Hey all, sorry for the delay. The world has been crazy and I kind of lost the will to write for a while, But were back at it again.

]

Harry couldn't help but wonder sometimes about the absurdities of his own life. How did he as a child of eleven end up with a family that hated him? Or worse yet he was starting to learn, in this other world he belonged too he was famous. Harry was very quickly becoming uncomfortable with the stares he would receive from other students in the hall. Not to mention the way some of the teachers looked at him.

He got the distinct impression that despite saving him a few weeks earlier that Snape didn't like him much. The glaring from across the hall and scornful look were small giveaways, and he assumed his last class of the day with the man would be an interesting one. Then there was Quirrell, who looked at Him like a piece of meat he thought as if he wanted Harry for something. Harry wasn't sure which bothered him more. Most of the other professors were seemingly normal enough. His only other class of the day had been with Prof. Flitwick for charms, in which they had been given a rather dazzling demonstration of different charms for everyday use and what they could do. Harry was sure he needed to learn the Tempus charm quickly, that one seemed invaluable.

Harry was walking alone through the halls headed towards The Grand Hall for supper when the commotion in the hall ahead of him finally drew his attention. He could just barely catch the voice of Draco undoubtedly lording his presence of the rest of the lot, and as he got a little closer he could see the mop of red hair that marked Ronald Weasley. This was undoubtedly going to be something dumb that Harry was sure he wanted no part of.

Of course, as fate would have it both noticed him approaching before he could pass them.

"Ah good, more snakes have arrived. You lot really do stay close to each other don't you?" Sneered the redhead at the collective gathering of first and second year Slytherins. Across the small stretch of no man's land, the hall seemed to function as Harry estimated were probably ten or eleven Gryffindors. Harry again cursed his poor luck in life for placing him in these predicaments. Harry chose to say nothing to the others and merely took his place to the sides of the group near where Tracey and Daphne could be found.

He leaned in to whisper to Tracey "So what's this all about now?". Tracey spared him a quick smile and turned back to the scene unfolding before them. "Well it started in our first flying lesson, Draco was making a nuisance of himself, and Weasley decided to challenge him to a race after Madam Hooch stepped away with an injured student. They never got to start as one of the girls in Griffindor yelled at them both and threatened to call a professor. Class ended and now here we are, having a staredown in the hallway." she managed to say all of this in one breath out the corner of her mouth.

Of course something crazy would happen during the optional course offered to teach student to fly a broom. Harry had decided against going to this class in favor of going to one of the later lessons where perhaps there would be less students. The course was being offered every other week after all.

Harry wanted to roll his eyes at the two still yelling insults back and forth in the hall, something about greased hair being a hallmark of Slytherin evil, but he refrained from doing anything that might draw the ire of the two upon him. Really was it so much to ask to just peacefully read about this new world he was in and be left alone? Maybe he should have tried to talk the hat into putting him into Ravenclaw.

"Yea then how about we settle this like wizards then? A duel." Draco Malfoys voice seemed to cut through the hall around him with the cold steel of a blade. And then there was silence. The whole hall stared at him and the Weasley boy awaiting the response to the challenge. Ron accepted the challenge readily enough.

"Aye, I accept your challenge you greasy git" Ron said with what he probably thought was a confident smirk.

"Excellent, now we'll need seconds to stand in to ensure the fairness of our duel. Name yours." Draco seemed to scan the crowd as if looking for something until finally, his eyes settled on Harry Potter. "Potter shall stand-in for my second," Draco said with a smile on his face and triumph in his eyes. Harry wanted to hit him then, but there was also a part of him that wondered why Draco would name him? He knew no spells and they were hardly on a friendly basis, if anything there was barely veiled hostility towards him on Draco's part. Harry knew disputing it now would be futile as Draco was already marching away flanked by his goons, and word would quickly spread around the world.

Harry noticed two girls very blatantly staring at him while he just stood there thinking.

"You know Harry, you could have told me you and Draco had become friends. Oh and you really shouldn't just stand there like that, people might think you've gone daft" The last part Tracey said with a smile. Daphne was most certainly not smiling at him, however.

"I'm not entirely sure why he would name me to be his second but I've got an idea. He doesn't plan on showing for his duel at all. It's probably a way to get us all caught out after hours by a teacher. I mean I'm not sure about you guys but I've known magic has existed for about a week now, and I certainly don't know any spells worthy of dueling. Malfoy is a bit of a ponce, but he's not dumb either." Harry spoke all of this while gently trying to herd the girls towards the great hall, he was hungry after all.

