Chapter 19


2nd of September, 1991
London

Snape awoke in a cozy, modern apartment, sunlight streaming through light, airy curtains that gently swayed with the morning breeze. The decor was simple but stylish, with plush cushions scattered on a comfortable-looking sofa and framed prints of cityscapes adorning the walls. The faint hum of traffic outside suggested they were in the heart of the city. His head pounded fiercely, and he winced, trying to piece together the disjointed fragments of the previous night's revelry.

Sudden flashes of memory assaulted him. Dumbledore wrestling with the bouncers, their unconscious bodies sprawled on the club floor. Then, an utterly absurd image of Dumbledore doing an impressive pole dance, his robes swirling dramatically as the crowd cheered. He recalled engaging in an intense, impromptu dance battle with a group of breakdancers, flashes of Lupin doing the worm, only to trip and fall into a giant bowl of punch. The most ridiculous memory was of Dumbledore leading a conga line while wearing a sparkly top hat, shouting, "Expecto Conga!" to keep the rhythm going.

Just as Snape was trying to make sense of it all, the door to the bedroom creaked open. The woman from the club stepped in, her presence immediately commanding his attention. She was completely naked. Her eyes, heavily lined with dark, smoky makeup, locked onto Snape's. Her lips, painted a deep crimson, curled into a knowing smile as she held his gaze. "Fancy a second round?" she asked, her voice a sultry purr that sent a shiver down his spine.

His eyes darted to the lighted TV screen, where the date flashed: the 2nd. His heart sank as realization dawned on him. Albus had not waited for him to use the Time-Turner. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath, the gravity of the situation momentarily breaking through the haze of his hangover.

But then the woman, her body a stunning display of curves and confidence, crawled into the bed beside him. Her skin felt warm and smooth against his, the intricate patterns of her tattoos brushing lightly against him. She leaned in, her breath hot against his ear. Snape's apprehensions melted away as he looked at her with a hungry gaze. Hogwarts could wait.


31st of August, Time-turner timeline
Hogwarts

Remus Lupin winced as he landed hard on the floor, the impact jarring his bones. "Oof," he groaned, rubbing his sore backside. Slowly, he stood up and looked around, taking in his surroundings with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

The office of Albus Dumbledore was nothing short of bizarre. Shelves lined with an eclectic array of oddities, from a jar of glowing pickles to a portrait of a grimacing goat in a top hat, surrounded the room. Ancient tomes floated aimlessly above a desk cluttered with enchanted quills and half-eaten bags of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. A phoenix perched on a golden stand, watching Remus with a piercing gaze, while a collection of colorful, whirring gadgets spun and clicked in one corner. A shaking cage covered with a large cloth. Protein shakers labeled with magical workout potions stood in a neat row on a shelf next to a set of dumbbells that floated in the air, performing curls on their own.

The strangely fit and youthful Headmaster stood with his back to Remus, wearing nothing but a string thong, his muscular frame casting an imposing figure against the morning light. Hickeys dotted his neck, a sight Remus desperately tried to scrub from his memory. The image of the old man wrestling and displaying his impressive physique had left his inner wolf feeling both intimidated and oddly deferential. Was he recognizing Dumbledore as an alpha? The thought alone made Remus shudder.

Dumbledore stretched, his muscles rippling unnervingly. He glanced at a clock and muttered to himself, "It's 7 AM, 31st of August. I have about thirty-six hours before the start of the feast."

As Remus tried to regain his bearings, more flashes of the previous night began to surface. He remembered waking up after being knocked out, only to find himself back in the club, joining the wild party with abandon. There was an image of him arm wrestling Snape, both of them laughing and shouting encouragements as the table shook under their drunken efforts. Another memory involved him and Snape performing an impromptu dance-off, their moves growing increasingly outrageous as they fed off the crowd's cheers. At one point, Snape tried to moonwalk, slipped, and ended up sliding across the floor on his back, making the crowd roar with laughter. He even recalled doing the worm across the dance floor, much to the amusement of the onlookers. At one point, he found himself on stage with a karaoke mic, belting out a very off-key rendition of "I Will Survive" while Snape, inexplicably wearing a feather boa, played air guitar beside him.

Then Dumbledore joined in. Remus remembered the Headmaster leading a magical limbo contest, the bar levitating and flashing with multicolored lights as he chanted, "How low can you go?" At one point, Dumbledore rode a conjured mechanical hippogriff across the dance floor, encouraging everyone to take a turn. Strangely, none of the muggles had found it remotely strange or unusual - probably one of Albus' spell.

Dumbledore turned around, and his eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Remus. "Huh?"

Remus blinked, feeling awkward under the scrutinizing gaze of the Headmaster, who seemed completely unfazed by his barely-there attire.

