A/N: Welcome all, both old and new readers. This short is the prologue for the entire Jennifer Craw Series. It will eventually be replaced with a much needed revision of Book 1: Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand, But even now, it still stands as a good look into to the series, which starts just after Goblet of Fire. This series' earliest stories were written during the hiatus after Goblet of Fire came out and follows the story from that point. Therefore, expect all background histories of canon characters and their relationships past this point to be completely different. Consider it an alternate universe split... with the moment below as the flashpoint. This is a long series with lots of original characters as well as canon to give me more freedom in the telling. Please be aware that the series gets darker and more mature as it goes along, so watch for the rating change. Thanks for reading. Doublequill - writing since 2002.

After the Beginning

Albus Dumbledore sunk into his chair in the headmaster's study, still in his black robes and a bit numb from the feast, listening... straining... to hear the train for as long as possible as it left with its precious cargo on board. Had he taken it for granted, he wondered, shaking his head to himself as he found himself thinking of the events or the Tri-Wizard games. Then, he recalled what Olympe had told him about someone he himself had inquired about... debating himself as he looked over the resume that she had given him. Could she truly handle it? Or would he simply be inviting her to her death?

He was still brooding about it when Minerva McGonagall gently knocked an came in with a concerned expression on her face.

"Are you all right?" Minerva asked.

"No," Albus said simply. "What is it?"

"I've had some official letters... recommendations from the both the board and the Ministry on possible changes to security, administration, and even offers a professor recommendation..."

"And I doubt I would approve of any of them," Albus said in disgusted, tossing down his quill. "We have to change off this path, Minerva. If we don't do it soon, all will be lost. More people will die... none that we can afford to lose. I am not willing to accept another professor in who ends up being another plant of Voldemort, and I will not stand another impostor in this school again!" he said with fierce determination. "If only my Legilimens talent was as strong as it used to be... I should have easily seen through it. I need to bring in someone who can."

"You sound as if you have something in mind already," Minerva observed.

"Minerva, do you remember Alice Corsiva Craw?" Albus asked. Minerva blinked.

"Of course I remember her, but I thought she died a long time ago, during the first terrors," Minerva said.

"Well, she hadn't. Thomas, Alice, and their daughter fled to America and were able to keep themselves hidden for the most part. I had an Auror friend, over there for other reasons, try to keep tabs on them from time to time. Thomas certainly must have realized that Alice's strong talent with Legilimens and her position as Truth Seeker put his entire family in danger whether he was a Death Eater or not. After Voldemort's first defeat, they decided to go ahead and put their daughter in a light magic school in the states... Whitebridge," Albus explained, looking over the resume with a frown.

"That must have exposed them because someone caught up with Thomas in the end. But by then their daughter, Jennifer, had graduated with a teaching license, and was able to get a job at Beauxbatons, teaching first and second year Potion Theory and Items. Alice bought a small place in the country so that should could be close to Jennifer. That was where her mother was when Olympe says that she Disappeared," Albus said, Minerva sitting down with a haunted expression on her face. "I have no doubt at all one of Voldemort's supports must have taken her. Her talent as official Truth Seeker for the Ministry were very well known and being married to a Death Eater, their betrayal is certainly not forgotten."

"And their daughter?" Minerva asked.

"Still at Beauxbatons at the moment," Albus explained, growing somber. "So far she's been protected, staying close to the school. However, considering what happened to her mother, I believe that protection is about to end no matter where she is." Albus laced his fingers together. "And therefore, I've been thinking of asking her to come here next year. From what Olympe told me, I have reason to suspect that she has the potential to be as strong of a Truth Seeker as her mother was. That would allow us to vet all of our guests coming in and make certain that no impostors are getting through."

"But a Craw... here... and a potential Truth Seeker... she would be in danger the moment she arrives," Minerva said with concern.

"She's in danger no matter where she is at this point, Minerva. She is no longer hidden. Whoever took her mother surely knows she's there. I realize this is going to cause her to go from the frying pan into the fire, but we must change these events before us, Minerva, and she may just be the catalyst we need to take a different fork in the road. I am tired of watching this entire school walk down a path that will only lead to its doom. I am worried about Harry, his friends...the rest of the students... the faculty... especially Severus," Albus said, glancing at the resume once again before tossing it down.

"It won't make the board happy seeing this. I'll hire her before they do; the Ministry will probably want their say as well. Even Olympe was reluctant to send a recommendation. She's only in her twenties... inexperienced and untried. But being a Craw, I bet she packs a real wallop when it comes to dark magic... if she was taught her family traditions as I suspect she has been, her knowledge of dark magic probably surpasses even mine. On top of which, with her here, the Auror I have been consulting with can get back to her primary mission without having to worry about Jennifer, since I will be looking after her myself. Audi Belle has enough to do keeping her other charge under wraps. I only hope I'm not making a mistake... and accidentally sending Jennifer to her death all the quicker for being here."

Realizing he had made up his mind already, Albus pulled out a piece of parchment and penned a letter.