Chapter 1

The breeze is blowing in a cool mid-March fashion through the woods on the outskirts of Aiken, South Carolina. Here a bird chirps merrily, there a squirrel chatters to itself and even a few deer further on are enjoying themselves verbally as deer often do. Near the ruin of an old and much forgotten Catholic church deep with these woods, there is a slight "pop" and three humans appear out of nowhere. These humans don't look normal at all, however, as they are dressed in long robes and each wearing a particularly odd looking hat. The one on the right, a tall, thin lady who looks about 40 years old, is wearing deep violet robes and the kind of hat one might see on a "witch" during Halloween. The one in the middle is wearing sky blue robes with moons and stars all over them. He has long silvery hair running down his back and some over his shoulders, as well as a long silvery beard, making his age impossible to guess, though it is apparent he is very old. This man has ancient silvery-blue eyes; a kindly smile and half-moon shaped glasses hanging half-way down his long crooked nose. He is wearing a midnight blue cone-shaped hat that leers over about halfway up that is also covered in moons and stars. The third of this pair is a squat young red headed man, probably in his mid 20s. He is wearing a tattered looking gray cloak over his paling green robes, a giddy and youthful smile, and a mustard-colored top hat. The three look at the old Catholic church, then take off for the front door, which is on the other side of the building.

As the three walk around the building, the ancient man who trails behind the other two says nothing, but merely smiles, while the other two look on the church with amazement, whispering to themselves and finally to each other. The young man is the first to speak up, not seeming so squat now as he is very excited, his ears pinkening a bit as well as his cheeks, where there are shadows of freckles that had not too long-ago faded.

"Professor Dumbledore, this is amazing. Have you finished the enchantments yet?" The young man asks in a very excited voice that sounded a bit high-pitched for his age and build. At this, the old man, whose wisdom is uncalculated though very apparent in his wizened old face replies with his calm, warm voice,

"Please Thomaston, from this day forward, call me Albus. And no, I have not finished enchanting it yet. The final touches will be left to you and Margarina."

The middle-aged lady looks from the building back to the old man and then on the young man, her brown hair glistening as some rays of sun catch it through the tress as she turns her head. She notices the young mans eyes are twinkling with what she knows is the same question she wants to ask.

"May we have a look inside?" She asks with a perfect stream of voice, much like water flowing steadily down a river.

The old man smiles, nods his head, and answers their question,

"Ah, yes, it is time to see what you think about Aikenwood." At this, he gestures with his hands toward the churches front doors, which open as if commanded. Bright light floods out the doors and down the front steps, and seems to follow the wrap-around porch. As the three step through the front doors, their eyes become accustomed to the light, and the two younger inhabitants are quite delighted in what they see. There is a vast curbing staircase to their left and to their right, each facing opposite directions as they head up to the second floor. There is also a staircase leading down under the one facing away from them. There is a set of double doors down the middle of the vast room, straight a head of them, and there is also one on the wall at the foot of the stairwell facing them. As the three venture towards the middle of the gigantic room, they notice the swirling patterns in the floor leading to the different staircases. A dozen great chandeliers are hanging from the high ceiling, and every candle is lit, emitting more light than one would think candles could. As they walk on towards the double doors on the far wall, they notice another staircase leading down under the one that was facing them, and another door, though not on the wall like the other one at the foot of the other staircase. No, this door was on the floor, some feet away from the stairwell leading down under the one leading up. Curiosity was getting the best of Thomaston, and noticing this, Dumbledore delightedly speaks up.

"That door will lead to the caretakers' office and quarters. You will find all the cleaning supplies as well as extra classroom supplies you will need in there. That reminds me, have you found your caretaker yet, Margarina?"

At the sound of her name, the brown haired woman turns her head from the far staircase she was inspecting, again seeming to catch every bit of light in each strand of hair, looks at Albus Dumbledore and replies.

"Yes, his name is Charles Goodenough. And he should be here shortly."

"Excellent, I should very much like to meet him."

"He is half-muggle"

"That won't matter."

"He has been working with Muggles as a janitor at a high school for some time."

