Hogwarts: A Pre-History

Summary: A long, long time ago, in a land not so far away, four powerful people got an idea.

Disclaimer: I have no claim to characters or scenes from the Harry Potter series, which belongs to JK Rowling and her associates. I get nothing from this except the enjoyment of imagining and writing the story. I am making no money from this, bupkus, nada, sweet-tweet.

Rating: T - No warnings

Author's Notes: Non-canonical, as far as I can tell – some things have been alluded to, but not very specifically. I like to explore the background of how people end up where they do.

Chapter 4: A Change of Command

The next day, Lord Godric called a meeting of his senior staff.

"Thank you all for coming today." He smiled at the chuckles which answered this statement. When 'The General' called a meeting, unless you were on your deathbed, you attended (and even then, you made the attempt, even if it required having your bed carried to the meeting, hoping you didn't interrupt the discussion with your death-rattle).

Lord Godric continued. "As you all know, I am getting older, and have felt for some time that I would like to retire to a less active life. Therefore, this day, I am passing command of this army, with its battle standard which you have all served honourably, to General Black. I want to thank you all for your service and loyalty, and I mean to continue to call on you for your continued assistance in my endeavours."

Now he had their full attention. A retiring soldier whose passes on his command does not usually require continued service from his subordinates.

"Over the years, I have spoken to many of you about my plans to start a school for the magically gifted. I have tried to train our soldiers to best use their skills, but I feel that we need a place where they can take their learning and training beyond what we have been able to do as part of a functioning army. Most of our men have had one or two years of training at best, and then they learn on the battle field. The field teaches well, but it is a harsh teacher as it is too often littered with the corpses of those who, with more training and practice, might have survived to be great warriors, or who might have shown talents in other areas but were required by their birth or their needs to be soldiers."

His officers knew how many poor boys joined the armies of their local lords and chieftains, if only as a way to have food each and every day and maybe a way to advance through the rigid social strata. Even a peasant had a chance of becoming a wealthy knight, or at least dying well-fed.

"I plan to start such a school, hopefully within a year or two. Some of you have talents I, and my associates, will require. The school will likely run only in the winter, so that students can campaign with you or farm on their families' or their lords' lands, as they are called to do. I plan to call on you when I need you, and I trust that you will come to my call." Again, when you have sworn your life to the man, you come when he calls.

"Anyway, I am retiring from this band of comrades, but I do not say farewell. I expect to see you all many times in the future. You will all be welcome in my house, even you, young Potter!" The group laughed, as the young captain blushed. Pascal Potter was engaged to the General's youngest daughter, who shared what had been her father's flaming red hair of their Celtic heritage. Pascal's sister Gloria was already married to the General's middle son Michael, who also had the ruddy complexion and hair. Potter's mother and grandmother were also redheads, and it was said that, if a witch had red hair, there was a Potter after her hand, as well as the rest of her body.

"As I said, I now pass command to General Back. Al, please come forward."

Lord Alcor Black moved to the front of the tent, and shook Godric's hand, then pulled the older man into an embrace as both cried for a moment at the parting, an ending and a beginning. Godric nodded to the younger officer, and said "Al, take care of my men", and left the tent.

Lord Black's family was a very old one, with the Anglicised name coming from the original Roman family name 'Nero'. It was sometimes suggested by his friends that the name came from the fact that of the unusually high number of his family who had the power of the Animagus and could transfigure themselves into animals, all had black fur. Alcor himself sometimes took the form of a large black wolf.

General Black looked around the room. He said, "You all know your tasks, and you all do them well. You will continue as before, although there may be some minor changes. Weasley!" as he looked at Theodore Weasley, now his chief tactician, " I know I will need your abilities more than ever. I will count on you and your team to train some assistants, so that we can have greater flexibility in our actions – you will have noticed that our enemy's tactics are changing, and I would have us be ready for them. Yesterday, the witch who was casting those protective spells over our enemies was taken, alive." This was welcome news to many in the room. "Lord Gryffindor wants her to teach at his new school. So our enemies are going to have to change their tactics, and we must be ready for them if we are going to continue winning. I want to continue winning, and I trust you do too." As the gathered men laughed, he added, "I will rely on you for these new ideas."

Looking over at another officer with a noble family of known talent, "Longbottom, you are now my adjutant. I will need you to keep me from making too many mistakes." At this, Lucius Longbottom smiled while the other officers laughed again. One thing Black did not make was mistakes. This included the mistake of belittling what were now his men.

"Captain L'herb-vert." He called for his quarter-master, whose name came from his family's power to find green forage for their horses, whatever the season (and who would change their name to the more English form of 'Greengrass' during the 100 Years War, four centuries hence). "Henri, we have seventy new nobles to feed and house, and one hundred and twenty new peasant-slaves to tend to as well. I look for you to provide." It was a private joke between the men, both of whom were animagi, that as a warrior, Alcor's form of a wolf was appropriate, and Henri de :L'herb-vert's form of a large sheep-dog suited a man whose tasks and nature were to protect and provide.

Godric stood outside the tent, listening contentedly as his most trusted aid not only assumed command, but took command.

Lord Gryffindor returned to his tent, when Helga Hufflepuff was still recuperating. He looked at her and said, "Now, my lady, we call for aid! Reach out with your mind and call. The ones we want are the ones who will be able to hear."