Prologue

She stands before the podium, palms sweaty and heart racing. She's worked for this all her life - well, for the last 20 years and now, as she stares across the crowd of teenages who are talking anxiously she cannot help but feel as if she has finally, finally made it. And god, does that feel good.

Before she starts, she glances over, into the wings of the theatre and he smiles back at her. He is bouncing on his heels, almost bursting with energy. He smiles back even though his eyes are distant and it is obvious that he isn't really with her. No, Enjolras is in the zone, it's game day even though this is nothing more than a small speech at a university. This is how he became Prime Minister at such a young age, going 100% at everything, never stopping, never allowing anyone else to catch up.

They have been planning this for weeks now, some how keeping it under wraps - he was sure his press secretary had no idea he was here. Now, as she stands before the crowd the chatter dies down and the students wait anxiously for their mystery guest.

"Alright guys, calm down, you're locked in here for the next hour but unfortunately in ten minutes you will begin to smell the sausage sizzle from outside. I tried to get it moved because the thought of hot dogs in the middle of summer is distracting for me too but alas, I think I need to be Vice Chancellor of this place before I can start getting my way." She pauses, several students laugh awkwardly as the rest just stare up at her, convinced their faculty co-ordinator is slightly out of her mind. She concludes that they are the smart ones.

"However, one man, after many years of endeavouring has actually managed to get his way here at this university. I would love you all to welcome to the stage a special guest and a very old friend of mine who was kind enough to join us here at Corinth today. I am sure this is suspenseful enough so without adieu I present to you the incoming Prime Minister and former Corinth University student Sebastian Enjolras."

The crowd fall silent in a moment of disbelief as they wait for physical proof that she was being serious, it is Enjolras' footsteps which finally break the silence, as he strolls confidently out on stage. The applause is deafening.

This tends to happen you know, when you are the youngest, most liberal and most popular incoming Prime Minister that the country has seen in over 30 years and the crowd sitting before him were amongst his most enthusiastic supporters.

In the past election he had managed to do the impossible, snare the under 30 vote from the small minority parties to one of the big two - his of course, greatly contributing to their hard fought victory over the Conservatives.

He was idolised by that age bracket, a hero, the man who was going to revolutionise the nation. Open up the higher education to the underprivileged, increase foreign aid and transform the welfare program. He was going to change their world, or he was going to try - the senate was quite hostile after all.

"Class of 2034, I'd hate to start today off with an old cliche but it genuinely feels like just yesterday I was staring up at my faculty coordinator on my first day, trying to hear what she was talking about as my friends spoke quite loudly throughout the ceremony. Eponine" he looks over to the woman standing next to him "Oh Professor Thenardier-"

"Eponine is fine, we'll use professor when I finally go grey"

He chuckles softly "Eponine, how long has it been twenty years? Longer"

"Please don't remind me."

The crowd laughs and after another wide smile in Eponine's direction he continues "As you all know now, I started my academic and political career here at Corinth University. As students, you have an incredible amount of power, you are tomorrow's leaders, teachers and writers. You have the power to influence generations as those before us have. It was university students in the 1970s and 80s who opened up education for those who were not part of the wealthy elite and it was students again in the mid- 2010s who attempted to reintroduce equal education after the governments of the 1990s returned to the elitist system. Those students in they were me, they were Eponine and we failed - but at least we tried. Today, there are still barriers preventing those from underprivileged backgrounds from attending university but now, the grassroots power, you have the ability to change our society. Right now, from behind your desks you have the power to change the world you live in, to vote, to protest, to rally, to revolutionise our world. My most important piece of university related advice is to give everything a go. Yes, classes are important but so are the unions, so are the protest weeks, so are those city rallies which block traffic throughout the city. You have the power and the opportunity to change the world, or at least give this University hell while trying."

The crowd breaks out into the type of applause usually reserved for rock stars because that is what he has become. A rock star rebel figure of national politics, the man who was on their side, finally.

Eponine remembers back to the speech they heard from their faculty coordinator - it put half the room asleep. But here he was and the room was electric, she had no idea how she would get their attention back now that all eyes were firmly - and expectedly - on him. "Thank you Prime Minister" she can't help but think of how strange that sound coming off her tongue.

As he shakes her hand he leans her slightly away from the microphone "Is your office still in Redmond East 652?"

"Yeah"

"I'll be up there with coffee."

"Get some sausages from outside too"

"Done."

It's only as he's walking into her office that he gets a message from Jehan, Director of Communications: If Corinth sues us after some kid decides to start a revolution, you can pay out of your pocket.

They always hate when he deviates from the script.

Hi everyone, this is my new story! I hope you enjoy it. If you choose to read on (I have decided to start with a double update) you will see that the story is actually set when they are all in university. I hope you all enjoy it and please remember to comment or leave some constructive criticism. Thank you for reading.