Regina Fawley was sitting outside on the Scottish highlands with her best friend, Jillian MacDougal. They were enjoying the warm days of summer around Jillian's birthday. They were drinking tea and chatting about the happenings around Hogwarts and in the Magical world in the one year that they had been involved in it.
Things had become very interesting recently. With Dumbledore's removal as Headmaster and his removal as Chief Warlock, there were investigations going into his handling of several items. Articles were coming out from the Daily Prophet, questioning everything. It questioned his role in the first wizarding war. He always seemed to be butting himself in with the Minister of Magic and the Aurors, but never actually helped fight He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It had come out – thanks to a heads up from Peter Pettigrew that he had had a heavy hand in forcing the Potters to go under the Fidelius rather than leaving the country like Lily had wanted to do when the Dark Lord found out about the prophecy.
It had come to light through investigation that it was Dumbledore who had put Harry Potter with the Dursleys even with the knowledge that those Muggles were cruel and abusive. Some of the things that were discovered he had turned a blind eye to brought new light to the Boy Who Lived. Many wondered if his psychological issues were due to being hit in the head too many times by magic hating Muggles.
It was learned that in his position as Chief Warlock he had not provided for a trial for Sirius Black – even though everyone just assumed he was guilty. When Delores Umbridge had finally made her way into the Headmaster's office, there was shock over just how much obsession Albus Dumbledore seemed to have over one said Harry Potter.
All of this had come out in the Daily Prophet in the weeks that followed the end of the school year. Should Dumbledore ever come out of hiding there was no way he could make it in politics or teaching ever again.
What was really curious was the class lists for Jillian and Regina's second year.
"It appears we will have some major changes at Hogwarts this year," Regina told her friend.
"That is an understatement." She agreed. "While there won't be any Professor Umbridge, there will still be plenty of changes."
Griselda Marchbanks was named Headmistress in the interim of Hogwarts.
McGonagall was out as Transfiguration teacher and Deputy Headmistress. She was replacd by Thorfinn Rowle.
Professor Sprout was remaining as Herbology. Professor Sprout would now be Deputy Head Mistress.
Professor Sinistra remained at Astronomy.
Professor Snape was moving from Potions to Defense against the Dark Arts.
Professor Slughorn was coming out of retirement to teach Potions.
A young Graham Montague was just hired on to teach Charms.
There were other changes as well. Oliver Wood was coming to be flying instructor. Grubbly-Plank was returning as Care for Magical Creatures.
"I think that learning can actually happen at school now rather than politics and adventures," Regina told her friend.
The rest of the summer was eventful, but quiet for Regina. It was spent as a child's summer vacation should be spent, in relaxation and in time with friends. She spent a week at Gale Weatherby's house. She also had Azure Zabini at her home for a week as well.
It was at the end of July when the terrible news hit the Daily Prophet: two outstanding business leaders of Diagon Alley were kidnapped, Garrick Ollivander and Florean Fortescue.
"Attack on Diagon Alley," the Daily Prophet wrote
The Dark Mark of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named flew high in the sky over London as a small group of people who claim to be Death Eaters stormed through Charing Cross Road and the Leaky Cauldron and broke into Diagon Alley.
For as of yet unknown reason, they ransacked Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, killing Florean Fortescue himself. They assaulted Ollivanders, and it appears that the wandmaker is missing. No other signs of struggle were found at Ollivanders other than the broken in door, other than stacks of wands were seen to be found in the arms of the perpetrators as Ministry Aurors pursued them.
The Aurors followed the perpetrators to Muggle London where the alleged Death Eater flew around Millennium Bridge in a spiral motion. This caused a twisting and buckling movement on the bridge walkway. The cables snapped, the bridge undulated and twisted intensely, pulling free of its piers, ultimately splitting in half and crashing violently into the Thames below. Many Muggles were killed who were crossing the bridge at this time.
The Ministry of Magic has yet to comment on the situation. Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge remains unavailable during this time of national security. But the questions after this public display leave many to wonder: Is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named back as Dumbledore and the Boy-Who-Lived had said all along? If not, who is behind these terrorist attacks that fit so well with what happened during the previous Wizarding War? Should the Wizengamot call for a no confidence vote in Cornelius Fudge? Should someone reach out to Albus Dumbledore, perhaps the only person to stand against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, if in fact he is back?
Whatever the answers to the questions, the reporters of the Daily Prophet will do their best to find the answers. Please be safe in this dangerous world.
