Disclaimer: It's not mine no matter how much I wish. 'Course this disclaimer probably isn't either.

Prologue

September 1st, 1991

Empty Room Beside the First Years Welcome Chamber

"Was that who I thought it was?" asked Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington excitedly as he floated along amidst the other ghosts. The last of the other ghosts left leaving the house ghosts in the empty room alone.

"Depends on who you thought he was. Or did you mean that young lady" asked the Fat Friar. He grinned at Nicholas in his merry way.

"You know exactly who and what I meant," snorted Sir Nicholas.

"That girl is mine though she won't be for my house," whispered the grey lady as she gazed back at the wall that they had just come through. Sir Nicholas glanced at the Fat Friar and rolled his eyes as the grey lady just gazed through the door in thought.

"None of this matters anyway. You all know the rules," hissed the Bloody Baron. Sir Nicholas sighed. The baron could be such an overly cautious ghost at times. Sir Nicholas could see the fat friar's eyes twinkling in amusement.

"Of course. We are all very well acquainted with the rules. We each know who belongs to us and we are to train our own as such no matter who else they belong to. We are not to know whom the others are training. However one can't help but wonder. At the very least we know he's one of mine." Sir Nicholas puffed his chest out in pride. The Bloody Baron stared at Nicholas for a moment before turning and made his way through the walls towards the Great Hall.

1992-1993 School Year

Empty Chamber Above Filch's Office

"Peeves! Come on! He needs our help, even if he doesn't know it," pleaded Sir Nicholas.

"Why should I help the firsties?" asked Peeves while glancing around to see who may be watching.

"If not for him the just do it to annoy Argus," said Sir Nicholas. He knew Peeves was always happy to do anything that would bother Filch.

"That I can do," cackled Peeves as he disappeared through the floor. Sir Nicholas winced as he heard the crash coming from below. He just hoped no one heard about his part in it. He couldn't do much until the child was ready, but he could do some things.

October 31, 1992
Dungeons

Sir Nicholas smiled fondly as three of his children left his death-day party. It was always nice to have children like them in your house. Merlin, protect them. They were going to have such a hard year this year if the grey lady were to be believed.

1994 (Around the end of the school term)

Dungeons, Potions Master's Office

"Professor," whispered the baron in greeting.

"Good evening, baron," the professor greeted.

"The werewolf hasn't had his potion this evening."

"Bloody Gryffindors," he cursed. "Do you know where he is?"

"No, but his office door was left open. Perhaps he left something?"

"Thank you baron. I'll look into it." Severus Snape bowed to the baron before quickly stalking out of the room. The baron shook his head sadly before making his way out to check on the Slytherin first years. The Gryffindors were beginning to give him a headache.

June 1995

Hidden Chamber Near Dumbledore's Office

"I told Albus that man wasn't to be trusted," shouted Sir Nicholas. "There was just something not right with him. We all sensed it! I knew he wasn't who he was supposed to be!"

"At least your house survived in tact," mumbled the Fat Friar who was, for once, not smiling cheerfully.

"I am dreadfully sorry. Was Cedric one of yours," asked Sir Nicholas. The Fat Friar blinked for a moment at Sir Nicholas drawing a shuddering breath.

"He was... in both ways," mumbled the fat friar. Sir Nicholas gasped and patted the fat friar on the back.

"I'm ever so sorry my dear man," consoled Sir Nicholas. The fat friar nodded and straightened himself up. The bloody baron looked down his nose at Sir Nicholas and the friar before snorting and leaving the room. Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, and thought to him self in amusement as he went back down to the dungeons.

1996

End of Term

Sir Nicholas glanced at the Fat Friar, the Bloody Baron, and the grey lady as he felt the students leaving the school. He nodded to himself. Next school year would be the year.