"He sounds rather qualified for the job then"

"He is, quite...well...radical."

"Ah, I think I like him already. What do you think, Professor Ebbershire?"

At the sound of the word "Professor" followed by his own name, Thomaston Ebbershire, looking very well embarrassed, his ears almost scarlet, nods his head excitedly in agreement.

"Well then, let's continue our tour, shall we?" Albus Dumbledore continues and moves towards the double doors in the middle of the far wall.

As the double doors open, the three walk into a great hall filled with tables and chairs, stacked neatly around the perimeter of the room, ready to use. There are two doors to their right, one which says "Enter" and the other which says "Exit". There is also another large door in the wall that doesn't quite go down to the floor. It is several feet away from the "Enter" and "Exit" doors. Looking up they notice they can not see a ceiling, though surely there must be one, but instead they see the sun shining down on them brightly, but not emitting any heat. Instantly Professor Ebbershire cracks a smile, nudges Professor Castleton and says excitedly

"Look Margarina, this hall is enchanted just like Hogwarts!"

Professor Dumbledore quickly responds, "Yes, I thought I would put a few touches of home into this school for you, knowing how fond you both are of it."

Looking worriedly, Margarina Castleton quickly retorts "The staircases don't move, do they?"

"No, I'm afraid this school is not yet big enough for moving staircases, though I daresay it might well be in the future."

"How many students will there be in our first year?" Professor Ebbershire asked Dumbledore, looking up at the enchanted ceiling once more.

"I am expecting around 40 for the first school year." Professor Dumbledore replied.

"Only 40, why so few, Albus" Professor Castleton asked.  

~Just as Dumbledore was about to reply, a loud "pop" could be heard from outside. Dumbledore, Castleton and Ebbershire all look at each other, and Dumbledore is the first to respond. ~

"Ah, Margarina, I believe our new caretaker has arrived. Shall we great him?" and with this, Dumbledore raises his right arm, sticks it out straight in front of him facing the back wall of the great hall, rotates his hand so that this palm is now facing up, and pulls his fingers to face upward. Instantly, a door appears straight in front of them on the back wall, and within seconds they hear a knocking on the new door.

"You may enter." Dumbledore says loudly, the sound of his warm voice echoing around the great hall.

The door knob turns, and as the door opens it vanishes, and in steps a man in his mid 30s, wearing a goatee, a patched denim jacket over a "Metallica" shirt, baggy jeans with grease and rust stains all over them and a huge ring of keys hanging from one belt loop. Long, ragged, dirty-blonde hair falls not-so-neatly behind his shoulders, and a smile of optimistic mischief is upon his face. As the man steps in, the doorway behind him vanishes, though he does not appear to take much notice.

"Ah, Mr. Goodenough, Welcome to Aikenwood Academy." Dumbledore politely says. "This is Professors Margarina Castleton and Thomaston Ebbershire." Motioning to each of the professors as he said their names, "It is good to see you again, Charles."

After a moment of surveying the great hall in which he said nothing, Charles Goodenough spoke up "Yes, nice to meet you both. Professor Dumbledore, sir, may I say what an honor it is to be in your presence once again…it has been years, and I see you still believe in me, and for that I cannot be more grateful."

"Yes, I have never stopped believing in any of my students, no matter how time treats them. You are not a student now, however, but an employee and I believe ever more so in your potential as a wizard and a human being."

"Thank you, sir." Charles replies, bowing his head slightly. "I won't let you down."   

"You are quite welcome, Charles. You will find a door on the floor in front of the steps outside this wall here; it leads to your quarters and office. There you will find everything you need as Caretaker of Aikenwood Academy. We will be accepting students this fall, though I expect you all to have this place well up and running by then."

"Have you found all the professors yet, Albus?" Margarina asked.

"I have one more to locate, but the rest should be in by mid-week."

"Which one have you left?" Ebbershire asked.

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Dumbledore replied. "But no worries, he will be in with the rest of the professors, and will be quite equipped for the job, I assure you. Now, shall we continue with the rest of our tour?"

The three nod to him, and they take off out of the great hall, and around the school.