AN: YES, I AM ALIVE!!! I know, it's shocking. Let me explain, first off…school…busy, busy semester. I wrote but not a lot, but then my laptop fried. So now I'm on break, new laptop and all, I was in the mood to write and I'm back!

Chapter 15: News from Abroad

The two men sat in chairs opposite of each other. A grey haired, older man stared at the auburn haired man. The silence was only broken by the snores of the portrait that lined the wall of the round room. Both men were staring at one in particular. Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait was among those snoring. The man with graying black hair was decked in Slytherin green. The grey haired man sitting in the chair sighed. "He may not have been the most popular Headmaster ever…but he had a certain style that I, at least will miss." The auburn haired man nodded sagely. "Indeed. I will miss our discussions on magical theory. Which as you know, ended up on a debate on Gryffindor and Slytherin House history."

The grey hair man chuckled quietly. He got up and made his way to a throne like chair behind a massive desk and sat down. "The Board of Governors are wanting my choice for deputy Headmaster, Albus. They think that six weeks without one is far too long." The man named Albus nodded slowly. "It was between you and Horace. But I do not know if Horace is up to the job. He sometimes gets to…involved with some students. Albus…will you please be the new deputy Headmaster?" Albus hesitated for the slightest space of a moment before nodding slowly. "Very well, Armando…if you believe I will be the best choice, I accept." Armando let a small smile creep onto his face. "Excellent. I will let the Board of Governors know. I believe it will be…almost unanimous." They looked at each other and at the same time said, smiles on their face, "Abraxas Malfoy."

One his way back to his quarters, Albus was pondering to himself. It has been years since he had come to Hogwarts. By far they were the happiest of his 45 years. Sitting down in a plush chair before a large fireplace, Albus let his mind wonder. He would be lying if he said he did not want this new title. He had given a majority of his life to education. He was also prepared to give the rest of his life, however long it may be, to the education of young witches and wizards. At first he allowed a small flicker of the smile…then an absolutely wide one filled his face. This called for a celebration. Pulling out his wand, he flicked it. A bottle of elf made wine appeared, along with a crystal goblet. Pouring himself a decent amount of wine, he drank, thinking of his achievement. Oh, what he could do! He help bring new theories to education, and…well…for now…he should just be happy. Oh sure, he was famous already. Twelve uses of dragons blood,

Waving his wand once more, the Daily Prophet flew to his hands. He skimmed over every little article for a good quarter of an hour. He read through until an article near the end of the paper made him choke on his drink. His skin turned deathly white, he almost seemed to stop breathing. He couldn't breath…he had been robbed of that ability. He quickly read the article…

GRINDLEWALD TAKES SEAT IN INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF WIZARDS

By Lowell Chickenbopker

Gellert Grindlewald of Germany has taken his place as the newest member of the International Confederation of Wizards. The 42 year old wizard replaces Jorn Alois, who died under mysterious circumstances last month. Authorities however blamed a back firing spell that authorities believe was aimed for some cheese. Grindlewald has gained famed on the national level by his ideas of wizard superiority. While his idea of easing restrictions on the secretly of the Wizard World for, "The Greater Good" has earned him some enemies, more and more people take up the chant. "I believe now is the time for radical action. Our world has become stagnate. If we let it remain so, a day of reckoning will follow" says Grindlewald from his Berlin home. However, Chancellor Hans Regniztar of the German Ministry of Magic has denounced Grindlewald as a "Raving lunatic" and some other things that cannot, because of the crudeness of the statement, be reprinted here. Grindlewald was asked to comment on the Chancellor's words, but we were unable to reach him. Reports were Grindlewald had gone to his native Bulgaria to see after his dying mother…

Albus threw the paper down. He could not read the rest. All that mattered was that Gellert…his Gellert…had achieved power…and in his hands…any amount of power was far from a good thing. It had been almost 15 years since he had heard anything about Grindlewald. The last he had heard was a rumor…a terrible rumor…one Albus had spent a long time convincing himself was untrue…that Gellert won himself a wand…a powerful wand…Albus's thoughts were racing. Perhaps it was time for some…discreet investigation into the man whom, even now, he could not deny, he loved.