It was Daphne who spoke up next her voice measured and neutral, betraying nothing. "It's not the worst plan I suppose. Only the Gryffindors would fall for it though. Guess we'll find out Friday afternoon who shows to the duel." Harry could only nod his head and hope it would have nothing to do with him. He did just want to study like it was a normal school, but for some reason, he could feel that there wouldn't be anything normal about his schooling.

]

Albus was not a young man, he knew that of course, but he still felt he had some years before his time would come. Still among the greatest living wizards, and certainly a powerhouse in his own regard. So it was no small shock he received when an all too familiar Raven landed upon his open window sill and stared at him with that one single eye he had been all too familiar with in his younger days. Albus was not so naive to believe the raven the Norse god for whose name it carried, but there had been many stories about that bird in their younger years. Stories of a raven far too smart even for a raven. A raven that seemed to see and know all even with its lone eye, and who seemed capable of understanding and conveying that information to the dark lord he served. All stories, of course, some he had even helped to start because he found it amusing.

Now he couldn't help but dread that bird staring at him from the window. Rising to his full height Albus made the short walk across to the bird and the window and reached out slowly for the parchment wound around its left leg. The bird made no move, it only stared back at him with its single black eye. Pushing the note into one of his sleeve pockets Albus wiggled his fingers and suddenly between them was a small piece of bacon he had conjured. He held it out to the Raven, a small sign of peace after what had been so many years of hostility and fighting from Albus and the ravens master. Mercifully the raven took the bacon with a small bowing of its head that Albus was sure should have unsettled him. The bird took flight swiftly after swallowing the bacon, sparing neither a second glance for the wizened old wizard or sound as he took off silently.

"Goodbye Odin, old friend" Albus spared the bird a moment as he watched it leave the grounds and disappear in the direction of the Forbidden Forrest. Albus knew trying to track the bird would be useless. He had helped train the Raven after all to avoid tracking both magical and mundane. He knew if the bird suspected it was being tracked it would have no qualms about waiting years to return if it meant not betraying its master's location. Albus had only ever seen such loyalty from Fawkes to himself and Sirius Black to James Potter. Now wasn't the time for such melancholy thoughts, he had what he was sure would be quite an interesting note.

Seating himself behind his desk, and grabbing himself one of his lemon candies Albus took the note out from the confines of his sleeve.

"Hello Old Friend.

I am sure you have no doubts as to who sent you this letter, but just in case there is some doubt, allow me to say the words Marseille 1987. It has been a long time since we've spoken old friend. I look forward to your correspondence. The bird will be able to find me I'm sure.

Yours Faithfully

G"

Albus couldn't help but smile. His old friend had always claimed to hate theatrics. But here he was sending him coded messages and password encrypted letters. It reminded Albus of days long past, of studying magic with the closes thing he had ever had to a friend. Of time spent in the company of the only man, he had ever considered his equal. Albus drew his wand and tapped the page and said the words. " La Bonne Mère" The name of the french art gallery they had once visited. The place where Albus's ascent began and Gellert's downfall began. The note began to shit and squirm on the table before him, and soon the words had shifted into something new. Hardly longer than the previous letter.

"Albus

I hope old age hasn't addled your mind too much that you couldn't find this letter. Prepare your self, the storm is coming. You know it as well as I. I've been to see Rokita. I've begun taking action as well. I send you this in the hopes you will see reason and not oppose me. You know as well as I the advantages possessed by one not bound to the petty laws of Wizarding Britain. I ask only that you allow me to do as I must, as magic has guided me. I know that you will do what you think is best, as always. Protect the boy, I will begin to gather the old guard.

For The Greater Good

Gellert.

Albus had always been afraid of those words. "For the greater good". Any monstrosity could be committed in the name of the greater good. No crime would be too vile if it served the greater good, but Albus knew better than to think that this was vague platitudes of a man past his prime. No this was as close as Gellert could ever come to an open declaration of war and call to arms. It would be no small task to move Gellert to ever meeting with the Demon of Russia or The Mad Monk whom he dwelled within. Whatever Gellert was preparing for, he was serious about it, and he had said to protect the boy. Gellert had some history with Tom that much was true, but could this all be about Harry Potter and his prophecy bound foe in Lord Voldemort? If Gellert was planning on mobilizing again to aid Harry, well perhaps Albus could make use of his old friend. He would deal with Gellert and the aftermath after Tom.

Albus's last thoughts on the matter before reaching for his own paper and quill were of how he had somehow had a hand in the lives of both the dark lords of the last century.

]

Harry had said a quick goodbye to his two female friends after dinner and set out to wander the castle and try to familiarize himself a little better with the school he now considered home. Harry stood for a few moments and marveled at the moving staircases they had been warned about on their first night within the castle. How did they know where to move next? Were they truly sentient and could decide for themselves, or were they following a set pattern?

