Albus was cursing Armando Dippet and Phineas Black. Both had disabled several wards which prevented dark objects from being brought to Hogwarts as well as alerts for certain types of magics.

Armando had cited the war and the necessity of practicing spells which might be needed. Phineas had cited privileges that Purebloods enjoyed. He could somewhat understand Dippet – but Black's response nearly caused him to destroy the portrait.

Although recharging the wards would prevent further incursions once reset, they did not in any way help to locate the objects which were in the castle.

This meant that he would have to get the castle inspected for objects – and do so without creating an interruption which would leave him politically open to attack from elements that were less than appreciative of his stewardship.

He had accomplished the recharging and resetting of the wards, though. Resetting them meant that everything already present was accepted and offending items had to be manually located.

However, if any current student transported such an item across the ward lines – they would be caught quite easily. He was planning on announcing a thorough inspection for contraband items in the New Year. He hoped that current items would be taken away and not reappear subsequently.

Paranoia could so easily be used as a tool when those you opposed were gullible.

Sirius Black and Amelia Bones sat across from the Hogwarts Headmaster. Augusta Longbottom, much less forward than most who knew here would expect, sat off to the side.

"As my earlier missive suggested, I would like to make an effort to get to know the children of those that followed me. However, Amelia pointed out – and quite correctly – that people such as Susan, Harry, and Neville could not and should not be treated any differently than any other student. This led me to a question: Why do we not allow family members to visit with students at the local village? While family visiting Hogwarts directly might create interruptions, Sunday trips out of the castle should not."

Sirius, Amelia, and Augusta all looked at each other. Augusta said, "I know of no rule that prevents it."

Sirius had a thought. "Except that Muggleborn students couldn't have that – it would make it so that different students were treated differently."

Albus nodded. "My precise conclusion, dear boy. So, I asked myself: How do we solve the issue?"

The three looked to each other and were at a loss. Amelia said, "Portkeys could allow it, but that's a massive expense and a lot of work for the Ministry. They'd never approve such a use to help Muggles."

Sirius said, "Using the Hogwarts Express to take Muggles from London to Hogsmeade and back would be a good 12 hours out of a day plus the time getting there and back. I don't think a three hour visit for such a thing would be attractive."

Augusta said, "And we can't give directions to Hogsmeade for them to make their own way. The Wizengamot would be up in arms and I believe they would be correct."

Albus nodded at the comments. All points he had considered. "However, a thought occurred to me."

All three looked at Albus with interest. "The Hogwarts Express wouldn't need to be just an Express." He looked at Sirius. "How would you like to waste some Black Galleons to help Muggle parents of Hogwarts students?"

Sirius' laugh came out as a bark. "If that doesn't show you know me well, Albus, nothing else would. What's the plan?"

Albus smirked as he brought out a map – a very secret map.

"This is the map which holds the route for the Hogwarts Express. It is one of only four. Two are held here at Hogwarts, one is held at the Ministry, and one is in a vault at Gringotts." He pulled a folded sheet out and started unfolding it. Unlike the other, this was on non-magical paper and was vividly colored. "This is a Muggle map of Scotland – specifically the area surrounding Glasgow. Note that just north of that city is a park: Queen Elizabeth Forest Park."

He showed the Muggle map to the three and then moved to the other map. "The Hogwarts Express, as you can see, passes into and through that park. The lack of Muggle housing made the route much easier – or perhaps the warding prevented Muggles from building around it. It matters not. What does matter is that it is accessible from Glasgow. I believe we could build a station for the Hogwarts train – should proper precautions be taken."

Amelia, as an officer of the DMLE, was interested. "What precautions?"

Albus sat back and stroked his beard while talking. "In my mind, the Hogwarts Express serves the purpose of allowing students to socialize for a few hours just before and after the Hogwarts year, free from too many constrictive adults. And while there are disadvantages, the advantages are many. However, during other times – Christmas and Easter – the student body as a whole are not present. The trip only serves the purpose of transportation."

