It was Sunday afternoon. The staff was meeting as the first month of classes was very near to completion.

Albus opened the meeting. "Very well. Down to business. Are there any issues that have immediate importance?"

There were no responses to this as the staff shifted and waited for any response. Albus nodded. "Very good. Now, how have our newest students taken to life at Hogwarts?"

Professor McGonagall signaled that she would respond and Albus nodded to her. "My Lions have become fairly stable. The first years have been remarkably prepared for classes and their work has been excellent. There also have been very few episodes of friction between them and the other Houses – even Slytherin."

Albus nodded and asked, "Severus? Do you agree?"

Severus, his face set in his most unemotional and rationale expression, replied, "I would have to agree. The normal … rashness … that I have come to expect from most first year Gryffindors has been pleasantly absent. The normal expected rudeness that Slytherin first years are warned against by their elder peers has been much quelled. It has allowed my students to adjust more smoothly."

Albus nodded. "I took steps, before the year began, to teach the student I felt would be most … scrutinized … in his interactions the value of civility. I am glad that the lesson has borne fruit."

Filius was curious. "Which student was it?"

"As Minerva could attest, that was Mr. Potter. As I led his parents in the last conflict with Tom Riddle and that conflict saw them lost to us, I felt it was my place to ensure he was properly re-introduced to the magical world. In the midst of that, I emphasized the need for proper manners and civility. He has proven remarkably able to influence others to follow that trend."

Severus Snape sneered. He would have commented, but Albus' most recent attitudes dissuaded him from the response he would have given.

Quirrell felt a pain as the wraith he was harboring suddenly became furious. The casual use of the name of "Tom Riddle" and the implication that Dumbledore was molding Potter causes Voldemort to become enraged.

Albus moved on. "Filius? How have the first year Ravenclaws adapted?"

The cheerful Head of Ravenclaw House replied, "No complaints. The civility seems to have spread and I noticed there are far fewer clashes between Houses, at least among the first years. It has helped that the most influential of the first-year Slytherins has kept his house mates in check." At everyone's curious look, Filius supplied, "Draco Malfoy."

There were shocked faces around the table. Everyone knew exactly who and what the Malfoy family was – even it it wasn't polite to speak of it in polite circles. That Draco Malfoy, of all people, contributed to holding the normal rudeness in check was astounding.

Severus nodded and volunteered, "In our first House meeting, Mr. Malfoy pointed out to his fellow House members that properly raised wizards and witches were well versed in correct manners. He mentioned that failing to follow the lessons they all learned as children would be a Muggle-like failing and would show poor breeding."

Albus nodded, even as he grinned internally. It was heart-warming to see that his efforts had started to bear some small fruit. "30 Points to Slytherin. Please inform Mr. Malfoy that I personally assigned points for his contribution to the decreased strain and rivalry."

Severus nodded. Draco had begun to act more properly Slytherin after the incident involving the school brooms. While he didn't like the Headmaster any more than he had, Draco had pointed out the Headmaster's cunning in his approach. That, more than the meeting, had driven home the warning to Slytherin House to avoid attracting Albus' ire.

Albus turned to Minerva. "20 Points to Gryffindor. Please pass on to Mr. Potter that his efforts are appreciated."

At Severus' annoyed look Albus said, "I can hardly award Mr. Malfoy for his efforts without acknowledging the similar efforts that Mr. Potter has made. I even awarded Mr. Malfoy greater points because his efforts have moved beyond his own year group."

At Severus' grudging nod, Albus turned to the last Head of House. "And Pamona. How have your Badgers adapted?"

Professor Sprout was a vision of contentment. "After an initial bout of homesickness and nervousness for the new environment, the first years have begun to settle in nicely. Your direction to have the sixth years directing the new students was enormously helpful. It contributed to a far easier transition into Hogwarts' life for the newer students."

Albus nodded in response to the acknowledgement. "Very good. It leaves me uncertain as to why we had not implemented such a policy in the past. But no matter. How are OWL preparations progressing for the fifth form and NEWT preparations for the seventh form?"

After getting his questions answered, Albus moved the meeting forward. "In passing, I have gotten a suggestion which I would like to investigate as far as plausibility and effect. One guardian mentioned the idea of allowing greater family access to our students by allowing visits with family on Sundays within Hogsmeade. Your thoughts?"

Minerva said, "Students' families have always had the ability to set up such meetings. I don't understand the point."

Albus sat back. "Yes. But how many have taken advantage of this? How many families know that such is possible? Under what circumstances are students normally permitted to accompany their family outside of the school?"

Professor Vector interjected, "It's almost always because of some family emergency, some illness or death or some such."

Pamona nodded. "I cannot recall any student being asked to join family in Hogsmeade or anywhere else for any other reason."

There was a consensus that the idea had some merit. Albus had a thought and tabled the discussion until he could consult a few other people. He would need to get the permission from the Hogsmeade council, the Board of Governors, and the Wizengamot. First, he wanted to talk to potential backers.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Albus stayed behind as one of the Professors wished to speak to him. "What can I do for you, Quirinus?"