The Daily Prophet article didn't make Regina's life easier. She had to cancel the get-to-gether with Gale and Azure in Diagon Alley to get school supplies. She wrote to Jillian to warn her of the dangers and invite her to the Fawley home for the week before the end of summer for security and safety sake. She was forced to send Niles, her House Elf to get all her school supplies instead.
A few weeks later, found Regina and her group of friends – Jillian MacDougal, Gale Weatherby, and Azure Zambini in their compartment on the train to Hogwarts.
Gale was gossiping about the recent attacks at Diagon Alley.
"With all that has happened between here and Hogwarts, my mother almost didn't send me back to school." Gale said.
"That would have been foolish," Regina said. "The only troubles are for the Muggleborn. There will probably be little trouble at Hogwarts anyway. This is a problem for adults. We are safer at Hogwarts than at home."
"At least Dumbledore is finally good and gone," Azure added in.
Jillian said, "Regina and I heard that he is on the run."
"Some are accusing him of the attacks to prove that Harry Potter wasn't crazy," Regina added.
"Who knows?" Gale sniped in. The whole lot of them were nuts.
Right after that the compartment door opened and a familiar voice said:
"Tea trolley!" came the sound from the old woman pushing the trolley. "Anyone want something from the trolley?"
The girls pooled their resources and loaded up on candy and sweets. Regina took out a Chocolate Frog for now, saved a pumpkin pasty for later and along with the rest of her friends packed candy away for the rest of the season.
Talk continued for a little longer until the compartment door opened again. Azure's brother, Blaise stood at the opening.
"Regina," he asked, "Your presence has been requested in Professor Slughorn's compartment."
Regina smoothly stood up. "See you ladies, later, I guess."
Regina quickly fixed her hair by looking in the mirror next to the door of the compartment. Blaise looked impatiently on. Regina smirks as she almost certainly hears him say, "Women." When she felt she was looking proper enough, she turned to Azure's brother. "Lead the way."
Blaise knocks on the door of Compartment 5. Then, the door slides open, and a bored looking fourth year looks us up and down. "You are?" she drawls, picking at her fingernails. Regina raised her eyebrow, while Blaise responded. "This is Regina Fawley and I am Blaise Zabini," he said with gritted teeth. "Professor Slughorn requested to see both of us."
"Fine," the girl said with eyes rolling, "Come in then."
Blaise pushes past her while Regina makes sure not to touch her. Regina recognized some of them from her time as Harry Potter: Cormac McLaggen a Gryffindor one year ahead of Harry. Flora and Hestia Carrow two Slytherins, like her. Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Melinda Bobbin a Ravenclaw also a year ahead of Harry Potter.
But Regina slowly takes in a small, tubby man sitting at the center of the compartment. His eyebrows are unruly and tinged with grey, and he seems to have lost most of the hair on his round head, except for a few tufts. The suit he's wearing is obviously expensive, if outdated and a bit random. This must be Professor Horace Slughorn.
"Greetings. My name is Professor Slughorn!" He exclaims in an enthusiastic voice. Regina keeps her face schooled, even though she shivers from the overexuberance.
"I'm sure you're all wondering why you're here. I'm the new potions master. Although I once held that position for years before Professor Snape took over. When I used to teach at Hogwarts, I would host a little mixer party a time or two over the year – purely for the benefit of the best Hogwarts has to offer. And from the information I have gathered, you here present are the best."
Regina nodded thoughtfully as she looked around the room. Everyone in the room seemed confident or talented enough. Some were brains, others, beauty, still another music. Blaise, for example, was incredibly wealthy. Regina was the youngest in the room however. But she guessed that she was in the room because all of last year's professors had hailed her as a child prodigy.
"I want to get to know you all, and I was planning a little get-together a few weeks into term. So, please look for my owl."
He starts with Regina. "Miss Fawley –" he addresses.
"Yes, Sir?" Regina replies.
Professor Slughorn chuckles with warmth. "It is an honor to finally meet you. I have heard so much about your prowess in nearly every class at Hogwarts. I am especially looking forward to seeing you in Potions. All of the professors spoke highly of you."
Regina blushed warmly. "Thank you, Sir."
"I remember your father, quite well," Professor Slughorn continued. "He had a talent for Charms, but sadly lacked restraint."
Regina rolled her eyes at his clear lack of tact. "The whole world knows that thanks to the accident over a year ago," she replied. "I live with my Great-grandfather Robert Fawley and his wife, Ethel now."
"Ah yes," Professor Slughorn spoke fondly. "Your great-grandfather was a mover and shaker on the Wizengemot for years."
"If you were to ask him," Regina retorted quickly, "He would tell you that he still is."
