A/N: Albus' side of things. We're getting there, people! This is the homestretch now. Sorry for the long time on the post & the shortness, I've been sick. Thanks for your reviews; I hope you enjoy it to the very end!

Chapter 37- A Plan

Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, fuming. Here he was at the top of Hogwarts School and he couldn't seem to manage a few errant wizards? It had all started with the entrance of one Rial Black, formerly Harry Potter. He realised now that despite the fact the boy was the younger half-twin of the Boy-Who-Lived he should never have allowed him into Hogwarts. Had the boy stayed home with James and Lily, his true parentage would have never gotten out and he wouldn't be dealing with the problem of the Midnight Sun prophecy. He stood, irritably making his way to the large book where the prophecy was kept.

Flipping open the gigantic tome he turned to where a black bookmarker held silent vigil. He stared at the lines of the enigmatic prophecy, growling furiously under his breath at the cryptic remarks. The only place for Seers was dead or in a black cell of Azkaban in his opinion. The centaurs had almost been completely wiped out a few centuries ago, it really had been a pity that the Ministry had been forced to step in. Never the less, they were safely bound to the Forbidden Forest and out of his hair for the most part.

Upon my shoulders rests the Fate of the world; Treat me as you wish to be treated. That last pair of lines was the cause of his current worry. If he had interpreted it correctly, it meant that Rial Black would be coming after both him and Zachary Potter. Not for the first time he wondered if the boy had anything to do with the death of James Potter. He had always known to some degree the Potter Lord's treatment of the boy, even encouraged it to a certain point. Until Rial had been sorted into Slytherin he'd had hopes of the boy acting as a support pillar for his more famous twin and a possible scapegoat for those disenchanted with the war.

But no, the boy couldn't possibly have the power to cast a spell such as Avada Kedavra. The spell had been linked to Bellatrix's wand no less, and to cast such a spell with another's wand required enormous power. Dumbledore was one of the greatest wizards alive and even he himself couldn't do it. A scrap of a boy certainly couldn't. Especially one James Potter had described as nearly a Squib.

He shut the book and headed back to his seat, irritation switching to another topic. How had Torian Lestrange killed Voldemort? This plan had backfired enormously, instead of his supported little hero Zachary Potter a child from a Dark family had succeeded. The boy had been awarded an Order of Merlin First Class for the feat and a large public funeral had been held a few days ago. Albus had attended; it wouldn't do for him to appear disdainful of the end of the Voldemort Wars as they were being called by historians now.

In almost a direct link to Voldemort's death the Ministry had been examining the validity of the prophecy and had seen fit to remove him of his titles other than the Order of Merlin and his Chocolate Frog card. When he had stormed into Scrimgeour's office demanding an explanation he had been openly threatened to 'toe the line' or face an inquiry from the Board of Education and possible removal from the position of Headmaster! He snorted in irritation; they would no sooner remove him from the school than he would willingly leave. Hogwarts was his throne and had been since the idiot named Dippet had retired.

Now he needed to find the errant Malfoys, Blacks and his Potions Master. Severus wouldn't dare set foot in England right now; Albus had stated the man was a Death Eater, along with Lucius Malfoy. Either one of them appeared in England and they would be given a Dementor's Kiss without delay. He knew that they had infiltrated the Order of the Phoenix, but he wondered who possibly was a spy for them. Perhaps the most obvious choice would be Nymphadora Tonks, the daughter of Sirius' favourite cousin. He had dismissed her simply because she was so obvious, but maybe it was worth a planted tracking spell?

He nodded to himself decisively. At the next meeting of the Order of the Phoenix, tomorrow in fact, he would plant a tracking spell on her. It was easy enough, the girl was ridiculously clumsy. He was forever wondering how she'd ended up Alastor's pupil and an Auror. But then, she did share the Black bloodline, it was possible Sirius had helped her pass her training. There had never been any hint that Sirius favoured one Auror over another, but still, it was worth investigating.

Now that he had a plan he felt much more relaxed. Popping a lemon drop into his mouth he hummed at the flavour. He regretted getting his hands dirty but things needed to be put back into their proper order and place. When he had the location of their little hideout he would make the trip himself and remove the threat Rial Black.

Another could do it, but he didn't trust any other. Plus someone in the Order may have qualms about killing a young teen. He had no such difficulties; it was simply for the greater good. The appearance of Rial Black at Hogwarts had started all his problems. It had inspired Severus to go rouge and Sirius Black to actually develop a spine. Remove the instigator of all his problems and things would go back to normal.

Of course, Severus and Lucius would still have to be removed. He would carefully insinuate himself near the grieving Malfoy heir and pull Sirius back into the fold. With the Black and Malfoy finances at his fingertips, rebuilding the damage from the war and his reputation would be painfully easy. Albus steepled his fingertips together and smiled, eyes twinkling.

Yes indeed, Rial Salazar Black would have to die, soon.