Dumbledore facepalmed dramatically. "Fuck, I grabbed Lupin, not Snape."


31st of August 1991
Malfoy Manor

A soft chime pierced the silence. Lucius Malfoy sighed, setting down his quill. The little bell signaled the end of his Pomodoro interval, a method he had adopted to enhance his productivity. He leaned back in his high-backed leather chair, his fingers momentarily massaging his temples.

"Master, your potions," came a familiar squeaky voice. Dobby the house elf stood before him, holding a silver tray with three vials, his large eyes wide and attentive.

Lucius eyed the elf for a moment before speaking. "Thank you, Dobby." His tone was measured, as always.

He took the first vial, a shimmering blue liquid. Uncorking it, he drank deeply, feeling the potion's cool touch sharpen his mind, enhancing his cognitive abilities for the next twenty-four hours. He glanced around his office, taking in the meticulously curated splendor. Tall windows framed by rich, emerald-green drapes let in the late afternoon sunlight, casting a golden haze over the room. A chandelier of enchanted crystal hung from the ceiling, its prisms casting tiny rainbows across the dark wood paneling and intricately carved shelves.

The second vial, a vibrant green potion, promised a surge of energy. Lucius drank it swiftly, feeling the invigorating effects course through his veins. He stood, stretching slightly, his gaze sweeping over the array of ancient tomes bound in dragon hide and rare magical artifacts. Each item had its place: a Basilisk fang encased in glass, a silver astrolabe glowing faintly with enchanted runes, and the ornate fireplace, its mantel adorned with carvings depicting scenes of magical conquests.

Finally, he picked up the third vial, a golden elixir designed to slow the aging process, maintaining his youthful vigor. Lucius savored the potion's fleeting sweetness before placing the empty vial back on the tray.

"Dobby, the Sorcery Review," he commanded.

Dobby promptly handed him the latest issue, the most prestigious publication in the wizarding world. This week's cover featured a catchy headline about the recent reelection of the German Magieanführer, promising in-depth analysis.

Lucius traced the embossed title with a finger, his expression betraying a flicker of ambivalence. The Sorcery Review was a double-edged sword. On one hand, its rigorous journalism and unassailable objectivity were a thorn in his side, largely due to its untouchable ownership structure. No individual could hold more than 2% of shares, and no more than 10% could be owned by people from the same country. Its main bureaux were in Switzerland, and it covered the United States and Western Europe - what was called the Western Magical World - with a common international section, alongside country-specific content—in this case, the UK.

He flipped through the pages, pausing at an article dissecting the latest political maneuvers within the English-Fench-Italian Axe. The insights were invaluable. Despite his frustrations with its ownership, Lucius appreciated the Sorcery Review for its treasure trove of information. The articles provided him with strategic insights, and his own monthly column on English policy afforded him significant prestige and influence within the English wizarding community.

Dobby, seeing his master absorbed in the magazine, took a step back, waiting quietly. Lucius glanced up, catching the elf's eye. "That will be all, Dobby."

The elf bowed low. "Yes, Master," he replied, disappearing with a snap of his fingers.

Lucius turned the page, his eyes catching on a bold headline that made his pulse quicken: "Dumbledore's Curious Transformation: From Recluse to Resurgent Hero."

Intrigued, he began to read, noting the byline: Isabel Martinez, a Spanish journalist based in Germany. Lucius always started by analyzing the biases of the journalist. Martinez was known for her objective reporting, having not lived through Grindelwald's terror and thus lacking the typical reverence for Dumbledore.

For the past month, Albus Dumbledore has exhibited increasingly erratic and inexplicable behavior. Accounts from various sources describe a man once known for his calm and collected demeanor acting in ways that are both perplexing and, at times, humorous.

A colleague of Dumbledore says, "He's been disappearing without a word, showing up days later with wild stories, strange behaviors and even wilder hair." Another source, a teacher at Hogwarts, reports, "He's been wanting to rearrange the entire curriculum on a whim, insisting on midnight dueling classes and lunchtime potions experiments in the Great Hall." Perhaps most amusingly, a Wizengamot secretary confides, "He's taken to muttering to himself about sherbet lemons and time travel, all while his robes are covered in ink stains and cookie crumbs."

Lucius couldn't help but smirk at the descriptions, but his interest deepened as the article continued.

The behavior, while chaotic, is not without a sudden and dramatic shift. Last week, during a session of the Wizengamot, Dumbledore appeared not as his usual aged self but as a vigorous, youthful version, seemingly only about sixty years old. His actions were no longer haphazard but startlingly proactive.

Lucius's eyes narrowed as he read the vivid account of that day:

"He entered the chamber with the energy of a man half his age," recounted one member. "Dumbledore challenged longstanding policies, proposed sweeping reforms, and rallied support with a charisma that was impossible to resist. It was as if the past fifty years had melted away." A rival English lord, visibly scowling at this resurgence, was described as being caught off guard and momentarily humiliated by Dumbledore's newfound vigor.