He stopped stroking his beard and said to Sirius, "I propose that you fund a station just at the edge of the park. You could charge for its use if you need to collect maintenance funds. Students' parents could be ferried every two weeks on a Sunday to Hogsmeade at 11. This means that they could arrive in Hogsmeade at approximately 12:30. Students could be taken from Hogwarts at 12:00 via carriages and families could visit. At 6:30, the train could return to … Elizabeth Station. For families that don't want to travel all the way to London because they live closer to Scotland, it would provide a way for the long train ride to be avoided for the random holidays. For visits, parents could even begin at 6:00 AM in London and return at midnight Sunday night if they wish."

Albus and said, "Tradition is maintained for those that it is important to, Hogsmeade would see a financial boost from additional customers for those that find that important, Hogwarts would become more acceptable to parents who worry that they won't see their children for months at a time, Muggle parents could see their children in an environment where they can use their magic, and … just to spite your family, Sirius … the pureblood bigots would get a poke in the eye."

Sirius' eyes gleamed at the idea. This was BEAUTIFUL.

Amelia said, "We'd have to get a patrol for Hogsmeade and the train. Too tempting a target for idiots who get spell-happy."

Augusta said, "I'd be willing to back it in the Wizengamot. I'll use the argument that it sees more gold in the coffers of wizards and witches."

The four stood up. Amelia said, "I believe the Christmas holiday will be the best time for you to get to know the children – perhaps just after term ends. This idea – we'll begin taking steps. It will be a struggle, but I think we can pull it off."

Augusta and Amelia both exited back to the Ministry. Sirius watched them go and said, "Show me the maps again. I'll buy the land anyway and set up places for Muggles to park and begin building a platform. I can research how to get Muggle transportation from Glasgow to Elizabeth Station." He grinned. "I'm kind of bored so this will be a good distraction."

Soon, Albus was watching cheerfully as Sirius made his way to the floo. He was on his way to Gringotts about buying some land.

It was Harry's first game. Percy had "hurt his arm" and so had requested relief by the substitution of the Reserve Seeker. Oliver Wood had been ecstatic. Harry also noted that Percy was not that broken up about missing this game: His smirk when he told Harry he needed to play was quite interesting.

Harry had immediately sent a letter to Sirius who had then replied he would definitely come to see the game. Sirius was in the teacher's stand waiting for the game to start. He was completely pumped about it.

When Severus Snape arrived, the man sneered at him and said, "Black. I see you're here to see Potter's spawn act like the gloryhound he is. You should not be too disappointed when he loses – he faces a much better and more experienced team."

Sirius blew Snape a raspberry. "Whatever, you greasy git."

Minerva interrupted before the insults could escalate. "You two are adults! Act like it!"

Sirius grinned at her. "Sorry, Minnie."

Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes as she made her way next to the announcer's stand. Lee was a wonderful Gryffindor and enthusiastic as announcer – but she felt it might be prudent to be on hand to squelch … unprofessional commentary.

The game started and it was a typical example of a Gryffindor/Slytherin game: Hard fouls and vicious competitiveness. Sirius cheered and jeered in concert with many Gryffindor-supporters in the stand.

However, he wasn't here for the whole team. He was here to watch his godson play. He thought the strategy of staying out of the action was a good one considering Harry's size. When Flint blocked Harry, Sirius was as loud as any in expressing his protest.

He laughed at the student commentator. Minerva gave him the gimlet eye.

But, because he was watching his godson more than the main action, he was the first to see the sudden trouble Harry had with his broom.

His gasp attracted attention. When he stood, he unintentionally blocked Quirrell's line of sight – thereby breaking the spell on the broom. Suddenly Harry was in control again and continuing on his pattern. Whenever he looked to be having trouble, Sirius would stand and the trouble would stop.

Sirius was a Pureblood and so at times missed the obvious. He never looked behind to see whose sight he was blocking. Severus Snape, who also noticed the sudden issues, did. He would have to bring this up with the Headmaster.

Luckily the trouble never escalated to the point that Hermione needed to intervene. As a result, there were no distractions when everyone saw Harry suddenly dive straight down. He pulled up very close to the ground (there were many gasps and screams from the audience) and raced across the pitch very close to the ground. He tumbled off of his broom in the end – but stood up with the snitch clearly in his hand.

Sirius was cheering loudly even as Snape was looking at the spawn in disgust.

Sirius quickly made his way down so that he could congratulate Harry.

Snape kept an eye on Quirrell until the man made his way toward the castle. He then moved toward the Headmaster's office.

