A/N: Now I know what you're all thinking. It's not Monday(or Tuesday, depending on timezones). There shouldn't be an update. Well, that's because this is a celebratory update.

I have finished figuring out a list/outline of every single scene I will need to write to finish Alex and Draco's 4th year at Hogwarts.. WooHoo!

Anyway, what it comes down to is this, (PLEASE PLEASE READ THIS PART) to get them on the train going home requires somewhere around 35-40 chapters. Which means this story will be at chapter 55-60. What I want to know is this: Do you think I should stop at the end of the year as it seems a natural ending place and then write a sequal covering the summer before and all of their 5th year?

Everything in said sequal will be written and posted either way but all of the plot from that time period will take up another 50-60 some odd chapters. It just seems better to break them up even if the Plot started in "Veil" hasn't been wrapped up yet by then.

Review and let me know what you think. Thanks.

I don't own Harry Potter...but if Draco Malfoy is up for sale I'm interested...

"…with his dust bins…" Alex whispered for the seventh time, tears slipping from her eyes as she laughed. "I'll never be able to look the man straight on again!"

"Especially if I'm there to remind you of this little conversation," Blaise replied, grinning. After a second he sobered, his gaze traveling to the stairs that led to the Girls' Dorm. "She certainly has a set of legs on her," he commented softly.

"What?"

"Tania. She sure can run."

"Mmm. Yeah. One step forward, if she's forced to, then run away…whether it was successful or not." Alex sighed and wiped her eyes.

"So," Blaise said, glancing around the room to make sure everyone else was out of earshot, "back to the Moody problem."

"The next person who tells me you're laid back and easy going is going to get an earful," Alex muttered.

Blaise laughed. "As long as I get one first…"

"Alright! Fine! Right now our plans are two prong. Recruitment and Reconnaissance."

Blaise started to smile and opened his mouth to tease Alex about how seriously she was taking all this, when he realized she really was being serious. Dead serious.

"Our plans?"

"Yes, mine and Draco's."

"Draco Malfoy? Your brought him in before me!"

"I wasn't the only person who didn't feel up to going to class after Moody was done with us," Alex explained offhandedly before switching subjects. "Now, on the one hand, we're trying to gather as many like-minded people together so we know who we can count on if things get hairy."

"Well, I'm certainly 'like-minded' and you know I'm with you, Alex."

She inclined her head towards him in acknowledgement. "On the other, we're putting plans in motion to investigate our beloved Professor."

"What?"

Alex nodded seriously and ticked off on her fingers. "His house, his office, his classroom, his suite here, his Ministry records."

"What!"

"For starters. From that we'll have a good idea who and what we're up against and where to continue looking."

"Alex are you out of your mind!" Blaise exclaimed grabbing her arm. "He transfigured a Malfoy for casting a spell at Potter! What more would he do to you if he caught you in any of those places!"

Alex met his gaze soberly. "Then he won't catch us. Simple as that."

"Alex!"

"Blaise!" she yelled cutting through his panic. "Blaise," Alex lowered her voice, "I'm not an idiot. I'm not going to slip into his office between classes! I'll wait until I know he's somewhere else for a few hours, holding detention with Greg, if he's willing, or something. I haven't put down specifics for my diversion yet."

Blaise let out a shaky breath. "Merlin, Alex!"

"Now you know why I'm not spreading this around. We have several other people who we'll bring in once we have all our information. Once we have it we don't have to say where we got it, you know."

He nodded and the two continued to talk as the Common Room slowly emptied out and darkness fell outside. Finally Blaise leaned back in his chair and gave a bone popping stretch.

"So, as for the timing of the first invasion…well, if he's living here he won't be at his home while school is in session. I think we'll have to do it then."

"While school is in session? "Alex frowned thoughtfully. "But if he discovered his house was broken into and we were all absent from classes on a specific day…"

"What about Hogsmeade weekends?" Blaise asked suddenly.

"What about them?"

"School is in session, but we won't be expected to be in the castle."

"I don't know, Blaise. You and me are usually pretty obvious then. Front booth by the window for a while, maybe some shopping together then back to the castle, every time? Somebody is bound to notice we aren't there."

"And if we are there?"

"Then we won't be in Moody's house. What are you saying!"

"No, no listen. I will be in Hogsmeade with a girl whom we will convince everyone is you."

"Who looks like me, Blaise?" Alex asked, gesturing to her face. "Or at least who has my hair and is about my height?"

It seemed she'd hit the mark. Blaise fell silent for several minutes, then grinned. "Tania does. Hers is a little shorter and a little more reddish while yours is blue/black but she's about your height."

"No," Alex said firmly. "No, bloody, way. I am not going to get her involved in this."

"Who said anything about getting her involved?" Blaise countered easily. "You've stood me up for some research project of yours and would she mind filling the second seat I've reserved at the restaurant. You know her, she'll keep her hood up and her face down."

"And if we make sure someone overhears us talking about meeting up for Hogsmeade…" Alex trailed off and sighed. "I wish I could think of something else."

"You could let Draco, Crabbe and Goyle do all the searching." Blaise suggested.

"No!" Alex said, violently rejecting that idea. "This is my problem and my feud."

"Agreed. Now the next Hogsmeade weekend is in three weeks, right after Halloween."

Alex nodded. "We can be ready by then. If you set up things with Tania, Draco and I will talk to Vince and Greg, and figure out a way to get from here to Moody's place and back."

"You got it. Will you be going alone?"

"No. If Vince and Greg agree to cover for him then Draco can come with me to watch my back. No one will doubt their word on where he is. They're supposed to be too dumb to lie."

"Makes sense."

"Good." Alex stood and gathered her things.

"Hey, Alex?"

She turned back to her best friend.

"Be safe. I know you hate him, but he isn't worth your life."

Alex scoffed. "He'll never be in a position to take it."

"And try to trust Draco while you're in there. He'll be your only ally."

"Don't worry about me, Blaise. I'll either die now or I'll die later, but either way, Draco or no Draco, there's no stopping it." Shrugging her bag onto her shoulder she headed silently up to her dorm. After a moment Blaise did the same.

A/N: Remember review! Sequal or no sequal?

And go read "Under the Surface" that you may know Tania a little better.

OH! And don't worry. you'll still get your regular update on time.