Thanks to all of you who took the time to review my story! I can't PM back guests, but I cherish your reviews all the same :)

AN: Many thanks to my betas Miette and dstone12 for correcting this chapter :)

I scowl at the file in front of me, feeling a headache growing.

Lord Caspian.
Halfblood. No added information on his parents, meaning the magical half of the couple was unimportant. Or protected by a Gringotts seal.

Currently living at Malfoy Manor while his Manor is being built in the muggle world, in an unsavory place called Spinner's End where, according to the back of the wizarding photograph of the place, he has lived his whole life.
How could he be the protégé of Lord Malfoy and still decide to live in the muggle world?

Potion genius, inventor of the Lupacem. I cannot believe a twenty year old has succeeded where so many others have failed. And no real information for a few years post-Hogwarts except an apprenticeship with the famous but oh so mysterious Master Tajniki. The only certainty concerning this Master is that his Apprentices become experts in their fields. Caspian certainly seems to be no exception.

Founder of Caspian House, whose motto and Blazon were either a statement of rebellion against the current institutions, or the sign of the madness inherent to all geniuses. I'm not sure which would be the more dangerous. I wonder who his allies are, to have been able to create his House. I'm surprised not to have the information here. Clan Tarik usually gives me this kind of information. How odd.

Lord Caspian. His proclaimed support for Lord Voldemort has fired up the polls. Voldemort and I are neck and neck today. I cannot afford a close victory in the same fashion as the previous election. It would be too much of a coincidence, and even Dumbledore would not be able to prevent an inquiry. And with the Death Eaters, this time, it would be an open civil war.

I cannot afford a close victory, yet even such a small victory is not assured. Who knows what the next trick out of Caspian's sleeve will be?

After reading his file, I'm even more wary of this new player. He seems full of contradictions and it makes me uneasy. I'm even more at a loss to understand Dumbledore's new game. Why has he asked McGonagall to take Lord Caspian as her apprentice?

After the inquiry a few years back over Dumbledore's biased treatment of his students based on their House, rumours had it that she had distanced herself from her old mentor. Clearly, he is back in her good graces to convince her to take on that particular student. McGonagall is a renowned Master who would never waste her time or risk her reputation accepting Lord Caspian as her Apprentice as according to the file, Caspian had been known as much for his genius in Potions as for his struggles in Transfiguration during his five years at Hogwarts. The file also stresses that a distinct lack of power in Caspian's spells had been noticed in his fourth and fifth year. This would be a huge handicap to mastering the larger and more complex Transformations required for apprentice level work.
Yet, Caspian had received an O for his OWLs and an E for his NEWTs in Transfiguration, which he had passed the same year as his OWLs. And he had passed the Ritual, and his Familiar was a Thestral—the first in known History. He was also the youngest creator of a new House without using a sponsor. More and more contradictions. McGonagall may not have required much convincing after all.

I scowl, remembering the Wizard Times' front page on Caspian's home search by Aurors. The newspaper had accused me of trying to scare off one of Lord Voldemort's supporters because I was afraid of the votes Lord Caspian's genius would bring my opponent. I had not even been aware of that search, but it had forced me to drastically alter my strategy as the article on Caspian had raised suspicions over the number of Aurors' ongoing investigations concerning Lord Voldemort's known supporters. Yes, thanks to those idiots, I had to decrease both the number of financial audits and inquiries into Dark Practice and possession of Dark Artefacts I did order for Lord Voldemort supporters, even though some of those were bound to be successful. Bloody Dumbledore and his adoring Gryffindor Aurors.

I scowl even harder as I read in the file that the only argument given to warrant the official search of Caspian's home for Dark Artefacts and Dark Magic practice was the discrepancies between Caspian's magical power as known during his time at Hogwarts and the power his recent achievements required. Why had I not been apprised of this at the time? Ah yes, Moody was the one who had requested the warrant. On Dumbledore's orders, no doubt. They are close friends. Though I must admit Moody doesn't need the sneaky old man to discover threats. The man has a knack for finding Dark practitioners.

Hmm. The warrant was signed by Judge Chopra, a close friend of Lord Potter. The Lord's sons are Moody's Apprentice-Aurors. I have no doubt it helped get the warrant sooner rather than later.
I'm more surprised that the search was fruitless, surely, someone that young, even a Slytherin, cannot be that adept at hiding Dark practices? Especially when they live in a muggle area! But Moody's conclusion is even more worrying. He doesn't believe that Caspian is a Dark practitioner. He only recommends to monitor the new Lord because he's a certified genius and a supporter of Lord Voldemort.

Is this Dumbledore's game, keeping an eye on Caspian by having him in Hogwarts? Or is this a tentative effort to seduce the new Lord to his side —or at least away from Lord Voldemort? Or just to tie up his time before the election and watch for something to take him down with later—Albus does love the long game.
If so, the old man is truly losing his touch. From the rumors of the poor treatment of Slytherins in Hogwarts and specifically the numerous detentions recorded under the name Snape—now Lord Caspian—during his time at Hogwarts, I have no doubt that the young man is firmly in Lord Voldemort's camp. What a waste.
According to the file, Caspian had once been close friends with Lily Potter. If Dumbledore didn't despise Slytherins so much, Caspian might have been on our side today. I don't understand the aversion of Dumbledore for Slytherins and their equivalent in the lesser schools. They have their uses, as much as the other Houses do.

I grimace, thinking of two of my past Aides. Very effective Slytherins before they defected to Lord Voldemort's side between the previous election and today. My unofficial alliance with Dumbledore has its downsides. I had hoped to be freed from the Headmaster when he was put on probation. But for all that the man despises in Slytherins, he could have been one himself. He plays Muggleborns as well as he does Gryffindor Purebloods.
He's Jim's only blind spot. My oldest and dearest friend and most loyal supporter cannot see past the old man's benevolent and sparkling facade. One word from the man, one My dear Baxter, would you mind and he's ready to fly a dragon to China to please the man. Despite everything I've accomplished, Dumbledore is still the knight in shining armour of every Muggleborn. Jim is no exception.