Sirius congratulated Harry for the great catch. And then asked, "What happened up there? You kept jerking on occasion."

Harry said, "I don't know. The broom would suddenly buck and I would struggle to control it, and then it would go back to normal. That didn't happen over the summer. Right terrifying, I can tell you."

Sirius grabbed the Nimbus from Harry's hand. "How about I get it checked out, see if it's been tampered with?"

Harry nodded. "We won't be playing again until March. If I need to, I can practice on the school brooms."

Sirius nodded and said, "I'll get this back to you over Christmas. You're still coming back to spend it with me and Remus, right?"

Harry nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely!"

Sirius shrunk it down and said, "You should get back to the common room. After-quiddich parties in Gryffindor are not to be missed. I'll yell at Remus for you for missing the game. He is trying to get this thing done but he could have taken a few hours."

Harry hugged Sirius and cheerfully hurried off to celebrate with his housemates.

Albus sat back. "Are you certain it was Quirrell?"

Severus, with his most guarded and blank expression in place, "Not entirely. But each time Potter appeared to have trouble, Black stood up blocking his view and Potter regained control. I believe that only Black, I, and Quirrell were watching the boy as closely. Black's action allowed me to be able to look at my surroundings rather than needing to concentrate on countering."

Albus was livid. "I require you to keep a close eye on Quirrell, as I will. If he is guilty, he will soon be gone. I will not accept students being placed in danger!"

Severus Snape looked away as he cautiously volunteered a suggestion. "Headmaster. You know of the prophecy. … Perhaps some adversity in a controlled environment is not out of place. The boy could use some … honing."

Severus then looked back at the Headmaster … and realized his colossal mistake. The Headmaster had a look of such barely controlled anger with magic so controlled it was almost visible that he was suddenly very afraid for his life.

The Headmaster slowly stood and regarded the Potions Master with barely controlled rage. "Severus Snape. If I ever hear of a suggestion from you that we actually allow any student to be threatened in any way again, I shall call you out for an end-of-line duel to the death." Albus paused. "Do I … make myself … perfectly … clear?"

Severus nodded curtly and waited for the Headmaster to calm down. As soon as he sat down Snape asked quietly, "I take it that the discussions we had in early summer are to be ignored?"

Albus wanted to groan out loud. He wanted to curse Wulfric loudly … and then travel to the afterlife so he could curse him directly.

Finally he ground out, "We shall make no effort to help the prophecy be accomplished. Instead, we will do our duties as proper ethics and morals and our consciences dictate. We will operate as though the ADULTS, and not a child, are responsible for taking care of Tom Riddle. I have decided: No child shall be blindly sacrificed to some ethereal concept of a 'Greater Good.'"

He paused then and then continued, "A Greater Good is meaningless if we ignore such things."

Severus nodded curtly and excused himself. He would ponder again at the paradigm shifts that had occurred since the summer began. There was something he was missing, he was certain of it.

Wulfric wept as he watched the large screen. The Greater Good was being sacrificed for a meaningless life. Didn't the fool know that individuals were transitory and sometimes needed to be used properly?

It was early December and at dinnertime the students were cheerfully chattering away and eating. There were two weeks left in the term and, while the more studious were a bit stressed preparing for the end of term exams, most students were looking forward to the holiday.

Suddenly, there was a loud clinking. All of the students looked up and saw Professor McGonagall calling for attention. When it was quiet enough, she sat down and the Headmaster moved to stand at the rostrum in front of the hall.

"I have an announcement to make to all students. In the last several weeks, plans have been made to make your lives, and the lives of your families, a bit easier. First, however, an announcement as regards Hogwarts security."

He looked out, a bit stern, and said, "Recently, it has come to my attention that items of a questionable nature might have made their way into the castle at sometime in the past. As a result, the wards have been strengthened and I will be ensuring an inspection of the entire castle is accomplished sometime after the next term begins. Any item found to be in a student's possession that is deemed harmful will result in confiscation and, if serious enough, a possible visit from the DMLE."

Several older Purebloods listened to this with trepidation. They had questionable items either on their person or in their dorm. An inspection would not be welcome to them. They would have to ensure they were taken home before the new term began.

