A/N: Welcome all, both old and new readers. This short is the prologue for the entire Jennifer Craw Series. It will eventually be in the front of Book 1: Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand, 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.

Prologue

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 of 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 both the board and the Ministry on possible changes to security, administration, and even offers to recommend a professor..."

"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 several years. I had an Auror friend, over there for other reasons, try to keep tabs on them. 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 into 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. Still, it bought them some time. Not long after he died, their daughter, Jennifer, graduated and then stayed to acquire her teaching license. Then she was able to get a job at Beauxbatons, teaching first and second year Potions. Her mother went with her, buying a small place in the country so that could be close to her daughter. That was where her mother was when she Disappeared," Albus said, Minerva sitting down with a haunted expression on her face.

"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. But considering what happened to her mother, I believe that protection is about to end no matter where she is." Albus laced his fingers together. "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. If Olympe is right, Jennifer will be able to vet everyone coming into the castle 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 where she is. I realize means that girl will be going from the frying pan into the fire. But we must change this chain of events before us, Minerva. Who knows? Perhaps she may be just the catalyst we need to take a different fork in the road. I am tired of watching this school walk down a path that will only lead to its doom. I am worried about Harry and 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'm going to go ahead and hire her before they get wind of it, not to mention the Ministry, who would likely object to it as well. Even Olympe was reluctant to send me the 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 was, her knowledge of Dark magic probably surpasses even mine. On top of which, with her here, the Auror I have been consulting in the States can get back to her primary mission without having to worry about Jennifer any longer, 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 by bringing her here."

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

Continued in Jennifer Craw and the Phoenix Wand.