In hindsight, I wish I had not followed some of Dumbledore's advice. Jim always is a passionate advocate of the old coot's opinion, but his faith prevents him from being as objective as he usually is on these subjects. I only need to think of this accursed Mentorship that is one of Lord Voldemort's greatest successes.
Yesterday, I spent my lunch hour listening to Bletchley, Chang and Smith gush about the Mentorship Forum held the past weekend. Past and current mentorees as well as their Mentors were present to speak of their experience in the programme and the benefits it had brought them. Chang is certain that Muggleborns from the other Houses will beg to be included in the Mentorship after attending this event. Worse, they are now opening Mentor positions to non-Slytherins. This is Lord Voldemort's move to win voters from other Houses to his side, and I'm sure he will succeed if I don't quickly find a way to counter this.
If only I had not listened to Dumbledore and had accepted Lord Malfoy's proposal when he had first presented it, I would have been in control of it. With the right spin, this program could have served my purposes. I could have chosen the Mentors I favoured. And it would have been beneficial to Muggleborns, no matter what Dumbledore had pretended at the time.
Does he truly hate Slytherins to the point of refusing to consider any of their ideas as worthy?

I let out a sigh. My first attempt to counter Lord Voldemort's sponsorship had been a huge flop. Offering a leaflet to introduce Muggleborns to the Wizarding World one year before they entered Hogwarts had been perceived as a betrayal by Dumbledore and an admission of the need of the sponsorship by Lord Voldemort. Worse, most Muggleborns had received the leaflet with suspicion, and Professor McGonagall had reported an increase of parents' questions and concerns when the muggleborn children finally received their Hogwarts' letters. She had needed to spend a lot more time than usual convincing them to let their children attend Hogwarts. It turns out there is a reason we do not give muggle parents the time to ponder the wisdom of letting their children go live for ten months in a world they know nothing of.

Should I propose a one day a week summer class for Muggleborns between ten and eleven? The Muggleborns would be in a group of ten at most, and would learn about the Wizarding World basics under the tutelage of a teacher I would have chosen. But I know Lord Voldemort will argue that it will prevent the Muggleborns from integrating with the pureblood students at Hogwarts as they will already be friends with each other, thus increasing the gap between Muggleborns and Purebloods. He will argue it won't help them get used to the various creatures and magical beings of our world.
I can't admit the sponsorship is a good idea, but I don't see any alternative I could reasonably propose.

I almost growl as my gaze falls back on the file in front of me. Lord Caspian. Late Lord Abraxas Malfoy's Mentoree. It feels like this is all Dumbledore's fault. Caspian gave Werewolves their freedom. I have no doubt that soon, they will ask for the same rights as Vampires. I cannot allow it. The fact that the creatures living on wizard territory can vote for the Minister of Magic is already a sore point for my followers, even though those creatures are not that numerous compared to other countries. Half my supporters are clearly afraid of creatures, especially those who can be mistaken for Wizards. They don't consider them their equal, but more like savage beasts. Jim is the same, though he tries to overcome his prejudice. He admitted to me that he cannot get past the stories his grandmother once regaled him with, of beasts who devore your heart on a full moon, or monsters with beautiful faces whose eyes hypnotise you until you've bled out.

I know Dumbledore doesn't share those fears. He hid a werewolf student oblivious to the danger into which he was putting his other students.

I smile, thinking of one of my few victories over the shrewd old man. Lord Voldemort had put Dumbledore into a delicate position when he had proposed to provide all the British werewolf schooled children the Lupacem, including the students attending Hogwarts. Indeed all treatments taken by the children attending Hogwarts have to be either provided or approved by the school, meaning Dumbledore needed to accept Lord Voldemort's proposal or he himself needed to provide the offered potions to his students during their time at Hogwarts. Of course, Dumbledore did not wish to accept Lord Voldemort's offer, however, he was aware he could not refuse without looking like a fool.
Instead, the Headmaster had used the fact that the school was under the Ministry's purview through its board of governors to make it the responsibility of the board to approve or refuse Lord Voldemort's offer. Dumbledore had thought that I would pressure some of the governors so that they would refuse my opponent's generous offer. Instead, I was able to have them propose my own solution and to get it approved. Now, Professor Slughorn is the one who has to brew the Lupacem for all the werewolf students, with the gracious but occasional support of Lord Caspian.

Yes, Dumbledore is a devious man. He does not fear Werewolves, yet, he suggested that it would be easier to control Werewolves and Vampires if they fell under Wizard laws. If creatures were controlled and monitored by the Ministry. It makes no sense to me but Jim was enthusiastic once more. As much as when he presented me with the idea of changing the composition of the Wizengamot and putting only elected members in it. I was shocked to realise he did not know of the various Oaths that its members had to swear to sit on the Wizengamot. He did not know of the responsibilities of Heads of House. And even when I explained them to him, he was unconvinced that they were the best way to govern our country.

I know he spoke with Dumbledore many times on this subject. He never shared the content of those conversations with me. One of the rare secrets he keeps from me, compared to everything I don't tell him. Like the secret arrangements and shady deals I sometimes make to have a "difficulty" disappear. He's an idealist. He doesn't know the game as I do.

But I have the feeling that Dumbledore is not playing the same game as I am. And I wonder if Lord Voldemort is playing us both, using Lord Caspian and the Death Eaters as a distraction.

PS: if you had not recognised him, meet Minister Birkins :)