Albus paused and drunk a bit of pumpkin juice before continuing in a much more cheerful demeanour, "Now. Some good news. Due to the generosity of an alumnus and work by several Ministry officials, Wizengamot members, and members of the Board of Governors, several policies shall now be clarified or put in place.

"First of all. Hogwarts students shall now be allowed to visit Hogsmeade once a month with family members. ALL students, including first years, shall have this opportunity. A new Hogwarts Express station has been built in Scotland which will, upon a defined schedule, take any parent – Magical or Mundane – wishing to see their children to Hogsmeade. A full schedule of dates and times shall be provided to each student. Those parents using mundane means of travel shall be able to park their automobile carraiges in the facilities built specifically for this purpose or take a bus from Glasgow to the new station. Access to the station shall be one galleon or five pounds for any vehicle."

There was a murmuring throughout the Great Hall.

"Let me be clear here. ALL parents shall be given opportunity to take their child for an afternoon in Hogsmeade. Parents may floo or apparate to Hogsmeade or either station that the Express will now access. To maintain security, no one may drive a non-Magical vehicle to Hogsmeade. And the station in Scotland can only be accessed with a token that can be delivered to your families upon request. Ministry Aurors will be on hand to ensure that no Mundane that does not have a child at Hogwarts is allowed to come via the Express."

Albus paused and said, "This brings us to another point. Only the initial trip on September 1st and the final return at the end of the year shall require you to come here directly from or return directly to London. It might not be common knowledge but there are two Express engines. Those who are coming to Hogsmeade from London can be on the 7:00 O'clock train and arrive at 12:30. Those who wish to come from Elizabeth Station can be on the 10:30 and arrive at 12:00. Trains shall depart at 5:45 for London and 6:00 for Elizabeth."

He took another drink. "Students who wish to travel to and from Elizabeth station for Winter or Spring holidays shall leave at 12:00 when returning home or 3:00 when coming back to Hogwarts. Students may also arrange other transportation to and from Hogsmeade."

He considered his audience. "The Hogwarts Express is a wonderful tradition. The time you spend at the beginning and end of the year is given to you so that you might socialize with your peers and enjoy several hours without undue pressure from adult supervision. This doesn't mean that you should run amok and wreak havoc of course. But it does mean that you should take the opportunity to strengthen the bonds between yourself and the other members of your generation.

"However, Hogwarts is not a prison. These additional opportunities to see those you leave behind when you come here shall see the bonds between families strengthened as well. Your parents can meet with you in a place where you can demonstrate the skills that they send you here to learn. Should this be respected for the opportunity it is, the bonds of community shall be allowed to flourish. Thank you."

There was a thunderous applause from the students in the Great Hall, save for the more polite and quiet offering from Slytherin.

To be truthful, several Purebloods were privately outraged at the idea of allowing Muggles in Hogsmeade – for WHATEVER reason. They weren't outraged enough, however, to protest directly to the Headmaster. The lessons from the beginning of the year saw to that.

Even parents who dealt with him in the Ministry and in the Wizengamot had noticed the difference between the Dumbledore of the past and the more recent version. The Headmaster was known to be able to demonstrate casual, merciless determination as necessary.

Hermione was very excited as she approached Harry.

"Harry! Can I use Hedwig to send a letter?" Her enthusiasm broke through and she squealed. "Can you believe it? My parents can come and see Hogsmeade! They can see me do magic! Isn't it wonderful?"

Harry grinned at his friend's enthusiasm. "Sure, Hermione. I'm certain Hedwig will be more than happy to take a letter for you."

Hermione then bounced out toward her dorm to collect parchment and ink to send the letter. Harry moved to his own dorm where his roommates were talking about the announcement.

Dean and Seamus were cheerfully jabbering away. Seamus thought that being able to get to and from Hogwarts via Scotland was much better than going all the way to London. Like many with parents who were magical, he would sign up for the Elizabeth Station for this trip home, even if in the future they came directly to Hogsmeade. Dean was excited for the same reason that Hermione was: He wanted his folks to be able to see him do magic.

Ron and Neville were more blasé. Neither particularly had an opinion on the new policies either way but would find out what their family thought.

Harry would have to write Sirius and find out exactly what he wanted Harry to do.

A/N: I'd like to point out that while the new Albus IS a good guy in the best sense – he still can be a conniving bastard. That he has a much better moral compass is what makes him far better than the one he displaced.