Lucius scowled, knowing well that the "rival English lord" was none other than himself. The memory of Dumbledore's piercing gaze and commanding presence still stung.

Speculation about the origins of Dumbledore's transformation is rampant. Some suggest he has discovered a way to create a Philosopher's Stone, becoming the second person after Nicolas Flamel to do so. Others whisper that he may have stolen the Stone from Flamel, or that Flamel willingly gave it to him.

The next part of the article caught Lucius's eye:

When contacted by the Sorcery Review, Nicolas Flamel, a regular columnist for our publication, responded with a mysterious laugh. "Yes, I lent the Stone to Albus for a bit," Flamel admitted, "but I know for certain he did not use it for himself." Flamel added, with a twinkle in his eye, "It does not seem like the use of the Stone at all. Perhaps Albus has discovered something entirely new, an incredible magical breakthrough?"

The most important man in Great Britain had undergone a transformation that was as mysterious as it was alarming. Lucius needed answers and fast. This development required immediate attention and strategic planning.

He turned the page to the columnist section, and to his surprise, a name caught his attention: Albus Dumbledore.

Lucius stood up in shock. "What?" he muttered aloud. "A column by Dumbledore himself?" It was unprecedented. He knew the editors of Sorcery Review had contacted Dumbledore many times, practically begging for his contribution.

He sat back down, eyes riveted to the page, and began to read.

The Deteriorating State of Magical Education: A Call for Reform
By Albus Dumbledore

The foundations of our society are built upon the education of our young. Yet, the quality of magical education in England is crumbling. As Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I witness firsthand the alarming decline in our educational standards. If Hogwarts, our premier institution, is faltering, one can only shudder at the state of other schools.

This decline is particularly concerning given the UK's historical prominence in the wizarding world. A few decades ago, the United Kingdom was the premier force in magical innovation, governance, and cultural influence. Our Aurors were the most formidable, our magical scholars the most respected, and our institutions the most admired. However, this preeminence has waned. Other countries have surged ahead, partly due to their progressive educational systems that foster not just magical prowess but also a well-rounded, critical-thinking populace. It is no coincidence that this decline aligns with the erosion of our educational standards.

Hogwarts serves as a poignant example. The curriculum is overly focused on practical magic and rote learning, with scant attention paid to creative or critical thinking. Subjects like Terrestrial Geography, Modern Languages, English Literature, Art, Music, and even Sex Education are almost entirely neglected. How can we expect our students to understand the world beyond our borders when they are so poorly educated? Indeed, the curriculum at Hogwarts is woefully narrow. Core subjects focus almost exclusively on the magical world, neglecting vital non-magical knowledge such as science, history, literature, and mathematics. Practical life skills are also absent. Students receive no training in personal finance, professional development, or navigating wizarding society. This rigid structure stifles student potential by allowing no room for elective courses or specialized interests.

Lucius raised an eyebrow. Was Dumbledore criticizing his own administration?

Our teaching methods are equally outdated, relying heavily on rote memorization and lecture-based instruction. Modern, active learning approaches are scarce, which limits our students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Furthermore, there is a significant lack of career preparation. Beyond core magical subjects, Hogwarts provides little guidance on different career paths, leaving students to fend for themselves after graduation.

The challenges faced by our educators exacerbate these issues. Consider a typical Transfiguration or Charms teacher. They have around three hours per week per class, with two groups per year, totaling approximately fort-two hours of lessons weekly. Add to this the time needed for grading, patrolling in the castle, administrative tasks, and other responsibilities, and it becomes clear that without Teaching Assistants—individuals who help manage classroom tasks and support instruction—teachers are stretched impossibly thin.

In addition to structural changes, there is an urgent need for a Magical Ethics and Philosophy course. This subject would cover the ethical use of magic, the responsibilities accompanying magical power, historical ethical dilemmas, and the development of a strong moral compass. Such a course would complement the technical education at Hogwarts, fostering thoughtful and conscientious graduates.

Consider the broader implications of such a course: students would grapple with the moral quandaries they may face as witches and wizards, promoting a stronger sense of social responsibility and producing graduates skilled not just in magic, but in its ethical application.

Ultimately, our education system needs a balance of science and humanities. We must expand our curriculum to include literature, arts, geography, and social studies. A holistic education is crucial for developing well-rounded individuals capable of navigating both magical and non-magical worlds.

What. The. Hell.

He shook his head : no time to be surprised. How could he exploit this article ? With a determined gleam in his eye, Lucius returned to his desk, ready to strategize his next move. The game of power and influence had taken an unexpected turn, and Lucius Malfoy intended to stay ahead, no matter the cost.