Characters and locations in the world of Harry Potter are the property of J.K. Rowling. (My original characters just get to play there.)

My first foray into the world of JKR; I hope you like it.

Prologue

The wizard looked at the Muggle Chancellor of Germany, his expression unreadable but his general posture that of a powerful man. He had found this Muggle to actually have quite a similar world view, each man having the wish to rid the world of undesirables. This so called leader had been eager to take on the wizard as an advisor, having a great attraction to what the Muggle world would call the supernatural. He did not even need to reveal that he was a true wizard, merely that he was an expert in that supernatural piffle. This Muggle was easy to manipulate to the point of not needing the Imperious curse to get him to do things. The wizard only needed the right suggestion to put in front of the Chancellor and off the Muggle would go. Lending troops and war materials to Spain? It was easy to convince the man it would be a good test of his new forces. Invade Czechoslovakia? Well, Germany certainly needed the land and raw materials to feed the growing needs of the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe. And through it all, the wizard was able to get what he needed. It started at first with information, but had recently succeeded in gaining the first of the three objects he needed for his own plans.

The Elder Wand.

Also known as the Death Stick and various other vicious names throughout the ages, it was the first of the Deathly Hallows he had found. He had information that the remaining two Hallows were in England; all he had to do was get the Muggle to conquer the British Islands and he, the greatest dark wizard to walk the earth, would have free rein to search at his leisure. He was sure the Resurrection Stone was in the hands of the descendants of Cadmus Peverell, the most likely being the Gaunt family. There was even a chance that wizarding family might willingly join him in his quest. The hardest of the three to find would be the Invisibility Cloak. It had definitely descended from Ignotus Peverell, but the trail had grown cold in the fourteenth century. It had to have passed to a daughter at that point in the past and muddied the ancestry. It would not be impossible to find, only extremely difficult. There was also the rumor the cloak had managed to turn up in Poland. Germany would invade the Poles in order for the wizard's own men to look for clues but that would be more to confirm the absence of the cloak on the mainland. And if his political calculations were correct, Germany's invasion of Poland would cause the other great powers of Europe to declare war in order to aid Poland. Except this time Germany was prepared to sweep the allied forces off the map, with the new tactics of Blitzkrieg the wizard had coached the Chancellor into adopting. The seers and auguries pointed to Germany having control of the whole continent before the end of the following year, leaving only the British Isles left to stand. The German invasion of England would be greatly helped by the British wizarding community being forced to stand alone in the event of another Muggle World War, especially if the United States wizarding community could be made to ally with Germany. It was an allegiance he believed he could trick the blasted Americans into making.

Gellert smiled. His plans would bear much fruit.

Chapter One – The Headmaster's Office

James McCrea loosened his tie as he walked to the Great Hall for lunch after a particularly difficult Transfiguration OWL practical exam, more difficult than he would have expected from such a young professor as Albus Dumbledore, not remembering that the Ministry of Magic was in control of all OWL testing. It was James's last test of the year though and he was sure he received at least an E, although an Outstanding was probably out of the question. All in all, he thought he would get at least six OWLs total, and would gladly take the O's he knew he would receive in Potions and Charms. James was still on track to be a Mediwizard after his NEWTs in two years, which was what he really and truly cared about. And the last few days of term before the Leaving Feast would provide ample time to unwind. Unfortunately, lunch would not be coming soon, as a second year Hufflepuff ran up to him in the Entrance Hall.

"James McCrea," the young student said in an out of breath voice, "Headmaster Dippet wants to see you in his office immediately. He said it was urgent."

"Thanks," said James quietly, as he changed direction and headed to see what Professor Dippet wanted. He was not one of the pranksters, in fact James was an exemplary student when it came to those type of extracurricular activities, almost never having any house points taken away and never getting a detention in almost five years at Hogwarts, so he was very curious why he was requested to proceed toward Dippet's sanctuary.

McCrea became a bit more nervous when he saw his Head of House, Professor Slughorn, waiting at the gargoyle statue marking the entrance to the Headmaster's office.

"Ah, James my boy! I was asked to escort you to the Headmaster. Must be of some importance if he wants both of us there, eh?"

James could only smile at the jovial potions master. "Must be indeed," he replied, "although I'm sure I don't have any clue as to what it could be."

