Heads of House?"

"What do you mean?" Albus asked.

"I can make it a puff piece about you're being conscious of the latest trends in child psychology, or I could head the other way. Make it another bit on how you're just trying to catch up with the rest of the academic community."

~

The meeting broke up at eleven thirty on the dot.

~

Monday morning saw two extra places at the Head Table. The seating arrangements themselves differed slightly from the norm as well.

Albus rose and gave a long-winded (for him) introduction of the new Heads of House. Each stood as their name was announced then sat. "I am pleased to introduce to you the new co-Head of Huffelpuff. Professor Moody will also be operating as head of school security. Our new co-Head of Gryffindor, Professor Lupin… I would like to introduce to you all, the only new face here, Miss Severa Moody co-Head of Slytherin. She will be assisting Professor Snape in Potions And finally our new co-Head of Ravenclaw, Professor Sinistra..." He smiled broadly and announced the start of breakfast by sitting down and beginning to serve himself.

The student body as a whole was not surprised by the introduction of the co-Heads of the Houses. Dumbledore had announced the hiring twice last week and the Daily Prophet had run a scathing expose on how outdated the school was for having only a single, either male or female, Head of House.

"Oh, how two faced can you get?!"

Ron and Harry stopped talking Quiditch when Hermione angrily threw down her newly arrived copy of the Daily Prophet.

"What's up Mione," Ron asked.

"Just this," she angrily picked up her copy of the Daily Prophet and read from the front page,

~~~Hogwarts Is At The Head Of The Class~~~

"And that's just the headline!" Hermione read on,

~~~Headmaster Albus Dumbledore has proved once again that he is on the cutting edge when it comes to these modern times. While most schools are still trying to figure out what gender equality even means he has lead the way with the appointment of male and female Heads of House. Now the House that you attended school in is even better! Witches, do you remember those –things- you couldn't bear to speak with your male Head of House about? And my Wizard readers I'm sure had to seek other sources of information because of the awkwardness in speaking to a Witch, even if she was your Head of House. Am I right? I know I am.~~~

"It goes on and on about how smart the Headmaster is, one guess as to who wrote it." She slapped the paper down in front of Harry and, with a smug smile, pointed to Rita Skeeter's name in the byline.

"Hey," Ron leaned over Harry's shoulder to read more. "Wasn't she trashing him last week? I thought you taught her a lesson about this kind of thing."

"I guess she forgot," Harry shrugged and moved the paper so he could eat his breakfast.

A rather dusty and unpleasant looking owl dropped a small package in the center of Neville's plate. The boy tried valiantly not to blush as he thought over the long list of embarrassing articles that his grandmother could have sent in such an innocuous looking little box. The owl snapped up the bit of sausage he offered and flew away, still in a bad mood.

"Hey, what'd you get Neville?" Aidan asked, while stuffing his mouth with too much waffle.

"Uh, just something from my grandmother," he slowly unwrapped it and was absolutely floored to find none of his fears validated.

"Looks like one of those new Remembralls," Aidan observed, then promptly lost interest in whatever Neville had forgotten, there was food to be eaten and it was cooling off.

Chapter Fifty:

Neville was trying to catch his breath. A, mostly red, note in his new Remembrall had informed him that he had forgotten his Potions essay. Running up to Gryffindor Tower and then down to Potions as fast as he could, he had made it just in time. The classroom door banged open, banging doors open was something Neville had only seen Professor Snape do, and sure enough Professor Snape swept in. Neville nearly cried out when Snape swept in a moment later as well. 'A nightmare, this is a nightmare and I must still be asleep.' was his first fevered thought, before he recognized his mistake.

Many of the other students were momentarily uncertain as well. The close resemblance between their Potions Master and their new Potions Master's Assistant was uncanny. They even had the same superior tilt to their heads. After the initial shock though, it was easy to see that the one on the right was a woman. Her figure was on the subtle side and the unflattering robes tended to mute her curves even more. Her cheekbones and jaw line were more delicate than his, but on the whole she really did look like, just a female version of Snape.

Snape spoke first, "Miss- Moody will be functioning as a Potion Master's Assistant. Can anyone tell me exactly what that means?" He tried to ignore his slight hesitation over her last name and Granger's lone hand, waving like a parade flag. "Anyone at all?"

Miss Moody as she had asked to be called, was silently watching things unfold. 'Ignore the eager Gryffindor. Right got that one down.'

* Now there are only another half million rules of conduct left,* her inner voice laughed.

"Ah, Mister Malfoy." He could practically hear her absorbing every cue he sent. Favor our House, snub the others. Malfoy is a Golden Boy, belittle Granger whenever possible.

Draco sat up a little straighter, "The title Potion Master's Assistant is usually applied to a newly certified Potion Master. It also refers to a Potion Master who is working on someone else's project and will be given a secondary-authorship recognition if anything is published or patented."

Hermione lowered her hand with an air of resignation. The new Professor hadn't even glanced her way.

"Five points to Slytherin," Snape smirked with approval, then addressed his new assistant. "You have familiarized yourself with the syllabus and student roster for each of the classes?"

She allowed one corner of her mouth to rise slightly, "Of course…" there had to be more to it than that, she seemed to be saying.

Snape merely nodded, "Then we will not waist time with introductions."

It didn't take Moody long to figure out who needed extra attention. She focused on Neville and a few other slightly less accident prone students, freeing Snape up to stalk the classroom and keep Potter and Weasley from starting something with Crabbe and Goyle.

~

At lunch Ron was warning/moaning to Aidan about the horrors that awaited him in his next Potions class.

"Just be glad you don't have to look forward to Advanced Potions Theory Ron," Neville said into his soup, quietly enough that no one heard.

~

Snape had gone to sleep a few hours ago and so he cautiously crept from his cage. Other than the papers that needed grading there wasn't much to do all night. 'Maybe I'll go for a swim, I haven't been for a while. Or I could go up and see if the Headmaster is still awake, maybe play a game or two of chess.' Tentative plans for the evening were interrupted when a door that he had never even touched, slowly opened. Looking up from the students' scrolls he half-smiled, "Hello."

His quiet greeting calmed her fear that she had somehow intruded. "I think I saw you, at lunch," She took a step into the room and closed the door behind.

"I was there for a little, mostly to get a better look at you," he admitted, without a hint of shyness.

A few steps closer to the table he was working at, she looked around hesitantly, "Am I right in thinking that they share a sitting room?"

"Yes," he picked up the quill again and dipped it in the red ink. "I can show you around if you like, after we get these graded."

With a soft sound that stood for a laugh she pulled over the room's only other chair. Picking up the next scroll that needed grading, and a quill, she started to read.

~

"And lastly," he led the way down the hidden passage to Lupin's door. "The resident Were Wolf and escaped convict. You can use the chime, but I don't recommend it." He rapped on the wall and waited. "This bugs the heck out of them, and I never get tired of the annoyed look Lupin has when he answers the door," he whispered.

When Remus opened his door he found one and a half pairs of blue eyes staring at him.

"During the day Black usually stays in his rooms, in the evening he can usually be found here and before breakfast he usually stops in to request some books from the library." He waited until Lupin had taken in as much of the situation as he could, then turned to the female at his right, "Got all that?"

"I think so," her tone said it had been child's play to memorize the layout of the dungeons. It had taken a long time, in fact all night, but had not taken a lot of effort. The dungeons were even more changeable than the aboveground portion of the castle so it wasn't a matter of memorizing corridors so much as getting a feeling for the patterns of change.

Lupin blinked again, "Sirius, There are two of them now," he called without breaking his uncomprehending stare.