CHAPTER 4: THE MEETING
On entering the room they got many welcoming smiles and nods from many Order Members, well not everyone.

"What are they doing in here?" shouted an outraged Professor Snape.

"They are here to attend the meeting Severus, is that a problem?" said Dumbledore, as calmly as ever. But before Snape could answer, his collegue, Professor McGonagall put a warning arm on his shoulder, forcing him to sit down.

"Thank you," said Dumbledore, "now, let's get on with business."

"Fir-"

"But Professor," interrupted Hermione, "aren't you going to introduce Alex?"

"She has already been introduced Miss Granger," said Dumbledore smiling, "but thank you anyway."

Blushing, Hermione sat down.

"As I was saying," continued Dumbledore, "Lord Voldemort has been relatively quiet since the night at the Ministry and even though he was exposed, some people still think that we are lying, namely, Fudge's supporters. On tonight's agenda, we will see how things are going in the Ministry," he said nodding to the Ministry Aurors and workers, "other wizarding families and communities across the globe and a review from our undercover agent." he said, nodding to Severus.

"Kingsley and Nymphadora, the floor is yours." said Dumbledore as he sat down.

Tonks flinched at being called by her first name but nevertheless, she stood up.

"Well, now that the prophecy has been broken, we thought the Death Eaters had no reason to come back to the Ministry, but unfortunately, they haven't, apparently, their recruiting new Death Eaters. I know about 3 of them that already took the mark." she said

"Who are they?" asked McGonagall.

"Marcus Flint, that boy Montague, he has older brother that works there and so does Warrington all of them were on the Slytherin Quidditch team." said Snape before Tonks could answer.

"Why thank you Severus." said Tonks sarcastically as Snape rolled his eyes at her comment.

"Also, you will be pleased to know that there at the recent Wizengamot meeting, there were plans to put Fudge out of office. This will come into action in 1 month," continued Tonks. "Oh, before I forget, there will be another trial that Harry has to attend."

"But-" stammered Harry.

"No, you're not in trouble," said Dumbledore, "it's a trial to decide the fate of one Delores Umbridge."

"You will be acting as a witness." added Kingsley.

Exhaling loudly, Harry sank into his chair feeling relieved, while Ron just laughed and patted him on the back.

"Ok, now, Severus." said Dumbledore, gesturing to Professor Snape.

"The Dark Lord has not summoned us for a long time, but now that he knows the full prophecy, he will stop at nothing to get rid of Mr. Potter. None of us know what he's going to do, not even Bellatrix and that's strange." said Snape.

"But we also have new members, " continued Snape darkly, " quite a few students from my house and strangely, one former Ravenclaw student."

"Ravenclaw!" choked McGonagall.

"Who is he Professor?" asked Alex making her presence known in the room.

"Jason MacCartney." answered Snape.

Toying with the ring on her finger, she simply nodded.

"And the Slytherin students?" someone asked.

"Gregory Goyle, VIncent Crabbe and Draco Malfoy." said Snape, "but not willingly I might add. At least not for Mr. Malfoy."

If anyone had any comments, they kept it to themselves.

"Now for the final part of the meeting," said Dumbledore standing, "Miss Walker, would you please distribute the contents of the folder to the recipients."

"In the envelopes, you would find your O.W.L Results." said Dumbledore smiling, "You have done very well."

Sharing out the envelopes, she couldn't help but smile at their reactions as they opened the envelopes.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny," continued Dumbledore, "members of staff at Hogwarts, may I present to you the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Miss Alex Walker."

Alex smiled as she heard the cheers from the children, Tonks, Lupin, McGonagall and to everyone's surprise, Professor Snape.

"Well, you are dismissed." said Dumbledore amidst the cheers.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, would you please stay behind." said Dumbledore, "You too Miss Walker, or should I say Professor?"

As the others left, he motioned them to the sofa in the corner, while he stood facing them.

"Now, Alex is very well experienced in the Dark Arts, more experienced than an auror, I might add." he said proudly.

"She will also be helping you, Harry, with your Occulmency, she is a very highly skilled Occulmens and Legilimens, so your lessons won't be as, well painful as when you were with Professor Snape. She along with Miss Tonks and Remus, will be helping you with the D.A. and she tells me that she has a few surprises in store for you and your classmates, so be prepared." finished Dumbledore leaving the 4 students there with their new teacher.

"What did you get in your O.W.L.S?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"Umm, let me see." he said as he opened his letter and began to read it aloud.

Dear Mr. Potter,
we are pleased to inform you that your Ordinary Wizarding Levels were very well done and we hope to see you excel further in the future. Your results are disclosed below.

Best wishes,
Yours Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Defence Against The Dark Arts - O
Transfiguration - EE
Charms - O
Potions - O
Care of Magical Creatures - EE
Divination - P
Herbology - EE
Astronomy - A


"That's great Harry." exclaimed Hermione.

"Yeah it is." said Ron grinning.

"Well, I hope I do as well as you did," sighed Ginny, "I mean, with a joke of a teacher like Umbridge, we would be sure to fail."

"That's not going to be a problem, Ginny." said Alex as she walked out of the room.

"How can you be so sure?" asked Ginny.

"I'm your new teacher, remember?" she said.

"What did the two of you get?" asked Harry, peering over their shoulders to see their results.

"Well, I got the same as you but in Potions and Charms, I got Exceeds Expectations." said Ron.

"Hermione?" asked Harry, "what about you?"

"All O's." answered Hermione.

"What?" she asked as her two best friends' eyes popped out of their heads.

"Well, what did you expect?" laughed Ginny.

Shrugging, Ron said, "At least I'm not going to be stuck with Snape for two more years."

"That's true." agreed Harry.

"Well, I'm going to owl my parents, I'll see you in a bit." said Hermione as she walked through the door.

"We'll be upstairs in the library." called Ron.

"Library?" asked Harry

"Yeah, it's one of the cleanest places in the house." replied Ginny.

"Oh."

Meanwhile, in her room upstairs, Alex looked for anything that could reveal the truth about her ex-fiance. On finding her mother's old yearbook, she ceased her search. Dusting of the cover, it read,

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
The Graduating Class of 1979

It always interested her to look through her mum's school things for her to picture what it was like to go to school at Hogwarts. On the first place, she saw a message from a girl named Lily Evans, it said "Despite what they say, you'll always be my best friend."

'Hmm.' thought Alex, what did they say.

Next to that, she saw a picture of her mum and this Lily Evans hugging. Looking more closely at the picture, she noticed that she had seen these eyes before. Hitting herself in the forehead, she realised that this was Lily Evans Potter, Harry's late mum. Smiling to herself, she continued to scan through the book and coming to a screeching halt at the name and picture of a couple.

"Marcus Zambini and Katarina MacCartney." it read.

In complete shock at what she just saw, she bolted up and out of the room in search of a library.