Waving his wand, Slughorn activated the staircase behind the statue and led the way up to Dippet's office, an expectant energy making him bounce with delight. Whatever it was, James was sure it had to be good news if the head of Slytherin house was in such a good mood. He began to relax as he followed Slughorn up the stairs.

He heard the potions master announce the two of them as they strode through the office door, James still lost in thought about what the summons could be about. He didn't notice another guest already in the room with Professor Dippet. It was quite a shock when that person spoke and James did a double take to see if the owner of that voice really was here.

"Headmaster Dippet has been telling me you've been doing wonderfully on all your OWLs son," said William McCrea.

"Da? What are you doing here? Nothing's wrong with Mother, is there?"

"No, no. Nothing like that," Mr. McCrea reassured his son. "I've received some extraordinary news from the Ministry of Magic today. News that will affect you and your studies I'm afraid."

"What sort of news?"

"The Minister himself requested me to become the new Ambassador to the Magical Congress of the United States of America, although I believe they prefer calling it by its acronym, MACUSA."

"That's fantastic news Da!" exclaimed James, "but what does that have to do with me and Hogwarts?"

"This initial posting is for two years, right in New York City," the elder McCrea explained, "so you have a choice of finishing your last two years here at Hogwarts or completing your education at Ilvermorny."

Headmaster Dippet stepped in to the conversation. "Ilvermorny is the American school for witchcraft and wizardry, equal to Hogwarts in every measure, including prestige within the wizarding community. But it does have one distinct advantage over Hogwarts that I believe you will appreciate young Mr. McCrea. They have an outstanding NEWT level program for Mediwizards if I am not mistaken." Noticing the confused look on James face, Dippet continued, "That is still your ultimate goal, is it not James? To be, and I quote, 'The best Mediwizard to ever set foot in St Mungos'."

How could he forget? It was his one defining goal since he first set foot on the Hogwarts Express five years ago and that driving ambition was the biggest reason the Sorting Hat had put him in Slytherin in the first place, one of the few there who was not a so-called "pureblood". It was an ambition that glowed brighter than his intelligence and almost caused the darn Sorting Hat to chuckle, although only James would have heard that laugh.

"That is indeed still my goal Professor, and this American school sounds quite intriguing. As much as I would miss Hogwarts and my mates here in Britain, I canna' turn down such a grand opportunity!"

That one simple decision seemed to create a whole host of new questions. James was not one for self-doubt, or at least not for more than a few seconds of it, before setting upon any course of action. But it did seem like there would be a whole logistical nightmare involved with moving to a new country and an equally new school.

"So when would we need to leave England, Da?"

"I won't need to report to the posting until sometime in mid-summer. We will be getting a decent amount of time to pack necessities and personal items before traveling, though the Ministry will be handling the shipping of any bulky items directly."

"What did Mother say about this?"

"You mean besides 'It's about time, William!'?" his father said with a hearty chuckle. "You know your mother has been prodding me to get a more important diplomatic posting since before you started here at Hogwarts."

"Sounds like things are settled then, my boy," Slughorn exclaimed. "I'd be curious myself to see what different potion ingredients are available over there. I've always read that it was difficult for the first European wizards who went there to explore the New World until they were able to connect with the local wizarding communities and get all that sorted out. Well, please keep in touch and don't hesitate to send me an owl occasionally. You've certainly been one of the best potions students I've had so far, though that might not be saying much having only taught for not quite a decade now."

"I will indeed write Professor, especially if I run across any new ingredients over there. I might be able to send you a small sample."

"Splendid!" Slughorn gushed, "Now I'll certainly be awaiting that first owl from you!"

"Is there going to be any paperwork to sign to transfer James to this Ilvermorny, Professor Dippet?" the senior McCrea asked.

"Not at this time, William. I will be sure to send you a copy of anything that will need a signature but most of the transfer will involve sending copies of James's academic records to my counterpart in America. I would say this meeting is at an end gentlemen and I would especially like to congratulate you James, and your father, on this exciting opportunity!" The Headmaster rose from behind his desk and shook hands with both James and William, followed by a vigorous handshake from Professor Slughorn as well. His father then stepped to the fireplace to Floo back to the Ministry offices in London in order to finish the particulars of setting up his new British Magical Embassy posting in the States. This left James to jog to the Great Hall before lunch was over, eager to tell his housemates the news.


Author's Notes: This will predominantly be my original characters in this story. Any of Jo Rowling's characters have only been included to help anchor the story within her book canon, especially the era I've set the story in.