"Headmaster, d-d-during my sabbatical I encountered a n-n-number of d-d-different things I wish to l-l-learn more about. One thing was the i-d-d-dea of protections and wards for l-l-locations. If you were to p-p-place such protections, what would b-b-be a l-l-list of suggested wards?"

Albus reflected that the annoying stutter had not reduced as it should have considering that it had occurred during his sabbatical to learn more on his new subject. Not being trained as a speech therapist, he failed to note the inconsistency in the pattern of the stutters.

"It is an interesting question. It would depend upon the location and the purpose of such protections, I suppose," Albus replied.

"Well, if I p-p-put together a l-l-list of situations, c-c-could you perhaps offer ideas?"

Albus nodded. "I shall await your list."

"Thank you, Headm-m-aster."

Albus reflected that there was something wrong with the man who just left. He resolved to keep a closer eye on him.

Harry was enjoying his first year. There were a few things which he didn't like, but it was a small list.

As reserves, he and Ron practiced with the team only once a week. Oliver wanted more, but McGonagall had put her foot down: First years were not supposed to be overworked by quiddich. Percy had let him use his broom for a couple of practice grabs and Harry looked forward to being the starting seeker the next year.

Studies were going well. The notes his parents had made were exceptionally useful. However, they did cause a certain amount of tension in once instance.

Harry was avidly reviewing the small changes his mother had listed for the potion the class was brewing. Suddenly, the Professor's voice rang out. "Mr. Potter! I have given instructions for the class to begin. Why are you sitting there like a gormless village idiot?"

Harry really wanted to made a comment back but held it back. "I am reviewing the potion from my text."

Snape pointed to the board. "The instructions are there."

"Yes, but I am seeing of there are any changes to be made."

Snape looked at Harry with a certain amount of disdain. "Do you think yourself so talented that you can do a better job than the author of your text? Are you a Potions Master?" The Professor's sneer was in full bloom.

"No, of course not, Professor, but my mother – in her notes – often remarked on small changes to make the brewing more effective," Harry replied.

Severus Snape was stunned. "Let me see these 'notes'."

Harry turned the book to allow Snape to see the book.

Severus was torn. The little changes were, especially at the first year level, the product of his own work with Lily Evans. It had taken her until third year to start coming up with her own modifications that hadn't originated with him. Lily had created some modifications before that, but it often began with his own musings.

He was almost livid that that man's child was benefiting from his own work. And if he took away the book, the boy could reasonably complain that Snape himself was stealing what could be considered family knowledge. That would not endear him to his house in the least.

Finally, he decided a course of action.

"Mr. Potter. While I am certain that the notes your mother left might prove valuable and/or efficacious, you are not educated enough to judge when such alterations are appropriate. Before you may use any such alteration, you must submit to me a detailed request to employ the information in class with explanations as to why prior to your doing so."

Severus thought that this would see the boy unable to use the modifications. As a general rule, the Potions Master did not tell the students what they would be studying the next week so there would be no way to know WHICH potion he would have to study and research.

He did not calculate the boy's cunning or his determination.

Harry went to Fred and George Weasley to ask about which potions were brewed in first year and had taken meticulous notes as to what had happened in their own year. In exchange, Fred and George were allowed to study the notes for their own use.

It helped that the two were somewhat budding geniuses in experimental potions. They intended to use the knowledge for their dream of a line of joke products of their own manufacture and design. It would annoy the Potions professor to no end when both twins achieved an Outstanding grade on their Potions OWL and they had to be allowed into his NEWT class.

For Harry, each week saw him prepared with a detailed request once that week's potion was named. Snape would name the Potion and Harry would pull out the request.

Bowing to pressure, he had begun putting his own modifications on the board so that his own House could benefit. It irked him to no end that the Gryffindors did as well.

Hermione was overjoyed. She had studied both the notes from Harry's mother – with his permission – and the changes that Snape began teaching.

Soon, it was Halloween.

In Charms, Harry was paired with Neville and Ron was paired with Hermione. Ron hadn't pre-studied so was having some issues.

"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as usual. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too - never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

It was difficult. Harry and Neville swished and flicked, but the feather they were supposed to be sending skyward just twitched a bit.

Behind them, Seamus got so impatient that he prodded it with his wand and set fire to it - Dean had to put it out with his hat.

Ron, at the next table, wasn't having much more luck.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" he shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.

"You're saying it wrong," Harry heard Hermione snap. "It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."

"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.

Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Their feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.

"Oh, well done!" cried Professor Flitwick, clapping. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!"

By the end of the class, however, Ron had gotten it to work. It helped, perhaps, that he had a proper wand.

Still, he was quite annoyed with Hermione. "Merlin, you're bossy! Can't you just let me work at my own pace? We're not all teacher's pets you know!"

Hermione, who had truly only been trying to help, started to feel the tears well up in her eyes. Before much else happened though, a voice cut through.

"Ron!" The two looked over and saw Harry and Neville. Harry was looking quite annoyed. "Would you have succeeded if Hermione hadn't helped you? Who's gone out of their way to help us whenever we were confused? I think you owe her an apology."