Harry also couldn't help but let his mind wander back to the potion lesson of the day, and how his head of house seemed to have it out for him. He had asked him several questions regarding potions that harry had only known from reading the first couple of chapters in their potions book, but then Professor Snape had seemed disappointed he knew them? The man seemed to have been hoping that he would get them wrong, perhaps to scold him Harry thought?

It was then that Harry felt it. Almost like a drop in temperature, a sudden cooling across his skin. Looking around he didn't notice anything strange or out of place? It was just a normal-looking corridor. Doors to unused classrooms decorated the hall on either side. Then he felt it. Like a tug coming from within himself. He felt almost like an invisible hand pushing him towards the far end of the corridor. Harry knew this should have felt suspicious, but something about it just seemed like he was meant to follow it. Glancing around to be sure he was alone Harry began to walk languidly down the hall, approaching the last door on the left before the corridor split.

It was a great wooden thing the door before him. Larger than the other doors, but somehow it had escaped his notice until this very moment. Unbidden a hand reached up and pulled on the handle. The door was locked. No what was he to do? He had to get into that room, of that he was certain. After a moment of waiting for the inexplicable to happen, the inexplicable happened. There was a small flash of light and the door seemed to swing open without any prompting from him. Taking a step forward Harry had just gotten a glimpse of the inside of the room when he heard his name being called, but it sounded distorted like he was underwater. A moment later a sudden clarity seemed to snap back into his mind as if a veil had been lifted from his mind, and he very suddenly wondered why he was here and why he had wanted to open that door.

His moment of clarity was rather short-lived as in that moment a sound that seemed to rattle his bones came from the room before him, and Harry had just barely caught a glimpse of the six eyes and three sets of jaws within before the door snapped shut in front of him. Too stunned to move after almost having walked into the room with whatever that monster within it was Harry made no move until he felt a hand touch his shoulder.

Looking up his eyes met with a woman he faintly recognized as Hogwarts staff. Looking down at him were a pair of piercing violet eyes the likes of which Harry was sure must have been magic to be that shade.

"Good evening Mr. Potter. Care to explain what you're doing here?" the woman spoke in a voice that while firm didn't hold the steel of Professor McGonigal. Harry took in the woman's appearance and noted she was of a fairly darker complexion, with long black hair tied into a ponytail that seemed to cascade down her back past where he could see. She wore the most seeming normal close he had seen yet on any of the teachers. A simple black dress beneath a closed jacket, adorned with a white enamel star where each of the buttons would be. The only other thing he noticed offhand where the string of necklaces she wore, each a simple band of silver or gold, and the piercing along the bridge of her nose, right between her eyes.

"Truth be told I'm not sure, I don't know how I arrived in this corridor, Miss..." Harry hoped the lady would believe him, but he had already prepared himself to be yelled at, or hit, or cursed. Whatever it was wizards considered for punishment. "Aurora Sinistra, Professor of Astronomy here at Hogwarts. You man call me Professor Sinistra, although my class will be unavailable to you until the third year. Now I'm going to remove my wand and cast a spell directed at you Mr. Potter, please remain still and calm for a moment." She spoke again. Harry did as she requested, not daring to move. A moment later Sinistra made a face like someone had poured pumpkin juice on her socks.

"Mr. Potter I believe you need to return to your rooms before curfew is upon us. Make haste and do not wander, if you do I will know. Now go, and speak of this to no one. Nothing that happened here is to be spoken of, do you hear me?" Harry nodded his affirmative at the woman but was both curious and worried by her sudden shift in attitude. Sinistra did not wait for him to speak or ask any questions and with a sharp click, she had turned and began to leave. It was then Harry noticed that she didn't wear the typical heeled shoes of the other female professors, but rather a pair of thick scaled boots.

Harry decided not to press his luck and quickly returned to the Slytherin common rooms and was met by Tracey sitting in the section of the room commonly left open for the first years. Plush green and silver bean bags scattered around a corner of the room flanked on both walls by a fireplace and a bookcase. Seated in front of the fireplace wiggling her feet at the fire was Tracey, and beside her somehow trying to appeal regale on a bean bag chair was Daphne.

"Hello ladies" Harry greeted as he approached them and helped himself to a seat across from Daphne with Tracey seated between them. "Harry" they both greeted in response. "How was your walk of the grounds," Asked Daphne without looking up from her roll of parchment she was reading from.

