The world of Harry Potter does not belong to me. If you recognize it, it's not mine. This story takes place after the war, and it goes AU from there.

THANK you so much for the reviews and IM's!

If you find any mistakes, please PM me. I'd like to fix them.

The Once and Future Prince

Chapter 4

Automatically rising from their seats, the staff of Hogwarts faced the open doorway and the huge wizard who stood there. Quickly the ladies dropped another curtsey while the gentlemen again bowed from the waist.

The wizard was nearly seven feet tall, and although he must have been well over a hundred years old, he exuded power and confidence. Viking blood was evident in his high cheek bones and piercing blue eyes, which were situated above a neatly trimmed mustache and goatee. His shoulders were wide, and he had a warrior's broad chest. Two short steps brought him into the room, and he towered over the Lady of the Lake. He leaned over and took a cup of tea and a biscuit. His voice, though more subdued, was still deep and rumbling. "And why wasn't I invited, dear sister?"

"My Lord, forgive my forwardness in addressing you without leave," Albus Dumbledore spoke up, "but we petitioned to see the Crown concerning matters of Hogwarts."

The huge man turned, took a chair next to Minerva, and popped the biscuit in his mouth. He scrutinized the Hogwarts committee with his sharp blue eyes as he crunched the sweet. Swallowing, he grunted and set the teacup down. He glared at Dumbledore.

"It's well past time we let go of our resentment towards the school and helped them," Althea, the Lady of the Lake insisted. "I need your help, Arcturus, to convince Aquilla."

Again, the wizard grunted. "That will be difficult," he told her. He glowered fiercely at the Headmaster. "He still holds that school to blame, Dumbledore. The three of you, Armando, Horace, and you, assured us that she would be safe at that damned school. You lied."

Dumbledore's cheeks pinked with anger, but he held his temper. "If you'll recall, my lord, she was safe. What she chose to do outside of the school when she had achieved her majority was something we had no control over."

"Oh, Arcturus!" Althea exclaimed. "You know good and well that Albus is not a liar! You also know that Helen was as stubborn and unforgiving as her father."

The tall wizard stopped and took a deep breath. "I apologize, my queen." He turned to Dumbledore. "And I apologize to you as well, Albus. I know you are not a liar."

Dumbledore nodded.

"You've come to ask for our help with the school?" Lady Althea asked quickly.

"Perhaps," Filius Flitwick interrupted diplomatically. He set down his tea things. "Perhaps I may be allowed to answer that?" He gave them all his most charming smile and waited until the queen and her brother nodded. "Because of recent events," he explained, "the school needs to make several changes to accommodate our students. Many of our pupils this year will be non-traditional. They are young adults, not children, and they will have to balance their continuing education with supporting themselves. We feel it is imperative to discuss future goals with them and to test all returning students to determine their correct placement, and to do this we need-"

"Funding, I'm sure," Arcturus interrupted. "Why do you need to test them?"

Severus cleared his throat. "The last time the school was in session, the educational standards were abysmal," he admitted. "Very little was taught, and less was learned."

Pomona patted her younger colleague on the shoulder. "Also, Your Highness, some of our students have sadly lost family members," she explained gently. "We believe that these children will need counseling."

"Other students would benefit from a work-study program, in which they could work outside of the school, earning a bit of pay, while finishing their seventh year," Minerva added.

"Or," Poppy spoke up, "an apprentice program. Hogwarts professors have, from time to time, taken on apprentices, yes, but I mean in other fields as well." She gestured towards Minerva. "Robert McGonagall, for example, has agreed to accept a law apprentice should a suitable student be found, and I've been begging for years for St. Mungo's to establish a medical track for the upper years."

"You're speaking of a complete overhaul of school practices," Prince Arcturus replied. "You'd be committing the school to far more than just education."

"But isn't part of our job to assist students in the transition from childhood to adulthood?" Pomona asked.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," Queen Althea cried.

Prince Arcturus nodded in agreement. "And it's high time the Crown stepped back into the public eye. By helping the school, we'll be helping our people as well." He shifted in the chair. "And we can prepare them for the news that their king is dying and has no proper heir."

"Don't you dare speak ill of my daughter, Arcturus," she growled angrily. "Helen was– and, now Aquilla-" She broke off, tears pooling in her eyes.