Ron had felt more and more embarrassed as Harry spoke. It was true. Hermione had done a lot to help them out and his mother was very happy with his grades. So, he did what he should have and apologized. His voice was very quiet as he did so. "I'm sorry, Hermione. It's just I don't like it when someone acts like I'm stupid."

Hermione was horrified and the tears that had welled up started. "No, no, no! I didn't think that at all! I just wanted to help you. I'm sorry if it seemed like that!"

Hermione rushed to the bathroom. The misunderstanding had opened an old would and it took a while for her to calm down. When she reappeared for the last class, Ron – who had been horrified by her tears – took the time to make certain she was alright.

Tensions were smoothed and both resolved to be a bit more sensitive in the future.

By the time the feast started, the tensions had fully disappeared. The decorations had definitely put it out of the minds of the first years.

A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. The feast appeared suddenly on the golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term banquet.

Harry was just helping himself to a baked potato when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face. Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table, and gasped, "Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know."

He then sank to the floor in a dead faint.

As Quirrell lay on the floor, he listened intently for the anticipated response.

In truth, the reason he had led the troll inside was in hopes that it would attack Harry Potter. Although the Troll had been let in on the Dungeon level, Quirrell had transfigured an image of Potter and applied the Imperius curse to attack the boy looking like that. By the time the teachers had searched the Dungeons, the troll would already be attacking the Gryffindors.

He would be sorely disappointed as Dumbedore responded quite differently than he had anticipated. Although there was uproar and confusion, Dumbledore never lost control.

It took several purple firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence.

"Prefects," he called, "I require a head count immediately! Are there any students missing?"

While the prefects and Heads of House worked on this, Dumbledore magically reinforced the Great Hall. The only real soft point were the doors – and the Headmaster changing them to stone and then magically reinforcing them prevented them from being an easy access for a troll.

Soon, the prefects reported that all students were accounted for. "Very well. The teachers shall take care of this. No student shall be permitted to exit until we give the word."

He called out, "Tippy!"

Suddenly, a house elf popped into the room. "Yes, Master Headmaster?"

"I need the help of the House Elves. A troll has been reported and I need the elves to silently and invisibly locate the troll. I must caution you to be careful as I do not wish any to be hurt."

Tippy nodded. "We look!"

The house elf disappeared. There were several murmers as the students started talking about what was happening.

After two minutes, Tippy returned. "Master Headmaster, Sir! Troll is on third floor near bathroom! It be moving toward stairs!"

Albus nodded. "Fawkes!"

Into the room, the Headmaster's familiar flamed in. "Fawkes, I need to be taken to the third floor near the main stairs to prevent a troll from attacking students. Minerva, Severus, with me. The other Professors will ensure the students stay safe. Filius, you are in charge."

The Ravenclaw Head of House nodded even as the three flamed out. Filius tasked Madam Pomfrey to check on Quirrell. The Professor awoke before she made it and she verified that he was alright. She ordered him to the infirmary once the threat had been answered.

She would be quite annoyed when he failed to show later, claiming he had just fainted.

The Headmaster and the two Heads appeared just behind the troll by about twenty feet. The troll had started to move up the stairs. "Minerva. I will be freezing the stairs. You are to protect myself and Severus. Severus, aim for the eyes once it turns. It's one of the only weak spots."

The troll was confused when the stair it was on suddenly stopped mid motion. It was between two landings. It grunted in annoyance and then turned around.

The troll's eyes lit up when it saw prey.

Severus and Albus carefully aimed at its eyes. "Severus, take the first shot."

Severus shot a stupefy but was a bit off – less than five inches. The troll roared and dropped its club to cover its eyes to protect them.

No one ever said a troll was very smart.

The allowed the Headmaster to carefully point and catch the legs of the beast in chains.

The troll opened its eyes when it felt the chains and looked down. Severus didn't miss the second time.

The stupefy spell hit the troll's eye directly and, being an easy access to the brain, the troll dropped.

"We shall move it outside. Minerva, keep guard!"

Once the troll had been returned to the forest and sent on its way, the three returned to the Great Hall where Dumbledore signaled the all clear.

"Students, the troll has been banished from the grounds. Please finish your feast and wait until your House returns to your common room. No one will be walking the halls alone until I have had the opportunity to check the wards. Each House shall be accompanied by the Head of House and another professor. Prefects from all years and the seventh years shall help take each House back when I give the signal."

Albus quickly ate and turned it over to his Deputy. He left to inspect the matrix.

Upon entering the ward room, he saw exactly how many wards were currently out of commission – the runes had lost their charge. He cursed Wulfric, sent a Patronus message to Minerva telling her he would be a while, and began repairing the damage.

One particular ward began sounding an alarm as soon as he repaired the charging rune. "The dark object detector is rather loud." He silenced the alarm even as he contemplated how to deal with this.

In his old world, he had tasked a ward specialist to inspect and repair the wards. He had been too busy dealing with Tom to learn details. He would have to ask the portraits of the former Headmasters as to why this ward had been disabled.