Chapter 1: Homecomings

Hogwarts, Headmasters Tower, August 1967

The ancient man who had called this tower home for Albus's formative years had left it in a terrible state for his successor. The central room seemed untouched since Albus himself had attended as a student. Cobwebs had begun to form in the corners and papers had been strewn across the floor. Evidently, this room really had been saved for him since Dippets passing in June. How the torch passes. It is good to finally be back. Albus mused to himself, clearing the massive tower with a dramatic sweep of his wand. Perhaps some color will liven up the room. Pacing back and forth, picturing how his desk should be angled, he felt a presence at the edge of the wards.

"Head-" started Slughorn stepping up the stairs.

"Come in, Horace," Albus called jovially, the door opening of his accord.

"Merlin! You surprised me. How are you settling in Headmaster?"

"Oh, none of that now Horace." Albus chuckled, conjuring two excessively cushioned armchairs in the center of the massive room. "We're meant to be coworkers, and I have no intentions of running this school as Dippet did. It'll be Albus." he paused and smiled distantly, "or Professor, from you Horace." a playful seriousness in his tone, as he took his seat. "And as for settling in," Albus smiled as he raised his wand in a grand gesture across the room, summoning and conjuring decorations into the ancient tower. "I'm only needing my desk now."

"My goodness Albus, you must teach me how to conjure those drapes, I could certainly use them in my office, ha ha!" the plump Potions Master gushed.

"It would be good fun, Horace, but I'm afraid I won't be able to today." Albus sighed, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Alas, the duties of Headmaster have been neglected for too long as it is."

"Of course, Professor, but I was hoping I could ask about your choices for Prefect. Mr. Salvat is certainly a good choice but-" and here it was, the reason for this ambush Albus reflected

But why don't you take these for now, no?" Albus offered, tapping the drapes, changing them to green, as they spooled into Slughorn's outstretched arm. "I do think they'd serve you better."

"Thank you, Albus, they're marvelous, but I'm quite concerned about-"

"I'm sorry Horace, but I really must be going. When I get back I'm certain we'll finish this conversation", Albus remarked pleasantly, turning on his heel and allowing the smile to sink instant before everything turned black. The weathered wizard's last thought before leaving the tower was on just how muddy his legacy had become.

Hogwarts Express, Somewhere in Scotland, September 1, 1967

Alphe took slow, measured strides down the final car as he approached his first Prefect's meeting. Trying to straighten out his used robes as best as he could. The tall sandy blonde-haired boy stood above most of the sixth and seventh years, not to mention his own year mates. His imposing figure helped bounds in clearing the corridor of uppity Gyrfindors and Claws to step onto the Prefect's car. He arrived just as the meeting began.

"Welcome back all, for those who are joining this year I'm Thomas Roe, your Head Boy, and Ravenclaws seventh-year male Prefect this year. This is Claire Kelly of Hufflepuff and Head Girl." The short and stocky lad announced with an air of desperate superiority. "We're going to be spending a lot of time together this year but for the time being, I'd like all fifth-year prefects to please introduce themselves so we can explain the basics and start rounds. Let's start with you Diggory" The sacrifices we make, and spending time with a Diggory is certainly a sacrifice. Alphe mused

"Amos Diggory, of Hufflepuff of course, I'm pleased to be here." the portly boy effused, a stupid smile splitting his face." Arrogance and stupidity are such a blessing for those who possess both.

"Sarah Presely, Hufflepuff" shy, or rather reserved

"Alison Willcrow, Ravenclaw" smart, very smart

"Jamie Crest, Ravenclaw" pureblood through and through

"Henrich Olsen, Gryffindor, but you can all call me Henry" pompous, even more than most purebloods

"Marie Olsen, Gryffindor" is potentially the only likable Prefect in the year, and very pretty to boot

"Cynthia Aetos, Slytherin" most of the above

"Alpehous Salvat, it's Alphe though, Slytherin" he announced with a rehearsed and polite smile.

"Good, now moving on, the agenda for today is quite simple, we'll be going into depth on the responsibilities of a Perfect. First and foremost our responsibility is to act as role models for our houses. Secondly, to provide support and security for all students. Lastly, our role as Prefects is to enforce the rules fairly. I expect you all to treat the responsibilities and privileges of being Prefect seriously. You are not to provide preferential treatment to your housemates or friends. You are not to abuse your Restrict Section passes to check out books on behalf of others. You are not to help friends avoid punishment. The fair application of rules is in everyone's interest. Not that that's out of the way. Sixth-years, you'll be responsible for students as they disembark from the train and head to the castle. Now, for the newbies, you'll be responsible for doing rounds of the train till we arrive at Hogsmeade. After that, it'll be your job to take your respective first years to your respective common rooms. You'll be taking the scenic route, giving the rest of your housemates time to beat you. To facilitate all the minute points of this, and to better help you practice your new roles as disciplinarians, you'll be doing these rounds with your fellow year and housemate prefects. Gryffindor, you have the first three cars, Ravenclaw the next three, Slytherin the three after that, and Huffelbuff will bring up the rear. Any questions?" The bumbling boor didn't wait three seconds. "Great, get out there newbies, the rest of you are free to do as you like."