"Strange enough, but not without merit. Remember that corridor Dumbledore warned us about. Well, there is something dangerous there. A giant dog." Harry spoke in just barely above an audible whisper. Tracey snapped around to look at him with a shocked expression, while Daphne just looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "And you know this why exactly?" Daphne spoke again.

"I just kind of stumbled upon it. I didn't see much else before I was found and sent back here. Although I didn't exactly go looking for it either. It's hard to explain how it all happened really."

"Well I'll be going nowhere near any giant dogs thank you very much" It was strange to hear Tracey be the voice of reason for once. "At least on that, we can agree," Harry said with a shudder at the memory of the teeth he had seen through the crack of the door as it closed.

]

Gellert was not at all surprised when the quiet dinner he had been enjoying was interrupted by the ball of fire that seemed to explode into life on the table before him. He had been expecting this for some time now, ever since he had sent that old fool Albus that letter. He had spent many years of his youth trying to find a ward that could stop a phoenix from breaching its walls, but alas his many years of searching had lead to nothing. He supposed he was lucky the only phoenix serving man currently known of was Fawkes. Fawkes was fiercely loyal to Albus, and would probably go to nearly any lengths for the old fool, but Gellert knew the bird had once been fond of him as well. The great bird of fire had refused to help Albus find him or anything other than to convey messages. Now if that was to protect him from Albus, or to protect Albus from the pain of fighting a friend again, he was sure it was the latter. Gellert was glad for this small mercy, as his escape all those years ago would have been impossible if not for the bird's fickle nature.

Reaching out a hand Gellert stroked the deep red plumage along the top of the bird's head. As per always, the feathers were hot to the touch. Fawkes allowed himself to be stroked, enjoying the touch of an old friend. Trilling softly to remind Gellert of the letter tied around its leg, the bird seemed almost sad when it stepped away from Gellert, and in a swirl of fire disappeared from the room. Gellert couldn't blame the sentimental old bird for wanting to leave. The bird had always had Albus's inclination to being stirred by emotion. A shame it had left so soon really, phoenix tears were truly useful. Gellert reached down and grabbed the letter of the table. He noted that for all the birds lauded destructive capabilities and rumors of their destructive tendencies, that Fawkes had not left so much as a singed hair behind on the table of the small room he was renting. The bird really did care for others far too much he mused. Seating himself at his small table and returning to the coffee and biscuits he had set out for himself Gellert unrolled the note and opened it for himself.

Gellert,

I'm afraid your words have proved to prophetic. I will agree to a ceasefire for now, but you must answer for your crimes old friend. I think we both know this to be true. First, we will deal with this storm you speak of. I'd like to know more of your meeting with Rokita, but I know you are unable to share specifics of your visions. Such is the deal made with a devil I suppose. There is something I feel you should know, however. There is a spy within Hogwarts. I know not who yet, but someone placed the boy under the Imperious curse earlier this night. There has been no damage and all is safe, but I felt it might be beneficial to as you said, inform an outside party not bound by conventional means.

Yours Truly

Albus Brian Percival Wulfric Dumbledore.

Gellert couldn't help but laugh after he read the letter. Gellert couldn't remember the last time he laughed so heartily. How silly Albus truly was. His letter was all but a direct cry for help. He could see right through the subtle guidance of the letter, Albus wanted his help finding the spy not because he would find him any easier then Albus could, but because he knew that Gellert would have the stomach for removing the threat without due legal process. Albus never changed. For all the brilliance he had he still preferred to keep his own hands clean while piling the dirt at the feet of others. So be it he supposed, this would be nothing new for Gellert. He had moved mountains and sunken islands to keep his friend's hands clean of the blood and filth that the greater good had demanded of them, this would be no different. Gellert couldn't help himself and laugh again after reading the note again. Leave it to Albus to assume there was only one spy within Hogwarts. Gellert quickly penned a letter and called for Odin, this time sending the raven once again to Hogwarts, but not to the office of the headmaster.

]

Hello all. It's been a little over a year and I finally found the will to write again. Sorry for the delay. I've put some real time into editing this time and have also gone back and re-edited and adjusted the previous chapters.

To clear some things up from previous chapters. I'm sorry if the characters feel a little flat, I'm trying to keep them true to being 11 years old. While I do love political intrigue and witty banter, most of these kids are eleven.

I do not intend to spend the entire story bashing Ron or Draco or any others, but there needs to be some early conflict and set up for a few things later.

I'm going to put a link in my bio to a picture of what I imagine Sinistra to look like, art isn't mine I just grabbed it from pinterest.

I do find myself struggling to write the Harry parts of the story, while greatly enjoying the Gellert and Albus parts of the story and the dichotomy they present to me.

As always I welcome and feedback. Thanks for your time.