"Sister," Lord Arcturus replied gently but insistently, "I do not wish to distress you, but we must locate a suitable and proper heir to the Seat of Merlin. Your husband is weakening. The physicians give him little more than a year. We haven't much time." He reached forward and handed her a spotless linen handkerchief. "And you'll need time to choose a wife for him, your own successor, a new Lady of the Lake."

"Thank you," she answered as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "I know, Arcturus. I know all of this."

Arcturus shot a knowing glare at Dumbledore. "Traditionally, the Monarchy has kept itself above the Wizarding world and its politics," he stated. "The Ministry must run the Wizarding World. The Powers of Merlin's Crystal Cave and those of Avalon must remain solely with the Monarch, above the reach of petty tyrants."

"Just image what would have happened if Helen-" Her voice broke as she uttered her daughter's name. "-if she had chosen to marry that Riddle upstart long ago when he came courting her!" Lady Althea cried out, the handkerchief wrinkled in her fist.

Her brother patted her hands. "Now, Althea, dear, don't you fret," he told her gently. He turned to Dumbledore. "We'll be happy to fully fund your programs, but I'll need access to the genealogical works your library, Dumbledore," he stated, "and a research assistant, someone discrete, who's familiar with the situation. We must searchfor an heir."

"I understand," Dumbledore nodded slowly. "I would recommend Severus Snape, our Potions Master," he replied softly. He nodded towards the younger wizard. "Severus has been a member of the staff for eighteen years."

"Snape?" the powerful wizard demanded. Lord Arcturus fixed Severus with fearsome blue gaze, and although his eyes never left the man, his words were directed towards the Headmaster. "Do you trust this young man? I've heard tales about his year as Headmaster. I've been told that he's a still Death Eater."

"I trust him with my life," Dumbledore vowed. "Like most young men, he made a mistake. It was a colossal one, grant you, but it was a mistake."

The two wizards stared at each other, oblivious to those around them. Finally, the Lord Arcturus broke eye contact and nodded. "Snape," he said, turning to the younger wizard, "I find you acceptable.

"May I also respectfully suggest that Irma Pince, our librarian, aide with the research?" Dumbledore softly suggested, both eyebrows raised in question.

Arcturus turned to face Dumbledore and frowned for a moment, his lips moving without sound, then his booming laughter rang around the room. "Irma Pince, is it? Well, well, how interesting." His fierce blue eyes twinkled.

"I don't understand," Althea said, shaking her head with confusion, "how will pretending to search for a missing heir help? We know exactly where the boy–"

"Yes, but the boy may not be aware," Arcturus countered, "of who he is. His mother may not have told him. He may resent us. He may not be suitable to the task or even want the responsibility." He took her hands in his. "Or, sister, dear, like his mother, he may shirk his responsibilities. We may need an alternate heir."

"Yes," Althea said, tearfully admitting the truth. "We must consider his wishes."

Arcturus added gently. "We'll research each family and interview the Heads of Households, to evaluate each as a possible heir." He paused to smile gently at the Lady Althea. "Before long, there will be another coronation and an Oath of Allegiance ceremony."

"The last time was," Althea answered with a tremulous smile, "when I married Prince Aquilla and took the title Lady of the Lake back in 1928."

"I remember," Lord Arcturus replied with another smile. "It took the Lady of the Lake a long time to choose her successor. Aquilla was in his early forties, and you had just turned eighteen."

She paused, considering. "It has been far too long since we've held balls and gala events and ceremonies. Does this younger generation even know what a coronation is? Do you think the school could also provide instruction to the younger generation?"

"I think it's a splendid idea!" Minerva McGonagall declared. "As a half-blood, I remember being at a distinct disadvantage when I first came to Hogwarts. Today's students, even some of the pure-bloods, have very knowledge of our world and its inner workings."

Professor Sprout spoke up. "What if we added a 'Welcome to the Wizarding World' class? Something helpful for everyone and make it mandatory?"

"Albus?" the Lady of the Lake questioned.

"It could be done," the Headmaster said slowly. "I could ask Sirius Black to teach the class. Although he was disowned by his parents, he grew up in the center of the wizarding social world."

"Make it so," Queen Althea ordered. "I myself will come to Hogwarts and search through the genealogical records. Once a secondary heir is secured, we can proceed to contact the true heir. Then, there will be a coronation and wedding of the new Merlin and the Lady of the Lake, followed immediately by an Oath of Allegiance ceremony."