Cynthia had already stepped off the Prefect's car and was lounging in the first. She was, unquestionably, beautiful. With clear and light skin, and twinkling grey eyes. Long, black hair hung to her chest, shining in the rays of afternoon light. An absent-minded smirk played across her face, and her eyes wandered across the passing countryside.

"Ready yet Salvat" she yawned, the perfect image of a Pureblood. Arrogance must be bred into them. But where most were full of unfounded swagger, her smooth motions and graceful steps filled the air with the charity of her presence. Shame she's such a bitch.

"After you Aetos." Alphe returned, eager to get this over with. She must have felt the same. She stood up in one elegant move, her robes fluttering as she moved into step down the corridor, all in complete silence. A silence that would presage the coming hours.

Alphe was convinced that for all their misgivings about each other, the pair actually made a fantastic set of Prefects. He couldn't recall a single trip on the Hogwarts Express that had been this calm. Whereas Alphe was a towering giant, Aetos practically radiated an imperious aura. She had yet to utter a word in the two hours and fifty-four minutes since they had set off, to either him or anyone else on the train. Just as they were about to enter Hogsmeade station Cynthia chose to break her streak.

"We'll take the First years around the first floor to the Library and around the east corridor to enter the dungeons," she remarked, not bothering to look at her partner.

"Fine by me." Alphe conceded, hating always being one step behind the elegant witch. She wasted no time stepping off the train and her curly black crown was lost in the crowd of students entering the weathered castle.

Hogwarts, Great Hall, September 1967

Alphe took his time to scan the Great Hall. The castle felt different this year. Whereas he was accustomed to the sleepy Dippet overseeing raucous children managing themselves with passive oversight from Slughorn, the new headmaster felt very different.

Albus Dumbeldore, the second greatest wizard of his age. The man practically radiated power. His trimmed white beard and carnivalesque robes did little to hide it. And having Grindelwald's right-hand man of 20 years lording over Hogwarts did little to hide the sorry state that Britain was in. As much as the Ministry tried to rehabilitate the madman's image, it was clear to Alphe that Albus Dumbeldore had been an eager and earnest ally of Gellert Grindelwald as the Dark Lord had butchered his way through Europe.

"He's happier than I expected," Charlie remarked, breaking Alphe out of his cynicism.

"How much of his personality is an act you reckon?" Elaine questioned the small circle of upper years. The three Slytherins had been friends since they started Hogwarts. Elaine had been a natural friend, born out of their mutual suffering as the mudbloods of Slytherin Hosue. Charlie, on the other hand, was a half-blood who didn't make friends with the "right sorts" fast enough.

"It doesn't have to be an act for him to be the Dark Lords' right hand," Alphe added darkly. I bet it's more real than fake. At least as real as Charlie is when he's telling the Ravenclaw girls he's looking forward to studying with them."

"Aye, but it's the ends, not the means I should be judged on," Charlie responded with a smug smile on his face, his eyes scanning the Ravenclaw table. The tall brown-haired Slytherin was attractive certainly, and he made no attempt to hide it.

A sharp kick from the newly minted prefect ended Charlie's visual feast. "Bugger off Alphe, the hell was that for!" Charlie yelled at his scornful friend.

"You're drawing unwanted attention." Alphe hissed back across a roast ham. An irate Transfiguration mistress was staring daggers at the three Slytherins, and a number of the pureblood girls at the end of their own table had taken note of Charlie's lustful stare.

"He's right Charlie," Elaine added between measured bites of roast potatoes. "The last thing you or any of us need is a fight with the Principles on the first night of term." The demure and dark-haired girl leaned back, her long and lanky build letting her look down on the rest. "Not to mention, it's disgusting watching you leer."

"Fucking Principles" Charlie spat, sitting back and gripping the ancient table.

"The mudbloods are getting out of hand, they really ought to be put in their place, don't you think Yaxley?" Theodore Nott called out, just loud enough to carry across the Slytherin table. Drawing laughs and smiles from most of his housemates.

Charlie looked ready to draw his wand but Alphe grabbed his wrist under the table, "Easy there mate, tonight is not the time to settle old scores. There'll be time for that all Winter. But we'll be taking it slow and planning things. Otherwise what's the point of this" Alphe said cooly, gesturing to the badge on his left.

"Yeah, yeah. As long as I get to curse a Nott. I'll let you plan things Alphe but the second one of those purebloods tries to take me, all bets are fucking off." he spat

"I hear you, Charlie. We good there too Elaine?" Alphe asked, happy to have cooled off his little group

"As long as we leave fewer Notts in the world when we're done." Elaine muttered.

"In that case, we'll all be celebrating Yule early!" Alphe said smiling genuinely for the first time all day.