"He is definitely a force –" McLaggen, who was not currently in the conversation added.
Regina took the distraction to grab a glass of pumpkin juice that was at a table in the compartment as Professor Slughorn moved on to Cormac.
"Mr. McLaggen," he said as he turned to him. "Your uncle, Tiberius works in the Ministry of Magic, is that correct?"
"Yes, Sir," Cormac replied. "He spends a lot of time with Minister Fudge."
Regina quietly tuned them out as she focused on her drink and then a few appetizers that Professor Slughorn had prepared for them.
She came to attention when his focus turned to Hermione Granger.
"Miss Granger," he said. "I hear you are the brightest student in the school."
Hermione blushed a bright red at the praise.
"Thank you, Professor," she said.
"Though," Professor Slughorn said, "You had better watch out for my young Slytherin friend, Miss Fawley over there. The things she did as a 1st year are said to have surpassed your grades at the time."
Hermione turned to look critically at Regina for a minute, studying. Regina met her gaze just as carefully. Regina, who had been learning Occlumency and Legilimency from her grandparents the last summer got just a sense of her surface thoughts. It was something to the effect of "Not another dirty Slytherin." Regina kept her composure and look level. It would not do good for the future Queen of Hogwarts to be intimidated, even by the likes of someone five years her senior.
"Well," Hermione replied, "She has a few years to go."
Professor Slughorn moved on to another name Regina remembered, Ginny Weasley.
"Miss Weasley," he said. "I have to say I was very impressed to see the Bat-Bogey Hex on Mr. Smith in that compartment down from here."
Ginny's face turned just as red as her hair. Regina took the moment to critically look at her. She noted that Ginny was turning into a real beauty. It was foolish of her as Harry not to see that. If things had been different perhaps.
After an hour, Professor Slughorn excuses the group. Blaise took Regina's arm and escorted her back to her cabin. Along the way, Blaise and Regina run into Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. Draco asked Blaise.
"How was your summer, Blaise?"
Regina felt the strong young man shrug his shoulders. "It was alright. Mum met a new man."
Regina carefully kept her face neutral. She remembered the gossip she had heard when she was at Gale's house. Gale had said, "Madame Zabini is infamous for having had seven husbands, all of whom had died mysteriously and left her and her children incredibly wealthy."
Draco asked, "I thought she was still married?"
Blaise shook his head. "No. He was out of the picture a couple of months ago. She's already planning her wedding to this new guy."
Then Draco Malfoy turned to Regina. "How was your summer, Miss Fawley?"
Regina smiled. "It was quite uneventful. I had some private tutoring lessons taking up several months along with a week of vacation in Scotland with my friend Jillian MacDougal –" Regina paused just so subtlety there so that Jillian might get some attention like she had, but then she continued. "and another week with a friend named Gale Weatherby."
Draco nodded thoughtfully, "Ah, yes, MacDougal. She seems like a level headed lady."
Blaise said, "I will let you two finish your rounds and see you in your compartment. I want to make sure Miss Fawley here is not accosted on her way back to her apartment."
Regina followed Blaise back to the compartment and walked back in.
"What was that all about?" Gale asked.
Regina knew it would be Gale that was curious. She was the class knowledge-broker and gossip. She liked to know what was going on.
"Professor Slughorn is gathering some students together for mixers," Regina replied.
Gale said, "He's bringing back the famous Slug Club. My mother told me about that."
Gale was probably jealous. Regina just shrugged and sat down next to Jillian. She took out her own copy of Defense against the Dark Arts and started reading until it got dark.
"Regina," came the voice of Azure, "we are coming into Hogsmeade now."
Regina stretched and started to pull down her baggage. Then, she led the way off the train and to the carriages. She walked past the streaming first years – a definitively smaller group than the year before. Regina picked the first available open carriage for her and her friends. She said nothing that she sees the horses that are pulling the carriage.
The talk in the carriage was about how many among the 1st years would be Slytherin, what would the new teachers be like, and Gale kept asking Regina about her experience in her first Slug Club meeting. Regina didn't say much as she watched the road from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts, allowing Gale and Azure to carry the conversation.
Regina looks thoughtfully out at the Forbidden Forest as it loomed on the other side of the road to Hogwarts. Regina thought back to Harry's time in the forest looking for the Unicorn killer or when Ron's dad's Ford Anglia they had stolen had rescued them from the Acromontulas. Regina wondered with the cavalier talks of Dumbledore if most students truly knew the dangers of what was properly called a Forbidden forest.
