Author's Note
Hey guys, so as usual I need to clarify a couple of things. Firstly, the Dragonfly does not appear on muggle radar. That's due to the enchantments woven into the metal, nor can it be seen by satellites, even when it's not invisible.
The actual size is warped by an illusion so all they'd be able to see is an ordinary dragonfly.
On the matter of why Apollo calls Dumbledore Professor, even though he's no longer Headmaster, just think about the other examples for a moment.
Slughorn is retired, yet Dumbledore addressed him as Professor Slughorn to Harry. Then there's the people of the Wizarding Examinations Authority like Griselda Marchbanks, that's referred to as Professor as well.
So whether you are teaching currently or not, it doesn't matter. It's just a social nicety. A courtesy title.
On to my final point, in this story, Sirius is smarter than in canon. Azkaban is said to be in the North Sea, but Sirius travels down all the way to Surrey and then back up to Scotland again.
That's pretty dumb. In here, he realises that both Harry and Pettigrew will be at Hogwarts in September, so he decides to wait.
He uses that time to build up his body weight to a healthier level by stealing food from muggle homes. He also takes the time to properly groom himself and steal clean clothes.That way, when he finally meets his godson, he makes a good impression and doesn't actually look like an escaped deranged mass murderer.
Once the staff gathered themselves, we went to check on the students to see if they were affected in any way.
Fortunately, none of them were. In fact, they didn't even know anything was wrong. They merely thought that the weather was taking a turn for the worse.
This being Britain, nobody thought anything of it. Bad weather is pretty much the norm.
What we did find however, was the usual. Some students attempting to bully others, sad and homesick eleven year olds and the usual teenage hormones running wild.
Looking at the younger Professors, I could see that many were equal parts amused and exasperated.
They no doubt remember their Hogwarts years clearly and are realising, if they haven't already, that the shoe is well and truly on the other foot.
It's our turn now to be the responsible adults and they can appreciate the irony of that right about now.
During my rounds, I see that Luna has settled in well and that she's made a couple of friends.
I don't doubt however, that some of them merely want to be in my good books and are thus trying to please the Headmaster.
I sigh internally. Harry and his friends are also well. As I enter their compartment, Harry is busy telling his friends about his summer.
Hermione looks envious. Being able to use magic to his hearts content has no doubt made her jealous.
He greets me happily and so does Ron. Hermione is a bit more starstruck. After assuring me that they are fine, I leave.
I did notice that Ron's pet rat looked to be on his last legs, but I said nothing, mind already wandering to other things.
An hour after that moment of excitement, Hogwarts and Hogsmeade were finally within sight.
We hovered above the uppermost reaches of the wards while I coaxed them into allowing the Dragonfly access.
Once that was done, we landed easily. I announced to the students that we'd landed and that we'd disembark from the oldest students to the youngest.
Because the travel time was so drastically shortened, the Welcome Feast would be at lunch rather than dinner.
Because of our new mode of transport, it also meant that the First Years would no longer be using the boats to cross the Black Lake.
The older staff had naturally objected, but I overruled them. The fact of the matter is that traveling over the lake at night was dangerous.
There are many children who can't swim. Yes, help in the form of the merfolk and giant squid exist, but simply falling into the water at night can be traumatizing.
The older staff don't seem to understand that. Or maybe fighting through the war has changed them.
It matters not. Imagine being all excited to attend a school of magic, especially if you're muggleborn and before you even learn a single spell, you nearly drown.
Things like this matter. I want the children to enjoy their time here. That is why I've gone to great lengths to make this school a safer place.
My thoughts are interrupted by a ripple in the wards. I frown slightly and turn my mind upon them.
It's trying to tell me something. The wards obviously cannot speak though. It communicates with the Headmaster through impressions.
It's trying to convey a sense of caution and wrongness. But it doesn't indicate danger. Nor does it indicate what's wrong.
I sigh slightly. Naturally, this year is shaping up to be just as eventful as the previous year.
Promising myself that I'll be on guard, I make my way into Hogwarts and head for the Great Hall. I have new students to welcome after all.
In the days to follow, there's a constant mental itch that steals some of my attention. I don't tell any of the staff however. Not until I'm sure just what I'm dealing with.
The students though are settling in well. There are only minor issues that need to be dealt with. The usual Gryffindor/Slytherin tensions.
That being said, while the issues regarding the students are minor, the Ministry is proving to be a headache.
The Dementors are a constant source of worry. They cannot enter the grounds, though they have tried and they cannot enter the sky above the castle either and interfere with the students playing Quidditch, which was a concern.
That doesn't mean they have given up though. They are now all stationed above Hogsmeade. A hundred of them.
Much to the fear and anger of the residents. The Minister however, refused to be swayed.
He tried to order me to let them on the grounds, but I ignored him. I couldn't even if I wanted to.
They tried to force their way through, but were repelled. The Minister was incensed. I ignored that however. There was nothing he could do and my attention soon shifted to a surprise I was planning for the students.
Once I learnt that the Dementors would be stationed above Hogsmeade, I decided that there would be no Hogsmeade weekends this year for the students.
There's no point in needlessly tempting fate and risking the lives of my students.
I was considering allowing students to floo to Diagon Alley, but decided against it. Knockturn Alley would be too much of a temptation to students.
Therefore I decided on the unexpected. One month after school started, I stood up during the evening meal. It didn't take long for the students to quiet down.
" Good evening everyone. I know that all the Third Years and above have been anxiously waiting to hear when the first Hogsmeade weekend will be. Unfortunately, I won't be allowing any students to go to the village this year. "
Immediately, complaints and shouts broke out. I raised both my hands and the lights of the candles floating above winked out. Just for a second, then they relit.
My actions stunned them into silence. " You all no doubt feel aggrieved by my decision, but it's for your safety. The Ministry of Magic has stationed Dementors above the village in an effort to both locate Sirius Black and in a misguided attempt to ' protect ' this school. "
" That is madness. They pose a greater danger to all of you than Black does. Now, while there are a few of you that can cast the Patronus Charm, I will not risk your lives. "
" This leaves us in a quandary. What to do with all of you on weekends? There is a number of reasons that the Hogwarts Express was retired and this is one of them. "
" We are going on a trip next weekend. It won't just be Third Years and above. It will be everyone. We shall be taking the Dragonfly and visiting somewhere in France. "
" To be specific, we will be going to the Beaubaxtons Academy of Magic. All in an effort to expand your horizons and to introduce you to more of the the Wider Wizarding World. "
" Many of you would ordinarily never leave Magical Britain, but I have decided that it would be a shame if you didn't see the wonders of magic that exist outside of our borders. "
" While you are in France, all of you will be carefully monitored. You will get one chance. Any attempts by you to cause trouble, will see you banned from further trips for the entire year. "
" If you all behave yourselves however, then there are more places that we shall visit. So take this time to think about everything you'd like to see and do, for outside of Beaubaxtons, they have a magical village too. "
I sat down as the Hall exploded into excited chattering. Some of the staff were even caught up in the excitement.
I had only informed them of my plans last night. They likely hadn't fully processed it yet. They did agree though, that the Dementors were too dangerous to risk around the students.
The following week there was pandemonium. Excitement had been steadily building. Many of the students had never left Britain and so naturally they were looking forward to it.
I was as well to be honest. Still, even my excitement didn't distract me from the wards, which were still buzzing with something that I couldn't quite make out.
Some kind of wrongness. Something not being as it appears, but at the same time there was no sense of immediate danger, so I didn't act. Couldn't act until I understood what was happening.