As they passed through the gates of Hogwarts, Regina felt the familiar shiver of home she and also previously Harry felt every time she or he came here. When they made it into the Great Hall that evening, it was a very quiet atmosphere. Regina was not surprised. With everything that had happened in the last two years and with the smaller student body, it would be expected.
The Sorting Hat had nothing too remarkable to share. Gale had a younger brother sorted into Ravenclaw. His name was George. Otherwise, Regina would work on the newer students later.
Finally, the new Headmaster, Griselda Marchbanks stood up.
"Students of Hogwarts," her voice soft but somehow magically enhanced to reverberate throughout the Hall. "Welcome back to Hogwarts. I know that for many of you, it has been a rough summer. Friends have been lost. To say that they will be missed does them all a grave disservice."
Regina peeked curiously at Professor Marchbanks. Professor Dumbledore had always made light of such things or spoke about the victory of good over evil. Professor Marchbanks seemed to speak more practically.
"After all that happened this last summer, or what could come in the future, it would be understandable if you feel lost or afraid. That is okay. If you need someone to talk to, the heads of house will all be available. You can also go to any of the professors around me. You may also certainly come to me. Find help if you need it."
Professor Marchbanks seemed to motion with her hand around her point at the staff table.
"I have some announcements to make. Obviously, due to the cleaning of education at Hogwarts done last year there are several changes. Let me point them out to you. First, I would like to point out that Head of Slytherin House Severus Snape has graciously agreed to take up the task of teaching Defense against the Dark Arts."
Regina clapped politely while several around her at Slytherin's table made a large ruckus of sound at the news that Professor Snape who everyone knew wanted to teach Defense against the Dark Arts had finally gotten the job.
"Another alumnus of Slytherin House and a former employee at Hogwarts, Horace Slughorn has graciously agreed to return to Hogwarts to teach Potions."
This was met with not as much applause from Slytherin, but it was still very healthy.
It is with a sad heart that I relay to you that Professor Minerva McGonagall offered a letter of resignation to me shortly after I came on as Hogwarts Headmaster. Thorfinn Rowle has graciously agreed to serve in her stead. And since Filius Flitwick was not retained, Professor Rowle shall now be Ravenclaw's Head of House."
After the polite applause from Ravenclaw, Professor Marchbanks continued.
"Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank whom many of you remember from her time filling in for Rubeus Hagrid in the past has graciously agreed to be the Professor for Care of Magical Creatures. Professor Sprout will remain as Herbology Professor and Head of Hufflepuff house."
This led to thunderous applause from Hufflepuff.
"Professor Sinistra," Professor Marchbanks continued, will remain as Professor of Astronomy. She will assist me as Deputy Headmistress."
Regina nodded at the sensibility of that while there was polite applause. Professor Sinistra wasn't exciting, but she was competent and organized. She also did not have a heavy workload like some of the others. Professor McGonagall clearly had too many duties.
"Graham Montague," she continued, "a recent graduate of Hogwarts will teach Charms."
Again Slytherin gave thunderous applause while there were sounds of mutiny from the Gryffindor table. Regina knew that if she were still Harry Potter, she would be leading the charge of calling foul at this.
"Another young graduate, Mr. Oliver Wood has agreed to be flying instructor," she said. Gryffindor finally erupted in their trademark explosive overreaction. "He will also serve this year as Gryffindor's Head of House."
Regina smirked. He didn't have many duties, but Gryffindor was known to be the rowdiest of the four houses and would need all of his attention. As a bonus for Oliver, he would have the chance to continue to oversee Gryffindor's Quidditch team.
"Bathilda Bagshot has come out of retirement to teach Magical History," she continued.
"Andrew Williamson, another former Gryffindor," she continued, "has agreed to teach a new course we are offering this year: Wizarding Customs and practices. This will be a required course for all Muggleborns this year. It will be a mixed class every Monday after breakfast."
There were several groans from the Muggleborn students at each table. This would also be controversial, because it would highlite the inferiority of the Muggleborns. Unfortunately for them, they just were ignorant and that ignorance was dangerous.
"Bathsheda Babbling will continue in her role as Study of Ancient Runes instructor," she said. "Septima Vector will continue as instructor for Artihmancy."
"Argus Filch," she went on "has moved on to other pursuits." At this the whole student body exploded in a cheer. Obviously, no one had ever liked Mr. Flich. It took over a minute for the masses to calm down.
"There are plenty of other changes as well, but this is all I wanted to point to tonight. Enjoy your dinners and have a good night."
Regina enjoyed a quiet dinner chatting with her friends and the new Slytherin girls. By the end of the night, she couldn't wait to sleep in her four post bed.